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May 28, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Muffins with Moms was a wonderful event! Thank you to Aarti Sharma and Ekta Luthra for coordinating it and the many volunteers who made it fun for the students and moms!

We are hoping that the students will earn their reward for great behavior during the 4^th quarter. The reward will be to watch a movie on Thursday, May 31^st. The movie for the primary (K-2) students will be The Lion King. Please click here for more information: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/. The movie for our intermediate (3-5) students will be The Emoji Movie. Please click here for more information: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4877122/. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any concerns.

Olympic Day is Friday, June 1^st. The schedule for Olympic Day is below:

Session 1: 9:30-11:00 – Grades K, 2, and 4
Session 2: 1:45-3:15 – Grades 1, 3, and 5
We will be serving Kool pops made by Jel Sert (trademark by Kraft Foods). They were purchased at Gordon Food Service.

As you know, we will have some students walking to Peterson next year! The Safe Walk Route Map is attached. On Tuesday, August 7^th from 1:00-3:00pm, we will have a “Walk to School Party”. For this event, we will begin in the MPR for a brief presentation about safety and the walking route. Together will enjoy popsicles and then walk to the park by the Ashwood Clubhouse to enjoy some time together!

This is my last newsletter of the 17/18 school year. It is hard to believe the year is over! Thinking back to where the students began and how far they have come fills me with such a sense of wonderment!!!! I wish you all a wonderful, safe summer! To the fifth graders and their families, you will be missed and we wish you all well. To the rest of the students and their families, we will see you in August!

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, May 28^th – No School – Memorial Day
Friday, June 1^st – Olympic Day and Last Day of Student Attendance
Tuesday, June 5^th – Report Cards posted in HAC at 12:00 pm
Tuesday, August 7^th – Walk to School Party 1:00-3:00 pm
Monday, August 13^th – Families New to Peterson Open House 3:00-4:30
Thursday, August 16^th – Meet and Greet
Tuesday, August 21^st – First Day of School, Grades 1-5/Kindergarten Visitations
Wednesday, August 22^nd – Kindergarteners’ First Day
Friday, August 31^st – No School – Institute Day
Monday, September 3^rd – No School – Labor Day

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
PetersonSchoolWalkRoute.pdf

May 21, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Over the course of the last several years, District 204 has embarked on a 1:1 initiative to provide Chromebook devices to students to support learning and instruction. Students at the middle school began the initiative during the 16-17 school year. High schools began this year with the initiative while the elementary buildings participated in a pilot. The 18-19 school year is now elementary’s opportunity. Our current second grade students had the opportunity to use a device this school year. Next year, students in grades 2-5 will use a Chromebook as a tool to support their learning, as well. We look forward to engaging in conversations with our parents regarding how this technology resource can enhance your child’s learning. Prior to students receiving the device in the fall, we will provide parents with an opportunity to learn more about the 1:1 initiative. At Peterson School, we plan to host a parent informational meeting on Thursday, August 23^rd from 6:30-7:30pm in the LMC. Please mark your calendar and stay tuned for more information at the start of the school year regarding this informational meeting.

May Fundraiser - Buffalo Wild Wings Plainfield (11820 S. Rt. 59, Plainfield):
This month’s Peterson Elementary fundraiser is being held on 5/23 at Buffalo Wild Wings. The restaurant will donate 15% of sales back to Peterson. Flyers will be sent home; however you do not need the physical flyer, you can also pull it up on your phone. Make sure to grab your family and friends and come out to support Peterson! The event runs all day so stop by for lunch or dinner!

Muffins with Mom:
Muffins with Moms is Thursday, May 24th from 8:15-8:50am. Peterson PTA can't wait to see all you lovely Moms and Kids! Please sign-up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDVhlbDhlxtIO6cFI3-AqOYWXfokmhgmnTAECHkmHcvBcCCQ/viewform

Tickets are $10 until May 21st. Price will be $15 at the door. Menu: Muffins (Chocolate Chip & Blueberry) from Miss Joans Cupcakes, Coffee from Dunkin Donuts, Orange Juice and Water will be served.

Dad volunteers are needed to help with the 'Muffins with Mom" event if interested please sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4daaaf22a5f58-muffins

If you have any further questions or concerns please contact Aarti at aartigupta82@gmail.com or Ekta at eluthra@gmail.com.

Note: Golden paw members also have to register online to get their wristbands.

Sumer Camps:
Waubonsie Valley High School basketball summer camps are available. There are camps available for all current elementary and middle school students. Sign up information is located at http://wvhs.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx?id=1087.

Upcoming Dates:

Thursday, May 24^th – Muffins with Mom 8:15-8:50
Monday, May 28^th – No School – Memorial Day
Friday, June 1^st – Olympic Day and Last Day of Student Attendance
Tuesday, June 5^th – Report Cards posted in HAC at 12:00pm

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
May Dinner Night.pdf

May 14, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

There are not enough words to express our appreciation for all of the events that occurred during Teacher Appreciation Week! A huge thank you goes out Val Gremillion and Amy Welsh for coordinating the week. I know they put in a lot of time both at school and outside of school to ensure that the week was a success! Thank you to Michelle Stolle for securing amazing raffle prizes, Amie Strasma for helping with the raffle, and the countless other volunteers who helped and donated! The “Shout Out” board (see attached) was enjoyed by all staff! It was so incredible to see it covered with “Shout Outs” by the end of the week.

Thank you to Kristina Beliveau for coordinating Plant and Play and all of the volunteers and students who helped to make our school look beautiful!

I hope to see many of you tomorrow evening at our Digital Citizenship Presentation. Please see below for more information!

Digital Citizenship Presentation:
On Monday, May 14^th at 6:30pm, we will have a Digital Citizenship presentation by Al Davenport. Game systems, smart phones, IPADS, laptops and more........technology is everywhere! Trying to keep up with it all as a parent can be difficult. Please come hear Allan Davenport, Director of Innovation & Instructional Leadership as he talks to parents about technology trends, best practices for parenting in a digital environment, and how school and home can work together to help our students develop a positive digital presence. Additionally, Mr. Davenport will share several kids picture books that address Digital Citizenship as well as some other helpful technology management tools for parents.

Tickets are $10 until May 21st. Price will be $15 at the door. Menu: Muffins (Chocolate Chip & Blueberry) from Miss Joans Cupcakes, Coffee from Dunkin Donuts, Orange Juice and Water will be served.

Dad volunteers are needed to help with the 'Muffins with Mom" event if interested please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4daaaf22a5f58-muffins

If you have any further questions or concerns please contact Aarti at aartigupta82@gmail.com or Ekta at eluthra@gmail.com.

Note: Golden paw members also have to register online to get their wristbands.

Donate to Support Families in Need:
District 204 currently has 18 percent of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. This translates to more than 5,000 students. Purchasing school supplies so children are prepared for the school year can be challenging for low-income families. To address this problem, the Indian Prairie Parents' Council (IPPC) is hosting a drive to support families who may need assistance when their children return to school in August. If you would like to help make a difference for our families, you can make a donation in any amount by visiting http://ipsd.us/8TZJK. If you would prefer to write a check, please make it payable to Indian Prairie Parents' Council. Checks can be mailed to Community Relations Coordinator, Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora, IL 60504. IPPC will use 100 percent of funds collected to purchase Meijer, Walmart and Target gift cards for distribution through the schools to families in need. Donations can be made through May 18.

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, May 14^th – Digital Citizenship Presentation 6:30-8:00pm
Thursday, May 17^th – Dr. Cool Assembly sponsored by PTA
Friday, May 18^th – Spirit Day
Saturday, May 19^th – Fine Arts Festival
Monday, May 28^th – No School – Memorial Day
Friday, June 1^st – Olympic Day and Last Day of Student Attendance
Tuesday, June 5^th – Report Cards posted in HAC at 12:00pm

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
Shout Out Board.JPG

May 7, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week!! Our staff does so much every day to ensure that our students are successful! Please see this link or the attached document for information about the events for the week. Please don’t forget to complete and return your 18-19 Registration Packets!!

Plant and Play:
Plant and Play is Thursday, May 10th this year! Kids can stay after school to plant flowers and clean up the school grounds. Pick up will be at 4:50. Kids must register to participate!! Register to participate and volunteer by Monday, May 7th at https://goo.gl/forms/zMyyy56wp3RjedyT2 Parent volunteers are needed to help set up and to supervise a group of kids during the event. We also need volunteers for the morning of the event at 10:30 (after the PTA meeting) to put wristbands on kids who are registered. This should cut out the confusion over who is staying after school and who is getting on the bus.

Recap last PDAC meeting
On April 17^th, PDAC hosted a meeting on Understanding and Addressing Income Advantages. We discussed the important implications of Title I funds and learned from SPARK, a community partnership, on how early childhood needs are addressed. The slides from the meeting are now available and can be accessed HERE.

The last PDAC meeting of the school year is on Thursday, May 10^th, 7-9:00 pm, at CEC. Join us to celebrate and reflect on this year’s work!
We need your help nominating Equity Champions. Every year, PDAC acknowledges equity champions that have gone “beyond the call of duty to ensure that all students have equal access to success” ~PDAC nomination form. You may nominate any staff member, administrator, parent and/or community member that you believe has exemplified championing for equity. The nomination forms are open to all. Nominations are due June 30, 2018. The electronic nomination form can be found on the PDAC subpage (scroll to the bottom) or HERE. The selected champion will be recognized at the annual World Café slated for late September/early October 2018. Please do not nominate any member of the current PDAC District Leadership team as ineligible to receive this award.

