The Brickton Weekly: May 2015

Friday, May 22, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, May 21, 2015

Gratitude Corner

Thank you to all who were able to join us for the annual Brickton 5K! We got in some great physical activity while enjoying time outdoors and visiting with friends.

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Peace Picnic

Pack your hamper with a hearty dinner and join us Friday, May 29^th from 5 – 7 pm at the annual Peace Picnic at nearby Catherine Chevalier Woods. The Parent Alliance will provide the popcorn and bounce houses and staff will host softball and kickball games.

We will take this opportunity to honor directress Kathleen Kasser as we wish her continued success as Assistant Director at her new school. Come join the fun!

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Mark Your Calendars: Graduation and Promotion Ceremony

On Thursday, June 4, we will celebrate the Graduation and Promotion Ceremony at 7:00 at the Irish American Heritage Center, located at 4626 North Knox Avenue, Chicago. Kindergarten, third and sixth grade students will be promoted to the next program level, and eighth grade students will graduate.

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Beyond Brickton: A Service Opportunity

Join us for this volunteer opportunity as we pack meals to help fight hunger and give back to other communities. We will be participating in a food packing session at: Feed My Starving Children at 1071 National Parkway, Schaumburg from 12 pm – 2 pm on Friday, June 5^th. Participation is free, but registration on your own is required. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

GROUP NAME: Brickton Montessori School – Beyond Brickton

JOIN CODE: 644138

QUESTIONS?: Please contact our Parent Alliance Co-chair, Shashona Chau, at writesc@yahoo.com

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Volunteers Needed!

Each year during the spring and summer, Brickton completes several beautification projects from planting to painting with the help of volunteers. Anyone with the desire to improve the school environment is welcome to volunteer. The time you give to Brickton, whether one or ten hours, will be a rewarding experience. Please contact Kelly McDermott through the office or email at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org with your availability. Thank you.

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Brickton Reads

Summertime: Make it a funnier time with word play. All parents are delighted with the novel and refreshing way their children use, confuse, abuse and misuse words! We love this part of family life: in fact, many family stories and pet names come from this very phenomenon. You can read more about funny word play here.

Recently National Public Radio came up with: Do We Talk Funny? 51 American Colloquialisms. Here are a few from the compilation:

doodinkus: unspecified objects

whoopersocker: extraordinary event

ish: expression of disgust

laggy: a little late

larruping: delicious

Brickton students regularly invent similar words during their conversations at lunchtime. Lower Elementary loves a good "homonym alert!” In addition to excessive reading over the summer, how about keeping the lovely daily tradition of mealtime conversation. Playing with words instead of food is a manners lesson. Here's some vocabulary for the launch: "Hey kids, tonight we are having burgers and polite prandial conversation!"

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Looking Ahead…

School Closed – Memorial Day, Monday, May 25

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, May 29

Peace Picnic, Friday, May 29, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Last Day of School, Thursday, June 4

Graduation/Promotion Ceremony, Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm

Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21

Friday, May 15, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, May 15, 2015

Thank You Corner

The Parent Alliance would like to thank all the families that contributed to making the Staff Appreciation Breakfast a success.

Thank you ALL for the amazing Staff Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday. What a delight to share a cup of coffee, have an individualized omelet, and indulge in fondue mid-week! Our gratitude goes out to all our amazing families for the food and monetary donations, as well as the preparation, and serving of such a wonderful meal.

Thank you for sharing your children, for collaborating with us,and for supporting Brickton Montessori School!

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A Note From Directress Kathleen Kasser

Dear friends,

As I write this to you, my heart is full. Today I want to tell you that after 18 wonderful years here at Brickton, I am leaving at the end of this school year for an opportunity as Assistant Director at Park View Montessori School. Megan White, my talented and esteemed co-directress, will be taking over direction of the classroom in the fall.

I have appreciated the camaraderie of the people with whom I’ve worked and the cordial relations I’ve enjoyed with parents. The best part, though, has always been spending time with Brickton’s children, and those are the memories that seem dearest to me as I look back over the time I’ve spent here.

After 40 years in Montessori, I have taught hundreds of children as a directress and hundreds of adults as a teacher trainer. I am saddened to leave Brickton. At the same time, I am looking forward to taking up this new adventure that life has offered me. Thank you for your good wishes and support.

Yours faithfully,

Kathleen

Brickton will honor Kathleen at the Peace Picnic with a memento for Kathleen to remember Brickton and a second item to remain at the school for us to remember her.

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Brickton’s 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run • TOMORROW

Join us for a scenic trail run through the Catherine Chevalier Forest Preserve. The Brickton 5K was established to give a physical challenge to students and families while participating in a community activity to fundraise for the school. These funds augment the education Brickton provides for a lifetime of learning, curiosity and creativity. Registration forms are available in the office and participants can sign up at the race. If you have questions or would like to learn more about this event, please contact Kelly McDermott at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org or call 773.714.0646.

