The Brickton Weekly, November 26, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving

From all of us here at Brickton Montessori School, we would like to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Thanksgiving. School will be closed on Thursday and Friday in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday.   

Thank You Corner

The Middle School would like to thank everyone who donated or bought books at their book sale.  They raised a little over $80.

Thank you for honoring the reserved parking space near the front door for the Urbanski family who puchased it at the Big Leap. This spot remains open at all times for the lucky family that wins the bidding to ensure they have speedy drop-offs and pick-ups throughout the day.

Quaker, Quaker

A longstanding Thanksgiving tradition here at Brickton - the Quaker Dance - is a time for our students to come together and celebrate being a community.  The words to the song are:  Quaker, Quaker, how are thee?  Very well, I thank thee.  How’s thy neighbor next to thee? I don’t know I’ll go and see.  Enjoy the slideshow!

National Geographic Geography Bee

On Monday, the Upper Elementary and Middle School students participated in the annual National Geographic Geography Bee.  All of the students competed admirably for 7 rounds.  We are happy to report that coming in a 3^rd place tie are Aisuram Romeo and Ephraim Guerra, 2^nd place is Malina Joyce, and in 1^st place, for the second year, Madison Plaza. Congratulations!

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! The Breakfast with Santa celebration features a Bake Sale Table. Volunteers are needed to support this event – from assisting at the craft table to creating delectable homemade treats for the bake sale. Sign-up sheets are located on the hallway bulletin board. Please contact Kelly McDermott with any questions.

Saturday, December 6th, 2014, from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Hanging Gardens Banquet Hall

8301 W. Belmont, River Grove, IL

Book Fair Raffle Tickets

The Brickton Book Fair Raffle begins next Monday, December 1^st.  Each ticket you purchase is an opportunity to win $25 worth of books from our book fair.  All proceeds support the annual Upper Elementary visit to Nature’s Classroom.  Tickets will be on sale in the lobby Monday through Thursday next week between 8:00-8:45, 11:30-12:15 and 2:45 to 3:45.

Brickton Reads

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, or something else entirely, holiday books can help you make wonderful family memories. Choose from the best of the season, read the book, and get lost in imaginative, time honored and unforgettable stories. Happy reading can be a big part of happy holidays!  Be sure to include the Brickton Book Fair in your shopping from December 8^th -11^th!

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/holiday-books-for-kids

Spirit Wear Update

Spirit wear orders to be delivered next week and can be picked up in the main office.  Kelly can answer any questions you may have.

Upcoming Events

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

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 5^th

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 5^th

Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 6^th 10:00am – 12:30pm

Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 8^th – Thursday, December 11^th

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 12^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 19^th

Winter Break – School Closed, Monday, December 22^nd – Monday, January 5^th

School Resumes, Tuesday, January 6^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, January 9^th

Open House, Sunday, January 11^th, 10:00am

Board Meeting, Thursday, January 15^th, 7:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, January 16^th

Club Day, Monday, January 19^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, January 23^rd

Manna Orders Due, Friday, January 30^th

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

The Brickton Weekly, November 20, 2014

Thank You Corner

Thanks to the students’ efforts, we raised $348 for UNICEF. That is enough to buy 3 bicycles to deliver medicine, 50 vaccinations, 6 soccer balls, and some protein biscuits. Well done, Brickton!

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! The Breakfast with Santa celebration features a Bake Sale Table. Volunteers are needed to support this event – from assisting at the craft table to creating delectable homemade treats for the bake sale. Sign-up sheets are located on the hallway bulletin board. Please contact Kelly McDermott with any questions.

Saturday, December 6th, 2014, from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Hanging Gardens Banquet Hall

8301 W. Belmont, River Grove, IL

Scholastic Book Fair

Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming up: Monday, December 8th – Thursday, December 11th.  In preparation for this Book Fair, we are asking for volunteers to help set up on Saturday, December 6th, 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.

Gift Cards For The Holidays

Take the pressure off your holiday planning and give gift cards! We have a large selection available in denominations from $5 to $100. The order forms are bright pink and in a bin outside Dotty's door. Complete your order form and attach a check  (or call Dotty with your credit card information) and drop the order  off at the front desk or at Dotty's office. The order dates before the holidays are November 21st, December 8th and December 15th.

Brickton Reads!

