Eagle Extras Update!
The Bad News is that we will have to cancel one class this session: Dream Big Broadway Bound.  The good news is that Dream Big has agreed to merge all age ranges and conduct one class so all of the students who were interested in this class will still be able to experience it!
Due to the influx of registrations in the last week and especially today, the committee is slightly back logged in sending out confirmation emails. Please be patient. Throughout the next few days you will receive your confirmation letter and a letter with all the details you will need re: pick up, where the class will be held, etc.
While registration has officially ended, if you are still interested in registering your child, please contact the committee at EagleExtras@irvingpto.com to see if a space is still available.

Letter from Mr. Hodge

September 2012

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We have a number of students this year with severe, life threatening allergies to peanuts, all other tree nuts, as well as their products and oils. Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction. For this reason we must be cautious with all classroom snacks eaten in the classroom and party foods distributed in the classroom during schoolwide celebrations. There will be a NO NUT POLICY for the following classrooms:

  • Kindergarten- Ms. Ricchio, Mrs. Gullo,  Ms. Weigel  and Ms. Arroyo
  • First- Mrs. Pelling, Mr. Degman, Ms. Kekatos and Mrs. Solomon
  • Second-Mrs. Ahearn and  Mrs. Klette
  • Third-Mr. Gray, Mr. Sak and Mrs. Kaunelis
  • Fourth-Mrs. Payton
  • Fifth-Mr. Eng and Ms. Balicki
  • Special Education-Ms. Saliny

In addition, we will be implementing the following food policy concerning schoolwide celebration foods:

  1. All food served to the students must be purchased in a store. No bakery or homemade goods may be brought into the classroom.
  2. The teacher must be given prior notice about any food items being brought into the classroom.
  3. All items must be sent in its original packaging with the listing of ingredients. If the list is omitted the food will not be distributed.
  4. Labels can be read in several ways:

 

  • Nuts are listed as ingredient
  • The label has a “may contain nuts’ warning
  • A warning that the food may have been processed in a facility that contains nuts

Please be advised that our lunchroom is not a Nut Free Zone and that we offer a Nut Free Table for children with nut specific allergies. Friends of children with nut allergies may sit at the Nut Free table if they eat a hot lunch provided by the school lunch program.Parents who send a lunch from home for their child are free to pack the foods of their choice. It is our hope that families CHOOSE to not send foods containing peanut butter or nuts.

We expect to have a wonderful year at Irving with these few accommodations. Since it is easy to forget these concerns if you do not live with them daily, we will send periodic reminders. We appreciate your support and understanding.

Sincerely,

John Hodge
Principal

PTO Meeting Agenda for September

We hope you can join us for the first PTO meeting of the year, which is this week on Thursday, September 6 at 6:30 in the Library/Media Center on the second floor. As always, free child care is provided.

This month we will focus on a back-to-school update from Principal Hodge and a review of the PTO budget, which is presented for a vote by the general membership. There will be a presentation of the capability of Elmo Document Cameras, which are an item for the PTO to purchase this year.

We hope to see you there. If you are unable to attend and would like to discuss anything on the agenda, please contact Laura Crawford at lauracrawford47@gmail.com, Jodie Ackerman at jodiepto@yahoo.com, or any of the other PTO board members (click here for contact info).

Irving School PTO
Agenda for Monthly Meeting
September 6, 2012
6:30PM
Irving Media Center/Library

  1. Welcome
  2. Principal’s Report (40 minutes)
    1. Welcome back to school
    2. Demonstration of Elmo Projectors capability
  3. Treasurer’s Report (30 minutes)
    1. Presentation of budget for 2012-2013 school year
    2. Vote on budget for 2012-2013 school year
  4. Committee Reports: (30 minutes)
    1. Schoolyard Project Update
    2. Fun Run pledges start 9/17, with event on 10/16
    3. Different Together Potluck Dinner on 9/21 at 6:30pm
    4. Bags on the Blacktop on 9/29 at 2pm
    5. Grade level potluck dinners in October
    6. Other committee reports
  5. Eagle Extras Update: (15 minutes)
    1. Vote on changes to policies
  6. Approve minutes from 5/31/12
  7. All other business

Notes on next meeting (October 4):

  • Kathy McNamara from Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory will briefly discuss their work
  • Mr. Hodge will present on ISAT testing
  • Review fully revised by-laws

Sustainable Teachers Network (STN)
Seven Generations Ahead regarding the Sustainable Teachers Network (STN) that has been formed under the sustainability plan for OPRF called PlanItGreen. Currently, the STN is planning a lecture and networking series focusing on sustainability curriculum, geared toward OPRF teachers, called GreenEd (flyer attached).

In advertising GreenEd and getting the word out about the progress of the STN, we’re looking for an individual liaison at every school in Oak Park and River Forest. The sole responsibility of this person would be to distribute flyers and outreach material regarding STN events. We want to ensure that every school in OPRF receives outreach materials about STN events.

Here is what I’m asking of you: If you are interested in becoming the STN liaison for your school (or know someone the STN can reach out to ask if they’re interested), please reply to me with your name, school and grade level by Friday August 31. We need your help advertising GreenEd so the sooner you reply the better!

Also: The STN is trying to round out the STN committee with a variety of teachers from across OPRF, and are specifically looking for high school representation. The responsibility of a committee member is to attend monthly meetings discussing event planning and outreach. Responsibilities will vary due to individual availability, as well as time of year. Please reply to this email if you’re an interested high school teacher.

Thank you for your time and help. And of course, if you’re an OPRF teacher you’re invited to participate in GreenEd starting September 18 at the Marion Street Cheese Market!

—
Erin McMillan
Program Associate

Seven Generations Ahead
642 S Lombard Avenue | Oak Park, IL | 60304
office (708) 660-9909 x4