The Item Newsletter, Issue #7, November 18, 2018
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What the Tech is Going On?!
I know I'm not the only Hubbard Woods parent trying to navigate the tricky waters of giving (or not giving) kids access to the latest technology -- from tablets to video games to phones.
When my oldest entered fifth
grade
at Skokie last year, I was not prepared for the immediate pressure that came into play, in terms of kids suddenly claiming they needed this phone or that app to "fit in." I wished I'd done my homework. Now I've learned about things like "Wait Until 8th" (a campaign to get parents to wait until eighth grade to give their child a smart phone) and the various fake apps kids use to mask real apps. It's sure a lot of extra stuff to worry about, above and beyond the usual parenting.
I felt a little better when I attended a parent session at Skokie, where
Principal
Tess
talked
about the realities of tech in middle school (turns out, not every kid had a phone like my daughter insisted) and fellow parents shared their concerns and confusion about how best to protect their
kids
from the pitfalls of social media and all the rest. There
definitely
were no right or easy answers, but at least we all felt in it together.
As I try to hold back the tides and figure out what's helpful and what is harmful to these growing brains and undeveloped emotions, I'm looking for good resources and expertise.
One upcoming event I plant to attend, which some of you might be interested in, is being offered through New Trier Township. Here are the details:
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The Township Technology PLC invites parents and guardians to explore ways to best support both the personal and academic lives of our students at Finding Balance: Understanding How Parental Controls on iOS Devices Can Help Our Students. The event will take place on
Thursday, November 29
, from
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
at
New Trier High School's Winnetka campus, 385 Winnetka Ave.
For more info: http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/homepage/news/parent_engagement_event/
If there is interest in this topic, the HW PTO may hold a "coffee talk" for parents to share their tips and experiences when it comes to managing kids and technology. Parents of fourth graders in particular might want to get a head start on the issues at play! Please reach out to me if this is something you're interested in.
Have a great Thanksgiving break!
Kendal Reis (HW PTO president)
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No School
Wednesday, November 21st-
Friday, November 23rd
Thanksgiving Break
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Grand Receipts Challenge
Now through November 21st
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D36 Educational Master Facility Plan Update
Monday, November 19th 7:00PM
Skokie School Community Room
ALL PARENTS INVITED TO ATTEND!
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Final Days of the Grand Receipts Challenge!
Do you shop at the Grand in Winnetka? Did you know the Grand will donate three percent of pre-tax sales back to HW?
The Grand Receipts Challenge
has been running this month -- every class competing to see who can collect the most before Thanksgiving break! The winning class gets a special sweet treat. Please have your child bring in their receipts TO THEIR CLASSROOM TEACHER, now through THIS WEDNESDAY, November 21st. After the 21st, 2018 receipts will be collected the usual way, in
the
box in
the
school lobby, next to Rosa's desk.
It's such a simple way for us to raise funds for our beloved school! Thanks for your support!
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Introducing "Self Edit" on Directory Spot
If you need to update your entry on Directory Spot, there is now a simple way you can do that yourself.
Please
click here to see the step by step instructions. If you have any questions related to the directory, please contact Amy Kay.
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Please Volunteer to Help With
Recycling
and Composting!
Be a part of educating our future generations to think before you toss. Wear gloves, stand at the three bins and answer kids' questions on which bin to toss in (we have visual aids to help you) -- it's that easy. We need volunteers to continue this program and the best part is, our planet will thank you!
Contact Elizabeth Leonard at:
[email protected] if you are interested in learning more about this volunteer opportunity.
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Thank you to Sandy Carlson, Sarah Boulos and Amy Kay for organizing our wonderful Book Fair!
Thank you to our Hubbard Woods families and staff who supported the annual PTO book fair this past week. We raised more than $3,600 for the HWS Resource Center from $14,600 in sales. The proceeds will be used to buy new books and materials handpicked by our RC staff and students. Back order books will be delivered to your child's classroom by the first week of December. Anyone who missed the fair and would still like to buy holiday gifts to support our school please go to www.abcfairs.com and click SHOP NOW on the left-hand side.