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, April 30^th – May 16^th – Spring Benchmark Assessments
Monday, May 7^th – Friday, May 11^th Teacher Appreciation Week
Thursday, May 10^th – PTA meeting 9:15 in MPR
Thursday, May 10^th – Plant and Play
Friday, May 11^th – Spirit Day
Monday, May 14^th – Digital Citizenship Presentation 6:30-8:00pm
Thursday, May 17^th – Dr. Cool Assembly sponsored by PTA
Saturday, May 19^th – Fine Arts Festival
Monday, May 28^th – No School – Memorial Day
Friday, June 1^st – Olympic Day and Last Day of Student Attendance

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
Teacher Appreciation Week May 7 -11.pdf

April 30, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

What an amazing evening we had at Multicultural Night!!!! The food was delicious! The dancers did an amazing job and the interactive culture tables were fun for all! There are many people to thank for their help in making this evening possible. Thank you to the Peterson PDAC committee members: Christine Ficks, Katie O’Boyle, Katie Ammons, Neha Patodia, Sarah Blakeley, Viveka Ross, Jalitza Martinez, and Lisa Pettaway. Thank you to Michelle Stolle for helping to secure our food and thank you to India’s BBQ Nation, California Pizza Kitchen, Delicia Mexican Grill, Pita Inn, and Princess Desserts.

Thank you to DJ Tarry for adding music to the evening! Thank you the following families and people for their culture tables: Laura and Gina Gonzalez from the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council, Wamae Family, Stolle Family, Lopez-Maya Family, Wang Family, and Yu family. Thank you to the Gin Family for Mexican Bingo and Shweta, Shipra, and Shravanthi for the Henna station. Thank you to Mrs. Luhn and Mrs. Reed for helping the students create beautiful cultural masks. Thank you to all of the dancers for their amazing performances and students who completed the beautiful flags that hung in the hallway! Finally thank you to Jen Tedrow, Jackie Willis, Joann Frisby, Sarah Siffer, Maria Giridharan, our custodians, and all the volunteers who helped!

On Monday, May 14^th at 6:30 pm, we will have a Digital Citizenship presentation by Al Davenport. Game systems, smart phones, IPADS, laptops and more........technology is everywhere! Trying to keep up with it all as a parent can be difficult. Please come hear Allan Davenport, Director of Innovation & Instructional Leadership as he talks to parents about technology trends, best practices for parenting in a digital environment, and how school and home can work together to help our students develop a positive digital presence. Additionally, Mr. Davenport will share several kids picture books that address Digital Citizenship as well as some other helpful technology management tools for parents.

Next year, we will have students walking to Peterson! The families who are affected have been notified and more information regarding the logistics will come in the future.

Plant and Play:
Plant and Play is Thursday, May 10th this year! Kids can stay after school to plant flowers and clean up the school grounds. Pick up will be at 4:50. Kids must register to participate!!Register to participate and volunteer by Monday, May 7th at https://goo.gl/forms/zMyyy56wp3RjedyT2 Parent volunteers are needed to help set up and to supervise a group of kids during the event. We also need volunteers for the morning of the event at 10:30 (after the PTA meeting) to put wristbands on kids who are registered. This should cut out the confusion over who is staying after school and who is getting on the bus.

Donate to Support Families in Need:
District 204 currently has 18 percent of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. This translates to more than 5,000 students. Purchasing school supplies so children are prepared for the school year can be challenging for low-income families. To address this problem, the Indian Prairie Parents' Council (IPPC) is hosting a drive to support families who may need assistance when their children return to school in August. If you would like to help make a difference for our families, you can make a donation in any amount by visiting http://ipsd.us/8TZJK. If you would prefer to write a check, please make it payable to Indian Prairie Parents' Council. Checks can be mailed to Community Relations Coordinator, Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora, IL 60504. IPPC will use 100 percent of funds collected to purchase Meijer, Walmart, and Target gift cards for distribution through the schools to families in need. Donations can be made through May 18.

Personalized Bricks for Outdoor Learning Area:
The Peterson Elementary PTA is proud to offer commemorative bricks to enhance our outdoor learning area. Our goal is to establish brick walkways where your family can leave their mark on Peterson. The brick project will be a permanent addition to Peterson and will be admired by faculty and students for years to come. Information on how to participate in this opportunity and order your own personalized brick to be displayed in the outdoor learning area can be found at the following link: https://www.bricksrus.com/order/petersonelementarybricks/ Brick sales will be open until May 4. Please take advantage of this chance to leave a lasting impression on Peterson Elementary. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Siffer at sarah.siffer@yahoo.com.

Optional Parent Input for Classroom Placement 18-19:
Thank you to those of you who have filled out the Parent Input form. Please remember the following points when filling out the form:

Do not request a specific teacher. The purpose of these forms is for you to provide feedback on the type of learner and environment you think would be best for your child.
Do not request your child to be placed in a specific program. Program decisions such as Project Arrow and Math Acceleration are made based on multiple pieces of evidence.
When requesting students in which your child should not be placed with, do not request more than two. If there are more students, please contact me, so that we can have a conversation.
If you have questions about the form, please contact me. I am happy to talk with you!
Forms are due by Wednesday, May 2^nd. Please know that our staff spends an extensive amount of time to create class lists. We consider each child’s unique learning and behavioral needs in order to place them in the best learning environment. If you feel you have information that may help us in this process, please complete the form: Optional Parent Input Form for Classroom Placement 18-19.

18-19 School Supply Kits:
We are once again partnering with SchoolKidz this year and will be utilizing their School Supply Kit Program for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. The supply kits create a uniform and organized learning environment while helping your child be prepared for the 1st day of school. Back to School shopping has never been so easy! Ordering info was sent home with students before break. The sale is currently open and will run through May 4th, 2018. If you would like to participate, please make sure to place your order online during the sale dates. No late orders will be accepted. Any questions regarding this program or the sale can be directed to Julie Sassano at jrsassano@gmail.com.

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, April 30^th – May 16^th – Spring Benchmark Assessments
Monday, May 7^th – Friday, May 11^th Teacher Appreciation Week
Thursday, May 10^th – PTA meeting 9:15 in MPR
Thursday, May 10^th – Plant and Play
Friday, May 11^th – Spirit Day
Monday, May 14^th – Digital Citizenship Presentation 6:30-8:00pm (More detailed information coming soon!)
Thursday, May 17^th – Dr. Cool Assembly sponsored by PTA
Saturday, May 19^th – Fine Arts Festival
Monday, May 28^th – No School – Memorial Day

Best,
Allison Landstrom

April 23, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

The Peterson Singers should be very proud of their performance on Thursday evening! Thank you to Mrs. Luhn for her dedication and support of this program! Their final performance will be at the Fine Arts Festival on May 19th.

I think spring is finally here!!! During spring, our weather can vary a great deal. Please help your child(ren) to dress appropriately for outdoor recess. Additionally, a student may stay in for one day of recess with a parent note. If a child needs to stay in for more than one day, we will need a note from the doctor.

Registration packets went home on Friday. Please complete and return these forms as soon as you are able to do so. In order to be registered, you must complete the hardcopy forms as well as the online portion. If you received a letter that stated you needed to prove residency, you must do that before you can register their child/children. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Remember, there is no school on Friday, April 27th. Enjoy the long weekend!

Teacher Appreciation Week:
Thank You Letters for Teacher Appreciation Week are due this Monday 4/23. We have attached the file below so your child can make a second thank you for someone on the support staff. Support Staff includes Gym, Music, Art, School Nurse, Principal, Special Services Coordinator, etc. (Full List Attached) Thanks for your participation!

Peterson’s Multicultural Night:
Please join us for Peterson’s Multicultural Evening on Wednesday, April 25th from 6-7:30 PM. Come help us celebrate Peterson’s diversity with cultural traditions, crafts and games, and dance performances. Free raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes and there will also be food available from India’s BBQ Nation, California Pizza Kitchen, Delicia Mexican Grill, Pita Inn, and Princess Desserts for purchase (cash only). We will also be displaying the flags created by Peterson students and families. Feel free to wear traditional attire that represents your culture or heritage. Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/2qJpoON if you plan on attending. You may contact Christine Ficks at christine.ficks@yahoo.com or Neha Patodia atnehapatodia@gmail.com with any questions. See also the attached flyer for more information on Peterson’s Multicultural Evening. We hope to see you there!

From the Health Office:
The health office is in need of donations of various size athletic pants and shorts for both boys and girls, particularly for the older taller children. Athletic pants are helpful because they stretch if we do not have an exact size.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)...Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home early from school; they can go home at the end of the day, be treated, and return to class after appropriate treatment has begun. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice.

Head lice can be a nuisance but they have not been shown to spread disease. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) advocate that "no-nit" policies should be discontinued. "No-nit" policies that require a child to be free of nits before they can return to schools should be discontinued for the following reasons:

Many nits are more than ¼ inch from the scalp. Such nits are usually not viable and very unlikely to hatch to become crawling lice, or may, in fact, be empty shells, also known as 'casings'.
Nits are cemented to hair shafts and are very unlikely to be transferred successfully to other people.
The burden of unnecessary absenteeism to the students, families, and communities far outweighs the risks associated with head lice.
Misdiagnosis of nits is very common during nit checks conducted by nonmedical personnel.

Please check your children for live lice &/or nits, if either is found please treat & comb your child's hair. And please know that you may have to re-comb your child's hair numerous times before all nits are gone. For more instructions on how to rid your home of lice/nits, please refer to the CDC website for more information.
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/parents.html

Personalized Bricks for Outdoor Learning Area:
The Peterson Elementary PTA is proud to offer commemorative bricks to enhance our outdoor learning area. Our goal is to establish brick walkways where your family can leave their mark on Peterson. The brick project will be a permanent addition to Peterson and will be admired by faculty and students for years to come. Information on how to participate in this opportunity and order your own personalized brick to be displayed in the outdoor learning area can be found at the following link: https://www.bricksrus.com/order/petersonelementarybricks/ Brick sales will be open until May 4. Please take advantage of this chance to leave a lasting impression on Peterson Elementary. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Siffer at sarah.siffer@yahoo.com.

