The Environmental Awareness Committee will be holding two drives in December/early January.  One is our annual recycling of holiday lights drive.  So if you have any old and/or non-working holiday lights, please drop them off in the designated boxes in the Commons area starting December 1^st. Secondly, we are having a used board games collection.  We are requesting any gently used board games with all pieces included. These board games will be given to our teachers that are in need of some new board games, especially for indoor recess.  Please leave these donations in the marked box in the Commons area, too.  Both drives will be taking place December 1^st –January 9th. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Derochowski (michelledycus@gmail.com) or Angela Zulaski  (Ajz95331@yahoo.com

MANNA GIFT CARDS are here — just in time for the holidays!  Stock up on gifts for family, friends, teachers for easy holiday shopping!  A hard copy of a letter with more information and an order form were sent home in backpack mail last week. Here are links to the Letter  and the Order Form . Orders are due no later than Friday, December 5th.  This is a fundraiser sponsored by the Ivy Hill PTA — all proceeds are used by the PTA to benefit the students of Ivy Hill.  Happy Shopping!  Any questions, please contact Carla Kim, cmk17@sbcgobal.net or Lynn Feder, lynnfeder@hotmail.com.

HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP will be here before you know it! Saturday, December 6th from 9:00-11:30 families are invited to visit the school and purchase fabulous low-cost items. We are also welcoming crafters and vendors who will offer something unique for everyone.   Children can find gifts for everyone in the family and leave with them gift wrapped. Donuts and Coffee can be purchased and hot cocoa is always complimentary. Be sure not to miss this very special IH tradition. If you are interested in volunteering for the Holiday Gift Shop, contact Emily Morrison emmorrison@sbcglobal.net or check out our volunteer sign up page at  www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F49ACAB22A31-20141

The Holiday Gift Shop Committee is looking for wrapping paper donations.  Do you have any plain or holiday rolls that you wouldn’t mind donating? Free gift-wrapping service has always been a favorite perk at this event. Our supplies are quite low this year.  If you are interested in donating, there will be a labeled drop-off box in the commons.  Thank you so much! Any questions? Please contact Emily Morrison at emmorrison@sbcglobal.net

Market Day:  A BIG thank you to those who ordered in November!  We increased our earnings from $85.50 to $215.35!  We also increased our customers from 17 to 26!  Hope you enjoy your pies & your family gatherings for Thanksgiving. December is coming so start thinking about those cookies…

BOX TOPS: On November first, we submitted $1010.00 worth of Box Tops!  Thank you so much to the families and staff members who contributed.   Hopefully we can keep this pace up and continue to break records!  Our next raffle winners will be drawn on November 20th.  The lucky winners will receive Family Video movie night gift packs.  Congratulations to the Gonc and Nix families for winning the DQ ice cream cakes!

IFives got to:
CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE: Soumya Subash & Praveena Aardhya for the Pro-Kids assembly. The students LOVED it! Thank you also to Mrs.Jimenez for her help too!

COMMUNITY & FAMILY INVOLVEMENT: Sharon Bank & Linda Boehm for all their hard work with the Hat & Mitten Drive.

District/Community Happenings: Damine Kabuki November 22^nd 1:00 pm @ Niles North High School. Click HERE  for more information. Or go to District 25’s website at http://www.sd25.org/pages/sd25

Click HERE to visit Mr. Kaese’s Blog!

As a reminder, next week is the “Hat & Mitten Drive” for JOURNEYS: The Road Home.  We encourage the following new or like-new items in any size: gloves, hats, scarves, socks (new only), coats or winter boots.  Please leave your donations in the designated boxes found in the Commons area. JOURNEYS provides shelter and services to those who are homeless in suburban Cook County.
If you have any questions, please contact Linda Boehm (linda_swalla@yahoo.com) or Sharon Bank (sharonlbank@yahoo.com).

