Mustang Minute
February 22, 2019
Millburn Elementary Homepage
Millburn District 24
Topics
Read Across America Week
Literacy Night
Bernie's Books
Trimester 2 Changes
Updated School Calendar
Illinois Science Assessment
Child Safety
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
Bully Report
Communication
Millburn Education Foundation
PTO News
Important Dates
Virtual Backpack
Read Across America Week
Monday
Wear Red and Blue.
Tuesday
Fox in Socks
Wednesday
There's a Wocket in My Pocket
Thursday
Cat in the Hat
Friday
Sleep Book
Literacy Night
Literacy Night 2019
Literacy Night will be held at Millburn Elementary on Friday, March 1st. What a great way to celebrate Read Across America Week! We will be hosting our event from 5:30- 7:00 pm. Stay tuned for more information! We look forward to seeing our Millburn Readers!
Author George Vlasis will be here on Friday, March 1 to talk with K-3, but will also be here for Literacy Night. George has written a great book called Helmet Man and the Chocolate Cake. He is taking orders if you would like to get a copy for him to sign. Order forms can be found in the Virtual Backpack.
Bernie's Books
Did you know that 2 out of 3 low income children don't have any books of their own? That statistic is alarming and Millburn Elementary wants to help. We will be hosing a book drive for Bernie's Book Bank that runs from February 22nd - March 5th. Our goal is to collect 1500 books!
Please consider donating new and gently used children’s books for children from birth through 6th grade reading.
Bernie's Book Bank will not accept textbooks, dictionaries, activity books, coloring books, reference material or religious books.
Trimester 2 Changes
Updated School Calendar
Due to the weather this winter we have days we need to make up. We want to make sure everyone is aware of how this affects our calendar. To date, we have had 4 days canceled due to weather (Nov. 26, Jan 28, Jan 30, Jan 31).
One of the days will be made up on March 4, Casimir Pulaski Day. The other three days will be added on to the end of the school year. Therefore, our NEW last day of school will be Monday, June 10, with an early release if 1 pm.
Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)
Child Safety
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
Illinois is renaming the state assessment to Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). The format and questions will be very similar to its predecessor, PARCC. It will continue to assess skills in Literacy and Math for students in grades 3-8. Students will take the assessment on their iPads within their classrooms. One new feature is less testing. Students will now do 3 math assessments (down from 4) and 2 literacy assessments (down from 3). Yet, the state is requiring our students to participate in a field test for recently developed ELA passages and items. The purpose of the field test is to try out new material and to replenish and expand the item pool for future operational tests. Therefore, students will take 3 ELA assessments.
Students will be testing the week of April 8th. Students who are not in school during testing sessions will need to make- up those assessments on a later date, which would involve students being taken out of the classroom. Therefore, please do your best to arrange appointments outside the testing week. We want to make sure the state assessment makes as little an impact as possible for our students.
Bully Report
- Reflect a coercive imbalance of power; AND
- Is severe, pervasive and often purposeful and repeated; AND
- Places an individual in (a) reasonable fear of substantial detrimental effect to his or her person or property; or (b) to otherwise substantially interfere in a student’s academic performance or ability to participate in any school-related activity.
Conduct that would not ordinarily be considered bullying for purposes of this definition include:
- Mere teasing
- “Talking trash”
- Trading of insults
- The expression of ideas or beliefs (expressions protected by the First Amendment), so long as such expression is not lewd, profane, or intended to intimidate or harass another.
Any bullying behaviors need to reported to school staff. We also have a Bully Report for students and parents to complete when needed. Once the form is submitted, Administration will be notified.
2019-2020 Planning
Communication
Millburn Education Foundation
The Millburn Education Foundation has been asked many times about Millburn Madness. Unfortunately, we will not be hosting Millburn Madness this year. However, we will still be holding our online auction of the priceless teacher items. The online auction will be opening on the night of March 15th. More information on how to bid on these one of a kind experiences from the Millburn staff will be in future newsletters.
Millburn Education Foundation is currently accepting scholarship applications for graduating high school seniors who are Millburn alumni. If interested in learning more about the application process, please see your high school guidance counselor or email millburneducationfoundation@gmail.com.
PTO News
o Book Fair - Elementary
o Spirit Wear
o Fun Run
o Scrapping Day
o Kids Resale
o Dinner Night Out
o District Talent Show
Book Fair Millburn Elementary: It is time for our spring book fair! All profits from our book fair go directly into purchasing books and other literacy related items for our elementary students. Please visit us Thursday, February 28th and Friday, March 1st during the school day in the MES East Gym. We will also be open Friday evening for the Literacy Night event from 5:30-7:00pm.
