Westbrook + Glen Grove PTA
Newsletter for January 31, 2023
News For Parents & Families
Volunteer Sign Up NOW OPEN!
All parents who have *not yet* had a chance to volunteer at a classroom party this year are invited to sign up now! If you have already attended the Fall or Winter party we ask that you allow other parents to have a turn. Any slots that remain open as of next Tuesday, February 7 are open to all! As we are working with a very limited number of party spots we appreciate your help and understanding. Note the party times below.
Can You Donate Party Snacks?
K-5th Parents! Our sign up is about 74% populated and we'd love your help filling the remaining 22 empty snack donation slots. Our volunteers will sort the snacks ahead of party day so that each classroom has their snack bag ready-to-go!
Please deliver snacks by Monday 2/6 to the front office of your school unless you are bringing oranges. Oranges may be dropped off 2/10 or 2/13 to ensure they are fresh. Thank you!
Pre-K Note: Preschool snack is already provided during the school day. Since pre-k parties are only 30 minutes, Room Reps and teachers can decide if they would like snack to be during party time or not.
HONEST JUICE BOXES: Nutrition Information
UTZ VALENTINE PRETZELS: Nutrition Information
PIRATE'S BOOTY: Nutrition Information and Allergen FAQs
*THIS FRIDAY!* All Glen Grove Families Are Invited!
This free family event is sure to be LOTS of fun! This is the second event this year from the Glen Grove Community Project (GGCP) team, who created the Ofrenda Experience last October. No RSVP is necessary and the event is free for everyone.
See you Friday @ 6pm! Can't wait!
Have an idea for a PTA event?
We are inviting ANYONE to share ideas about PTA events you'd like to see at our schools! If there's an event that has happened in the past, or something entirely new, we'd love to hear about what events you'd like to see as part of our school community. We're excited to hear from you!
February Happenings
Upcoming Room Rep Events
Enjoy Events Planned By Our Room Reps!
We've updated our calendar to include February/March meetups and we will continue to add events as they are organized. Please note that all family activities are with a parent/guardian, not drop off.
February/March Activity Schedule
Please watch for direct email communication from your Room Rep(s) for updates, changes, or cancellations to the information listed above.
Upcoming Student Experiences
Local Artist Jimmy Barillas @ Glen Grove!
Jimmy Barillas will be the upcoming Artist in Residence in Ms. Hausman's 4th grade art classes February 22 and 24! Just as students begin their bird painting unit, Mr. Barillas will speak to students about his bird drawing techniques and provide an in-person demonstration. Many thanks to Ms. Hausman for organizing this fantastic experience!
Mr. Barillas's artwork is on exhibit at Awesome Juice Bar, which is located at 3236 Glenview Rd. Please stop in and check it out!
***PTA is proud to sponsor Mr. Barillas's visit!***
Mouse Trap Machine Assembly!
The Mousetrap Machine Show combines Science, Math and Art to teach students about how the five essential simple machines work: the Lever, the Wheel, the Pulley, the Inclined Plane and the Screw. We can't wait to see our panda and gators enjoy the show!
Westbrook: February 9 (2 shows)
Glen Grove: February 3 (1 show)
***PTA is proud to sponsor this event***
Upcoming Family Experiences
Next Week - 2/6 to 2/10
3rd Grade Families
As noted in the 1/13/23 Gator News, Glen Grove will be hosting THIRD GRADE PARENTS in a very special Fine Arts Week! This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know your child's fine arts teachers -- who they will know for three full years -- and better understand the important role these teachers and curriculums play in your student's overall education.
Can't make it? Schedule *conferences* with your fine arts teachers this spring! Zoom conferences are available!
***PTA is a proud supporter of all Westbrook and Glen Grove Fine Arts/PE events!***
SAVE THE DATE - 2/14/23
All Westbrook & Glen Grove Families
We will be sharing the sign up for parents to volunteer at the February Classroom Parties soon, once we have confirmed the times for the parties.
