Natural Habitat Evanston Visit
 Natural Habitat Evanston visited Kingsley last Friday to donate and plant an oak tree. They were joined by our kindergarteners and fourth graders who learned about tree maintenance and helped dig the hole for the tree.
A very big thank you to Natural Habitat Evanston for not only the oak tree but also the native plants they are donating to the Reid Garden. A special thank you to Katrina Wilcox, our Reid Garden lead, for the time, dedication, and love she gives to the garden and the Kingsley community.
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Key Dates
Wednesday, 10/5: No school (Yom Kippur)
Wednesday, 10/12: No school (School Improvement Day)
Week of 10/17: Parent/Teacher conferences
Friday, 10/21: No school
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PTA Announcements
D65 Pumpkin Sale / Pick-Up Info
Stop by Dawes Elementary School (on Dodge at Oakton) from 4:00pm - 7:00pm on Friday, September 30th to purchase pumpkins, gourds and more. All proceeds benefit the District 65 PTA One Fund. Pre-orders should be picked up during the same time frame. Thank you for your support!
For more information in both English and Spanish, click here.
Kingsley Fall Fest Planning has begun!
We are so excited to share that our Kingsley Fall Fest is back this year! It will take place on Friday Oct 28, from 5:00 - 7:00pm at Kingsley. We just kicked off with our planning committee and are looking for a number of volunteers to make this event better than ever.
The main groups we need leads/volunteers for are the Haunted Hallway, Kinder Hall games, Dance Party in the gym, and then general volunteering for set up/during the event/clean up.
Please add your name (area of interest in volunteering if you have one) and email here in the Halloween section. Feel free to sign up for any other events as well, as we are already starting conversations on many others. For any questions, please reach out to Jess Loftus at jess.vogel.loftus@gmail.com.
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.
Key PTA Roles Remain Unfilled
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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
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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.
Co-Treasurer
The Co-Treasurers are an integral part of the PTA! Duties include expense reimbursements, reconciling bank statements and providing budget updates at PTA meetings. You'll be working with Michelle Dahl, former 3-year PTA President, and responsibilities can be divided to fit your schedule and time availability.
Books & Breakfast
Books & Breakfast is a before school program that offers a healthy meal and homework support to Evanston District 65 students. B&B is an independent non-profit offering programming at multiple D65 school sites. Last school year, we made an amazing return to in-person programming, with 180 students across our 6 school sites!
At Kingsley, the program will begin on Tuesday, September 27. We will meet each morning, Monday-Friday from 8-9am in the Multipurpose Room (next to the library). Our mission is to help students start their day prepared for learning - physically, emotionally and academically!
Volunteering with B&B
Are you interested in being a B&B tutor? Tutors typically commit to one morning a week and receive training to provide reading or math support. We also need substitute tutors to join us 3-4 times over the year!
Want more information? If you'd like to know more about Books & Breakfast or would like to volunteer, please reach out to Tasha Triplett, Kingsley Site Director, tashat@booksbreakfast.org or visit our websites, www.booksbreakfast.org/volunteer to sign up!
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.
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 5, 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.
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Extracurricular Activities
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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.
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Halloween Pop-Up Shop
The 3rd Annual Halloween Pop-Up Shop is happening Sunday, October 16th from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Fleetwood Jourdain. Stop by to find your perfect FREE Halloween Costume. Have costumes to donate? There's a drop box in the Kingsley lobby (under the PTA mailbox) from now until Friday, October 7th.
BlackSonRise
BlackSonRise is a free program run by concerned Evanston dads of Black children. They offer a place to build community and sense of self, to read together, enjoy STEM activities, and play. Learn more about the organization here.
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. For more information about the program and what clothing items are provided, see flyer here. En español aqui.
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 or contact Fallon Stefani at fallon.stefani@gmail.com.
For more information on what types of clothing are accepted, click here. There is a donation bin at Kingsley in the hallway by the gymnasium - please bring in your donations!
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My65 is Back!
Join us on Thursday, October 6 from 7-10pm for a celebration with great food, drink, and fun at Palmhouse on Howard.
Individual tickets $120
Sponsorship starting at $365
Tickets include an open beer and wine bar, delicious food from Evanston Soul & Smoke, and music by Dance Is My Everything (DIME) owner Marcus Brown.
Foundation 65 empowers educators to build innovative programs and build their own skills to create a more equitable and inclusive experience for students. Your support of Foundation 65 directly benefits our educators who work tirelessly for our children.
We can't wait to see you. Space is limited!
Visit www.foundation65.org to register or become a sponsor.
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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.
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Everyday Shopping Supports Kingsley
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
If someone you know would like to sign up to receive the Kingsley Elementary PTA weekly newsletter, please have them fill out the form here.
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