The Western Weekly
Issue 20: January 27th, 2019
Green Team Members Give the Gift of Plants
Beginning in February, the Green Team will host their annual plastic bag drive. The children are asking all Western Avenue families to keep saving and collecting plastic bags for their drive. We will start collecting all plastic bags in a few weeks, and the kids cannot wait. Go Green Team!
HF Students Read to Western Students During our MLK Day of Service.
Practicing our Recorders in Music Class
3rd Graders Collaborate During English Class!
Volunteers Needed for Black History Month In-Class Activity
The Black History Month Committee is looking for parent volunteers who will be able to lead the in-class activities during the week of February 11th, 2019. The commitment is only 40 minutes and you are able to sign up for multiple volunteer time slots.
Thank you for your support during Black History Month. We have a fabulous committee, and we cannot wait to celebrate with our children! Please see the sign up below to volunteer for the in-class activity:
Winter Box Tops Drive Begins!
Girls on the Run
Registration for the 2019 Girls on the Run Season opens January 1, 2019.
You can register by visiting www.gotrchicago.org or via the bilingual (English and Spanish) call center at (312) 224-8385 open Monday - Friday 9 am -5 pm.
*Online registrations must be submitted via a laptop or desktop computer. Cell phones or tablets are not compatible.
This season Western Avenue is only capable of allowing 45 girls to participate. First come, first serve- no exceptions.
See the pink parent letter that was sent home to all girls in grades 3-5 for more information.
Please contact Jana Budz at jbudz@sd161.org with any questions.5Essentials Parent Participation: Window Closing Soon!
Western Parents, we have met our goal of 20%, but why stop there? Let's keep going! The survey is meant to give us valuable feedback about our school, and we would love to hear your voice! 5Essentials should take no more than ten minutes to complete.
If you haven't done so already, please click this link to the parent survey site at https://illinois.5-essentials.org/2017/
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey provides a comprehensive picture of a school’s organizational culture in an individualized report measuring five “essentials” critical for school success:
- Effective Leaders
- Collaborative Teachers
- Involved Families
- Supportive Environment
- Ambitious Instruction
Please contact the Main Office with any questions or concerns. Thank you!
Supporting Girl Scouts as They Earn the Silver Award
Hi! My name is Madi and I am an 8th grader in Cadette Troop 70971. My troop is working on our Silver Award this year and needs your help. We have chosen to create comfort kits to donate to the local Red Cross office. We have all heard about all of the natural disasters, wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, but disasters happen close to home too!
When the Red Cross is sent out to a disaster they pass out these kits, 1 per person, which is to last 3 days. At this time we are asking for donations of the following items: individually wrapped toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, razors, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, soap, new washcloths, and gallon size "Zip Lock" type bags. We ask that these be hypoallergenic and not expired.
You can place items for donation in the box labeled with our Donations Needed flyers located in Western Avenue's Main Foyer.
Thank you very much!
Madi
Traffic Flow at Arrival and Dismissal
Parents, we understand that everyone is rushing to get their days started in the morning. However, we need to do a better job driving safely in the drop-off and pick-up lines. We have three staff members directing traffic at the front lot, two staff members posted at door I (primary playground), and multiple people posted at the playgrounds and blacktop area between the playgrounds. We also have one person stationed in the North parking lot. Please remember that there is a traffic flow. Students must be dropped off in the designated car lines. Please do not drop off your children on any other street or sidewalk other than the designated lines. Please do not wait in line to make sure your child walks to the door because that stops the flow for other parents behind you. And please be very mindful when you are pulling away from the car line. There should only be one priority for morning drop off and afternoon pick up--and that priority is the safety of all our kids at Western Avenue. If we all work together, we can ensure the safety of all students. Thank you!
Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful week!
Western Avenue Elementary
Website: http://westernavenue.sd161.org/
Location: 940 Western Avenue, Flossmoor, IL
Phone: (708) 647-7400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/district161wa/
Twitter: @western161