From the PTA President…patterson.ipsd.org/uploads/PattersonPress_DECEMBER.pdfThe Room Parties...

Patterson PressA Pta Pubication of Patterson Elementary School

3731 Lawrence Dr., Naperville, IL 60564 • 428-6500 • FAX 428-6501 • ABSENCE HOTLINE 428-6505

DECEMBER 2009

insideThis Issue

Gingerbread HolidayProgram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Reading Programs . . . . . . 3

Room Parent Update . . . . 4

Art Awareness Update . . 5

New! Go Green Club . . . . . 6

Simple Gifts ConcertInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Waste Audit . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Downtown NapervilleGift Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

December Calendar . . . . 13

From the PTA President…THANK YOU! You all were so generous! Mrs . Fisher’s event to donate needed items to soldiers was overwhelmingly supplied! The Room Parties collected 3 carloads of items for Hesed House at the Fall Parties . We are so lucky to have so many wonderful and giving families . Another chance to help is coming with the winter parties! The entire school will be allowed to donate to this event . The donated items will go to Loaves and Fishes, Rush Copley Pediat-ric Unit, refugee students in a Wheaton school, and to Heifer International . In this economy, people who are struggling are in great need . Many in our community are fortunate enough to take vacations, buy their children winter coats, and afford to let their kids have birthday par-ties . We are trying to help others who may not be as lucky . Thanks for your help!!

Thanks to Terri Maas, Allisa Chrisos, Gretchen Lantz, Eileen Boffa and Nancy Wolford for their tireless efforts to work with the changes in the room parties . Great Job Ladies!!

October brought Red Ribbon Week and the challenge of talking to our kids about staying Drug Free! Thanks to Robin Pilarski and Jeannie Long for your help with this VERY important week!

All of our Apparel has been delivered . Thanks to Angie Ryan and Pam Blanchard for all of your hard work! We have started the classroom competition for the most kids to wear spirit wear on the first Friday of the month . The winning classroom will have our visiting “Pete” for their class for the month . Pete is a stuffed Prairie Dog with a movable head and a “spirit” badge .

Culver’s Night was a HUGE success!! It was so successful we needed more seating . Jill Lies and Susie Schwinn, great job!

Go Green had their park clean up this month during Parent Teacher Conferences . Even though the weather wasn’t the best, the children did a great job helping “mother earth” . Thanks Dave Champion, Amy Lum and Stephanie Hastings for coordinating this event .

Thank you Brigitte Meager for your help on the directory . After some printing issues, we got the directory printed and delivered . I don’t know how you did it, my eyes cross writing this letter .

Gift Wrap and Butter Braids were delivered this month . Again, thanks to those two committees .

The Hospitality Committee, Sacha Renner, Kimberly States, and Angie Diener have done a great job letting the teachers and staff know how much we TRULY appreciate them . Thanks to these ladies for the beautiful job on the appreciation days . American Education week was beautiful and the teachers said they LOVED the meal and felt like they were in a “fancy” res-taurant .

I am very lucky to be surrounded by a wonderful executive board . Thanks Janet, Colleen, Debbie, Cheryl and Donna for all of your help and hard work!

Lisa Pearce

Patterson Press December 20092

KindergartenGingerbreadHolidayProgramThe Kindergarteners are going to celebrate the season with a Gingerbread Holiday Program and activity . It will be on:

Tuesday, December 15 ] 2:15–3:15pm, KG & KR classesThursday, December 17 ] 2:15–3:15pm, KW & KC classes

This program will take place in the multipurpose room . The students will be singing 2 holiday songs: Frosty the Snow-man and Jingle Bells, presenting a letter activity, and then finish up by making their own gingerbread houses! We look forward to seeing our kindergarten parents joining us for this fun holiday program .

From the Principal...Dear Parents,

There is a chill in the air and the holidays are just around the corner! We have a lot going on this month at Patterson and hope to see you at one of our many events . Then we’ll take some time off and enjoy Winter Break . We’ll return in Janu-ary to a new year and new plans to keep our students warm and safe as the harsh January weather sets in .

