Weekly Update
Cowlishaw News-12.4.2020
We hope that families had a restful fall break and are ready for the home stretch of 2020. We are looking forward to some fun virtual winter activities this month. New this week, we have added a grade level feature to our newsletter. Each week we will highlight a grade level and an exciting activity or learning theme they have engaged in. Up first is our amazing 5th graders!
Grade Level Feature-5th Graders Get a Taste of Hill Middle School
Music education is a vibrant part of our District 204 curriculum, and although we are currently learning virtually, our 5th grade students are starting to think about where they may see themselves in the future. During November, December and January, fifth graders will experience Virtual Prelude during their general music class and also during their independent learning time on Mondays. Virtual Prelude is an in-depth study of the band and orchestra instruments as well as vocal music. During Virtual Prelude, students will be given an introduction to all of the instruments, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Students will learn about each instrument, listen to the sounds of all of the instruments, journal their preferences and have an opportunity to meet with the Hill Middle School music teachers during special Zoom sessions.
At the end of this Virtual Prelude experience, students will be given the opportunity to select an appropriate instrument to begin learning in sixth grade as part of band or orchestra and students will also learn more about chorus opportunities. The Hill Middle School music teachers will assist students in making their final choice.
The teachers at Hill Middle School will be having a Parent Zoom meeting on Thursday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. A Zoom link for that meeting will be shared soon. Information about the Prelude program can also be found here.
Spirit Week-12/14
Students are invited to join in celebrating winter by participating in our Spirit Week during the week of 12/14.
*Participation is optional
Holiday Giving Program
Help make a difference this holiday season for our families experiencing hardships or homelessness. The Indian Prairie Parents’ Council (IPPC) is partnering with District 204 for the IPPC Holiday Giving Program. This program directly supports under-resourced families through collecting donations of select gift-cards to help families enjoy the holiday season. The program runs now through November 30. Community members who would like to participate can use the online store to purchase gift-cards or make a donation that will be used to serve the greatest needs of our families this holiday season. All donations will directly help District 204 families.
Looking ahead...
11/30-12/13- Online Book Fair
12/14-12/18-Spirit Week
12/21-1/1-Winter Break
Curbside LMC Book Check out
Students can put a book(s) on hold through the Destiny app on the SSO for pick up
on Mondays from 12:00pm-3:00pm or Thursdays from 12:00pm-3:00pm
Mondays 12/7 and 12/14
Thursday 12/10 and 12/17
Mrs. Fernandez or Mrs. Chmielecki will email parents/guardians when the book(s) are available for pick up.
Click on the button below for more details
The Fall/Winter 2020 Virtual Scholastic Book Fair is now open for shopping!
You’re invited to shop our Scholastic Book Fair online from 12/3/2020-12/13/20! All purchases benefit our school and connect kids with new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more.
Just in time for holiday shopping or reading materials for winter break!
You’ll love the NEW option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist and enjoy these special online shopping features:
- Over 6,000 items, including new releases, best sellers, and value packs
- All orders ship direct to home
- FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25
- All purchases support our school and earn 25% in rewards
Visit our Book Fair Homepage starting today! Click “Shop the Store” or “Shop the Virtual Fair” to get started:
Cowlishaw Virtual Book Fair
Happy reading!
LMC staff
MESSAGE FROM THE PTA BOARD
Below are your PTA Activities this coming week…
UPCOMING EVENTS…
December 16 – Dinner Order-Night Out … Chipotle, near Meijer (4p-8p)
February 3 – PTA General Zoom Meeting Wednesday 6:30pm
Penguin Patch Online Holiday Shop - Just Extended thru Dec 17th!
With a little online help, children can shop secretly for their loved ones and have gifts shipped right to your home. The presents are fairly inexpensive, ranging from $0.50 to $12. Items will even come with gift bags! The students love this program and we are excited to have brought it back - don't miss out!! Online ordering dates have been extended thru December 17th. https://shop.penguinpatch.com/ Please see attached flyer. If you have any questions please contact Bianca Ballard at biancaLballard@aol.com or 630.399.5858.
Scrip Gift Card Orders Now Being Accepted this week only: See the button below for more information!
This holiday season, do all your gift card shopping in one convenient place. Join us in the most convenient fundraiser there is - shopping with gift cards to earn on gas, groceries, teacher gifts and everything else you’re already buying! If you have any questions please contact Bianca Ballard at biancaLballard@aol.com or 630.399.5858.
AMAZON SMILE
You SHOP…Amazon GIVES…Cowlishaw WINS! Use the link below for all your Amazon shopping needs and 0.5% will automatically come back to the PTA! Be sure to select Cowlishaw as your chosen charity in your Amazon smile account. Bookmark the site on your web browser for easy access. This is a simple way to give back to the school at no additional cost to you! https://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-4165360
PTA GENERAL Zoom MEETING
Our Next General Meeting will be Wednesday, February 3rd at 6:30pm via Zoom. Additional details to follow.
PTA VOLUNTEER OPEN HOUSE
Additional details to follow.
SPIRIT WEAR FRIDAYS
Show your KOALA PRIDE! Every Friday in December, we encourage all students to take part. Make sure to rock your Cowlishaw apparel/accessories or our school colors (blue and green) on SPIRIT FRIDAYS all year long!
SPIRIT WEAR AND ACCESSORIES – Coming Soon
We are Currently Working on New Designs, additional details to follow.
STAY CONNECTED
Visit our redesigned website for more information:
https://sites.google.com/site/cowlishawelementarypta/home
The website can also be accessed via the Cowlishaw homepage under “PTA.”
Find us on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/CowlishawPTA
Follow us on Twitter!
Attendance
During remote learning parents/guardians need to report student absences if they are unable to participate in virtual class. Please follow the instructions below to report any absences during remote learning.
Remote Learning Absence Instructions:
In ParentVUE please select the day(s) for which the student will be absent – full day, half day, or a schedule period of time.
Enter a reason for the absence,
Enter in any addition information in the note section - ie; time of arrival or dismissal, if your student is leaving for an appointment and returning, please indicate the time your student will be absent.
Click submit.
If you are unable to access your ParentVUE to report your student absences, call the attendance line @ 1-630-428-6114 and leave a message.
Creativity Feature
We want to see what creative work your students are doing while learning remotely!
Send in a picture and brief description to the email below and your student can be featured on our morning announcements. We are so excited with the number of submissions we have received! Please know that we will display all of the creative work, but it may take a couple of weeks. We plan to continue the koala creativity feature when we transition to Hybrid Learning.
Chromebook Support
Please use the link below to report if your Chromebook is not working. A Cowlishaw staff member will contact you to assist with repairing and/or replacing the Chromebook.
Cowlishaw Koalas
Email: sarah_maldonado@ipsd.org
Website: http://cowlishaw.ipsd.org/
Location: 1212 Sanctuary Lane, Naperville, IL, USA
Phone: 630.428.6100
Twitter: @cowlishawkoalas