The Brickton Weekly, December 20, 2013

Don’t Forget: School Resume’s Tuesday, January 7^th

Pond Pals Babysitting

Hello busy moms and dads! The Middle School students (assisted by staff) will be offering their Pond Pals babysitting program this Saturday–December 21st, from 9am – 1 pm.  They’ll spend time outside (weather permitting), play games, make arts and crafts, bake yummy treats, and eat lunch – all while you get your Saturday errands completed.  It’s a win-win for everyone!  Cost: $20/child – lunch included.  Thanks for supporting Middle School’s fundraising efforts for their trips! It’s not too late to sign up!

Transition Nights

Come meet the teachers and parents of current students and learn about the curriculum, assessment, goals and what a typical day looks like in the next step in your child’s Montessori education.  Meet parents and alumni to hear their perspective on the transition to the next program.

Upper Elementary, Wednesday, January 22^nd, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Middle School, Wednesday, January 29^th, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Lower Elementary, Wednesday, February 5^th, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Thank You Corner

Thank you to the room parents and Parent Alliance for spearheading the Staff Holiday gift donation to help spread the holiday spirit. 

Mix-It-Up Day – On Thursday morning, the Kindergarten through Middle School students took part in Brickton’s traditional “mix it up day”.  The students broke into three groups and rotated between dancing and limbo, singing and story-telling, winter crafts and treat making.  Enjoy the slide show of activities. 

National Geographic Bee – The Upper Elementary and Middle School students competed in the first round of the “Geo Bee” on Friday morning, cheered on by the Lower Elementary students.   Congratulations to our top three contestants: first place - Madison Plaza, second place - Ephraim Guerra, and third place - Mica Barrett.  The Geo Bee consisted of three rounds of questions related to geography, following the strict rules for the school level round of the nationwide contest sponsored by National Geographic.  The first-place winning student in each school may take the written, multiple-choice Qualifying Test to compete for advancement to the state level.   

Upcoming Events

Winter Break, Monday, December 23^rd – Monday, January 6^th

School Resumes, Tuesday, January 7^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, January 10^th

Alumni Event: Whirlyball, Friday, January 10^th, 7:30pm

Open House, Sunday, January 12^th, 10:00am

Room 107 In-School Celebration, Friday, January 17^th, 8:30am

Club Day, Monday, January 20^th

Transition Night – Upper Elementary, Wednesday, January 22^nd, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, January 24^th

Pond Pals Babysitting, Saturday, January 25^th, 9:00 – 1:00pm

Information Coffee, Tuesday, January 28^th, 9:00-10:00am

Transition Night– Middle School, Wednesday, January 29^th, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Transition Night – Lower Elementary, Wednesday, February 5^th, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Pond Pals Babysitting, Saturday, February 8^th, 9:00 – 1:00pm

Annual Benefit, Saturday, February 15^th, 6:00pm

The Brickton Weekly, December 13, 2013

Thank You Corner

We have an extra special Thank You Corner this week.  Breakfast with Santa was a huge success! It could not have happened without the help of all these wonderful people.

Santa's Helpers:Alex Contursi, Ellie Arnoldt, Tayler Sain, Emily Vasquez, Sydney Flechs, Sophia Darski, and Madison Plaza

Set Up/Clean Up Helpers:Sarkiss Family, LaCost Barrett Family, Rachel Balaster, Darski Family, Molly Arnoldt, and Kelly and Declan McDermott

Bake Sale Table: Sarah and Cindy Degand, Cheryl LaCost, and Kathleen Kasser

Food Service:Elyssa Sarkiss and Deb DeYoung

Leader in sing-a-long:Heather Wilcek

And thank you the many,many bakers who supplies wonderful treats for our bake sale. 

A huge round of applause for our photographer, Joe Somers, and special guest, John Urbanski, for making the event so magical for all the children! 

In order to download Breakfast with Santa photos, click the "view album" link in the slideshow.  When you are at the photobucket.com site, click on the picture you wish to download. Right click on the picture and click "save as".
Winter Caroling Field Trip

On Tuesday, the Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School students took a trip to a couple local businesses to sing winter carols, including Red Mane.  They sang six songs, accompanied by some of the Upper Elementary students on recorder and younger children jingling bells.    Enjoy the video!

