The Tiger Times Newsletter
Pleasantdale Middle School
May 10, 2020
5.10.20 Thoughts from Mr. Sonntag
Dear Middle School Community,
Happy Mother's Day! To all of the mothers out there, we say a heartfelt thank you for everything you have done to love us unconditionally, support us tremendously, and discipline us sternly when we needed it. We know we wouldn't be here without you! We hope you have a wonderful day!
And for those of you who are not mothers, please pass along our good vibes to your own mothers!
It was an invigorating week living in the now and continuing to plan for next school year. I know everything in the world is very different right now and we're all getting beyond stir crazy, but know that this will be over soon. As we begin to think about "getting back to normal," I want to challenge you to think differently about what that "normal" will look like and what that means to you. A good friend of mine has coined the phrase, "back to better" and I really think that is what we should be longing for. But before we can get there, we have to have a vision of what "back to better" looks like to you. Over the next few weeks, begin thinking about all of those times that in December, January, or February, you were saying, "Gosh, I wish THAT was different" or "I wish I had TIME to do THAT." As we begin to think about getting "back to better," what is that going to look like for you? Think about it so when it is time to go "back to better," you'll be ready to make it happen!
Cancer Walk
With our long and storied history, we have many wonderful and impactful traditions here in Pleasantdale. One of these is for the past 15 years is the Cancer Walk supporting cancer awareness and raising money for the American Cancer Society. Here's a short video 2:21 to show you what it has looked like previously.
A global pandemic and school closing for the final three months is not going to stop us from taking one step closer to finding a cure for cancer.
So, this Friday, May 15, from 10-11 a.m., we are encouraging students and families to unplug and go for a walk together to raise awareness about cancer. Dress silly, wear pink, or whatever you want to do and take pictures or videos and send them to jlauermann@d107.org.
To make a donation to the American Cancer Society supporting this event at our school, please go to www.main.acsevents.org/pleasantdaleil
Please also share this link with your friends and neighbors and on social media. We may not be able to be together to raise awareness and money, but we still want to do our part to support the research to eliminate this horrible disease that has affected so many people and families.
Also, encourage your children to participate in the morning announcements FlipGrid all related to the cancer walk (see the flyer below). Thank you for your support!
Teacher Appreciation Week Recap
Teacher appreciation week was truly wonderful this year. Thank you to the Board of Education, students, families, and the Pleasantdale PTO for everything you did to support our teachers and staff this year. I've seen many social media posts of our teachers telling our school community that they felt the love this year, from afar. So from all of us at Pleasantdale Middle School, thank you.
Graduation Update
Graduation plans are in full swing! We're going to make a positive memory for our 8th graders as they leave Pleasantdale! Nothing is going to stop us from celebrating this accomplishment and sending them off the right way!
Please also continue to read Dr. Palzet's updates each day as he is going to continue sharing with you important information about our eLearning programming and the district as a whole. His voice continues to be our one voice for the district so that everyone is receiving the same message at the same time. We will follow his messages with middle school-specific messages as needed.
Remember, we are all in this together. Together we are #P-DaleStrong.
Take care of yourselves, continue to stay home, and be well.
Mr. Sonntag
Middle School Virtual Talent Show Is Coming--Talent Show "Acts" Due Tomorrow!
Shout Out to Retiring Teachers--Due This Friday, May 15!
Please remember to record one video for each person. This way, each montage can be unique. Please spread the word!
Materials Pick Up/Drop Off
We've assigned days and times by grade level for you to come to the school to pick up and drop off materials at the middle school. Read Dr. Palzet's complete email at the end of this section.
May 20, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 8th Grade
May 20, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 7th Grade
May 21, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 6th Grade
May 21, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 5th Grade
Our staff will have packed up students’ belongings which will be ready for pick-up on the designated day/time. On your designated day/time you will drive up to the front of the school and provide the name of your child by writing it on a piece of paper and displaying on the passenger side window. A staff member will then bring your child’s belongings curbside and place them in your trunk. Please remain in your car. If you have school materials to return, we ask you to pack these materials in a bag and place them in your trunk. Our staff will then take the school items when we deposit your child’s personal belongings. To streamline our inventory process we ask that you include the teacher’s name or the word “library” to each item you are returning. We will not be collecting student iPads, rather students will keep their devices over the summer. If your child has checked out library books, you can expect an email notification with the title(s) of the book(s) from our library staff.
If this date or time doesn't work for you, please contact Mr. Sonntag (gsonntag@d107.org).
Dr. Palzet's 5.5.20 Email about Picking Up and Dropping Off Materials From/At School
Some Humor For You...
The 2020 Virtual Spring Pep Assembly Video Is Here!
Here's the video to the amazing Pep Assembly from last week!
