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Kingsley Contact

September 6, 2022

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1st PTA Meeting Next Week

 

We hope everyone had a marvelous Labor Day weekend!  

We will be having our first PTA meeting next week. The date has been changed so that we can combine it with curriculum night on Thursday, September 15. Join us at 7:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room (connected to the Library). It will be a brief meeting with a chance to meet others, give thoughts on what you'd like from the PTA this year, and sign up to become an official member. We'd love to see you there!

Please take a minute to read the sections below on needed volunteers. We hope to focus on community building this year and have many school events. That can only happen with your help.  

Traffic Safety Reminder for Drop-Off and Pick-Up


Prairie becomes one-way heading north at drop-off and pick-up times. Parking is allowed on both sides of Prairie facing north during these times. Please do not use the alley or driveways to turn around and head south on Prairie. Let's keep our kids safe and traffic safely flowing in one direction.

Key Dates


Saturday, 9/10: NU Football Parking @ Kingsley - 9:00am - Volunteer here
Thursday, 9/15: Curriculum Night 6:00 - 7:30pm
Thursday, 9/15: PTA Meeting - 7:30pm (immediately following Curriculum Night) 
Monday, 9/26: No school (Rosh Hashanah)

PTA Announcements 

 

Key PTA Roles Remain Unfilled

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help so far. The PTA still has a few critical roles that still need to be filled for this year. For a complete list and to sign-up, see here. If you have any questions or want more information contact erinwade.pta@gmail.com or sarah.weidaw.pta@gmail.com


Co-Secretary

This is an officer role and shares the following responsibilities: take notes at PTA and Exec board meetings; manage and update calendar; distribute donation receipts after annual appeal; lead any bylaw update initiatives. 

 

Kingsley Contact Co-Lead

Help create this information-filled newsletter each week. You'll share the role with 1st Grade parent Kristin Dow, who is in her 2nd year in this role. The time commitment is 1-3 hours every other week, primarily spread over the weekend and/or Mondays. This is a great role for a busy parent who wants to help out behind the scenes and make a big impact.

 

Fundraising Chair(s)

The fundraising chair(s) oversees all of the PTA's fundraising activities such as our annual appeal, NU football parking and retail cashback programs. The time commitment is 3-5 hours per month and is another role with a big impact.


Room Parents

We are still looking for Room Parents for this school year, especially in the 4th & 5th grades. Room Parents serve an important role in building classroom communities at Kingsley. Responsibilities include acting as a liaison between teachers and families, sharing PTA info with parents (primarily via email), and supporting teacher appreciation. Please consider helping out your child's homeroom teacher by signing up here

This job is a great way to get to know the teacher and the class a little better, plus, there will be help and guidance provided to you along the way. Contact Room Parent Coordinators Kathryn Schmeckpeper (kathrynschmeckpeper@gmail.com) or Michelle Farra (msklein7@gmail.com) with any questions. 


PTA Membership

The Kingsley PTA welcomes and invites all new and returning members (membership is only good for one year) to join us in supporting our students, teachers, staff and administration by joining the PTA. Individual membership is $5 and you can fill out the form and pay online here. There is an option for free membership by completing this form

There is no requirement to be a PTA member to attend any meetings or volunteer your time. Membership is required to vote on items such as our slate of officers, budget, and by-laws. Our first meeting is Thursday, September 15 @ 7:30 pm. We hope you will join us!


4th & 5th Grade Band & Orchestra

Instrumental enrollment is primarily for 4th-grade students, but any new 5th-grade student who did not participate last year or is new to the district can contact us directly to assist them with enrollment.

Quick overview and General enrollment details:
  1. Two different programs: band or orchestra. Students are encouraged to apply for only one.
  2. Lessons are free and take place during the school day; however, parents are responsible for instrument rentals. Scholarship instruments are available for free or reduced lunch program students.
  3. Sept 6th: Auditorium instrumental assemblies for 4th graders only 
  4. Sept 12th: general enrollment deadline 
  5. Sept 22nd: parent instrument pick up evening 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm @ Haven Middle School
  6. Lessons will generally begin in the last week of September. Teachers and parents will receive a lesson schedule a few days before the start of lessons, students' specific lesson time, and day of the week
Band Website: 4th-grade band program info and links4th Grade  Band Enrollment form
Orchestra Website: Orchestra Info Letter:  Orchestra Registration Form

Questions: Contact
Band: Megan Smith: SmithM@district65.net
Orchestra: James Janossy: JanossyJ@district65.net 


Rooting For Reid Garden

Reid garden was created with our students, their families and our community in mind. Be involved, give back and enjoy nature at Kingsley’s very own school garden.

Ways to Volunteer: (No Experience Needed)
  • Weekly Wednesday Workdays from 4:00PM- 5:30PM (NO RSVP Needed)
  • Weekend Family Days on the 2nd Saturday & 4th Sunday of each month. RSVP here
  • Become a Farmer Friday Leader for your child’s class
Tasks Include: Watering, weeding, planting, harvesting and recreational activities

Special thank you to all of our summer volunteers, givers and guests - you are appreciated!  To become a Farmer Friday Leader or join the Garden Committee, email tried.true.treed@gmail.com.
 

Lunch Help Needed


Join us at the Kingsley Comet Cafe to help children open food items, encourage them to eat, help them clean up afterward (including recycling and composting waste), and be on hand during recess (if you want). Volunteering for lunch duty is a great way to meet the other children in your Comet's grade, as well as the other parents volunteering with you. Sign up in advance, or stop by when you can (lunch and recess times listed in the link). Just be sure to register with the front office upon your arrival.


