The Central Scoop
April 5, 2019
From the Principal's Desk...
Dear Parents,
It was wonderful welcoming all the children back to school this week after they enjoyed vacationing with friends and family. I enjoyed hearing about everyone's adventures from spring break. My family and I just returned from a vacation in Bora Bora. It was the trip of a lifetime and one we wanted to take since my daughter is headed to college this fall. My husband, two teenagers, and I swam with sharks, snorkeled with stingrays, and enjoyed paddle boarding (and yes, we tend to be "adventurous vacationers!").
It's hard to believe we only have 10 weeks left of school before summer vacation. It's a very exciting and busy time of year for our staff and students as we begin planning for next year. On Wednesday, April 17th our fourth graders will be going to WJHS for an introduction to the band, chorus, and orchestra programs available to them as 5th graders at Highcrest. Additionally, Kindergarten Orientation is at 6:30 pm that same day, in our auditorium for adults only. Both new and continuing parents are welcome.
Please be sure to register for parent teacher conferences that are scheduled for April 25th and 26th (for grades 1-4), and April 24th-26th (for kindergarten). As a reminder, please do not contact teachers about scheduling conferences outside the district's scheduled conference dates/times.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Warmly,
- Becky
Rebecca Littmann
Principal
Central Elementary School
Meet Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli
The district office is hosting an Open House on April 17th to meet our new superintendent from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Learning Commons at the Junior High.
Here is the link with more information: Open House for D39's New Superintendent
Earth Week and Student Green Team Announcements
The Green Team is proudly sponsoring Earth Week at Central
Earth Day is April 22nd and to celebrate the Student Green Team put together a week full of "Green" fun! Each day, starting on April 15th, we will have a different event for Central students to take part in to celebrate Earth Day. We’ll be saving water on Monday, enjoying waste-free lunches on Tuesday, turning off lights on Wednesday, walking to school on Thursday and taking part in a spirit day the following Monday which is Earth Day! There’s also going to be some fun surprises at recess during the week. Check out the flyer below for more information about each day. The Green Team is also sponsoring our first ever Recycled Sculpture Contest during Earth Week! We’re excited to help Central celebrate Earth Day 2019!.
The Green Team proudly presents Central’s first ever Recycled Sculpture Contest
As a fun way to reuse materials, we invite all interested students to take part in a sculpture contest. Using clean recyclable materials at home, students are encouraged to create a fox. You can put it together and decorate it in a creative way. Bring your finished sculpture to school during Earth Week. The last day to submit a sculpture is Thursday, April 18th. On Earth Day, the Green Team students will vote on a winning sculpture in each grade. Winning sculptures will be announced at the Earth Day assembly! Please note, sculptures cannot be larger than 12” wide and 18” tall. Sculptures will be returned to students after the contest ends. See the Green Team’s website for more details. We can’t wait to see what our creative Central students come up with for this fun event.
Thank You Educational Foundation!
The Educational Foundation awarded all elementary schools a Gripp Grant for a Sensory Path!
A sensory path is an organized, indoor course that encourages a routine, predictable motor break. It provides students an additional place to take “brain breaks” during the day. High-intensity activities can help students focus and re-set their bodies and minds before returning to instruction. A set, routine “path” encourages appropriate usage, a predictable break, and an activity with a structured ending. These paths will help students across the district access the gross motor input they desperately need to be focused students.
Principal at McKenzie School
Parent-Teacher Conferences
- April 8th - Spring conference sign-up began online
- April 24th - Kindergarten Conferences begin
- April 25th - Early Release K-4 students & Parent Teacher Conferences in the afternoon
- April 26th - No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
State Assessments
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is replacing PARCC and is right around the corner for our 3rd and 4th grade students! Students will be testing on April 9th, 10th, 11th, 15th, and 16th. Please limit doctor appointments and other family obligations during this testing window. It is important that your child arrive to school on time so that they are able to take the test in the classroom with peers. Please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher for specific scheduling information. There is no need to prepare for the test we just ask that students come to school on time and well rested. Test results are shared by the state during the following school year.
