The Tiger Times Newsletter
Pleasantdale Middle School
October 20, 2019
It's Red Ribbon Week!
Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention awareness campaign celebrated in October each year. Throughout the week, kids are encouraged to make positive choices by staying away from drugs and alcohol.
Did you know? Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don't, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations (redribbon.org).
Monday-Crazy sock day-We will sock it to drugs and say no!
Tuesday-Wear your favorite concert t-shirt-We will tune out drugs!
Wednesday-Wear something from your favorite team or sport-We will team up against drugs!
Thursday-Who is your superhero?-We are superheroes, not zeros and will live a healthy life!
Friday-Red Ribbon Celebration –Pleasantdale Spirit Day-We will stand strong against drugs!
Pleasantdale Takes 1st Place in a Science Competition at Nazareth
Thank you to Mrs. Lauermann, Mrs. Kim, and Mrs. Falout for encouraging and supporting our students to pursue their passions in science!
#ProudPrincipal
Interscholastic Sports Require a Sports Physical
The sports physical form is here.
"Not My Kid" Roundtable Presentations by the Coalition for a Drug-Free LT Beginning This Week
The Lyons Township Sender Schools are partnering with the Coalition for a Drug-Free LT to bring the "Not My Kid" Parent Roundtable Sessions to each of the sender schools for your convenience. Even if you can't attend the one at our school, please consider attending one of these very informative roundtable sessions in the area.
Presentations offered by the Coalition for a Drug-Free Lyons Township
"Not My Kid" Parent Roundtables at the LTHS sender middle schools focused on the following:
*Transitions
*Parents being susceptible to peer pressure when it comes to following community norms about drinking or drug use.
*Gain insights into topics relevant to parenting teens, how to deal with teen stress, your teen's exposure to alcohol and marijuana /vaping
*Building resilience
*Parent Communication Strategies
10/16 Park Junior High, 7-8:30 p.m.
10/23 Pleasantdale Middle School, Cafeteria, 7-8:30 p.m.
10/24 Gurrie Middle School, 7-8:30 p.m.
10/29 Highlands Middle School, 7-8:30 p.m.
10/30 McClure Junior High, 7-8:30 p.m.
RSVP for any of these sessions by emailing ckfrymark@me.com with the name(s) of who is attending and the date and location.
Sports and Games Club this Month!
Parent Education Corner
Here's a great article entitled, "How to talk to your middle schooler so they actually might listen to you" by Phyllis Fagell. I hope you'll take the few minutes to read it and feel free to send me your thoughts after you do.
Upcoming Parent Presentations
Parent Presentations at LTHS
November 6: 7:30 p.m. "Marijuana is legal, now what?" Presented by Matthew Quinn, LT South Campus
February 25: 7:30 p.m. "Drugs, Alcohol, and the Teen Brain" Presented by Tammy Tunac (MA, LPC, CADC Behavioral Health Clinician), LT South Campus
Presentations offered by the Coalition for a Drug-Free Lyons Township
"Not My Kid" Parent Roundtables at the LTHS sender middle schools focused on the following:
*Transitions
*Parents being susceptible to peer pressure when it comes to following community norms about drinking or drug use.
*Gain insights into topics relevant to parenting teens, how to deal with teen stress, your teen's exposure to alcohol and marijuana /vaping
*Building resilience
*Parent Communication Strategies
10/16 Park Junior High, 7-8:30 p.m.
10/23 Pleasantdale Middle School, Cafeteria, 7-8:30 p.m.
10/24 Gurrie Middle School, 7-8:30 p.m.
10/29 Highlands Middle School, 7-8:30 p.m.
10/30 McClure Junior High, 7-8:30 p.m.
Presentations offered through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- Dr. Laurie Sackett-Maniacci (wife of Michael Maniacci)- "Taking in Wellness: Mind & Body"
- October 17th, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Community Wellness Center
To sign up for any of the free presentations above, please click here.
Nazareth Academy Parent Offerings
Click here to see Nazareth Academy's Parent Speaker Series this year!
