Harper Happenings
February 24-28
What's Happening
Important Upcoming Dates-
- Teacher Appreciation Week: February 24-28 ** see more information below- volunteers needed
- 2nd Grade Parent Music Show: February 27 at 9:30am in the Harper auditorium
Parenting in a Digital Age Presentation: March 11 at 7pm, at Central Elementary School
PASS39 Parent Education: Monday, March 9th. All Parents Welcome!
Topic: Preparing for Transitions 9:15-10:15 AM at Romona School (Auditorium)
Open Gym: January 13 through to Monday, March 16, 2020. Open Gym will be in the school gymnasium between 6:30-8:00pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult. A change of shoes is a MUST for inclement weather. This event is funded by the PTO and open to ONLY Harper students.
General PTO Meeting, Tuesday, April 14, 9-10am in the auditorium.
Topic: 4th Grade Transition to Highcrest. Guest speaker - Linda Moric, Highcrest 5th Grade Principal. Parent Panel for open Q&A.
PTO Sponsored Movie Night - Friday, April 17, 6-8pm. Registration will open in March
PTO Sponsored FREE EVENT. Stretch class for our parent community. Thursday, May 7, 6-645pm in the gymnasium. Registration will open in April.
Principal's Message
Dear Harper Families,
Over the past 3 weeks, through iGNITE (thank you!) Grow Through Mindfulness has provided Mindfulness training for all students at Harper, Kindergarten through 4th grade. Simply put, mindfulness is bringing our full attention to the present moment, observing events and emotions with openness, curiosity and gentleness. Mindfulness has been scientifically proven to positively influence students' ability to focus, regulate emotions, build resilience, and form healthy and supportive relationships. I hope students were able to enjoy these sessions and are able to apply what they have learned at school and at home.
To culminate the sessions, each student was given a little Dolphin to represent as a "leaf" on a Kindness Tree. Students wrote nice words or acts of kindness. These trees will be displayed in the hallways for all to see, and as a reminder to these mindfulness sessions. As students learned, what we pay attention to “grows” and this is an act of self-kindness.
Have an excellent weekend and thanks for all you do!
Aaron
Parent Planning Notes:
Teacher/Staff Appreciation week at Harper is next week. Thank you for all you are planning for the staff. Some specific ways to assist and help out are below. We always encourage students writing notes/cards for their teachers as that is what we value the most. ATTACHED is an optional template to use. Feel free to print it off and use it or students can just write their own notes/cards.
The District 39 Community Review Committee (CRC) invites all families to complete this brief, 10-minute survey survey about communication and parent engagement practices. Please complete THIS SURVEY once before 5 p.m. on January 24.
- Parent Events: HERE is a list of many of the remaining parent educational events for the school year.
- Summer School Enrichment Program information HERE. Registration is done online and open February 17.
Before and After School: Supervision before school begins at 8:20am. Please try to not drop off your kids before then. After school, students should be walking while on school property as well as walking their bikes until they are off the school grounds. Thank you for your help reinforcing these expectations.
Traffic Safety Update: It is important that everyone is following the proper drop off and pick up guidelines for the safety of all students. HERE is a comprehensive set of guidelines. A few points to emphasize:
When entering the drop-off/pick-up line, you may not turn into the drop-off/pick-up line from Thornwood Avenue (this includes Kindergarten families). Please enter the line on Dartmouth Avenue from Kenilworth Avenue, one block north of Thornwood Avenue
Do not drop students off on Elmwood Avenue. Please drop students off in front of Harper by following the proper drop-off procedures.
Please drive slowly around the school.
Please do not be on your cell phones while driving around the school.
Please try to stay in your car at all times when you are in the carpool line. Try not to leave your car to walk your child into school or to find your child.
Follow the proper one ways in the AM and PM. Specifically, Greenwood is a one way going East.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!!!!!
Teacher Appreciation Week kicks off on Monday, FEB 24th.
Here are ways you can help celebrate our wonderful teachers and staff all week long!
-FLOWER DAY-
MON, FEB 24th; Send 3 fresh flowers to school with your child.
Parent volunteers will collect the flowers & assemble vases for the Harper teachers & staff.
