The 929 October 16, 2024

We have certainly had a busy week here at Edgewood and greatly appreciate all the hard work and efforts that go into making Edgewood such a wonderful place.

To start, we hosted our first-ever "Brown Bag Lunch" in the library, organized by our librarian, Mrs. Farrell, and supported by several parent volunteers. During this time, students and parents discussed our "Edgewood Reads" initiative—a one school, one book program—and enjoyed a knockout game outside to continue the basketball theme from this chapter.

Another exciting event was our 8th-grade students' visit to the Lake County Fairgrounds for the Navig8Lake Career Exploration. This engaging experience allowed students to explore a variety of careers and discover opportunities they may not have known about. They did an amazing job representing Edgewood, returning with smiles on their faces and new ideas in mind.

I hope everyone has a wonderful evening and a great Halloween tomorrow, enjoying however you and your students choose to celebrate!

All my best,

Louis Kotvis

Edgewood teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, and staff work tirelessly to support our students. If you would like to recognize a staff member for their hard work, please complete this form. We’ll pass along your message. Thank you in advance for acknowledging the hard work of our Eagle staff.

We are excited to announce that parent-teacher conferences are coming up soon. Please see the dates and times below:

• November 12: Parent Codes will be sent via ParentSquare—please be on the lookout for this notification.
• November 13: Conference sign-ups open at 7:30 a.m.
• November 20: Conference sign-ups close at 3:30 p.m.
• November 25: In-person conferences from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• November 26: Virtual conferences via Meet the Teacher from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

We look forward to connecting with you and discussing your child’s progress.

We are thrilled to continue the tradition of offering students the option to wear Halloween costumes at school on Thursday, October 31st! We want everyone to have a fun and festive day while ensuring that learning continues and the school day runs smoothly.

To balance both fun and academics, all costumes must follow these guidelines. If these are not followed, students may face consequences from the office:

• Please leave any items that could look like weapons at home.
• Masks and face paint are not allowed.
• Costumes should allow you to move freely in the hallways and sit comfortably in your classroom seat.
• Make sure your costume is respectful and considerate of others’ feelings.
• Students should arrive at school already dressed in their costumes, as changing during the school day will not be allowed.
• Remember, Halloween is still a school day, so students are expected to fully participate in each class.
  

If any of these items are taken from a student, they will be held in the office until a parent or guardian can pick them up from school.

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to a great day of learning and fun for everyone. Let’s work together to make it an enjoyable experience!

Nominate an outstanding teacher at Edgewood Middle Schools, North Shore School District 112, for a chance to win the Highland Park Community Foundation Golden Apple Award! Please see this attached document for nominations! Paper Copies available in the office and submissions due by Friday, November 15, 2024, at 5:00 P.M

On Friday, November 1, all Edgewood students will take the anonymous HumanEx Student Climate and Culture survey during class. This survey, taken by all students in District 112, helps us gather feedback to set meaningful goals for improving the climate and culture at Edgewood. We’re committed to making our school a positive, inclusive space where every student feels supported.

If you would prefer your student not participate, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Thank you for your partnership in making Edgewood the best environment it can be!

Join us on November 19, 2024, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Highland Park High School Auditorium for a special event featuring Dr. John Duffy, a clinical psychologist, author, and expert in parenting and personal growth. Dr. Duffy will share insights on the unique challenges modern parents face, including navigating social media, academic pressures, and mental health concerns. His practical advice will help parents connect with and support their children in today’s fast-paced, often overwhelming world.

This event is free and open to all families, co-sponsored by Districts 113, 112, and 109 in partnership with the Deerfield Parent Network.

REGISTER

Exciting news! We finally have enough photos to start creating this year’s yearbook, and we need your help! If you're creative and love photography, design, or writing, the Yearbook Club is the perfect place for you. Join us as we begin crafting the pages that will capture the memories of this school year. Whether you enjoy taking photos, designing layouts, or writing captions, there’s a role for everyone. We meet on Wednesdays before school starting 10/30/24 at 7:15 am in room 101B. Contact Ms. Wadhwa for more info!

On Friday, December 6th, 2024, Edgewood students and staff will participate in a service learning day connected to District 112's Day of Giving. Day of Giving originated at Elm Place Middle School in 2011 when students and staff collected donated food, clothing, toiletries, and winter gear to help support 12 local families. We have kept the tradition alive and now service 200 families in our community. Partnering with the PTO, we have been collecting food items this year as part of Day of Giving. The service learning day on 12/6 allows all students to participate in acts of service to support our community, as well as hearing from speakers about local service organizations. The special schedule for Friday 12/6 is linked here.

The November 2024 newsletter on chronic absenteeism highlights the growing issue of students missing school and its negative effects. Key points include the rise in chronic absenteeism, particularly post-COVID, with over 16 million students affected. This absenteeism contributes to lower academic achievement, widening educational disparities, and increased dropout rates. Contributing factors include bullying, housing instability, and mental health challenges. The newsletter also offers strategies for parents and schools to improve attendance, such as creating a positive school climate and engaging students and families.

You can read more here.

Food Days Deadline

The deadline to place an order, or make changes to next week's Food Days service is Thursday, October 31 |10:00am. Link directly to Lunch Solutions here: Lunch Solutions

For more information about PTO activities and events, including those outlined above, please follow this link to the PTO website: Edgewood PTO

Questions and feedback for the PTO can be directed here: edgewoodpto112@gmail.com