Harper Happenings
April 15th - April 19th
What's Happening
Wednesday, April 17th
- General PTO Meeting: Special Presentation for incoming HMS 5th grade parents with GLAd Aaron Dubnow and Q&A Parent Panel, 9am Harper Auditorium
- Incoming Kindergarten Orientation Presentation, 6:30pm Harper Auditorium
- Open House visit with our new Superintendent, Dr. Kari Cremescoli at WJHS (click here for information). 5:30-7:00pm at WJHS
Friday, April 19th
- No School, Good Friday
Coming Up/Reminders
Monday, April 22nd - Friday, April 26th
- Earth Week!
Monday, April 22nd
Earth Day will be celebrated in the Harper Garden during recess with an upcycling craft to help bees pollinate. Rain date of April 23.
Tuesday, April 23rd
- Dr. Kick's/Mrs. Ryan's Birthday lunch
Wednesday, April 24th
- 4th Grade Music Concert
- Earth Week, Walk/Bike to school day
Thursday, April 25th
- Early Release Day, Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Scholastic Book Fair in Cafeteria 11am-3pm
Friday, April 26th
- No School, Parent/Teacher Conferences
Monday, April 29th
- PASS39 Parent Education Evening
- Topic: Please note that the topic has changed from Executive Functioning to Light on Anxiety.
- Location: MEC
- Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
- Parent Night to Follow at Fred's Garage
Friday, May 3rd
- PTO Sponsored Peter Rabbit Movie Night, 6pm
Wednesday, May 8th
- 4th Grade Outdoor Education
Wednesday, May 15th
- General PTO Meetings, 9am
Thursday, May 23rd
- Before School Chorus Concert, 6:30pm
Thursday, May 30th
- Harper Student Council Fun Fair, 3:15pm
Dr. Kick's Corner
- How is my child doing socially?
- What do you see as my child's strengths?
- What do you see as academic challenges for my child?
- What can we do at home to support what is being done in the classroom?
- What are good activities to complete during the summer that will support consistent growth in the fall?
-April and May are busy months, so please make sure to keep reading the Harper Happenings so you or your child don't miss anything.
-You received the nutrition survey through an email from D39. If you haven't already, please take a minute to complete it by Thursday, April 18th.
- We want to address the desire for "cleaner" ingredients in our school cafeterias. D39 defines "cleaner" as less preservatives, food dyes, trans fats, sugars, artificial sweeteners, and partially hydrogenated oils found in food options, but we know this could increase the cost. The D39 food service program is designed to be cost neutral, with prices set to completely offset the expenses of the lunch program. As a result, we need to determine how much parents are willing to pay for this improvement.
- https://forms.gle/QDje8ZH1sNevhgUQA
-Highlights from 1st Nutritional Survey
86% of parents are satisfied or very satisfied with D39’s food service.
Cleaner, less processed ingredients desired
More fruits and vegetables requested
Improved nutritional awareness and more encouragement toward good food choices wanted
Harper Hoedown 2019
- THE HARPER HOEDOWN IS SAVED!! YEEHAW!!
- A huge huge THANK YOU to Aimee Stoltz for rounding up a group of amazing Hoedown committee volunteers! We appreciate you all for donating your time and energy to make this another successful Hoedown!
- Noela Scarano
- Deana Tolzien
- Amy Mattle
- Carrie Hamm
- Erica Sitkoff
- Mary Kate Lubawski
- Aimee Stoltz
- Aimee could still use MORE helping hands so please reach out to her if you are interested in being on a sub-committee at Aimee_Prunier@yahoo.com
Pop-Up Book Fair
- Join us for the first ever pop-up Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday April 25th from 11am-3pm in the Harper Cafeteria. This will be a smaller version of the Fall Book Fair, for one day only. Come and pick up some new releases, browse some old favorites, and get a head start on your summer reading. Profits from the Book Fair go right back into our school! If you can't make it in person, please visit the online Book Fair from 4/23 to 4/29 at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/harperelementaryschool. Please contact sophiecandido@gmail.com or alipearson5@yahoo.com with questions. Hope to see you there!
EduKits
- It's that time of year to order your school supply kits for next Fall! EduKit will be providing our kits again next year, and ordering begins on May 1st. Deadline for purchasing kits will be May 17th. Place your orders during the window so you don't have to think about it again, and enjoy the convenience of not having to go school supply shopping over the summer!! Costs for kits are the same as last year and will be $45 for Kindergarten, $65 for grades 1-3, and $75 for 4th grade. Link to the website for ordering coming next week!
General PTO Meeting this Month
- CALLING ALL 4TH GRADE PARENTS, April 17 @ 9:00am in Harper Auditorium
- iPads? Multiple Teachers? and Schoology? OH MY!!
- Come join Aaron Dubnow, HMS GLAd and future Harper Principal, for this informative presentation on transitioning your 4th grade child(ren) to 5th Grade Highcrest Middle School. It’s an exciting time of growth for all!
