Principal's Message 4.26.13

Student Council News...
Congratulations to the students of Prairie School.  We reached our goal of 400 donated toys.  The children earned a Prairie Pod Party.  The Prairie Pod parties will take place Friday, May 3rd.  You may be asking yourself, "What is a Prairie Pod Party?" Well, let me tell you.... The kids will have 20-30 minutes of Friday Fun with all the other classes in their pod.  

PTO News...

General Meeting Date Change

The PTO General Meeting has been changed to Wednesday, May 29th at 6:30pm.  All parents that will be new to Prairie in August are encouraged to attend.  Following the meeting, there will be a tour of the school and time for  Q & A.  

Staff Appreciation Week

The PTO is hosting Staff Appreciation Week from May 6th - 10th.  Tuesday, May 7th is Thank You Card Day.  This new event replaces flower day.  Students can bring as many cards as they'd like and pass them out to their teachers.  The PTO kindly requests gift card donations.  For more specifics on Staff Appreciation Week and other PTO news, please click HERE for the PTO Newsletter.  

MAP Testing

MAP Testing will occur next week for all students at Prairie.  Students will take the reading and math tests.  Assessment results are used as one piece of information to inform instruction.  Results will be sent home prior to the end of the school year.   

ABC Countdown

Student Council is trying something new this year, an ABC countdown for the last 26 days of school.  Each day will be a different theme and we'll be starting on on May 1st.  Please see below to help your child participate in the fun.    

A America Day (Show your pride by wearing red, white and blue) Wednesday, May 1

B Backwards Day (Wear your shirt backwards) Thursday, May 2

C Crazy Hair Day (Make your hair as crazy as possible) Friday, May 3

D Dime Day (Bring in your extra dimes to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital) May 6

E Exercise Day (Wear exercise clothes& put in some extra exercise) Tuesday, May 7

F Favorite Fruit Day (Bring in your favorite fruit for lunch!) Wednesday, May 8

G Green Day (Wear green & do something good for the environment) Thursday, May 9

H Hat Day (Wear your favorite hat) Friday, May 10

I Inside Out Day (Wear your clothes inside out) Monday, May 13

J Jean Day (Wear jeans, a jean jacket, jean skirt, etc.) Tuesday, May 14

K Kindness Day (Perform an extra act of kindness today) Wednesday, May 15

L LOL Day (Come with an appropriate joke to make someone laugh out loud!) 5/6

M Mismatch Day (Mix and match your clothes) Friday, May 17

N Neon Day (Wear your brightest, neon clothes) Monday, May 20

O Orange Day (Bring one to eat or wear the color orange) Tuesday, May 21

P Prairie Day (Wear Prairie Clothes, of course!) Wednesday, May 22

Q Quarter Day (Bring in your extra quarters to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital)

Thursday, May 23

R Rah! Rah! Day (Be ready to cheer on your teachers in the staff volleyball game) 5/24

S Sports Day (Come dressed ready to play sports for Field Day-Don’t forget your

sportsmanship too) 5/28

T Tye Dye Day (Wear your favorite tye dye clothing!) Wednesday, May 29

U University Day (Wear your favorite College/University clothing) Thursday, May 30

V Vacation Day (Wear a t-shirt from your favorite vacation spot) Friday, May 31

W Windy City Sports Day (Wear your favorite Chicago sports team gear) Monday, June 3

X X-tra Day (Do something X-tra fun today) Tuesday, June 4

Y Year End Cleanout (Clean out your desks today) Wednesday, June 5

Z Zip up your bags and Zoom into summer (Last Day!) Thursday, June 6

Principal's Message 4.19.13

Early Release on Tuesday, 4/23

Teachers will be involved in professional development work on this day therefore students will be dismissed at 2pm.  

Please register early to help us plan for next year!

We want to make the very best plans for all kids next year.  Help us by registering as soon as possible!  

Registration emails were sent out April 1 for the 2013-14 school year. ALL students who will attend District 96 in the Aug. 2013–June 2014 school year must register.  Click on the link in the registration email you were sent to open the online registration form for your student. The subject line of the email reads: "Register your District 96 Student for 2013–2014 School Year."  Please read carefully to confirm the accuracy of the information that appears. It is very important that we have current contact information for your family to send you communications and to reach you in an emergency. Please update your information as necessary. Registration questions? Please call 847.634.3144.  

Class Placement Input

is due on Friday, April 26th...next Friday.  We will be starting this process soon.

