The Brickton Weekly, September 25, 2014

Thank You Corner

Thank you to Meg Ricard and Colleen Lembo, mother and grandmother of Sean (Room 107) and Ella (Room 104) for helping the children in room 107 re-pot many of their plants. It was a wonderfully educational and fun experience for the children.

Thank you very much to Meg Ricard (mother of Sean (Room 107) and Ella (Room 104)) and Lauren Zureikat (mother of Juliyana (Room 103)) for your help with picture day on Wednesday for helping make the process run so smoothly.

Block Party Photo Booth Pictures

Stop by the bulletin board in the hallway to see all the beautiful pictures from the photo booth at the block party.  If you see one of yourself and your child, feel free to pull it off and take it home with you.  It will be a lovely reminder of the fun times at the Block Party.  Thanks again to the Wieland family for providing the great photo booth experience. 

A Letter From the Board

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome you back to school.  Brickton’s Board of Directors has three main leadership roles:  fiduciary (oversight and assessment of the school mission and finances), strategic (planning focused on a 2-5 year time frame), and generative (developing and sharing a vision for the future of the school).

Brickton’s Head of School (HOS), Cheryl LaCost, and the Administrative Staff lead the day-to-day operations of the school. The board is not involved in decisions regarding student admission, curriculum development, or faculty and staff hiring and evaluation. The board hires and appoints the HOS, evaluates HOS performance annually, and partners with the HOS to help deliver Brickton’s mission.

Brickton’s board operates via a committee structure. There are currently seven committees:   executive, nominating, operations, marketing, gifting, finance, and community.  The board also appoints ad hoc task forces as needed to address specific topics such as technology.  These committees are chaired by a board member and comprised of parents, staff, and the HOS.

The full board meets at least five times during each school year. Typically, committees meet monthly. Their agenda is set by our current strategic plan, direction from the executive committee, and emerging needs of the school. The committees perform significant work aligned to the strategic plan and make recommendations for consideration by the entire board. All policy decisions and major expenditures are discussed and voted on by the entire board. All meetings of the full board are open to any members of the community. Please check the family calendar and the Brickton Weekly for meeting dates and times if you would like to attend.

During 2014-2015, the board will launch an effort to develop Brickton’s next strategic plan.  The strategic plan will articulate our vision and chart the path to help us reach it.  As part of this work it is critical that we obtain the feedback of a wide variety of members within our community.

If you would like to be interviewed by a member of the board in support of our strategic planning efforts or volunteer to serve on a board committee, please send me an email at bmsboardpresident@brickton.org.

I look forward to hearing from you and working with you to ensure Brickton’s continued success.

Best Regards,

David Anthony

President, Board of Directors

Brickton Reads

The Brickton Weekly is chock full of important information and news-you-can-use from the Brickton Community.  Be sure to read it "cover to cover”, and even consider reading it aloud as a family.  You never know when your name may appear!

The Brickton Community might be less than gigantic in numbers, but it is epic in the breadth and depth of reading interests!The Messina Family has these literary pursuits:  Dad, Mike, is a daily reader of the Sun Times and a weekly reader of Graciemag, a Jujitsu Magazine.  Matthew was fascinated by I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai. He is currently reading The Giver by Lois Lowry.  The title might be familiar because of the recent release of the movie.   

Blair Sarkissrecommends  Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers by Kristin Loberg and David Perlmutter.He used one of the recipes to bake bread and was pleased with the result!

Dotty Schweitzer delved into the lives and families of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She read a variety of books as she uncovered information about this dynamic duo.

Evan Coleman spends time reading technical manuals in the field of Music.  John Huberis readingBlack Elk Speaks by John Neihardt and Black Elk.

Lower Elementary will soon be reading and listening to some of the adventures of Flat Stanley.  Among the many Read-Alouds in Childrens House:   Awesome Autumn, Walking Through the Jungle and I Went Walking.    

So what's on your Kindle, bedside table or in your back pocket?  Next week we will feature some life-hack titles:  how-to’s for you and yours.  Please send recommendations toliz.skrodzki@brickton.org.