Hat and Mitten Donation

Please support one of Brickton's Middle School students, Diego Sanchez,with a Confirmation service project.  He, and other students at Immaculate Conception parish are collecting warm hats, gloves and socks to be donated to the Port Mission in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Please bring your items to schools by December 19 to support Diego as hehelps others.

Pond Pals Babysitting

Hello busy moms and dads! The Middle School students (assisted by staff) will be offering their Pond Pals babysitting program on two upcoming Saturdays –December 14th and December 21st, from 9am – 1 pm.  They’ll play outside (weather permitting), play games, make arts and crafts, bake yummy treats, and eat lunch – all while you get your Saturday errands completed.  It’s a win-win for everyone!  Cost: $20/child – lunch included.  Thanks for supporting Middle School’s fundraising efforts for their trips!

Salvation Army Food Drive

Brickton Montessori is once again participating in the Salvation Army Holiday Food Drive. Boxes for food donations are in the school lobbyand a list of suggested non-perishable holiday food items are posted outside each classroom and on the donation box.  The food will be picked up on Monday morning.

Scholastic Book Fair

The Upper Elementary and parent volunteers did a wonderful job running the Book Fair and their coffee shop, Café Plautus.  If you were not able to attend, or have a few more books you’d like to purchase, the Book Fair continues online at www.scholastic.com/bookfair.  Enter our zip code (60656) and click on Brickton!

Upcoming Events

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 13^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 13^th

Manna Pick Up, Tuesday, December 17^th

Board Meeting, Wednesday, December 18^th, 7:00pm

Mix-It-Up Day, Kindergarten – 8^th Grade, Thursday, December 19^th, 9:00am

Geography Bee, Upper Elementary and Middle School, Friday, December 20^th, 9:00am

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 20^th

Winter Break, Monday, December 23^rd – Monday, January 6^th

School Resumes, Tuesday, January 7^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, January 10^th

Alumni Event: Whirlyball, Friday, January 10^th, 7:30pm

Open House, Sunday, January 12^th, 10:00am

Room 107 In-School Celebration, Friday, January 17^th, 8:30am

Club Day, Monday, January 20^th

The Brickton Weekly, December 6, 2013

Breakfast With Santa: This Saturday!

This coming Saturday, December 7th!

10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Hanging Gardens Banquet Hall

8301 W. Belmont in River Grove

Tickets: $10 per person (children under 2 are free)

Please join us for this special annual event! The morning includes a continental breakfast buffet and a picture with Santa - photos will be emailed to you.We will have our traditional holiday sing-a-long,bake sale and arts and craft projects for the children.

Tickets are available in the Main Office or at the door.

Volunteers are still needed! Please take a moment to browse the sign-up sheets located on the bulletin board in the Main Lobby.

Hat and Mitten Donation

Please support one of Brickton's Middle School students, Diego Sanchez,

with a Confirmation service project.  He, and other students at Immaculate Conception parish, are collecting warm hats, gloves and socks to be donated to the Port Mission in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Please bring your items to schools by December 19 to help our student help others.

Getting to Know You: Each week this section will highlight one staff member and their answer to the question: How do you express your creativity?

John Huber, Classroom Assistant  

I express my creativity mainly through music.  I have played guitar for many years, and have loved music as long as I can remember.  Since high school I have enjoyed playing music in bands and with friends.  My interest in music has led to a deep passion for bluegrass and American traditional and folk music styles.  I play acoustic guitar, banjo, and mandolin.  I can often be found at the Old Town School of Folk Music teaching and taking classes. 

Thank You Corner

Thank you very much to Diane Grassi, godmother of Alex and Zach Contursi for taking time out of her morning on Wednesday to handle the emergency toilet fix for Room 105. 

We would also like to thank Sharon Gooday, grandmother of Nathan and Evan Urbanski for her hard work procuring items for our Annual Benefit auction. 