**Click here for the PTO Newsletter.**  

Upcoming Dates

Friday, April 19th - Art Auction - Cubby Bear North 7 - 9:30pm

Wednesday, May 15th - Prairie Celebrates Learning at 6pm-7pm

Thursday, May 16th - Orchestra Extravaganza Concert Grades 4-8 at Twin Groves

Thursday, May 23rd - 5th grade trip to Twin Groves

Friday, May 31st - Talent Show at 6:30pm

Thursday, June 6th - Last Day of School

Principal's Message 4.12.13

Parent Teacher Conferences
Thanks to all our parents for wonderful parent-teacher conferences.  We enjoy sharing the growth that your child has made over the course of the school year.  

Student Council News
Next Friday, April 19th the student council is sponsoring Decade Day! Whether it is 50's rock 'n roll, 70's hippie or  80's punk, dress like your favorite decade! We can't wait to see all the creative outfits!

PTO Board Positions & Committee Chairmanships

It is that time of year again.  On the PTO website, you will find forms to sign up both for the open Executive Board positions and for Chairs. It is the most fun to chair events with friends so if there is something that interests you, see if you can find a friend and indicate this on the form.  If you are currently in a Chair or Board position and wish to continue, you still need to fill out and return a form indicating this. Some of these committees take very little time to run and are great for those of us with super busy schedules. Email Suzanne Dicker, suzannedicker@yahoo.com, or Cynthia Zarkowsky, zarkstron@sbcglobal.net, with questions and they will be happy to steer you in a good direction.

There are a GREAT MANY SPOTS to fill! Please consider getting involved at some level. It takes many hands to do all the things that make Prairie so special.

Art Auction

Don't miss out on a fun adult evening.  On Friday, April 19th from 7-9:30pm at Cubby Bear North, 21661 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, the PTO is hosting annual Art Auction.  Be present to bid on awesome original classroom art projects and silent auction items such as restaurant gift cards, theater and sports tickets, golf clubs, Principal for a Day, and exciting teacher sponsored activities.  Cost:  $15/person in advance, $18 at the door.  Appetizers and desserts will be served. Questions:  Aimee Brohl at 847.793.0055, Patricia DeJesus at 847.478.8015, or Jennifer Salpietro at 847.478.0654.

News from Student Council...

The Prairie School Student Council is sponsoring a toy drive to provide children in our community with toys and games. Prairie students and families are invited to donate gently used toys and games. Toys and games can be dropped off in the lobby entrance. The toy drive runs from April 8-April 19. Our school-wide goal is to collect 400 toys or games! If we reach our goal, all of the students at Prairie School will be rewarded with a Prairie Pod Party, where students can play games with any other kids in their pods. Let’s all work together to meet our goal and help out less fortunate children in our community! Click here for a terrific Toy Drive commercial. 

5th Grade Parents - Click Here!
Check out the UPDATED CURRICULUM WEBPAGE with a link to 6th grade placement information.

**Click here for the PTO Newsletter.**  

Upcoming Dates

April 8 - 19th - Student Council Toy Drive
Thursday, April 18th - 4th Grade Concert at 6:30pm

Friday, April 19th - Art Auction - Cubby Bear North 7 - 9:30pm

Wednesday, May 15th - Prairie Celebrates Learning at 6pm-7pm

Thursday, May 16th - Orchestra Extravaganza Concert Grades 4-8 at Twin Groves

Thursday, May 23rd - 5th grade trip to Twin Groves
Friday, May 31st - Talent Show at 6:30pm

Thursday, June 6th - Last Day of School

Principal's Message 4.5.13

Principal's Lunch Showcase
This week I met with my last Principal's Lunch Showcase (PLS) classroom, Mrs. Saltzberg's homeroom, for this school year.  We had such a great time at our special seating area in the lunchroom simply talking and hanging out.  The kids shared with me all of their fun spring break adventures such as going on cruises, skiing in Colorado, and simply hanging out at home with family and friends.  

The PLS lunches this year have been such a wonderful way for me to get to know the kids more closely outside of the classroom.  Learning students' hobbies and talents has been really great and provides me with expanded talking topics with them when we pass in the hall or when I'm visiting their classrooms.  I look forward to the next round of PLSs next school year.   

Straight from the Superintendents

On Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m., at Stevenson High School (West Building, Rm. 2104), superintendents from Districts 96, 102, 103, and Stevenson will talk about ways they are working together to improve student learning and organizational efficiency. Their discussion will also focus on the new Common Core learning standards.  Join District 96 Superintendent Julie Schmidt and her peers to learn more.  Stevenson High School is located at One Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. Park in Lot B.

Registration Update–Register by May 17 to Save

Registration emails were sent out April 1 for the 2013-14 school year.  ALL students who will attend District 96 in the Aug. 2013–June 2014 school year must register. 

Click on the link in the registration email you were sent to open the online registration form for your student. The subject line of the email reads: "Register your District 96 Student for 2013–2014 School Year."

