Halloween Food Guidelines

Dear Staff, Room Parents, Parents, Guardians, and Students,

As Halloween approaches, we are getting excited about costumes, classroom parties, and the Halloween Parade. This is a fun and enjoyable time for all, however, it can be a time of worry for children with food allergies and their families. In order to provide a safe celebration environment for the students at Irving, ALL classroom celebrations will be NUT FREE with a focus on healthy snacks and treats for the children.

As always, fresh fruits and veggies are welcome and should be promoted. It is recommended that room parents and teachers communicate before Halloween to identify the foods/treats that will be provided for each classroom celebration. A good ratio of treats to healthy foods should be 1:3: One treat option for every three healthy food options.

Foods are required to have an ingredients list. Foods that are made in factories that may process nuts should not be served due to the potential for cross contamination. Please consider labeling the food items for easy identification by students. Teachers can confidentially alert room parents of any other dietary restrictions and or food allergies in the classroom so that an alternative treat can be provided for inclusion. Additionally, non food treats such as stickers, pencils, and activities are always welcomed and enjoyed by all of the children.

Here is a link to a web site for Peanut/Nut/Egg safe food items http://snacksafely.com/snacklist.pdf

Thanks to the entire Irving Community for helping to make Halloween a safe and enjoyable holiday for all . Please feel free to contact Nurse Jamie for any questions or concerns about the Halloween Celebration at jstrokosch@op97.org or 708-524-3089.

LETTER

We need your help to build Irving’s shed!

 
2013-10-09 shed sketchThings are moving along with constructing Irving’s new garden shed, but we really need a few more people, especially this weekend and next weekend. Can you spare some time to help out? You don’t need to be able to wield a power saw, but comfort with a hammer and a drill is helpful. Sunday afternoon we also need people to just hold up walls. Please feel free to share this info with anyone who may be interested, even those who are not Irving parents.

Our new garden shed is going to be really amazing. It’s made from donated, recycled and reusable materials and will have a wall made from straw bales. See the attached drawing, by Tom Bassett-Dilley. Our garden tools are going to have the best house in town! This will also serve as a base for outdoor classroom experiences.

Here’s the plan:

This Saturday, 10/12, starting at 9am: We’re going to construct the 3rd wall, which involves nailing plywood to 2×4’s. This will probably be it due to weather and schedules.

This Sunday, 10/13, from 9:00-2:00: We need a bunch of people to help hold up the 3 walls and secure them to the foundation. We’re hoping to install the door track and staple building paper to the walls. Any time you can spare Sunday would be a huge help.

Next Saturday, 10/19, after 1:00: We’ll put together the straw bale wall and secure it with wood on the top and bottom. This part promises to be really, really cool – no question. Bring the kids to help.

Next Sunday, 10/20, time TBD: We’ll need a large group of people to help put plaster on the straw bale wall. This means 3 coats of plaster inside and out. Kids should be able to help with this. It’s going to be messy and fun. We’re also planning to do the roof next weekend, which means we’ll need ladders and people on them to work with corrugated metal.

Please let Laura know if you’re available at all this weekend or next. We really need your help putting this all together. Feel free to contact Laura (lauracrawford47@gmail.com) or Tom Bassett-Dilley with any questions.

Thank you!!

Irving After Hours
Hi all…it is that time when the fall has quieted down a bit and now it is time to get to hang out!  Please RSVP to Irving After Hours and come say hello!  If you have questions please contact either your host, or Talley Hann at 847-567-3517 or talleyhann@gmail.com

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