We hope to see you at our orchestra concert on Dec . 1st and our chorus concert on December 16 at 6:30pm . Our PTA has some fantastic activities planned for the Patterson students this month and at the winter parties on December 16th . We all will have several opportunities to reach out to others dur-ing the Season of Giving via The Smile Train, Rush Copley Pediatrics, Heifer International, Wheaton Refugee Shelter, and Loves and Fishes . Let’s teach our children about the joy of helping others during this season .

Winter break is held December 21 through January 3, 2010 . After returning from break, you will hear about a new dis-missal procedure to begin Semester 2 (January 25, 2010) . To keep our students safer, warm and dry, and to improve the efficiency of our dismissal, we will be issuing pick-up numbers to families and allowing students to wait indoors until their car enters the front circle . There will be more infor-mation discussed at the January PTA meeting and detailed instructions sent home with report cards on January 22 . We continuously look for ways to improve what we do at Patterson Elementary . As always, your child’s safety is our number one concern .

We have so many great opportunities at Patterson this month . We’ll have some fun, but also take some time to help those less fortunate . After a well-deserved break, we can look forward to an exciting new year full of new adventures .

We at Patterson wish you and your family a safe and happy winter break!

Michele Frost, Principal

LMC NewsA Big Thank You!The Patterson students and staff would like to thank the Patterson community for your continued support of the Patterson Book Fair . Our November fair was very success-ful! During the past year the funds raised from the Patterson Book Fairs have provided many curriculum related books and materials for Patterson students . These include:

] AR tests and prizes ] Headphones for every child ] 2 Elmo projectors for use in the classrooms ] Many fiction books on all reading levels ] Early nonfiction books ] Videos ] TumbleBooks website (see description below)

All of these items will be extremely useful in Patterson class-rooms . Thank you!

New WebsitePatterson has a new database for use at home and school! TumbleBook Library is an online collection of animated, talk-ing picture books . The website is: www.tumblebooklibrary.com (User name: ipsd Password: books) . Check it out!

Susan Dobrodt, LMC Director


Many ThanksThe PTA would like to thank Robin Pilarski and her commit-tee for planning Walk to School Day and Red Ribbon Week; and for her continued involvement in the Helping Hands program . Your dedication to our students and community is greatly appreciated!

Reading Is Fun Over Winter Break!Patterson’s “Read To Succeed” Program starts on Decem-ber 14, and this year, it’s DOUBLE the fun!

Be part of Ozzie’s Reading Club: Read for 6 hours, and win a ticket to a Kane County Cougars baseball game (on either Saturday, April 17, 2010; or Saturday, May 8, 2010)* . “Ozzie’s Reading Club” readers also receive a t-shirt voucher, and a hot dog and drink voucher for the game!

ORBe part of the Six Flags Read to Succeed Program: Earn a ticket to Six Flags Great America, to be redeemed during the summer .

ORRead for 12 hours, and you get both! Wow!

*Since the Cougars games are date specific, families will be able to order additional tickets through Patterson’s program, so everyone can sit together.

Forms for both programs are on pages 9 and 10 of this issue or can be downloaded from Patterson’s PTA website start-ing December 14. Print one or both forms and start reading! Completed forms are due to your teacher by February 1.

Birthday Book ClubCelebrate by Giving the Gift of Reading

Students wishing to celebrate their Birthday, or Half Birth-day, at school are encouraged to donate a book of their choice to the LMC in honor of their Birthday . Simply have your child bring in a book on or around his/her Birthday . Your child’s picture will be taken and displayed on the Birth-day Book Club bulletin board in the LMC, a special label will be placed inside the book and your child will be recog-nized here in the Patterson Press . Contact Cristina Dustin at dustincca@wideopenwest .com or 630-904-8462 if you have any questions .

It’s not too soon!Plan your act for the

2010 Patterson Variety Show!Can you play an instrument?

Recite a poem? Juggle? Stack cups?Do a comedy routine? Sing? Dance?

Do something else unique, special, & entertaining?Start planning now!