Holiday Greeting Cards

The students here at Brickton have been making holiday greeting cards for our troops to thank them for their dedication and service.  Governor Quinn will bring our greetings to a military base in Germany where the cards will be distributed to injured warriors and medical personnel.  We would like to thank Sara Gregory (Administrative Assistnat) and her husband, Peter, for coordinating the delivery of these cards to the State of Illinois Building. 

Pond Pals Babysitting

Hello busy moms and dads! The Middle School students (assisted by staff) will be offering their Pond Pals babysitting program on two upcoming Saturdays –December 14th and December 21st, from 9am – 1 pm.  They’ll play outside (weather permitting), play games, make arts and crafts, bake yummy treats, and eat lunch – all while you get your Saturday errands completed.  It’s a win-win for everyone!  Cost: $20/child – lunch included.  Thanks for supporting Middle School’s fundraising efforts for their trips!

Salvation Army Food Drive

Brickton Montessori is once again participating in the Salvation Army Holiday Food Drive. Boxes for food donations are in the school lobbyand a list of suggested non-perishable holiday food items will be posted outside each classroom and on the donation box.

Scholastic Book Fair Next Week

Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming up: Monday, December 9th – Thursday, December 12th.  This is an exciting fund raiser for the Upper Elementary classroom.  The fair is run completely by Upper Elementary students.  Stop by to shop next week.  In preparation for this Book Fair, we are asking for volunteers to help set up on Saturday, December 7th, immediately following Breakfast With Santa.  It is not a huge job but requires as much help as possible.  With enough help, the work is over in about 45 minutes.  This is such a successful fund raiser for our Upper Elementary students, and it all begins with setting up an inviting display up of books.  If you would like to volunteer, please email Katie Rose in the 9-12 classroom.

Book Fair Update: The raffle winners are in - Ellie Arnoldt from Upper Elementary and Gloria Litwinczuk from Children's House are this year's winners.  Congratulations! Thank you to all who participated in the raffle fundraiser!

Manna Orders For The Holidays

Manna is great for the holidays!Card orders are due December 13^th and can be picked up Tuesday, December 17^th. In addition to making terrific holiday gifts, Manna cards can help ease the stress of holiday travel -- stock up on gas cards and family restaurant cards (or fast food cards!) for upcoming road trips.  Need a hostess gift?  Check out Fannie May or the Hallmark Store.  Click here for the Manna Order Form.

Upcoming Events

Club Day – Conferences, Friday, December 6^th

Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 7^th, 10:00am, Hanging Gardens

Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 9^th – Thursday, December 12^th

Winter Caroling, December 10^th, 8:30am-10am, O’Hare Plaza

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 13^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 13^th

Manna Pick Up, Tuesday, December 17^th

Board Meeting, Wednesday, December 18^th, 7:00pm

Mix-It-Up Day, Kindergarten – 8^th Grade, Thursday, December 19^th, 9:00am

Geography Bee, Upper Elementary and Middle School, Friday, December 20^th, 9:00am

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 20^th

Winter Break, Monday, December 23^rd – Monday, January 6^th

Th Brickton Weekly, November 27, 2013

Salvation Army Food Drive

Brickton Montessori is once again participating in the Salvation Army Holiday Food Drive.  Boxes for food donations will be placed in the school lobby when we return from the Thanksgiving holiday.  A list of suggested non-perishable holiday food items will be posted outside each classroom and on the donation box.

Quaker Dance

A longstanding Thanksgiving tradition here at Brickton - the Quaker Dance - is a time for our students to come together and celebrate being a community.  Enjoy the video!

Friendship Soup

Each year at this time, the Children’s House students come together to make Friendship Soup.  Each child’s family donates an ingredient and the students help in the preparation.  It is a wonderful activity that teaches the students the value of cooperation and community.  

Human Body Museum

The Upper Elementary students have been studying body systems.  In culmination, each student created working exhibits to show how different senses and parts of the body work.  The Children’s House and Lower Elementary students visited the Upper Elementary classroom to experience these amazing exhibits.

Lost and Found Table

We have arranged the lost and found items on a table right next to the front door.  Please take a moment to see if your child might have something they lost and we found!

