The Tiger Times Newsletter
Pleasantdale Middle School
December 1, 2019
Living in a State of Gratefulness...
In 2012 and 2016, I was fortunate enough to spend about a week in the beautiful country of Rwanda and have been forever changed by the joy and zest for life the Rwandan people exhibit on a daily basis. After the genocide in 1994 and the daily struggles for food and clean water, it would be easy for them to feel sorry for themselves. However, this could not be any further from how they live their lives. These experiences continue to remind me how fortunate we are to live where we live and have what we have. I hope to continue to convey this message to the students through perspective-taking, by providing them support to work up to their potential, by offering service-learning opportunities, by encouraging them to come to school each day eager to learn and by focusing on having positive relationships with every other human being they come in contact with in their lives.
In conclusion, we will be ready to support and sustain our students (your children) growth and development in every way possible including continuing to teach them to be grateful for every little thing in their lives.
Winter Concert Season Is Upon Us!
From there, Thursday, December 12, also beginning at 7 p.m., the Pleasantdale Middle School Bands perform their repertoire of pieces demonstrating how improvement comes as a direct result of practice and hard work!
I believe you'll be amazed by the growth of all of the student performers. It is awesome to see the kids outside the classroom excelling and achieving continued greatness! Bring the family! We hope to see you at both of these events.
The Book Fair is Here!
Monday, December 2: 8:15-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 3: 8:15-4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4: 8:15-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4: 6-7 p.m. during Family Reading Night!!
Thursday, December 5: 8:15-4:30 p.m.
Intramural Volleyball Mondays in November and December
Parent Education Corner
Upcoming Parent Presentations
Nazareth Academy Parent Offerings
Thursday, December 5 at 7 p.m. Dr. Michele Borba will speak on the topic of Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All About Me World (flyer below)
Click here to see Nazareth Academy's Parent Speaker Series this year!
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
Lost and Found will be donated soon!
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:
December 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, December 2-Book fair open from 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in Room 1A (STEM Lab) - board and card games
Tuesday, December 3-Book fair open from 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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
LTHS 8th Grade Band Day-Field Trip
5th Grade Orchestra, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:25, Library
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in the South Gym
Tech Intern Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Boys’ Basketball Game Away @ Highlands, 4:15
8th Grade Future Freshman Night @ LT South Campus, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4-Book fair open from 8:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 6-7 p.m.
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
Family Reading Night, 6-7 p.m., Library
Thursday, December 5-Book fair open from 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in the South Gym
Communications Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Gaming Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Boys’ Basketball Game Away @ Washington, 4:15
Friday, December 6
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, December 9
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
Open Library 3:30-4:25 p.m. in the library
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in Room 1A (STEM Lab) - board and card games
Boys’ Basketball Game Home vs. Park Blue, 4:15
Tuesday, December 10
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
LTHS 8th Grade Band Day-Field Trip
5th Grade Orchestra, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
STEM Club, 3:30-4:25, STEM LAB
Open Library 3:30-4:25, Library
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in the South Gym
Tech Intern Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Boys’ Basketball Game Away @ McClure Red, 4:15
Winter Choir/Orchestra Concert, North Gym, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 11
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
Thursday, December 12
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
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., meet in the South Gym
Communications Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Gaming Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Library
Boys’ Basketball Game Away @ Westchester, 4:15
Winter Band Concert, North Gym, 7 p.m.
Friday, December 13
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)
Friday Night Live, 6-8 p.m. (for PMS middle school students only)
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