The Tiger Times Newsletter
Pleasantdale Middle School
January 12, 2020
It Was A Great Week Back!
We look forward to fun week of learning this week!
Spirit Week this Week!
Winter Pep Assembly Friday!
Thank you to the student council for organizing this great event for our school! In order to make room for the assembly, we've adjusted the schedule for the day. It is below.
Lyons Township High School 8th Grade Parent Orientation Night This Thursday at Pleasantdale Middle School
Please complete the 5Essentials Survey
Beginning January 2020 students in grades 4-8, teachers, and parents will have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of our schools. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be conducted January through February. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/login/ and complete the information to begin.
No School for Students on Monday, January 20
Parent Education Corner
How to Talk With Your Middle Schooler About What Matters Most-A conversation between Dr. Robin Silverman and Phyllis Fagell
As we continue to talk about providing choices to our students in how they are going to learn new information, I wanted to model this for you here. I am going to share with you a link to a 57:25 podcast as well as a great synopsis of the conversation from the podcast. Whether you'd prefer to listen to the conversation while you're driving or whenever you listen to your podcasts or if you'd simply prefer to read the summary in 5-10 minutes, this was a great conversation about how to talk with your middle schooler about what matters most.
If anything strikes you and you'd like to start up a conversation with me, please don't hesitate to email or call me.
Upcoming Parent Presentations
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
Nazareth Academy Parent Offerings
Click here to see Nazareth Academy's Parent Speaker Series this year!
From the 181 Foundation in Hinsdale-Open to all parents
Attention 5-8th Grade Girls: Introduce a Girl to STEM Day at Lyons Township High School, Saturday, February 8, 2020, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
More information can be found here: Introduce a Girl to STEM Day Flyer (February 8, 2020)
As always, scholarships are available by contacting Mr. Sonntag.
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:
January 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, January 13-Student Council Spirit Week - Neon Color Day - wear your brightest colors
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
Boys’ Basketball Game Home vs. Gurrie, 4:15
Tuesday, January 14-Student Council Spirit Week - Hawaiin Day - wear tropical or Hawaiin attire
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
5th Grade Orchestra, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:25, Library
Tech Intern Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Spirit Squad, 3:30-4:25 p.m, Room 25
Boys’ Basketball Game Home vs. Willow, 4:15
Wednesday, January 15 Student Council Spirit Week - Disney Day - wear Disney attire or dress up like a Disney character
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
No after-school activities for students
Thursday, January 16-Student Council Spirit Week - Pajama Day - wear your pj’s or comfy clothes
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
LT Student Orientation Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Cafeteria
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:30 p.m., Library
Gaming Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Boys’ Basketball Game Home vs. Highlands, 4:15
LT 8th Grade Parent Night at Pdale, 7:00 p.m., Cafeteria
Friday, January 17-Winter Pep Assembly
Student Council Spirit Week - wear your class colors:
5th - Purple
6th - White
7th - Black
8th - Blue
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)
A Look Ahead...
Monday, January 20-Martin Luther King, Jr. Day-No School
Tuesday, January 21
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
5th Grade Orchestra, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:25, Library
Tech Intern Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Wednesday, January 22
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
No after-school activities for students
Thursday, January 23
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
Gaming Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Friday, January 24
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