| Upcoming Events: | Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 22
November 23
Thanksgiving Break
November 22 - 26
Parent University Night
November 30
Whiteley Green Day
December 1
Winter Bingo
December 1
Movie Night
December 3
Toy/Clothing Drive Week begins
December 6
Chorus & 6th Grade Winter Musical
December 9
Market Day Pick-Up
December 15
PTA Meeting -
1:45 PM
December 16
Winter Break
December 20 - 31
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President's Letter
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What a beautiful fall we've had so far! I can't believe we are talking about the holidays already? 
A HUGE thank you to Christine McGuire for an awesome Multi-Cultural Event
on November 5th! There were more countries and a huge crowd of people.
We definitely host the best Multi-Cultural event throughout our district!
The Book Fair will be open during Parent/Teacher conferences so be sure to stop by before or after your conference. Any money earned from the Book Fair is used toward purchasing new materials for the Resource Center. Thank you to Barb Downing , Garry Offord and Mrs. Saez for organizing this event for our families.
Do you play Bingo? Then mark your calendar for Winter Bingo on Wednesday, December 1st from 7:00-8:00 p.m! And if you can't make it to this one, don't worry we will be having another one in February.
December is a time for giving. And our Community Outreach Committee Chair, Mary Beth Warner, has arranged a Holiday Toy and Clothing Drive that will benefit some of our Palatine Township families. So if are holiday shopping already and/or you bear the crowd of people and go out on "Black Friday" (a.k.a. the Day after Thanksgiving), maybe throw an extra present in your shopping cart to donate to the drive. The Toy/Clothing Drive will take place the week of December 6th.
 | Jennifer Nemec
PTA President
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For the month December our PTA meeting has been
moved to a "daytime meeting". Our December meeting will begin at 1:45 p.m. (This meeting is a holiday party so if you would like to attend, please send me an email at nnemecfamily@sbcglobal.net )
Since this is the last newsletter of this year, I want to wish everyone a safe
and happy holiday season! See you in 2011! |
| From Our Principal | |
Dear Parents,
This year our school district has installed a new information system (SIS) for all aspects of the school and district. Teachers have completed training for basic knowledge of the system and most recently to complete the new report cards. You recently received information that the Parent Portal was open which was earlier than anticipated. This was primarily done to allow junior high teachers to post grades and assignments as was their prior practice. The elementary buildings will continue to provide training opportunities for staff throughout the year. It is not mandatory for this year, that elementary staff post grades or homework on line. Whiteley staff works as a grade level on communicating expectations and in the case of intermediate teachers sending out midterm grades. If a grade level makes a change to their current practice and opens an aspect of the parent portal, you will be notified by the teachers.
The Frank C. Whiteley Staff is pleased to announce the FCW Movie Night on Friday, December 3rd from 6:30-8:30 PM for Frank C. Whiteley students. The doors will open at 6:15 PM. For the $5.00 admittance fee, a child will be able to view Toy Story 3 or How to Train Your Dragon, a bag of popcorn and a bottle of water. There will also be a range of concessions available from $.25 to $1.00. Teachers sent home the flyers last week and extras are in the school office.
The No Excuses University Parent Night for District 15 schools in the NEU network will take place Tuesday, November 30 from 6:30-8:30 PM at Winston Campus. Damen Lopez, who is a co-founder of No Excuses University, will be the keynote speaker from 6:30-7:15 PM. Breakout sessions
will be from 7:30-8:15 PM. Babysitting will be available for children. details
The Notre Dame University Hockey Team is providing our students
 | | Whiteley Principal Mary Szuch |
an opportunity to see collegiate hockey during the Notre Dame
Hockey Tournament on January 1st or 2nd 2011 at the Sears Centre.
I have student ticket vouchers in the school office.
In the morning and after school you may have noticed my warm and
colorful Paw Print Fleece Scarf (pale pink) that I purchased from our
PTA. Amy Langston is making the scarves for $10.00 for PTA members
and $15.00 for non-members. For an order form, click here.
I hope that everyone enjoys a relaxing winter vacation!
Mrs. Mary Szuch, Principal
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PTA Meeting Dates - 3rd Thursday of the month in the Teacher's Lounge
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December 16th 1:45 p.m. March 17th 2:00 p.m January 20th 7:00 p.m. April 21st 7:00 p.m February 17th 7:00 p.m. May 19th 7:00 p.m Schedule subject to change, check online calendar for up to date information. |
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Parent University Night
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Tuesday, November 30th beginning at 6:00pm to 8:30pm
at the Winston Campus in Palatine.
