COMMUNITY AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE:  Did you know that nearly 15% of Americans are living in poverty and struggling to provide warm coats for themselves and their families? This year the Ivy Hill PTA is teaming up with One Warm Coat to hold a coat, hat and mitten drive, and we need your help!

Donate coats to the PTA coat, hat and mitten drive! One Warm Coat has been holding coat drives across the country for more than 20 years.  During the week of November 6-10, stop by the Ivy Hill Commons to drop off gently worn coats, hats and mittens.  Everything collected will be donated locally to our neighbors in need.  Help spread the warmth!!! Coat, Hat, Mitten Drive Flyer

EVERYBODY COUNTS COMMITTEE:  Everybody Counts Week is coming Nov 13-17.   Everybody Counts is a program designed to teach children about various disabilities and how children with these challenges cope with them.  The goal is understanding, to help everyone look for the person behind the disability, and to create a climate in which we all feel at ease with our differences.  Each presentation will provide the children with an opportunity to experience what it would be like to cope with a disability.  Would you like the opportunity to lead your child’s class in this experience?  A script will be provided, and there are typically 4-5 volunteers who share each presentation.  Please contact Stephanie Lazzari (slpturtles@gmail.com) to be added to our volunteer list.  Also, Everybody Counts is in need of clean, empty gallon milk jugs.  Please drop these off in the bin provided in the front hall at school.  Thank you!!  Sign up here!  Everybody Counts Volunteer Signup

HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP COMMITTEE:  Save the Date for this year’s Holiday Gift Shop.  Saturday, December 2 , 9:00-11:30 AM at Ivy Hill School in the Commons Area.  Students will have the opportunity to purchase items for the holidays for family members or friends.  Donuts and hot chocolate will be available for purchase during the shopping time.  We are looking for students or adults to sell their crafts/home made items during the event too.  If you or anyone you know (they have to be Ivy Hill families) have a craft to sell please contact Katie Hacias at Katie.hacias@hotmail.com or 847-987-6233. Tables can be purchased for $10/student and $25/adult.  We are looking for holiday wrapping paper donations for our gift wrapping station.  We would appreciate wrapping paper roll donations and are collecting them in a bin in the commons area.

BOXTOPS/SHOPAROO COMMITTEE:   Are your kids bored at home now that the weather is turning cold?  Send them on a Box Top scavenger hunt!  Have them hunt for Box Top labels on many of your family’s favorite products (Cheerios, Annie’s, Lysol Cleaners, Ziploc, Hefty Garbage Bags and much more).  After the game, label a bag with your child’s name/teacher and send them into school.  Not only can it be a fun activity, it is also a great way for the school to earn extra money that is utilized for your children’s benefit.  Also, don’t forget to scan your receipts into the Shoparoo App!  For more information go to www.shoparoo.com