Optional Parent Input for Classroom Placement 18-19:
Thank you to those of you who have filled out the Parent Input form. Please remember the following points when filling out the form:

Do not request a specific teacher. The purpose of these forms is for you to provide feedback on the type of learner and environment you think would be best for your child.
Do not request your child to be placed in a specific program. Program decisions such as Project Arrow and Math Acceleration are made based on multiple pieces of evidence.
When requesting students in which your child should not be placed with, do not request more than two. If there are more students, please contact me, so that we can have a conversation.
If you have questions about the form, please contact me. I am happy to talk with you!
Forms are due by Wednesday, May 2^nd. Please know that our staff spends an extensive amount of time to create class lists. We consider each child’s unique learning and behavioral needs in order to place them in the best learning environment. If you feel you have information that may help us in this process, please complete the form: Optional Parent Input Form for Classroom Placement 18-19.

Scullen STEM Night:
Scullen is hosting a STEM Night on Tuesday, April 24th, from 6:00-7:30p.m. STEM Night is a free event for all Scullen students and their families to engage in hands-on learning about STEM. Bring the whole family to learn a few new things about science, technology, engineering, and math.

18-19 School Supply Kits:
We are once again partnering with SchoolKidz this year and will be utilizing their School Supply Kit Program for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. The supply kits create a uniform and organized learning environment while helping your child be prepared for the 1st day of school. Back to School shopping has never been so easy! Ordering info was sent home with students before break. The sale is currently open and will run through May 4th, 2018. If you would like to participate, please make sure to place your order online during the sale dates. No late orders will be accepted. Any questions regarding this program or the sale can be directed to Julie Sassano at jrsassano@gmail.com.

Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, April 25^th – Multicultural Night 6:00pm-7:30pm
Friday, April 27^th – No School – School Improvement Planning Day
Monday, April 30^th – May 16^th – Spring Benchmark Assessments
Monday, May 7^th – Friday, May 11^th Teacher Appreciation Week
Thursday, May 10^th – PTA meeting 9:15 in MPR
Thursday, May 10^th – Plant and Play
Friday, May 11^th – Spirit Day
Monday, May 14^th – Digital Citizenship Presentation 6:30-8:00pm (More detailed information coming soon!)
Saturday, May 19^th – Fine Arts Festival

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
MulticulturalNightFlyer-2018FinalDJ.pdf
ThankYouFlyer.pdf
Peterson Staff Roster FY1718.pdf

April 16, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Thank you to Amie Strasma for organizing the Daddy/Daughter dance and all of the volunteers who helped make it happen! It was a wonderful evening and everyone had a terrific time!

A big thank you goes out to our Student Council, Mrs. Grahn, and Mr. Slick for organizing such a fun spirit week!!!! The Spirit Day winners were Mrs. Kucera’s and Ms. Falck’s classes!

Last call for Team IPEF 2018!!! We only have 7 participants from Peterson signed up. Remember this year you can choose to do either the Half Marathon or the 5K! It is a wonderful event that greatly benefits Peterson!! You have until Monday, April 16th to join the 300+ runners already committed to supporting their schools by participating as charity partners. The event is on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Check out this NCTV Spotlight episode to learn more about how your participation makes a positive difference in District 204. Runner perks include Topgolf Kick-off event, training and race day shirts, heated tent on race day, free chiropractic care and more. Register today at https://www.ipef204.org/teamipef2018/.

Optional Parent Input for Classroom Placement 18-19:
Thank you to those of you who have filled out the Parent Input form. Please remember the following points when filling out the form:

· Do not request a specific teacher. The purpose of this form is for you to provide feedback on the type of learner and environment you think would be best for your child.

· Do not request your child to be placed in a specific program. Program decisions such as Project Arrow and Math Acceleration are made based on multiple pieces of evidence.

· If there are students in which your child should not be placed with, do not request more than two students. If there are more students, please contact me, so that we can have a conversation.

· If you have questions about the form, please contact me. I am happy to talk with you!

· Forms are due by Wednesday, May 2^nd. Please know that our staff spends an extensive amount of time to create class lists. We consider each child’s unique learning and behavioral needs in order to place them in the best learning environment. If you feel you have information that may help us in this process, please complete the form: Optional Parent Input Form for Classroom Placement 18-19.

Peterson’s Multicultural Night:
Please join us for Peterson's Multicultural Evening on Wednesday, April 25^th from 6:00-7:30 pm. Come help us celebrate Peterson's diversity with crafts, food, and dance. More detailed information about the night including food options and prices will be sent home early this week! We will also be displaying the flags created by Peterson students and families. Feel free to wear traditional attire for your culture or heritage. Please RSVP at this link https://goo.gl/forms/nxpv4OSMVsYZbntk1 if you plan on attending. You may contact Christine Ficks at christine.ficks@yahoo.com, Neha Patodia at nehapatodia@gmail.com, or me with any questions.

April Fundraiser – TCBY:
This month's Peterson Elementary fundraiser is being held on Tuesday, April 17^th from 11 am - 9:30 pm at TCBY at 2940 Showplace Drive. TCBY will be donating 30% of sales back to the school as well as there will be a bucket for any additional cash donations you would like to make. Flyers will be sent home; however, you do not need the flyer, just mention at the register you are there for the Peterson fundraiser. Make sure to grab your family and friends and come out to support Peterson!

PDAC:
The next PDAC meeting is on Tuesday, April 17^th, 7-9:00 pm, at CEC. The topic of the meeting is Understanding and Addressing Income Advantages: How do students’ parental incomes advantage and disadvantage them in school? Please consider joining us! For more information on PDAC or calendar of events, please visit the PDAC subpage.

Upcoming Dates:

· Tuesday, April 17^th – TCBY Fundraiser

· Thursday, April 19^th – Spring Chorus Concert 6:30pm

· Wednesday, April 25^th – Multicultural Night 6:00pm-7:30pm

· Monday, April 30^th – May 16^th – Spring Benchmark Assessments

· Monday, May 7^th – Friday, May 11^th Teacher Appreciation Week

· Thursday, May 10^th – PTA meeting 9:15 in MPR

· Thursday, May 10^th – Plant and Play

· Friday, May 11^th – Spirit Day

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
Save the Date Multicultural Night.pdf
TCBY flyer.doc

April 9, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Our third, fourth, and fifth grade students have completed PARCC testing and I am so proud of their effort!! This week is Spirit Week. Our Student Council has planned some fun events and activities for us! Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Report cards were posted in Home Access Center on Friday. Here are the directions for Viewing & Printing Report Cards. There is also a help site for parents: eSchoolPlus Home Access Center. You will need your log-in information in order to access the report card. Please call the office (630-428-5678) if you have any questions!

Thank you for using our attendance line when your child is going to be absent! Please remember to speak slowly, say your child’s name, spell both the first and last name, and state his/her teacher.

We are looking forward to our 2^nd Multicultural Night on Wednesday, April 25^th! Details will be provided soon and we hope to see many of you there. Please see the attached flyer.

Yearbooks for Sale:
It’s not too late to order your yearbook!! They are $16 each. You can order online at https://book.hrimaging.com/book/Default.aspx or request a paper order form from the office. Orders are due by Friday, April 13^th.

Attention all Fathers and Father-like Figures:
It’s time to register for THE DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE!!!! This special night is April 13, 2018, from 7-9 p.m. Our theme this year is TIES & TIARAS. This memorable night is not to be missed!

Register now by clicking on the link below. For those that register prior to the Dance, the cost is $15.00 per family or $20.00 per family at the door. Your student can bring the money in an envelope marked Daddy Daughter Dance and give to their teachers.

https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSeDm3clDDtAYhJaA_…/viewform

Any questions please feel free to contact: Amie Strasma (331) 204-2998 or via email: bambina419@att.net

5^th Grade Funway Trip:
The PTA is planning a field trip to Funway for the 5th graders as part of our 5th grade year-end celebration. Please see this link Funway Information and Registration for more details and to sign your child up.

Payment for Trip and Signs must be received by April 12th. Make the check payable to PETERSON ELEMENTARY PTA. Send to School in an envelope Marked: "5th Grade FUNWAY Celebration" with your child's first and last name and class noted.

Please note, you must complete both the online registration and send in a check in order to participate. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Lambert lambert4615@comcast.net

PDAC:
In March, PDAC hosted a meeting on Understanding and Addressing Language Advantages. We discussed the myths associated with English as a second language and learned about the advantages of bilingualism. The slides from the meeting are now available and can be accessed HERE.

The next PDAC meeting is on Tuesday, April 17^th, 7-9:00 pm, at CEC. The topic of the meeting is Understanding and Addressing Income Advantages: How do students’ parental incomes advantage and disadvantage them in school? Please consider joining us! For more information on PDAC or calendar of events, please visit the PDAC subpage.

Finally, PDAC is co-hosting an awareness talk on youth challenges and concerns at the Naperville Public Library on Sunday, April 8^th, 2-4:00 pm. The flyer for the event is attached.

Optional Parent Input for Classroom Placement 18-19:
Soon staff and I will begin to develop the class lists for the 2018-2019 school year. Parents will again have the opportunity to complete the Optional Parent Input Form for Classroom Placement 18-19 and share information you feel would be helpful in placing your child, so he/she can have the best year possible. Please know that our staff spends an extensive amount of time to create class lists. We consider each child’s unique learning and behavioral needs in order to place them in the best learning environment. If you feel you have information that may help us in this process, please complete the form (see blue link above) and return it to the office no later than Wednesday, May 2^nd. If you have any questions regarding the completion of the form or the process, please contact me!

18-19 School Supply Kits:
We are once again partnering with SchoolKidz this year and will be utilizing their School Supply Kit Program for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. The supply kits create a uniform and organized learning environment while helping your child be prepared for the 1st day of school. Back to School shopping has never been so easy! Ordering info was sent home with students before the break. The sale is currently open and will run through May 4th, 2018. If you would like to participate, please make sure to place your order online during the sale dates. No late orders will be accepted. Any questions regarding this program or the sale can be directed to Julie Sassano at jrsassano@gmail.com.

