Thursday, August 21, 2014

Frequently Asked Questions From Both Ice Cream Socials


Thank you to all of the families who came out to the Ice Cream Social's at PIC & PES!  The schools look great and the teachers/staff are excited for a new chapter to begin. Thank you to the PTO and the children who worked hard for us! 

In speaking with parents I just wanted to cover a few of the Frequently Asked Questions that I received.  And PLEASE fill out your PTO Email Blast slip when you get it in your Blue Folders and turn it in! This would be something that would then go to all families in an email, as opposed to just those who happen to spot it on Facebook or the Blog!

1)  Where do we wait if we are picking up a child? 
PIC Building - Wait across the street in the Green Garden Country Club parking lot until the buses have departed.  Then you may come across to line up in the same directions the buses were going to show your car tags and your children will be released from there.  If you do not have a car tag, you need to park in the lot on the west side of the building and walk in to the building to sign out your child. 

PES Building - Students being picked up by car tag will be dismissed from the main north doors.  The car rider line for waiting vehicles begins on Oak Street.  There is no parking on Mill Street. Cars will not be allowed into the school drive until the buses have completely pulled out of the drive and the chain has been moved.  Once vehicles enter our school’s main drive, parents will pull up to one of the three marked spots and the adults supervising this area will release the children to the waiting vehicles. If you do not have a car tag, there is a parking lot on the northeast corner of the drive that parents typically park in. They then cross the drive and the students are released from those northeast doors.

2) Lunch Accounts? You do not need to have money on your lunch account to get lunch. You do not need to give notice ahead of time on whether you are taking lunch on a given day. (PIC only had the 1st day survey to get an idea of that one day...no survey is needed at this time.)   Wise words from Mrs. Wuske: All students may purchase a lunch on their lunch account. Teachers will take a count in the morning at attendance. You may put money in students account on website or bring in cash or check.  
If you are having issues putting money on the lunch account, we can try to guide you. We'll figure it out together!

3) Email Notifications?  You can sign up through your Parent Powerschool and going to "email notifications" to have your child's grades emailed to  you on a daily, weekly, monthly basis as well as select an option to be notified when your lunch balance gets low.  

4) Is the "Notify Me" the same as the PTO Email Blast?  No.  The Notify Me is strictly a school email/text that should come when posts are made on the school site.  The PTO Email Blasts will cover both school and PTO information so we are all on the same page!  We want you to get to know us and know what we're doing for all of the kids! What's not to like??  hee hee

5)  PTO Blog vs PTO Facebook:  The PTO Blog and Facebook pages have the same information! The Blog is for people who do not like or want Facebook. The Blog is like a website, I post info, you can look for info. If you prefer the Blog, go onto our Blog Page, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your email in the "Follow By Email" box.  (I am not notified if you enter your email, only if you comment on a post - we aren't a business we just want you to have info)  When new posts are entered, you will receive the post in your inbox.  It could go to your Spam folder until your computer knows you accept those emails.  

6) Final observation!  We met a lot of great new people and it was awesome to see the district come together as one. The Board of Education came out, as well as Mr. Stein!  We saw the teachers working hard, the office staff/faculty/principals and students coming together to get the schools prepared.  Words cannot cover all of the hands that made this happen.  And I will end on this...men have better hair on a 99.9% humidity day!   Let a great year begin! 

First Day of School 1st-5th Grade



Back to school 1st-5th Graders! 
This is an Early Release and students WILL need to bring a lunch if they did not purchase a school lunch.
PES: 8:30-1:10 pm
PIC: 7:45-12:25pm

* Kindergarten students have a meet and greet 8/22 - First full day 8/25 for all students.

PES Ice Cream Social TODAY


TODAY (8/21) is the PES Ice Cream Social and School Supply Drop Off! 
Families with the last names beginning with:
A-K 2-3pm
L-Z 3-4pm
Students can meet their teacher at this time too! 

Office is open 7:45am-6:00pm if you want to drop off supplies during those hours.
Car Tags for those with a regular pick-up schedule can pick up those as well.


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

PIC Ice Cream Social TODAY!


TODAY (8/20) is the PIC Ice Cream Social and School Supply Drop Off! 
2:30-4:00pm
Students can meet their teacher at this time too! 

Office is open 7:30am-6:00pm if you want to drop off supplies during those hours.
Car Tags for those with a regular pick-up schedule can pick up those as well.
* PES is 8/21 (Reminder will come tomorrow)




Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Paperless: Email Blasts & Blue Book


Get ready Elementary Families!  The PTO is going to make the big push this year to be as paperless as we can be.  When you see our PTO pages come home in your brand spanking new Blue Folders, fill them out!  (Keep reading...It's worth it! You can even Share it.)

1) We want your email address for PTO Email Blasts. You are saying, "What is a PTO Email Blast?" (You'll learn I have a knack for mind reading.) An email blast is strictly allowing us to send you information relating to the school/community events or even messages that the Principals want to try to get to as many parents as  possible...quickly.  As we know, not all Facebook or Blog messages are going to be seen. But most of us have email!  Don't worry, we won't be sending email's on a daily basis. More of a weekly basis when things are busy, or every few weeks if things are calmer.  Last year they came in handy when the school was having short days for heat or winter related weather.  We just want to be sure we are all on the same page.  Even the school reach messages don't always go according to plan.  It's just another method of a back-up to our school. Trust me, I am way more interesting in email form! ;) 

2) We want you to get on board with the electronic Blue Book! What's a Blue Book you ask? (Remember, Mind reader here!) It's our school directory. Information about the Blue Book will be in the folders and to include both schools and all families, we want to eliminate printed books so they can be current and available at all times. We will have information for you to preview at our Ice Cream Socials!  Otherwise, you will get those in your Blue Folders on the 1st day of school. 

3) We want you to be able to feel good that we are working hard to be sure everyone is on the same page with us.  Let's give our kids the best year as we work together and go paperless!   

Ice Cream Social


I scream! You scream! We ALL scream for ICE CREAM! 
Stop screaming and come out to the PTO Ice Cream Social!

PIC: August 20th (Wed) 2:30-4pm 

PES: August 21st (Thurs)
Families with the last name beginning with:
A-K 2:00-3:00pm
L-Z 3:00-4:00pm

You may drop off school supplies until 6pm too! 


Monday, August 18, 2014

Board Of Education Meeting Tonight


BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TONIGHT
August 18th, 2014 7:00PM
Peotone High School