Braeside Elementary, Highland Park, IL

PTO News 2007-2008 . . .

Sept | Oct 5 | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | Dec 9 | Dec 21
Jan 18 | Feb 1 | Feb 15 | Feb 29 | Mar 14 | Apr 4 | Apr 25


September 7, 2007 Co-Presidents' Message
Hello again to all Braeside families. Welcome back to the 2007-2008 school year, and to the Braeside School PTO. We hope that you and your children enjoyed the ice cream social last week. We thank Lou Loiben of Personalities, Inc. for donating his services for the evening! We urge you to keep your eyes open for the 2007 Braeside wrapping paper sale – there is a beautiful display in the hall at school. Also, we hope you’ve all purchased your sportswear and are planning on participating in the Braeside Bucks shopping promotion – it costs you nothing extra and Braeside gets a return on your shopping dollars. We thank you all for your support and involvement. The first regular PTO meeting will be on September 20th at 9:15 a.m. We hope to see many of you there. Best wishes for a wonderful 2007-2008 year at Braeside! Ellen Goldsher and Jami Sharfman
A Note on Scholarships
The PTO wants the Braeside community to be aware that there are scholarships available for Braeside students to participate in any program. If there is something you’d like your child to do – Home Base after school activities, Junior Great Books, carnival, etc. – please let Mrs. Kritzman know if financial assistance is needed. She will handle all details confidentially. Please inquire for more information.
Homebase
Homebase classes will start the week of September 10. The first classes will begin on Wednesday, September 12. If you have registered for a Homebase class and have not heard from us, you should assume that the class is a "go" and your child is enrolled. If you have any questions, please contact either Fran Rosenstein or Carolyn Karbin.
Treasurer’s Note
If you need re-imbursement for any school related or PTO expenses, please submit your receipts attached to your request and place in the Treasurers folder in the office. The re-imbursement forms can also be found in the folder.
Wrapping Paper Fundraiser
Don’t forget to take your Innisbrook catalog to all your family functions. Order forms are due September 24th. Checks should be made out to Braeside School PTO. Students selling 12 items will receive a backpack clipper and a special treat at lunch. All classes with at least 12 or more participants will have a class party!
International Walk to School Day is October 3rd, 2007
Join kids from around the globe and walk or bike to school October 3rd! Make a healthy choice with more physical activity, promote cleaner air, and increase awareness for safe and improved routes to school. Visit www.walktoschool.org to learn more.
PTO Committee News
It is never too late to sign up for a committee! The following committees are in need of members; Alumni Relations, Braeside Banner, Carnival, Diversity, and Parent University. Volunteers are also needed the day of the District 112 Fun(d) Run, at 7:00 a.m. September 28th. Any questions? Call Nancy Rotering or Lisa Mann.
Many, Many Thanks to our Team of Lice Busters!!!
Braeside is once again lice free. Under the leadership of our dedicated school nurse, Jackie Schechter, we thank the following volunteers for their time and effort - Ellen Karmin, Marcy Fortnow, Michelle Friedland, Wendy Lerrick, Becky Heller, Barbara Gottesman, Lauren Rossen, Toni Josephson and Lisa Mann. These moms deserve a round of applause!
Class Pictures
Don’t forget CLASS PICTURES are Wednesday September 19th. Wear your smile!

October 5, 2007 Co-Prsidents' Message
We hope that all of you are enjoying the fall at Braeside. A huge thank you goes out to our Wrapping Paper Committee Co-Chairs, Debbie Diez and Debi Loarie, and their entire committee. They have been working tirelessly on our annual wrapping paper sale, which is a major source of funds for our PTO programs. We know this year's sale will be a huge success.

We are happy to report that the gym fans have been installed and are providing lots of air circulation, to the delight of Braeside students and staff. We hope that the stage curtain will arrive shortly, which is the last major piece of the gym renovation. Thanks to all of you in the Braeside community, Braeside students for generations to come will benefit from the renovation of the gym, which is also Braeside's multi-purpose space.