The hallway prefix tree at Brickton features RE.  If, like many, you are REthinking your budget, Brickton offers Book Sales and Manna cards.   During our REcent economic REcession, REsale/REcycle have gained  new REputations..  UPper Elementary students talk about UPcycling!  In fact, all classrooms at Brickton REgularly play with words.  "Homonym Alert" is often heard in Lower Elementary.  They like to "stare at stairs" and find a "sale on sails." National "Knock Knock" day is Halloween but Lower Elementary will be celebrating this month and feature Silent Letters.  Reading Rockets has great selections with witty word play. http://www.readingrockets.org/articles/books/c350.

Labels For Education Fundraiser

Help Brickton win $1000 in the Labels for Education Grand Slam for School Sweepstakes!

Go to sweeps.labelsforeducation.com, type in your email, Brickton’s zip code (60656), select Brickton and submit. You may enter daily until December 31st.

Upcoming Events

Manna Orders Due, Friday, November 21st

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

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 5th

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 5th

Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 6th 10:00am – 12:30pm

Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 8th – Thursday, December 11th

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 12th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 19th

Winter Break – School Closed, Monday, December 22nd – Monday, January 5th

School Resumes, Tuesday, January 6th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, January 9th

Open House, Sunday, January 11th, 10:00am

Board Meeting, Thursday, January 15th, 7:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, January 16th

Club Day, Monday, January 19th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, January 23rd

Manna Orders Due, Friday, January 30th

In School Celebration – Room 107, Friday, January 30th, 8:30am

The Brickton Weekly, November 14, 2014

Thank You Corner

Thank you to Betty Boduch, Stefan and Malina Joyce for helping with our open house on Sunday. A hearty round of applause for Dave Degand and John Joyce for installing our new signs on the fence along Catalpa Ave. Finally, thanks to our Parent Alliance for setting up our first ladies night at If An Elephant Can Paint!

Family Reading Night

Please join us for Family Reading Night on November 20^th from 3:00-6:00 pm.  Rooms 100/102.  Activities will include:

• Reading/word games: Eye Spy, Zingo, Sight Word Dominoes, Word Pirates, Erudition, Bananagrams and Scrabble or bring your own
• Leap Frogs with electronic books
• Make your own bookmark
• Used book sale fundraiser for Middle SchoolBook wall – write your favorite book on our “wall of      books” and check out great family reading activity idea
• If you can’t join us at school, celebrate Illinois Family Reading Night at home!

Gift Cards For The Holidays

Take the pressure off your holiday planning and give gift cards! We have a large selection available in denominations from $5 to $100. The order forms are bright pink and in a bin outside Dotty's door. Complete your order form and attach a check ( or call Dotty with your credit card information) and drop the order  off at the front desk or at Dotty's office. The order dates before the holidays are November 21st, December 8th and December 15th.

Brickton Reads

"The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is READING ALOUD TO CHILDREN." Teachers do it, parents do it, grandparents do it.....and audiobooks do it!Audiobooks are a great supplement to parent/caregiver reading. Brickton families have recommend such audiobooks as Charlotte's Web, read by author E.B. White, The Harry Potter series; and many of Kate DiCamillo's books.  Find your family favorites at thelibrary. Brickton's Reading Specialist Liz Skrodzki often uses the first chapter or two of the audio version for a challenging book: it helps build interest, familiarity and anticipation.  This works for adults as well as younger readers!

Pick up a brochure on audiobooks at Brickton's Little Free Library next to the frog tank. 

The Chicago Public Library annual Bookamania festival of childrens' literature and authors takes place this month at the Harold Washington Cultural Center.  It is a very crowded but energetic and action packed event.  

Make sure Family Reading Night Middle School book sale is on your calendar: November 20.  Middle School students are still looking for your donation of books.  All kinds welcome!

Time Magazine Article mentions Montessori

In this age of "going digital", this article from Time magazine discusses the value of multisensory learning, noting how Montessori schools continue to prioritize the "education of the senses" as described by Maria Montessori.

Coming to our senses on education and nutrition

New Extra Curricular Class – Pee Wee Sports

In January, we will be offering a new sports class for Children’s House.  The instructor is John Ashby known for his unmatched enthusiasm for his work with children.  With 20 years of experience as an educator, Mr. John presents an understanding of the connection between diet and fitness to maintain healthy growing bodies.  A 45 minute demonstration class will be held on December 4^th at 3:10 in the great room. RSVP to kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org if you would like your child to attend the demo.

