HOLIDAY SPIRIT ABOUNDS

Wow!!! As I walked around the school on Friday I could feel holiday spirit in the air. The students were smiling, teachers were laughing and parents were enjoying. Our holiday parties were wonderful and I want to thank all of you for bringing such joy to our students. Teachers enjoy your break - relax and unwind. Parents enjoy the time with your children - play and have fun. I wish you all a happy holiday season and we'll see you again on January 7th!

THE GIFT OF READING

Tomorrow every student in our school will be receiving a hard cover copy of the book, The Bear Who Wanted to be a Bear. The Tzu Chi Foundation who utilizes Prairieview on Sundays for their Chinese school has graciously donated these books to us. Please read this wonderful gift with your students over winter break. I've put their address below if you'd like to send a thank you.

Chong Hsieh

Tzu Chi Foundation USA

6601 S Cass Avenue, Unit G

Westmont, IL 60559

THANK YOU PTO

Yesterday afternoon was the teacher cookie exchange thrown by our wonderful PTO moms. Thank you for all of the delicious cookies, treats and beverages. It was so nice to have a moment to sit down, socialize and just relax. Thank you for taking time out of your own busy holiday schedules to make such a special afternoon for us. We greatly appreciate it!

HOLIDAY SPIRIT

After finishing spelling tests and math work, the students were treated to a day filled with holiday spirit. The students watched the Polar Express while lounging in their pajamas. Teachers also joined in the fun by wearing their pjs! What a festive bunch!

UPCOMING WEEK IN REVIEW

Tuesday, December 18th - 3:30 - PTO Teacher Cookie Exchange

Wednesday, December 19th - 3:15 - District PTO Meeting at LV

Friday, December 21st - Holiday Parties/Last Day of School before break

PAJAMA DAY

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, December 14th is Pajama Day. We are celebrating our November reading success by wearing pajamas and watching and/or reading the Polar Express. Students are to wear their pajamas to school and can bring slippers with them, but should wear regular shoes to school. Also, Saturday is market day pickup at Lakeview from 11 - noon. Please remember to pick up your orders promptly.

GREAT JOB!

Our lockdown drill proceeded very smoothly today thanks to the efforts of our staff and students. Everyone was well organized and followed procedures to a tee!!! Thank you all for your hard work.

This weekend was an exciting one for me, we adopted another greyhound. Her racing name is Peter's Sky and since greyhounds don't know their names we get to choose a new one for her. We've had some suggestions, but haven't chosen one yet so any ideas are welcome. She is not replacing our beloved Dotty, but she will be filling in an empty hole we've had since September. If you are ever looking to acquire a dog and want a gentle, loving breed without the work of a puppy, please think about adopting one of these wonderful dogs. Hope you all had a great weekend.

I will be out of the office tomorrow for an Administrator's Academy, but will be in touch with the school if anyone needs me.

CHANGE IN PLANS

Unfortunately we had four teachers out sick today, so we cancelled the lockdown drill. We need the teachers to practice as much as the students so we have rescheduled the drill for Monday, December 10th.

Reminders for Next Week:
Thursday, December 13th - PTO Meeting at 3:15

Friday, December 14th - Polar Express Pajama Day (Wear your favorite pajamas, but dress appropriately for the weather)!

Saturday, December 15th - Market Day Pick-Up 11:00 - 12:00 at LV

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

LOCKDOWN DRILL

This Friday, December 7th we will be practicing a school lockdown drill at 1:30. Teachers are explaining that this is a procedure that we have to do to protect ourselves in case a dangerous stranger ever comes into the building. Students will be told that this is similar to the tornado drills, fire drills and evacuation drill we have already practiced; we need to practice so we are ready if someone dangerous should ever enter the school. They will all reassure the students that this has never happened, but we need to practice just to be safe. I know this can be a scary thing for kids, but we are taking every precaution to make sure that they are not scared and that they know exactly what to do. On Wednesday, December 12th morning kindergarten and e.c. classes will have their practice. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me. Thank you and have a great evening!