The 2010 Variety Show will be held on March 20 and is open to all Patterson students and teachers.

Make sure you practice and have a “show ready” act to perform for us at the Stage Call on February 23 . In order to make this a positive performance for both performers and viewers, we ask that all acts be practiced, rehearsed, and “show ready” at Stage Call time . Practice, rehearse and enjoy . It’s important to be prepared so you can have fun in front of the audience! Watch the Patterson Press for more information and sign-up forms . Questions? Contact Tammy Lilly at tamarajo@wideopenwest .com, Cara Knutson at caragia21@yahoo .com or Eileen Boffa at boffas@wowway .com .

Helping Hand ProgramBecome a Helping Hand household! The purpose of the Helping Hand Program is to provide children with adult as-sistance in an emergency situation, such as a child being lost, frightened, injured or ill . As part of the district’s safety program, children will learn that a home with a red Helping Hand poster in a front window is a safe place to go .

For more information and to fill out an application to become a Helping Hand household, please visit the Naperville Police Department website at www .naperville .il .us . Youth Safety or our Patterson website under PTA, Forms . Applications can be turned into the school office . Questions? Please contact Robin Pilarski at pilarski3004@comcast .net


Room ParentsThank you to all the volunteers for their help with the Fall Parties . A huge thank you goes out to the Pat-terson Community for making the community service project a success . The room parent committee deliv-ered 3 car loads of items to The Hesed House way to go Patterson!

Winter Parties areFriday, December 18!

Please be sure to look out for important information to come in the following weeks . Any questions may be directed to Terri Maas at terri .maas@sbcglobal .net

Cards For The TroopsI just wanted to thank all of you who participated in making the cards for the troops! I know it will bring a big smile to those in the military that will receive them! I can’t believe how many supplies that we received as well! What a wonder-ful and caring community! The cards are being mailed out soon through The Thank You Foundation and the supplies are being sent to the troops through The Heart of Illinois Blue Star . Thank you again for all your support!

Miss Fisher

Box Tops & Labels for Education

CURRENT CLASSROOM STANDINGS: Kindergarten . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs . White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372 1st Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs . DiSanto . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1000 2nd Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs . Engle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .987 3rd Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs . Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .678 4th Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs . Ambrose . . . . . . . . . . . 1078 5th Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs Hoin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,122

Please continue to send in your box tops and Campbell’s labels to your child’s classroom . It is a great and easy way to support your school .

Also, as you begin your holiday on-line shopping, don’t for-get to check out the Marketplace at www .boxtops4educa-tions .com . Under the “Try the New Marketplace” tab, look up your favorite stores . Many stores are available – Nordstrom, Aeropostale, UGG, Ann Taylor, Gap, Target and Justice to name a few . Click on your favorite store and you are taken directly to that website . Shop as you normally do (including those discount and free shipping codes) and Patterson will receive a percentage of your sales .

Thank you for your support . Together we can help build a better school for our children . Questions about the Box Tops/Campbell’s Label programs? Please contact Janet Juarez at j .juarez@me .com .

Karen Bethards ]

Steff Hofner ] Janet Juarez


Art Club UpdateThe fifth graders are currently working on creating the ceiling tiles . The artist they chose are Claude Monet, Edvard Munch, Edward Hopper, Vincent Van Gogh, and Georgia O’Keeffe . Fourth grade art club will start the second week in Decem-ber, third grade art club will be in January, and second grade art club will be in February . Letters will go home to students a couple weeks prior to the start of their art club .

Art AwarenessNewsBy November, most of you have probably seen the new changes in the Art Awareness program . Each month, the children will be “Getting to know the World’s Greatest Art-ists .” The program is designed to give an overview of one of these amazing artists in addition to reading an age ap-propriate book pertaining to the artist being covered . While the children create their works of art, they listen to music by Greg Percy, a very talented musician that creates music for children about the “Great Art Masters .” Henri Matisse was the featured artist in October, Pablo Picasso was the featured artist in November and Vincent Van Gogh is being presented this month . I hope your children are enjoying the new program as much as I am creating the lessons .

