Tiger Times Newsletter
Pleasantdale Middle School
January 27, 2019
"P-Dale Cares" Holiday Sharing A Success...Thanks to You!
Thank you to our social worker, Ms. Carrie Castaldo, for coordinating this again this year. We couldn't have done this without her!
Thank you also to the Village of Burr Ridge and the Burr Ridge Police Department for adopting one of our Pleasantdale Middle School families and making a huge difference for them!
Thank you to all of the students, parents, and staff who participated and we look forward to making this even bigger and more impactful for our P-Dale School Community next year!
Attendance Letters Coming Home
It is vital that students who are well come to school each and every day. When students are absent, they miss out on the unique learning experiences that our amazing teachers create for them. These experiences cannot be replicated or truly made up. In addition, students who miss 5% of the previous 180 school days without valid cause (9 in a calendar year) can be considered truant. Finally, our school report cards may be impacted by students' attendance falling below certain levels.
Therefore, if a student has been absent from school 5 days, 7 days, or 9 days, you may receive a letter in the U.S. Mail or email informing you of these absences. Please continue to send your child to school unless they have had a fever or have vomited in the past 24 hours and let them know that if they don't feel well while at school, they should ask to see the nurse. Our nurse, Mrs. Rende, will evaluate them and contact you with an update on their condition.
If you have any questions, please contact our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Brianne Malatt, at bmalatt@d107.org or 708-246-7373.
Data Cleanup-Parent Action Requested
At times, we've noticed that some contact information like phone numbers or email addresses are incorrect within Skyward. For these individual cases, we contact you and update the information accordingly. With that said, there are probably others that we are not aware of and would ask for your help. The next time you're in your Family Access account through SKyward checking your child's grades, please review your contact information, emergency contacts, and phone numbers as well. Thank you!
Custodial Parents/Guardians can add/delete emergency contacts, family addresses and information, and phone numbers within Family Access. Click on Request Changes for Student name. Be sure to save your changes. Once approved, you will see the changes in Family Access.
What if my email address has changed, or if I need to change my username or password?
Use the My Account button in the top right corner of any screen within the Family Access program to change your login name, password, or email address.
Reminder About Emergency School Closing Information
Notification About Closure
School closure decisions will normally be made before 5:30 a.m. the day of closure. This allows weather conditions to be monitored overnight to avoid unnecessary closures. Closure decisions will only be made the night before if conditions are known for certain and warrant closure. In the event of a school closing or other emergency, parents and staff can expect to receive an automated phone call, email, and text. Emergency and closing information is also available on:
- The District and school websites,
- The District's Facebook and Twitter accounts
- The Emergency Closings Center
- Local media outlets, including major radio and TV sources
On-Level Math Placement Reviews
iPad Case With Keyboard Trial Going On Now
#Realtalk Next Steps: If You Suspect Your Child Is Vaping, (or May Vape in the Future) Thursday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Pleasantdale Middle School
#Reatalk About Your Child's/Teen's Future, Thursday, February 7, 7:00 p.m., Pleasantdale Middle School Cafeteria/APR
According to a recent survey at LTHS, 29% of freshman tried vaping. 58% of seniors have. This presentation will provide an update of new trends/ science about teen vaping. Parents will leave with tools and talking points to have a conversation with their teen. The LTHS resource/police officers will be present to answer parents concerns and the consequences of using these illegal substances.
For more information, please see the flyer here.
RSVP by emailing Cindy at ckfrymark@me.com
Upcoming Parent Evening Presentations in the Area
#Realtalk about Vaping presenting by the Coalition for a Drug-Free LT on Thursday, January 31 at Park Junior High, 325 N. Park Road, La Grange, IL 60526
6:30-7:00 Tour the Hidden in Plain Sight Room
7:00-8:15 Presentation and Discussion about Vaping
RSVP by emailing Cindy at ckfrymark@me.com
For more information, please see the flyer here.
**Please note that this is the same presentation and discussion that was offered at Pleasantdale Middle School on Thursday, October 25
Ending the Silence for Parents presented by NAMI on Tuesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. at
McClure Junior High, 4225 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558
Let's begin the conversation about mental illness and end the stigma...and the silence. This 1-hour presentation for parents and primary caregivers includes information about mental health warning signs, facts and statistics, and how to talk with your child and how to work with his/her school.
Click here to register.
Detective Richard Wistocki on Social Media Safety on Tuesday, February 12 at 7:00 p.m. at
Gurrie Middle School, 1001 S. Spring Ave., LaGrange, IL 60525
Retired Naperville Police Detective provide straightforward and practical information for parents about how to supervise your children and keep them safe online.
Click here to register.