***PTA will be sponsoring these parties using classroom funds collected at the start of the school year. Thank you parents!***
SAVE THE DATE - 2/15/23
All Glen Grove Families
You are invited to this special night that will serve as the conclusion of the One School, One Book all-school book club! It will be a fantastic evening!
Want to read along with your student or just better understand the schedule of events, check out the Glen Grove One School, One Book Website
***PTA is a proud supporter of the One School, One Book GEF grant!***
SAVE THE DATE - 2/22/23
All Westbrook & Glen Grove Families
Wednesday, February 22 will be our next spirit night @ Panera in Niles (Milwaukee Ave.)!
***Your participation helps us do more in our schools!***
Please see our calendar below for all MARCH save-the-dates, including many for Westbrook!
News For Teachers & Staff
February Party Plans - DELIVERED!
Classroom Teachers! Last week we shared our February Party Plans with all of the Room Reps -- please find the same information we shared with them below:
- Westbrook Preschool February Party Plan
- Westbrook K-2 February Party Plan
- Glen Grove February Party Plan
Next Steps
Classroom Teachers -- your Room Rep should reach out to discuss your party plan as well as any changes that make sense for your classroom, such as adjusting the number of activities, the structure of the activities, the amount of valentine time at the party, etc. The party plans are intended to be a base that can be shaped into whatever you and your Room Rep decide works best for your classroom. All "PREP" noted in the party plans will be done by your Room Reps, though we have tried to keep this work minimal per parent request.
Here are additional links that may be helpful:
Room Reps For 2022-23 School Year
Room Reps Confirmed To Attend 2/14 Party
Additional Parent Volunteers Attending 2/14 Party (released 1/31)
If Room Reps or teachers have questions about specific games, supplies, etc., our Party Coordinators are happy to help:
Westbrook: Rachel Woody @ rwoody510@gmail.com
Glen Grove: Tricia Johnson @ tmj1578@gmail.com
We are looking forward to some GREAT parties! Thank you all!
Have an idea for a PTA Event?
We are inviting ANYONE to share ideas about PTA events you'd like to see at our schools! If there's an event that has happened in the past, or something entirely new, we'd love to hear about what events you'd like to see as part of our school community. We're excited to hear from you!
Other News
Winter/Spring 2023 Calendar
February
THIS MONTH'S PTA-SPONSORED HIGHLIGHTS: February Classroom Parties; MoueTrap Machine Show assembly; Artist In Residence @ GG; Spirit Night @ Panera
February 2 - GEF Recital Night, 6pm - 9pm (for some Glen Grove students)
February 3 - MouseTrap Machine Show PTA-sponsored assembly, Glen Grove, 1pm
February 3 - Glen Grove Community Project Family Event: Lunar New Year, 6pm
February 6 to 10 - 3rd Grade Fine Arts Week -- parents, save the date!
February 9 - MouseTrap Machine Show PTA-sponsored assembly, Westbrook, 10am and 1:30pm
February 9 - PTA Meeting with our WB/GG Principals, all invited, 6pm on Zoom
February 14 - February Classroom Parties @ Westbrook and Glen Grove
February 15 - Glen Grove One Book, One School Evening Event, 6pm-7pm
February 20 - NO SCHOOL (Presidents Day)
February 21 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:30pm
February 22 - 4th Grade Artist In Residence Experience (PRE, PAR, DAH), sponsored by PTA New!
February 22 - Spirit Night @ Panera (Milwaukee Ave), 4pm-8pm
February 24 - 4th Grade Artist In Residence Experience (BUR, VIL, PET), sponsored by PTA New!
