I hope your summer has been peaceful and rejuvenating!  I am excited for the upcoming school year and all of the wonderful opportunities it holds in store for all of us!

Please Mark Your Calendar For These Important Dates:
•    First 1/2 day of school for 1st-5th grade students is Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 8:20-11:45a.m.
•    First full day of school for 1st-5th grade is Friday, August 27, 2010 from 8:20 a.m.-3:00p.m.

(Kindergarten parents should  have received their child’s schedule for the first few days of school in the U.S. mail.  If you have not received it yet, please contact the school office.)

Although the school day officially starts at 8:20 a.m. for our 1st-5th graders, students are expected to arrive between 8:00 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.  Please do not drop off your child(ren) before 8:00 a.m. as there is NO SUPERVISION available.

It is just as important for your child to not arrive late!  The 1st-5th grade children are expected to be in their seats ready to learn by 8:20 a.m., not walking in the door at 8:20 a.m.  Arriving on time sets the tone for your child’s entire day!  Please help us to insure that they get off to a good start everyday!

Avoca West’s Orientation Night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 1, 2010.  Check the schedule below to make sure that you are here at the correct time(s):
Kindergarten and 1st Grade:  7:00-7:45 p.m.
2nd Grade and 3rd Grade:     8:00-8:45 p.m.
4th Grade and 5th Grade:      6:00-6:45 p.m.

Our Parent Teacher Council (PTC) will host its annual Back to School Family Picnic and Ice Cream Social on Tuesday, September 7th (the day after Labor Day), from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at AVOCA WEST.  Pack your dinner in your picnic baskets, and then enjoy an ice cream dessert, courtesy of the PTC!  All Avoca students and their family members are welcome to attend!

Finally, there are several new staff members to welcome to Avoca West this year:
Amy Levin- 2nd Grade Teacher
Kirsten Crispin- 2nd Grade Maternity Leave Substitute
Kelly Cummings- 3rd Grade Teacher
Tom Erf- 3rd Grade Teacher
Kathryn LePine- 5th Grade Resource Teacher
Shari Theer- School Nurse
Leslie Potter- Part-Time Intervention Specialist
Please help me in welcoming this outstanding new group of professionals!

WELCOME BACK!

Click below to watch our wonderful end of the year slideshow created by Mrs. Kelly!

2009-2010 Slideshow

Art In Action Day!

Art in Action Day

Thank you to Patrice Bazianos and Michelle Rowe for co-chairing the Arts in Action Day Committee.  Thank you to all of our parent volunteers including:

Nikki Scozia, Dena Pavlopoulos, Petroula Bazianos, JoEllen Kerwin, Donna Fulks, Martha Pollack, Denise Kingwill, Jill Hersh, Maria Costas, Judy Scobie, Jennifer Petterson, Jenifer Buck, Traci Lee, Denise Wirth, Faith Zelinsky, Mary Ann Dunkin

A special thank you to all of the visiting artists:

MJ Ernst, Mirtes Zwierzynski, Vallie Petterson/Paasche Airbrush Company, Barbara Vogelstein, Holly Hahn, Julie Rice,

Phyllis Ruttenberg, Shae Peppler /Picture Us Different Dance Studio (Park Ridge)

The day consisted of various creative workshops

Kindergarten- Paper Birbs

First Grade- Glazed Ceramic Tiles ( Underwater Theme)

Jewelry Design

Rock Gardens

Print Making

Airbrush

Hat Making

Self Portraits

Mosaic

Painting

Dance

Two Internet safety events are taking place at Avoca West today for students and parents/community members!

Today, Thursday, May 20th from 1:45-2:45, our 4th and 5th grade students will hear a presentation on Internet Safety, safe texting and instant messaging and other important topics concerning youth, technology and personal safety. We will be visited by a representative from the Illinois Attorney General’s office High Tech Crimes Bureau. This presentation will be followed by a Q & A for students. Parents are invited to join in this conversation. Please RSVP to this event with the link below.

Later this evening, from 7:00-8:00pm in the Avoca West ITC, another representative from the Illinois Office of the Attorney General’s High Tech Crimes Bureau will be conducting a presentation geared for parents and community members on Internet safety, online solicitation, instant messaging, text messaging, and social networking.  There will be a Q & A for parents following the presentation. Please RSVP to the event using the link below.

RSVP HERE

Earlier in the school year most of the parents who pick up their children after school were given a note card and a number to help expedite the pick up procedure.

Thank you very much to those who have used and continue to use their assigned car numbers!  It really helps!  We will do indoor dismissal when the weather is exceptionally cold, and it is especially helpful during these times.

If you don’t have a number for your car, please call the office (847/724-6800) and we will tell you your number or assign a new one.  Please write the number on a large piece of paper or cardboard and display it in the window so the teachers on dismissal duty can easily see the number.  Feel free to make as many of these cards as there are cars or people who pick up your children.
With everyone’s cooperation, we will make this a safe and efficient process!

Report Cards

Report Cards should hit the mail today and be arriving home shortly.  If you do not receive your child’s report card within the next few days, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Over the last week, I read every student’s report card and jotted an encouraging note to each child.  The K~ J~ is my signature, not to be confused for the teacher’s.  I am very impressed by the quality of learning and the effort your children put in!

Winter Weather

It looks as if the winter weather decided not to actually wait for winter!  Please click on the attached link for our guidelines regarding recess expectations and guidelines.
Winter Weather Letter

Thank you!

Just a few quick items before the long weekend!

BOOK FAIR

Don’t forget that the Avoca West Book Fair is coming the week after Thanksgiving!  The preview day for all classes will be on Tuesday, December 1st with sales beginning on December 2nd!

The book fair will be hosting children’s author Jenny Meyerhoff on the evening of Wednesday, December 2nd at 6:30.  Come on out and hear her tell stories about writing children’s stories and perhaps even hear excerpts from her works.  She will gladly sign copies of her book 3rd Grade Baby for you.  Author visit flyer 2009

H1N1

If you have not yet turned in your consent or non-participation form, please do so on Monday, November 30 at the very latest!  We would like to receive a form for every Avoca student!

Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday!

halloween 2009

Thank you to all of the parents who came to the Math Orientation Night last week!  The turnout was excellent!  I lost count of how many parents told me that they wish they had had this math program when they were in school!

I know that many of you were unable to attend, so the math committee put together a brief overview of what was covered.  Click on the link for highlights from Math Orientation Night.