Michelle Yarris, Owen PTA Presidentowen.ipsd.org/uploads/PTA/Mar2011-final1.pdf · I’d like to...

March 2011, Volume 2, Issue 8

Owen Elementary PTA Newsletter

Hello Owen Families,

Hope this finds you well. I’d like to thank School Board member Alka Tyle, for coming to speak at our PTA meeting in February. Her talk was very informative, and she answered many questions from our par-ents.

Just a reminder that PTA elections are coming up quickly for the 2011-12 school year, and the entire board is open!! Please consider lend-ing your talents to the Owen PTA and our school!! If you are inter-ested, please contact Sue McGuire of the nominating Committee ASAP at [email protected] . If you have any questions about the PTA or any positions, please feel free to contact me at any time at [email protected]. Thank you and here is hoping for Spring to get here soon!!!

Michelle Yarris, Owen PTA President

March 2011

Volume 2, Issue 8

Board Position Descriptions 2

Owen Revue 2011 News 2, 15

Field Day Committee Needed 3

Owen Spiritwear 3, 12

First Edition Program Begins 4

Music in Our Schools Month 4

IPSN PTA News 5

Green Owls News 6-7

Owen Running Club 8

Still Shuffle Information 13

School Board Candidate Forum 17

Calendars 18-19

Inside this issue:

Ah, March has finally arrived.

With the coming of Spring, we also have the coming of the state tests (ISAT or

IAA). These tests are taking place the first two weeks of March and give us a

picture of how our students are learning. We also have Spring Break at the end of

the month. Between those two events, we have lots of exciting lessons planned

and activities organized. If you have an incoming Kindergarten student, we have

our Kindergarten Parent Preview Night at 6:30 pm on March 10th. We also have

an Orchestra concert at Still on March 16, a Chorus concert at Owen on March

17 and a Band concert at Still on March 23rd. It's great to see so many of our

students participating in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Jason Bednar

Principal, Owen Elementary

Important Dates &

Upcoming events:

Mar 1-11 ISAT Testing Continues

Mar 2 Dist 204 School Board Candidate

Forum, 7pm, Crouse Ed Center

Mar 4 Market Day Orders Due

Mar 8 Market Day Pickup, 4:15 pm

Mar 10 Kindergarten Preview Night for

2011-2012 (Parents Only), 6:30 pm

Mar 16 Green Owls Meeting 3:45-5:15

Mar 16 Orchestra Concert at Still, 7:30 pm

Mar 17 Chorus Concert at Owen, 7:30 pm

Mar 17 Owen Revue 2011 Permission

Forms Due

Mar 23 Band Concert at Still, 7:30 pm

Mar 25 3rd Grade Rainforest Party

Mar 25 End of 3rd Quarter, Report Cards

Sent Home

Mar 28 - April 3 Spring Break - No School

Apr 4 Classes Resume

Apr 7 Owen Revue 2011 Tryouts (must turn

in permission form by 3/17)

Apr 8 Market Day Orders Due

Apr 12 Market Day Pickup, 4:15 pm

Apr 13 PTA General Meeting ELECTIONS,

7:00 pm

Apr 20 Green Owls Meeting, 3:45-5:15 pm

Apr 21 Variety Show “Owen Revue 2011”

7:00 pm

Apr 22 No School

Apr 25 No School

Apr 28 5th Grade “Journey Through the

Decades” 7-8:00 pm

mailto:[email protected]




THE FUTURE OF THE OWEN PTA IS IN YOUR HANDS!

We are looking for six (6) enthusiastic individuals to help the future of Owen PTA.

The qualifications are straightforward: candidates must be members of a PTA for at least 30 days prior to election candidates must have volunteered on a committee before election candidates must be committed to enriching the educational experience of all Owen students

Please take a moment to read the job descriptions below. If you would like more information about a specific position, please feel free to contact any of the current Executive Board members listed be-low.

The nominating committee will compile all submissions and present a recommended slate of officers to be posted at Owen 30 days prior to the election. The election will be held at the April 13

th meet-

ing.