2020 Pleasantdale Middle School Virtual Spring Pep Assembly
Thanks again to the student council students and their teacher leaders, Mrs. Driscoll and Ms. Newberry! Such a fun time!
Our Own Mrs. Lauermann in the Paper!
Shannon S.
Jai D.
Middle Students Doing Good Things For Others...
Shannon S.: "According to Saint Baldrick’s, every two minutes someone somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer. We may not be able to cure it, but we can help as much as possible. It would be a great help — I’ve already raised a lot of money so far, but if you could send this out it would help me reach my goal. My page link: https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/for1the1kids1
Jai D.: "I have started a non-profit fundraiser for The Greater Chicago Food Depository, and a contribution of $25.00 will result in a gift box of a dozen cookies being either, Chocolate Chip, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (Gluten Free). So far I have raised about $1,000 dollars in donations and was hoping I could share my message through the school. More information is on my page you can find it through this link: gf.me/u/xy56jx or you can go to this link: https://www.covid-tv.com/ to find me and other ambassadors." Jai
If you are in need of support, please reach out to us...
If you have needs (food, groceries, connection, anything), please do not hesitate to reach out to me at gsonntag@d107.org or 630-280-4704 and we will confidentially connect you to the support you're requesting.
Thank you to those of you who have contacted me and offered to help those in our community.
If you forgot to do the attendance form for your child on Friday...
As you probably read (a few times in the past couple of weeks), our attendance procedures changed a few weeks ago. Parents need to fill out a short google form for each child (preK-8) indicating whether they were present or absent for eLearning throughout the week (May 4-8). If you completed this, thank you! If you didn't, please click on the link below and do so right away. We appreciate your continued support with our eLearning program.
Grade Level Assignments + Friday's Enrichment Activities for eLearning All In One Place
Here's a new, optional document that might help keep some students (and parents) organized:
PMS eLearning Organizer Document. Thank you to Mrs. Deaton for sharing this idea with us!
We started sharing these documents with students this week and wanted to share them with you. These grade-level docs will be the jumping-off point for eLearning by grade level. Please bookmark these webpages because we will be updating the document each day/week.
You may not have access to some of the links contained inside the docs, but you'll be able to access them with your child(ren).
Friday's Enrichment/Choice Documents
5th Grade Enrichment/Choice Doc
6th Grade Enrichment/Choice Doc
Principal's Environmental Action Team (PEAT)-Third "Meeting" Thursday, May 14 @ 3 p.m. via Zoom
If you couldn't make it but want to join us, please come this week or message Mr. Sonntag. The notes from our meeting are here. Our goal is to develop a plan for the next school year and beyond to make our school even more environmentally friendly. This team is THINKING BIG and seeing how the quote by Margaret Mead can come to life here at Pleasantdale Middle School:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
This team is for students and staff only, but if you're a parent who wants to support our efforts, please email me at gsonntag@d107.org and we will utilize your support.
We're going to meeting again this coming Thursday at 3 p.m. via Zoom. The Zoom meeting link is: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79308432071?pwd=bm9PRk0vaUZWbmx2NnpIc3p5RHUydz09 Password: 1SW9NR
All are welcome!
Student Council Information from Mrs. Driscoll and Ms. Newberry
Student Council Wednesday Meeting
Join us for Student Council on Wednesdays at 3pm.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/809276501?pwd=TVlXbjU0b2JJaXZDMW5rUG9LeXFsQT09
Meeting ID: 809 276 501
Password: 010726
Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Newberry
New Items Needed--Please Consider Donating!
Friday Yoga for 5/15 from Mrs. Driscoll
Friday Yoga
This class was so popular that we're going to leave it for another week! Take a yoga break this Friday and try this class called Yoga For Teens: Energizing Flow Yoga Class and enjoy this energizing start to the day!
Mrs. Driscoll
Morning Announcements Keep Getting Better!
Each day, check out the morning announcements including information, birthdays, quote of the day, service idea from home, a request to respond, and much, much more! We send these out through Schoology each morning and will begin posting to social media as well! We hope the kids enjoy just a little bit of normalcy to their days in the form of our morning announcements.
Thanks to everyone who is participating! They are so fun!
Please Vote To Support Pleasantdale Students!
If you have Facebook, please go to https://www.facebook.com/CSWEAVIDEOCHALLENGE/?redirect=false and scroll through the videos (there are only about 15 total) and "like" any that you like. The student with the most likes (on the original video) will win $500! By my count, I believe there are 4 Pleasantdale Middle School students who submitted videos! Great job, kids! Let's help them win!
All "likes" (votes) have to occur by midnight of Friday, May 15!
Future Events/Activities Update
District Communications All In One Place
To make it as easy as possible for you, the communications from our Superintendent Dr. Palzet are all in one place. They can be found on our district webpage here.