Upcoming Events

Middle School to Nature’s Classroom, Monday, December 2^nd – Friday, December 6^th

Club Day – Conferences, Friday, December 6^th

Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 7^th, 10:00am, Hanging Gardens

Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 9^th – Thursday, December 12^th

Winter Caroling, December 10^th, 8:30am-10am, O’Hare Plaza

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 13^th

Board Meeting, Wednesday, December 18^th, 7:00pm

Mix-It-Up Day, Kindergarten – 8^th Grade, Thursday, December 19^th, 9:00am

Geography Bee, Upper Elementary and Middle School, Friday, December 20^th, 9:00am

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 20^th

Winter Break, Monday, December 23^rd – Monday, January 6^th

The Brickton Weekly, November 22, 2013

Getting to Know You: Each week this section will highlight one staff member and their answer to the question: How do you express your creativity?

Pat Moran, Children’s House Assistant

I'm creative many ways since I love to draw, paint, sew, quilt, crochet, bake and cook. I'm a Pinterest addict, always looking for something new to try. I also enjoy sharing all my creative interests with the children at school and my grandsons. It gives me great satisfaction to see a child light up when he/she is creating their own artistic masterpiece. I have some of my son’s art work from his school years hanging on my walls at home. Over the years children have given me their pictures which I have also saved.  This year I will be working with my class to create a quilt for the Annual Benefit, which is February 15, 2014. I hope you'll be able to attend and see what great creative children we have at Brickton!

Thanksgiving Break

In recognition of Thanksgiving, Brickton is closed Thursday, November 28^th and Friday, November 29^th.  Wednesday, November 27^th is a Club Day at Brickton.  RSVP with Kelly to attend the Club Day.

Trick-or-Treat with UNICEF         

We would like to thank everyone who participated with the UNICEF fundraiser this Halloween.  We raised $195 to help support UNICEF for their work with children around the world.  Thank you!

Brickton Annul Fund

The 2014 Annual Fund Campaign is off to a great start!  Thanks to all who have participated so far!  Our goal is 100% participation - please make your pledge today!

Pond Pals Babysitting

Hello busy moms and dads! The Middle School students (assisted by staff) will be offering their Pond Pals babysitting program on several upcoming Saturdays –December 14th and December 21st, from 9am – 1 pm.  They’ll play outside (weather permitting), play games, make arts and crafts, bake yummy treats, and eat lunch – all while you get your Saturday errands completed.  It’s a win-win for everyone!  Cost: $20/child – lunch included.  Thanks for supporting Middle School’s fundraising efforts for their trips!

Breakfast With Santa

Join us for our Annual Breakfast with Santa, for a delicious continental breakfast, photos with Santa, caroling and craft activities for the children!

Saturday, December 7, 2013, from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Hanging Gardens Banquet Hall

8301 W. Belmont, River Grove, IL

The Breakfast with Santa celebration features a Craft and Bake Sale Table. Please help us by donating homemade treats and crafts. Please contact Kelly McDermott with any questions.

Scholastic Book Fair

Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming up: Monday, December 9th – Thursday, December 12th.  In preparation for this Book Fair, we are asking for volunteers to help set up on Saturday, December 7th, immediately following Breakfast With Santa.  It is not a huge job but requires as much help as possible.  With enough help, the work is over in about 45 minutes.  This is such a successful fund raiser for our Upper Elementary students, and it all begins with setting up an inviting display up of books.  If you would like to volunteer, please email Katie Rose in the 9-12 classroom.

Upcoming Events

Club Day, Wednesday, November 27^th

Thanksgiving – School Closed, Thursday, November 28^th and Friday, November 29^th

Middle School to Nature’s Classroom, Monday, December 2^nd – Friday, December 6^th

Club Day – Conferences, Friday, December 6^th

Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 7^th, 10:00am, Hanging Gardens

Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 9^th – Thursday, December 12^th

Winter Caroling, December 10^th, 8:30am-10am, O’Hare Plaza

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 13^th

Board Meeting, Wednesday, December 18^th, 7:00pm

Mix-It-Up Day, Kindergarten – 8^th Grade, Thursday, December 19^th, 9:00am

Geography Bee, Upper Elementary and Middle School, Friday, December 20^th, 9:00am

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 20^th

Winter Break, Monday, December 23^rd – Monday, January 6^th

The Brickton Weekly, November 15, 2013

Getting to Know You: Each week this section will highlight one staff member and their answer to the question: How do you express your creativity?