Damen Lopez keynote
For more Details, click here
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No Excuses University
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Damen Lopez will be visiting Whiteley
School on Wednesday, December 1st at 10:00 AM. Mr. Lopez is the founder of the No Excuses University Network of Schools, and is a highly motivating and effective speaker. Whiteley students will have the privilege of hearing Mr. Lopez speak during an all-school assembly. Our students will also have the opportunity to meet Damen Lopez as he visits each of the classrooms.
Hear from Damen Lopez, founder of TurnAround Schools here
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Green Wednesday
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 Our next Green Wednesday is December 1st. So, leave the car at home & get walking, pedaling or scooting to school!
Don't forget to pack a waste-free lunch & wear your favorite green clothes too! go green link
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The Whiteley Book Fair
|  Thanks to everyone who stopped by & shopped the book fair!
 Book Fair funds that are raised are
used to purchase materials for our
school library.
We appreciate your help in making the book fair a great success!
Barb Downing & Garry Offord
Book Fair Committee
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Winter BINGO
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Come out for a night of fun!
We're playing BINGO on Wednesday, December 1st from
7:00 - 8:00 PM. Our Sixth graders will be selling candy,
water, & soda pop for $1.00, (cash only please!) |
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Movie Night
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Frank C. Whiteley Elementary School Presents: "MOVIE NIGHT"Funds raised will be used for classroom technology and No Excuses University projects at Frank C. Whiteley. The Movie Night will take place on Friday, December 3, 2010 beginning at 6:30pm and ending 8:30pm.Doors open at 6:15pm and movie starting promptly at 6:30pm. You must bring your pre-purchased ticket or you can buy a ticket at the door. Click here to print out the FCW Movie Night Student Permission Form. Concessions from $ .25 to $1.00 will be sold at the event. Please do not send more than $5.00 with your child. Toy Story 3 How to Train Your Dragon
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Community Outreach
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For more details about Children Helping Children Holiday Helpers at Frank C. Whiteley, click here
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Holiday Wildcat Spirit Wear
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 Your Holiday Spirit Wear orders will be ready in mid-December. If on the order form you chose to have them given to your student, the items will be given to your student's teacher during the week of 12/13. If you chose to pick the order up, please come by the school on 12/15 between 3:30 and 4:30 PM.
Thank you for your orders. I hope you and your student enjoy your new spirit wear and your winter break!
Happy Holidays!
Mary Beth Warner
Spirit wear coordinator
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Whiteley Wildcat Yearbooks
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Yearbooks will go on sale after Winter Break. The cost for each yearbook will be $15.00 and classroom composites will be delivered by then also.
If you would like to submit yearbook photos. Please send your photos to the Yearbook Committee at yearbook2010@att.net |
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Brrrr, it's cold outside....................
| Looking for a way to keep warm and show your school spirit?
Whiteley PTA has the answer: A Paw Print Fleece Scarf.
The FCW PTA is selling a 3 layer fringed fleece scarf to help you keep warm during the cold winter season.
The colors are white/pawprint fleece, pale pink/paw print fleece, and light blue/paw print fleece. order form
These fabulous scarves are made to order and will be delivered by December 6th.
Cost: $10 for PTA Members $15 for non PTA Members Orders due by November 30th.
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Box Tops For Education
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 | Print the latest Collection Sheet here
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Thank you to all those who have been clipping box tops! The following are names of students who were our "Box Top Winners" in last month's drawing.
Samantha Unterreinen, Mrs. Bolger's class
Nicholas Marconi, Mrs. Croak's class
Myra Longnecker, Mrs. Bolger's class
Wayne Kao, Mrs. Zeivel's class
Katherine McKernin, Mrs. Cocanig's class
Remember, collecting Box Tops is easy! Simply clip the Box Top labels and attach them to a collection sheet with your child's name on it. Once your student hands in the collection sheet, he/she will be entered into the next drawing. Our school earns money for every Box Top we collect, so get clipping!
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| Manna Order | 
Attention Holiday Shoppers
Start making your shopping lists and stock up on Manna Gift Cards for your holiday gifts! It's fast, convenient and an easy way to shop without the hassle of driving from store to store.
Be on the look out, Manna order forms will be distributed RIGHT after Thanksgiving Break!!
Orders will be sent before Winter Holidays, so make sure you have everyone on your list covered!! |
| News from the Classrooms |  Mrs. Cochrane's 5th/6th grade class is participating in an Eco-Peeps project that will turn bottle caps and Dum Dum wrappers into recycled jewelry! Please collect these items and send them to the Recycled Craft Committee in Mrs. Cochrane's class. Thank You!
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Classrooms Recognized for Their Green Efforts
|  Mrs. Bolger's 2nd grade class is currently the keeper of the Golden Shoe. These students had the most Walkers on the last Green Wednesday. 
Mrs. Abbot's 1st graders are proud to
be keeping the Golden Lunchbox. They had the most waste-free lunches on the last Green Wednesday. Way to go, 1st and 2nd Graders! Keep up the great work!