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

At this time of year, it is so easy to feel overwhelmed. We get bogged down with cold weather reports and holiday stress. However, this is the time of year where we should step back from these things and enjoy the small pleasures. A child's face as he watches his first snowfall or plays with snow for the first time. A puppy who has never had to walk in white stuff that sticks to his paws. Excited children wondering what Santa will bring or what gifts they'll receive for Hanukkah. Instead of dreading family visits be thankful for each and every moment you have with them (laugh at the crazy stories when you're alone in January)! Take moments to relax, reflect and enjoy this glorious time of year!

ANOTHER WONDERFUL CONFERENCE WEEK

I'd like to thank all of the parents and teachers who made this conference week so great! I received several positive comments from both parents and teachers about our first trimester. By working together we can make your child's/our student's experience at Elizabeth Ide both educational and fulfilling. I hope you all enjoy this extended weekend and I look forward to the rest of the school year!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

This is another busy week here at Elizabeth Ide.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are taking place the entire week. We have NO SCHOOL on Friday, November 30th to allow all teachers to finish their conferences. Enjoy the long weekend!!!

Students who were absent last week have been making up their OLSAT tests.

I've visited all the classrooms this week to create "Cookies for Caring" projects. The students reviewed what it means to be Caring and what they can do to show how caring they are. They put their ideas on gingerbread cutouts which are now hanging in their rooms. Make sure to take a look (not a bite) whenever you visit!

UPCOMING WEEK

Well I made it through the shopping day with no bumps or bruises. Hope you all had the same luck.

Just a reminder that next week is report card time. Report cards will be sent home on Tuesday, December 4th and Parent-Teacher conferences will take place all week.

I hope you all enjoy the remainder of your weekend and find some time to relax!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING/BLACK FRIDAY

I hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This is the time of year where caring, giving and good will fill the air. Will I witness that today as I head out to enjoy some shopping on Black Friday? Or will I see people wrestling for the last $19.99 cashmere sweater on the shelf? Black Friday is a term that was coined in the 1970s and refers to the first shopping day of the holiday season. Black Friday was originally so named because of the heavy traffic on that day, although most contemporary uses of the term refer instead to it as the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit). Good luck to all of you headed out on any shopping adventures today!!!!

OLSAT TESTING

OLSAT TESTS
Monday, November 19th and Tuesday, November 20th the students will be taking the OLSAT test. This test is used to measure students' strengths and weaknesses in a variety of areas. This information is then used by the classroom teacher to design their educational program to meet the needs of their students. Please make sure your children get enough sleep and eat a good breakfast so they are energized and able to do their best work. Make-up tests for the OLSATs will take place the week following Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful weekend!

THANK YOU MISS WYSE

Last night was the 2nd grade music concert and it was fabulous. We are so lucky to have Miss Jeannie Wyse as our elementary music teacher. Her patience and exuberance were reflected in last night's engaging performance. This is Miss Wyse's third year in Center Cass District 66 and each year her love of music shines in these incredible programs. Whenever you get a chance please take a moment to thank her for dedicating so much time and energy to our music program and to your students!

2ND GRADE MUSIC CONCERT

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!

Just a reminder that tomorrow night is the 2nd grade music concert. Please remember to have your students at Lakeview at 6:45. Miss Wyse, several parents, our staff and all of the second grade students have worked very hard to put on a wonderful rendition of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same; The story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads. Miss Wyse and our students will bring this beloved story to life through music and motion. Hope to see you all there!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Well it's the end to another terrific week here at Elizabeth Ide. Pirate Day was a success (pictures will be up soon) and tonight's movie night is promising to be a full house!

