The Brickton Weekly, February 27, 2015

Thank You Corner

The Big Leap Committee would like to extend heartfelt applause to the many parents and businesses that have donated items for the online auction and our Wine and Dine event at the Big Leap.  Your contributions help make this fundraiser such a success!

Thanks to Iryna Shkilnyk, mother of Katrusya in 107, for repairing the Children’s House dragon students use for our Chinese New Year parade.  It was looking tired until Irynagave it a great make-over. Now it's quite dashing and ready for more years of fun and service!

The BricktonFamily Movie Night was a fun-filled evening thanks to the help of Cindy Degand,

Betty Boduch, Shashona Chau, Heather Wilcek, Joe Somers and John Joyce in making it run so smoothly.

Thank you to LaureenZureikat, mother of Juliyana in 103, for donating boxes of facial tissue.  At this time of year, we can never have enough!

Middle School Video

Enjoy this wonderful video created by our Middle School students about our annual theme for this year, collaboration.

Bears Tickets Raffle

Two tickets to the home game of your choice! With only 100 tickets sold, the odds are great.  Get your raffle ticket for $20 in the office today!

Silent Auction Online Now

Once again this year, the Silent Auction portion of the Big Leap Fundraiser is online via BiddingForGood.com. Brickton has its very own auction page loaded with amazing items and new ones being added throughout the auction! Click here to visit our online auctionnow!

Did you get your FREE raffle ticket yet?

Receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a pair of Big Leap tickets valued at $170 through procuring items for the Big Leap.  So far people have earned over 80 raffle tickets for donated items. Want to play?

• Each bottle of wine donated = 1 raffle ticket

• Each $25 gift certificate = 2 raffle tickets

• Each $100 sponsorship donated = 5 raffle tickets

Reserve your space

The beautiful invitations for The BIG LEAP Annual Benefit have landed in mailboxes all over the Chicago area. Please RSVP by mailing or dropping off your response card to the office by Friday, February 27 to help us plan for this special evening. The more the merrier, so invite your sister, your cousins, or your neighbors!

Upcoming Events

Manna Orders Due, Friday, February 27

Pizza Lunch, Friday, February 27

Open House, Sunday, March 1, 10:00am – 12:00 pm

Club Day, Friday, March 6– Records Day

The Big Leap, Saturday, March 7, 6:30pm

In School Celebration – Room 100/102, Friday, March 13, 8:30am

Pizza Lunch, Friday, March 13

Manna Orders Due, Friday, March 13

Club Day – Parent/Teacher Conferences, Friday, March 20

Spring Break – Club Days, Monday March 23 – Friday, March 27

School Resumes, Monday, March 30

School Closed – Spring Friday, Friday, April 3

Pizza Lunch, Friday, April 10

Parent Appreciation Breakfast, Thursday, April 16, 8:00am

Board Meeting, Thursday, April 16, 7:00 – 9:00pm

In School Celebration – Room 101, Friday, April 17, 8:30am

Brickton Bowling Bash, Saturday, April 18

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, April 24

In School Celebration – Room 106, Friday, May 1, 8:30am

The Brickton Weekly, February 20, 2015

Thank You Corner

Thank you to David Degand (Sara Rooms 100/102 & James Room 105) for rehanging one of our student created works of art in the hallway. Thank you to all those who have donated to Brickton’s Big Leap benefit. If you still have an item for the online auction or Wine & Dine, it’s not too late!

Family Movie Night

The Parent Alliance Presents Brickton Montessori's Family Movie Night, tonight, Friday, February 20, from 6:00-8:00pm.  There are 2 movies to choose from: Big Hero 6 and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Bring your blankets, wear your pajamas, and get ready for a night of family fun! Popcorn, pizza, drinks, and snacks will be available for purchase or feel free to bring your own snacks. Please RSVP to kelly.mcdermott@brickton.orgso we can plan accordingly. As this is a family event, staff will not be available for care.

Target Fundraiser

Brickton was presented with a check in the amount of $177.51 from Target's Take Charge of Education program. Thank you to everyone who has registered their Target card to give back to Brickton! Target is on track to give back $1 billion to the community for education by the end of 2015. To be a part of this, simply register your Target REDcard online at target.com. Click the REdcard tab then scroll to the bottom to learn more about Take Charge of Education.  Every time you shop at Target and use your REDcard, Brickton will earn 1% of your purchase.

Parent Alliance Meeting February 25

Please join the Parent Alliance for a meeting on February 25.

Silent Auction Online Now

Once again this year, the Silent Auction portion of the Big Leap Fundraiser is online via BiddingForGood.com. Brickton has its very own auction page loaded with amazing items with new ones being added throughout the auction! Click here to visit our online auctionnow!

