Cooks Chronicle
November 2016
Principal's Chat
Construction continues to be moving along quickly! We can really see how the gym and new classrooms addition will help to create our new school! We are doing our best to get the kids outside as often as possible. Unfortunately, our play area has been really muddy inhibiting our ability to go out. We are hopeful that the new driveway will have a layer of asphalt put down soon, which could potentially provide us will a little more space to play if the grass is muddy. Children also participate in our Minds-n-Motion program, and many classes are walking to Butterfly Park for special recesses.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and I reflect on what I am thankful for, I thank you for sharing your children with me. I'm honored and blessed to spend each day with such wonderful children and families!
Elaina
PTO News
October was a great month for Cooks Corners PTO! The Reading Rampage Read-a-thon was a huge success. We raised well over $12,000, enough money to meet our ever growing budgetary needs. We appreciate everyone’s efforts in collecting and making donations. Also, thank you to the parents who helped organize all the paperwork and count all the money for this important event. For next year we are looking for a leader or co-leaders to chair this event. Please contact Amy Cheuk via email at amy_cheuk@hotmail.com or call at 548-7309.
Remember, November’s PTO meeting will be held on November 15th at 6:00 pm in the library. As always, every parent or guardian is welcome to come to the meeting.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Platinum
Lakeshore Anesthesia P.C.
McAfee Animal Hospital
Sarver Family Dental
Sprint
Thorgren Tool and Molding Co., INC.
Gold
Aqua Spa Nails
D&K Electric Ltd.
Mark L. Jones and Associates
Silver
Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman, LLC
Boy-conn Printers, INC.
Encompass Credit Union
Jean Kohler, American Family Ins. Agency, Inc.
One Love A Tennis Shoppe
Marc Laterzo Attorney at Law
Melody Drive In - Kouts
Peoples Bank
Pro Nails
Reling Refrigeration, Heating and Air
Viable Business Solutions
Bronze
Chantal’s Music Institute for Children
Chesterton Bicycle Station
Grounds Specialists of Porter County, LLC
Marathon Craftsmen
Northwest Indiana Eye and Laser
Rachel Harrington Massage Therapy
Sheree Warnke, State Farm Insurance
Stampin UP! Bethany Drew
The Independent Cat Society
Viewing Report Cards
Yearbook Pictures
Art Parents Needed
AR Star & Principal's Club
Star Club
Jennifer Wang
Sloane Connors
Clara Warren
Kate Norrod
Amy Yu
Aaron Melendez
Amil Vohra
HEALTHY (AND QUICK!) SNACK IDEA
Autumn is not only beautiful with changing colors, it provides the wonderful bounty we harvest. Fall ushers in the holidays and entertaining. Whether you are hosting a children’s party or just want an easy and creative snack tray, this is a great idea!
Arrange cheese cubes on a cookie sheet to form a word such as a child’s name, or message like, “Boo!” for a Halloween party or sports team for your next tailgate. Arrange colorful fresh fruit or vegetables in a row above the word (about 1/3 of the pan lengthwise). Spread small pretzels evenly on the rest of the cookie sheet in between the letters of the word to form the background. Enjoy!
Kathleen Kane, SNS, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, Valparaiso Community Schools
Book Rental Reminder
Lunch with your child
We welcome anyone that wishes to come and have lunch with their child. A current Volunteer Limited Background Check form must be on file in the school office, which will expire after one year. If you are unsure if you have one on file, please call the school office.
You are welcome to order a hot lunch for yourself by calling the school office the morning of the day that you will be coming in for lunch. Adult lunches are $3.45 and must be paid for with exact change. Adult lunches cannot be paid for using your child's lunch account. We do not allow any fast food to be brought into the school, but you are welcome to bring food from home should you choose not to order a hot lunch from school.