Tomorrow is Market Day pick-up at Lakeview from 11 - 12. If anyone is available to lend a helping hand to get the orders ready please feel free to pop in anytime after 9:30 a.m.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

TOMORROW IS A BUSY DAY

REMINDERS
1) Pirate Day will be celebrated tomorrow - remember to wear your best pirate gear!

2) Our first movie night featuring Meet the Robinsons is tomorrow night at PV!

If you have any questions please feel free to check our website or call the office!

WHAT HAPPENED AT SCHOOL TODAY?

Sometimes when we ask our students what they did at school today we get the standard answer "nothing." Well that's just not true.

Our first graders visited the Robert Crown Center for a field trip today. They learned facts about their bodies and how to stay healthy. They had an entertaining and educational experience today. Make sure to ask about it!!

Tomorrow the Lakeview Character Counts club will be visiting our classrooms. Kindergarten and first grade will learn many fun songs and dances about good Character, while second grade will work on posters for our winter service project. Make sure to ask about it!!

Friday our magazine drive winners will be going out to Home Run Inn with the principal, that's me, and enjoying a delicious lunch! Also, Friday is our reading incentive day. As we are reading our way across the Pacific we have run into pirates - so naturally Friday is Pirate Day! Last, but not least, Friday is also Ide Movie Night at Prairieview. What a busy day!

So when your students answer that they did "nothing" at school. Make sure to ask again!!!

IDE'S SPECIAL VISITOR

Today Ide was visited by Dr. Tiede, our superintendent. He spent time visting various classrooms and interacting with students and staff. He had many wonderful things to say about our school and enjoyed his day with us.

Please remember that Friday, November 9th is our first Ide Movie Night! I hope to see many of you there to watch Meet the Robinsons.

I hope you all have a terrific weekend after a very busy week!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Wow! The parade (led by the big cheese, her rats and personal chef) was a hit. Everyone had wonderful costumes and great big smiles on their faces. As I walked around as the "mystery" ghost, I saw how much fun all of the students were having at their classroom parties. Thank you to all of the moms who volunteered their time to make this day so special and to all of our staff for being so helpful. You made a great day for the students here at Elizabeth Ide! I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

THANK YOU PTO!!!!

Our PTO volunteers deserve a tremendous round of applause for the wonderful job they did Friday night. The Eerie Ide Forest Halloween Festival was a huge success that parents and students both enjoyed. Their hardwork and effort truly paid off as a good time was had by all! Thank you for giving so much of yourselves to our students.

Also, a survey for parents regarding Character Counts! and bullying has been placed on the district website. At the bottom of the home page is a link to all surveys, please choose the parental survey and complete by November 15th. This information will be gathered and used to evaluate our current character program. Students will be completing their surveys here at school. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Have a wonderful week!

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!!!!!

Be ready to be frightened tonight at the Eerie Ide Forest Halloween Festival. The party takes place here at Ide from 6:30 - 8:30. Make sure to wear your favorite scary costume and be ready to listen to the "boo"tiful music that will be provided in the gym. Watch out for ghoulish creatures and spooky visitors who will be waiting to greet you!

Shuttle buses will be running between Ide and Prairieview to allow for more parking. Hope to see you all tonight!

SMOOTH EVACUATION DRILL

The staff and students did a wonderful job today during the evacuation drill. This morning all SASED, EC, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students walked over to Marquette Manor in a very quiet and respectful manner. This afternoon the EC and pm kindergarten also walked over and displayed the same respect. I am very proud of the wonderful job both staff and students did today! Have a terrific evening!

EVACUATION DRILL

Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23rd we will be holding an evacuation drill. At 10:00 the students will leave the building as they would during a fire drill. Once we know everyone is out of the building we will begin a procession to Marquette Manor using the sidewalk. Once in the Marquette Manor gymnasium the teachers will do another head count and then we'll walk back to Elizabeth Ide. We are also doing this at 1:30 for the afternoon kindergartners. We are practicing this so the students know what to do in case there is ever a reason we need to leave the building (ie. gas leak).

