The Walden Weekly

We are looking forward to a busy week next week! We are having two author visits, the Scholastic Book Fair, pumpkin decorating contest, and parent teacher conferences! As a reminder, dismissal is at 11:40 on Thursday for students. Thank you for joining us next week for conferences. We look forward to connecting with you!

Have a great weekend and we'll see you on Monday!

- Stephanie Strenger

Our 3rd annual 109 Gives Back Food & Supply Drive kicks off in just a few weeks on November 3rd! Check those pantries and look for more information in the weeks to come!

Our school will be looking to collect:

Italian Dinner Night:

• Kindy - dry pasta, juice boxes

• 1st grade - tomato sauce, canned tomatoes

• 2nd grade - canned veggies, canned olives

• 3rd grade - olive oil, parmesan (non-perishable)

• 4th grade - paper plates, paper bowls

• 5th grade - plastic silverware, plastic cups, napkins

ReferralGPS is a web-based service focused on assisting our community in finding local mental health and substance use-related treatment. You are invited to use this interactive tool at https://referralgps.com/find-help/D109 to search for treatment resources or connect with a Care Navigator anonymously. The platform has the ability to filter by mental health concern, clinician gender/specialty, location, and insurance acceptance. The service is available for all types of private and public insurance options including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, and families that are uninsured or underinsured. ReferralGPS is available for use by district students, staff, and families at no cost. All information entered on the ReferralGPS tool is completely confidential and securely stored. Please note, this service is an optional resource available by choice and is not mandatory in any way.

We are looking forward to our school-wide celebration of Halloween on Tuesday, October 31st! Please read through the important points below:

• Our all school parade will take place from 2:00-2:25 outdoors (weather permitting). Families are invited to attend! All students will be walking around the entire perimeter of the building, so feel free to stand around the outer areas, leaving space for students to walk by. If there is inclement weather, our parade will be cancelled.

• All families should leave the premises directly after the parade. Our students will have recess following the parade and we ask that all parents exit school grounds at the conclusion of the parade. Thank you!

• Our parking lot will fill up quickly. Please simply use the city streets (not our bus circle) if there are no spots available, or walk if possible.

• Party volunteers should sign in at the front office and will be allowed in the classrooms 10-15 minutes prior to the party. Please remember our sign in procedures require you to provide a driver's license or a state ID and it will take some time to sign in all party volunteers. Please plan accordingly.

• Please do not send costumes that are difficult to change into. Students will NOT wear their costumes to school, but will be changing into them after lunch. Our festivities will begin in the afternoon with classroom parties, the parade, and fun classroom activities.

• Please help your child in following our rule of no group costumes. This is something that has lead to hurt feelings in the past, and we ask that all group costumes are saved for trick-or-treating after school. Thank you for respecting this guideline.

• Please do not send costumes that include weapons of any kind or costumes with bloody guts and gore.

• If you need assistance in providing your child with a Halloween costume, please reach out to Mrs. Strenger.
  

Let us know if you have any questions. We are looking forward to a fun day!

Walden students have been working hard to be respectful, responsible, and safe across all school settings. When a staff member observes a student following the Walden Way, the student may receive a PAWS pass. Students will exchange their PAWS pass for a sticker to proudly wear throughout the day. If your child comes home with a PAWS sticker, we encourage you to ask what they did to earn it. We will use the PAWS passes earned to vote for a whole school reward. Currently, students are working towards earning either stuffed animal day, music at lunch, or game day.

On Wednesday, October 25, the Library Media Center will host visits from two authors! Please see the information below to pre-order autographed books from our visitors!

Students can pre-order a signed copy of Lowey Bundy Sichol’s book, Cookie Queen: How One Girl Started Tate’s Bake Shop, from The Book Stall in Winnetka. Here is the online order form. Book orders are due by Friday, October 20. Autographed books will be given to students at school in the days following the author visit on October 25.

Students can pre-order a signed copy of Wendy Parris’s debut novel, Field of Screams, from the Book Stall in Winnetka. Here is the online order form. Books orders are due by Thursday, October 19. Autographed books will be given to students at school in the days following the author visit on October 25.

• Thursday, October 26

• ½ Day of Student Attendance (11:40 dismissal)

• PM Parent/Teacher Conference

• Friday, October 27

• No School for Students

• All Day Parent Conferences

• Thursday, November 2 - Picture Retakes

• Friday, November 10 - No School (Veterans Day Observed)
• Wed. Nov. 22 - Fri. Nov. 24 - No School (Thanksgiving)