Nominating Committee: Sue McGuire, Lori Setter, Melissa Davis

Owen PTA Executive Board 2010-2011 PRESIDENT: Michelle Yarris 904-2092 The President is elected by the local unit to direct the affairs of the association in cooperation with the other members of the executive committee and executive board for a term of office specified by the local bylaws. The President is the presiding offi-cer of the association, performs all duties assigned by the association, executive officers and committees in order that the PTA’s Objects may be promoted. VICE PRESIDENT(S) (2): The Vice President(s) are elected by the local unit to assist the president of the association in cooperation with other members of the executive committee and board for a term of office specified in the bylaws. The Vice President(s) act as aides to the president and fulfills duties assigned by the president. 1st Vice President Sue McGuire The 1st Vice President is responsible for maintaining a schedule of proposals for all PTA events and ensuring they are ap-proved before an event is implemented. 2nd Vice President Sandy Zurawski The 2nd Vice President is responsible for collecting final reports for all PTA events in order to provide information for future co-ordinators. SECRETARY (2): Recording Secretary Kim Williams The Recording Secretary is responsible for taking minutes at all PTA board meetings and PTA general meetings. These min-utes are then submitted and approved by either the board or general assembly as appropriate. Corresponding Secretary Traci Pfeifer The Corresponding Secretary is responsible for conducting the official correspondence of the PTA. TREASURER (1): Sandi Croll The Treasurer receives all monies of the PTA, and pays out funds in accordance with the approved budget. He/she keeps an accurate record of receipts and expenditures, and provides a written financial statement at every meeting. He/she is also re-sponsible for the remittance of the state and national portion of our dues and completing and filing of tax forms.



Class Curriculum Parties In addition to the Winter Party that was held in December, each grade has a curriculum party

with a specific theme. Parents signed up to volunteer for the parties during the conference

sign-up at Curriculum Night (held this year back in August). Thank you to everyone who helped

with the 100th Day celebrations. The 3rd Grade Rainforest party is scheduled for March

25th. Look for emails from the PTA if you are interested in volunteering.

Family Skate - TBD Our next PTA social event will be another skating outing to Aurora Skate Center.

Look for upcoming emails with the details! For more information about PTA social

committee events or to volunteer contact Melissa Naffziger at

[email protected].

Owen Spiritwear

The Owen PTA is having their final spiritwear sale of this school year from March 1st - March 18th. Orders may be returned to school via backpack mail. The order form is found on page 12 of this newsletter.

Field Day

Field Day will be Friday, June 3rd. Field Day is an fun event where students put physical and mental

skills to the test at various stations. We are looking for parents to join the planning committee to put

this all-school event together. Volunteers will also be needed at school on Field Day - more informa-

tion to come. If you are interested or have any question, please contact Sandy Zurawski at

[email protected].

OWEN

OWLS

Owen Revue 2011

Owen's got talent...Bring it out and show your classmates!

Try out permission forms are due to the Owen office by March 17. Try-outs for 3rd, 4th and 5th grad-ers are scheduled for April 7th at 4 pm. All types of performances are welcome to try out; musical numbers, comedy, magic, poetry, sports related stunts and tricks are all welcome.

The show will be held April 21 at 7 pm and during the day for the school audience. Detailed informa-tion regarding acts, try-outs and rehearsals was emailed out in early March. We are also looking for adult volunteers to help coordinate the show. Please contact Sue McGuire with any questions, 630-207-7030 or [email protected].






The Art Awareness program at Owen brings parent volunteers into the classroom to teach our students about a few artists each year. No experi-ence is necessary to volunteer. Materials and artist information is provided. Presentations are going on now through May. If you have any questions regarding the program or would like to volunteer, contact Anita Gorzak at [email protected].

First grade students will begin working in Publishing Center in

March. Parent volunteers are needed to help in class with

editing and refining writing during the week of 2/28-3/4. Vol-

unteers will also be needed at home to type and assemble the

hard cover books.

If you are interested in helping with this project please contact

Joanne Barrett at [email protected] or Karen Snell at

[email protected].

March is Music in Our Schools Month On Wednesday, December 1

st, the fifth grade orchestra from Owen, along with the fifth grade or-

chestras from Gombert & White Eagle, gave their first concert of the year. This year there are 30

students involved in orchestra at Owen. In preparation for our first concert, students in orchestra

learned how to play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, “Jingle Bells” and “Dreidel”. Students had the op-

portunity to perform on the stage in Waubonsie’s auditorium. They did a fantastic job on their con-

cert and are already working hard preparing for their next concert.

