Weekly Update
November 26
Dear Field Park Families,
For those of you that don't know the timing of my journey landing this dream gig at Field Park, the steps to get here were very much interwoven with the arrival of my son George (he will be 1 tomorrow!). Because these two life events happened in tandem, and during the Thanksgiving holiday, I can't help but feel an immense amount of gratitude for the last year and all of the positive change and pure joy that has followed with both his arrival and the start of working at Field Park in D101.
I hope your Thanksgiving holiday is rich with time alongside loved ones, enjoying some new and old traditions, while creating core memories with your family.
In partnership,
Emily Kruzel
Please read the newsletter in its entirety! My next update will be on Friday, December 13.
Student Ownership Attribute–GLOBAL CITIZENS
This month, I will be pushing into classrooms to read stories about the broader world, and to celebrate all the ways that understanding and appreciating other cultures and the commonalities we share can enrich our sense of community.
Our D101 definition of GLOBAL CITIZENS is: Able to value and embrace diversity through mutual respect & contribute to the betterment of society through responsible civic engagement.
Some of the components we discussed at the various grade levels were:
Global citizens care about the health and wellbeing of the world, and learn more and take actions to help make the world a better place.
Global citizens view the world from different viewpoints, and appreciate the value that other people and cultures bring.
Global citizens celebrate commonalities and differences, use them to connect and engage with others.
We’ve discussed these talking points in connection with the following grade level texts:
Kindergarten: Same, Same, But Different, by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
1st Grade: This is the Way We Go to School, by Edith Baer
2nd Grade: If Sharks Disappeared, by Lily Williams
3rd Grade: Ducks Overboard: A True Story of Plastic in our Oceans, by Markus Motum
4th Grade: One Plastic Bag, by Miranda Paul
5th Grade: 14 Cows for America, by Carmen Agra Deedy and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah
Although this is our collective focus for the month of December, we will seek opportunities to connect as global citizens throughout the year, and will be using these skills as a part of our January focus – being REFLECTIVE! Stay tuned for more information about REFLECTIVE students next month!
Holiday Concerts - Tuesday, December 10
Perhaps you noticed the plural CONCERTS in the title above!?!? We are excited to share that this year, there will be TWO Holiday Concerts at Field Park. There will be performances from 9:30-10:30am and 1:30-2:30pm. Loved ones are welcome to attend either concert that works better for your schedule. The performance will also be recorded and shared with families.
We're hopeful that the dual performances allow for a less crowded gym and better viewing experience for all. We can't wait to share some holiday cheer with all of you!
D101 Band & Orchestra Holiday Gift Card Drive - 11/18 - 12/13
Are you looking for an easy way to support the D101 Band & Orchestra Program AND get a head start on your holiday gift card purchases? Between November 18th and December 13th, we are encouraging ALL Field Parkparents to purchase their holiday gift cards through RaiseRight. This is the only Band & Orchestra fundraiser during the school year (no more taffy apples sales) and for every gift card purchased, a portion of the proceeds goes back to the program (for ALL D101 SCHOOLS). Best of all, the gift cards will be delivered to your door!
- Order by Friday, November 29th for delivery by Thursday, December 5th
- Order by Friday, December 13th for delivery by Thursday, December 19th
See instructions to order below:
- Sign up TODAY at this link.
- Enrollment Code: LB8445L651L2L
- Download the RaiseRight app to your smartphone
There are 3-ways to order - eGift Cards, Reload anytime using the app, and Physical Gift Cards for hundreds of retailers such as Target, Starbucks and Amazon.
To place a physical gift card order (great for teacher holiday gifts!!):
- Add your gift card to your cart
- Choose Ship to Coordinator
- Continue
- Choose your method of payment (credit card or bank payments only!)
- Confirm order
- PLACE ORDER (you can see the rebate amount that will benefit D101 B&O!)
Easy ways to use RaiseRight:
STARBUCKS
Option #1
- Order a physical gift card in any amount
- Enter the card into your Starbucks App
- Reload by simply adding the card to your RaiseRight app under Wallet and Reload as needed
- 4.5% of your purchase goes to B&O!
Option #2
- Purchase a Starbucks eGift card on the RaiseRight app
- Enter the card into your Starbucks App
- 4.5% of your purchase goes to B&O!
MARIANO'S
- Order a physical gift card in any amount
- SHOP your local Mariano's
- RELOAD by simply adding the card to your RaiseRight app under Wallet and Reload as needed.
- 4% of your purchase goes to B&O!
Contact Kristen Hettinga with any questions.
Friends in the Garden
Come and join in on our yearly, festive excursion! All students from Kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to come and decorate the Friends in the Garden's Winter Wonderland tree at the Village Green on December 4th. We will meet at the school garden, after school, and then walk as a group into town. The more parent helpers to walk with us, the better!
We will also ask that you please plan to pick up your gardener at the Tower Green at 4:00 p.m. A Rice Krispy Treat (as listed on the D101 approved nut free snacks linked in the google form) will be provided at the end of our tree decorating fun.
Please complete this short Google Form to let us know if your gardener can attend by Tuesday, December 3rd. We will turn off registration the night before the meeting so a list of attendees can be shared with each students’ respective teachers and the school office.
If you have any questions or would like to confirm our receipt of the form, please email Alex Rose.
Thank you and we hope to see you December 4th!
Monique Hamrah, Steve Maas and Alex Rose
NEW! Minted Fundraiser
We’re partnering with Minted this school year to save you money and raise funds for the PTO! Simply use the code FUNDRAISEFIELDPARK at Minted.com to enjoy 20% off any order. On top of your savings, 15% of each purchase will go right back to the PTO to use towards our students! Whether you’re in need of holiday cards or 2025 calendars, want to create unique stationery with your kid’s art, or update your home décor, enjoy the discount and help us reach our fundraising goals. Don’t forget to share the code FUNDRAISEFIELDPARK with friends and family too – the more people who use it, the more Field Park PTO earns for the kids!
Please contact Bridget Kernan with any questions.
WSFEE : D101 Grinch Fundraiser
Help Support Western Springs Foundation for Educational Excellence (WSFEE). WSFEE is Partnering up with the Grinch to bring your family BB's donuts.
- 3 DATES available with 2 time slots
- Grinch Delivery of a dozen BB's Donuts to your home
- $50/per family
Sign up Genius Available here
Paypal to WSFEE here (Please include Elementary School & Family Name)
or ZELLE payment to: donate@wsfee.org
(PLEASE INDICATE SCHOOL AND FAMILY NAME in COMMENTS)
Virtual Backpack and Community Events
Please see information and flyers for community events and student resources in our Virtual Backpack: