The Item Newsletter, Issue #2, September 7, 2015
What's an IDEA Lab Exactly???
By now you've hopefully heard the buzz about our newly redesigned space up in the HW Resource Center (library, for you newbies!), called the IDEA Lab. Todd Burleson, our Resource Center Director and IDEA Lab Creator, worked tirelessly all summer alongside parent volunteers to transform the old computer lab area into our own version of a "maker's space" -- a space for our kids to explore their imaginations, gain new skills and turn their ideas into reality. From robotics to sewing and crafts to engineering -- the IDEA Lab at HWS features more than 25 pieces of high-tech educational equipment...it's a a sort-off "libratory" full of possibility!
 
The library ("RC") side of the space now features new, modern furniture that is kid-centric in design. The RC also has research stations equipped with iPads and laptops -- and of course, the same treasured book collection the kids know and love. Also new, the WGST kid-produced and kid-anchored TV news station moved up from the school basement and now lives in its own space attached to the IDEA Lab.
 
Separate from but related to the IDEA Lab, HWS now has a Project Room located in one of the old kindergarten rooms on the first floor. The Project Room is outfitted with an amazing assortment of supplies and materials, to allow classes to create large-scale, messy projects in an open space.
 
Todd Burleson will keep us up-to-date on everything transpiring in our new spaces through his blog (see "What's The Big IDEA?" below). Also, stay tuned for opportunities throughout the school year for both parents and kids to experience the IDEA Lab together.

In the meantime, here is some terminology, so you know the lingo your kids use!

RC=Resource Center, our school library.

IDEA Lab=The space located within the RC that will be a 'Tinkering Workshop.' The space will be home to everything from toilet paper tubes, tempera paint, hammers and nails to electronic circuitry kits and robots. A cart of laptops will allow the space to be converted instantly to a 'computer lab' again. Additionally, iPads and chromebooks will round out the technological compliment.

TMI=Think, make, improve -- the overarching approach to "design thinking," which is how our kids will be encouraged to use the IDEA Lab.

Project Room=The space for BIG explorations by students. A dedicated space for students to get messy, creative and use their imagination. A flexible and fluid space that can easily and quickly be reconfigured to meet the needs of projects. 
Call to Action: 
Want to get involved with the IDEA Lab? The PTO is putting together a new IDEA Lab Committee to make sure this amazing endeavor has all the support it needs to thrive. Please contact Sarah Graham ([email protected]) you are interested in joining.

Also, the IDEA Lab needs YOUR special skills and talents to help with specific IDEA Lab projects! Are you a skilled photographer? Do you have a talent for sewing? Please contact Sarah Graham (
[email protected]). Specific skills needed are: sewing, photography, computer engineering/coding, computer app/game design, video production/editing, robotics, circuitry and electrical engineering. It's a great opportunity to share your knowledge with the students!
This Week and Next
Hubbard Woods School's
100 Year Birthday Party  
Tuesday, September 8th, during the school Town Hall Meeting. This celebration is for students only and will mark both the 100-year anniversary of our school and the kick off of the Decades Project. The party will include allergy-free cupcakes and environmentally-friendly balloons!
Rosh Hashanah    
Monday, September 14th - No School 
Picture Day     
Thursday, September 17th
Photos taken during school hours 
Go-To-School Night     
Thursday, September 17th
Grades 1-2 at 7:00-7:50 PM
Grades 3-4 at 8:00-8:50 PM 
What's the Big IDEA? by Todd Burleson
This summer has been busy up in the Resource Center. Countless volunteers have helped turn our beautiful space into one that is even more fantastic. I documented the process and recorded it all on our Resource Center Blog: A Zen Librarian. I hope you'll enjoy seeing some of the behind-the-scenes work that has gone on there this summer. We look forward to continuing the transformation and sharing it with our school community. If you have questions, reach me at [email protected]
Love the IDEA Lab already?
Try A Little Tinkering At Home!

Challenge #1: The Spaghetti Challenge from the James Dyson Foundation.  Click here for directions.
News and Notes
Do You Love Scrapbooking? Or Creating Snapfish Picture Books? 
Then the PTO has a spot for you! We're looking for 2 people to collaborate with our veteran Yearbook Chair, Jennie Ely, on this year's yearbook, with an eye to chair the committee next year. Jennie has masterfully crafted our school yearbooks for the last 8 years (4 as yearbook chair). She knows the ins and outs of this extremely important position. This is a perfect opportunity to shadow her, learn from the best and create a lasting memory for your child and the school. Please contact Jennie Ely with interest or questions at [email protected].
Chess Wizards 
It's that time of year again for Monday lunchtime Chess Wizards. The Wizards come to the school on most Mondays to teach your child chess. Beginners through skilled players are welcome. Let them come to learn or just to have fun with friends. Sign up forms will come home soon and the next class is on Monday 9/21. Any questions, email Nat Roberts at [email protected] 
Art Room Helpers Needed  
Don't forget to sign up to volunteer for Art Helper in your child's class.  It's a fun and easy volunteer opportunity and helps Ms. Mac out a lot.  Sign Up Genius invites went out last week so check your email. Questions? Please contact Lowey Sichol at [email protected] 
Picture Day
SMILE! Thursday, September 17th is PICTURE DAY!  Please watch your child's backpack for sign-up forms and information. Please note that we have switched to a new vendor this year, Stuart Rodgers Photography. If you have questions, please contact Becky Sanderson at [email protected].
Calling All 4th Grade Girl Scouts! 
We would like to know who is interested in joining Girl Scouts this year. Please email [email protected] by September 8th if your daughter would like to have a super fun year of Girl Scout activities as a Junior scout. 
Feeling Green? 
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year from the HWS PTO Green Team!  We are always looking for ways to incorporate sustainable thinking into our school's operations and programming. If you have thoughts or questions about things that are, are not, or could be happening, please contact [email protected].
 
About the PTO
The Hubbard Woods PTO involves parents and teachers working together on behalf of the school and its students. To become involved please contact
Jen Hayes at [email protected].
Next Up
The deadline to submit content for the next issue of
The Item is Tuesday, September 15. Submissions should be sent to [email protected].
Looking Ahead
Yom Kippur
Wednesday, September 23
No School
PTO Program: Daniel Ryan's Views and Visions
Wednesday, September 30
9:00-10:30 AM
in the Auditorium
Kindergarten 
Go-to-School Night
Thursday, October 1
7:00-8:00 PM
SAVE THE DATE!
HUBBARD WOODS CARDBOARD CHALLENGE
Saturday, October 3, 3-5 PM on the Hubbard Woods Playground (more about this in the next few weeks!)
Lunch Box


Kiddos Hot Lunch is well underway. Click here to order today! Please place your child's order by 9AM EACH MONDAY for the following week of lunches. Or you can place your orders now all the way through January 30, 2016.  
The first Pizza Fun Lunch will be Friday, September 11th.
Kudos
An enormous thank you to the Hubbard Woods Custodial staff: Clive Lascelles, Denis Myers and Guillermina Villegas. Your hard work and dedication to the school makes so many things possible that otherwise would not be. Specifically, thank you for all you've done to aid Todd Burleson and  the parent volunteers in setting up the IDEA Lab and Project Room spaces. We're so grateful for you.

We cannot thank Todd Burleson enough for offering his brilliance - not to mention his summer! - to create the Hubbard Woods IDEA Lab...a labor of love, a legacy, and an inspiration for our school district and beyond. We're amazed by you Todd.

So many elements incorporated into the new Project Room space have come from our brilliant faculty at Hubbard Woods School. Thank you especially to the Project Room Committee that put in many hours and much thought on our behalf: Lynn White, Jason Sheets, Jean Bierner, Krista Wray and Gary Wendt.

Congratulations and thank you to Dee Macey for keeping our pto website up to date and creating our fantastic new online payment system for
back-to-school fees. What a game-changer! Also, a big thank you to Erin Donaldson and Kendal Reis for their tireless efforts organizing, writing and emailing all of our back-to-school communications.  We appreciate you keeing our Hubbard Woods community informed about everything happening at school.  Great work Dee, Erin and Kendal!
Community News
Thirty Million Words: Building A Child's Brain by Dana Suskind, MD
Two events, September 17, 1-2:30 PM at Loyola Law School and September 17,
7 PM at Skokie School Auditorium. Click here for details about this lecture and for a list of future FAN events.