A message from Ms. Kanoon

Dear Einstein Families, 

What a beautiful day we are having! I think we are finally going to get some March-like weather or at least get above freezing. We have had a great start to ISAT testing and appreciate the support and encouragement you have given your children. We also want to thank you for getting your students here on time. The students are trying their best and working hard. We are so proud of them!

Please make sure you read the PTA newsletter below, The Hoot, for important information from the PTA.   The Hoot.

ISAT Treats
We want to thank our wonderful PTA for providing daily snacks for the students taking ISATs. Not only did they purchase the snacks, the PTA sorted and delivered them to classrooms. Thank you so much to our PTA! We know the students are grateful to have a snack to look forward to during testing. 

Fun Fair Help Needed!
Please consider helping out Friday night at the Fun Fair. PTA still needs many volunteers to make this happen. We know the students love this event and that it is very well attended.  Click here for the flyer with information. Thank you in advance for your help. Students may still purchase tickets tomorrow during lunch. 

Cyber bullying
The District 54 PBIS team will be hosting a parent event to learn more about Cyber bullying. Please consider attending this event that will be hosted in the District 54 Board room on March 13 at 6:00 p.m. We want to team with you to make sure our children are safe and secure inside and outside their homes. This is one way to learn more about how to make this happen.   Click here for additional information.

Summer Tech Camp
Please click here for details regarding this summer’s tech camp. 

STC Application
As part of its commitment to life-long learning, the Schaumburg Township Council of PTAs (STC) offers scholarships for summer programs/camps to District 54 students who wish to broaden their education, talents and experiences. The program is being offered to students currently in 1^st through 7^th grades. Scholarships will be awarded for the FULL cost of the program/camp UP TO $125.00. A parent of the applicant must be a PTA member by the application deadline. More details including the application deadline and a complete list of the guidelines, along with the full application, can be obtained on the District 54 website by clicking here.  Please note that this is not a needs-based scholarship.  

Best Wishes to Mrs. Kurtz and her new baby
We want to congratulate Mrs. Kurtz and her family on the arrival of their new little girl, Emma Rose Kurtz. She joins her two big brothers and her sister. All are doing well. And, we are lucky at Einstein to be in good hands. Mrs. Sosin is doing a fabulous job of subbing for her while she is out on leave.

Enjoy the beautiful day. We hope to see you tomorrow night at the Fun Fair!

Fun Fair help needed

The Reach for the Stars Fun Fair is coming this Friday, March 7th. LOTS of volunteers are needed to sell tickets, run games, popcorn and give out prizes. Please think about working a shift from 6-7:15 or 7:15-8:30. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mary Kay mprusnick@comcast.net.

Tickets for the Fun Fair will go on sale Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at lunchtime. Pre-sale tickets will be 4 for $1.00.

What does the owl say?

Owls feed on a mixture of prey and next on the list is the ISAT test.  On Friday February 28, 2014 Einstein’s gym was filled with hundreds of owlets led by Ms. Kanoon, chanting and screaming “you can be the greatest, you can be the best, and you can rock the ISAT test.”  During a half-hour pep assembly students were treated and motivated to enthusiastic presentations from 1^st and 2^nd grade cheerleaders, 6th grade ambassadors, and words of wisdom from the entire staff.  Einstein owls will get their prey!  Do you know what the Owl says?

District 54 Summer Band and Orchestra

Registration for District 54’s Summer Band and Orchestra program has begun!   

Eligibility for Enrollment:

1)    District 54 students entering 6^th, 7^th or 8^th grade
2)    Students have been participating in the D54 Instrumental Music program for at least one school year.  

Summer Band and Orchestra will take place July 7-24, 2014 (Mondays-Thursdays) at Keller Junior High School.  Registration forms are available from any instrumental music teacher or by clicking here.  

If you have questions, please contact the band/orchestra teacher at your school or call 847-357-5138. 

Presented by: District 54 Instrumental Music Staff

PTA membership

A message from Ms. Kanoon

Good afternoon Einstein Community, 

I hope this finds you doing well and surviving this crazy winter weather that continues. Please read below for some important information about winter weather/school closings.  Click to the right for February’s edition of The Hoot. Again, we want to thank Mrs. Robelly for the hard work she does on putting The Hoot together every month. We look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow at Donuts with Dads from 8:00-8:30 in Einstein’s gym. Thank you in advance to the wonderful Einstein PTA for sponsoring this event. 

PBIS Expect Respect Newsletter
Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) is a proactive, three-tiered approach to create a positive and supporting environment for students to achieve social, emotional and academic success. As part of this process our PBIS coaches provide helpful tips for families through the Expect Respect Newsletter. Click here to read the February issue of the PBIS Expect Respect Newsletter, which includes tips from Hoffman Estates Police Officer Rich Turman regarding how to respond to cyber bullying. 

