The Central Scoop
December 21, 2018
From the Principal's Desk...
Dear Parents,
This week has been filled with fun activities with a winter theme. This morning we had a wonderful school-wide assembly that featured several classrooms and the school's Glee Club. We would like to thank Mrs. Jeanne Gierke and her assembly committee for their direction and guidance with this special student music performance.
Yesterday, students participated in a "Winter Wonderland STEAM Day" in the Learning Commons. We completed activities with a focus on integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Lauren Wysocke, Linda Diekman, and Bonny Skutch planned six stations for students. Our fourth grade students helped to run the activities, and we greatly appreciated their help and leadership! The activities included the following:
- Holiday Circuit Card
- Binary Code Snowflakes
- Ski Jump Challenge
- Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?
- Magnet Maze
With the holiday season upon us, Dana and I find ourselves reflecting on the many wonderful people in our lives. We are truly grateful for our dedicated staff, collaborative parents, and talented students. The passion and enthusiasm that everyone displays each day is inspirational. We appreciate everything you do to make Central a very special place for all of us.
Over the next couple of weeks, we hope you will find plenty of time to relax with your loved ones. We wish you a very joyous holiday season and a New Year filled with peace, prosperity, and memories you will cherish for years to come.
Warmly,
- Becky
Rebecca Littmann
Principal
Central Elementary School
2019-20 Registration for ALL Kindergarten Students and NEW Incoming 1st Grade Students
Kindergarten:
Registration will take place at each elementary school during the following dates and times in January for parents to come in and register their child(ren). The necessary forms are posted online and can be completed in advance.
- Thursday, January 17th: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday, January 18th: 8:00 am – 3:15 pm
Parents need to come in to school to register their child(ren), bringing along an original copy of their child’s birth certificate and two documents that provide proof of residency (details online). A lottery will be held on January 24th to determine morning and afternoon kindergarten placements, with parents notified thereafter via email. Please go to this link to learn more information and to download the necessary enrollment forms:
http://www.wilmette39.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=360930&pageId=7232367
NEW, Incoming First Grade Students:
We are watching our enrollment numbers for first grade very carefully for the 2019-20 school year. We are hoping to add one section of classes for next year in 1st grade (we are hoping to have a total of four sections). But in order to do this, we need our incoming first grade students to register for school early. If you have a current kindergartener in a private school this year, and you plan to send your child to Central for first grade next year, please talk to our secretaries about enrolling and registering your child. Thank you!
Sister School Letter - Reminder & Last Posting
Our "Sister School" relationship with Kusirye-U School in Tanzania is going very well! We are now in our second year partnering with this school. Our Sister School relationship is a service learning project for all our students K-4 and has been arranged through Opportunity Education. We are not only pen-pals with the school, but we are learning about the culture, weather, and environment in Tanzania. A few weeks ago, we wrote letters with the theme, "A meal shared with your family." Our students wrote about family meals and the meaning of Thanksgiving. We are asking our sister school to send us letters on the same theme in return. We are looking forward to learning about their meals, favorite foods, and family traditions.
Looking ahead, our next letter writing topics will be: “What do you like to do at home with your family?" or What do you like to do in your free time?” In fact, we would like our students to write this next letter at home with their families over winter vacation. The letter can simply be addressed to, "Dear Friend." All letters will be collected after winter break and should be completed by January 11th. While this activity is completely voluntary, we are hoping everyone chooses to participate! We encourage you to ask your children about our sister school and learn more about it together. Please visit this website for more photos and information about the school: Kusirye-U School
Traffic Safety Reminders - Last Posting
Due to the winter weather, the carpool line is a little longer before and after school. As a result, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about our traffic and carpool line procedures. Please share this information with anyone who picks up your children - babysitters, grandparents, neighbors, and friends.
- Please follow the suggestions of our supervisors in green vests on the curb. They are volunteer staff members who are there to help your child get in and out of your vehicle safely. These adults are also safe people for students to use if they need help finding a caregiver.
- Please wait to let your children out of your vehicle in front of the school. Letting them out of the car any earlier is dangerous.
