Pilgrim Lutheran School News
May 24, 2019
Welcome Home 8th Graders!
A reminder that school in closed on Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day. Enjoy your long weekend Pilgrim.
May 27th - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
May 29th - Green Marketplace - 3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
May 31st - 7/8 Film Fest - 6:30 p.m.
June 3rd - Fine Arts Fest - 6:30 p.m.
June 7th - Sports Awards Assembly - 9:00 a.m.
June 7th - Last Day of School for PM PK
June 7th - Graduation Ceremony and Dinner - 6:30 p.m.
June 10th - Academic Awards Assembly - 9:00 a.m.
June 12th - Last Day of School
June 12th - Sending Chapel-dismissal at 10:00 am
A special note:
June 10th PTL is hosting a "Popsicles on the Playground for Mrs. Halter." - 3:00 p.m.
8th Grade Trip
Kudos to Mrs. Andreen and the Class of 2018, as they arrive home tonight from a 3-day tour of Washington, D.C. The pictures floating around FB have been great as students have visited the Capitol and the Mall museums, the White House and the historic areas around the nation’s capital. Thanks to all our families who have supported the fundraisers that make this trip affordable for our students.
Yearbook photos
We need to go to print this weekend. Please send any photos of:
7/8 Boys Basketball
Spirit Week
Honors Choir/Choir
4/5 class
Last Day of School
A reminder that the last day of school, June 12, is a very short day! Chapel starts at 9:00 a.m., and we release students at the end of Chapel, approximately 10:00 a.m. The last day for PAS is June 11; there is NO PAS on Wednesday, June 12. Parents must make arrangements to collect your child(ren) no later than 11:15 a.m.
MAP Testing
All classes, Grades 1-8, have logged into their Chromebooks and have taken the MAP reading and math tests. There are still some make-ups to finish, but the teachers are eager to dig into the data that the tests provide. Results for Grades 4-8 show some amazing data. Almost all of our students on the are showing high achievement/high growth, and each class has a great percentage rate for students who have achieved their learning goals for the year. Lower grade results should be available for analysis next week. Thank you for your support and encouragement during these tests. We will be sending home copies of the test results to each family during the last week of school. If you have questions about test results, please speak to me or to your child’s homeroom teacher.
Green Marketplace
The Green Team will be hosting a "Green Marketplace" after school on Wednesday, May 29th on the play lot from 3:00 - 3:45pm (or while supplies last). Students will be selling environmentally friendly goods that they have made themselves, and the proceeds will go to environmental/ conservation causes. Some of the products for sale include reusable food wraps, reusable coffee filters, worm bin starter kits, seedlings, and more! Come purchase some green goods and help the planet!
Film Fest
Pilgrim 7th and 8th Graders present their annual Film Fest, Friday, May 31st. Mrs. Andreen’s students write, produce, direct and star in their own productions. Films are shown in the morning to the whole school. Families and friends of the students may come to either the school day showing or the evening showing.
Fine Arts Night
Join us for an evening starring your children! On 6:30 on Monday, June 3rd, the upper grade students will present the fruits of their labors from the 4th quarter Fine Arts Electives. Come see visual art, music, and drama performances in Maring Hall.
Feed My Starving Children
Band
The Pilgrim Band under director, Michael Auz joins in with bands from 5 other North Side Elementary Schools to present their Spring Concert at Audubon School on Tuesday, May 28. The concert will be on the South Lawn at Audubon, and it will be a chance to hear some great music. Band members will be celebrating a successful year with a party soon. Pilgrim will have a chance to hear another great concert on June 2nd as the Grade 4-8 Pilgrim Fine Arts Classes present their Spring Arts Festival in Maring Hall.
Mrs Halter
PTL is also hosting two more events before the end of school. The first is a Popsicles on the Playlot event to celebrate Mrs. Halter’s 40 years of service to Pilgrim, Monday, June 10, at 3 p.m. All Pilgrim, parents, alumni and friends of Pilgrim are welcome to attend. We also welcome you to attend the Church Service and luncheon on Sunday, June 2 and the Children’s Chapel Service on Wednesday, June 5, to celebrate Mrs. Halter.
There will be two retirement guest books available at events. Feel free to sign and wish Mrs Halter happy retirement!
Lemonade on the Lawn
The final PTL event for this school year is Lemonade on the Lawn for the last day of school, June 12, at 10 a.m. The whole school community is welcome to gather on the school playground for refreshments after the final Children’s Chapel. If any family would like to donate some healthy snack for the students, they would be greatly appreciated. For more information about PTL and upcoming events, contact Shellie Riedle or Kelly Tobin.