Yankee Candle orders are in!  Order pick-up will be on Monday, November 17 from 3:00-5:30 pm in the Commons.  Please make every effort to pick up your order during this time.  Thank you for your orders!

CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE : will present Tim Hannig’s Pro-Kids Show for students on Monday, November 17, 2014 at 9:30am & 10:30am. Hannig’s Show is a fast-paced, entertaining one-man show with custom music, amazing illusions, hilarious comedy, ventriloquism, drama, and audience involvement. For more info go to pkshow.com

LAST CALL FOR YEARBOOK PHOTOS of AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER EVENTS!!
The Yearbook committee is closing out the photo collection for early fall events as we prepare to layout the yearbook. If you have photos of the following, please submit them to the Yearbook website by next Friday, November 21:
Ice Cream Social/Meet & Greet, First Day of School, Flagpole Sing. Fire Safety Simulator, Walking School Bus
Here is how you can submit photos online:
• Go to: https://images.memoryebooks.com/login
• If it does not automatically log you into the site, enter username: 401853939
• Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload.
• Enter information about the photo and provide contact information in case the staff needs additional information.
• Click “Save Details”.
It’s that easy! Submit your photos today! The last day to submit photos of these events is 11/21/2014.
Thanks to all who have already submitted your photos!

MANNA GIFT CARDS are here — just in time for the holidays!  Stock up on gifts for family, friends, teachers for easy holiday shopping!  A hard copy of a letter with more information and an order form were sent home in backpack mail today. Here are links to the Letter  and the Order Form . Orders are due no later than Friday, December 5th.  This is a fundraiser sponsored by the Ivy Hill PTA — all proceeds are used by the PTA to benefit the students of Ivy Hill.  Happy Shopping!  Any questions, please contact Carla Kim, cmk17@sbcgobal.net or Lynn Feder, lynnfeder@hotmail.com.

HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP will be here before you know it! Saturday, December 6th from 9:00-11:30 families are invited to visit the school and purchase fabulous low-cost items. We are also welcoming crafters and vendors who will offer something unique for everyone.   Children can find gifts for everyone in the family and leave with them gift wrapped. Donuts and Coffee can be purchased and hot cocoa is always complimentary. Be sure not to miss this very special IH tradition. If you are interested in volunteering for the Holiday Gift Shop, contact Emily Morrison emmorrison@sbcglobal.net or check out our volunteer sign up page at  www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F49ACAB22A31-20141
Holiday Gift Shop Committee is still in need of wrapping paper donations.  Free gift-wrapping service has always been a favorite perk at this event.  If you are able to donate, there will be a labeled drop-off box in the commons.

BOX TOPS: On November first, we submitted $1010.00 worth of Box Tops!  Thank you so much to the families and staff members who contributed.   Hopefully we can keep this pace up and continue to break records!  Our next raffle winners will be drawn on November 20th.  The lucky winners will receive Family Video movie night gift packs.  Congratulations to the Gonc and Nix families for winning the DQ ice cream cakes!

IFives got to:
REFLECTIONS: Thank you to all the Ivy Hill students who participated in the 2014-2015 Reflections Arts Program.  We wish you luck in advancing to the next level of this program. Thank you again Lori Ann Oyen for all her hard work with this committee!

GARDEN COMMITTEE: would like to thank Brendan Smith, Michelle Derochowski and her father and Tiger Scouts Den 468 families for coming out on Saturday to complete the Fall Clean up. Thank you also to Michelle Derochowski and Jen Talley for heading up this committee!

District/Community Happenings: Damine Kabuki November 22^nd 1:00 pm @ Niles North High School. Click HERE  for more information. Or go to District 25’s website at http://www.sd25.org/pages/sd25

Click HERE to visit Mr. Kaese’s Blog!

3rd – 5th Grade Movie Night!

An awesome time was had by our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who attended the PTA movie night on Friday, October 17! Students watched a Dolphin Tale while hanging out with friends and enjoying drinks and treats provided by the PTA. We would like to thank the Movie Night Committee and all of our great parent volunteers for making it a great night!