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, April 9th - Friday, April 13th - Spirit Week
Thursday, April 12^th – PTA Meeting 9:15am
Friday, April 13^th – Spirit Day
Friday, April 13^th – Daddy/Daughter Dance 7:00pm
Tuesday, April 17^th – TCBY Fundraiser
Thursday, April 19^th – Spring Chorus Concert 6:30pm
Wednesday, April 25^th – Multicultural Night 6:00pm-7:30pm

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
Student Council Spirit Week.docx
TCBY flyer.doc
Save the Date Multicultural Night.pdf

April 2, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

I hope everyone enjoyed their break! Soon staff and I will begin to develop the class lists for the 2018-2019 school year. Parents will again have the opportunity to complete the Optional Parent Input Form for Classroom Placement 18-19 and share information you feel would be helpful in placing your child, so he/she can have the best year possible. Please know that our staff spends an extensive amount of time to create class lists. We consider each child’s unique learning and behavioral needs in order to place them in the best learning environment. If you feel you have information that may help us in this process, please complete the form (see blue link above) and return it to the office no later than Wednesday, May 2^nd. If you have any questions regarding the completion of the form or the process, please contact me.

Yearbooks for Sale:
It’s not too late to order your yearbook!! They are $16 each. You can order online at https://book.hrimaging.com/book/Default.aspx or request a paper order form from the office. Orders are due by Friday, April 13^th.

Spring Pictures:
If you would like to order Spring Pictures, we have extended the deadline to Tuesday, April 3^rd.

18-19 School Supply Kits:
We are once again partnering with SchoolKidz this year and will be utilizing their School Supply Kit Program for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. The supply kits create a uniform and organized learning environment while helping your child be prepared for the 1st day of school. Back to School shopping has never been so easy! Ordering info was sent home with students before spring break. The sale is currently open and will run through May 4th, 2018. If you would like to participate, please make sure to place your order online during the sale dates. No late orders will be accepted. Any questions regarding this program or the sale can be directed to Julie Sassano at jrsassano@gmail.com.

Attention all Fathers and Father-like Figures:
It’s time to register for THE DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE!!!! This special night is April 13, 2018, from 7-9 p.m. Our theme this year is TIES & TIARAS. This memorable night is not to be missed!

https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSeDm3clDDtAYhJaA_…/viewform

Any questions please feel free to contact: Amie Strasma (331) 204-2998 or via email: bambina419@att.net

5^th Grade Funway Trip:
The PTA is planning a field trip to Funway for the 5th graders as part of our 5th grade year-end celebration. Please see this link Funway Information and Registration for more details and to sign your child up.

Payment for Trip and Signs must be received by April 12th. Make the check payable to PETERSON ELEMENTARY PTA. Send to School in an envelope Marked: "5th Grade FUNWAY Celebration" with your child's first and last name and class noted.

Please note, you must complete both the online registration and send in a check in order to participate. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Lambert lambert4615@comcast.net

Engage 204:
If you were unable to attend the last Engage 204 session, the presentation materials and a video of the presentation are online at http://engage204.org/sessions.aspx You can find presentation material from all 5 Engage 204 sessions online. If you watch the presentation and have any feedback, you can share that at engage-204@ipsd.org

PARCC Testing Information:
We will be administering the PARCC Assessment at grades 3, 4, and 5 once again this spring. Below is the schedule for each grade level:

· Grade 3: Tuesday, April 3^rd – Friday, April 6^th

If you have specific questions about a particular grade level’s testing schedule, please contact your child’s teacher. A letter was sent via ConnectED on Friday, February 16^th. If you would like more information about the PARCC assessment, this link provides a good starting point. http://understandthescore.org/help-your-child/resources-for-parents/Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions!

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, April 2^nd – School Resumes
Friday, April 6^th – 3^rd Quarter Report Cards posted in HAC after 4:00 pm
Thursday, April 12^th – PTA Meeting 9:15 am
Friday, April 13^th – Spirit Day
Friday, April 13^th – Daddy/Daughter Dance 7:00 pm
Thursday, April 19^th – Spring Chorus Concert 6:30 pm
Wednesday, April 25^th – Multicultural Night 6:00pm-7:30 pm

Best,
Allison Landstrom

March 19, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Our second graders did such a lovely job at their concert on Wednesday evening!! Thank you to Mrs. Luhn for making the concert a wonderful experience!

Kindergarten Orientation is this Wednesday, March 21^st beginning at 6:30 pm in the LMC. Please note, this evening is for parents only!

Remember, there is no school Monday, March 26^th – Friday, March 30^th because of Spring Break. My next newsletter will be on Sunday, April 1^st and I hope everyone has a terrific break!

March Fundraiser- McDonald's 95th Street:
This month’s Peterson Elementary fundraiser is being held on Wednesday, March 21^st from 4pm-8pm at McDonald's on 95th street. McDonald's will be donating 20% of sales back to the school. We will also have parent volunteers there that night selling apple pies.

Peterson will get 100% of the pie sales and the classroom that has the most participation will get free ice cream! Please remember the flyer for the ice cream contest. It will come home with your child next week.

Engage 204 on March 20th:
The community is invited to attend Engage 204 from 7 to 9 pm on Tuesday, March 20 at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. This session will focus on the district's budget.

Previous sessions have looked at academic programs, demographics, and facilities. Some of the topics discussed by presenters and attendees have included class sizes, teacher pay, mental health support, facility use, and maintenance projects. At this session, presenters will discuss the cost of some of the ideas and attendees will be asked to prioritize the ideas. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to provide feedback on how to financially support the ideas considering the district's limited resources.

Engage 204 is a collaborative process between the community and District 204. Key to the success of this process is the collaboration and discussion between participants. District residents who attend will have the unique opportunity to share ideas and discuss topics in small groups in order to provide feedback to the Board of Education. Findings and recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education in July 2018. All District 204 residents are invited to participate in Engage 204. RSVP is appreciated, but not required. For more information, visit Engage 204.

Scullen PTSA Nominating Committee:
The Scullen PTSA is currently seeking volunteers to join our leadership team and serve as officers for the 2018-19 school year. The positions are President, Vice-President,Secretary, and Treasurer. If you have a current fifth grade student who would be attending Scullen middle school in the fall and you're interested in serving, would like to recommend someone or would like more information about one of these positions, please contact Anita Kothari at anitakothari@gmail.com.

Daddy-Daughter Dance:
Attention all fathers and father-like figures, before you know it, the special night will be here! In hopes that all fathers (and father like figures) will be available for the dance, I’ve attached a Save the Date card. Formal invites will be posted with more detail, as the evening gets closer. This night is always special for all the attendees. Open the attachment below and make sure to save April 13^th for a memorable night!!!!

Multicultural Night:
Peterson's 2^nd Multicultural Night is on Wednesday, April 25^th from 6:30-8:00. The multicultural evening will celebrate Peterson's diverse student population. In order to represent Peterson's diverse student population, we are looking for parent volunteers that would be willing to share a craft, game, dance, or cultural tradition from their heritage. If you are interested in doing this, please complete this survey:https://goo.gl/forms/Ol3Sq0LL0CLb3b2G3

PARCC Testing Information:
We will be administering the PARCC Assessment at grades 3, 4, and 5 once again this spring. Below is the schedule for each grade level:

· Grade 5: Monday, March 19^th – Thursday, March 22^nd

· Grade 3: Tuesday, April 3^rd – Friday, April 6^th

Third-Party Educational Programs:
The following companies have rented space in our schools to offer an after-school educational program for students. The distribution of this material is in no way an endorsement of programs, services, activities or products by District 204. For more information about the programs listed below, visit: Peterson: Young Rembrandts Drawing Classes for Kids

Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, March 21^st – Dinner Night at McDonald’s on 95^th St. 4:00pm-8:00pm
Wednesday, March 21^st – Kindergarten Orientation 6:30pm
Monday, March 26^th – Friday, March 30^th – No School - Spring Break
Friday, April 6^th – 3^rd Quarter Report Cards posted in HAC after 4:00pm
Thursday, April 12^th – PTA Meeting 9:15am
Friday, April 13^th – Spirit Day
Friday, April 13^th – Daddy/Daughter Dance – 7:00pm

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
Daddy Daughter Save the Date.jpg

March 12, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Thank you to Kristina Beliveau for coordinating the science fair and thank you to all of the volunteers who helped to make it an amazing event for our students!

Congratulations to Mrs. Kucera's Kindergarten class for coming in first for collecting the most box tops. Mrs. Falck's 3rd grade class came in second and Mr. Slick's 5th grade class came in third. All three classes will have a special surprise. There will be one last contest starting on March 12th and ends on May 11th so keep collecting and sending in those box tops!

Our Spirit Day winners were Ms. Yee’s class and Ms. Falck’s class! Congratulations to both of them and they will enjoy a special surprise!

Spring Pictures are this Thursday, March 15^th. Here are a few reminders: all students will be photographed individually, no money is needed on picture day, and shortly after picture day, your child will bring home 2 proof images, an order form, and instructions for online ordering.

March Fundraiser- McDonalds 95th Street:
This month’s Peterson Elementary fundraiser is being held on Wednesday, March 21^st from 4pm-8pm at McDonald's on 95th street. McDonald's will be donating 20% of sales back to the school. We will also have parent volunteers there that night selling apple pies.

2018-19 Kindergarten Pre-Registration:
It’s already time to begin preparations for fall kindergarten! Kindergarten Orientation for parents will be held on Wednesday, March 21^st beginning at 6:30 pm in the LMC. Please note, this evening is for parents only! Students may attend Kindergarten if they will be 5 on or before September 1^st. If appropriate, please share this information with your neighbors as well!

Daddy-Daughter Dance:
Attention all fathers and father-like figures, before you know it, the special night will be here! In hopes that all fathers (and father like figures) will be available for the dance, I’ve attached a Save the Date card. Formal invites will be posted with more detail, as the evening gets closer. This night is always special for all the attendees. Open the attachment below and make sure to save April 13^th for a memorable night!!!!

Multicultural Night:
Peterson's 2^nd Multicultural Night is on Wednesday, April 25^th from 6:30-8:00. The multicultural evening will celebrate Peterson's diverse student population. In order to represent Peterson's diverse student population, we are looking for parent volunteers that would be willing to share a craft, game, dance, or cultural tradition from their heritage. If you are interested in doing this, please complete this survey: https://goo.gl/forms/Ol3Sq0LL0CLb3b2G3

Engage 204 on March 20:
The community is invited to attend Engage 204 from 7 to 9 pm on Tuesday, March 20 at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. This session will focus on the district's budget.