We will again combine the orchestras from Gombert, Owen & White Eagle for a concert in March

during Music in Our Schools Month, a national recognition of the importance of music education for

all children across the United States. This concert will be on Wednesday, March 16 at 7:30 pm

in the Still Middle School gymnasium. Students will be asked to report at 6:30 for tuning and

warm-ups. We have started to work on playing music with melody and harmony parts. Our concert

in March will feature “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven, “Can Can” by Offenbach and “Return of the Metro

Gnome” by Hubbell along with other surprises. We hope many families will

come to support our students and all of their hard work.

Also in celebration of Music in Our Schools Month, the students in the Owen orchestra will be doing an assembly along with the Owen Band and Chorus for the other students of Owen on Wednesday, March 23 during the school day. We are looking forward to sharing what we have learned with everyone in the school. Owen Orchestra Mrs. Megan Zalokar, Director






Environmental Committee News

THE GREEN OWLS MEETING

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, March 16

after school!

The Green Owls (formerly Owen Eco-Club) meet once a month on a

Wednesday from 3:35 pm – 5:15 pm

We welcome K-5th Grade students to join us and to help Green our School, Homes and Communities.

We also welcome and encourage parents to join us.

We have a lot of great activities that we do throughout the year, such as experiments, games and crafts. We

have also planted two gardens at the school and already have another lined up for this spring. We have an ex-

citing year planned – Please Come Join Us. We meet in the MPR after school – don't forget to bring a snack.

If you have any questions, please give me a call or e-mail.

Sandy Zurawski at [email protected] or (630) 305-0553.

Green Owls Meetings for all interested students and parents:

WEDNESDAYS 3:45-5:15 PM

March 16, April 20 and May 11

Green Owls – Owen's Eco Club

Needs Your Empty Cleaner Bottles!!

For our March 16th meeting, we are going to be talk-ing about Earth Friendly Cleaning Supplies and learn-

ing how to make our own.

We need to have EMPTY AND CLEAN Spray Bot-tles and Squeeze Bottles.

If currently have any empty bottles, please send them via Backpack Mail to Mrs. Tracy (1T) or

Ms. Dolan (3D). Thank you! If you would like to join us or have any questions, please contact Sandy

Zurawski at [email protected] .





Environmental Committee News

Green Owls Club

At the last Green Owls club meeting February 16, the kids participated in a fun, hands-on project. Club members made some paper using recycled shredded paper, pot-pourri, cinnamon, seeds and water. With the help of blenders and their little hands the kids made paper pulp and used screens to turn the pulp into sheets of paper. Thanks to all the parent helpers for making the process run smoothly! The kids got to take home a beautiful piece of paper that not only was eco-friendly, but looked and smelled beautiful as well!

The Green Owls also had fun learning about global warming by doing an experiment using a cup of soil, a thermometer, a light, and plastic wrap to show the green house effect on our earth. Another station the kids participated in was a fun and educational board game about the 3 R’s: Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling.

Our next meeting on March 16 will deal with eco-friendly cleaning….Green Owls will not want to miss this one!!

Many thanks to Ms. Dolan and Ms. Tracy for sponsoring the Green Owls club and helping with all the activities.



As you have heard through the t-shirt sales, Owen is going to be having a running club. The club will meet four times start-

ing in April on Thursdays (Dates are April 7, 14, 21, 28). Mrs. Domyancic, Ms. Dolan, and Mr. Folley will stretch with the

students, jog/walk with the students, and then stretch at the end. We will be training for some local runs including two that

have a direct relation with Owen. The club will be held outdoors so dress accordingly. Permission slips for the club will be

sent home available in March. If you are unable to make any of the club dates please feel free to still register for any of the

runs.

For each run that you decide to have your students participate in you, the parent/guardian, are responsible for signing them up

and paying the fees. Owen will not sign up students, pay for students, or be responsible for students on the event date. Owen

staff that are present are there to run with “Team Owen” but are not responsible for the students under any circumstances. It is

strongly recommended that a parent or guardian be present at the event with the student.