The Braeside Carnival is coming on Sunday, October 14th, from 12:30-4:00. It is a fun-filled afternoon for the entire family with carnival games, food and entertainment. We won't have a successful carnival without your help. Come to the carnival with your family and friends. We will also need lots of volunteers, both adults and Braeside grads. Contact Erin Citronberg or Fran Pine to help.

Keep a lookout for the next Braeside Bucks order form. Purchasing gift certificates from this program costs you nothing extra, but results in significant donations to Braeside by participating merchants. You can order gift cards from major retailers, restaurants, movie theatres, and grocery stores. Use them for yourself, and order some to give as gifts. Braeside receives a percentage of your purchase with no additional charges to you.

The PTO has many committees that work directly with students. If you would like to volunteer in the library or art room, work with students on the Braeside Banner newspaper or the yearbook, lead Great Books discussions, Diversity Programs, or help with the Chess Club, we have a committee for you. If you would like to help with social events, school sportswear, the after school program, fundraising programs, safety issues, or special education, we have committees for you too! Please contact Lisa Mann or Nancy Rotering. Whether you have one hour a week, or one hour during the year, the PTO can use your help. All of our programs and fundraising support programs for your children!

Feel free to contact us if you have questions regarding any PTO programs. Our next general PTO meeting is Thursday, October 25th, at 7:00 p.m. We will have a special presentation on Internet Safety and we will ask for approval of the annual PTO budget. We hope to see you there! Jami Sharfman and Ellen Goldsher	top

November 2, 2007 Co-Presidents' Message
We hope that all Braeside families have enjoyed the Halloween parade and celebrations, and Red Ribbon week. This is an exciting time at Braeside, and there are more interesting programs coming up in the next few weeks.

The Braeside Book fair will be held November 14-16, with a fabulous selection of books for children and adults brought to us by librarian Anne Shimojima. Check the website for details on day and evening hours. On November 15th, from 7:00-7:45 p.m., Braeside students, their parents and siblings are invited to hear storyteller Peter Cook in the Character Cafe. We hope you will all come and enjoy this program.

Look for your November Braeside Bucks order form which will be coming home soon. The Braeside Bucks program is a quick and easy way for you to do your holiday shopping from home. Braeside receives a donation from each merchant and you receive all of your gift cards delivered to your door by a PTO volunteer. Give this great program a try over the holiday season! November orders will be delivered in time for Hanukkah, and December orders will be delivered in time for Christmas and teacher gifts.

From November 1st - 12th, we will be collecting children's winter clothing to be distributed to needy children in our own School District 112 community. Please bring your clean and gently used winter coats, boots, hats, mittens and other warm clothing to the boxes located in the foyer. Children's clothing from infant to size 14 is needed. New items are welcome too! If you would like to help us sort the clothing on November 13th, please contact Ellen Goldsher.

If you are the parent of a fourth or fifth grader, look for information regarding a presentation on Cyberbullying which will be presented on the evening of November 7th. This is a wonderful opportunity for you and your children to learn about computer safety.

Thanks to all of you who attended our October general PTO meeting. At the meeting, our PTO budget was approved and Mrs. Kritzman gave us an update on the School Talk program in District 112. Our next general PTO meeting will be held on November 29th, at 2:00 p.m. Come and see what the PTO does at Braeside. Hear about the work of our PTO committees and projects which are run by PTO volunteers. We look forward to seeing you!

As always, feel free to contact us if you have questions. Jami Sharfman and Ellen Goldsher	top