PARCC Testing Information:
We will be administering the PARCC Assessment at grades 3, 4, and 5 once again this spring. Below is the schedule for each grade level:

· Grade 4: Monday, March 12^th – Thursday, March 15^th

· Grade 5: Monday, March 19^th – Thursday, March 22^nd

· Grade 3: Tuesday, April 3^rd – Friday, April 6^th

If you have specific questions about a particular grade level’s testing schedule, please contact your child’s teacher. A letter was sent via ConnectED on Friday, February 16^th. If you would like more information about the PARCC assessment, this link provides a good starting point. http://understandthescore.org/help-your-child/resources-for-parents/ Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions!

Third-Party Educational Programs:
The following companies have rented space in our schools to offer an after-school educational program for students. The distribution of this material is in no way an endorsement of programs, services, activities or products by District 204. For more information about the programs listed below, visit: Peterson: Young Rembrandts Drawing Classes for Kids

Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, March 14^th – Second Grade Concert 6:30 pm
Thursday, March 15^th – Spring Pictures
Wednesday, March 21^st – Dinner Night at McDonald’s on 95^th St. 4:00pm-8: 00 pm
Wednesday, March 21^st – Kindergarten Orientation 6:30 pm
Monday, March 26^th – Friday, March 30^th – No School - Spring Break
Friday, April 6^th – 3^rd Quarter Report Cards posted in HAC after 4:00 pm
Thursday, April 12^th – PTA Meeting 9:15 am
Friday, April 13^th – Spirit Day
Friday, April 13^th – Daddy/Daughter Dance – 7:00 pm

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
Daddy Daughter Save the Date.jpg

March 5, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Thank you to Valerie Gremillion and Amy Welsh for the yummy snacks during Parent/Teacher conferences. The staff really enjoyed them!

The teachers had a wonderful day of learning at our Institute Day on Friday! Teachers were able to learn about a variety of topics, including Growth Mindset, Google Classroom, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Flexible Seating, and Socratic Seminar. Kudos to Brooke Falck, Traci Hamilton, and Heather Howiler who presented at our Institute Day!

PARCC Testing Information:

Earbuds/Headphones for 3^rd, 4th, and 5^th Graders:
All third, fourth, and fifth grade students will take the PARCC Assessment during the month of March and April. Earbuds/headphones are needed for this assessment. Many students already have these at school as this was part of the supply list for this school year. We would like all students to have these at school by tomorrow, Monday, March 5^th. The earbuds/headphones will be stored at school until testing is complete.

PARCC Testing:
We will be administering the PARCC Assessment at grades 3, 4, and 5 once again this spring. Below is the schedule for each grade level:

· Grade 4: Monday, March 12^th – Thursday, March 15^th

· Grade 5: Monday, March 19^th – Thursday, March 22^nd

· Grade 3: Tuesday, April 3^rd – Friday, April 6^th

If you have specific questions about a particular grade level’s testing schedule, please contact your child’s teacher. A letter was sent via ConnectED on Friday, February 16^th. If you would like more information about the PARCC assessment, this link provides a good starting point. http://understandthescore.org/help-your-child/resources-for-parents/ Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions!

Science Fair:
The Science Fair is Tuesday, March 6th, from 6-8pm. Participants are also encouraged to bring their tri-fold poster board (not the experiment) to school on Tuesday morning. They will be put on display in the gym for classrooms to view during the day. Check-in begins at 5:45 in the lobby (Door #1). The Sensational Science Show will begin around 7:00. All Peterson students/families may attend.

We are still in need of volunteers to make this run smoothly. Please volunteer at https://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C054FAFAC29AA8-science1

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, March 5^th – April 20^th – PARCC Testing Window in Grades 3-5 (Please see above for a more specific schedule.)
Tuesday, March 6^th – Science Fair 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Wednesday, March 14^th – Second Grade Concert 6:30 pm
Wednesday, March 21^st – Kindergarten Orientation 6:30 pm
Monday, March 26^th – Friday, March 30^th – No School - Spring Break

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
Science Fair instructions 2018.docx

February 26, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Thank you to Jason Tedrow and all the volunteers who made the Mother/Son event a huge success! As a reminder, there is no school this week on Thursday, March 1^st and Friday, March 2^nd. Enjoy your long weekend!

PARCC Testing Information:

Ear Buds/Headphones for 3^rd, 4th, and 5^th Graders:
All third, fourth, and fifth grade students will take the PARCC Assessment during the month of March and April. Ear buds/headphones are needed for this assessment. Many students already have these at school as this was part of the supply list for this school year. We would like all students to have these at school by Monday, March 5^th. The ear buds/headphones will be stored at school until testing is complete.

PARCC Testing:
We will be administering the PARCC Assessment at grades 3, 4, and 5 once again this spring. Below is the schedule for each grade level:

· Grade 4: Monday, March 12^th – Thursday, March 15^th

· Grade 5: Monday, March 19^th – Thursday, March 22^nd

· Grade 3: Tuesday, April 3^rd – Friday, April 6^th

If you have specific questions about a particular grade level's testing schedule, please contact your child’s teacher. A letter was sent via ConnectED on Friday, February 16^th. If you would like more information about the PARCC assessment, this link provides a good starting point. http://understandthescore.org/help-your-child/resources-for-parents/ Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions!

Science Fair:
The Science Fair is coming up Tuesday, March 6th, from 6-8 pm. All students can participate -individually or in groups of up to four. Each student needs register online No Later than February 27th! Guidelines, Safety rules and helpful hints can be found under the STEM tab on the Peterson Website. This isn’t a requirement, but a fun family event that encourages curious kids to explore science. The evening will end with a Sensational Science Show that demonstrates a hovercraft, electro magnets, liquid nitrogen and more! Register here: https://goo.gl/forms/v4PNXuAd545osAxu1 Any questions, please contact Kristina Believeau at kristinafeemster@hotmail.com

The PTA needs parents help to set up and judge the Science Fair. There are volunteer opportunities to help set up the event after school starts, final prep before the event, check-in, and judging. (No Science Experience needed- you just need to enjoy talking to kids about what they learned from their experiment! We provide sample questions! ) Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C054FAFAC29AA8-science1

Engage 204:
Did you know District 204 maintains 4 million square feet of building space and more than 650 acres of property? That makes the district's acreage twice the size of Six Flags and its combined building space larger than the Merchandise Mart. Learn about the challenges of maintaining 35 buildings that span 80 years of construction and then give us your feedback at the next Engage 204 session from 7 to 9 pm on February 26 at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. The session topic is "The State of Our Facilities."

Upcoming Dates:

Thursday, March 1^st – No School – Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, March 2^nd – No School – County-Wide Institute Day
Monday, March 5^th – April 20^th – PARCC Testing Window in Grades 3-5 (Please see above for a more specific schedule.)
Tuesday, March 6^th – Science Fair 6:00pm-8:00pm
Wednesday, March 14^th – Second Grade Concert 6:30pm
Wednesday, March 21^st – Kindergarten Orientation 6:30pm
Monday, March 26^th – Friday, March 30^th – No School - Spring Break

Best,
Allison Landstrom

February 19, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Thank you to everyone who asked questions regarding the attendance letters! Remember the purpose of the letters was to inform and to be proactive in ensuring student attendance. If your child is sick, please do not hesitate to keep him/her home. I hope to see many of you on Wednesday evening for our third Parent Academy. Please see below for more information. There is no school tomorrow. Enjoy your three-day weekend!

Parent Academy:
We are offering a Parent Academy in the month of February! The topic is Cultural Proficiency. Our presenter will be Ivette Dubiel, Director of Educational Equity. It is on Wednesday, February 21^st from 6:30-7:30pm in the LMC. During this academy, we will learn about IPSD 204 commitment to educational equity, experience the same cultural proficiency professional development as District 204 staff, and engage in conversations with your school community. I look forward to seeing you there!

PARCC Testing Information:

PARCC Testing:
We will be administering the PARCC Assessment at grades 3, 4, and 5 once again this spring. Below is the schedule for each grade level:

· Grade 4: Monday, March 12^th – Thursday, March 15^th

· Grade 5: Monday, March 19^th – Thursday, March 22^nd

· Grade 3: Tuesday, April 3^rd – Friday, April 6^th

If you have specific questions about a particular grade level’s testing schedule, please contact your child’s teacher. A letter was sent via ConnectED on Friday, February 16^th. If you would like more information about the PARCC assessment, this link provides a good starting point. http://understandthescore.org/help-your-child/resources-for-parents/ Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions!

February Dinner Night:
Come join us on Tuesday, February 20th in supporting Peterson at Buona Beef on 1230 Ogden Avenue in Montgomery. The fundraiser runs from 10:30 am until 10:00 pm. Please present a copy of the flyer (see attached) upon ordering, either through your mobile device or physical copy. Dine-in, carryout, drive-thru and even catering orders placed and picked up that day, all count (Full-service catering orders do not). So please grab your family and friends as 20% of sales will go back to Peterson!

PDAC:
The next Parent Diversity Advisory Council (PDAC) meeting is on Thursday, February 22^nd, 7-9:00 p.m., at Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive in Aurora. The topic of the meeting is Understanding and Addressing Abilities Advantages: How do students’ abilities and disabilities advantage and disadvantage them in school? Please visit these links to view the PDAC meeting calendar or to learn more about PDAC.