Sunday, May 1st is the Still Shuffle. Information/registration can be found at www.stillshuffle.com. Cost for the one mile fun run is $15. You can also have the option of signing up for the 5K. All money generated from the run is going toward a fitness room for Still. This would benefit all future Still Bulldogs!!!!!!!

Sunday, May 15th is the Jeanine Nicarico Run for Literacy at Riverwoods Elementary in Naperville. Information/registration can be found at www.nicaricoliteracyfund.org. The Still Shuffle is a perfect warm up for this event. It has also been brought up that if Owen has the most representatives participating in the run (parents included), Owen will earn a visit from a local author.

Sunday, April 17th is the NCO Spring Ahead Race and will be held at Calomos Investments in Naperville. They have any-where from a kids fun run to a 10K trail run that you can register for. NCO is a local organization that is for youth and family services. All money raised will go towards programs the organization offers throughout the year. Information/registration can be found at www.ncoyouth.com.

If you have any questions about the Owen Running Club, please contact Mr. Folley at [email protected].

Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2011

The Owen Kindergarten Preview will be Thursday, March 10th at

6:30 pm. The Preview is for parents only. If you or your neighbors

will have a Kindergartener next school year, and need info on regis-

tration please contact Mrs. Dailey in the Owen office at (630) 428-

6113.

Registration for all other returning students will be sent home in late April.

http://www.stillshuffle.com

http://www.nicaricoliteracyfund.org

http://www.ncoyouth.com




Helping Hands Households Needed

The Helping Hand Program was established in 1967 to provide children with adult assistance

during an emergency. As part of the district's safety program, children learn that a home display-

ing a red Helping Hand poster in a front window is a safe place to go when they are frightened,

sick, injured, or lost. Helping Hand households are instructed to contact the police immediately

whenever a child needs assistance.

Interested persons can email Kim Williams, Owen PTA Helping Hand Coordinator, at zoo-

[email protected], for more information and an application.

Market Day Volunteers Needed Help is needed preparing orders for pickup & delivering orders to curbside pickup.

Contact Dawn Thomson at [email protected]

Volunteer Opportunities

Co-Edit the PTA Newsletter

The PTA is looking for someone to co-edit this monthly newsletter. The volunteer position takes about 10

hours a month and can be done mostly from home. We are looking for someone with an eye for detail and

who wants to promote all the wonderful PTA programs we sponsor at Owen. The newsletter is currently cre-

ated with Microsoft Publisher so familiarity with the program is helpful but not mandatory. For more informa-

tion, please contact Mary Frances Koyl at [email protected].

Coordinator for Print Cartridge/Cell Phone Recycling Program

Here is a great opportunity to volunteer from home. The Coordinator keeps track of the printer cartridges and cell

phones that are donated for recycling and sends them to Advanced Cartridge or Staples for reimbursement. It takes just

an hour or two every month. Contact Mary Frances Koyl at [email protected] for more information.

Field Day Committee Members

We are looking for volunteers interested in planning the school-wide Field Day

event in June. If you are interested, please contact Sandy Zurawski at

[email protected].









Attn Owen Families:

We are looking for fresh talent to help fill several open chair positions for the 2010-2011 school year.

There are many volunteer opportunities!!!! Please consider volunteering & contact Michelle Yarris at

[email protected].

Social Co-Chair: This is a two-person job. A good sign we’re a fun bunch. Help plan

and run events like the Halloween party, room parties, and staff appreciation events.

Public Relations Chair: Chairperson sits on the PTA board and oversees several co-

ordinators. (i.e.: Newsletter, bulletin boards, website, scrapbook, etc)

Educational Enrichment Chair I: Chairperson sits on the PTA board and oversees

several coordinators such as Art Awareness, Reflections, Assemblies, After School

Clubs, etc.

Representative for the District’s Diversity council (PDAC): This position involves

attending monthly meetings and reporting back to the Owen PTA.