Continued Appreciation for P-Dale Middle School Staff
Photography Club Sponsored by Mr. Madsen
Please check out his video about how to be a part of the Photo Club and check Schoology for the submission form.
During these times, we need to remember that sadness and acting out for some kids may take many forms. Please be extra patient and show extra love during these difficult times.
Quote of the Week-
"Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one." Toby Mac
Good News Network
Parent Education Corner
As a follow up to this blogpost on resiliency by my very talented wife, Dr. Jessica Sonntag, the third episode of their podcast dropped this week and it is all about how to build Confidence in our children. It's another great listen for parents with kids at all ages.
I hope you'll take a look at this and it will help you as we parent through these different and challenging times. Enjoy!
Episode #1 Royal-ly Resilient Video Podcast: Episode 1-24:36
This provides an overview of the book and allows you to get to know the presenters.
Episode #2 Royal-ly Resilient Video Podcast: Episode 2-24:26
Episode #2 focuses on developing competency in our kids and how as parents sometimes, we just need to "get out of the way" and allow children to "do".
Episode #3 Royal-ly Resilient Video Podcast: Episode 3-33:49
Episode #3 Join us as we discuss the importance of confidence and how we build it through our own experiences versus false affirmation.
#4 Royal-ly Resilient Video Podcast: Episode 4-33:39
This week we talk about the 3rd "C" in building resilience, connection. Discussion about independence, interdependence, blurring, and how to continue to get out the way while maintaining emotionally connected to our kids and each other. Join us for Live discussion Tuesday, April 28 at 3:00 pm. (meet.google.com/ipw-ouxn-ftw)
#5 Royal-ly Resilient Video Podcast: Episode 5-37:06
The HBR429 Student Services Department continues it's series in building resiliency. This week the discussion focuses on "Character" as the 4th C of resilience. Character is taught by modeling your actions...
Join them live on Tuesday, May 5 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss Character (you don't have to read the book to join the chat!) Join with Google Meet meet.google.com/pam-uyrd-zmh
New--#6 Royal-ly Resilient Video Podcast: Episode 6-27:20
We discuss how getting out of the way and letting the kids contribute helps give them a purpose while also helping them see that giving and receiving help is healthy and it creates an interdependence within our community that is valued. Resilience comes in recognizing we are enough just as we are, we can give when we are able and take when we are in need.
Join them live on Tuesday, May 12 at 3:00 pm https://meet.google.com/mta-omsp-dwq. You don't have to be reading the book to join the conversation! We learn and grow from sharing our stories and coming together in community.
Brené Brown's Podcast Continues...
We've all needed to apologize. Here's Harriet Lerner and Brené
Harriet Lerner and Brené-How to apologize and why it matters.-Part 1: 1:15:05
Summer Academy Update
Due to the on-going stay-at-home order and in-person school closure for the remainder of the school year, we are currently developing options for our summer academy programming. More information will be coming to you in the future.
Collections at the Middle School-Keep Collecting, Please
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!
3. Lids-Our Elements of Nature Club (EONC) 5th graders are collecting clean lids to drink and food containers to create art to put around the school. There is a collection place in the front hallway outside the office.
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-Grab and Go Meal Available During Closure
"Beginning March 17, we will offer meals to any child in the community,18 or under, who needs nutritional support. In partnership with our food service provider, Just A Dash, we will provide breakfast and lunch at no charge. Pick up times are between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. This week we will provide lunches on Tuesday (today), Wednesday, and Friday. Moving forward, these “Grab & Go” meals will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through April 6 (and during spring break). To encourage social distancing, we will provide curbside service. Simply pull up to door #25 in the back of the middle school (7450 S. Wolf Rd., Burr Ridge), and food will be brought to your vehicle."
Review complete email from Dr. Palzet about Grab and Go Meals During School Closure
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, May 11-Day A, Math, Science, Specials, PE
Tuesday, May 12-Day B, ELA, SS, Spanish, Resource, PE
Wednesday, May 13-Day A, Math, Science, Specials, PE, 3 p.m. Student Council Meeting
Thursday, May 14-Day B, ELA, SS, Spanish, Resource, PE,
Friday, May 15-Virtual Cancer Walk-10-11 a.m.
Enrichment/Catch-up Friday-check grade level assignment docs/enrichment docs
(Parents submit attendance through morning email from Dr. Palzet)
Remember, parents, Friday you will submit attendance for the week (4/27-5/1). Look for Dr. Palzet's email around 8:00 a.m.
Next Week...
eLearning M-Th for students (same schedule as above)
Wednesday, May 20, 3 p.m.-Weekly Student Council Meeting
Friday, May 22-eLearning Planning Day for Teachers
Friday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. 8th Grade Drive-In Graduation at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.
Parents will submit attendance on 5/22 for 5/18-5/22.
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. Stacey Tantillo, Secretary, stantillo@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