Mother/Son Event:
Attention all Moms and mother figures...it is time to grab your little jedi, padawan, wookie or spaceman and head to the Peterson 2018 Mother Son event! This year's event will be held at the school on Friday, February 23rd from 7-9pm. The theme this year is STAR WARS...space and sci-fi! We'll have a DJ, inflatables, photo booth, snacks, games & much much more! Dressing up is encouraged for both moms & kids! To register for the event use the following link: https://goo.gl/forms/u4LDOfUFiO65qPkz2

Volunteers please use the following link to help out at the event (Dads are encouraged to sign up and give the Mom's a night off) http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0945AFAC2FAAFB6-mother1 Please contact Jason Tedrow with any questions: jason.tedrow@gmail.com

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, February 19^th – No School – President’s Day
Tuesday, February 20^th – Dinner Night at Buona Beef
Wednesday, February 21^st – Parent Academy: Cultural Proficiency 6:30-7:30
Friday, February 23^rd – Mother/Son Dance
Saturday, February 24^th – Robotics Competition at Still Middle School
Thursday, March 1^st – No School – Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, March 2^nd – No School – County-Wide Institute Day
Monday, March 5^th – April 20^th – PARCC Testing Window in Grades 3-5 (Specific schedule listed above)
Tuesday, March 6^th – Science Fair 6:00pm-8:00pm
Wednesday, March 14 – Second Grade Concert 6:30pm

Best,
Allison Landstrom

February 12, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

It was wonderful to see everyone at Open House and I hope everyone enjoyed the snow day and weekend!

Hopefully, you were able to attend the Savvy Business Kids event held in the gym. The students who participated in that did such an excellent job; they should be so proud of all of their hard work!! Thanks to Colleen Keen and Jen Tedrow for organizing it!

The Science Fair is approaching quickly, don’t forget to think about your project!! The registration link will come out later this week and the Science Fair is on Tuesday, March 6^th from 6-8pm. I can’t wait to see the amazing experiments!!

Don't forget the Box Tops Contest ends this Friday, February 16^th!

Winter Recess:
IPSD Elementary Schools will continue to go outside for recess as long as the temperature is above 5 degrees with wind-chill and the recess area is clear/safe. Please ensure students come prepared for winter outdoor recess daily.

The wood chips must be thawed 12 inches deep in order for our playground to be utilized during the school day, but students may still enjoy games on the shoveled blacktop or in the field. Snow pants and boots are required for play in the field once it is covered in snow, to ensure students have dry, comfortable clothes for the rest of the day.

When no recess space is considered safe, or it is below 5 degrees with wind-chill, students will enjoy an indoor recess with available indoor games and activities in their classroom.

While we understand that at times there is a legitimate need for a student to stay in from recess, a parent note that states the specific reason will only be allowed for 1 day. If a child needs to stay in for more than 1 day, we will require a note from the doctor.

Show Your Love to the Peterson PTA:
The Peterson PTA needs your help. Due to the increased student population this year and the limited funds raised during the fall fundraiser, the PTA needs your donations to fund its spring events and academic supports. Please see attached flyer for more information on how you can show your love to the Peterson PTA.

TEAM IPEF SIGN-UP:
It's about more than just running. Challenge yourself to be part of something big in 2018. Consider signing up for Team IPEF and running in the 6th Annual Healthy Driven Naperville Half Marathon as a charity partner. Team IPEF offers a unique opportunity to run for a cause and make a difference for your school. Last year 335 runners raised more than $178,000 to help enrich education in all 33 of our District 204 schools.

Runners commit to raise a minimum of $204 for 204 as they train and complete the half marathon or 5K on Sunday, October 21, 2018. All charity runners receive a discount off race registration and get to choose a District 204 school they would like to represent. Visit https://www.ipef204.org/teamipef/ to learn more or sign-up

Upcoming Dates:

Friday, February 16^th – Box Tops Contest Ends/Aimsweb Winter Benchmark posted in HAC
Monday, February 19^th – No School – President’s Day
Tuesday, February 20^th – Dinner Night at Buona Beef
Wednesday, February 21^st – Parent Academy: Cultural Proficiency 6:30-7:30
Friday, February 23^rd – Mother/Son Dance
Saturday, February 24^th – Robotics Competition at Still Middle School
Thursday, March 1^st – No School – Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, March 2^nd – No School – County-Wide Institute Day
Monday, March 5^th – April 20^th – PARCC Testing Window in Grades 3-5 (Specific schedule coming soon)
Tuesday, March 6^th – Science Fair 6:00pm-8:00pm

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
BuonaBeef.JPG
Peterson PTA - Write a Check.pdf

February 5, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Staff and students are getting ready and looking forward to Open House this week! Open House is on Thursday, February 8^th from 6:30 pm -8:00 pm. Everyone is excited to show you all the amazing work and learning that has happened so far this year!! Please remember that due to the informal nature of the night, it will not be possible to conduct parent/teacher conferences.

After you visit your child’s classroom, please remember to visit the LMC for a little shopping at the Book Fair. Proceeds from the Book Fair will be used to purchase new books and other materials for the LMC and classrooms.

Illness Prevention Guidelines:
As flu season is upon us, our goal is to promote a community of health and wellness at Peterson Elementary School. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you again of the district guidelines, based on best practice standards, which are in place to maximize the health of our students and staff.

If your child is running a fever of one hundred (100) degrees or greater, please keep your child at home until the temperature has been less than one hundred (100) degrees for twenty four (24) hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications.
If your child is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, please keep your child at home until these concerns have been resolved for twenty four (24) hours, and your child is tolerating food.
Colds and respiratory viruses are common during the school year. If your child is coughing continuously or has green-colored nasal secretions, you may wish to consult with your medical provider and follow his/her directions.
If your child is diagnosed with a contagious illness such as strep throat, measles, chicken pox, or pertussis, please notify the school as soon as possible.

As a reminder, frequent hand washing with soap and water is the primary way to prevent the spread of illness. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us to promote a healthy, happy school environment. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Marney Collins RN, BSN (630-428-7278), or Dena Klein RN, BSN, PEL-CSN (630-428-7251)

Upcoming Dates:

Thursday, February 8^th – PTA Meeting in MPR at 9:15
Thursday, February 8^th – Savvy Business Kids/Open House 6:30pm-8:00pm
Friday, February 9^th – Spirit Day
Friday, February 16^th – Box Tops Contest Ends/Aimsweb Winter Benchmark posted in HAC
Monday, February 19^th – No School – President’s Day
Tuesday, February 20^th – Dinner Night at Buona Beef
Wednesday, February – Parent Academy: Cultural Proficiency 6:30pm-7:30pm in LMC
Friday, February 23^rd – Mother/Son Dance 7:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday, February 24^th – Robotics Competition at Still Middle School
Thursday, March 1^st – No School – Parent/Teacher Conferences 1:00pm-8:00pm
Friday, March 2^nd – No School – Teacher Institute Day
Monday, March 5^th – April 20^th – PARCC Testing Window in Grades 3-5 (More specific schedule coming soon)

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
BuonaBeef.JPG
Peterson PTA - Write a Check.pdf

January 29, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

We have reached 26% participation for our 5Essentials survey! Thank you to all of you who have completed it. The survey closes on January 31^st and it takes 10-15 minutes to complete. The survey asks questions about communication, parent involvement, vision, and other topics. We use your feedback to celebrate our successes and make improvements to areas that need strengthening.

To take the survey:

Visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/login/.
Type and then select Dupage as District 204's County location. This is the county associated with the district, not the location of an individual school.
3. Type your school's name into the School field and then select your school.

Thank you to everyone for your patience on Wednesday with the bad weather! We did delay taking attendance because of it, so that students wouldn’t be marked tardy. The attendance letters will be arriving this week. Please don’t hesitate to call with questions. Remember, regular attendance and arriving on time are a vital to a student’s success in school. We are required by law to alert parents/guardians when your child’s absences (excused and unexcused), tardies, and/or early dismissals exceed 5% of school days. Recognizing we are only reviewing attendance patterns each semester, this may not be typical for your child. We understand that students can have extended illnesses and family emergencies that cause a student to have exceeded the 5% of school days.

Mother/Son Event:
Attention all Moms and mother figures...it is time to grab your little jedi, padawan, wookie or spaceman and head to the Peterson 2018 Mother Son event! This year's event will be held at the school on Friday, February 23rd from 7-9pm. The theme this year is STAR WARS...space and sci-fi! We'll have a DJ, inflatables, photo booth, snacks, games & much much more! Dressing up is encouraged for both moms & kids! To register for the event use the following link: https://goo.gl/forms/u4LDOfUFiO65qPkz2

Parent Academy:
We are offering a Parent Academy in the month of February! The topic is Cultural Proficiency. Our presenter will be Ivette Dubiel, Director of Educational Equity. It is on Wednesday, February 21^st from 6:30-7:30pm in the LMC. During this academy, we will learn about IPSD 204 commitment to educational equity, experience the same cultural proficiency professional development as District 204 staff, and engage in conversations with each other. I look forward to seeing you there!

Car Line:
Please make sure you are following the Traffic Patterns outlined here: http://peterson.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx?id=432 Remember, cars should not be turning left to enter the west parking lot in the morning/afternoon and should not turn right when leaving during arrival and dismissal.

Young Author’s Contest:
It's time for celebration, honoring great writers at Peterson. The Illinois Reading Council and Illinois Language and Literacy Council is again sponsoring the Young Authors Conference to recognize enthusiastic writers. In January and February, students are encouraged to develop and/or complete one writing project to publish for a "Young Author's" project at Peterson. The program encourages students to write and publish their writing. We have found that given opportunities to write and publish, students will often show us some of their best diligence and creativity. Students can use a current fiction or non-fiction piece of literature they are working on. Also, poetry selections, or another piece of writing are allowed from their current school year. Some classes at Peterson will use class time for the project, and students may work at home too. Students may also use a selection they have created at home. Google drive can be used to share their document between home and school. Edits can be done by the parent if the project is done at home. Each selection should include a title page with the author's full name. A final check will be done by the Young Authors' committee at school before the final voting for a school-wide winner is chosen. Edits should be done for spelling, verb tenses, sentence structure, paragraphing, and conversation, with adults making suggestions for clarity, not ideas. The edits should be appropriate for the child's level of work. We want to keep the authenticity of the child's writing, please. The final project can be typed or hand written, with illustrations added if the child wishes. Please help by promoting writing time at home. Illustrations (hand-drawn; no computer images), would best be done in rough form to be added only after the final pages are typed, printed, or written. Thanks for your help to assist our developing writers.