I want to thank all of the Grade Coordinators for their time and patience in getting the parents volunteers acquainted with the new procedures . You are invaluable and such a huge part of making this a successful program . K – Pragya Balan; 1st and 4th Grade – Mary Tarling; 2nd Grade – Steve Sch-winn and Dina Garabedian; 3rd Grade – Diane Benjamin and Adrianna Burgos; 5th Grade – Mary Jo Mazur . Thank you to the parent volunteers for taking time out of your schedules to present the lessons . I know the first month was a bit chal-lenging, but hope you are now having fun!

Art Awareness lessons will be posted under the PTA section of the Patterson website . Make sure you look at the end of the lessons to find special information pertaining to local, national and international exhibits, recommended children’s literature and songs by Greg Percy .

Thank you all for your support in the new program . Any questions, comments or suggestions are always welcome . thebuddingartistbysacha@comcast .net or 630-536-8526

Art is not made for anybody and is, at the same time, for everybody. Piet Mondrian

Sacha Renner Chair, Art Awareness

American Education Week UpdateAmerican Education Week was celebrated November 18th with a special luncheon for our staff . A special thank you to Claudia Biespiel of Culinary Artistry who catered the deli-cious gourmet meal!

Of course, the luncheon would not have been complete without all the generous donations from the Patterson par-ents . Thank you all for your donations!

Baked Items: Pragya Balan, Christina Dustin, Beata Em-mens, Regina Golab, Viki Haneberg; Gina Hoekstra, Lorna Johnson, Melissa Kristufek, Susan Lake, Terri Maas, Stacey Mays, Nancy Parnell, Andrea Praught, Lori Rose and Mela-nie Stevens . Beverages: Pragya Balan, Katy Botos, Sheila Chelstrom, Theresa Clifford, Brandy Hathcock, Nicole Hav-lin, Colleen Garrison, Linda Jackson, Karla Kovarik, Susan Lake, Laura Rigoni and Amy Sutcliffe. Luncheon Supplies: Carmen Estopare, Kimberly Grikis, Amy Sutcliffe and Jennifer Wiltshire .

Thank you to the volunteers that came to serve and take down the luncheon . You really made the teachers feel so special and appreciated: Claudia Biespiel, Angie Diener, Kimberly Grikis, Melanie Stevens, Debbie Walsh and Donna Widemann .

Thank you all again for making the luncheon a special occa-sion for the Patterson staff .

Sacha Renner Chair, American Education

Spirit Day UpdateSpirit Day was a huge success . . . . .thank you all for wearing the school colors and for showing your school spirit . We had two classrooms that had 100% of the students wearing school spirit wear . Ms. Arnquist’s and Mrs. Thompson’s class won for the month . They will each get to have Pete the Prairie Dog in their class-room for a couple of weeks . The next Spirit day is Friday, December 4....Go Patterson Prairie Dogs!

Attention Patterson Families!This holiday season the PTA is sponsoring a “Season of Giving” . We will be asking for donations that will help four charities this year . There will be collection boxes in the front foyer for the donation items from November 30–December 14 . We are also asking for “spare change” to be collected in K–2 classrooms and the LMC . Items needed are:

] Birthday themed items ALL unopened (examples: Hannah Montana, Scooby Doo):

] Napkins] Plates] Streamers] Hats ] Birthday Candles] ALL themed birthday items, favors, etc . ] Cake mix, sprinkles and frosting ] Gently used winter clothes, hats gloves, mittens] Coloring, activity, and puzzle books] Gently used “Hot Wheels”] Craft packs (such as those from Oriental Trading Co)

] Stickers] Gently used “birthday bags” (bags you may have

received gifts in)

The donations will be used as follows:The birthday items will be donated to Loaves and Fishes for the underserved to use for Birthday packages . The activity books will be donated to Rush Copley in Aurora for “Pediat-ric Busy bags”, for children in the hospital or their siblings . Students in grades 3-5 will be assembling these packages during the Winter Party .

The gently used winter items will be donated to a school in Wheaton to help refugee families with their winter clothing needs .