GOOD HYGIENE KEEPS YOU HEALTHY!!!

With the change in weather comes cold and flu season. Here at school we are taking extra cleaning precautions to keep our students healthy. At home you can help by teaching good hygiene habits. The most important habit for students to get into is washing their hands especially after using the washroom, playing outside, and eating. This healthy habit and many others can help keep your children germ free. The link below will lead you to a website filled with many good tips for both you and your student.

http://www.drpbody.com/hygiene.html

Good luck staying healthy and have a wonderful weekend!

Where was Mrs. Hansen?

I attended the IL Principals Association's 36th Annual Principals Professional Conference held in Peoria, IL October 14 - 16, 2007. A variety of of legal and legislative updates and other small group sessions on topics affecting school administrators and schools were offered over the course of the two days. One of the highlights of the conference was the Awards Program where recognition was given for excellence in school administration. Additionally, the conference offered one of the largest educational exhibitions in Illinois. The IL Principals Association is a 4325 member professional organization representing elementary, middle and secondary school principals, assistant principals and deans throughout Illinois.

The mission of the IL Principals Association is to advance learning through effective educational leadership. I am truly honored to be a part of this organization and hope to bring all that I learned at the conference to my position at Elizabeth Ide.

TARGET REWARDS

Good news!! We received a check for almost $500.00 from Target Stores!! How you ask? It's simple; if you have a Target Redcard you can link it to our school so we receive a percentage of your purchases. When you have a moment please go to Target.com - redcards - take charge of education and choose our school as your recipient. Thank you in advance for your help!!!

Please remember our Market Day pick-up is this Saturday at LV from 11 - 12!

Have a great weekend!

SUCCESS!!!!!

The Magazine Drive was a tremendous success!!!!!

The final totals for Ide are:
Jumpstart = 365
Day 1 = 6,025
Day 2 = 3,950
Day 3 = 8,985.10 (includes $228.50 late turn ins)
Total = $19,325.10

OUR BIG WINNER IS!!!!

Mrs. Onorato's class - They win a pizza party!

Thank you everyone for all of your support!

COLUMBUS DAY

In 1492, Columbus sailed the Ocean blue and today we have the day off!!! I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend.

This Tuesday the district Board Meeting will be at Elizabeth Ide at 7:00. Our new staff will be there to introduce themselves. If you're available please come and show them your support.

Market Day pick-up will be Saturday, October 13th. Orders can placed on-line until Wednesday, October 10th at noon.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations to Celeste Amish and Heather Tran for being awarded grants from the Darien Rotary Club!!! They will be using the funds to enhance their classroom and team curriculum.

Today is Pumpkin Day and I am proud of all of the responsible students who remembered to wear orange!!! I will be reading to the students throughout the day.

PUMPKIN DAY IS COMING

Our magazine drive ended on Tuesday and we will post our winning classroom and total numbers very soon. Thank you for participating in this wonderful fund raiser!

Friday, October 5th is pumpkin day which will celebrate our first month of reading logs. Please remember to wear orange. I will be visiting all of the classes that day to read some special Halloween books.

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK

Wow! What a week. The book fair/ice cream social was a wonderful success. The PTO put together a terrific evening and fun was had by all!!!

Today I ate lunch with 1st and 2nd graders who celebrated September birthdays. It sounds like they all had great birthdays or have fun parties planned for this weekend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all of you!

Please remember that Tuesday is the final turn-in day for magazine orders. This is the largest fund raiser for our district so please contribute in anyway that you can.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!

FALL BOOK FAIR / ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Our Fall Book Fair and Ice Cream Social will take place TOMORROW, Wednesday, September 26th from 6:30 - 8:00. PTO will have Ide Gear available for purchase. Please come out and support this fundraising event!!!

Also, our 1st magazine turn-in day was a success. Remember our next turn-in day is Thursday, September 27th. So please SELL SELL SELL!!!!