Such a successful fair could not have happened without the efforts of our volunteers and HW staff.
We'd like to thank our volunteers for setting up, staffing the fair and take down, especially those who did multiple shifts: Nicole Rivera, Carrie Waterston, Sarah Plahn, Natasha Harvey, Brenda Miller, Lyn Aleshire, Jamie Pratt, Leigh Sears, Katie Flanigan, Adriana Prette, Laura Roche, Kathryn Martin, Jennifer Tucker
Lyanna Berkowitz, Lindy Kelly, Michelle Cullen, Selma Nemeth, Sara Dahlstrom, Nidhi Singh, Rachel Morris
Kendal Reis, Dominique Birchmeier, Amy Achilles
Betsy Womack, Carolyn Withey, April Potterfield, Amy Furr, Nissa Cox
We'd also like to thank our dedicated HWS staff for their support in preparation and getting the word out:
Beth Carmody, Todd Burleson, Amy Trogdon, Frederico Moreno, Rosa Kanellos and Lois Peterson.
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Thank you to our assemblies committee, lead by parents Nidhi Singh and Sarah Alshouse, and including teachers Lynn White, Dana Bulan and Allison Greer, for bringing a wonderful school assembly to Hubbard Woods last week! It's been quite awhile since we've done traditional school assemblies and the PTO is excited to bring them back this year!
Dave Herzog's Marionettes entertained the kids with "The Pumpkin Patch Review" -- a fall themed show with an exciting cast of puppet characters!
Ask your child about it!
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D36 Board Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 27th
7:15 p.m.
Hubbard Woods Auditorium
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Winter Sing
Wednesday, December 19th
9:00AM Last Names A-L
1:00PM Last Names M-Z
Hubbard Woods Auditorium
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Pajama Day
Friday, December 21st
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No School-Winter Break
Monday, December 24th-Friday, January 4th
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SAVE THE DATE!
PTO Spring Luncheon
Friday, April 12th
10:00am-2:00pm
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Kiddos Lunch
is well underway and the kids are loving the food!
Click here
t
o order today! Please place your child's order by 12PM EACH WEDNESDAY for the following week of lunches. Or you can place your orders now all the way through February 1, 2019.
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The next
Pizza Fun Lunch will be
Friday, November 30th.
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Educational Master Facility Plan Meeting
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Please join Trisha Kocanda, District 36 Superintendent, a team of District 36 administrators, District 36 Board members, the Central PTO as well as individual school PTOs for an evening meeting to learn more about the approved Educational Master Facility Plan (EMFP). The EMFP is the facility plan and vision to guide our decision-making and priorities over the next 10 years and we would love the opportunity to share the vision and process with District 36 parents.
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Upcoming FAN Events
Click Here to learn more about the following opportunities:
Greg Lukianoff
President and CEO, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)
The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, 7:00 PM
New Trier High School, Northfield Campus, Cornog Auditorium
7 Happ Rd., Northfield, IL
Television host and culture expert on the Emmy-winning Netflix reboot of Queer Eye.
Know Thyself: Using Your Uniqueness to Create Success
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, 7:00 PM
Evanston Township High School Auditorium
1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL
Eve L. Ewing, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, University of Chicago School of Social Se
rvice Administration.
Poet, visual artist, essayist
Ghosts in the Schoolyard:
Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, 7:00 PM
Evanston Township High School Auditorium
1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL
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The Hubbard Woods PTO involves parents and teachers working together on behalf of the school and its students. To become involved please contact:
You can also reach out to members of the Exec Team:
President - Kendal Reis
VP - Maggie Beitler
Secretary - Carrie Waterston
Ex Officio - Nidhi Singh
Treasurer - Kate Kligora
Asst. Treasurer - Anna Anderson
Communications - Meghan Miller and Lisa Farrell
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The deadline to submit content for the next issue of
The Item is Tuesday, November 27th. Submissions should be sent to
[email protected]
.
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