The Tiger Times Newsletter
Pleasantdale Middle School
November 24, 2019
Friday Was a Great Day!
During our morning half-day with students, we had a building-wide Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Day! Social and Emotional Learning are the skills people use to regulate their emotions and interact with one another in successful ways. The two goals that we are working on as a school are: 1A: Identify and manage one's emotions and behavior and 3B: Apply decision-making skills to deal responsibly with daily academic and social
situations.
We worked towards these goals by having a rotation of sessions in each of the following areas: (Check out some pictures below!)
Executive Functioning
Gratitude
Coping with Stress
High School Students Answering Questions about High School for 8th Graders
TeamBuilding
Movement Breaks
Yoga
The Illinois Learning Standards for Social and Emotional Learning are below:
Goal 1: Develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life success.
A. Identify and manage one's emotions and behavior
B. Recognize personal qualities and external supports
C. Demonstrate skills related to achieving personal and academic goals
Goal 2: Use social-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships
A. Recognize the feelings and perspectives of others
B. Recognize individual and group similarities and differences
C. Use communication and social skills to interact effectively with others
D. Demonstrate an ability to prevent, manage, and resolve interpersonal conflicts in
constructive ways.
Goal 3: Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school, and community contexts.
A. Consider ethical, safety, and societal factors in making decisions.
B. Apply decision-making skills to deal responsibly with daily academic and social
situations.
C. Contribute to the well-being of one's school and community.
For more information about the SEL Learning Standards for the state of Illinois, please click here.
Parent Conferences Monday and Tuesday
We look forward to seeing many of you at Parent Conference tomorrow and Tuesday this week. Please bring your conference schedule so you know with whom you're meeting and at what times. Thank you for your continued partnership with us!
Also at Parent Conferences--Bake Sale Fundraiser
A group of 5th graders who are very concerned about endangered animals will be hosting a bake sale fundraiser on Monday during conferences. The money raised will go towards the care of our endangered Alligator Snapping turtle, Shelly. The turtle is on loan with us from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The bake sale will be in the front lobby of the school. Please consider supporting our students and their cause if you're here on Monday for conferences!
1st Trimester Report Cards Are Posted
Please remember that report cards (like test scores) are just one measure of the growth that is occurring in your child. As I reflect upon the last 2+ years, I am very proud of the continued development of your children. They continue to amaze me in all they are doing!
The Book Fair is Here!
Monday, November 25, 1-8 p.m.
Tuesday, November 26, 12-7 p.m.
Monday, December 2: 8:15-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 3: 8:15-4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4: 8:15-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4: 6-7 p.m. during Family Reading Night!!
Thursday, December 5: 8:15-4:30 p.m.
Intramural Volleyball Mondays in November and December
Parent Education Corner
Upcoming Parent Presentations
Nazareth Academy Parent Offerings
Thursday, December 5 at 7 p.m. Dr. Michele Borba will speak on the topic of Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All About Me World (flyer below)
Click here to see Nazareth Academy's Parent Speaker Series this year!
Parent Presentations at LTHS
February 25: 7:30 p.m. "Drugs, Alcohol, and the Teen Brain" Presented by Tammy Tunac (MA, LPC, CADC Behavioral Health Clinician), LT South Campus
Lost and Found will be donated soon!
Calendar Dates for the Year
If you are like me, you want to know the dates for the year as far in advance as possible. As long as you understand that something may change due to unforeseen circumstances, I’d like to provide you access to the dates we’ve planned for the year (many of which are in the paper calendar you received in the mail). To access the middle school calendar dates, please click here.
Collections at the Middle School
We collect the following at the middle school:
1. Pop Tabs-The Pop Tab competition by grade has begun so please continue to collect Pop Tabs for us throughout the year. We donate them to Ronald McDonald House to support families of children with cancer.
2. Box Tops for Education-These are all given to the PTO to support our schools!
Throughout the year, there are other collections and drives that occur. Keep an eye out for how you can support the causes that are important to the students and staff here!
Tiger Tipline
While it is always best to talk directly to a staff member, we understand that sometimes this can be uncomfortable or difficult for students or parents. At Pleasantdale Middle School, we offer the Tiger Tipline as an anonymous tool for reporting unsafe, uncomfortable, or unkind behaviors and situations. We explicitly teach the students that if they ever see something or hear something that makes them feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or is unkind, either online or in person, they should tell a “trusted adult” which could be parents, school personnel, or other adults in their lives. The Tiger Tipline can be accessed here and we will post the link in Schoology and create a shortcut to the link on the student devices for easy access.
School Spirit Fridays!
Lunch information
The lunch menus have been upgraded significantly to show both nutritional information and allergens for the food served by Just a Dash, our third-party partner to provide hot lunch to our school. Here's the link to the menu:
December Lunch Menu, Nutritional Information, and Allergens
To put money on your child's account, please log into Skyward and add money. For more complete directions or apply for free or reduced lunches, please visit here.
Follow Us on Twitter @Pdaleprincipal for updates and pictures of the happenings around the middle school!
Follow pdalemsactivities on Instagram for reminders about school spirit days and events throughout the year!
This Week...
Monday, November 25-No Student Attendance
Parent Conferences, 1-8 p.m.
Book Fair in the library, 1-8 p.m.
Tuesday, November 26-No Student Attendance
Parent Conferences 12-7 p.m.
Book Fair in the library, 12-7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 27-Sunday, December 1-No Student Attendance
Thanksgiving Break
A Look Ahead...
Monday, December 2-Book fair open from 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Boys' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Newbery Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m.
Open Library 3:30-4:25 p.m. in the library
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in Room 1A (STEM Lab) - board and card games
Tuesday, December 3-Book fair open from 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
7th, 8th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
LTHS 8th Grade Band Day-Field Trip
5th Grade Orchestra, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
STEM Club, 3:30-4:25, STEM LAB
Open Library 3:30-4:25, Library
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in the South Gym
Tech Intern Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Boys’ Basketball Game Away @ Highlands, 4:15
8th Grade Future Freshman Night @ LT South Campus, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4-Book fair open from 8:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 6-7 p.m.
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
5th, 6th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Student Council Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
Family Reading Night, 6-7 p.m., Library
Thursday, December 5-Book fair open from 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
Boys' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Student Council Meeting**, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
**Thursday meetings are meant for the students that cannot come on Wednesdays
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:30 p.m., Library
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in the South Gym
Communications Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Gaming Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Boys’ Basketball Game Away @ Washington, 4:15
Friday, December 6
Jazz Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
5th, 6th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
7th, 8th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Yoga, 7:35 a.m., small gym (mats are provided)
Questions? We're here to help!
Athletics: 708-246-7382
Mr. Mark Dreher, Athletic Director, mdreher@d107.org
Attendance notification: 708-246-3210, extension 5 or email middleattendance@d107.org before 8:20 a.m., please.
Health Office: 708-246-7619
Mrs. Denise Rende, Nurse, drende@d107.org
Main Office: 708-246-3210, extension 0
Mrs. Charlotte Reschke, Secretary, creschke@d107.org
Ms. Maria Cuevas, Clerical Aide, mcuevas@d107.org
Mrs. Brianne Malatt, Assistant Principal, bmalatt@d107.org, 708-246-7373
Mr. Griffin Sonntag, Principal, gsonntag@d107.org, 708-246-7609
Social Worker: 708-246-7505
Ms. Carrie Castaldo, Social Worker, ccastaldo@d107.org