Last Day of School
As you know, District 54 canceled school four times in January due to the winter weather. Whenever we cancel school, we add a day to the end of our school calendar. Therefore the last day of school is currently Thursday, June 5. When districts submit their school calendars to the State Board of Education they must include a provision for five possible emergency days. No one can predict what the weather will be in February and March. If we cancel school one more time, our last day will be June 6. If we exhaust our five emergency days, we will ask the Illinois State Superintendent of Education to approve “Act of God Days.” These days can only be used for situations that pose a hazardous threat to students and are beyond the control of the district. If approved, school districts do not need to make up these days of missed school. If we do ask for an “Act of God Day” approval, we will not be able to announce the last day of school until we get approval from the state superintendent. We are hopeful that we won’t need to cancel school any more this school year and that June 5 will be our last day.  

Field Day and 6^th Grade Celebration
We will be rescheduling the dates for Field Day and the Sixth Grade Celebration because of the change in the last day of school. Mr. Steffan and I are working to set a new date and will get it out as soon as possible. We will keep you posted on the dates of both of those fun events. 

Pizza Friday-February 14
Please note that we WILL have our usual pizza Friday on February 14^th even though it is not posted on the PTA magnet. It’s cash and carry at $2.00 a slice. Sorry for any confusion. 

State Assessment
We are beginning to prepare for the Illinois Standard Achievement Test. The assessment window is from March 3^rd – 14^th. It is essential that students are present at school during this time. Please keep these dates in mind when scheduling appointments or vacations.  

Attendance
We have begun to see an increase in students coming late to school. Please remember we start instruction promptly at 8:45. Students miss important instruction when they come in late. Please help us in getting your children to school on time. 

Kindergarten Registration
It is hard to believe that kindergarten registration for the 2014-15 school year is right around the corner. This event will happen in all District 54 schools on February 13th between the hours of 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. , 1:00-2:30 p.m. and again at 6:00-8:00 p.m. If you, or a neighbor, has a child who will be age 5 on or before September 1, 2014, we look forward to seeing you on the 13th. Please help us spread the word to our neighbors so we can begin planning for the upcoming school year.  

Updates
February 5–Donuts with Dads
February 10–PTA meeting in the teacher’s lounge at 7:00 PM
February 12—No School in PM for students in grades 1-6 and NO SCHOOL for kindergarteners
February 13—Kindergarten registration
February 14—Happy Valentine’s Day! Classroom parties in the PM
February 17—President’s Day, No School
March 3—ISAT Testing begins

BBQ on the back patio? We need to build one first!

3rd graders in Ms. Brand’s room were challenged with the task of finding the area of a patio.  They needed to determine the amount of bricks required to succesfully build one!  Check out the hard working engineers below using a variety of different strategies.

District 54 schools will be closed again Jan. 28

All District 54 schools will be closed tomorrow – Tuesday, January 28 – because the forecast calls for dangerously low wind chills. All after-school activities are canceled as well. 

The decision to close school is not one we make lightly. Our top concern is whether we believe the more than 14,000 students we serve can get to school safely (whether they walk, take a bus or ride in a car).

 District 54 makes every effort to keep our schools open, but circumstances beyond our control (such as extreme cold) sometimes dictate that we close. Thank you for your understanding and support. The decision to close schools is made one day at a time.

Presented by:  Terri McHugh

Schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 27

All District 54 schools will be closed tomorrow – Monday, January 27 – because the forecast calls for dangerously low wind chills. All after-school activities are canceled as well. District offices will be open.

The decision to close school is not one we make lightly. Our top concern is whether we believe the more than 14,000 students we serve can get to school safely (whether they walk, take a bus or ride in a car).

District 54 makes every effort to keep our schools open, but circumstances beyond our control (such as extreme cold) sometimes dictate that we close. Thank you for your understanding and support. The decision to close schools is made one day at a time.

Presented by: Terri McHugh

Cold weather and school closings

Weather reports are predicting dangerously cold weather again next week. District 54 will be monitoring weather reports this weekend and will decide Sunday afternoon whether school will open on Monday.

Parents will be notified in the usual manner – by email and phone calls – if we are closed. Notices will also be posted on our website and social media channels if we are closed.

The decision to close school is not one we make lightly. Our top concern is whether we believe the more than 14,000 students we serve can get to school safely (whether they walk, take a bus or ride in a car).

District 54 makes every effort to keep our schools open, but circumstances beyond our control (such as extreme cold) sometimes dictate that we close. Thank you for your understanding and support. The decision to close schools is made one day at a time.

Presented by:  Terri McHugh