FUN FRIDAY

Last Friday I ate lunch with the students who had birthdays in August. A fun time was had by all!!! This coming Friday I will be celebrating with the September birthdays. Invitations will be sent home today. When participating in a birthday lunch please send a "peanut free" lunch.

A little sad news. Those of you who have had 2nd graders in the past may remember our May bake sale which was a fundraiser for Retired Greyhounds as Pets (REGAP). A representative of REGAP always came to do an assembly at which we presented them with a check. On that day my greyhound, Dotty, would spend the day with the students. This past weekend Dotty passed away. She was a sweet dog and wonderful REGAP spokes"dog". I just want to thank all of you who participated in the bake sale in anyway. It meant a lot to me and the greyhounds you helped!

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS

Tomorrow is School Picture Day here at Elizabeth Ide. Classes will be having their pictures taken at various times throughout the day. Please make sure your students are dressed the way you'd like them to be for pictures when you send them to school.

Don't forget our Magazine Drive!!! Have fun shopping this weekend - our first turn in day is Tuesday the 25th!

Friday I will be eating lunch with first and second graders who celebrated their birthdays in August. If you're student is participating please make sure you send them with a peanut free lunch!!!

EARLY DISMISSAL

Good Morning! Just a reminder that today, Tuesday, September 18th, is an early dismissal day. Bus students will be leave at noon, while pick-up students may be picked up at 12:10.

Also, please remember that Thursday, September 20th is picture day.

END OF WEEK 3

Tonight's 2nd grade curriculum night went very well! Thank you to both the teachers and parents for making this event such a success.

I will be out of the office at a workshop on Thursday and Friday, but will be checking my emails if anyone needs to reach me. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend after a very busy week!

2ND GRADE CURRICULUM NIGHT

Last night's 1st grade curriculum night was terrific. Thank you to both the teachers and parents for making this event such a success.

I would like to invite all second grade parents to attend the 2nd Grade Curriculum Night this evening, Wednesday, September 12th. This will be an informative event that will give you a better understanding of your child's daily routine and what is expected in second grade. Curriculum Night is for PARENTS ONLY, begins at 6:30 and will last about an hour. I look forward to seeing all of you this evening!

1ST GRADE CURRICULUM NIGHT

Last night's kindergarten curriculum night was a success. I would like to thank all of the teachers and parents who participated in this wonderful evening!

I would like to invite all first grade parents to attend the 1st Grade Curriculum Night this evening, Tuesday, September 11th. This will be an informative event that will give you a better understanding of your child's daily routine and what is expected in first grade. Curriculum Night is for PARENTS ONLY, begins at 6:30 and will last about an hour. I look forward to seeing all of you this evening!

KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM NIGHT

I would like to invite all kindergarten parents to attend Kindergarten Curriculum Night this evening, Monday, September 10th. This will be an informative event that will give you a better understanding of your child's daily routine and what is expected in kindergarten. Curriculum Night is for PARENTS ONLY, begins at 6:30 and will last about an hour. I look forward to meeting all of you this evening!

NEWS FROM WEEK 2

After returning from a long weekend, the staff and students were refreshed and ready to go!!!

I was able to read to more classes this week and will visit all of the classrooms at least once by the end of September.

Wednesday we had an assembly from The Kids on the Block which focused on the differences in people, accepting others and how bullying hurts others. All grade levels were able to attend and learn some valuable life lessons.

Next week we have our 3 Curriculum Nights. The purpose of these evenings is to introduce you to the daily life of your students and what they will be learning this year. Teachers explain the day to day routines of the classroom and their classroom procedures. These evenings are very informative and I highly recommend attending. All three evenings begin in the gymnasium at 6:30. Kindergarten takes place on Monday the 10th; 1st Grade takes place on Tuesday the 11th ; and 2nd Grade takes place on Wednesday the 12th.