Upcoming Events

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, September 27^th, Check-In 8:00 am, Washington Park

Lower Elementary: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 2^nd, 5:00-7:00pm

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, October 4^th, Possible Pat Savage Meet

Cross Country Meet, Wednesday, October 8^th, Notre Dame, 3:30pm Check-in

Room 101: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 9^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, October 10^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, October 10^th

Cross Country Sectionals, Saturday, October 11^th, Time & Location TBD

School Closed – In-service Day, Monday, October 13^th

Room 107: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 14^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Board Meeting, Thursday, October 16^th, 7:00-9:00pm

Cross Country State Finals, Saturday, October 18^th, Springfield, IL

Operation Child Find, Monday, October 20^th – Tuesday, October 21^st

Cross Country Meet, Monday, October 20^th, 4:00 pm Winnemac Park

Upper Elementary: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 21^st, 5:00-7:00pm

Toddler: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 23^rd, 5:00-6:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, October 24^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, October 24^th

Room 103: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 28^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Club Day, Friday, November 7^th

Open House, Sunday, November 9^th, 10:00am – 12:30pm

Board Meeting, Thursday, November 13^th, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Pizza Lunch, Friday, November 14^th

Club Day, Friday, November 21^st

Manna Orders Due, Friday, November 21^st

School Closed – Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27^th – Friday, November 28^th

The Brickton Weekly, September 19, 2014

Thank You Corner

The Back-To-School Block Party was such a fun night! Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you all for your flexibility with the change of location and adapting to the weather.  At Brickton, the fun cannot be stopped by a little rain. The event would not have been possible without the efforts of the Ivana Drazic-Cunningham, Block Party Committee Chairperson and the many volunteers who worked the event and donated supplies. John Joyce and his band, Poochamungus, provided fantastic music. Elissa Sarkiss conducted a Tae Kwon Do class and demonstration for the students, including breaking wooden blocks. The Wieland family provided a photo shoot with fun accessories and a guest appearance by the Brickton frog.  It was a lovely night all around.  Enjoy a slide show of the event and the photo shoot below! Thanks again to everyone who provided a helping hand.

Mixed Bag Winners

Congratulations to the following Brickton parents who won a Mixed Bag item of their choice for completing the Parent Volunteer form: Michelle Doll, mother of Luca in Toddlers and Erin Kreger, mother of Sydney in Toddlers.  If you haven't completed your Parent Volunteer Form yet, it's not too late!  Access the form here and return to Kelly McDermott in the office.

Manna Winners

The Coleman-Iannantuoni family is the winner of the $25 Manna Gift Card drawing from the Block Party. Congratulations! Why buy Gift Cards? A portion of the profits come back to you in a credit on your last tuition payment of the school year. For example, an Amazon $100 gift card has a 4% discount rate (this is shown on the order form). Half of this is shared with you and the other half helps pay for the Middle School Field trips. It's a win-win for everybody!

Extracurricular Activities Begin

Our line-up of amazing extracurricular activities begins next week (September 22^nd). This session’s rotation includes: Future Hits Enrichment, Art Club, Kinderdance, Chess Club and Sports Fun.  Click here for more details.  Contact Kelly McDermott at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org to register.  

Picture Day

Wednesday, September 24^th, is Picture Day at Brickton.  All students will have their picture taken on this day both individually and as a class, so bring your best smile.Eighth grade graduation photos will also be taken.  Children who do not ordinarily attend on Wednesday are encouraged to come in the morning to have their picture taken and to be part of the class picture, and then head home after photos are finished.Unfortunately, the photographer is unable to accommodate the request for sibling pictures this year.  Proofs will arrive at school in about two weeks and all ordering can be done online.  If you have any question, call or stop in the office. 

Introducing the new Music Library

Thank you to John Joyce, father of Malina (Room 105) and Stefan (Room 101) for suggesting a music library and donating around 70 CDs to get the library started.  The music library is located across from the frog tank, on the bottom shelf under the parent resource library.  Please feel free to borrow, enjoy the music and return for others to try, as often as you like.  The library ranges in genres from simple tunes to power pop, folk and punk, all with family friendly lyrics.  John is a musician with Poochamungus, a local children’s oriented band.  John says the music represents the work of independent artists who self-finance recording and distribution of their music.  If you enjoy the music, please support the artist through purchasing their music, attending a concert or recommending the artist to a friend.  Please borrow, enjoy and return – again and again!