Box Tops for Education
Thanks for the Box Tops! We submitted 1150 boxtops last week for Braeside School - so keep clipping and submitting! You can find Box Tops for Education coupons on many of your favorite products that you may already be purchasing: find the seal on General Mills, Ziploc, Kleenex, and Hefty branded products! Just bring them in to the big pink submission box in the front hall of the school - our next submission date is in February!
A Cyberbullying Lecture
by Bobbie Gordon, LCSW, Director of Outreach, Prevention, and Education and Director of SHALVA will be held Wednesday, November 7th at Braeside at 7:00 p.m. "Come and Find out how much you DON’T know about CYBERBULLYING” is for both parents and 4th and 5th grade students!!! Please RSVP to the school office anytime up until November 7th .
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
Our fabulous Fall Carnival would not have been possible without generous donations from: Anton’s Fruit Ranch, The Bent Fork, White Hen Pantry, Ross Cosmetics, Trader Joe’s, Walgreen’s, Target, Sunset Foods, Jewel, Michael’s, Werhane’s Mobil, North Shore Shell, Once Upon a Bagel, and Discovery Day Camp. Many thanks to these donors and to everyone in the Braeside community who volunteered their time for this memorable event!
From the Food Day Committee
If you would like to add an extra slice of pizza or any other extra to your child's Food Day order OR you're not sure what days your child has a Food Day, call Terri Feldman. Thanks so much!!
BONJOUR! It is time for French Club Registration
Welcoming back instructor, Madame Laberge, we will again be offering French to grades 2-5. The class will start on November 7th , and take place from 8:00 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. in the band room. The fee will be $7.00 per class. Registration at this time is for the fall and spring sessions and the class will run from November 7, 2007 to May 14, 2008. Enrollment will be limited to approximately 15 students per class on a first come first serve basis. Please complete the registration form, and return it to the school office with a check payable to Braeside School PTO by Monday, November 5. If you have any questions, please call Beth Ann Fajardo. Enjoy the weekend and don’t forget to FALL back!

November 16, 2007 Co-Presidents' Message
We wish all of our Braeside families and staff a happy Thanksgiving holiday. We look forward to seeing you at our next PTO meeting on November 29th at 2:00 p.m.

After Thanksgiving, you will be receiving a December order form from the Braeside Bucks Committee. Please buy your holiday gift cards through this great program, and each of the merchants will make a donation to Braeside. All of your gift cards will be delivered to your home in time for teacher gifts and Christmas giving.

Thanks go out to Erin Citronberg and Gayatri Mathur and the entire Book Fair Committee for helping our librarian, Anne Shimojima, put on a wonderful book fair. We hope that all of you enjoyed the Book Fair and the special storyteller presentation.

After Thanksgiving, the Character Counts Committee will hold the annual Braeside Food Drive to benefit needy families in our own Highland Park/Highwood community. Please watch for details in your daily e-mail announcements.

As the weather turns colder, more parents and caregivers will be driving children to school. Please pay special attention to the safety rules which were sent home from Mrs. Kritzman in your child's backpack. Please do not allow children to walk between parked cars, do not wait in the no parking area in front of school and do not block the crosswalks. Remember that no children may be dropped off or picked up on the Lincolnwood Road side of the building or in the teacher parking lot. All of these rules are in place to keep your children safe -- please be careful!

As always, if you have questions or concerns or want to get involved in any of our PTO committees, please contact us. Jami Sharfman and Ellen Goldsher
Thanks for Gym Nights
A huge thank you to Mrs. Kritzman and Mr. Shanahan for hosting our fabulous gym nights. All of the students who participated had a wonderful time and the funds raised will help us provide some new items for the PE program. Thanks to Joan Bergman, Amy Small and Erin Citronberg for organizing these great events.
From the Food Day Committee
If you would like to add an additional slice of pizza or any other extra Food Day items, it is not too late!!! Please call Terri Feldman to add to your child's order.
More News and Events
More News and Events, along with important notices, can be found in the Friday Flyer, posted on our Braeside School website.	top

December 9, 2007 Co-Presidents' Message
We hope that all Braeside families and staff enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. A huge thank you goes out to the hospitality committee members who provided food for the teachers during conference days. Thanks also go out to all of the volunteers who helped Braeside librarian Anne Shimojima with the book fair.

At our November PTO meeting, we had a presentation from a representative of the HP Environmental Commission. Braeside fourth graders have started an ecology club to work on conservation and recycling projects at school. These students, along with Braeside teacher Susan Ozawa, will be leading the projects and will need help from parent volunteers. If you would like to help, please contact Nancy Rotering or Lisa Mann.

We are happy to report that the stage curtains have arrived and have been installed in the gym. This was the last major outstanding piece of the gym renovation project. There are still a few “punch list” items left, but otherwise the renovation is complete. Thank you to all in the Braeside community who gave such generous support to this project.