EARLY DISMISSAL / DISMISSAL CHANGES FOR STUDENTS:
Please send a handwritten note with your child to school regarding any early dismissal or afterschool dismissal changes. If you are unable to send in a handwritten note, an email to Mrs. Plemons in the school office and your child's teacher will be accepted if it is received by 11:00am. We understand that unexpected circumstances may occur, and exceptions can be made in those unexpected instances on an individual basis. Your cooperation with these procedures is greatly appreciated.
Major Saver Program
The 2016 Major Saver Discount Card campaign launches in Valpo this Wednesday!
Students will be selling $15 cards with 20 Buy-One-Get-One Free offers starting Wednesday, November 9th thru Monday, November 21st.
Major Saver cards can be purchased via cash, check or online at www.majorsaver.com. The online sale can be credited back to a particular student and school. All cards purchased online will be mailed directly to the customer.
Major Saver cards can also be purchased, and credited to a student, through the Major Saver App. Once the free app is downloaded to an Android or iOS device, buyers can choose a Major Saver card through the “buy cards” tab on the app. Once the buyer completes the transaction the offers will be stored in the Major Saver App. Buyers can then redeem offers directly from the app and do not need a physical card.
The 2016 participating restaurants/establishments include: Fun Food Factory, Dickey’s, T.G.I. Fridays, Shoe’s Pizzeria, Serranos, Greek’s Pizzeria, Fazoli’s, Papa John’s, Petey’s City Grill, Suzie’s Café, Burger King, Chocolate Café, El Amigo, Culver’s, QDOBA, Hungry Howie’s, Blue Point, YMCA, Valpo Parks, and Inman’s.
Please consider purchasing a Major Saver card from a Valpo student. The proceeds from these sales will benefit the participating schools and the Valpo Schools Foundation.
Media Center News
The Birthday Book Club has reached its 50th member! It is Emma Mulcahy from Ms. Sipes class!
Our latest members are: Matthew Isley, Emma Mulcahy, Jake Miller, Luke Miller, Emily Stoltzfus, Corrin Flick, Stella Talley, Mason Schultz, Aiden Bowman, Jacob Ray, Sarah Miller, Thomas Krueger, Clara Warren, Adam Warren, Ashley Miller, Jonny Klumpe, Mrs. Vincent, Mrs. Maddack, Maeve Ransom, Rachel Harris, Mrs. Harris, Miranda Palma, Dulce Palma and Sam Thorgren.
Classroom prize winners were Stella Talley, Chase Warring, Drew Howlett, Brayden Alsman, Emma Mulcahy, Colin O’Brien, Emily Stoltzfus, Dayvon Williams, Amy Yu, Nathan Michel, Van Le and Giancarlo Laterzo! Congratulations to all our winners! They each won a prize bag filled with an assortment of goodies including a book to keep! It won’t be long until there is another round of prizes for reaching our 75th member!
Come take a look at the Birthday Book Club bulletin board in the library and see all the great pictures of the students with their books! And be sure and check out our Birthday Book Club Bookworm! You can watch him make his way around the room as his tail grows longer with each new name. Thanks to every one for joining and adding all those great new books to our library!
I would also like to send out a huge thank you to all of the Cooks Corners families for their support of the Scholastic Book Fair! Thanks to you over $1000 worth of books will soon be available for students to check out and enjoy! And a very special shout out of appreciation to Mrs. Harmsen and Mrs. Cheuk, two phenomenal women, for organizing it and making it run so smoothly! Thanks too, to all of the PTO volunteers! It would not have been possible without your help. Cooks Corners has the best PTO!
With sincere gratitude, Ms. Lori Cox, Librarian
music notes
November 15: Major Saver Collection Begins
November 15: PTO Meeting @ 6pm
November 17: Spell Bowl Competition
November 17: School Board Meeting @ 6pm (TJMS)
November 18: Student Thanksgiving Dinner
November 21: Major Saver Collection Ends
November 23-25: No School for Thanksgiving Break
December 6: Mind-Up Parent Meeting (Cooks)
December 15: School Board Meeting @ 6pm (Admin Bldg.)
December 21-Jan. 2: Holiday Break