March
March 3 - NO SCHOOL (conferences)
March 8 - Westbrook Family Literacy Night, 5:30pm - 7pm
March 9 - PTA Meeting with our WB/GG Principals, all invited, 9:15am @ Glen Grove
March 14 - Glen Grove Author Visit with Wink author Rob Harrell, 3rd and 4th grades only, time TBD
March 15 - D34 Parent Connect Presentation: Parenting Through Puberty, 7pm @ Springman
March 16 - Westbrook Music Performance for Hochman, Skogsbakken, Bratko & Davies, 9:30am
March 16 - Westbrook Music Performance for Borkowski, Marsh, Howard, & McIntyre, 1:30pm
March 17 - Westbrook Music Performance for Humpal, Yadava, & Sulak, 9:30am
March 20 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:30pm
March 27 to 31 - NO SCHOOL (spring break)
April
April 3 - D34 K-8th Registration For 2023-24 school year begins (with early bird discount!)
April 7 - NO SCHOOL (Good Friday)
April 13 - PTA Meeting with our WB/GG Principals, all invited, 6pm on Zoom
April 17 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:30pm
April 24 - Family Connect Night for Westbrook & Glen Grove Families, 6pm - 8pm (sponsored by the Debra Gelfand Children's Foundation)
May
May 8 to 12 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
May 11 - PTA Meeting with our WB/GG Principals, all invited, 9:15am Westbrook (last meeting)
May 15 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:30pm
May 16 - Spring Chorus Concert, 6:30pm
May 25 - Spring Band Concert, 6:30pm
May 29 - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
June
June 7 - 5th Grade Picnic, time TBD
June 8 - 5th Grade Picnic RAIN DATE (if needed)
June 8 - Last Day For Students
Other Calendar Links
Glen Grove Monthly Calendar (with lunch info)
D34 Monthly Calendar (website)
D34 2022-23 Calendar (PDF)
Click to add the D34 Google Calendar to your calendar
Monthly Friday Hot Lunch Specials
If we are missing any calendar dates let us know ptapresident.wbgg@gmail.com
Helpful Links For Parents
As You Spring Clean, Keep In Mind...
Author Shannon Hale @ GPL!
2/11 @ 3pm Join GPL for a *virtual* author visit with writer Shannon Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham! They will talk about their books, answer your questions, and share an engaging activity.
Author Kwame Alexander @ GPL!
2/8 @ 7pm Join GPL for a *virtual* evening of inspiration and conversation with best-selling and award-winning children’s and young adult author and poet, Kwame Alexander, author of the The Crossover, The Undefeated, and An American Story.
D34 Food Survey
Do you have feedback, thoughts, questions...or maybe dreams? to share with the D34 Food Services Team? You are invited to share as many details as you like in this survey!
Parenting through Puberty
Date: 3/15/23
Time: 7pm
Format: In Person @ Springman
Register: Click here to register
Submit Questions: Click here to submit questions
Sponsored by D34
D34 Preschool
Learn more about D34 preschool, as well as screenings for hearing/vision, concepts, motor and language (English language proficiency if bilingual).
PeachJar
Check out the latest flyers from the surrounding community. Connect with after school programs, community events, and more!
Become A D34 Sub
District 34 is faced with a shortage of substitute teachers. If you have ANY amount of time, please consider joining the D34 team as a substitute teacher. We are seeking caring adults from a range of backgrounds, skills and interests. Get valuable experience, set your own hours, and make a difference in the lives of D34 students!
Become A D34 Associate
Associates (also known as paraprofessionals or teacher's aides) play an essential role within our school district. An associate can tutor students or assist the teacher with managing the classroom and organizing instructional materials.
Join the D34 Volunteer Pool
D34 is looking to build connections and community partnerships that increase opportunities for our students to experience authentic learning. We are asking parents, grandparents and other community members to share their experience and expertise in our classrooms.
A day without laughter is a day wasted.
- Charlie Chaplin
About WB/GG PTA
Email: ptapresident.wbgg@gmail.com
Website: https://www.westbrookandglengrovepta.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1708637696063888/
Twitter: @wbggpta