Did you get your FREE raffle ticket yet?

Receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a pair of Big Leap tickets valued at $170 through procuring items for the Big Leap.  So far people have earned over 65 raffle tickets for donated items. Want to play?

• Each bottle of wine donated = 1 raffle ticket

• Each $25 gift certificate = 2 raffle tickets

• Each $100 sponsorship donated = 5 raffle tickets

Reserve your space

The beautiful invitations for The BIG LEAP Annual Benefit have landed in mailboxes all over the Chicago area. Please RSVP by mailing or dropping off your response card to the office by Friday, February 27 to help us plan for this special evening. The more the merrier, so invite your sister, your cousins, or your neighbors!

Chicago Engineering Fest

Soaring skyscrapers. Movable bridges. Elevated trains. The Chicago area is full of engineering marvels. Attend Engineering Fest for two days of fun, FREE hands-on activities that celebrate the creativity and ingenuity in the world around us. Find more info here.
Date: February 21-22, 10am-4pm
Location: Chicago Architecture Foundation: 224 S. Michigan Ave.
Cost: Free

Brickton Reads

Are you a serious series reader?  It is a great joy to find a book that hooks a student, because one good read leads to another. New readers become veteran readers who dive into a book series and don't come up for air until they have finished every last one.  Ephraim Guerrawas a fan of the A-Z Mysteries and loaned several of his books to Soumil Sarmah.  Ephraim is currently reading the I Funny series. Looking for a good series?  Here are some current and former fans of popular series: Frannie K. Stein - Francesca Sarkiss and Claire DeYoung; Horrible Harry - Gabriel Rodriguez; Katie Kazoo - Emma Plier, MareteAustrins; American Girl Series- Malina Joyce.  A couple more popular series from the Lower Elementary students are: Mo Willems, Geronimo Stilton, and Fly Guy.  

Upcoming Events

Movie Night, Friday, February 20

AIMS Conference for Faculty & Staff, Saturday, February 21

In School Celebration – Room 103, Friday, February 27, 8:30am

Manna Orders Due, Friday, February 27

Pizza Lunch, Friday, February 27

Open House, Sunday, March 1, 10:00am – 12:00 pm

Club Day, Friday, March 6– Records Day

The Big Leap, Saturday, March 7, 6:30pm

In School Celebration – Room 100/102, Friday, March 13, 8:30am

Pizza Lunch, Friday, March 13

Manna Orders Due, Friday, March 13

Club Day – Parent/Teacher Conferences, Friday, March 20

Spring Break – Club Days, Monday March 23 – Friday, March 27

School Resumes, Monday, March 30

School Closed – Spring Friday, Friday, April 3

The Brickton Weekly, February 13, 2015

Thank You Corner

Much gratitude goes to Joe Somers (Owen – Room 100/102 & Evelyn Room 105) for not only designing our beautiful Big Leap invitations, but stuffing and stamping them for delivery.  Thank you to Maggie Bauer and Mark Treppa (parents of alum Andrew Treppa) for their combined and continuing volunteer efforts to photograph and upload to our online platform in preparation for the annual benefit auction through Bidding For Good. Accolades go to Sharon Gooday (step-grandmother to Evan –Room 103 and Nathan - Room 101) for continuing her reign as the “Queen of Procurement” for gathering more than 20 silent auction items.  Many more thanks to come in next week’s Brickton Weekly as we continue the countdown to the Big Leap!

Annual Fund Update

Thank you to all the families, friends and staff that have donated to the annual fund.  We are a few dollars shy of $29,000in donations with a goal of $40,000.  Pledge cards are available in the office.  Donations are tax deductible, as Brickton is a 501 (c) 3 organization.  

Reminder – School closed Monday, February 16.

Brickton will be closed Monday, February 16.  This will be an inservice day for faculty and staff.

Family Movie Night is next Friday!

The Parent Alliance Presents Brickton’s Family Movie Night, Friday, February 20 from 6-8 pm. Pick from two movie selections:  Big Hero 6 or Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  Bring your blankets, wear your pajamas and get ready for a night of FAMILY FUN! Popcorn, pizza, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase or bring your own snacks!  Please RSVP to kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org so we can plan accordingly.

Reserve your space

The beautiful invitations for The BIG LEAP Annual Benefit have landed in mailboxes all over the Chicago area. Please RSVP by mailing or dropping off your response card to the office by Friday, February 27 to help us plan for this special evening. The more the merrier, so invite your sister, your cousins, or your neighbors!

Let the countdown begin!

The Annual Benefit’s Online Auction opens at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 19 through biddingforgood.com/brickton. Only 7 more days to wait to check out these exciting items!

Did you get your FREE raffle ticket yet?

Receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a pair of Big Leap tickets valued at $170 through procuring items for the Big Leap.  So far people have earned over 40 raffle tickets for donated items. Want to play?

• Each bottle of wine donated = 1 raffle ticket

• Each $25 gift certificate = 2 raffle tickets

• Each $100 sponsorship donated = 5 raffle tickets

Brickton Reads

Melonie Arroyo designed a seasonal festive bookmark project for the After School students to create their own "Thumb Body Loves to Read" bookmarks this week. Perfect for the books they love!

Upcoming Events

School Closed – Inservice Day, Monday, February 16 – Presidents’ Day

Board Meeting, Thursday, February 19, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Movie Night, Friday, February 20

AIMS Conference for Faculty & Staff, Saturday, February 21

In School Celebration – Room 103, Friday, February 27, 8:30am

Manna Orders Due, Friday, February 27

Pizza Lunch, Friday, February 27

Open House, Sunday, March 1, 10:00am – 12:00 pm

Club Day, Friday, March 6– Records Day

The Big Leap, Saturday, March 7, 6:30pm

In School Celebration – Room 100/102, Friday, March 13, 8:30am

Pizza Lunch, Friday, March 13

Manna Orders Due, Friday, March 13

Club Day – Parent/Teacher Conferences, Friday, March 20

Spring Break – Club Days, Monday March 23 – Friday, March 27

School Resumes, Monday, March 30

School Closed – Spring Friday, Friday, April 3

The Brickton Weekly, February 6, 2015

Thank You Corner

Thank you to Phil Moran, husband of Pat (Room 101 Assistant), for installing a new faucet on our kitchen sink. A round of applause to both Dave Degand (James 105 & Sarah 100/102) and John Wilcek (Luke 105 & Jack 100/102) for repairing tables for the Lower Elementary program.

Just posted!

The Big Leap bulletin board is your go-to location to find out what is happening at and for the annual benefit.

First up – Play Heads and Tails to win a Gopro Hero3+ camera!

Want a chance to win a pair of Big Leap tickets valued at $170?

• Each bottle of wine donated = 1 raffle ticket

• Each $25 gift certificate = 2 raffle tickets

• Each $100 sponsorship donated = 5 raffle tickets

Want to know what this year’s teacher outings will be for the silent auction at The Big Leap? Check out the bulletin board daily!

Coming soon to your mailbox

Your invitation to the annual benefit, The Big Leap, will be arriving soon in your home's mailbox. The more the merrier – so invite a friend, relative, or neighbor to come with you! Banquets by Morretti’s (upstairs venue) will host our benefit on Saturday, March 7, beginning at 6:30 pm. Drinks, appetizers, auctions, Team Trivia, Heads & Tails, and Wine & Dine are just part of the festivities. Kindly RSVP by February 27, 2015.

Museum of Science and Industry Free to Kids All February

Escape the wintery weather this February and head indoors to experiment in fun at the Museum of Science and Industry where kids (ages 3-11) receive free Museum Entry all month!

Brickton Reads

This February Brickton Reads celebrates memories of past years.  Take a peek into the early childhood literary lives of Brickton staff.  The following books were named as childhood favorites:  

Cheryl LaCost: Chronicles of Narnia;   Harold and the Purple Crayon

John Huber:  Anything by E.B.White;   The Phantom Toll Booth

Patricia Cribben:  Jane’s Blanket

Kelly McDermott:   Little House on the Prairie; The Giving Tree
Pat Moran: Nancy Drew mysteries; Little Golden Books Cinderella

Megan White:  The Baby Dear

Melonie Arroyo:  The Giving Tree    

Movie Night Coming February 20

Save the date for our upcoming Movie Night on February 20.  Details on specific movies and times to come!

Upcoming Events

Manna Orders Due, Friday, February 13

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, February 13

School Closed – Inservice Day, Monday, February 16 – Presidents Day

Board Meeting, Thursday, February 19, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Movie Night, Friday, February 20

AIMS Conference for Faculty & Staff, Saturday, February 21

In School Celebration – Room 103, Friday, February 27, 8:30am

Manna Orders Due, Friday, February 27

Pizza Lunch, Friday, February 27

Open House, Sunday, March 1, 10:00am – 12:00 pm

Club Day, Friday, March 6– Records Day

The Big Leap, Saturday, March 7, 6:30pm

In School Celebration – Room 100/102, Friday, March 13, 8:30am

Pizza Lunch, Friday, March 13

Manna Orders Due, Friday, March 13

Club Day – Parent/Teacher Conferences, Friday, March 20

Spring Break – Club Days, Monday March 23 – Friday, March 27

School Resumes, Monday, March 30

School Closed – Spring Friday, Friday, April 3