The Central Scoop
October 19, 2018
From the Principal's Desk...
Dear Parents,
We are very excited to announce the return of the Sister School Program this year. The Sister School Program is a unique program offered at Central School through Opportunity Education (click HERE to learn more about Opportunity Education). Our sister school, Kusirye-u English Medium Pre & Primary School, is located in Machame, Tanzania on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Over the next few weeks, our teachers will be re-introducing the school in our classrooms since this will be the second year we will have a "pen-pal" exchange with the students. We will share letters from their students and discuss what seems similar and different between our cultures.
On behalf of our Sister School Committee, we would all say that we learn just as much from our sister school as they are learning from us and we are honored to be a part of the Sister School network.
Have a wonderful weekend,
~ Becky
Rebecca Littmann
Principal
Central Elementary School
Students from Kusirye-u School were happy to receive our books and letters last year
Outdoor Education Information
Upcoming Board Meeting
The monthly Board of Education meeting is Monday, October 22nd at 7:00 PM at the MEC. Below are a couple of topics that may be of interest. If you can’t make the meeting, you can view it live or later, either on the District website or on Channel 6. Highlights of the meeting will be emailed and posted online within a day or two.
- Review the Tax Year 2018 Estimate of Levy and Approve the Public Hearing
- Select Student Fees
- 2018 Fall Assessment Report
Carpool Line Etiquette
Our school office was contacted this week by a family with a driveway exiting onto Central Avenue. They asked us to remind parents to park legally when picking up and dropping of children at the school. They informed us that cars often block the driveway, making it impossible for them to enter and exit onto the street.
In addition to this, the same family often sees parents park illegally too close to the corners all around the intersection of Central Ave and 10th Street. This results in poor visibility for drivers entering the intersection.
Thank you for reminding each other about the rules to keep both drivers and pedestrians safe.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Halloween
Parade
If the weather is nice, we plan to hold a Halloween Parade outside (on the sidewalk) starting at 9am on 10/31 like we have in past years. Parents are welcome to stay outside and watch the parade. Classroom teachers will be staying with classes as we walk along the sidewalks and the perimeter of our school property. If it rains, the outdoor parade will be canceled for parents and visitors (and instead the parade will be moved inside for students to show off their costumes to each other).
Costumes
As you purchase costumes, please remember that students are not allowed to bring weapons or wear a costume that "is in bad taste." Many popular characters are not appropriate developmentally for our students in school (such as the character: Momo). Costumes need to be appropriate for school and not depict violence. We prefer no face masks that cover the entire face (we want to be able to see and identify children). Please have conversations with your children about what is appropriate.
Early Release Day Too!
- Grades 1 -4 will be dismissed at 11:55am.
- AM Kindergarten will dismiss at 10:00am.
*More information about our parade, costumes, and classroom parties will be shared by the classroom teachers.
Rotary Club Book Donations - last posting
Please send new or gently used books to Central School for the annual book drive sponsored by the Rotary Club. Collection bins are in the front lobby.
Additional Security Improvements at Central School - last posting
PTA Announcements and Reminders...
* The PTA sends out their own newsletter on Sundays - here are just a few highlights
Save the Date for a fun Mother & Son Event - Sunday, November 4th from 2-4 PM
Mark you calendars for a fun Mother & Son Event - Sunday, November 4th from 2-4 PM
Join us at the Kenilworth Club for a casual afternoon of games, trivia, dancing and fast paced fun! The event includes a fun Photo Booth, a delicious ice cream bar with all the fixings, refreshments and an amazing DJ- who will surely get you and your son up and on the dance floor. The event is open to Kindergarten through Fourth Grade Central boys and their Moms. If a Mom can't make it, boys can come with their friend's Mom, an Aunt or even a Grandma. Tickets are $45 per Mom and Son, and each additional son is $20. Sign up today by clicking here!
School Yearbook
Order your child's Central School yearbook today! The sale price of $20 ($5) off has been extended until October 27th. Click on the link to order online today!
The Yearbook Committee is still looking for 1 or 2 more volunteers to take photos and help compile the yearbook. Please contact Lauren at lmaustin7@gmail.com if you are interested.
Amazon Smile - Sign-up, It's EASY!
Don’t forget to sign up for Amazon Smile! Your everyday purchases can help benefit our school.
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know and love. Same product, same prices, same service - just a special link to help your shopping benefit our school. Please bookmark the link below to make sure your shopping is always contributing. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases directly to Central School! Just in time for Halloween candy, costume, and fall shopping... Sign up today at https://smile.amazon.com/
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!
Community Announcements...
- GO PEDAL POWER! Donate a used bicycle to the 2018 Pedal Power Bike Drive Saturday, October 27th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm at multiple locations.
- Wilmette Park District’s Saturday Basketball registration is open for boys & girls grades 4-8.
- Wilmette Rotary Club is running its annual BIG BOOK DRIVE at all District 39 schools from October 1st through November 15th.
- Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
- Free adult English language classes are available at Highcrest Middle School beginning October 16 through November 13.
- Family Action Network (FAN): Click HERE for information about FAN and upcoming speakers.
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.
Save the Dates...
10/22 - Fall 2 Session of Park District After-School Clubs Begin
10/22 - Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm
10/31 - Halloween Parade @ 9am, Early Release
11/4 - Daylight Savings Time Ends - set clocks back one hour
11/8, 11/9 - No School - PT Conferences
11/12-11/16 - Book Fair
11/19-11/23 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
11/28-11/30 - 4th Grade Outdoor Education Trip