Calendar Dates for the Year
If you are like me, you want to know the dates for the year as far in advance as possible. As long as you understand that something may change due to unforeseen circumstances, I’d like to provide you access to the dates we’ve planned for the year (many of which are in the paper calendar you received in the mail). To access the middle school calendar dates, please click here.
Collections at the Middle School
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!
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
The lunch menus have been upgraded significantly to show both nutritional information and allergens for the food served by Just a Dash, our third-party partner to provide hot lunch to our school. Here's the link to the menu:
October Lunch Menu, Nutritional Information, and Allergens
To put money on your child's account, please log into Skyward and add money. For more complete directions or apply for free or reduced lunches, please visit here.
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, October 21
Red Ribbon Week, Crazy sock day-We will sock it to drugs and say no!
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Boys' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:30 in Mrs. Schmager’s room (Room 13) until the library is reopened
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25, meet in the cafeteria
Newbery Book Club, 3:30-4:25
STEM Club, 3:30-4:25, STEM LAB
Cross-Country Conference Meet, 4:15, LT South Campus
Girls’ Basketball Conference Tournament (if advancing)
Tuesday, October 22
Red Ribbon Week, Spirit Day: Wear your favorite concert t-shirt-We will tune out drugs!
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
7th, 8th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
5th Grade Orchestra, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:25, Mrs. Schmager’s room (Room 13) until the library is reopened
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25, meet in the South Gym
Girls’ Basketball Conference Tournament (if advancing)
Wednesday, October 23
Red Ribbon Week, Spirit Day: Wear something from your favorite team or sport-We will team up against drugs!
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
5th, 6th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Student Council Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
7th Grade Boys’ Basketball Tryouts, 3:30-5, North Gym--All boys must have an athletic physical turned into Nurse Rende prior to trying out
Parent Presentation “Not My Kid” (see above), 7 p.m., Cafeteria
Thursday, October 24
Red Ribbon Week, Spirit Day: Who is your superhero?-We are superheroes, not zeros and will live a healthy life!
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
Boys' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Student Council Meeting**, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
**Thursday meetings are meant for the students that cannot come on Wednesdays
Parent Presentation-Middle School 101-Presented by Principal Griffin Sonntag, 9:30 a.m.
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:30 in Mrs. Schmager’s room (Room 13) until the library is reopened
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25, meet in the South Gym
8th Grade Boys’ Basketball Tryouts, 3:30-5, North Gym--All boys must have an athletic physical turned into Nurse Rende prior to trying out.
Friday, October 25
Red Ribbon Week, Spirit Day: Pleasantdale Spirit Day-We will stand strong against drugs!
Jazz Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
5th, 6th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
7th, 8th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Yoga, 7:35 a.m., small gym (mats are provided)
A Look Ahead...
Monday, October 28
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Boys' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:30 in Mrs. Schmager’s room (Room 13) until the library is reopened
STEM Club, 3:30-4:25, STEM LAB
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25, meet in the cafeteria
Tuesday, October 29
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
7th, 8th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
5th Grade Orchestra, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:25, Mrs. Schmager’s room (Room 13) until the library is reopened
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25, meet in the South Gym
Wednesday, October 30
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
6-8th Grade Orchestra, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
5th, 6th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Student Council Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
Thursday, October 31
Open Art, 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Washburn’s room (Room 3)
Boys' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Student Council Meeting**, 7:30 a.m., Room 25
**Thursday meetings are meant for the students that cannot come on Wednesdays
5th Grade Band, 3:30-4:25 p.m., Band/Orchestra Room
Open Library 3:30-4:30 in Mrs. Schmager’s room (Room 13) until the library is reopened
Sports and Games Club, 3:30-4:25, meet in the South Gym
Friday, November 1
Jazz Band, 7:30 a.m., Band/Orchestra Room
5th, 6th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
7th, 8th Grade Girls' Choir, 7:30 a.m., Music Room
Yoga, 7:35 a.m., small gym (mats are provided)
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. Charlotte Reschke, Secretary, creschke@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