Important Enrollment Notice
PTA Announcements and Reminders...
* The PTA sends out a separate newsletter on Sundays..here are a few highlights/reminders:
STEAM Night
Central School PTA celebrates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) today - Friday, April 5th! Dinner will start in the cafeteria at 5:30pm, for those who purchase food ahead via the form link below. At 6:00pm, students and families will participate in challenges including an Escape Room-Style Treasure Hunt. Optional for interested students: bring and show off STEAM-related creations that they have made at home at our Young Creators Exposition. Click HERE to learn more about the scheduled events!
Please register for the event and purchase dinner ahead HERE!
General PTA Meeting with Aaron Dubnow
Wednesday, April 10th at 9:00am
All are encouraged to attend the PTA General Board meeting on April 10, 2019 at 9:00am in the Central Auditorium. Aaron Dubnow from Highcrest will be there to provide guidance and answer questions about the Highcrest transition.
Arts in the Evening - Chicago Loves Dance!
Wednesday, April 10th at 6:30pm
Join us for a fun family night with Chicago Loves Dance! This event is for Central students and their families. Come learn new dances and join in on the dance-off at the end of the evening! A parent or guardian must be present and there is no cost to participate!
Community Announcements...
- Trevian Girls Softball Association is seeking a few more 9/10 year old girls (4th/5th graders) interested in playing spring/summer softball. Contact Kelsey Lee at Klee@trevians.org for more information.
- The Warming House Youth Center Annual Benefit & Silent Auction will be held Saturday, April 6th, 7:00 - 10:00 pm at the Wilmette Golf Club
- Oakton Community College hosts summer STEAM camps and classes for students ages 8-12. Registration is now open.
- Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development offers Weekend Enrichment Programs for students age 3 through 8th grade.
- Love to sing? Youth Choral Theatre of Chicago offers a free vocal training class with flyer. Vocal classes available for children ages 4-18.
- The Center Fitness Club schedule and various park district classes for children are posted.
- Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
- Family Action Network (FAN) - Click HERE for information about FAN and upcoming speakers.
From the Nurse's Office
Call Central School "Attendance Line" For Absences: 847-512-6150
Please call the Attendance Line to report absences even if you let the classroom teacher know, because some teachers don't see the email/voicemail until later in the day. Teachers assume you are calling the office. It's important that the school nurse is directly aware of any absences otherwise, your son/daughter may be considered "missing." The school nurse keeps track of all school absences in the building. For safety reasons, we want to make sure all of our students are accounted for and safe.
New Central Health Office Website!!
Here is your go-to site for all of your health related questions including PE/Recess Notes, Health Requirements, Dental Examinations, Allergy and Asthma, Medications, Snacks in Classrooms, Lice, Influenza...and more!
https://sites.google.com/wilmette39.org/centralhealthoffice/home
Join us on Twitter!
Central School is on Twitter!
- We have TWO Twitter accounts. Please "follow" us at Twitter.com! Explore Central 39 (with our actual "handle" as @explorecentral). With this account, we mostly share student activities that are completed in the Learning Commons (but other activities are often included as well). We are also providing this Twitter feed on our Central School homepage.
- There is also a principal page @BeckyLittmann where you can follow a variety of school happenings including all-school events, classroom activities, PTA enrichment, and school goals.
Our PE Department is now on Twitter too!
The twitter handle is @CentralFoxesPE.
Save the Dates...
4/5 - STEAM Night - Register Below 5:30-7:30pm
4/10 - Arts in the Evening 6:30pm
4/12 - Spanish Fiesta 6:00-7:30pm
4/17 - D39 Community Open House to meet new superintendent @ 5:30pm at the Junior HIgh
4/17 - Kindergarten Orientation 6:30pm-7:30pm
4/19 - NO SCHOOL, Good Friday
4/25 - EARLY RELEASE, Teacher Conferences
4/25 - Bowling/Pizza Party, 4th & 3rd grades
4/26 - NO SCHOOL, Teacher Conferences
4/26 - Bowling/Pizza Party, 2nd & 1st grades