PTA BOARD VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Owen Elementary PTA, 2010-2011

Don’t miss out! Turn in your

Membership Form Today http://owen.ipsd.org/uploads/PTA/PTAMembershipForm10-11.pdf

Return your forms to the Owen office in an envelope marked “PTA”


http://owen.ipsd.org/uploads/PTA/PTAMembershipForm10-11.pdf



Get the latest Owen news at

the Owen website

http://owen.ipsd.org Look for current information under Owen Headlines

Recycle your used ink and laser print cartridges

and cell phones at Owen

Drop off or send through backpack mail - box is located at Owen by the elevator. Owen PTA takes your used items for recycling at Staples or Advantage Cartridge. The money from recycling is used to fund PTA programs. We will receive another $20 in product from Staples to make hard cover books for each 1st grader in our Publishing Centers First Edition program. Questions - contact Mary Frances Koyl at [email protected].

Round ‘em up, Cub Scout!!!

Cub Scout Pack 5 based at Owen Elementary is looking for adventure-seeking, fun-loving, enthusi-

astic boys to join us on our scouting adventure!

Come see what it’s all about! Our fall round-up will be held on Friday, April 15th at 6pm in the Owen

Elementary Gym.

If you have questions before hand or cannot make it to this event, please contact Kristin Miceli,

Membership Chair, at [email protected] or Eric Freeman, Committee Chair at

[email protected] . Boys need to be at least 6 years old and going into first grade in

the fall.

*Distribution of information and materials through the school district does not imply District 204 or Owen PTA en-

dorsement.

Pack 5

Round-up Meeting

Date: Friday, April 15, 2011

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Owen Gym

http://owen.ipsd.org/Default.aspx






March 18, 2011



This page was submitted for those who might be interested in preparing for the Still Middle School Still Shuffle. Distribution

does not imply endorsement by Owen Elementary School, District 204 or Owen PTA.



Owen PTA Board 2010/2011

NAME TITLE EMAIL

Michelle Yarris President [email protected]

Sue McGuire 1st Vice President [email protected]

Sandy Zurawski 2nd Vice President [email protected]

Sandi Croll Treasurer [email protected]

Kim Williams Recording Secretary [email protected]

Traci Pfeiffer Corresponding Secretary [email protected]

OPEN Budget and Finance Chair OPEN

OPEN Educational Enrichment Chair I OPEN

Mary Jeanne Goluch Educational Enrichment Chair II [email protected]

Jodi Trendler Environmental [email protected]

Eileen Stephens Health & Safety Chair [email protected]

Patti Bolek IPSN Liaison [email protected]

Jean Carlson IPPC Representative [email protected]

Lori Price Legislative Representative [email protected]

Carol Alt Membership Chair [email protected]

OPEN PDAC Liaison OPEN

OPEN Public Relations Chair OPEN

Karen Schumann Service Chair [email protected]

Melissa Naffziger Social Chair [email protected]

Laura Tasker Ways & Means Chair [email protected]

Vipul Gupta Webmaster Chair [email protected]



















1560 Westglen Drive

Naperville, IL 60565

Owen Elementary PTA

Market Day

Market Day pickup is Tuesday,

March 8, 4:15-5:15 PM.

Volunteers are needed from

3:15-4:30 PM.

Paper and internet orders are due

by Friday, March 4.

www.marketday.com

Thank you for supporting the Owen

PTA and its programs through your

Market Day Purchases.

Questions? Contact the Market Day

Moms:

Dawn Thomson

[email protected]

Bonnie Budzyn

[email protected]

Phone: 630-428-7300

Attendance Line: 630-428-6030

Owen website Owen.ipsd.org

Give a Hoot About Owen!!!

Owen Owls!!

The Owen PTA sponsors many wonderful

programs such as Publishing Centers, Field

Trips, Curricular parties, Fifth Grade Fare-

well, Assemblies, Fourth Grade State Fair,

Donuts with Dads, the Halloween Event,

the Back to School, Ice Cream Social, Field

Day, Art Awareness, the Eco Club and

many other wonderful programs.

None of this would be possible without

YOUR help and support. We appreciate

and thank you for all that you do!!!!

NEWSLETTER CONTENT

NEEDED BY MARCH 18th

Committee chairs and program coordinators should submit content for the next newsletter before March 18, 2011.

Contact:

Mary Frances Koyl

[email protected]

We welcome your input.

Please send us your com-

ments or information to be

included in the newsletter.

Monday, February 21

President’s Day

Tuesday, February 22

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Friday, February 25

Institute Day

SPRING BREAK

Monday March 28 -

Friday April 1

http://www.marketday.com/




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