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12/13/16 PTA Email

Six Flags Great America “Read to Succeed” Program – Read a book or two over winter break and earn a ticket to Six Flags Great America!  Students who log six hours of reading before Friday, February 10th earn a free ticket to Six Flags Great America!  Forms will be sent home THIS TUESDAY. Please encourage your kids to start reading over winter break.  Forms must be turned in to teachers by February 10th.  Any questions, please contact Laima Palubinskas (laimapal@yahoo.com) or Jen VanHoutan (jennifervanhoutan@yahoo.com).

Crossing Guard Collection –   LAST CHANCE- If you would like contribute to the gift please drop off your donation in the box marked “Crossing Guards” in the front office at school. If you would like your name listed on the cards please make sure to add your name on your envelope.  No checks please, as the money is going directly to the crossing guards. Please drop off your contribution by the end of school TOMORROW. 

Service Learning – These events are for PD students and their families! This is the perfect time of the year to give of your time and your gifts!! The Service Learning Committee has set everything up for you…..just RSVP and volunteer or donate or both! Every activity requires an adult chaperone.

Click Service Learning Events Information and Registration to learn more and to register for events listed.

  • Food/Toy Drive – LAST DAY for collection – Tomorrow, Dec 14: Please make this Holiday Season just a little brighter for those in our area needing our help! We will be collecting non-perishable holiday food items and new, unwrapped toys that will be directly donated to West Suburban Community Pantry. Drop items off in collection boxes at school. Please contact Anu Fisher (fisheranu@gmail.com) with questions.
  • West Suburban Community Pantry Tour and Volunteer Work – Dec 14 from 4pm-5pm:  ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!  Don’t forget to sign up your family to tour the West Suburban Community Pantry.  You will also be able to sort and distribute donated goods.  Please contact Anu Fisher (fisheranu@gmail.com) if you would like to attend.
  • Christmas Caroling in Pierce Downer Neighborhood – Dec 15 from 6pm-7pm: With the weather predicted to dip down to 5 degrees this Thursday, this event may be postponed. If you are interested in caroling, please RSVP to Jamie Kolar at jamiedanyele@gmail.com. If caroling gets canceled and/or rescheduled for next week, Jamie will notify you via email. Meet at Pierce Downer to review the route and receive the printed songs. Dress in festive gear and bring a hot beverage.
  • PADS at St. Mary’s in Downers Grove – Jan 6: One-hour shifts will run sometime between 5:00pm – 8:00pm. We need students and their parents to set up beds, set tables, bake desserts, donate food, and serve guests at soup and drink stations. Please RSVP to Jennie Amidei at jenamidei@gmail.com if interested and specify when you are available and what food you are able to donate.
  • Lekotek Holiday Party in Lincoln ParkNeighborhood – Last Saturday 4 Pierce Downer Students attended the Lekotek Holiday party and ran a craft station for 60 children with disabilities. They helped the children make snowflake ornaments. Photo attached below.

STEAM Classes– For more information and to register for any of the classes listed below, click the link on STEAM Class Information and Registration.

  • New Language Labs – Spanish Class during lunch/recess (15 week session) K – 6th Grades. Starting Wednesdays, January 11th – April 26th, 2017, from 11:40-12:20 in the Pierce Downer Primary Breakout Room. Cost is $210
  • Chess Club – Chess Club Winter session! Chess Scholars (10 weeks session) K-6th Grades. Classes begin Tuesday, January 17th – March 21st, 2017 from 4pm-5pm in the Pierce Downer Gym. Cost before Jan. 7th is $122. After Jan. 7th the cost is $137.  Click on Chess Club Flyer for more information.
  • Reminder:  Last Fall Chess class is today, December 13th!  

Reflections – Last Wednesday, December 7, PTA Reflections honored all of the students that advanced to the DuPage East District level at an awards ceremony taking place at Herrick Middle School.  In addition, they announced the student entries that further advanced to the Regional level competition.  Pierce Downer has 9 students entering the Regional competition, which is a tie for the school with the MOST entries advancing to the next level! Here are the entries that proceeded onto Regional:

  • Film Production:  K-2nd grade: Hannah Klemz; 3rd– 5th grade: Rajan Fisher
  • Photography:  K-2nd grade: Jimmy Gruszka
  • Dance:  3rd-5th grade: Sydney Miller and Rylie Conway
  • Literature:  3rd-5th grade: Pallavi Fisher
  • Music Composition:  3rd-5th grade: Malini Fisher, Sydney Peterson, Emily Van Houtan

In addition, we will be displaying some of the projects in the library in the month of January. Take a look at the beautiful artwork that was created.  We are so proud of our Pierce Downer students!!

Box Tops – The PTA is no longer collecting box tops for education.  Please contact Lora Dominow (ldominow@yahoo.com) with any questions.

The Pierce Downer PTA would like to wish our families and staff a safe and relaxing holiday break!

Save the Dates 
THURSDAY – Fun Lunch

12/19- 1/2 – Winter Break

For more information on school or PTA activities please visit the school web site or PTA web site. For even more information on community events and activities please check out the District’s e-fliers page at District e-fliers.

