The Central Scoop
December 1, 2017
From the Principal's Desk...
Dear Parents,
Our fourth graders just returned from Oregon, IL. They had a wonderful three-day experience at Lorado Taft! They did a great job working together in this unique, outdoor classroom setting. They learned about geology, instincts for survival, forest and water ecology, team building, and many other interesting areas of study. All children were well-mannered and eager to work! They actually enjoyed setting and clearing the tables for meals (so you can now expect this at home!). They also eagerly completed their journals each night. Thank you for sharing your children with us. This experience was positive for everyone involved.
Looking ahead, Please join your children at Central School for "Art Awareness Week," December 4th - 8th. This year students will dive into the art of printmaking. Printmaking goes as far back as 105 AD in China when paper was invented. Printmaking has a major role in the art world today and is inspiration for anyone looking to explore an ancient and modern creative process. Three unique printing stations will be set up in the art room where each child will have a hands-on experience printing in different styles. The children will use different techniques with various materials. Please join us to help our students explore the printing process and engage in exciting activities. We hope to see you there! Use the link below to sign up. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094ca8a82ca13-artawareness2
Warmly,
- Becky
Rebecca Littmann
Principal
Central Elementary School
The fourth graders arrived for outdoor education and attended orientation with Lorado Taft staff.
The Gully
Photography
Wild Turkeys
Shelters
Geology
Environment
School & District Announcements and Reminders...
Lost and Found
Parents please check the school's "Lost and Found" for any missing items. Any items left behind by winter break will be donated to charity.
District Announcement about Instrumental Music
As you may know, D39 is taking a close look at its instrumental music program as part of the Strategic Plan this year. An important part of this process is getting input from parents and 5th-8th grade students; there will be a survey soon to get thoughts and preferences with respect to band and orchestra. Based on these survey results, the District may elicit additional feedback from parents and/or students.
The District is committed to continuing its long tradition of instrumental music opportunities to help students explore their interests and talents. D39’s instrumental music approach is unique in that it has aspects commonly associated with both extracurricular and curricular programs. While it is classified as “extracurricular,” because it takes place outside of the school day and participation is optional, some may see it as “curricular” because students have traditionally received achievement grades, and instruction is aligned to state and national standards.
The current review process is directed at ways to enhance the program and maintain the high quality that our community has come to expect. Your feedback in response to the survey will help the District better define the structure of the instrumental music program in D39. Watch for an email with the survey next week. Your participation is important – more input will lead to better success as we evaluate enhancements to the program.
Call Central School "Safe Phone" For Absences: 847-512-6150
Please call the "SAFE" (absence) phone to report absences even if you let the classroom teacher knows, because some teachers don't see the email/voicemail until later in the day. Teachers assume you are calling the office. It's important that the school nurse is directly aware of any absences otherwise, your son/daughter may be considered "missing." The school nurse keeps track of all school absences in the building. For safety reasons, we want to make sure all of our students are accounted for and safe.
Central School is on Twitter!
- We have TWO Twitter accounts. Please "follow" us at Twitter.com! Explore Central 39 (with our actual "handle" as @explorecentral). With this account, we mostly share student activities that are completed in the Learning Commons (but other activities are often included as well). We are also providing this Twitter feed on our Central School homepage.
- There is also a principal page @BeckyLittmann where you can follow a variety of school happenings including professional development, student activities, parent involvement, and school goals.
Green Team Announcement
Are you decorating for the holidays? Have you found any old or broken holiday lights? Are you looking for a way to get rid of them in an environmentally friendly way? Well great news! The Green Team (and Central’s Environmental Awareness Committee) is teaming up with the Village of Wilmette and SWANCC to keep all those lights and wires out of our landfills! Just bring your lights to Central School and drop them into the boxes located in the front lobby. We’ll be collecting lights until Friday January 19th. So easy and no guilt! What a great way to stay green this holiday season - Happy Holidays from the Green Team!
PTA Announcements and Reminders...
* The PTA sends out their own newsletter on Sundays - here are just a few highlights
Gift of Giving - Deadline Extended until Dec. 8th
The hour of midnight is approaching and the Gift of Giving Committee is hoping some more spirited Central “elves” will help fulfill the holiday wishes of kids and families in need this season!
The deadline to sign-up and donate to Gift of Giving has been extended until Wednesday, Dec. 8 to help us reach our goals. Last year nearly 80 Central families contributed to these great organizations and we hope to reach that number again.
For those of you who have already contributed, thank you very much for your help! We truly appreciate your generosity.
You can donate to Metropolitan Family Services via SignUpGenius the link below or on the PTA website. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080848a5a728ab9-mfsgift
Sign-ups and item drop off are all due by Wednesday, Dec. 8. Donations can be dropped off in the Gift of Giving bin at Central School’s front office or at the homes of Deb Berstein, Dina Levine or Meghan MacKinnon. Please contact Meghan MacKinnon at meghanmackinnon@me.com with questions.
Central School Garden
Please help the garden grow as Central looks forward to celebrating its 20th Anniversary next year! The PTA is excited about improvements to enhance learning and further ways to enjoy outdoor space. Please consider donating, we appreciate your support!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e4daeab28a2fa7-support
Community Announcements...
- Wilmette Park District hosts after school clubs for students at Central, Harper, McKenzie January 9 - March 23.
- New Trier HS Football Schedule is posted online.
- Register now for Wilmette Park District’s Saturday Basketball for boys & girls grades 4-8.
Family Action Network (FAN)
Click HERE for information about FAN and upcoming speakers.
Additional information on community events can be found here http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
Park District After-School Clubs
Attached you will find registration and class information for the winter session of Central After School Clubs through the Wilmette Park District.
Upcoming Events...
- 12/4-12/8 - Art Awareness
- 12/5 - PTA's "Arts in the Evening" Event, 6:30PM-7:30PM at Central School (see PTA website for sign-up and details)
- 12/6 - D39 Parent Event at the Junior High: How to Raise Resilient Children
- 12/18 - Board of Education Meeting @7pm
- 12/25-1/5 - No School, Winter Break (school resumes Monday, Jan 8th)