NEW eWallet - Scholastic is now offering eWallet as an alternative to sending cash with your student. Please see FAQs and information about setting up an eWallet in the Virtual Backpack. Or follow this link directly to our Scholastic Webpage: http://www.scholastic.com/bf/millburncommconssd24
Can't find what you are looking for at the fair? Our online fair is open from February 22 through March 7th. Books will be delivered directly to the school and distributed to your student's teacher. Follow this link to shop thousands of titles http://www.scholastic.com/bf/millburncommconssd24
We need volunteers to make this book fair a success. If you are available for set up on Wednesday, February 27th at 9:00 am, or to work the fair registers while we are open, please follow this link to the PTO website to sign up for a time. Thank you for considering! https://millburnpto.ptboard.com/sgnvw
SpiritWear: Want to swap out Spirit Wear your children may have outgrown for something new (to them)? Drop off a Spirit Wear Item and get a ticket for a different item at the Swap Shop. Don’t have any to swap? Join us at the Swap Shop – all items $5.00!
2 Spirit Wear Events:
RECYCLE DRIVE (DATES BELOW)
Spirit wear will be dropped off at the below-listed school activities. In addition, you can drop off items at MES or MMS in the front office or email spiritwear@millburnpto.com to coordinate a pickup (before April 5). For every item donated to the recycle drive, you will receive a ticket for our “Swap Shop” for the exclusive shopping time.
DRIVE DATES
-PTO meeting (March 12 at 7pm at MES)
-Family Fun Night (March 15 from 6:30-8pm at MES)
SWAP SHOP (APRIL 6 AT MMS)
Swap Shop
Saturday, April 6 at MMS in conjunction with the Millburn Family Fun Run. Exclusive shopping time from 8-9am for those who donated and received a ticket. Remaining items go on sale from 9:30-11am for $5 per item.
QUESTIONS OR VOLUNTEER: SPIRITWEAR@MILLBURNPTO.COM
Fun Run: Millburn Family Fun Run is scheduled for Saturday, April 6th. We are currently seeking corporate sponsorships for this event. Please reach out to our committee at millburnfunrun@millburnpto.com if your company would like additional information in sponsorship. We love our local business owners!
Scrapping Day: The PTO is excited to announce that we will be hosting a Scrapping Day in 2019! For 12 hours you can scrapbook, card-make, or craft to your heart's content. There will be vendors on site, raffles, and giveaways. Space is limited so you will want to check your calendars and reserve your table. See the flier in the Virtual Backpack for more details.
Kids Resale: Resale Donation Drive was a huge success last weekend! Thank you all for your support! If you find that you still have items you wish to donate, please contact us via email at millburnkidsresale@yahoo.com or through Facebook as soon as possible.
Now Seeking: Additional sellers for our upcoming MILLBURN KIDS RESALE! Feel like earning some extra money? Start collecting the clothes and toys your kids have outgrown - then turn your collections into cash by selling them at the Millburn Kids Resale! It's a great way for you - and your kids - to clean out the closet, garage, basement, and attic! All early registrations received are automatically entered into a drawing to win 75% of your proceeds instead of the standard 50%. Registration forms can be found on the PTO website (www.millburnpto.com) and in the virtual backpack. Registration forms are in the virtual backpack too.
Would you like to come early and shop the Millburn Kids Resale BEFORE the doors open to the public? Make your selection from great name brand items at fantastic prices from 3:15pm to 4pm on Opening Day of the sale! The PRESALE is an invite only event for volunteers that help out either before, during or after the sale. We are very flexible with the hours and opportunities to volunteer. If there isn’t a time or date that works for your schedule, please contact us to make arrangements.
Please follow this link to view opportunities https://millburnpto.ptboard.com/sgnvw?signup=Km5n3vAeQCm9Pl1lCQtX1HN___6c5JiiPn___pfUt7YW
If your availability is different than the suggested times, please let us know. We are happy to help! Questions contact us at millburnkidsresale@yahoo.com
PTO Dinner (or Lunch) Out: Thank you to everyone who came out to MOD pizza on Monday!
District Talent Show: What a night of Talent! Thank you to all our very talented students and their family and friends that came to see them perform.
February Events
Feb 25-Mar 1- Read Across America Week
March Events
15th- PTO Family Fun Night 6-8PM
25-29- Spring Break