Have a great weekend and I hope to see you all next week!

WHAT A GREAT FIRST WEEK!!

The first week of school went off without a hitch. Thank you to the entire Elizabeth Ide staff for all of their hard work and support this week; to the parents for your patience and understanding; and to our students for being so good. You are wonderful!!! Also, thank you to Pam Mazurek and all of the bus drivers for helping our dismissal proceed so smoothly.

I hope you all have a terrific and relaxing Labor Day weekend.

ANOTHER GREAT DAY!!!!

The kids enjoyed another beautiful day on the playground. It's wonderful to see how much fun they are having on the new equipment.

Thank you for your cooperation during our afternoon dismissal. It is going along well and will only get better as the weeks progress.

Today I was able to read to three classrooms. I read Eggbert, The Slightly Cracked Egg and Unlovable. Both stories teach kids about feeling good about themselves, as well as accepting differences in others. I will be visiting all the classrooms by the end of the month.

Thank you again for another great day!

THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS STARTED

Our first day of school went very smoothly!!! The children learned the playground rules from Mr. Kukulski our new gym teacher and began playing on the new playground today after our ribbon cutting ceremony. We had a great turn-out for the ceremony and pictures are on the district website.
Our dismissal procedure has changed for children being picked-up at the end of the day. Every time a student is going to be picked up from school, they need to bring a dated note signed by a parent stating that he/she is going to be picked up on that day. Children being picked-up will be held in the school library until the buses leave at 3:40. When the buses are clear, students will be brought to the lobby of the school to meet their parents.
Thank you all for a wonderful beginning to the school year and I'm looking forward to the rest of the year!!!

WELCOME NEW TEACHERS

This week we welcomed our new teachers at the New Teacher Institute days. They were introduced to the many facets of our district and even had a guided bus tour hosted by Dr. Tiede. Next Thursday and Friday our veteran teachers return and our Open House takes place on Monday, August 27th from 9:00 - 11:00. This is an opportunity for students to visit their classrooms and meet their teachers. Hope to see many of you there.

For those of you who have not registered yet, late registration will take place Tuesday, August 21st from 8:00 - Noon at Prairieview.

Also, the Ide dismissal procedure has been changed for this year. Parents picking up students will need to do so after the buses leave. The new pick-up time will be 3:40.

Have a wonderful weekend!

AUGUST IS HERE!!!

I can't believe school starts in just 19 days!!! The countdown has begun. Since Whole Foods will not be able to spread our playground mulch on Saturday, we have hired landscapers to do it next week. To those of you who volunteered thank you very much, but with the heat and no machinery the task would have been daunting. Many teachers have begun working on their rooms, the building looks wonderful and is just about ready for our students to return. So enjoy these last few weeks and we will see you very soon!

SUMMER UPDATE

Good afternoon!! Well the playground has been installed and it is beautiful! The playground mulch will be delivered next week and spread by the employees of Whole Foods on August 11th. Also, landscape work will be taking place August 7th on the front of the building. Make sure to stop by and see our new look! I hope you all enjoy these last few weeks of summer and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

PLAYGROUND INSTALL

Happy Thursday everyone! I hope you are all having a good week. The playground installation has begun and is progressing smoothly even with the rain. It should be completed by August 3rd. We have new computers installed in the computer lab and our summer staff is diligently working to get them up and running before school starts. We are still looking for a President for our PTO board so please contact me asap if you are interested. Remember that registration takes place at Prairieview, August 7 from 2:00 - 8:00 and August 13 from 7:00 - 1:00. Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!

HAPPY SUMMER!!!!

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer. There is a lot of cleaning happening here at Ide both inside and out. The playground equipment will be installed by August 3rd. I will never be able to thank our 2006-2007 PTO enough for bringing this project to life and I can't wait to see all of the students playing on the new equipment this fall. As the beginning of the year gets closer, I will update you on more happenings here at Ide. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your summer.