The Item Newsletter, Issue #16, April 5, 2015
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE! 
Spring is here and we have so many exciting new things popping up at Hubbard Woods School!

- WGST just established a WEATHER STATION. Click on The Zen Librarian link below for all of the details and some fantastic pictures.

- In honor of Hubbard Woods' 100 Year Anniversary, to be celebrated next school year, we've just launched a FACEBOOK PAGE! Click here to check it out.

- Earth Week is just around the corner, and the Green Team is in high gear. The PTO has so much to say about the environmental strides we're making as a school, we've decided to launch a GREEN TEAM NEWSLETTER. Look for it in your inbox this month!  
This Week and Next
Wednesday, April 8, 6:30 - 8:10 PM
THE SKOKIE SCHOOL ORIENTATION
Orientation meeting for current fourth grade students and their parents. Tour the school, meet the staff and have a conversation with current Skokie students. Skokie students identified last year's orientation meeting as one of the most helpful components of their orientation activities.
Wednesday, April 15
End of Trex Plastic Bag Challenge
News and Notes
WORLD TRAVELERS HEAD TO EGYPT
Our third and last journey of the school year will take us all the way to Africa where we'll visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - the Great Pyramid of Giza. We will travel through the Sahara desert, cruise on the river Nile, and learn more about Egypt's ancient civilization and history as well as everyday life for a child just like yours!

Save the date for our travelogue on April 15 and the tasty Egyptian lunch on April 17. Fliers should have come home in your child's backpack Friday before spring break. They are due this week, Thursday, April 9. Questions? Contact Tine Tschackert at tinesebastian@hotmail.com.
EARTH WEEK IS
APRIL 20 - 24!
Earth Day is April 22 and that entire week will be full of activities and new programs at school (it's like Earth Appreciation Week!). 

Talk to your kids about what they're doing, seeing, and discussing in school!

Mon 4/20 - Theme: Education. Students will engage in classroom discussions about taking care of our Earth and will create a video showing what may be recycled and composted currently in our schools. The Town Hall Meeting on Fri 4/17 will highlight these issues also. 
 
Tues 4/21 - Theme: Reduce. Trash-Free Tuesday. Send your child with no trash for snacks and lunch!
 
Wed 4/22 (Earth Day) - Theme: Conserve. Walk-to-School Wednesday. Families are encouraged to walk, bike, and use other forms of active transportation to school.
 
Thurs 4/23 - Theme: Recycle. We will highlight efforts to recycle plastic bags and Styrofoam in Winnetka and HWS. We should hear the results of the Trex Plastic Bag Challenge this week. 
 
Fri 4/24 (Arbor Day) - Theme:  Arbor Day. We are looking into planting trees and/or breaking ground on a garden space. 
TREX PLASTIC BAG CHALLENGE ENDS ON APRIL 15
Only 10 more days to bring in your plastics! Click here for a list of plastics we're collecting.
"Think Before You Throw" Volunteer Opportunity
 Sign up to help out in the cafeteria this Spring. It's a great way to see your children in action and to make a difference in our school! Click here
for more information.
HUBBARD WOODS FIELD DAY IS COMING - Wednesday, May 27th!!!
This is one of the most fun-filled days at Hubbard Woods! Students from grades 1-4 are mixed together on three different teams: Red, White, or Blue. Students are encouraged to wear their team colors on Field Day while engaging in activities including: trivia, water balloon toss, soccer dribble, and more. Teachers and parent volunteers work together to ensure the events of the day run smoothly doing everything from managing games to scoring or distributing water. In the event of inclement weather, Field Day will take place in the gym. If you are interested in volunteering, please click here to sign up now Click Here
Questions? Please contact your Field Day co-chairs Anne Ross
(anneross99@gmail.com) and Andrea Mercuri (maxmercuri@msn.com).
A ZEN LIBRARIAN - By Todd Burleson
HUBBARD WOODS HAS AN OFFICIAL WEATHER STATION! 
Hubbard Woods and WGST now have an official Underground Weather Station. We will be integrating this into our morning meteorologist reports, but what is truly exciting is the fact that anyone who has access to the internet can utilize our data. Classrooms will be able to explore everything from high and low temperatures, wind chill, precipitation, barometric pressure and so much more. Click HERE to read all about the set up of our new station.
Looking Ahead
Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24 - Earth Week!
Wednesday, April 29
Spring Sing, 7PM, Skokie School
MAYFEST IS SUNDAY, MAY 17 from 12 - 4 PM at Hubbard Woods School
Want to get involved? Please contact Kate Kligora at katekligora@gmail.com.
Lunch Box

Lunch ordering is NOW OPEN for all dates through year end. Place your order by logging onto www.kiddoscatering.com
The next Pizza Fun Lunch will be served on Friday, April 10.
Remember to send your child to school with a beverage, especially on Pizza Fun Lunch days.
Lost & Found
Winter Is Over. Really!
Come and get your winter gear from Lost & Found.
In 2 weeks we'll be washing all unclaimed fall and winter items and donating them to charity.
Community Events




 
"Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania "

Frank Bruni, Op-Ed Columnist, The New York Times, Thursday, April 9 at 7 PM at New Trier High School, Northfield Campus. Click here for more information.

"Relating & Communicating with Tech!"
April 22, 9:30 - 11:30 AM PM, Click here for more information 
Kudos
Our heartfelt thanks goes to Flannery Buchanan for her dogged persistence in getting the new Cultural Arts Committee up and running this year. Due to her efforts and those of her committee members we have a new arts event planned this spring at HW!

Also, a big shout out to Liz Vance for taking over as music chair and for diligently orchestrating all the volunteer needs for the Spring Sing. Thanks Liz.
Up Next
The deadline to submit content for the next issue of The Item is Monday, April 13. Submissions should be sent to hwitemeditor@gmail.com.