Race Day Schedule:

9:30 AM Kids Fun Run

10:00 AM 5K Run/Walk

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Peace Picnic

Mark your calendar for Friday, May 29^th from 5 – 7 pm for the annual Peace Picnic at nearby Catherine Chevalier Woods. Pack your hamper with a hearty dinner and the Parent Alliance will provide the popcorn and bounce houses. To round out the activities, staff will host softball and kickball games. Come join the fun!

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Volunteers Needed!

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Brickton Reads

To Slide or Not to Slide: That is the Question.

In the great summer sport of baseball, sliding is exciting to watch. We wait to see players slide. But something villainous, also called the slide, is waiting for many children every summer, and some parents don’t even know it’s out there.

"It's called the "summer slide," and it describes what happens when young minds sit idle for three months. Children who do not read over the summer will lose up to three months of reading achievement. Summer reading loss is cumulative. By the end of fifth grade children who lose reading skills over the summer will be three years behind their classmates." (Reading is Fundamental) There are many reasons and resources for parents to keep kids reading throughout the summer and beyond: library programs, book clubs, audio books, and much more. Parents need to prevent this slide. So make sure to keep your eye on the ball and keep them reading at home base! Enjoy the slide at baseball games and avoid the other kind at home plate!

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Looking Ahead…

Brickton Kids Fun Run and 5K, Saturday, May 16, 9:00 –11:30am

Board Meeting – Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 21, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Club Day – Records Day, Friday, May 22

School Closed – Memorial Day, Monday, May 25

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, May 29

Peace Picnic, Friday, May 29, 5:30pm

Last Day of School, Thursday, June 4

Graduation/Promotion Ceremony, Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm

Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21

Friday, May 8, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, May 8, 2015

Fine Arts Night

Last night Brickton’s Kindergarten through Middle School students shared their musical talents at our Fine Arts Night through song, band ensemble, Orff instruments and a drum circle. It was a delight to hear our students’ celebration of musical creativity. Bravo to all the performers!

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Friends of Brickton Day & The Art Expo

We enjoyed hosting grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, parents and other special friends at our annual Friends of Brickton celebration today! Our day started with a light breakfast in the Great Room surrounded by student created art work. Guests then spent time working with their student host in the classroom, learning more about the Montessori method.

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Special Recognition Reception

Today we honored Karen Glab and the incredible impact she has had on Brickton as a founding parent, volunteer and staff member for 28 years. In her honor, the school dedicated a lovely wooden bench for the playground and presented her with an engraved crystal memento to remember her years at Brickton.

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Volunteer Corner

Thank you to John Joyce for his assistance in helping us secure a new location, Bethel Community Church, for our Fine Arts Night. The acoustics and venue were perfect for the students to share their musical celebration with family and friends. We appreciate the time and effort of Dave Degand, for hauling our new playground posts, and Rob Arnoldt, who is tackling the arduous task of installing them to re-secure our monkey bars.

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Brickton Reads

Does reading Harry Potter have an effect on your behavior? Researchers have published findings that show Harry Potter readers demonstrate keen social perception, empathy and lack of prejudice towards marginalized individuals and groups. "It seems that Rowling might get at the beautiful, sobering mess of life in a way that could have a meaningful impact on our children’s collective character. Fantasy may be especially effective in assuaging negative attitudes." In short, reading stories and narratives are a great way to reach and transform people from the earliest ages at the deepest level. Check this out and then check out the books!

http://www.npr.org/2015/05/01/403474870/does-reading-harry-potter-have-an-effect-on-your-behavior
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Cecropia Moths at Brickton

Each spring, Brickton provides a cecropia moth cocoon for each classroom. There are opportunities for related lessons from the lifecycle of a moth, characteristics of butterflies versus moths, identifying male versus female cecropia moths, and appropriate food sources for larvae, etc., as students anxiously await the emergence of their moth. As North America's largest native moth, these insects are magnificent to behold.

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Register Now!

Brickton’s 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run • May 16, 2015

Join us for a scenic trail run through the Catherine Chevalier Forest Preserve. The Brickton 5K was established to give a physical challenge to students and families while participating in a community activity to raises funds for the school. These funds augment the education Brickton provides for a lifetime of learning, curiosity and creativity.Registration forms are available in the office.If you have questions or would like to learn more about this event, please contact Kelly McDermott at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org or call 773.714.0646.