Pull your vehicle up as far as possible in the line (even across the driveway to the black top), but leave room to pull out so you don't need to back up to get around the car in front of you.
Keep pulling up as cars exit the line to keep it moving.
Stay in your car at all times. Please don't leave your car or park it in the carpool line. This is very dangerous for you and for those trying to maneuver around your car. If you must walk your child to the door, please park your car across the street or a block away so you can walk your child safely to school.
Use the crosswalk on Central Avenue. We have a wonderful crossing guard on Central Ave. His name is Dudley and he is hired by the Wilmette Police Department. Please make sure that your entire family uses the crosswalk on Central Avenue. Dudley will ensure that you get across the street safely.
The Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey - Last Posting
The 5Essentials Survey provides school districts with detailed data on school culture and climate. As a parent, you have an opportunity to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness about your child’s school. The survey results will become part of the school's public "Report Card" with the state. Your identity and survey responses will be completely confidential. The Parent Survey Supplement will be open from December 11, 2018 through January 18, 2019.
To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/.
Select the appropriate survey to begin.
Connecting Kids Preschool Program - Last Posting
Housed within Romona School is the Connecting Kids Preschool Program. The half-day sessions for three, four and five year-old children are specifically designed to prepare children for District 39 kindergarten classrooms. With structured play, planned pre-academic instruction, differentiated learning, and vocabulary development, Connecting Kids provides an excellent foundation for all children. Reserve a spot for your child in next fall's three, four or five year-old classes. Registration opens on December 1, 2018 and closes on January 31, 2019. Registration forms can be found online here. If space is available, registration is ongoing until classes are filled.
Call Amanda Barton, Early Childhood Coordinator, at 847-512-6463, or visit www.wilmette39.org to learn more about this exceptional District 39 program.
PTA Announcements and Reminders...
* The PTA sends out their own newsletter on Sundays - here are just a few highlights
Game Night with our very own P.E. Dept.
Don't miss the fun! The Central P.E. Dept. is hosting a Game Night on Friday, February 8th from 6:00-7:30 PM in the Central School gyms. Game Night is open to current 1st - 4th grade Central students. This is a drop off event.
**All proceeds from this event will benefit the Pathway to Play initiatives. Sign up today!
Amazon Smile - Sign-up, It's EASY!
Don’t forget to sign up for Amazon Smile! Your everyday purchases can help benefit our school.
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know and love. Same product, same prices, same service - just a special link to help your shopping benefit our school. Please bookmark the link below to make sure your shopping is always contributing. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases directly to Central School! Just in time for Halloween candy, costume, and fall shopping... Sign up today at https://smile.amazon.com/
Community Announcements...
Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development offers Weekend Enrichment Programs for students age 3 through 8th grade.
- Love to sing? Youth Choral Theatre of Chicago offers a free vocal training class with flyer. Vocal classes available for children ages 4-18.
- The Center Fitness Club schedule and various park district classes for children ages 3-14 are posted. Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
- Family Action Network (FAN): Click HERE for information about FAN and upcoming speakers.
From the Nurse's Office
Call Central School "Attendance Line" For Absences: 847-512-6150
Please call the Attendance Line to report absences even if you let the classroom teacher know, 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.
New Central Health Office Website!!
Here is your go-to site for all of your health related questions including PE/Recess Notes, Health Requirements, Dental Examinations, Allergy and Asthma, Medications, Snacks in Classrooms, Lice, Influenza...and more!
https://sites.google.com/wilmette39.org/centralhealthoffice/home
Lost & 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.
Join us on Twitter!
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 all-school events, classroom activities, PTA enrichment, and school goals.
Save the Dates...
12/21 - Last day of Fall After School Clubs
12/24 - 1/4 - No School, Winter Break
1/7 - School Resumes
1/10 - Open Gym Night - 6-7:30pm
1/16 - Pass39 Meeting (WJHS) - 9:15am
1/21 - No School, Martin Luther King Day
1/25 - Bingo/Open Gym Night - 5:30p - 7:30p
2/8 - Game Night with our PE Dept 6-7:30pm
2/11 - 2/15 - Arts Awareness Week