The Tiger Times Newsletter
Pleasantdale Middle School
October 6, 2019
What a Purposeful Week!
This coming week will provide a sense of normalcy (if there is such a thing in the lives of middle schoolers) as we don't have any special schedules planned or any unique activities. Please continue to be mindful and keep the kids coming each and every day on time. Remind them to respect themselves, their classmates, our staff, and our school. By respecting the people around them and our school, we will have a great week!
Finally this week, if parents are interested and able to attend, I will be presenting on Middle School 101 both at 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The purpose of this conversation is to share with parents what to expect during these middle school years and give you an opportunity to get to know Mr. Sonntag a little better. We hope you'll consider coming if you're interested.
#CrackCancerChallenge
Initial Impressions of the New Middle School Schedule
1. Students having the same schedule of classes every day provides continuity to the learning and makes sense for the adolescent brain. As you may experience, the kids don't always remember what they were doing the day before much less two or more days ago. Having classes daily is a positive for student learning. The classes we are specifically speaking about include reading lab, math lab, and Spanish.
2. The double period of math in 7th and 8th grades allows students more time with their teacher at these higher and more challenging levels of math. This time is being used in many ways
3. The 5th-grade teachers have been able to adjust their schedule to include "Home Base" time to support the transition to middle school of our youngest learners. Activities have included multiple "get to know you" activities with the other students, how to be organized at school, and what to do when you get home from school. In addition to easing the transition to a new school, this time is used to directly teach the SEL standards to the 5th graders as they continue to learn how to navigate more independence in middle school.
4. Teachers have additional time to prepare lessons and curriculum with colleagues. As I walk around the school, I am seeing more and more collaboration by staff. This collaboration will benefit the students and their learning as well as provide more inclusion of all students in our classes.
5. Longer daily periods of math and science in 5th and 6th grades. These classes are approximately 60 minutes in length and support hands-on learning and lab activities.
So far, so good. We'll continue to evaluate throughout the year to determine what is best for our students for the future. If you have feedback (either positive or negative) regarding the new schedule from your perspective, please email Mr. Sonntag at gsonntag@d107.org. Thank you and as many of you know who have shared your thoughts on other topics, we welcome and value your perspective.
Attention 6th and 7th Graders-Saturday STEM Opportunity
We are looking to see if any 6th or 7th-grade students are interested in a friendly science engineering competition on Saturday, October 19th at Nazareth in LaGrange. You would need to be dropped off at 8:30 am and picked up at 1:00 pm NOT at the middle school but at Naz. If you are interested check with your parents and fill out the form attached to the link: Saturday science competition. There is limited space for our students.
Sports and Games Club this Month!
Parent Education Corner
Upcoming Parent Presentations
October 10-Middle School 101-Presented by Principal Griffin Sonntag at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Cafeteria.
Come learn about the ins and outs of middle school and what to expect during your child's time here. This will be a great way to get to know Mr. Sonntag better and learn more about how to best support your child while at Pleasantdale Middle School.
Parent Presentations at LTHS
October 17, 7:30-9 p.m. LTHS Parent Community Network welcomes Author and Motivational Speaker, Tom Thelen, will share his inspiring message about bullying prevention and family values with our adult audience. Tom’s message gives practical tools for adults to help kids become more responsible and resilient. At LT North Campus. RSVP here.
November 6: 7: 30 p.m. "Marijuana is legal, now what?" Presented by Matthew Quinn, 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
10/23 Pleasantdale Middle School, Cafeteria, 7 p.m.
10/24 Gurrie Middle School, 7 p.m.
Presentations offered through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- NAMI Basics, a 6-week course for parents with children under 20 with a mental health diagnosis.
- Oak Park, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Mondays beginning October 7th
- 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 7-7th/8th Grade Author Visit
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
Tuesday, October 8
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
STEM Club, 3:30-4:25, STEM LAB
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 Game Away @ Gurrie, 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday, October 9
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 10
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
Girls’ Basketball Game Away @ Highlands, 4:15 p.m.
Cross-Country Meet Home vs. Gurrie, Willow, and Park @Walker Park, 4:15
Parent Presentation-Middle School 101-Presented by Principal Griffin Sonntag, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 11
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 14-No School-Columbus Day
Tuesday, October 15-No School-Staff Institute Day
Wednesday, October 16
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 17
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
Girls Basketball Game Away @ Willow, 4:15
Friday, October 18
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