Race Day Schedule:

9:30 AM Kids Fun Run

10:00 AM 5K Run/Walk

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Looking Ahead…

Staff Appreciation Breakfast, Wednesday, May 13, 8:00 – 10:00am

Brickton Kids Fun Run and 5K, Saturday, May 16, 9:00 –11:30am

Board Meeting – Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 21, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Club Day – Records Day, Friday, May 22

School Closed – Memorial Day, Monday, May 25

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, May 29

Peace Picnic, Friday, May 29, 5:30pm

Last Day of School, Thursday, June 4

Graduation/Promotion Ceremony, Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm

Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, May 1, 2015

Thank You Corner

Thank you to two of our Lower Elementary students, Milos Ivic and Ilene Shafran,, for volunteering to greet about 35 members of the Association of Illinois Montessori Schools' (AIMS) meeting held at Brickton on Wednesday. They were wonderful hosts.

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Register Now!

Brickton’s 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run • May 16, 2015

· Register by May 1 and receive the special Brickton family rate – $20 per 5k participant and $10 per fun run participant! (Active.com = $35 and $20 respectively). Registration forms are available in the office.

· Each participant registered by May 1^st will receive a tech t-shirt and a ribbon. So, walk, run but don’t miss out on the fun!

· If you have questions or would like to learn more about this event, please contact Kelly McDermott at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org or call 773.714.0646.

Race Day Schedule:

9:30 AM Kids Fun Run

10:00 AM 5K Run/Walk

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Fine Arts Night • Thursday, May 7

Enjoy this musical evening celebrating the development of our student talent through performances featuring Orff instruments, recorders, drums, chorus and band! Our Children’s House third year students (kindergarten) through 8^th grade students will be performing. We will continue the tradition of meeting afterwards for ice cream at Oberweiss in Park Ridge for a celebratory effortless fundraiser!

Time: 7:00 pm

Where: Bethel Community Church, 7601 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago

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Oberweis Ice Cream Fundraiser

Following the Fine Arts Night on Thursday, May 7, join the Brickton community at Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store in Park Ridge. The store is hosting a fundraiser for Brickton. If you download this coupon or get a copy from the office and take it with you, Oberweis will donate 30% on all of our purchases made at any time on that day back to Brickton.

101 S. Northwest Hwy. Park Ridge IL. 60068

Thursday May 7^th, 2015

All Day (10:00 AM – 10:00 PM)

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Friends of Brickton Day & The Art Expo (May 8)

Friends of Brickton Day is a celebration of all the generational connections our students have at Brickton Montessori School! Invite aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, godparents and neighbors to enjoy breakfast in the Great Room surrounded by student created art work; then learn more about the Montessori philosophy by spending some time working with your student host in their classroom.

If you are visiting an Elementary or Middle School student and would like to stay all day, you are welcome to bring a lunch and eat in the classroom with the students. Please remember, we are a nut-free school.

When: Friday, May 8

Toddler and Children’s House Guests: 8 am – 11 am

Elementary and Middle School Guests: 8 am – 3 pm

Where: Brickton Montessori School classrooms and Great Room

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Special Recognition Reception

Join us at The Art Expo to celebrate Karen Glab, founding parent, volunteer and staff member as she retires after 28 years of dedicated service. Light refreshments and snacks will be served.

Date: Friday, May 8

Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Where: The Art Expo in the Great Room

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Brickton Reads….Let's Summerize!

Camps, swim lessons, sports, vacations! As you ink those dates on the calendar, be sure get the registration dates for and the best bargain ever: Free Summer Reading Programs!

Start by signing up for organized summer reading programs. Your library or other libraries have the info. Sign up on time to get the most out of the program. Badges, bookmarks, banners: there are always incentives! But you need to plan now!

· The earliest start-date is next week: May 4! Scholastic Books offers The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. ™ This free online reading program runs May 4-Sept. 4, 2015. Check it out!

· Barnes and Noble sponsors Imagination's Destination. Information is available on their website.

· Pizza Hut's Book It Summer Reading starts June 1, 2015!

· Half Price Books is a great place to visit. Their summer program is called Feed Your Brain.

· Another favorite used book store is Open Books. They are moving to a new location in May and once again offering some special Summer Programs.

· The Printers Row Lit Fest is the June 6-7. While this is not a reading program, it is a PHENOMENAL way to kick off your summer and could easily become a summer highlight. 200 Booksellers and 100 Events! Pick up enough reading ideas and texts for several summers! The kids/family line up of festivities is world class.

Please let Brickton Reads know your favorite summer-reading program or idea: liz.skrodzki@brickton.org

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Looking Ahead…

Fine Arts Night, Thursday, May 7, 7:00pm

Friends of Brickton Day and Art Expo, Friday, May 8

Staff Appreciation Breakfast, Wednesday, May 13, 8:00 – 10:00am

Brickton Kids Fun Run and 5K, Saturday, May 16, 9:00 –11:30am

Board Meeting – Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 21, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Club Day – Records Day, Friday, May 22

School Closed – Memorial Day, Monday, May 25

Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, May 29

Peace Picnic, Friday, May 29, 5:30pm

Last Day of School, Thursday, June 4

Graduation/Promotion Ceremony, Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm

Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21.