The annual conference for Young Authors is planned for Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Normal Community West High School, Normal, Illinois. Designed as a celebration to honor exceptional writing by students in grades Kindergarten through 8th, the conference provides an opportunity for young writers to meet published authors and to hear how the authors themselves create the characters and stories that have become their books. Illinois schools invite students to write and create a piece of literature. The schools will then choose one writer from their school to represent the school and present the child’s story or literary piece at the conference. The student winner from Peterson may invite his/her parent to volunteer to help with the conference as well. Mrs. Grahn, from Peterson, attended as a volunteer last year and thoroughly enjoyed the students, literature sessions, and author presentations. As a volunteer, parents stay with their child's group of young authors as they share their projects and experience the author presentations. The program lasts a few hours. Book purchases for the visiting authors are also available. If you have any questions about the Young Authors program, please contact Mrs.Brenda Grahn at Peterson. brenda_grahn@ipsd.org Good luck to your budding authors! Keep writing!

What is #FutureReady204?
Community members are invited to attend the next Engage 204 session on January 29 from 7 to 9 pm at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. This session will focus on "What is #FutureReady204?" Experts have stated that the majority of students entering elementary school today will be working in jobs that have not been created yet, using tools that have not been invented yet, solving problems that have not been thought of yet. During this interactive session, administrators will share how education is changing to help students develop life and work skills that will be needed in the future.

Engage 204 is a collaborative process between the community and District 204. Key to the success of this process is the collaboration and discussion between participants. District residents who attend will have the unique opportunity to share ideas and discuss topics in small groups in order to provide feedback to the Board of Education. Findings and recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education by July 2018. All District 204 residents are invited to participate in Engage 204. RSVP is appreciated, but not required at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Engage204RSVP. For more information, visit http://engage204.org.

PDAC:
On January 18, 2018, the Parent Diversity Advisory Council (PDAC) hosted a meeting titled, Understanding and Addressing Religious Advantages: How do students’ religions advantage and disadvantage them in school? Conversations on addressing religious and non-religious considerations took place, as well as deliberation over possible scenarios. The meeting presentation slides can be found under Archived Meeting Notes. Please visit the PDAC subpage for more information.

PDAC invites the community to a free screening of the film “Backpack Full of Cash” on January 25, 2018, 6:45 p.m., at Metea Valley High School. Narrated by Matt Damon, this documentary explores the growing privatization of public schools and the resulting impact on America’s most vulnerable children. To learn about this film and to RSVP, please visit HERE.

Please save the date for April 19, 2018, 6:30 p.m., at Still Middle School for MULTICULTURAL READING NIGHT. This is a districtwide event for elementary students to be exposed to multi-lingual literature, receive a free book and engage with others in celebrating multilingualism. More information about this event will be forthcoming.

Special Survivor Games 2018:
All elementary and middle school students with multi needs and supported services are invited to attend. Special Survivor Games 2018 will be held on March 9, 2018 at Peterson Elementary School in southwest Naperville. This fun event brings together volunteer peer buddies and District 204 elementary and middle school students with special needs to engage in relay style competitive races. See attached flier for details and learn more about the games by reading an article that was featured in the Naperville SUN and watch a video created by NCTV-17. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-survivor-for-kids-st-0320-20160319-story.html and https://www.nctv17.com/news/special-survivor-games-for-students/

Sign Up Now – Registration is Free! Simply send your child’s name, home school, current grade level, special needs, and parent’s name/email address/phone number to knkucharski@gmail.com. If you have questions, please contact Kristen Kucharski at 630-440-4792 and knkucharski@gmail.com

Upcoming Dates:

Thursday, February 8^th – Savvy Business Kids/Open House 6:30-8:00
Friday, February 9^th – Spirit Day
Friday, February 16^th – Box Tops Contest Ends
Wednesday, February 21^st– Parent Academy: Cultural Proficiency 6:30-7:30pm in LMC
Friday, February 23^rd – Mother/Son Dance

Best,
Allison Landstrom

January 21, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Thank you to all of you who have completed the 5Essentials Survey!!! Our response rate is 19%. We are so close to having the 20% response rate needed in order to receive a report. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and asks questions about communication, parent involvement, vision, and other topics. We use your feedback to celebrate our successes and make improvements to areas that need strengthening.

To take the survey:

Visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/login/.
Type and then select Dupage as District 204's County location. This is the county associated with the district, not the location of an individual school.
3. Type your school's name into the School field and then select your school.

Regular attendance and arriving on time are vital to a student’s success in school. We are required by law to alert parents/guardians when your child’s absences (excused and unexcused), tardies, and/or early dismissals exceed 5% of school days. Recognizing we are only reviewing attendance patterns each semester, this may not be typical for your child. We understand that students can have extended illnesses and family emergencies that cause a student to have exceeded the 5% of school days. We will be mailing the attendance letters this week.

Car Line:
Safety is very important to all staff at Peterson. Please adhere to these rules when using the Car Line:

Please make sure you are following the Traffic Patterns outlined here: http://peterson.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx?id=432
Cars should not be turning left to enter the west parking lot and should not turn right when leaving during arrival and dismissal.
Remember to move all the way up when asked to do so. This helps to alleviate congestion and allows for a faster arrival and dismissal.
Students should only exit or enter the car from the right passenger side. No students should be exiting on the left driver's side.
When waiting in the drop off/pick up line, please do not block resident’s driveways.
There should be no cell phone use in school zones.

Young Author’s Contest:
It's time for celebration, honoring great writers at Peterson. The Illinois Reading Council and Illinois Language and Literacy Council is again sponsoring the Young Authors Conference to recognize enthusiastic writers. In January and February, students are encouraged to develop and/or complete one writing project to publish for a "Young Author's" project at Peterson. The program encourages students to write and publish their writing. We have found that given opportunities to write and publish, students will often show us some of their best diligence and creativity. Students can use a current fiction or non-fiction piece of literature they are working on. Also, poetry selections, or another piece of writing are allowed from their current school year. Some classes at Peterson will use class time for the project, and students may work at home too. Students may also use a selection they have created at home. Google drive can be used to share their document between home and school. Edits can be done by the parent if the project is done at home. Each selection should include a title page with the author's full name. A final check will be done by the Young Authors' committee at school before the final voting for a school-wide winner is chosen. Edits should be done for spelling, verb tenses, sentence structure, paragraphing, and conversation, with adults making suggestions for clarity, not ideas. The edits should be appropriate for the child's level of work. We want to keep the authenticity of the child's writing, please. The final project can be typed or hand written, with illustrations added if the child wishes. Please help by promoting writing time at home. Illustrations (hand-drawn; no computer images), would best be done in rough form to be added only after the final pages are typed, printed, or written. Thanks for your help to assist our developing writers.

PTA Directory:
The PTA directory is here! The print directory went home to PTA members this week. The online directory can be accessed by PTA members by logging in to https://petersonpta.membershiptoolkit.com. There are print directories available for purchase in the office for $10.00. The directory is one of the many perks of joining the PTA, which gives you class lists and email addresses and phone numbers for birthday parties and play dates.

Savvy Business Kids:
Attention young entrepreneurs! Savvy Business Kids is coming up on February 8^th at the Peterson Open House. Details will be coming home this week. Please note that this year Savvy is open to Grades 2-5, and to sign-up you must complete an online form in addition to the paper form. Link for full directions: savvy form-2018.pdf and please see the following link for online sign-up component: https://goo.gl/forms/sNa2EkeXZvR7LIMs1. If you have any questions, please contact Jen Tedrow at jennifertedrow@sbcglobal.net

Box Tops Contest:
The next classroom vs. classroom box top contest is starting. The top 2 classrooms that collect the most box tops will win a special surprise!! Collecting box tops is an easy way to earn money for Peterson. We earn $.10 for every box top we turn in, so don't be afraid to ask your family and friends to help you collect. This past fall we earned over $700 and we hope can earn just as much or more this time around. Box tops can be found on many products you use every day. For a listing of products, go to https://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products. Each classroom has a container where the box tops can be placed in. Just have your children bring in any box tops that you collect, trimmed along the dotted line, and placed them in the containers. The contest will end on February 16^th. Please contact Joann Frisby at joannfrisby@gmail.com if you have questions. Good luck and happy collecting!

What is #FutureReady204?
Community members are invited to attend the next Engage 204 session on January 29 from 7 to 9 pm at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. This session will focus on "What is #FutureReady204?" Experts have stated that the majority of students entering elementary school today will be working in jobs that have not been created yet, using tools that have not been invented yet, solving problems that have not been thought of yet. During this interactive session, administrators will share how education is changing to help students develop life and work skills that will be needed in the future.

Engage 204 is a collaborative process between the community and District 204. Key to the success of this process is the collaboration and discussion between participants. District residents who attend will have the unique opportunity to share ideas and discuss topics in small groups in order to provide feedback to the Board of Education. Findings and recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education by July 2018. All District 204 residents are invited to participate in Engage 204. RSVP is appreciated, but not required at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Engage204RSVP. For more information, visit http://engage204.org.

PDAC:
On January 25, 2018, beginning at 6:45 p.m., at Metea Valley High School, PDAC invite the community to a free screening of “Backpack Full of Cash”. A documentary that explores the growing privatization of public schools. To learn about this documentary and to RSVP, please visit HERE.

Special Survivor Games 2018:
All elementary and middle school students with multi needs and supported services are invited to attend. Special Survivor Games 2018 will be held on March 9, 2018 at Peterson Elementary School in southwest Naperville. This fun event brings together volunteer peer buddies and District 204 elementary and middle school students with special needs to engage in relay style competitive races. See attached flier for details and learn more about the games by reading an article that was featured in the Naperville SUN and watch a video created by NCTV-17. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-survivor-for-kids-st-0320-20160319-story.html and https://www.nctv17.com/news/special-survivor-games-for-students/

Upcoming Dates:

Thursday, January 25^th – Donuts with Dads 8:15-8:50
Thursday, February 8^th – Savvy Business Kids/Open House 6:30-8:00
Friday, February 9^th – Spirit Day
Friday, February 16^th – Box Tops Contest Ends
Friday, February 23^rd – Mother/Son Dance

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
Special Survivor Games 2018.pdf

January 15, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

Before break, PTA provided staff with a Holiday lunch. It was delicious and we really enjoyed it!! Thank you to Valerie Gremillion and Amy Welsh for all their work coordinating and getting it set-up! Thank you to Joann Frisby for making sure each lunch was taken care of and PTA for sponsoring it!!