Lastly, the “spare change” will be collected in the lower grades (K-2) and in the LMC to donate to “Heifer Interna-tional” a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance & sustain-ability . Please visit www .heifer .org . Kindergarten thru 2 will be assembling a foam gingerbread man .

Just a gentle reminder that “Goodie” bags are NOT allowed at room parties, these will NOT be allowed into the class-rooms . As stated at the Room Parent meeting, the PTA will not be reimbursing for games, please see the list of free games on the Patterson Website .Thank you for your support .

Patterson PTA

It’s A Jungle OutThere. . .Go Wrapping Paper Wild !Thanks to the following PTA volunteers who helped with In-nisbrook Gift-Wrap Distribution:

Mary Beth Stevens, Andrea Rebmann, Donna Widmann, Cheryl Pastore, Janet Juarez, Alissa Chrisos, Melanie Bag-chi, Beth Ranneklev, Kathy Willis and Kristi Olson .

Remember, you can continue to order from Innisbrook .com until the end of the school year and our school will receive 50% profit . In order for Patterson to get credit, please use our account # 111336 .

New!

Join the Go Green ClubWe are about to begin a new after-school activity—the Go Green Club . If you would like to learn how to take care of the earth, then this club is for you! Go Green Club is offered to the third, fourth and fifth grade classes . We will be meeting every Tues-day (beginning December 8 through March) from 3:35–4:35 in room 167 . There is a limited number of students, so sign up soon . All you need to do is fill out the form on page 11 of this issue and return it to your teacher .

Mrs . Kane will be directing this club with help from our Go Green Spokesman, Mr . Champion . During the weeks ahead you will learn about recycling, hear from some experts, and also make and create things to get everyone in the school on board with recycling . I look forward to working with all of you every Tuesday, beginning December 8, 2009 .

2009 Fundraiser



You are invited to theYou are invited to the

5th Annual5th Annual

Simple Gifts Benefit ConcertSimple Gifts Benefit ConcertWednesday, December 16, 2009, 6:30pm

Patterson Elementary School, 3731 Lawrence Drive, Naperville, Illinois

presented bypresented by

The Patterson 4th and 5th Grade Chorusand The Patterson Singers

GUESTS

Miss Rebeka Veach, Patterson 4th Grade Teacher, flute

Miss Kali Schrey and Family

SURPRISE GUEST....THE MARVELOUS TOY

In partnership with The Patterson Spirit Council and Kali Schrey and family, we hope to raise$1,500 for the Smile Train organization which provides free surgical treatment for children

throughout the world who suffer from cleft lip and/or cleft palate.$250.00=one new smile

How Patterson Families Can Participate

At School, December 7-11Students purchase multicolored „Smile Train“ wristbands for $2.00/each

• in the LMC during morning arrival• in the music room throughout the day

At the ConcertFamilies purchase wristbands at the door of the evening concert

Or simply pay a suggested admission fee of $2.00/person

Cash/check gifts of any amount will be gratefully accepted at any time up to concert time.

Please help us meet our goaland join us for a lovely evening of beautiful music.

We can’t wait to see you!


Patterson Elementary School Waste Audit Report

The Patterson PTA Go Green Committee conducted a school-wide waste audit at Patterson ElementarySchool on November 4th, 2009. The purpose of the audit was to comply with Illinois Department ofCommerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Zero-Waste grant application requirements. Accordingto the requirements, a school must perform a pre-grant waste audit, review the materials and sources ofthe waste, and determine how grant funds can be used to eliminate or reduce this waste.

A thorough audit was conducted during the six lunch periods, grades K-5. Here is a summary of thelunchroom audit:

At the day’s end, the rest of the school was audited. Waste was recorded by area, then broken down bymaterial content. The charts below present the school-wide data, with key findings highlighted.

• Total waste collected was 167 lbs.

• Over one school year (180 days), totallunch waste equates to 30,042 lbs.

