The Item Newsletter, Issue #14,  February 29, 2016
Celebrating Our 100 Years Through Dance

From the Hand Jive to the Twist and the Cha Cha Slide -- Hubbard Woods students will be moving and grooving during a dance residency starting March 1st! Thanks to a PTO program that brings cultural arts to HWS, students will enjoy learning dances from a teaching artist who comes from Chicago-based Dancing with Class. Dancer Chrissy Martin ("Miss Chrissy") will teach each class a type of dance style specific to their assigned decade from the 100th Anniversary Decade Project. The program will develop students' creative and social skills, as they learn to identify the defining movement characteristics of dances like the Swing, Tango and Charleston!
 
Students will have the opportunity to present their dances to the school on Tuesday, March 8, and present them to their families at the Spring Sing on Wednesday, March 16th! 

Dancing With Class, is the youth outreach division of May I Have This Dance, Inc., which is a leading provider of school-based dance education programs. Through an innovative social and multi-cultural dance curriculum, DwC brings the art & etiquette of dance into the lives of young people. The 10-year-old company serves approximately 3,000 students throughout Chicagoland each year. For more information, please visit dancingwithclass.org.
This Week and Next
FAMILY MATH NIGHT IS THIS 
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2!
Please join us for a fun evening filled with math-related games and activities for all ages. 

Time:  7:00pm-8:15pm
Location:  HW Gym and the Resource Center

This year, families can look forward to new activities, including LEGO math, bead bracelet patterns, Rigamajig and Imagination Block building contests. Also expect some old favorites such as a chance to win a large container of Skittles by guessing the number of pieces in the container. 

The entire family is invited to experience this hands-on, fun exploration of math! 

We need helpers! If you would like to volunteer for the event, please contact Michael Collins.

Spirit Day
Friday, March 4
Wear your turquoise and white! 
Number Talks: A Hands-on Experience With
Today's Instructional Approach
Friday, March 4, 9:30am at Skokie School
Screen Break Week
Sunday March 6 - Saturday, March 12
News and Notes

Hubbard Woods Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week March 14 - 18!
 
During Teacher Appreciation Week, the PTO will hold a Teacher Raffle to give all of our wonderful teachers a chance to win some terrific prizes. You can help the PTO build beautiful themed gift baskets to be raffled off on March 18th during a special teachers' lunch. 
 
Please consider donating an item or two to our raffle. This year's themes are:

Entertainment
Ideas could include things that provide entertainment like movie passes, restaurant gift certificates, sports opportunities. Or, you might want to donate things that help one entertain, like housewares, food and wine, cocktail napkins, candles or games.

Food & Wine 
Ideas could include restaurant gift certificates, Starbucks gift certificates, wine, wine glasses, cork screw/fancy bottle sealers, gourmet goodies, cookbooks, kitchen gadgets or serving platters.
 
Chicago Rocks! 
Ideas include tickets/passes to Chicago Art Institute, Botanic Garden, SkyDeck, local restaurants, sports events, Chicago area guide books, Chicago sports themed items, Vosages chocolates or Garrett's Popcorn.
 
Be creative! Sky's the limit! No item is too big or too small. Thanks to your donations, the baskets are wonderful each year and are always the talk of the teachers' lounge.

Donated items can be dropped off in the designated box located in the school lobby starting tomorrow, Monday, February 29th. Questions? Contact Nicole Rivera. 

Thank you very much for your participation! 

2016-17 PTO Executive Board Slate

The PTO is pleased to present the slate for next year's Executive Board:

President - Brooke Helmstetter
Vice President - Nidhi Singh
Secretary - Sarah Graham
Treasurer - Lori Miralles
Assistant Treasurer - Abby Burtelow
Communications Chair - Kendal Reis
Assistant Communications Chair - Lauren LeBoyer
President Ex-Officio - Jen Hayes

Congratulations to the nominees!  The election of the officers will take place at Julia Werner's house on April 13th at 9 AM.  All PTO members are welcome and encouraged to attend.  

We would also like to thank this year's Nominating Committee:  Annie Ross, Kathy Newlands, Amy Boehm, Tine Tschackert, Nat Roberts, Sara McClain, Rita Compton, Nicole Rivera, and Georgie Geraghty. If you have any questions regarding the slate, nominating procedures, or the election, please contact Georgie Geraghty (georgiegeraghty@gmail.com).
More Math Events!
If you have not yet attended one of the fantastic math events designed to help parents learn more about our children's math curriculum, there are still opportunities! The Math Parent Education Series, created by District 36, invites you to the following events:

Friday, March 4, 9:30am @ Skokie School
Number Talks: A Hands-on Experience With Today's Instructional Approach

Friday, March 11, 11am-12:30pm 
@ Carleton Washburne
Using Mathematical Tasks to Demonstrate Mathematical Practices

Wed, May 18, 11am-12:30pm 
@ Carleton Washburn 
Using Technology to Introduce Mathematical Concepts

For more information, visit the District 36 Web site:  www.winnetka36.org/announcements
Kudos
Thank You to everyone who has been helping out at our wonderful school, including:
  • Thank you to Lauren LeBoyer for working hard on the 100-year video, interviewing many HWS alumni, along with Todd Burleson who has helped with equipment, set-up and direction.
  • Thank you to Michael Collins and the Family Math Night Committee (Heather Boulanger, Sandy Carlson, Sarah Graham, Erin Luzadder) who have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare Family Math Night.
  • Thanks to all Decade Parents who have been working on their Science and Technology Decade Boards!
  • Thanks to Flannery Buchanan for her time coordinating the upcoming dance residency!

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 jnhayesiii@yahoo.com.
Looking Ahead
Teacher Appreciation Week
March 14 - March 18
HW Spring Sing
Wednesday, March 16, 7pm
at the Skokie School Auditorium
Spring Break
March 21- March 25
No School
Save the Date - 
The Skokie School 
5th Grade Orientation
Thursday, April 7, 2016 
6:30pm - 8:00pm
The Skokie School will host an orientation meeting for current fourth grade students and their parents.











100 Year Anniversary Open House
Tuesday, May 3, 2016 
6:30pm-8:30pm    

Mayfest 
*New Date & Time*
Sunday, May 22, 2016
11AM-3PM
Lunch Box
The next Pizza Fun Lunch will be Friday, March 4.
Ordering Now Open Through Year End 
Kiddos is happily accepting hot lunch orders for next week through through the end of the school year. 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 May 26.
A ZEN LIBRARIAN 
by Todd Burleson

Do You Use Twitter?

I know what you are thinking, "Here we go again... someone else telling me why I need to use social media..." In truth, I am going to talk a bit about social media, but what I really want to share with you is why it is important that we fail.  

This week on A Zen Librarian, I write about the hashtag #Loveteaching and talk about how failing in public has helped me be a better teacher, learner and person. 

Want to find out more?  Click HERE!

Community News
Intelligence Redefined
Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD 
Monday, February 29, 7:00pm 
New Trier High School/Northfield
Click here for more info.






The Alliance for Early Childhood Presents 
ScreenBreak Week 
March 6 - March 12

A week of exciting, free events to help children and families "take a break" from technologies and enjoy hands on experiences throughout the community. Click HERE for more info.

ScreenBreak Kick-off Event, Sunday, March 6, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. at Washburne School Gym. Be amazed and entertained by the talents of "Popeye & Sailor", a dog trick act! Tickets available in advance or at-the-door.

Closing Event in conjunction with "Winnetka's Got Talent." Saturday March 12, 12:00 p.m. at Washburn School Auditorium 
Watch the area's brightest stars at the 3rd annual talent show featuring solo, duet, and group performances judged by an esteemed panel. Admission is free!







Service Opportunity for Families On Saturday, March 12 at the Winnetka Community House
Help feed over 100,000 starving Nicaraguans in a one day food collating event via Kids Against Hunger. Each year approximately 500 people, from ages 6-years-old to senior citizens, sign up for a 2-hour shift to make a difference for people in crisis. 

Register now at:  www.wnrotary.org.

Next Up
The deadline to submit content for the next issue of The Item is Tuesday, March 8. Submissions should be sent to hwitemeditor@gmail.com.