2019-20 School Calendar
https://pilgrimchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-2020-Pilgrim-School-Calendar.doc
BOE
The next scheduled School Board meeting is Tuesday, June 4. The School Board and the teaching staff putting a good deal of thought into how the school agenda is going to look for the 2019-2020 school year. Many of you know that Mrs. Smith is moving from the Pre-K room into the Kindergarten teaching position. Mrs. Kato will stay on as the Kindergarten aide. We are in the process of finding a Pre-K teacher to take the place vacated by Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Huelskoetter-Gast, who has already retired from classroom teaching, will also be retiring from teaching Lower Grade Music, so we are exploring options for teaching Lower Grade Music. We are preparing for the reality of having separate 7th and 8th Grade homerooms for the next couple of years, due to large numbers in 6th, 7th and 8th Grades. And, we continue to look for more effective ways to meet the needs of our diverse learners.
If you have questions about staffing, please contact Principal Comella or Chad Smith, Pilgrim School Board Chair.
Church Council
Pilgrim Church Council meets on Tuesday, May 28, Budget Review is on the agenda. The budget process at Pilgrim starts with the Finance Committee, and the moves to the School Board for a recommendation to approve. The budget then goes to the Church Council for their recommendation to approve the budget. The members of the Pilgrim congregation give their approval on June 9 at a special meeting. The Church and the School have a combined budget and working through the budget process is one of the essential functions of the Pilgrim School Board. Thanks to our School Board members who have devoted many hours to ensure that your tuition dollars are being used to their greatest possible benefit.
We Need You!
Healthy organizations need fresh, energetic leaders to grow! Currently, several leadership roles are available to parents to take Pilgrim to the next level of excellence. If you are interested in a leadership role with PTL, please contact School Office. Pilgrim is also seeking a new Auction chair for the 2018-2019 program year. Contact Pastor Kristian or Principal Comella if interested. Thanks for your thoughtful consideration of these positions.
Gift Cards
Father's Day is coming. We have Home Depot, Dick's, Bass Pro. Why not buy some gift cards for those quick lunches/dinners while on the road to all your games and vacations, such as Subway ($5 & 10), Red Robin $10, Chipotle $10 & 25, Panera $5, 10 25, Potbelly $10, BK $10. Graduation is right around the corner. We bet there is someone who would love a gift card to start a new phase of their life! We have Amazon ($10, $25 and $100), Visa $50 and $100 (already activated). Check the green list for others! Please contact Anne Barsano at 312-972-9040 or cbarsano@aol.com or drop a form off in the school office to place your order.
Celebrating Mrs Halter's Ministry
Join us for Worship
Pilgrim Enrollment
Please encourage your friends with kids in Grades 1-8 to take a second look at Pilgrim. They can compare the test scores and track the data about where Pilgrim students successfully enter High School. Our data continues to be some of the best in the neighborhood! Middle School Girls are especially welcome! Upper Grades at Pilgrim are THEEEE place to be!!
Like us on Facebook
Finally, if you missed the list of ways that parents can help at Pilgrim, here are some ideas:
- …in the classroom
- …in the Parent-Teacher League
- …at the Board of Education Meetings: 1st Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
- …as part of the Marketing Team
- …as part of the Development Group
- …as part of the Technology Team: 1st Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m
- …supporting Pilgrim Fundraisers and purchasing gift cards on a regular basis
- …sharing the good news about Pilgrim with a prospective family (postcards with Open House dates are available in the school office.
Our theme for parents this school year is 100% Participation! Our success as a school and as a living, growing community depends on the reality of every family donating some time, talent and treasure, as each family is able. Thanks for your help and participation.
You are always welcome in classrooms, and I welcome your feedback and questions. Feel free to contact me (ccomella@pilgrimchicago.org) whenever something arises. If you would like to become involved in events and activities hosted by the Parent Teacher League (PTL), please contact Shellie Riedle, Kelly Tobin,or Staff Rep to PTL, Kristen Stone. Parents are also welcome to attend weekly chapel services. The students are always happy to see you there!
Chris Comella, Pilgrim School Principal
Pilgrim Lutheran School
Email: office@pilgrimchicago.org
Website: pilgrimchicago.org
Location: 4300 N Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
Phone: 773-477-4824
Facebook: facebook.com/pilgrimlutheranchurchandschool