Our Spirit Day winner for Primary was Mrs. Grundner's class and for Intermediate it was Ms. Falck's class! Congratulations to them!!

Our response rate for the 5Essentials Parent Survey is 10%. We need at least 20% of our parents to respond in order to receive a report. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and asks questions about communication, parent involvement, vision, and other topics. We use your feedback to celebrate our successes and make improvements to areas that need strengthening.

To take the survey:

Visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/login/.
Type and then select Dupage as District 204's County location. This is the county associated with the district, not the location of an individual school.
Type your school's name into the School field and then select your school.

This month all students will take Benchmark assessments in reading and math. These brief Illinois Learning Standards aligned assessments evaluate student academic performance and growth in the areas of reading and mathematics. Students do not need to do any preparation or studying for these assessments.

Remember there is no school tomorrow, Monday, January 15^th and Tuesday, January 16^th!

Report Card Information:
Report cards for second quarter will be available for viewing on Friday, January 19^th beginning at 4:00 pm. Here are the directions for Viewing and Printing Report Cards. There is also a help site for parents: eSchoolPlus Home Access Center. You will need your log-in information in order to access the report card. Please call the office (630-428-5678) if you have any questions!

January Dinner Night:
Mod Pizza fundraiser (South Naperville location 2835 Showplace Drive) is on Thursday January 18^th. The fundraiser runs all day and 20% of sales will go back to Peterson! Please bring a copy of the printed flyer (attached) or a digital version to receive credit. Please note, online orders will not count towards the fundraiser, only in the restaurant or call ahead.

Savvy Business Kids:
Attention young entrepreneurs! Savvy Business Kids is coming up on February 8^th at the Peterson Open House. Details will be coming home this week. Please note that this year Savvy is open to Grades 2-5, and to sign-up you must complete an online form in addition to the paper form. Link for full directions: savvy form-2018.pdf and please see the following link for online signup component: https://goo.gl/forms/sNa2EkeXZvR7LIMs1. If you have any questions, please contact Jen Tedrow at jennifertedrow@sbcglobal.net

Box Tops Contest
The next classroom vs. classroom box top contest is starting. The top 2 classrooms that collect the most box tops will win a special surprise!! Collecting box tops is an easy way to earn money for Peterson. We earn $.10 for every box top we turn in, so don't be afraid to ask your family and friends to help you collect. This past fall we earned over $700 and we hope can earn just as much or more this time around. Box tops can be found on many products you use every day. For a listing of products, go to https://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products. Each classroom has a container where the box tops can be placed in. Just have your children bring in any box tops that you collect, trimmed along the dotted line, and placed them in the containers. The contest will end on February 16^th. Please contact Joann Frisby at joannfrisby@gmail.com if you have questions. Good luck and happy collecting!

Engage 204 is a collaborative process between the community and District 204. Key to the success of this process is the collaboration and discussion between participants. District residents who attend will have the unique opportunity to share ideas and discuss topics in small groups in order to provide feedback to the Board of Education. Findings and recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education by July 2018. All District 204 residents are invited to participate in Engage 204. RSVP is appreciated, but not required at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Engage204RSVP.

For more information, visit http://engage204.org.

PDAC:
On January 18, 2018, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at Crouse Education Center (CEC), 780 Shoreline Drive in Aurora, the Parent Diversity Advisory Council (PDAC) will host its next meeting: Understanding and Addressing Religious Advantages: How do students’ religions advantage and disadvantage them in school? To learn more about PDAC or future meetings, please visit the PDAC subpage.

On January 25, 2018, beginning at 6:45 p.m., at Metea Valley High School, PDAC invite the community to a free screening of “Backpack Full of Cash”. A documentary that explores the growing privatization of public schools. To learn about this documentary and to RSVP, please visit HERE.

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, January 15^th – No School – Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, January 16^th – No School – School Improvement Planning & Teacher Work Day
Thursday, January 18^th – Dinner Night at Mod Pizza
Friday, January 19^th – Report Card Opens at 4:00pm in HAC
Thursday, January 25^th – Donuts with Dads 8:15-8:50 (Information coming soon!)
Thursday, February 8^th – Savvy Business Kids/Open House 6:30-8:00
Friday, February 9^th – Spirit Day
Friday, February 16^th – Box Tops Contest Ends
Friday, February 23^rd – Mother/Son Dance

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
S Naperville 1-18-MOD Pizza Fundraiser Flyer9111218.pdf

January 8, 2018

Dear Peterson Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful break!!! I’m excited to see all the smiling faces tomorrow and don’t forget this Friday is our Spirit Day!

Please see below for information about the 5Essentials Parent Survey as well as the directions for taking it. It is so important for you to take this survey and provide your feedback! As of January 4^th, our parent response rate was 6% for the 2018 Illinois Parent Survey. We need at least 20% of our parents to respond in order to receive a report. The survey window closes on January 31^st.

I have attached a flyer to this email regarding our district’s Teaching Assistant Recruitment.

5Essentials Parent Survey:
Teachers, parents, and middle and high school students across Illinois have the opportunity to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey was designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child's school. As a parent, your voice is essential to help us understand the conditions at your child's school and guide improvement.

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by the University of Chicago, on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. The state will provide survey results for individual schools only if a school has at least 20 percent of parents take the survey. If you have children attending more than one school, we ask that you complete the survey for each school. You may also complete the survey more than once if you have more than one child in the same school. All survey responses will be kept confidential. University of Chicago asks parents for an email address when they begin the survey only for the purpose of sending a confirmation once the survey is completed. University of Chicago will never connect your identity and survey responses to you or your child or share the information with your school, the district or the Illinois State Board of Education.

1. Visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/login/.
2. Type and then select Dupage as District 204's County location. This is the county associated with the district, not the location of an individual school.
3. Type your school's name into the School field and then select your school.

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, January 8^th – School resumes
Thursday, January 11^th – PTA meeting at 9:15 in MPR
Friday, January 12^th – Spirit Day and Last day of First Semester
Monday, January 15^th – No School – Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, January 16^th – No School – School Improvement Planning & Teacher Work Day
Friday, January 19^th – Report Card Opens at 4:00pm in HAC

Best,
Allison Landstrom

File attachments:
TA Recruitment Ad 2017-18.pdf

December 18, 2017

Dear Peterson Families,

You may have heard your child(ren) talking about coding this month! Since early December, many teachers and their classes have participated in the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code began as a one-hour introduction to computer science. Its purpose was to help demonstrate that anybody can learn the basics of coding as well as to increase participation in the field of computer science. The students and teachers have learned so much! I highly encourage you to visit the site: https://hourofcode.com/us/learn and continue the learning with your child!

Thank you to those of your who have participated in our Helping Hands project! Tomorrow, December 18^th is the last day. Please have all gift cards returned to school by Wednesday, December 20^th, so that we can get them to the families before break.

I forgot to congratulate our Spirit Day winners last week! It was a tie for our primary winner, both Mrs. Grundner's and Ms. Yee's class won. Our intermediate winner was Ms. Falck's class. Great job panthers!!

My next weekly update will be on Sunday, January 7^th. I wish all of you a wonderful and safe Winter Break!

As of December 14^th, our parent response rate was 4% for the 2018 Illinois Parent Survey. As a reminder, we need at least 20.0% of our parents to respond in order to receive a report. Please take this short survey. The directions are listed below:

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, December 25^th – Friday, January 5^th No School – Winter Break
Monday, January 8^th – School resumes
Thursday, January 11^th – PTA meeting at 9:15 in MPR
Friday, January 12^th – Spirit Day and Last day of First Semester
Monday, January 15^th – No School – Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, January 16^th – No School – School Improvement Planning & Teacher Work Day
Friday, January 19^th – Report Card Opens at 4:00pm in HAC

Best,
Allison Landstrom

December 11, 2017

Dear Peterson Families,

Please join me in congratulating our students whose entries for the National PTA Reflections art contest have advanced from District (IPPC) level to DuPage West Region: Reesa P., Shritha R., Trisha S., and Trudy W. We are so proud of them and wish them good luck for the next round!

I hope you were able to visit the PTA Holiday Shop! I know the students really enjoyed it! Thank you to Jen Tedrow, Colleen Keen, Kim Wightkin, and all of the volunteers for making this event possible!

Cookies for Courage:
Peterson Student Council is collecting store-bought sweets to deliver to our local fire stations, police station, and doctors' offices. We will be honoring the courage of our community helpers. Please see the link below for more details. Collection dates are Wednesday, December 6^th – Wednesday, December 13^th. Student Council members will be writing Thank You notes to attach to the treats. If your family would like to add a note, please send it with your child. Thanks so much for helping us honor and thank the helpers in our area for watching out for the safety of our Peterson families and students in south Naperville. For more information: https://docs.google.com/a/ipsd.org/document/d/1xNECXtyfEjIests1yDzkptYNT6Hy1eIcnQG_ny_kJVU/edit?usp=sharing

Dinner Night:
December Dinner Night is coming soon! Culver’s fundraiser dinner on Wednesday, December 13^th from 4:00pm-8:00pm at the Culver’s (13449 S. Rt.59 corner of 135th & Rt. 59) in Plainfield. Come out and support Peterson as 15% of the proceeds will go back to our school! Bring in the flyer to receive a free scoop of custard! Getting credit is easy, just bring the flyer (attached) and present it when checking out. Hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please contact Hannah Niziolek

Peterson Elementary School

Indian Prairie School District 204

Principal's Corner