The Central Scoop
April 6, 2018
From the Principal's Desk...
Dear Parents,
It was wonderful welcoming all the children back to school this week after they enjoyed vacationing with friends and family. I enjoyed hearing about everyone's adventures from spring break.
It's hard to believe we only have 10 weeks left of school before summer vacation. It's a very exciting and busy time of year for our staff and students as we begin planning for next year. On Monday, April 16th our fourth graders will be going to WJHS for an introduction to the band, chorus, and orchestra programs available to them as 5th graders at Highcrest. Additionally, Kindergarten Orientation is Wednesday, April 25th at 6:30 pm in our auditorium for adults only. Both new and continuing parents are welcome.
Please be sure to register for parent teacher conferences that are scheduled for April 19th and 20th (for grades 1-4), and April 18th-20th (for kindergarten). As a reminder, please do not contact teachers about scheduling conferences outside the district's scheduled conference dates/times.
I hope to see many of you at tonight's STEAM night!
Sincerely,
- Becky
Rebecca Littmann
Principal
Central Elementary School
School & District Announcements and Reminders...
Educational Foundation Event
D39 Education Foundation is hosting a family event fundraiser with a viewing of this classic movie at the Wilmette Theatre (1122 Central Ave.) on Sunday, April 15 at 3PM. Celebrate “The Princess Bride” with the whole family and support Wilmette’s public schools at the same time! Featuring a costume contest before the show. Dress up as one of your favorite characters — the dashing Inigo Montoya, the beautiful Buttercup, the gentle Fezzik, or any others! During the movie viewers can play along on this magical adventure with fun prop bagsthat will be distributed with tickets! Ticket prices are: $10/child 12 years old and under (must be accompanied by an adult) and $15/adult. So lace up your boots, draw your swords, and prepare for a miracle, because this is true love. You think this happens every day?
Purchase tickets: http://www.d39foundation.org/foundation-to-host-the-princess-bride-fundraiser-on-sunday-april-15th/ or at the event on April 15th before the show.
Spring Conference Information
- March 23rd - The district sent an email to parents with login instructions.
- April 2nd - Spring conference sign-up began online
- April 18th - Kindergarten Conferences begin
- April 19th - Early Release K-4 students & Parent Teacher Conferences in the afternoon
- April 20th - No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
PARCC Testing
PARCC testing started this week for 3rd and 4th grade students. Students will be testing until April 12th. Please limit doctor appointments and other family obligations during this testing window, in order to limit makeups. Please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher for specific scheduling information.
Summer Enrichment Program
Don't miss out on Summer Enrichment Classes! There is still time to register for Summer Enrichment! Late registration is open until May 4th! During this time there will be a $9.00 late registration fee per class. Visit www.wilmette39.org for more information.
Transition to 5th Grade Parent Night:
Attention all 4th grade parents! Please join us on Wednesday, May 2nd at 7pm in the HMS auditorium for a 4th to 5th grade transition question and answer session. The panel is made up of current HMS parents along with HMS Administration. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
New Trier Township Innovation & Tech Expo
The New Trier Innovation & Tech Expo is a free event for parents to attend and hear about how technology is being used throughout the township. All New Trier Township schools will be participating in this joint mini-conference taking place Saturday, April 28, 2018. It will be held at New Trier Winnetka Campus, 385 Winnetka Avenue, Winnetka, IL, from 8:30am to 12pm.
Spring Session of After School Park District Clubs
Information for spring session after school clubs are now available online through the WIlmette Park District website: http://www.wilmettepark.org/after-school-clubs Registration opens March 20th. Please call Wilmette Park District contact Carol Heafey with questions at cheafey@wilpark.org or 847-256-9692.
PTA Announcements and Reminders...
* The PTA sends out their own newsletter on Sundays - here are just a few highlights
GaGa Pit Fundraiser - GAMES NIGHT
The Central P.E. Department is hosting a GAMES EVENT Fundraiser on Friday, April 13, 2018 from 6:00-7:30 PM in the Central School gyms. Proceeds from this fundraiser will help fund the purchase of a GaGa Ball Pit for the P.E. Department and recess. Participation in this event is limited to current 1st-4th grade Central students. Games will include Dodgeball, Indoor GaGa Ball, Human Hungry Hippos & Beach Volleyball. The cost is $40 per participant with a maximum of 64 participants. Sign Up Here!
Family STEAM Night!
Join us April 6 from 5:30-7:30 for a night of hands-on creative building at Family STEAM night! What is STEAM? STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) is an approach to learning that integrates arts with traditional STEM subjects in order to encourage creative problem solving. Dinner will be available for purchase in the cafeteria at 5:30. Starting at 6 pm, all Central students, siblings, and parents are invited to work together at your own pace to accomplish 3 different STEAM challenges around the school.
From the Nurse's Office
Call Central School "Safe Phone" For Absences: 847-512-6150
Please call the "SAFE" (absence) phone to report absences even if you let the classroom teacher knows, because some teachers don't see the email/voicemail until later in the day. Teachers assume you are calling the office. It's important that the school nurse is directly aware of any absences otherwise, your son/daughter may be considered "missing." The school nurse keeps track of all school absences in the building. For safety reasons, we want to make sure all of our students are accounted for and safe.
New Central Health Office Website!!
Here is your go-to site for all of your health related questions including PE/Recess Notes, Health Requirements, Dental Examinations, Allergy and Asthma, Medications, Snacks in Classrooms, Lice, Influenza...and more!
Community Announcements...
- FREE Adult English Language Classes will be offered at Highcrest Middle School for 5 weeks; April 5-May 3rd.
- Wilmette Junior Trevians are hosting a week long cheer camp for all 2018-2019 5th-8th grade boys & girls July 16-20.
- Wilmette Public Library’s "One Book, Everybody Reads" featuring Amor Towles discussing his best-selling novel A Gentleman in Moscow at WJHS Auditorium April 22nd at 3:00 pm
- Wilmette Baseball Spring House League registration is open.
- Illinois Baseball Academy is registering boys & girls 3-6 years old. Register individually or as a group and form your own team.
- Little Legends Soccer Academy offers soccer training for boys & girls ages 2-8.
- Additional information on community events can be found here http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
Family Action Network (FAN)
Click HERE for information about FAN and upcoming speakers.
Join us on Twitter!
Central School is on Twitter!
- We have TWO Twitter accounts. Please "follow" us at Twitter.com! Explore Central 39 (with our actual "handle" as @explorecentral). With this account, we mostly share student activities that are completed in the Learning Commons (but other activities are often included as well). We are also providing this Twitter feed on our Central School homepage.
- There is also a principal page @BeckyLittmann where you can follow a variety of school happenings including all-school events, classroom activities, PTA enrichment, and school goals.
Upcoming Events...
4/3-4/12 - PARCC Testing for 3rd and 4th Grades
4/6 - Family STEAM Night
4/11 - PTA Meeting @9:00am
4/13 - Gaga Pit Fundraiser
4/18-4/20 - Conferences
4/19 - 4th Graders visit Junior High for their "Music Showcase"
4/25 - Kindergarten Orientation @ 6:30pm in the auditorium
4/19 - Early Release, Parent/Teacher Conferences
4/20 - No School, Parent/Teacher Conferences
4/23 - Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00pm