Football Parking Volunteers Needed


Football parking starts this weekend and we still need a couple of volunteers! Join us Saturday, September 10th from 9:00 am - 11:00 am at the Kingsley parking lot.  You'll be working with Jason Krohn and Sarah Weidaw, who've done this a bunch of times and promise that it is actually fun. You'll be either collecting money as cars pull in or directing cars on where to park. It's that easy!  Sign up to help here.

We are still looking for a couple of coordinators to lead the volunteers the day of, if you are interested or want to learn more please email michelle.dahl.pta@gmail.com.
 

Waste Sorting Station is Back! 


After a long hiatus, we are excited to announce the revival of Kingsley’s Waste Sorting Station! Students will learn how to properly recycle and compost their lunch waste, ultimately taking small steps to becoming thoughtful stewards of this earth we share.

We are looking for parent volunteers to help with educating our students on how to use the waste station both in the classroom and during lunch hours during the first couple of weeks of school. Don’t fret - it's not rocket science - you can easily be trained in just 5-10 minutes. Any amount of time is helpful. Please contact Lynne Hayes at lynnerhayes@yahoo.com or 773-988-2227 if you are interested in helping with this important initiative.
 

Superintendent's Parent Advisory Group


Dr. Horton, our D65 Superintendent, is looking to build a Parent Advisory Group with representation from all D65 schools. The purpose of the group is to develop meaningful relationships with families across the district while discussing district initiatives, school needs and solutions to reach our districtwide goals. One representative and one alternate will be selected from each school. A total of five meetings will be held on October 12, December 14, February 8, April 12 and June 14, at the JEH Boardroom from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Apply to be Kingsley's representative here

Extracurricular Activities


Right At School 


Electives registration is now open. The Fall session runs from Sept. 12 to Dec 2. Class schedules and more information can be found here. D65 has scholarships available via this form - the scholarship form closes on Sept 7.


4th & 5th Grade Co-ed Flag Football


Football registration ends on September 7th! Registration is available online or by calling the City of Evanston Recreation department at 847-448-8252.

School scholarships are available! Call the City to register (by Sept 7) and let them know you'll be receiving a school scholarship. It's that easy!

Email Justin Travis, 4th-grade coach, at allowishes@gmail.com for more information. Please include in your email your child's name and grade. Ryan Mitchell is coaching the fifth grade team and parents should contact Ben Schmeckpeper (ben.schmeckpeper@gmail.com) for more information. We are still looking for assistants for the 4th and 5th graders. 

Community Updates

KINGSLEY ESCCA


Evanston School Children's Clothing Association (ESCCA) is an all-volunteer organization that provides FREE clothing and shoes to over 600 children from Evanston/Skokie School District 65 each school year. Some items are new and others are gently used. We are located at the District 65 Building at 1500 McDaniel Avenue in Evanston, and offering in person services as well as contactless services. Clothes are provided for ALL who request, and every child receives a full wardrobe of clothing. 

A parent or guardian may request ESCCA services for a District 65 child by contacting our school health clerk: Juanita Barrett (barrettj2@district65.net or 847-859-8402), social worker: Clarissa Rosenberg (rosenbergc@district65.net or 847-859-8408) or school principal: David Davis (davisda@district65.net or 847-859-8401). 

For more information about clothing donations and how to get involved visit www.escca.org. For more information about the program and what clothing items are provided, see flyer here. En español aqui

Back to School with Mudlark Theater

Mudlark Theater is a not-for-profit organization where children are taken seriously as artists, and learn theater by making it.  Our residencies, classes, and camps teach life skills as well as theater arts. Our productions have real substance and tell innovative stories that surprise and delight all audiences. At Mudlark, we strive to be a welcoming and safe space where the stories and identities of all youth are honored and celebrated.

Learn more about fall programming available here: 

Ecology Center After School Enrichment Program


The Evanston Ecology Center is planning to run an Ecology After School Enrichment program from 3-6pm every day that D65 schools are in session (September 2022- May 2023) and from 12-6pm on each school improvement day.

Nature activities, animal visits, outdoor exploration, games, and arts & crafts will be provided each day, as well as homework help and snacks. Bussing will also be provided each day and families can sign up on a month-by-month basis.

For more information and to sign up, click here

District 65's Digital Backpack 


The backpack is a free site screened and maintained by District 65 to share our community's youth and family events and programs. The more the community uses the site, the more organizations will regularly take advantage of this resource for the benefit of us all. 

To visit the Digital Backpack, click here.

Everyday Shopping Supports Kingsley

Amazon Smile


Please don't forget to add the Kingsley PTA as your Amazon Smile charity. You can turn on Amazon Smile in the settings on your Amazon app (learn how here). This is an easy way to earn money for the PTA!

Box Tops

 
Box Tops are going virtual! Download the Box Tops app, shop as you normally would, then use the app to scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. Learn more here

Calendar

Please click here to view/download the latest version of Kingsley's annual at-a-glance calendar.

We encourage all families to click here to sign up for D65's weekly Fast 5 email blast. It includes important events relevant to all district parents. You can find the D65 calendar for 2022-23 and 2023-24 here.   

Questions?

If you have questions, ideas or would like to get involved at Kingsley, contact Co-Presidents Erin Wade (she/her) at erinwade.pta@gmail.com and Sarah Weidaw (she/her) at sarah.weidaw.pta@gmail.com.

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Kingsley Elementary PTA
2300 Green Bay Road, Evanston, IL 60201






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Kingsley Elementary School · 2300 Green Bay Road · Evanston, IL 60201-1566 · USA

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