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News 3-22-2013 http://youtu.be/-msdyaQZGYM

News 3-15-2013 http://youtu.be/FWz42wArM1Y

Spirit Week: April 8th - 12th

The Country Meadows PRO would love to celebrate 

working hard to become the first Golden Rule School!  

Join in the fun by following Spirit Week!  

Monday, April 8th - Sports Day

Tuesday, April 9th - No School

Wednesday, April 10th - Golden Rule (wear gold) or Grade Level Color Day

Thursday, April 11th - Cultural/Partriotic Day (wear clothes to celebrate a culture or red, white, and blue!)

Friday, April 12th - Hat Day

Please Help the PTO

The PTO needs volunteers for the 2013-14 school year!  Many committee co-chair positions are open, and we need your help.  

Volunteering is a great way to get involved in your child’s school.  Time commitments vary, so if you think you’re too busy to help, we can find something that fits your skills and your schedule.  

Grab a friend and jump in together!  Please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/a/kcsd96.org/forms/d/1zxViaWqeMikXKyLZ9rAr7WzSgGWtrxQIed5Az2sQjDw/viewform?edit_requested=true&pli=1

Thanks, and have a great Spring Break!

Click here for this week's PTO Newsletter.

Jump Rope for Heart!

Congratulations to our 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grade students who participated in the Jump Rope for Heart!!!  

We had an amazing time jumping rope, completing challenges, and exercising with our friends!  

We’re so grateful to those who chose to collect donations.  Country Meadows Elementary School contributed over $2,600 to the American Heart Association!!  

Way to go, Country Meadows Pros!

Thank You Parents!

A HUGE thank you is being sent

 to all of the parents and staff that volunteered

 over the last few weeks to help the kids

 create great memories!  

We all had a great time at:

5th Grade Boys Night Out

The Book Fair

Pizza Bingo

5th Grade Girls Night Out

We have all been busy and deserve a wonderful spring break! 

Important PTO Announcements...

The Spring Book Fair starts next Monday and runs through Friday morning.  Please check the PTO webpage for the list of when each class will be attending the Book Fair.  See you there!

Also, the PTO is looking for Committee Co-Chairs for the 20-13-14 school year.  Please sign up here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zxViaWqeMikXKyLZ9rAr7WzSgGWtrxQIed5Az2sQjDw/viewform?edit_requested=true

Click here for this week's PTO Newsletter.

Mailgram Miracle

Have you been wondering where the Mailgram Donations went?  The PRO Patrol and Lauren Fishman sell mailgrams annually to raise funds to make a donation to help kids.  They pick a worthy cause to donate to each year.  This year, the group chose to give the donation to the NICU at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.  

The NICU at AIMMC has taken care of my twin nieces born at 23 weeks on October 31st.  Our family could not be more honored that the staff and students wanted to support other babies that need help growing to have a happy, healthy, and productive life.  The NICU is thrilled and pictures will be forthcoming.  The staff at CM, and so many parents, have been amazing with sharing in the girls' triumphs and setbacks.  I am convinced that all of this positive energy has made the miracle of life a reality for Elizabeth (Elly) and Emerson (Emmy) born at just 1 pound each.  

After 135 days in the NICU, Elly gets to go home for the first time today!  We know Emmy won't be far behind.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to the PRO Patrol for taking care of more babies!  

The following letter was sent along with the items that we purchased. 

Dear Babies at the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center,

All of the students and staff at Country Meadows Elementary School are so excited to be sending you these comforting Mamaroo chairs.  We know these will help you to grow up to be strong and healthy kids!  This amazing gift was made possible by our school’s PRO Patrol.   

The PRO Patrol at our school is a large, talented, and dedicated group of 5^th graders that thoughtfully hosted a fundraiser.  PRO stands for People Respecting Others and they work to model and teach good character at all times.  The PRO Patrol sold mailgrams before Valentine’s Day.  Boys and girls could make someone’s day by sending a special message to a friend in their class or another class on Valentine’s Day.  Each of these mailgrams cost a little money and the profits collected are donated to an organization or charity that can help other kids that are in need. 

The PRO Patrol thoughtfully decided that this money should be donated to your NICU on behalf of Elizabeth and Emerson Cwik, babies that are currently working hard on growing strong and getting big in the NICU.  Sitting in a Mamaroo is very comforting to Elly and Emmy so we were thinking that more babies would also love that experience. 

We hope that you find these helpful in your fight to get big and strong.  Please know that we think about other kids that need support all of the time and all we want is for each child to have a long, happy, and peaceful life.  Thank you for accepting our donations and allowing us to know the wonderful feeling of making a difference in the life of someone younger than us.   