4th Grade Show – Summer Camp!

Congratulations to Mrs. Optiz and the 4th Graders on their production of Summer Camp! on October 22. We saw some fantastic acting, heard some wonderful singing and laughed at bugs and bears and jokes, oh my!

Click HERE to visit Mr. Kaese’s Blog!

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) Happenings:

 The Family and Community Involvement Committee will be organizing a charity drive in November for JOURNEYS: The Road Home, from November 17 – November 21.  JOURNEYS provides shelter and services to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in suburban Cook County. The goals of the Emergency Shelter Program is to provide hospitality, food and overnight shelter to the homeless between October 1 and April 30, seven days a week.  The sites are staffed entirely by volunteers with an average of 75 guests staying at the sites each night.
The committee is requesting the following new or like-new items in any size: gloves, hats, scarves, socks (new only), coats or winter boots.  Please leave your donations in the designated boxes found in the Commons area.  If you have any questions, please contact Linda Boehm (linda_swalla@yahoo.com) or Sharon Bank (sharonlbank@yahoo.com).  Thank you for your support!

ABC/25 NEWS!  Our goal has been met!  Just over 25% of our families joined the ABC/25 Scholarship & Grant Foundation, earning our school $2500!  Thank you to all who joined.  Your contributions will make a big impact on our school.  Be sure to look for news about how this award will be used at Ivy Hill!
Yankee Candle orders are in and will arrive within the next two weeks, just in time for the holidays!  You will be notified of pick-up times after their arrival.

Holiday Gift Shop Committee is looking for wrapping paper donations.  Do you have any plain or holiday rolls that you wouldn’t mind donating? Free gift-wrapping service has always been a favorite perk at this event. Our supplies are quite low this year.  If you are interested in donating, there will be a labeled drop-off box in the commons.  Thank you so much! Any questions? Please contact Emily Morrison at emmorrison@sbcglobal.net

   Metra is having a Poster and Essay Contest for grades K-12 regarding train safety.  Prizes are an iPad, $250, and $100. For more information go to:  www.metracontest.com

Market Day:  Reminder you may order online until Monday, Nov 10th.  Pick up date is Thursday, Nov 13th.  November is pie month – the more you buy the more our school earns!  FREE dessert pedestal with $90 online purchase* Promo Code: NOVBONUS

WE NEED YOU: to help pick the next PTA Executive Board. We will need three current Lead Committee Chair Members and three members who are not currently Lead Committee Chairs. If you are interested please contact PTA Co-Presidents Denise Schreiner (deniseschreiner@sbcglobal.net) or Kara Janus (KMACKJAN@aol.com)

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS:  November 20th & December 18th 7:30 @ Mary-Olive Stint Elementary School

Find us on Facebook: Ivy Hill Elemetary PTA

IFives got to:
YEARBOOK COMMITTEE: Nikki Wolverton for helping with Picture Retake Day.

Everyone who attended the November PTA meeting. There will not be a meeting in December. The next meeting will be held on January 6^, 2015.

 District/Community Happenings: Damine Kabuki November 22^nd 1:00 pm @ Niles North High School. Posted on District 25’s website at http://www.sd25.org/pages/sd25

Everybody Counts!

During the week of October 20, Ivy Hill celebrated Everybody Counts week. Everybody Counts is a program designed to educate students about people with various disabilities. Through a combination of instruction and hand-on activities, students in each grade learn about a particular disability, whether that be a physical impairment like the inability to walk or see, or a cognitive impairment that affects communication or learning.

All activities are completely volunteer led so we want to extend a huge THANK YOU for all of the hours our volunteers gave to plan and deliver this great program to our students! As our school continues to grow, we will need even more volunteers to host the Everybody Counts program at Ivy Hill. Keep it in mind for a volunteer activity in 2015 – it’s a great chance to get into the classroom and interact with your student(s) and their peers!