School Supplies orders due Wednesday

Picture yourself in August.

You’re trying to make the most of the waning days of summer, but you also need to make sure everyone has clothes and shoes that fit, backpacks that are in good shape and gear for getting lunch to school.

Now ask yourself: Do you really want to spend time chasing from store to store in search of low-odor dry erase markers?

To help make those back-to-school days a little more sane, the PTA is once again offering parents the chance to buy their children’s school supplies in a pre-packaged kit.

The cost of the supplies is comparable to buying the items at a store, and your purchase benefits the PTA (and, therefore, your children).

Order forms will be distributed with your school registration packets and are available on the Forms, Fliers and Further Details page.

We will use the same supplier as last year, EPI. With this supplier, you can expect:

· Quality products from companies like Crayola, Elmer’s and Expo, but at a lower total price;

· Supplies provided in a sturdy memory box;

· A sheet of labels pre-printed with your child’s name to affix to individual supplies;

· $10 Office Depot coupon in every pack;

· Guaranteed replacement if you are dissatisfied with a product during the school year.

The kits will contain all the supplies itemized on the Brookdale School Supply Lists except school bags/backpacks, gym shoes, art smocks, computer headphones and assignment notebooks.

    Orders are due by Wednesday, May 18. Please send your order form in a separate envelope marked “School Supplies” and with a check made out to the Brookdale PTA.

If you notice your check has not cleared by July 1, please contact Coordinator Sarah Williams as this may indicate your order has not been placed.

Once again, we are scheduling two times when families can pick up their supplies at school:

· 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 17

· 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 20

If you are unable to pick up your kits on those dates, please make arrangements with a friend or neighbor to pick them up for you.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Williams at (630) 717-9979 or sarahdave@
wowway.com.

Proposed PTA Events for 2011-12

Dear Brookdale Families,

We want you to know we appreciate all the feedback we received this past year regarding the changes in PTA-sponsored events, including classroom parties. We listened to what you said and gave all suggestions serious consideration as we contemplated the schedule of events for the 2011-12 school year. We hope the proposed plan, below, addresses the various concerns raised and will allow all Brookdale families to enjoy the PTA-sponsored activities. We want to highlight a few key points in the PTA events schedule:

• The Fall Classroom Party is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 7, 2011. Having this party two weeks later than it was this year should allow the party committees to have adequate time to plan and prepare for the party. It also will provide a nice kick-off to the three-day Columbus Day weekend. Team-building activities still should be a major part of this party.
• We would like to add a Costume Parade to Fall Family Fun Night, scheduled on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011. We feel that adequate planning, a scaling down of the event, and the implementation of additional safety features to Fall Family Fun Night will allow this change to occur. This change will allow children to share their costumes with their friends and family by walking around the perimeter of the school (weather permitting). Families who choose not to participate in the Costume Parade may come after the Parade and still enjoy the festivities of the night. We are proposing that the event start and end earlier (i.e., 5:45 to 8 p.m.) with the hope there still will be some daylight for the parade and that families with small children will be more able to enjoy the night together.
• The Winter Party will be on the last day of classes before Winter Break, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011.
• The Friendship Party will take place at the end of Friendship Week on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. With Presidents Day on Feb. 20 and Parent/Teacher Conferences on Feb. 21, the party will be a nice way to start the extended weekend.
• Students choosing not to attend a classroom party due to religious beliefs or other personal reasons will be provided an alternate activity at school. This alternate activity will be developed with parental and student input to ensure a positive experience for all students.

Please take a moment to review the proposed schedule and let us know what you think via a one-question survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/BrookdalePTA2011events by Friday, May 20.

Thank you,

Brian LeCrone
Brookdale Principal

Judy Nagel-Conley
PTA President

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May 2011

Greetings Brookdale Parents:

Mr. LeCrone and the PTA Executive Board met in accordance with board policy on May 9, 2011, to collaboratively plan and discuss the scope and nature of classroom parties and PTA sponsored school events for the 2011-12 school year. The proposed plan is provided for your consideration.

Friday, Oct. 7, 2011                                2:30-3:15 p.m.                  Fall Classroom Party

Friday, Oct. 28, 2011                              5:45-8:00 p.m.                  Fall Family Fun Night and
                                                                                                        Costume Parade

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011                         2:30-3:15 p.m.                 Winter Classroom Party

Monday to Friday, Feb. 13 to 17, 2012                                            Friendship Week

Friday, February 17, 2012                       2:30-3:15 p.m.                 Friendship Party

Friday, April 20, 2012                             6:00-9:00 p.m.                  Spring Fling

Classroom party format includes a simple treat and a focus on socialization and fun activities/crafts as directed by the classroom coordinators and party committees.

Please review the above information and indicate whether you support the proposed plan by responding to a one-question survey available through Friday, May 20, at www.surveymonkey.com/s/BrookdalePTA2011events. Parents will have the option to comment via the survey.

Thank you for your feedback in this process.

Brian LeCrone
Principal

Judy Nagel-Conley
PTA President