Club Day November 21^st

Friday, November 21st is a Club Day at Brickton,please help us plan for the day by telling us if your child will be attending. For students currently registered for our Full Day program, there is no additional charge - all others may attend if pre-registered for a fee of $50 per day.  Please RSVP to kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org

Upcoming Events

In-School Celebration – Room 105, Monday, November 17^th, 8:30 am

Illinois Family Reading Night, Thursday, November 20^th

Conferences and Club Day, Friday, November 21^st

Manna Orders Due, Friday, November 21^st

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

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 5^th

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 5^th

Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 6^th 10:00am – 12:30pm

Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 8^th – Thursday, December 11^th

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 12^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 18^th

Winter Break – School Closed, Monday, December 22^nd – Monday, January 5^th

School Resumes, Tuesday, January 6^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, January 9^th

Open House, Sunday, November 11^th, 10:00am

Board Meeting, Thursday, January 15^th, 7:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, January 16^th

Club Day, Monday, January 19^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, January 23^rd

Manna Orders Due, Friday, January 30^th

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

The Brickton Weekly, November 7, 2014

Thank You Corner

Thank you to Luca Bechelli’s family for donating classical music CD's for our music library.

New Extra Curricular Class – Pee Wee Sports

In January, we will be offering a new sports class for Children’s House.  The instructor is John Ashby known for his unmatched enthusiasm for his work with children.  With 20 years of experience as an educator, Mr. John presents an understanding of the connection between diet and fitness to maintain healthy growing bodies.  A 45 minute demonstration class will be held on December 4^th at 3:10 in the great room. RSVP to kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org if you would like your child to attend the demo.

November Club Days

Friday, November 7th and November 21st are Club Days at Brickton, please help us plan for the days by telling us if your child will be attending. For students currently registered for our Full Day program, there is no additional charge - all others may attend if pre-registered for a fee of $50 per day.  Please RSVP to kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org

Upper Elementary Craft Supplies

The Upper Elementary classroom is making pillows and is asking for donations of old pillow cases and/or stuffing for pillows.  Please drop off donated supplies in the office or in Room 100 and the students will put them to good use. 

Annual Benefit Meeting

Join in the fun and be a part of the planning team for Brickton's annual gala: The Big Leap! There are small and large tasks to be done to prepare for this important night.  We will be meeting on Monday, November 17^th at 7:00pm at the home of Deb DeYoung: 5356 N Nordica, Chicago 60656. Please bring an appetizer and beverage to share. Hope to see you all there. Please RSVP to kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org.

Website Updates

We have made some helpful updates to our website, Brickton.org on the family portion of the site.  Once you log in, you will see the monthly calendar in the center of the page for a quick peek at upcoming events.  We’ve also added a new tab on the left menu that takes you right to the Student Directory. Here is the new look:

Brickton Reads

Middle School and Upper Elementary students are all cracking open new books.  You might catch the older students with The Right Stuff (Wolff) or The Slave Dancer  (Fox).  Our 9-12 sstudents are bookmarking The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck (Fairlie),  The Calder Game (Balliette), Capture the Flag (Messner) or The Twits (Dahl).  Lower Elementary bibliophiles are enthusiastic about Henry and Mudge, Frannie K. Stein, Nate the Great, Flat Stanley, The Hardy Boys, Ivy and Bean, Biscuit, and of course, Elsa and Anna.

Please weed out your bookshelves and inquire among your family and friends!  Middle School needs books of all sorts for their book sale on November 20.  The sale is part of Brickton's Family Reading Night and you are invited! To donate and to attend.  This annual statewide event is held the third Thursday in November to encourage families to spend quality time to "Read Together, Grow Together." 

Upcoming Events

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

Pizza Lunch, Friday, November 14^th

InSchool Celebration – Room 105, Monday, November 17^th, 8:30 am

Illinois Family Reading Night, Thursday, November 20^st and Friday, November 21^st

Conferences and Club Day, Friday, November 21^st

Manna Orders Due, Friday, November 21^st

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

Pizza Lunch, Friday, December 5^th

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 5^th

Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 6^th 10:00am – 12:30pm

Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 8^th – Thursday, December 11^th

Manna Orders Due, Friday, December 12^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, December 18^th

Winter Break – School Closed, Monday, December 22^nd – Monday, January 5^th

School Resumes, Tuesday, January 6^th

Pizza Lunch, Friday, January 9^th

Open House, Sunday, November 11^th, 10:00am

Board Meeting, Thursday, January 15^th, 7:00pm

Manna Orders Due, Friday, January 16^th

Club Day, Monday, January 19^th

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, January 23^rd

Manna Orders Due, Friday, January 30^th

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