• Food (83 lbs.) and Liquids (39 lbs.)represent 73% of total lunch waste

1. Waste by AreaClassrooms (179 lbs.) and the StudentLunchroom (167 lbs.) generate 91.3%of all waste. Over one school year, thattranslates to 32,000 lbs. and 30,042 lbs.,respectively. Total waste equates to68,107 lbs.

1.

Patterson Press December 200910Patterson Press December 200910


We are about to begin the new Go Green Club. If you would like to join this club

and learn how to take care of the earth then sign up to be a part of this new

Patterson after school activity. We will be meeting every Tuesday beginning in

December through March. Club times will be 3:35-4:35 every Tuesday in room

167. All you need to do is fill out the form on the bottom of this sheet with all of

your information. This club is being offered to the Third, Fourth and Fifth grade

classes so there will be a limited number of students. Mrs. Kane will be directing

this club with help from our Go Green Spokesman, Mr. Champion. During the

weeks ahead you will learn about recycling, hear from some experts, and also

make and create things to get everyone in the school on board with recycling. I

look forward to working with all of you every Tuesday, beginning December 8,

2009.

Name: ____________________________________________________________

Class/teacher: ___________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________

You must be aware that your child will be coming home after the club at 4:35

either by walking, biking or being picked up by car.


Support the Patterson PTA andpurchase your Downtown Naperville Gift Cards!

One of the most purchased gifts in Naperville is the downtown Naperville gift cards. Redeemableat nearly 150 locations throughout downtown Naperville, these nicely designed plastic giftcards, which are available in $10, 25, 50, and 100 increments, make the perfect gift for anyoccasion. To see a list of where the gift cards can be redeemed, go towww.downtownnaperville.com, click on “gift certificates” then on the list.

Surveys show this is what teachers want! Also purchase them for relatives, coaches, religiouseducation teachers, bus drivers, your spouse s office gifts, etc!

To purchase the gift cards use the form below and 5% of your purchase goes directly to thePatterson PTA!

It s easy, just fill out the form below and return it to school with your check payable to PattersonPTA in an envelope labeled “PTA Gift Cards” before Friday, December 4th. You may pick up yourGift Cards on Wednesday, December 9th or Thursday, December 10th from 9:10am to 10:00 am and

3:30pm to 4:30pm in the front lobby of Patterson School. (Due to the cash value, the gift cardswill not be sent home in the students backpacks.)

Questions? Contact: Susie Schwinn at 630-848-2005 or [email protected].

-----------------------------------------------------cut here---------------------------------------------------------Downtown Naperville Gift Cards

Due Date: Friday, December 4th.

Please make checks payable to Patterson PTA. (No cash, checks only please!)

Your name:______________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________

Home Ph. #: ______________________Email Address:___________________________

Number of gift cards ordered in the following increments:

_____$10 _____$25 _____$50 _____$100

Amount Enclosed: $_________________ Check Number: _______________

Pick Up: Patterson Front Lobby, Wednesday 12/9 & Thursday 12/10, 9:10-10:00am and 3:30-4:30pm

Patterson Elementary PTA

PattERson CalEnDaR December


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1Mid-QuarterOrchestra Concert6:30 pm Crone MSBand Concert 7:30 pmCrone MS

2Chess Club 3:45-4:30Art Club3:35-5:00Robert Crown Parent Mtg . 7:00 Longwood

3 4Spirit DayPattersonSingers7:20-7:50Chorus7:50-8:55

5

6 7 8 9 10 11PattersonSingers7:20-7:50Chorus7:50-8:55

12

13 14Chorus7:20-8:55gym

15KG & KRGingerbread Celebration2:15-3:15 MPR

16ChorusAssembly 2:25ChorusConcert6:30 pmChess Club 3:45-4:00

17Grade 3 toThe Nutcracker9:20-12:00KC & KWGingerbread Celebration 2:15-3:15 MPR

18Final Day Before Winter Break

Winter Parties2:30-3:15

19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31 January 1 2

3 4SchoolResumes

5 6 7 8 9

NO SCHOOL Winter Break

NO SCHOOL Winter Break

From the PTA President…patterson.ipsd.org/uploads/PattersonPress_DECEMBER.pdfThe Room Parties...

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