Brickton Reads

Brickton Readers are Library Card Lovers!  Be sure to renew yours and sign up your children during this September, Library Card Month.  All Bricktonstudents will receive a book mark in celebration of International Reading Association Lift Off to Literacy.  Thanks to Cindy Degand for replenishing our supply of bookmarks with a myriad of designs!

We are accepting donations of Disney Frozen Readers.  This is not standard reading here at Brickton, but our copy has gone missing and we are planning a special event.  If your children have outgrown their books, we will be happy to accept them as a donation and give them a second life in our Little Free Library, Read Aloud or Book Buddies programs. 

Upper Elementary Literature Circles have formed and are reading:  Mudshark (Paulsen); The Library Card (Spinelli); Mockingbird (Erskine); and Chasing Vermeer (Helquest).  Parents have told us how much they enjoy reading these selections with their students and use them as great conversation startersfor the less talkative pre-teen!  Check them out from the library so you don't have to borrow your student’s copy!

One parent Kevin Brosnan is enjoying reading and putting his own spin on, Dragons Love Tacos.  Son Ian enjoyed the book at his classroom Listening Station and again at home.  Ian likes the original version.

Luke Wilcek, Jaeden Rivera and James Degand were seen reading Are You Quite Polite?.  Lower Elementary Directresses placed this title on the Grace and Courtesy book display to reinforce this theme at the beginning of the year.

The second Book Buddies session of the year featured a Sweet Read and Feed.  All buddies got a Rice Krispie Treat tagged with the cover of a favorite children's book.  Each student did a brief book talk on his/her title.  All had a snap, crackle, poppin' good time. 

New Family Information Packet

Created by the Parent Alliance for new Brickton families, the New Family Information Packet is a valuable resource.  Access it here on the Brickton website.

Upcoming Events

Extracurriculars Begin, Week of September 22^nd

Cross Country Meet, Monday, September 22^nd, Gator Run, 3:30pm, Schiller Woods

Middle School Midcycle Meeting, Tuesday, September 23^rd, 5:30-7:30

Picture Day, Wednesday, September 24^th

Club Day – Fall Conferences, Friday, September 26^th

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, September 27^th, Time & Location TBD

Lower Elementary: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 2^nd, 5:00-7:00pm

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, October 4^th, Possible Pat Savage. Time & Location TBD

Cross Country Meet, Wednesday, October 8^th, Notre Dame, 3:30pm Check-in

Room 101: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 9^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, October 10^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, October 10^th

Cross Country Sectionals, Saturday, October 11^th, Time & Location TBD

School Closed – In-service Day, Monday, October 13^th

Room 107: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 14^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Board Meeting, Thursday, October 16^th, 7:00-9:00pm

Cross Country State Finals, Saturday, October 18^th, Time & Location TBD

Operation Child Find, Monday, October 20^th – Tuesday, October 21^st

Cross Country Meet, Monday, October 20^th, 4:00 pm Winnemac Park

Upper Elementary: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 21^st, 5:00-7:00pm

Toddler: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 23^rd, 5:00-6:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, October 24^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, October 24^th

Room 103: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 28^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Club Day, Friday, November 7^th

Open House, Sunday, November 9^th, 10:00am – 12:30pm

Board Meeting, Thursday, November 13^th, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Pizza Lunch, Friday, November 14^th

Club Day, Friday, November 21^st

Manna Orders Due, Friday, November 21^st

School Closed – Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27^th – Friday, November 28^th

The Brickton Weekly, September 12, 2014

Thank You Corner

Thank you to Juliyana Zureikat and her family for the donation of facial tissue to keep our noses comfortable. Thank you to Nerissa Kuebrich for volunteering to make the weekly pet store run for food and supplies to keep Brickton's pets healthy.

Back to School Block Party, Friday September 12^th, 5 – 7 pm

Please join us for our Back to School Block Party – rain or shine!  If it rains, we’ll just move the party indoors!  Join us for pizza, face painting and live music! John Joyce (father of Stephan (Room 101) and Malina (Rooms 100/102)) will be performing with his band, Poochamungas. 

Cross Country Update!