Best Wishes,

The Students and Staff of Country Meadows Elementary School

Cc:  Lauren Fishman; PRO Patrol Leader and Teacher

Bonnie Bodenheimer; School Social Worker

Katie Schneider; Principal

5th Grade Presentation

Parents of current 5th graders, if you missed the orientation program presented this week on Tues., Mar. 12, here are MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT ORIENTATION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS. School supply kits for students who will attend Woodlawn next year must be purchased through Woodlawn by Mar. 22 (the original deadline of Mar. 15 has been extended by 1 week, so order promptly). MORE INFO

Morning Drop Off

Hi Parents -

We've been getting feedback that there are many cars that are dropping kids off in the bus lanes.  

Please, please, please remember to not pull into the bus lane to drop off in the morning.  Please drop them off by the drop off door to help keep our kids safe and secure.  

Thank you so much!  
The people that love keeping your kids safe

Last call for things your kids won't want to miss!

LAST CALL!

School Supply Kit orders are due Friday 3/8.

Pizza Bingo preorders are due Monday 3/11.  

Don’t miss out!!  

Forms can be found here:

 http://www.kcsd96.org/CM/09CM/forms.html

Click here for this week's PTO Newsletter.

ISAT Update!

The students are working so, so hard!  We are extraordinarily proud of their tenacity and are astounded by their diligence in taking the assessments.  

Monday will be the last day for formal testing and then make-ups will continue throughout next week.  Thank you for all of your support in making sure your child has a great night of rest and a power packed breakfast!  

Class Placement Information

Creating balanced class lists that meet the needs of all students is a tremendously difficult job that takes many hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators, and other staff members.  We at Country Meadows take it very seriously.  The process for class list creation is as follows:

• First, teachers think about the social and academic needs of each of their current students while recording pertinent information to assist in the decision making process.
• Next, teachers meet together as grade level teams to form class lists that are balanced in terms of academic, social, and emotional needs as well as considering friendships and other areas.  This is no easy task and often takes several meetings.  Teachers consider each child’s personality, academic needs, friendship patterns, etc. as they make a match for each individual child.  Specialists and the specials team collaborate with the teams as needed during this process as well, and I attend each of these meetings.
• Each grade level team types a draft set of class lists that are then submitted to me.  One at a time, I will consider each student and his/her placement.  At this time, parent input is also considered.  Any changes in the draft lists are reviewed by the classroom teachers to ensure balance.
• Final class lists are then created in August with summer changes for move ins/outs reflected.

This process happens at grades 1-4.  Willow Grove creates the class lists for our incoming kindergartners enrolled there and I will add in students who attend private kindergartens.  Our 5th grade team actively works with Woodlawn to provide data and input related to placement decisions as well.

We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students.  It is a delicate balancing act which takes much consideration and thought by professionals who know and care about your children.  Our goal is to create balanced class lists that promote the success of each child.  Please know that your child is placed in a classroom for very specific reasons.  The process benefits all students.  Because of the input and thought given by teachers, parents, and administrators, we do not make changes once this process occurs, as removing or moving one child can disrupt the balance of a class, impacting all students.  

I welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. I will take into consideration pertinent information about your child’s learning style and needs, received on or before FRIDAY, APRIL 19th, 2013. While we welcome your input, specific teacher requests will not be honored.  Please put your thoughts in writing* and address them to me (Katie Schneider) either via hard copy letter or email (kschneider@kcsd96.org).  

*I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are in writing. As you can imagine, we receive lots of parent input, and verbal information is nearly impossible to track. Further, please direct all of this communication to me as ultimately I am responsible for reviewing final class lists in August when teachers are not working.

Parents of 5th Graders - Do Not Miss this Opportunity!

Please do not miss this event.  This is the ONLY opportunity for this experience.  There is not another meeting later this year.  

The D96  Parent-to-Parent (P2P) Network is partnering with Woodlawn and Twin Groves Middle School principals and staff to present a brand-new transition program for parents whose current fifth-grade students will be attending middle school in August 2013. 

This don’t-miss program on Tues., Mar. 12,  @ 7 p.m., Woodlawn Middle School Gym, for ALL District 96 parents of current fifth graders will feature a student panel for Q&A and practical transition tips, middle school staff, and Principals Heather Friziellie and Greg Grana. 

Please note that this program replaces the school-based programs presented in previous years. One program/one date for ALL parents of current D96 fifth-grade students: Tues., Mar. 12, 7 p.m., Woodlawn Middle School gym, 6362 Gilmer Rd, Long Grove 60047.