Dr. Michael Maniacci on Anxiety and Resistance in Youth on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. at McClure Junior High, 4225 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558
If you haven't heard Dr. Maniacci speak, you are missing out. He has a wonderful way of connecting with parents using real situations that he's encountered in his many year support youth and families. This 1-hour presentation for parents and caregivers include symptoms of anxiety and list 5 strategies to deal with anxiety.
Click here to register.
Introduce a Girl to STEM Day at LTHS for 6-8th Grade Girls-Saturday, February 23
If you have a current 6-8th grade girl, this 2nd Annual "Introduce a Girl to STEM" (IAGTSTEM) Day may be for you. It is from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at LT's South Campus!
IAGTSTEM Day is sponsored by the (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science) GEMS club is an amazing experience where the aim is to develop the love of STEM in the 6th-8th grade girls in our surrounding community. Research has shown that it's in these junior high years that many young girls lose their STEM passion, and we want to change that. The event will have sessions for each aspect of STEM. The way the day is set up enables each attendee to pick two of the four STEM areas that they are most interested in and learn more in-depth about that area with our high school GEMS leaders through fun games, challenges, experiments and more! Any girls from grades 6th-8th are invited to join us to learn more about the worlds of Math, Science, Engineering and Technology and meet lots of other girls with similar interests. See the information below and on the flyer at the bottom.
In person registration: Jan. 22, 6:00-8 pm Lyons Township North Campus Vaughn Building Lobby, stair entrance across the street from the clocktower
Online registration: Opens Jan. 23 on Lyons Township High School's Web Store, under 'GEMS’
Questions can be directed to:
COMMITTEE CHAIR: Evie Anagnos at ana506230@d204.lths.net
GEMS CLUB SPONSOR: Loyola Pasiewicz at lpasiewicz@d204.lths.net
5 Essentials Parent Survey
Please help us by completing the survey at https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/login/ . We are currently only at 11% and need at least 20% in order to receive valuable feedback reports. The survey closes February 15.
Thank you!
5 Essentials Student Survey
Follow Us on Twitter @Pdaleprincipal for updates and pictures of the happenings around the middle school
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.
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.
This Week...
Monday, January 28
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Art Room
LT 7th grade Orchestra Festival field trip
Open Library, 3:30-4:25 p.m.
Team Tigers Intramurals, 3:30-4:25 p.m., South Gym
Tuesday, January 29
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Art Room
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
STEM Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m., STEM Room
Open Library, 3:30-4:25 p.m.
Wednesday, January 30
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
ACT Prep, 7:30 a.m., Room 6
Student Council Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Art Room
Thursday, January 31
Band rehearsal, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Art Room
Student Council Meeting**, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
**Thursday meetings are meant for the students that cannot come on Wednesdays
ACT Prep, 7:30 a.m., Room 6
Cogat Testing
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m. Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Open Library, 3:30-4:25 p.m.
Team Tigers, 3:30-4:25 p.m., South Gym
Cooking Club, 3:30-4:25 p.m.
Friday, February 1
Jazz Band Rehearsal, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Yoga, 7:40-8:10, South Gym
8th Grade Fortnightly, 7:00 p.m., Fred Astaire Dance Studio
PTO Sports Night at Lifetime Fitness 5:00-7:00 p.m.
A look ahead...
Monday, February 4
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Art Room
Open Library, 3:30-4:25 p.m.
Team Tigers Intramurals, 3:30-4:25 p.m., South Gym
Tuesday, February 5
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Art Room
Open Library, 3:30-4:25 p.m.
Gaming Club,3:30-4:25 p.m., Room 24
Spirit Squad, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Room 25
Girls Volleyball vs. Gurrie, 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday, February 6
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
ACT Prep, 7:30 a.m., Room 6
Student Council Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Art Room
Thursday, February 7
Band rehearsal, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Art Room
Student Council Meeting**, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
**Thursday meetings are meant for the students that cannot come on Wednesdays
ACT Prep, 7:30 a.m., Room 6
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m. Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Open Library, 3:30-4:25 p.m.
Team Tigers, 3:30-4:25 p.m., South Gym
Girls Volleyball vs. Park Red, 4:15 p.m.
Friday, February 8
Jazz Band Rehearsal, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room-with Mr. Gallai
Friday Night Live 6-8 p.m.-Game Night!
Saturday, February 9
Science Engineering Competition, 8-12 p.m.
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.orgPleasantdale Middle School
Email: gsonntag@d107.org
Website: http://ms.pleasantdale.schooldesk.net/
Location: 7450 South Wolf Road, Burr Ridge, IL, USA
Phone: (708)246-3210
Twitter: @pdaleprincipal