The next orders for Braeside Bucks will be due on December 11th. Gift cards will be delivered to your home in time for teacher gifts and Christmas giving. The Braeside Bucks program is a great way to do your holiday shopping, and raises funds used for projects to benefit our children. Give this great program a try! If you have questions or need forms, please contact Emily Goldin.

Please remember that the PTO has a scholarship fund to help any student needing financial assistance with any program provided at Braeside. All requests for assistance are completely confidential and are handled by Mrs. Kritzman. Please contact her directly.

As always, if you have any questions about the PTO, or would like to help with any PTO project or committee, contact us anytime. Jami Sharfman and Ellen Goldsher
Buzz Book Calendar Correction	top
The Braeside Buzz Book has an incorrect day of the week listed for the beginning of Spring Break. It currently reads, "Friday, March 20th - Spring Break begins at end of day." The correct info is: THURSDAY, March 20th - Spring Break begins at end of day. Sorry for any confusion...
Kids in Community Service (KICS)
KICS is a grant program offered by the 112 Education Foundation and it's kicking off for the 2007-2008 school year! Do you or your school have a great idea for a service project? If so, a KICS grant can offer up to $100 to implement your plan! Pick up an application in the school office or online at www.nssd112.org/112 foundation. This year’s application process is "rolling" so it's never too late to apply!
Braeside Chess Club Meets Wednesday December 19th
Please mark your calendars and join us for some chess at Braeside. The Chess Club meets in the IMC from 7 - 8 p.m. This will be our last meeting before winter break. The meeting dates for the rest of the year are: 1/9, 1/23, 2/6, 2/20, 3/5, 3/19, 4/9, 4/23, 5/7. Call Amy Duque, Liz Schulz or Cheryl Segal with any questions.
Give Bucks!
Gift cards make the perfect gifts for teachers, babysitters, teens and everyone on your list! Orders are due Tuesday, December 11th for Braeside Bucks. Order from tons of restaurants and stores, including Steve & Barry's, opening in Highland Park this month. All merchants will make a contribution to Braeside at no additional cost to you. All of your gift cards will be delivered to your house in time for winter break. Questions? Contact Emily Goldin.
News from NSSED
A workshop entitled “The Grandparent’s Perspective: How to Foster Good Family Relationships with a Grandchild with Special Needs” will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the New Trier High School campus located in Northfield. RSVP to Karen Noonan.
Please remember
Please remember to check your email for daily school announcements. Follow the link to the Friday Flyer online for current news and events at Braeside.

December 21, 2007 Co-Presidents' Message
It’s hard to believe that winter break is here. We wish all of our Braeside families a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year. We hope you will join us for the first PTO meeting of 2008, on February 1st, at 9:15 a.m.

The PTO has been very busy since the start of school. We have funded grants to teachers for classroom supplies, provided field trips, presented a professional storyteller, purchased new PE equipment, purchased books and materials for the IMC, and periodicals for classrooms, as well as giving grants to teachers for special projects.

PTO committees have presented diversity programs in classrooms, worked with students on the yearbook and Braeside Banner, provided regular volunteers for the IMC and the art room, served lunch on food days, run the Chess Club, and worked on all of the fundraising activities that allow us to support programs for students at Braeside. We thank all of you for your contributions of time and money which allow the PTO to support the programs which our wonderful professional staff wishes to provide for our children.

Please remember that the PTO has a scholarship fund to help any student needing financial assistance with any program provided at Braeside. All requests for assistance are completely confidential and are handled by Mrs. Kritzman. Please contact her directly.

As always, if you have any questions about the PTO, or would like to help with any PTO project or committee, contact us anytime. We can always use your help.

Have a wonderful winter break and a safe and healthy New Year! We look forward to seeing you in 2008. Mark your calendars for the Braeside Winter Sing, on January 25th! Jami Sharfman and Ellen Goldsher
Chess Club	top
The Braeside Chess Club meets January 9th, 2008. Please come and join us for some chess at Braeside. The Chess club meets in the IMC from 7 - 8 p.m. Call Amy Duque, Liz Schulz or Cheryl Segal with any questions.

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