Cherokee Newsletter 12.9.22

December 9, 2022

Dear Cherokee Families,

The holiday season is here, and there is a flurry of activities and cheer around the building! All of the students are working hard to prepare for the Winter Sing next week. Thank you to all of the families who provided hats and gloves for our Mitten Drive. Please stay tuned for other community service opportunities for our students in the coming months ahead.

Hope to see you all at the Winter Sing! Have a great weekend!

~Dr. Cavanaugh

A couple of highlights for special attention:

• Review the reminder about Winter Sing and the Livestream links

• Review the Winter Spirit Week dress up days on December 12th-16th

Winter Sing Performances:

Winter Sing performances will take place on Wednesday, December 14th! Please see the attached invite with details from Mrs. Prestipino. We look forward to sharing these cheerful performances with you! Important details:

Grades K-1 @ 9:00-9:30

• Livestream link
• https://youtu.be/_PDsLaJRsWE

• Livestream link
• https://youtu.be/PJxVHNmYqeI

• Livestream link
• https://youtu.be/b3PNjYmfFMM

• All students need to stay for the entire performance and we are asking for advanced notice if you plan to take your child home after the performance, including siblings.

• Please use our Temporary Change of Transportation Form if there will be a change in dismissal on the day of the winter sing. Thank you!

Battle of the Books

Please read for more information about the 4th Grade Battle of the Books opportunity.

The next regular meeting of the District 67 Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 in the Board Room at Lake Forest High School West Campus, 300 S. Waukegan Rd. (2nd floor) beginning at 7:00pm. Additional information and the meeting agenda is posted on the D67 Board webpage prior to each meeting.

It’s hard to believe we only have one week of school left before winter break! Next week is going to be action-packed. Be on the lookout for information from your room parents about classroom holiday parties and gift collections for your homeroom teachers.

A special thank you to everyone who donated to the Spirit of 67 this year! Cherokee was the first school to achieve 80% participation! We are so proud! We will be receiving $1500 in grant money to spend on the kids. We will be planning what that will be in 2023. Thank you to Kaci Spirito and Merideth Norman (Cherokee Spirit reps) for all of their hard work!

Thank you also to everyone who donated mittens, hats and scarves for our mitten tree benefiting Beacon Place. Thank you to Annie O’Connor and Kristen Miles for organizing this wonderful service project.

Gifts for Cherokee Specials Teachers & Staff

The APT is collecting contributions for our specials teachers and non-homeroom staff this holiday season. This includes teaching assistants, music, art, wellness, librarians, specialists, office staff, nurse, language, custodial and more. Donations can be given through Wednesday, December 14th via Venmo (@Natalie-Windle-2). We will compile donations for gift cards for the staff. If you do not have Venmo and would prefer to drop off cash or a check, please let me know.

Thank you for your continued support and helping spread a little extra holiday cheer this season!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

-Wednesday, January 18th - 9:30am (coffee available starting at 9:00am) - January APT Meeting in the IRC lab - ALL parents welcome.

-Wednesday, February 15th - 6:00pm - EVENING APT Meeting in the Cherokee Gym

-Friday, February 24th - Cherokee Winterfest! More info coming soon!

Gillian Goodfriend

Cherokee APT President 2022-2024

(773) 294-8131

gilliangoodfriend@yahoo.com

Nominations are being solicited for the following District 67 APT Executive Board positions to serve during the 2023-2025 school years:

• APT Executive Board President

• APT Executive Board Recording Secretary

• APT President, Everett Elementary School

• APT President, DPM School

Please note that nominees MUST have prior experience serving on an APT Board (or as a Room Parent) in order to be considered. Also, only parents from a local school can submit a nomination for that building’s APT President.

See the Nomination Form for descriptions of the positions being nominated. If you would like to nominate someone (including yourself), please click here to complete the Nomination Google Form:

2023-2025 APT Nomination Form (please complete online)

Or, you can click on the link below to complete the standard Nomination Form. These forms can be emailed or a photo of the completed form can be texted back at the number below:

2023-2025 APT NOMINATION FORM (please download)

You may also contact APT Executive VP & Nominating Committee Chair Shannon Shader directly via email at shannon_weed@yahoo.com or at (224) 280-3435 to submit possible candidate names.

FINAL DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is Monday, January 9, 2023.

Questions? Please contact Shannon Shader at the information above.

Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions!

The Deadline for all Grant Requests is January 26, 2023

Just as holiday gifts are on your childrens’ minds, GRANTS are on ours! Do you or does your child have a “Wish List” for your District 67 school? Send us your wishes by completing a Grant Request.

Do You Have the SPIRIT to be Part of the Spirit?

The Spirit of 67 Foundation Nominating Committee will soon be reaching out to fill positions for Special Events, Fundraising, Donor Representatives, Communication, and most important of all- Grants! Anybody who is curious about a highly fulfilling volunteer opportunity should follow this link… https://spirit67.wufoo.com/forms/z196qa0y1ex63x8/

CrossTown Competition Update

The Spirit of 67 “$500 Holiday Bonus” was presented to Everett this week before their Holiday Sing! Everett is one of two schools that has already met its donor participation goal for this school year and since it was before December 31st, they have been awarded a total of $1500 in grant awards! Way to Go Everett! Thank you Donors!

There is still time to donate! Any school that meets its goal before December 31st, will receive $1500 in designated grant awards. If the goal is met after January 1st, it will receive $1000 in grant awards. The CrossTown Competition officially ends on Grant Day– April 21st. The Winning School, with the highest donor participation percentage, will win the distinctive Traveling Trophy and an all-school popsicle party! Thinking about tax deductions for 2022? Donate soon!

Visit the Green Backpack or the front page of your school website to view the latest programs offered in our community.

CROYA News:

• CROYA’s Middle School Holiday party is Tuesday, Dec. 13th from 4pm-5pm!

• CROYA will be open over Winter Break! Please check the CROYA website for our Winter Break schedule.