Volunteer to collect and assemble flowers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4faea722a3f58-teacher
-CARDS & NOTES-
Students and parents can bring cards/ notes to their teachers and other staff members
telling them how special they are - all week long! ATTACHED is an optional template to use. Feel free to print it off and use it or students can just write their own notes/cards.
-FOOD/ DRINK VOLUNTEERS-
Volunteer to help stock the teacher's lounge. NEW SPOTS have
been added for the week of FEB 24th - items can be dropped off
at the front desk any time during the week:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4faea722a3f58-stock
-TEACHER RAFFLE-
12 names will be drawn daily / winners choose from assorted prizes donated
by local businesses & parents. If interested in donating something contact
jwwindycity@gmail.com for more info.
Announcements
- Open PTO positions in the school year 2020/2021 will be posted in the HH the week before spring break. It takes a community of parent volunteers to deliver our PTO sponsored events. Please consider volunteering at our elementary school. Questions can be sent to jreynolds028@gmail.com
Box Tops- Please send your BOX TOPS to school in the next few weeks! The next submission is March 1 so I will be collecting all Box Tops from the bin in the school foyer EOD Wednesday, February 26.
$.10 a box top, funds raised go to the Harper Maker Space
The Fourth Grade will be attending the annual Shedd Aquarium Field Trip on Wednesday, February 26th. This all-day event will include an aquatics show, science presentation and time exploration. Kids will need a disposable, nut-free lunch. This fun field trip is brought to our students through your contributions to iGNITE!
- Stock the Teacher Lounge: new spots for FEB 2020 have been added! Click on the link to sign up! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4faea722a3f58-stock
iGNITE
http://harperpto.com/ignitetaxletter/
If you have not made a donation, it is never too late! We are still short of our goal that assures all enrichment activities are funded for our kids.
http://harperpto.com/ignite-donation/
If you have any questions or can't remember if you made a donation, please reach out to Jill Huebsch, jillhuebsch@gmail.com
Community Service Corner
Go Green Wilmette is hosting its annual Going Green Matters Environmental Fair on Sunday, March 8 at Michigan Shore Club from 12pm-4pm. This is a FREE event where you can peruse and learn from over 100 exhibitors. This year's theme will be about trees. Please come and share the event with your friends and family. D39 will have a table so please contact Aimee Stoltz at Aimee_prunier@yahoo.com if you and/or your D39 student would like to help plan and/or staff their exhibit!
Once again, Harper will be supporting HOW as part of our winter community service project. How's mission is "To empower individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by providing them with housing and the skills necessary to achieve and maintain economic independence." This year we will be supporting the local participants in HOW by creating New Baby Care Kits.
Students will have the opportunity to donate new baby care items from one of five categories, by grade. The community service committee and members of student council will be creating care packages from the items collected.
K-diaper cream
1st-burb cloth
2nd-grooming kit
3rd- shampoo/body wash/lotion
4th- lovey
WHEN: Drive runs from Tuesday, February 18 - Friday, February 28
Please consider having your children bring in new items from the above categories to the bins in their classrooms.
Community News
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
- Wilmette Public Library hosts MAKER FEST Saturday, February 29th, 10:30 - 2:30
- Wilmette Baseball Association House League registraton is now open for Kindergarten - 8th grade children.
- The Trevian Girls Softball Association is adding 9-10 year old players to their spring & summer teams.
- Under the Lights Flag Football registration is open for Kindergarten - 8th graders (Co-Ed League). Volunteer coaches needed.
- The Justin Wynn Leadership Academy hosts its Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on March 15th for 3rd through 8th grade boys & girls.
- Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
- The Center for Gifted hosts summer programs. View flyers for details.
- NSSRA offers Campyardigans for Summer 2020. See flyer for details.
WILMETTE PARK DISTRICT EVENTS:
- Wilmette Park District Saturday Basketball is back! For boys & girls grades 4-8.
- Sunday Youth Basketball for boys & girls grades 1-3. Contact Sara Hilby for information at shilby@wilpark.org
All announcements to be included in the Harper Happenings should be sent to Kelly Maggio 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 kwmaggio@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