- There will be a Q&A with current 5th grade parents to answer all of your questions.
Harper Spring Movie Night
- Harper PTO Spring Movie Night presents: Peter Rabbit (PG)
- Get your tickets while they last!
- Friday, May 3rd - 6:00pm-8:00pm
- All Harper Students (K-4) are invited to laugh along with the antics of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny and gang as they sneak into Mr McGregor's veggie garden! Pajamas welcome and encouraged!
- Little Ceasar’s Cheese/Pepperoni Pizza, Lemonade and Water will be served in the cafeteria
- Sign up today as movie nights sell out quickly at: http://harperpto.com/harper-pto-movie-night/
- Cost: $20 for the first child, $10 for the second, and $5 for the third.
- Parents who volunteer at Movie Night can bring one child for FREE! Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0844a8af28a02-harper1
- Space is limited to the first 115 kids. NO WALK-INS. All children must be registered in advance.
Yearbook
Green Corner
Earth Week Information: April 22nd - April 26th
- Wednesday, April 24 is Walk/Bike to School Day, but we need chaperones to assist our walkers! Now we need chaperone(s) for Illinois/Thornwood to Harper and Chestnut or Kenilworth to Harper. Interested in overseeing any bikers? We already have a chaperone for Schiller/Hunter to school and Thornwood/21st to school. Please email Aimee Stoltz at aimee_prunier@yahoo.com. THANK YOU!
- Other activities include: Loose Change Collection for Endangered Species is happening again! Students can vote for their animal with their coins from home. Choose between the black footed ferret of the Great Plains, the sea otter and the piping plover of the Great Lakes.
- Students will also learn why we need bees. Did you know that without them, we wouldn't have tomatoes? Keep Pizza alive by keeping the bees! Students will learn how at recess in the Garden.
- Spring clean your art supplies and bring in all dried out markers so we can recycle them with Crayola's recycling program. ALL markers accepted - even dry erase! Bins will be by the front office.
- Thank you for all of your help to make Harper's Earth Week a big success!
iGNITE! Enrichment Information
Thank you to iGNITE! for the following Enrichment Experiences!
- Mark you calendars with the below upcoming iGNITE! sponsored events:
- Attention 3rd grade: There will be an upcoming field trip on Thursday, April 18th to see The Time Warp Trio at Lifeline Theater in Chicago. Buses Leave at 9:30 am sharp! All students will be back at school after lunch/recess are over so all students need a bag lunch.
FAN (Family Action Network)
- FAN welcomes Professor Matthew Nock, Ph.D. Harvard University for two events presenting on Recent Advances in the Understanding, Prediction, and Prevention of Suicidal Behavior Wed, May 1at 7p at New Trier High School, Winnetka Campus, Gaffney Auditorium 385 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka, IL 60093 and CEU hours available for GRAND ROUNDS Using New Technologies to Advance the Understanding on Thurs, May 2, 9:00-10:30 AM at New Trier High School, Northfield Campus, Cornog Auditorium 7 Happ Rd., Northfield, IL 60093. Go to www.familyactionnetwork.net for CEU registration.
- FAN presents Psychologist and Author Lisa Damour, Ph.D. talking about Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Youth on Wed, May 8 at 7p at New Trier High School, Winnetka Campus, Gaffney Auditorium 385 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka, IL 60093 and CEU hours available at GRAND ROUNDS Thurs May 9, at 9-10:30a at New Trier High School, Northfield Campus, Cornog Auditorium 7 Happ Rd., Northfield, IL 60093. Go to www.familyactionnetwork.net for CEU registration.
FAN is bringing Author Emily Bazelon to present on the topic of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration on Mon May 20 7p Evanston Township High School Auditorium 1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201.Interviewer: Professor and Author Geoffrey R. Stone.
Community Service Corner & News
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
2019-2020 Connecting Kids Preschool Openings
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 is still open and spots are still available! Registration forms can be found online here.
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
North Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) offers year-round recreation programming for disabled individuals. “Camp Yardigans” is a new camp offered this summer. Registration deadline is April 26th.
Trevian Girls Softball Association is seeking a few more 9/10 year old girls (4th/5th graders) interested in playing spring/summer softball. Contact Kelsey Lee at Klee@trevians.org for more information.
Oakton Community College hosts summer STEAM camps and classes for students ages 8-12. Registration is now open.
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 are posted. Wilmette Park District Flag Football for boys & girls grades 3-8. Registration is open unti April 16th at noon.
Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
All announcements to be included in the Harper Happenings should be sent to Liz Hayes via the Communication Request Form by Mondays at 9 am. If you do not receive an email response within 24hrs, please send an email to elizabeth.hayes78@gmail.com to confirm your Communication Request Form was received.
For more school information, visit the Harper PTO website.
For additional D39 community events, visit wilmette39.org