The Brickton Weekly, January 12, 2012

Alumni Interview Series
This month, Brickton is celebrating its outstanding alumni. We will be featuring short video interviews with recent alumni in the next three Weeklys. These young adults are doing amazing things and have gained a lot from their strong Brickton foundation.

Don’t forget to check out our Alumni profiles on the bulletin board in the lobby. It’s a great opportunity to see the outcomes of a Brickton education.

 

Alumni News
Ava Carney, Brickton class of 2009, is currently a junior at Northside College Prep. She has qualified for the National Merit Scholarship, is in the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the Arts editor for the school literary magazine, Verve. Busy girl! Congratulations on all your successes, Ava. Keep up the hard work.

The Big Leap is coming!
Happy New Year! The Big Leap is our annual dinner, dance, and fundraiser. There will be a silent and live auction, raffles and a good time with the adults of the Brickton community. The event will be held at Victoria Rosemont atop the Holiday Inn Express (6600 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont, IL, 60018). The Holiday Inn Express has offered us a special room rate of $84 for a king or $94 for a double room. Use the code BKT when making your reservation (847-544-7500). Mark you calendars for Saturday, March 3, 2012.

Back by popular demand: Express Checkout – no lines, no waiting! Prior to the event, you’ll have the opportunity to provide the Brickton Business Office with your credit card information for a one time authorization of the evening’s charges.

Welcome!
Our Children’s House and Lower Elementary students have a new Spanish teacher, Evelyn Chavez. Evelyn is a certified Elementary teacher and native Spanish speaker. She spent four years in Mexico where she learned to read and write fluently in Spanish. After graduating from Loyola University, Evelyn worked for four years as a Spanish Dual Language teacher in Mundelein. Currently, Evelyn is also teaching Spanish at the Glenview School District in an after school/before school program called Global Language Program. Evelyn enjoys greatly teaching her culture and language to her students.

It’s Not Too Late
Thank you to everyone who has already participated in the 2012 Annual Fund. We are very close to meeting our goal, but we need your help. And guess what? If you have not yet made a donation, you will still receive a 2011 tax deduction if you turn in your donation by January 18th.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support of Brickton’s 25th Anniversary Annual Fund.

Open House
Tell your friends, family, and neighbors. Brickton will be hosting an Open House for prospective families Sunday, January 22nd, from 12:30 – 3:00 pm. It’s a chance to meet directresses, tour the school, and learn more about the Montessori philosophy.

Club Day
Monday, January 16th, is Martin Luther King Day and a Club Day at Brickton. All full day students and those pre-registered and pre-paid in the amount of $50 are welcome to attend.

Important Note for Toddler and Children’s House Families
A team of early childhood experts will visit Brickton this month. Operation Childfind offers vision and hearing screening; large and small motor assessment; speech and language, and cognitive screenings for children ages two to six years. This free service is optional and your signature is required for your child’s participation. The permission forms have been placed in parent folders. Please sign and return yours to your child’s directress.

Winter Extracurricular Classes
Sign your child(ren) up now for winter extracurricular classes. Read the descriptions, fill out the registration form, and return the form with payment to the main office to secure a spot for your child.

Congratulations, Kathy Hummel
Kathy Hummel, Brickton’s Music Teacher, graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Master of Music degree on December 10, 2011. After taking a break from her studies to care for her father, she finished her thesis, Music Education in AMS Accredited Montessori Schools, this past summer and fall. Her coursework included classes in Music History, Music Theory, World Music, and Music Education.

Manna Update
During 2011, Brickton achieved a record amount in Manna sales: $12,997! Last year, participating families enjoyed considerable tuition credits, as well as providing real support to the Middle School program. This Friday, January 13th, is the next Manna order due date, so remember to place your order online or in the business office.