Cherokee Newsletter 12.2.22

December 2, 2022

Dear Cherokee Families,

I hope that everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! We kicked off the start of December with a school-wide assembly to share our monthly theme of empathy. The students learned the importance of understanding how others feel and responding in a positive way. We appreciate your collaboration as we focus on our Cherokee Cheetahs being safe, respectful, and responsible! We have many activities occurring that help the students practice empathy, such as our Mitten Drive and our Pop Tab Challenge.

These weeks between Thanksgiving and winter break are always so busy and go by so fast! We have many fun activities planned in the coming weeks. Please see below for more information.

Have a great weekend!

~Dr. Cavanaugh

A couple of highlights for special attention:

• Review the reminder about Winter Sing and Mitten Drive

• Learn about the Pop Tab Challenge for Ronald McDonald House

• Review the Winter Spirit Week dress up days on December 12th-16th

Winter Sing Performances:

Start charging your phones and cameras… and add these Winter Sing performances to your calendars.

Please see the attached invite with details from Mrs. Prestipino. We look forward to sharing these cheerful performances with you! Important details:

• K-1 @ 9:00-9:30

• 2-3 @ 10:30-11:10

• 4th and orchestra @ 1:30-2:15

• All students need to stay for the entire performance and we are asking for advanced notice if you plan to take your child home after the performance, including siblings.

• Please use our Temporary Change of Transportation Form if there will be a change in dismissal on the day of the winter sing.. Thank you!

Pop Tab Service Project:

Cherokee is kicking off a school-wide service project to help support local Ronald McDonald House Charities. Our school-wide goal will be to collect 40 pounds of pop tabs by the end of the school year! Students can start collecting tabs at home and bring them in starting now!!! Tabs can be from any aluminum can. The funds generated from the recycling help support the Ronald McDonald House programs in the Chicagoland area. Additional information can be found by viewing this link https://rmhccni.org/get-involved/pop-tabs/. “Your good deeds might seem invisible, but they leave a trail that is imprinted on the hearts of others.”~unknown

The APT is organizing a mitten drive. Please see the information below.

The District hosted a Let's Talk: Teaching and Learning on November 3 to discuss the implementation strategies and changes purposefully underway that are aimed at improving and delivering on specific shared goals and to answer parent/guardian questions. We received many questions that we did not have time to answer but would like to share those with you.

Click to View Submitted Questions and Answers from Let's Talk

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! It’s hard to believe that it’s already December!

Gifts for Cherokee Specials Teachers & Staff

Homeroom teacher gifts are organized in each homeroom, however APT will be collecting contributions for our specials teachers and non-homeroom staff this holiday season. This includes teaching assistants, music, art, wellness, librarians, specialists, office staff, nurse, language, custodial and more. Optional donations can be given through Wednesday, December 14th via Venmo (@Natalie-Windle-2). We will compile donations for gift cards for the staff. If you do not have Venmo and would prefer to drop off cash or a check, please let me know.

Thank you for your continued support and helping spread a little extra holiday cheer this season!

Upcoming Events

-Wednesday, January 18th - 9:30am (coffee available starting at 9:00am) - January APT Meeting in the IRC lab - ALL parents welcome.

-Wednesday, February 15th - 6:00pm - EVENING APT Meeting in the Cherokee Gym - Please save the date!

-Friday, February 24th - Cherokee Winterfest! More info coming soon!

Gillian Goodfriend

Cherokee APT President 2022-2024

(773) 294-8131

gilliangoodfriend@yahoo.com

Nominations are being solicited for the following District 67 APT Executive Board positions to serve during the 2023-2025 school years:

• APT Executive Board President

• APT Executive Board Recording Secretary

• APT President, Everett Elementary School

• APT President, DPM School

Please note that nominees MUST have prior experience serving on an APT Board (or as a Room Parent) in order to be considered. Also, only parents from a local school can submit a nomination for that building’s APT President.

See the Nomination Form for descriptions of the positions being nominated. If you would like to nominate someone (including yourself), please click here to complete the Nomination Google Form:

2023-2025 APT Nomination Form (please complete online)

Or, you can click on the link below to complete the standard Nomination Form. These forms can be emailed or a photo of the completed form can be texted back at the number below:

2023-2025 APT NOMINATION FORM (please download)

You may also contact APT Executive VP & Nominating Committee Chair Shannon Shader directly via email at shannon_weed@yahoo.com or at (224) 280-3435 to submit possible candidate names.

FINAL DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is Monday, January 9, 2023.

Questions? Please contact Shannon Shader at the information above.

Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions!

BIG BIG News from the Spirit of 67 Foundation!

80% of Cherokee’s families AND 80% of Everett’s families have made a donation to the Spirit this school year and they are the FIRST TWO schools to win the Cross Town Competition! CONGRATULATIONS CHEROKEE!! CONGRATULATIONS EVERETT!! Because they hit this goal before December 31, Cherokee and Everett will each receive a prize of $1500 in grant awards to be used at their discretion! Any school that hits their goal by December 31st will receive the same prize so Come ON Sheridan and DPM! You are both so close! Thank you to Kaci Spirito and her team of Donor Reps that have been working so hard all year to make sure every school family understands how the Spirit of 67 benefits every student in every school, every day! Thank you to every family that has donated to the Spirit of 67 this year.

Do you admire and appreciate the work of the Spirit of 67 Foundation?

Consider joining our board! The Spirit of 67 Foundation Nominating Committee will soon be reaching out to fill positions for Special Events, Fundraising, Donor Representatives, Communication, and most important of all- Grants! Anybody who is interested in this highly fulfilling volunteer opportunity should complete this form on our website https://spirit67.wufoo.com/forms/z196qa0y1ex63x8/

We fundraise for the GRANTS!!

Do YOU or does YOU STUDENT have an idea of how their school experience(s) can be enhanced? You are welcome to write a grant request and we LOVE hearing from students and families! The deadline is approaching and all requests must be submitted no later than January 26, 2023. Learn how to write a grant and apply here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UXTYgOrKHwOyCd0FzD2YKyElOthOG0KSK8sf4WSOelQ/edit

Visit the Green Backpack or the front page of your school website to view the latest programs offered in our community.

“Holiday Cards for Heroes” Program and Card Design Competition

For the Seventh Annual Holiday Card Design Competition, Congressman Brad Schneider invites elementary school students in the Tenth District to submit artwork to be featured on the cover of Congressman Schneider's office Holiday Card. This year's theme is "Home for The Holidays," participants are encouraged to express what this phrase means to them through their card design. All submissions are due by Monday, December 9th, and the winner will be announced by early December. Please use this link for additional information.

CROYA News

Poinsettia’s purchased through the CROYA Poinsettia Fundraiser can be picked up at CROYA on Friday, Dec. 2nd from 12pm-5pm or Saturday, Dec. 3rd between the hours of 10am-3pm

For the latest news and event from CROYA - please read the CROYA December E-News.