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Good Advice From Mr. Harris
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If you can't beat 'Em....Join 'Em!
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News From The Social Work Office
| Dear Parents,
I am glad to introduce a new curriculum called Strong Start to Whiteley students. Strong Start is designed to boost the social and emotional development of young children and is being piloted here at Whiteley in the first and second grade classrooms. The curriculum is being taught weekly by Ms. Chandler and Mrs. Kowalski (Whiteley's school social workers).
The goal of the program is to teach students about their feelings, the feelings of other people, how to problem solve when something goes wrong, how to be a friend, and how to relax and get calm when upset. Strong Start aligns with the Illinois State Social and Emotional Learning Standards SEL. Our hope is that students will learn some strategies that they can use for the rest of their lives, while having some fun in the process. If you have a first or second grader, ask them about "feelings class" and some of the things they've learned so far.
In addition to Strong Start, I'm pleased to announce that Free the Horses Self-Esteem curriculum has returned to the third grade this year. Free the Horses: An Adventure in Self-Esteem is a video-based, interactive program based on the ideas of Cognitive Behavioral Theory. Students are learning how their thinking (and perceptions) affect their feelings and behavior. As they follow the plot, centered around the main character Kelly, students are also learning about friendship, learning, and how they contribute to the world around them. Character traits such as courage, responsibility, and cooperation are also addressed. Research shows that students who participated in this program demonstrated a more positive outlook, greater participation in class, more caring toward one another, and increased determination. Our third graders really seem to enjoy the program and are learning important life lessons in the process.
If you have any questions about these programs, please feel free to call me,
Amy Chandler at 963-7236.
Sincerely,
Ms. Amy Chandler, L.C.S.W.
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School Safety
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 School Zone = No Phone Zone
When approaching a marked school crossing zone between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., on days when school is in operation and when school children are present a driver must stop all wireless phone communications, reduce his/her speed to 20 mph and yield to any children or adults crossing in the crosswalk area. Speeding in a school crossing zone will result in a $150 fine. Information from www.cyberdriveillinois.com Rules of the Road Jesse White Illinois Secretary of State |
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Multi-Cultural Event 2010 Was A Great Success!
|  Warm Thanks and Appreciation for MCE Volunteers 2010!
The PTA Multicultural Event Committee would like to thank ALL of the volunteers, who helped plan, implement and work at this event. Whether you prepared or served food, worked a game, sold tickets, performed or created beautiful displays, without you, this event could not happen.
Special thanks to all of the representatives of our nineteen participating countries: Africa, China, Columbia, Brazil, England, Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Native America, Pakistan, Peru, Persia, Philippines, Poland, Serbia, and USA. Thank you to all of the children who participated in the morning announcements, performances and fashion show. Thank you for all of the preparation time you put into making this event great.
Thank you to Mrs. Szuch for being with us all night and to all of the teachers who took time out of their busy lives to spend the evening with us. An extra special Thank You to Mrs. Saez for all of her hard work and involvement before, after & during the event. A huge Thank You to Mr. Saez who was our outstanding emcee for the evening. We are so grateful for his willingness to help us!
Thank you to our wonderful Custodians for setting it up, taking it down and keeping it together! Your help and involvement was inspiring!
Special thanks to Carrie Schalk and Kristin Wiehe who helped with planning and with set-up, and to Amy Langston for taking care of tickets and to the PTA volunteers who gave their time the night of the event. This event would not have been what it was without all of you. Thanks to 6th graders who sold beverages at the event.
Because of your generosity, Mary Beth Warner sold 112 bracelets made by women in the Philippines, and Katie Hogan sold over $600.00 worth of handmade beads from Uganda, Africa. All proceeds will be sent back to the hard-working women and their communities in the Philippines and Uganda. Thank you for supporting such worthy causes. Whiteley Wildcats truly do make a difference in the world!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who helped with the Multicultural Event. YOU are the reason students and their families enjoyed the evening! We look forward to another spectacular event in 2011! |
Whiteley Wildcat Thank You
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 THANK YOU to everyone who helped out at Dads N Donuts & Moms N Munchies. Parents and Teachers, your hard work and time commitment made both events wonderful for all who attended! ~from the Hospitality Committee.
THANK YOU to Cartridge World of Palatine for printing our PTA Directories on recycled materials! THANK YOU to the Office Staff for distributing the directories! ~from the Membership Committee.
THANK YOU to all the volunteers that give their time and talent, no matter how big or small. Please visit Volunteer Opportunities to find out when help is needed. ~FCW PTA"How beautiful a day can be, When kindness touches it! ~George Elliston"
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Spotlight on the Board 
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Are you interested in what is happening at our School Board Meetings? