September 16, 2022

Good afternoon, Meadowbrook Families!


We had another fabulous week at Meadowbrook! It went by so fast!


As you know, our beginning of year benchmark testing is under way. Our testing window for AIMSWeb (K & 1st) and NWEA MAP (2nd - 5th), as well as for our other reading inventory assessments, closes at the end of the month. These assessments will help us determine where our students are and how we can support everyone's learning throughout the year. 


Here's how you can help! Ensure your child/ren:

  • Get plenty of rest
  • Eat a good breakfast
  • Come to school every day
  • Are encouraged to take their time and do their best!



We are also continuing to build classroom and school communities. It is our priority to cultivate a sense a belonging for all of our students to help their minds be ready to learn. 


MONDAY IS PICTURE DAY! I can't wait to see everyone's smiling faces.


Our Book Fair is next week!  YAY!  Buy books!


Please enjoy your weekend. Get plenty of rest. See you Monday!


Ericka Garza

Meadowbrook Happenings

BOOK FAIR THIS WEEK

Our book fair is being set up on Monday! YAY! Your child/ren will visit the book fair during their school day.  See PTO Notes below for schedule and how to purchase books.



SECOND FRIDAY SPIRIT DAY

Every second Friday of the month Meadowbrook students and staff (and parents!) are encouraged to wear Meadowbrook spirit wear or the color red. Our PTO coordinates spirit wear purchasing and has organized some great options for this year. Orders can be placed via the PTO website



BERNIES BOOKS

The second grade girl scout troop is going to be volunteering at Bernie's Book Bank next month. They will be doing a book drive at Meadowbrook.  The bin is located right in front of the office.  Come drop off your new or gently used books for this cause.  



STUDENT DROP OFF

Student Drop Off Time is 8:10. We have no supervision available until 8:10. Please do not drop students off in front of the building until this time. Thank you for your cooperation.



SCHOOL GROUNDS DURING SCHOOL HOURS

School grounds are for school use only during school hours. If you live on the perimeter and you wish to see your child during the school day, please visit the office. It is a safety concern for neighboring adults to be on school property. Our students are outside most of the day (PE, lunch, recess, snack time, etc.). 



LUNCH, SNACKS & RECESS

  • Lunch Times: 
  • K/1st @ 11:45 a.m.
  • 2nd/3rd @ 11:25 a.m.
  • 4th/5th @ 11:45 a.m.
  • Parents may drop off lunches to the school through the morning hours. Please leave your child's lunch in the vestibule on the shelf. Label it with your child's name and the teacher's name. We will get the lunches to their classrooms. 
  • Special Lunch Pick Up: If your student(s) will be absent for any reason and you would like to pick up their special lunch, please contact the office by 11am that day. The office will have your student(s) lunch ready for pick up after 11:45am.
  • Students may go home for lunch as long as a parent or guardian signs a release form with the main office and communicates the plan with the teacher in advance. Please contact Annie Danstrom if you would like to request a form. Students who have a signed permission form will exit and re-enter the building for lunch through the main entrance.
  • Please send a healthy snack for your child, including fruit and vegetables and other options that are preferably low in refined sugar. Please do not send cookies, chips, or other junk food to school with your child for snack.
  • As the number of children with food allergies increases, we strive to make sure that all students are included at Meadowbrook. To that end, your child’s teacher will notify you if there is an allergen that should not be brought into the classroom.
  • We will continue to have PTO pizza days twice per month. Parents can order pizza for their child via the PTO website.



ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL

Please keep in mind that cell phone use in school zones is prohibited. 


Please refrain from bringing dogs onto school property. 


Arrival

  • DO NOT DROP OFF BEFORE 8:10. We have no supervisors available before 8:10. 
  • Students may arrive at school between 8:10 and 8:30 a.m. We have returned to morning recess and supervision will begin at 8:10 a.m. on both east and west playgrounds. 
  • Kindergarten, 1st- and 2nd-graders should head to the east (blue) playground.
  • Third-, 4th-, and 5th-graders should go to the west (red) playground.
  • Please drop off and leave. The longer you stay, the more difficult it is for them to see you leave.
  • Students in our Foundational classrooms may enter through the front door.
  • If children walk or ride their bikes, please remind them not to arrive before 8:10 a.m. and not to congregate near the bike racks.
  • A bell will ring at 8:25 a.m. for children to line up. They will then enter school at 8:30 a.m.
  • If you are driving your child, cars should head westbound on Walters Avenue and enter the first driveway and follow the circle. Staff members will be present to help get your child out of the vehicle and greet students. Only students who are part of our Foundational classrooms may be dropped off in the front along the bus lane.
  • School begins at 8:30 a.m. Any student arriving after the 8:35 a.m. bell will need to be signed in by a parent or caregiver at the front office. Please make every effort to ensure that your children are here on time to begin their days.



Dismissal

  • Bus riders will be dismissed at 3:20 out of the front doors.
  • Bus riders now have assigned seats. To ensure everyone's safety, please remind your child that they should stay in the seat assigned to them until they get home.
  • Car riders will be dismissed out of the front doors after the buses have left.  Please stay in your vehicle. We will assist your child in getting into the car.
  • Parents walking up to pick up their students to walk home:
  • Kinder parents should go to their classroom doors to pick up their child/ren.
  • 1st- & 2nd-grade parents (except for Farris/Rick & Silver) should pick up at the east (blue) playground area.
  • 3rd - 5th grade parents, and Farris/Rick & Silver parents should pick up at the west (red) playground area.
  • Older siblings who are picking up younger siblings should exit out of their doors, and go around to the blue playground or Kinder doors.
  • Please ask your children to be patient at dismissal as we get our bus riders on their way.  
  • Please let your child’s teacher or the office know as soon as possible if there is a change to the typical dismissal routine. 



MARLA'S LUNCH

The PTO helps coordinate optional hot lunch options via Marla's Lunch service. Please see this document for an overview of which restaurants will be available each day. Please see this document for ordering information. 

Star Photos

Classroom buddy lunches.  One of our 4th grade classrooms had lunch with their 2nd grade buddy class.  Great interactions!


Also shown are kindergarten independent readers!  OMG!

District News

Staff, Parents Line Up for Blood Drive

A Community Blood Drive in Northbrook collected 46 pints of blood on Saturday, Sept. 10 -- enough to save 138 lives.


Staff members, parents and residents took time out of their day to donate at Greenbriar School, 2195 Cherry Lane. This is the first blood drive Northbrook District 28 has sponsored, which was organized by Greenbriar School Nurse Haley Sachs in honor of a colleague who is battling cancer, instructional assistant Grace Lombardo, and a cancer survivor, Director of Student Services Dr. Kelly Sculles.


Kristin Corradini, a parent of Westmoor and Northbrook Junior High students, said she is not a regular donor. She decided to donate Saturday because it was tied to the community and convenient. “When you make it convenient (right here at the school), people are more inclined to do it,” she said.


Mrs. Lombardo's battle with cancer and the possibility that she may need a blood transfusion drove home the importance of donating blood, Ms. Sachs said.


“One pint can save up to three lives!” Haley said, as she finished donating in a new personal record of 4 minutes and 11 seconds.


The event was such a success, there are already plans to do it again next year.


Above, Greenbriar School Nurse Haley Sachs visits with Grace Lombardo, a colleague being treated for cancer, at the first-ever District 28 blood drive on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Greenbriar School. (right from top)Donors Kula Geib, NBJH P.E. Teacher and parent Kristin Corradini donate blood.

COVID Dashboard

The district is maintaining a COVID Dashboard to report average cases per day by school and weekly averages districtwide. This information is updated daily. 

PTO News

The Book Fair is this week (Sept. 19th-22nd)! Keep your child/ren reading! 


Spirit Wear Ordering Deadline is September 25. 


FALL FEST is coming up! YAY!! We need volunteers to make it a success. Please sign up for a short time slot via the link below.


Please refer to the PTO Newsletter for more information on ordering birthday signs, our upcoming book fair, and how to volunteer for Fall Fest: PTO News & Notes. 


*************************************************************************


Important Dates

September 19

  • Picture Day.
  • Fire Drill, 2:45 pm

September 19 - 22

  • Book Fair at MB. INFO

September 25

  • Spirit Wear Ordering Deadline

September 26

  • No School 

September 28

  • Eataco Fundraiser

October 5

  • No School

October 7

  • Fall Fest

Virtual Backpack

Learn to Play Hockey

Introduce your 4- to 6-year-old child to hockey in a fun and safe environment. Click to read more and get registration details.

Learn About Ham Radios


Experience Ham Radio in action at Northbrook Public Library's outdoor HAMS IN THE PARK event on Sat. 9/17 from 11 a.m to 5 p.m.

Spring 2023 Northbrook ActionBaseball

Registration is now open for boys, preschool thru 2nd grade, & girls, preschool thru 3rd grade. Visit the NAB website for online registration info.

Meadowbrook School | 1600 Walters Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062 | Ericka Garza, Principal

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