Erica Lane, Upper Elementary Directress

After thinking a long time about this question, I realized that I express my creativity through problem solving.  I think creative pursuits help people to relax and feel an inner sense of satisfaction.  I get this by solving problems of all kinds.  I enjoy helping people find creative solutions to classroom or scheduling conflicts.  I also like to work out puzzles and think logically.  I love designing my classroom each year and rearranging rooms in my home.  To relax at night, I even sit down to do some Sudoku puzzles before going to sleep.  I guess that is why I am such a fan of mathematics!

Big Leap Ticket Winner

Congratulations to Steve and Donna Pollizze (parents of Jacob in room 103) who won the Annual Benefit contest for two free tickets to the Big Leap in February!

Thanks very much to all who participated - we have built a very nice friends and family contact base and hope to continue to add to it! It's not too late to drop off your list in the office.

Thank You Corner

Thank you to Mirvette Badal and Mike Messina for running our Lego Club.  Also, thank you Jessica Casteel and Joe Somers for leading Art Club.  These extracurricular activities are a huge hit with our children.  Thank you for all your hard work!

Brickton Annul Fund

The 2014 Annual Fund Campaign is off to a great start!  Thanks to all who have participated so far!  Our goal is 100% participation - please make your pledge today!

Birth Announcement

Congratulations to Children's House Assistant, Karen Lubomski, on the birth of her first grandchild, Madilyn Leigh. LovelyMadilyn arrived at 8:45 am on November 11 and weighed 7 lbs, 1 oz. We hope to meet her soon!

Family Reading Night

On November 21^st, The Secretary of State’s office is encouraging families to participate in Read Across Illinois: Family Reading Night.  Here at Brickton we are encouraging our families to take part by spending the evening reading as a family.  Look for bookmarks in your parent folders (Toddlers and Children’s House), in your child’s book bag (Lower Elementary) or your child will bring it home (Upper Elementary and Middle School).  Follow this link and scroll down the page to find a baker’s dozen of suggested best family literacy books. Happy Reading!

Breakfast With Santa

Join us for our Annual Breakfast with Santa, for a delicious continental breakfast, photos with Santa, caroling and craft activities for the children!

Saturday, December 7, 2013, from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Santa Where: Hanging Gardens Banquet Hall

8301 W. Belmont, River Grove, IL

The Breakfast with Santa celebration features a Craft and Bake Sale Table. Please help us by donating homemade treats and crafts. Please contact Kelly McDermott with any questions.

Pond Pals Babysitting

Hello busy moms and dads! The Middle School students (assisted by staff) will be offering their Pond Pals babysitting program on several upcoming Saturdays – November 16^th (THIS WEEK!)December 14^th and December 21^st, from 9am – 1 pm.  They’ll play outside (weather permitting), play games, make arts and crafts, bake yummy treats, and eat lunch – all while you get your Saturday errands completed.  It’s a win-win for everyone!  Cost $20/child – lunch included.  Thanks for supporting Middle School’s fundraising efforts for their trips!

Upcoming Events

Room 101 In-School Celebration, Friday, November 15^th, 8:30am

Read Across Illinois: Family Reading Night, Thursday, November 21^st

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, November 22^nd

Club Day, Wednesday, November 27^th

Thanksgiving – School Closed, Thursday, November 28^th and Friday, November 29^th

Middle School to Nature’s Classroom, Monday, December 2^nd – Friday, December 6^th

Club Day – Conferences, Friday, December 6^th

Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 7^th, 10:00am

Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 9^th – Friday, December 12^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 13^th

Board Meeting, Wednesday, December 18^th, 7:00pm

Mix-It-Up Day, Kindergarten – 8^th Grade, Thursday, December 19^th, 9:00am

Geography Bee, Upper Elementary and Middle School, Friday, December 20^th, 9:00am

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 20^th

Winter Break, Monday, December 23^rd – Monday, January 6^th