Brickton's Cross Country Team is off and running!!! The season opened Monday with a meet hosted by St. Pat's High School at Schiller Woods. Brickton came out strong and we are very proud of all of our athletes! Congratulations, Fierce Frogs!Our next meet is this Saturday at Resurrection High School.  See all the upcoming Cross Country Meets in the Upcoming Events to cheer on our team!

Extracurricular Activities Begin

Our line-up of amazing extracurricular activities begins the week of September 22. This session’s rotation includes: Future Hits Enrichment, Art Club, Kinderdance, Chess Club and Sports Fun.  Click here for more details.  Contact Kelly McDermott at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org to register.  

Picture Day

Wednesday, September 24^th, is Picture Day at Brickton.  All students will have their picture taken on this day both individually and as a class, so bring your best smile.Eight grade graduation photos will also be taken.  Children who do not ordinarily attend on Wednesday are encouraged to come in the morning to have their picture taken and to be part of the class picture, and then head home after photos are finished. Sibling pictures will be taken on Retake Day, Wednesday November 5^th.  Proofs will arrive at school in about two weeks and all ordering can be done online.  If you have any question, call or stop in the office. 

New Family Information Packet

Created by the Parent Alliance for new Brickton families, the New Family Information Packet is a valuable resource for every Brickton parent.  Access it here on the Brickton website.

Brickton Reads

Brickton readers are beginning, 'middling' and ending some great books!  Upper Elementary students are just beginningLiterature Circle Book Clubs with the following titles:  Mockingbird (K. Erskine), Mudshark (G. Paulsen), and Chasing Vermeer (B. Balliett).  Liadan Sarkis is in the middle of Tuck Everlasting (N. Babbitt). Agnes Guerra has completed Goldfinch (D. Tartt).All students will get an astronaut themed bookmark to celebrate International Literacy Day when we receive them from the distributor.  If your family is wondering what to read next, be sure to visit your library during "Library Card" month!  It's a great way to start the school year!

Upcoming Events

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, September 13^th, Check-in 8:15am, Resurrection High School

Board Meeting, Thursday, September 18^th, 7:00-9:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, September 26^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, September 19^th

Extracurriculars Begin, Week of September 22^nd

Cross Country Meet, Monday, September 22^nd, Gator Run, 3:30pm, Location TBD

Middle School Midcycle Meeting, Tuesday, September 23^rd, 5:30-7:30

Picture Day, Wednesday, September 24^th

Club Day – Fall Conferences, Friday, September 26^th

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, September 27^th, Time & Location TBD

Lower Elementary: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 2^nd, 5:00-7:00pm

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, October 4^th, Possible Pat Savage. Time & Location TBD

Cross Country Meet, Wednesday, October 8^th, Notre Dame, 3:30pm Check-in

Room 101: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 9^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, October 10^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, October 10^th

Cross Country Sectionals, Saturday, October 11^th, Time & Location TBD

School Closed – In-service Day, Monday, October 13^th

Room 107: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 14^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Board Meeting, Thursday, October 16^th, 7:00-9:00pm

Cross Country State Finals, Saturday, October 18^th, Time & Location TBD

Operation Child Find, Monday, October 20^th – Tuesday, October 21^st

Upper Elementary: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 21^st, 5:00-7:00pm

Toddler: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 23^rd, 5:00-6:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, October 24^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, October 24^th

Room 103: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 28^th, 5:00-7:00pm

The Brickton Weekly, September 5, 2014

Volunteer Corner

Thank you Dave Degand Sr. (grandfather of Sara, Room 100/102 & James, Room 105) for refinishing our community bench in the hallway and a large 4 person table for the Afterschool program.  Rob Arnoldt fixed our laminator for a second time, so we can laminate materials for the students in-house. Thank you very much!

Back to School Block Party, Friday September 12^th, 5 – 7 pm

Please join us for our Back to School Block Party featuring bouncy houses, pizza, face painting and live music! John Joyce (father of Stephan, Room 101 and Malina, Rooms 100/102) will be performing with his band, Poochamungas.  There are still opportunities to volunteer at this much anticipated event.  Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board in the hallway.  The Block Party will be located in the parking lot so you’ll have no trouble finding the fun.

Free Money Fundraiser Update - THANK YOU!

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participates in the TARGET Take Charge of Education program - Brickton just received a check for $375! Participating is easy and doesn't cost you a penny!  Click here to sign up and every time you shop at Target, Brickton gets 1% of your purchase total.