Please read carefully to confirm the accuracy of the information that appears. It is very important that we have current contact information for your family to send you communications and to reach you in an emergency. Please update your information as necessary. 

Registration questions? Please call 847.459.4260, ext. 7722

P2P Network

As busy families, it's harder than ever to connect with other parents experiencing the same pleasures–and challenges!–involved in raising our kids. Building community in our schools and as a district helps us develop friendships and support each other. The District's Parent-to-Parent (P2P) Network exists for that very purpose, and I hope you have been able to attend some P2P programs this year.  If your calendar allows, the last P2P program sounds like fun...

Moms Need to Laugh

The D96 Parent-to-Parent Network is inviting all moms to The Grove Country Club (formerly Hillcrest), 3217 Rt. 53, Long Grove, at 10:30 a.m. on Fri., Apr. 12, for a program presented by Second City-trained professional keynote Sally Edwards. This program is just for fun–for moms who could use a good laugh and a comedian's insight into "women's life stages' and "the  secret to a good life." Don't miss this chance to meet other District 96 moms and enjoy some time together. The program is FREE. Guests also have the option to stay for lunch afterward if they choose ($18, including beverage, tax, and tip; order when seated from a menu including  salads and sandwiches).  DO YOU PLAN TO ATTEND?

PTO Board Positions & Committee Chairmanships
It is that time of year again.  On the PTO website, you will find forms to sign up both for the open Executive Board positions and for Chairs. It is the most fun to chair events with friends so if there is something that interests you, see if you can find a friend and indicate this on the form.  If you are currently in a Chair or Board position and wish to continue, you still need to fill out and return a form indicating this. Some of these committees take very little time to run and are great for those of us with super busy schedules. Email Suzanne Dicker, suzannedicker@yahoo.com, or Cynthia Zarkowsky, zarkstron@sbcglobal.net, with questions and they will be happy to steer you in a good direction.

There are a GREAT MANY SPOTS to fill! Please consider getting involved at some level. It takes many hands to do all the things that make Prairie so special.

Art Auction

Don't miss out on a fun adult evening.  On Friday, April 19th from 7-9:30pm at Cubby Bear North, 21661 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, the PTO is hosting annual Art Auction.  Be present to bid on awesome original classroom art projects and silent auction items such as restaurant gift cards, theater and sports tickets, golf clubs, Principal for a Day, and exciting teacher sponsored activities.  Cost:  $15/person in advance, $18 at the door.  Appetizers and desserts will be served. Questions:  Aimee Brohl at 847.793.0055, Patricia DeJesus at 847.478.8015, or Jennifer Salpietro at 847.478.0654.

Pics from our March 15th Pajama Day
Take a look.....https://sites.google.com/a/kcsd96.org/prairie/

Babysitting for Parent Teacher Conferences

Twin Groves 6th Girl Scout Troop 41416 (former Prairie School Girl Scouts) will be providing babysitting services during the upcoming Parent-Teacher Converences. Please help Troop 41416 feed the hungry by utilizing their services. For 1 hour of babysitting Troop 41416 kindly requests 1 non-perishable food item or $2 donation per child (for children over 1 year of age only, please). Food donations will be given to the Vernon Township food pantry. Your financial support helps the girls of Troop 41416 earn their Silver Award. This award is the highest Girl Scout service award for Junior Girl Scouts. 

Locations are as follows:

Monday, April 8: 4:45pm - 6pm in room 19

Monday, April 8: 6pm - 8:45pm in the gym

Tuesday, April 9: 9:45am - 1:45pm in the gym

No reservation necessary, children should be older than 1 year (sorry, we will not be changing diapers), parents cannot leave the school and must provide a cell phone number and a conference room number.  For additional information regarding babysitting please email Nina Strezewski nina_strez@yahoo.com.

Creating Balanced Class Lists

I welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. I will take into consideration pertinent information about your child’s learning style and needs, received on or before FRIDAY, APRIL 26th, 2013.  I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are in writing. As you can imagine, we receive lots of parent input, and verbal information is nearly impossible to track. Further, please direct all of this communication to me as ultimately I am responsible for reviewing final class lists in August when teachers are not working.  While we welcome your input, specific teacher requests will not be honored.  Please put your thoughts in writing and address them to me either via hard copy letter or email (cpfaff@kcsd96.org).

**Click here for the PTO Newsletter.**  

Upcoming Dates

Monday, April 8th & Tuesday, April 9th - Parent - Teacher Conferences
April 8 - 19th - Student Council Toy Drive

Wednesday, May 15th - Prairie Celebrates Learning at 6pm-7pm
Thursday, May 23rd - 5th grade trip to Twin Groves

Thursday, June 6th - Last Day of School