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12/6/16 PTA Email

Reflections – We are so proud of our Pierce Downer students that participated in the PTA Reflections program this year.  Out of the 23 entries in this year’s contest, “What is Your Story”, 19 entries proceeded to compete at the DuPage East District level.  Here are the entries that proceeded onto District:

  • Visual Arts:  K-2n grade: Paige Moore, Avery Moore, and Priya Fisher; 3rd-5th grade: Kendall Arnold, Eva Henrikson and Mackenzie Wells; 6th grade: Abbey Goddard
  • Film Production:  K-2nd grade: Hannah Klemz; 3rd– 5th grade: Rajan Fisher
  • Photography:  K-2nd grade: Jimmy Gruszka, Priya Fisher, and Sajan Komanduri; 6th grade: Makena Presson
  • Dance:  3rd-5th grade: Sydney Miller and Rylin Conway
  • Literature:  3rd-5th grade: Pallavi Fisher
  • Music Composition:  3rd-5th grade: Malini Fisher, Sydney Peterson, Emily Van Houtan

This Wednesday, December 7, DuPage East District will honor these students at an awards ceremony taking place at Herrick Middle School.  Our own Mrs. Clavenna will be announcing names and handing out award certificates.  Some of these entries may even proceed further to Region, State and National levels.  Great work students!  

Battle of the Bands – SAVE THE DATES!
  • The Battle of the Bands Kids Show is April 7, 2017 at the DGN Auditorium from 6:30-8:30. 
  • The Battle of the Bands Adult Show is April 22, 2017 at Ballydoyle from 7:00pm- 1:00am.
Service Learning – Please bring you and your family to one or more of these events listed below! This is the perfect time of the year to give of your time and your gifts!! The Service Learning Committee has set everything up for you…..just RSVP and volunteer or donate or both! Every activity requires an adult chaperone.

Click Service Learning Events Information and Registration to learn more and to register for events listed.

  • Food/Toy Drive – Dec. 7th to Dec 14:  Please make this Holiday Season just a little brighter for those in our area needing our help! We will be collecting non-perishable holiday food items and new, unwrapped toys that will be directly donated to West Suburban Community Pantry. Drop items off in collection boxes at school. Please contact Anu Fisher (fisheranu@gmail.com) with questions.
  • Lekotek Holiday Party in Chicago’s Lincoln Park Neighborhood – Dec 10 from 9am-12pm: Help facilitate a holiday activity station for Lekotek’s holiday party on Saturday, December 10. Lekotek.org is a toy lending and play education organization for children with disabilities ages 0-8. RSVP to Deidre Omahen deidrelee1@gmail.com if interested. (You only need to show up – Deidre will guide you through the activity.)
  • West Suburban Community Pantry Tour and Volunteer Work – Dec 14 from 4pm-5pm:  Sign up your family to tour the West Suburban Community Pantry.  You will also be able to sort and distribute the donated goods!  Please contact Anu Fisher (fisheranu@gmail.com) to sign-up.  
  • Christmas Caroling in Pierce Downer Neighborhood – Dec 15 from 6pm-7pm: Meet at Pierce Downer to review the route and receive the printed songs. It is encouraged that everyone dress warm and wear festive gear such as Santa hats and jingle bells. The more festive, the better. Although we will plan to stay together, it is not a supervised event. Bring your favorite hot beverage to enjoy as we jingle along the way.  
  • PADS at St. Mary’s in Downers Grove – Jan 6: Shifts will run from 5:00pm – 830pm. Sign up to set up beds, set tables, bake desserts, donate food, serve guests at soup and drink stations. Please RSVP to Jennie Amidei at jenamidei@gmail.com if interested.
Crossing Guard Collection –   If you would like contribute to the gift please drop off your donation in the box marked “Crossing Guards” in the front office at school.  If you would like your name listed on the cards please make sure to add your name on your envelope.  No checks please, as the money is going directly to the crossing guards. Please drop off your contribution by the end of school on Wednesday, December 14th.

STEAM Programs – Click this link for STEAM Class Information and Registration.

  • ARTCOT – We are in desperate need of 2 co-chairs for Artcot!! If you (and your friend) are interested in co-chairing, please email Jennie Amidei at jenamidei@gmail.com. This event only happens by parents volunteering….let’s not have this incredible event fade from this school year’s calendar.
  • Bricks4Kids Engineering & Jr. Robotics –  Last chance! Classes already started, but there is still space available, walk-ins accepted!   Cost will be pro-rated!   For more information and if you would like to register for a class click the link on the above.
  • Stage Stars – Last chance! There is still time to sign your child up for Stage Stars! The session already started but you can still click on the Stage Stars Flyer to register. (*Stage Stars will not pro-rate you for a missed class.)


Save the Dates 

12/12 – Spirit Day – Pajama Day
12/15 – Fun Lunch

12/19- 1/2 – Winter Break

For more information on school or PTA activities please visit the school web site or PTA web site. For even more information on community events and activities please check out the District’s e-fliers page at District e-fliers.