Mixed Bag Fundraiser

We are excited to announce a new fundraiser this year – Mixed Bags.  See the display table in the hallway for to the variety of beautiful designs and styles of bags, many of which are made out of partially recycled polywoven plastic.  You can order online or with order forms at school. To order online, look at the top of the page and click on "enter fundraiser ID" and use Brickton's ID #136145.  Order deadline is Friday, September 12^th with a delivery date of October 6^th.

Parent Alliance Volunteer Form

Please fill out one pledge form per family and return to Kelly McDermott bySept.12^th to be entered to win a selection of Mixed Bag items!

The Parent Alliance cultivates community among Brickton families and engages parents’ interests and talents in support of Brickton Montessori School.  All parents/guardians are automatically registered as members of the Parent Alliance upon their child’s enrollment at Brickton Montessori with yearly dues included in the enrollment fee. 

Parents benefit from attending Parent Alliance meetings by:

·      Receiving important information on upcoming events.

·      Learning about volunteer opportunities.

·      Connecting with other families.

We hope that all families support the school community through volunteering and we encourage you to take the 5-Hour Power Pledge.  Please complete this Volunteer Form to understand volunteer opportunities and to share information about your interests and skills.

Brickton Reads

Throughout the school year many Brickton Staff amass a pile of books for summer reading. You may recognize some of their picks:  the film versions are in movie theaters and on TV. Erica Lane finally got to her stash on the theme of Family Dynamics including Jonathan Tropper's This is Where I Leave You.  Kathleen Kasser relished her revisit to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  Parent John Joyce read A.G. Riddle's Origin Mystery trilogy (The Atlantis Gene), and his son Stefan flew through several superhero books. Many families participated in Library Summer Programs and Jack Wilcek hit the jackpot by reading steadily and won an ipad from the Brookfield Library. If you or your child had a wonderful experience reading this summer and you’d like to share it with us, stop by and let Liz Skrodzki know or send an email to liz.skrodzki@brickton.org. 

Next Monday, Brickton will begin participating in an 8-week program of the International Reading Association:  Lift Off to Literacy.  Watch for posters, bookmarks and other information.

Extracurricular Activities Begin

Our line-up of amazing extracurricular activities begins the week of September 22. This session’s rotation includes: Future Hits Enrichment, Art Club, Kinderdance, Chess Club and Sports Fun.  Click here for more details.  Contact Kelly McDermott at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org to register.  

Upcoming Events

Manna Orders, Due Friday, September 5^th

Cross Country Meet, Monday, September 8^th, 4:00pm, Schiller Woods

Cross Country Meet, Monday, September 13^th, 8:15am, Resurrection High School

Back to School Block Party, Friday, September 12^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Board Meeting, Thursday, September 18^th, 7:00-9:00pm

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, September 19^th

Extracurriculars Begin, Week of September 22^nd

Cross Country Meet, Monday, September 22^nd, Gator Run, 3:30pm, Location TBD

Middle School Midcycle Meeting, Tuesday, September 23^rd, 5:30-7:30

Club Day – Fall Conferences, Friday, September 26^th

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, September 27^th, Time & Location TBD

Lower Elementary: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 2^nd, 5:00-7:00pm

Cross Country Meet, Saturday, October 4^th Possible Pat Savage. Time & Location TBD

Cross Country Meet, Wednesday, October 8^th, Notre Dame, 3:30pm Check-in

Room 101: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 9^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Pizza Lunch, Friday, October 10^th

Cross Country Sectionals, Saturday, October 11^th, Time & Location TBD

School Closed – In-service Day, Monday, October 13^th

Room 107: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 14^th, 5:00-7:00pm

Board Meeting, Thursday, October 16^th, 7:00-9:00pm

Cross Country State Finals, Saturday, October 18^th, Time & Location TBD

Operation Child Find, Monday, October 20^th – Tuesday, October 21^st

Upper Elementary: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 21^st, 5:00-7:00pm

Toddler: Taste of Montessori, Thursday, October 23^rd, 5:00-6:00pm

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, October 24^th

Room 103: Taste of Montessori, Tuesday, October 28^th, 5:00-7:00pm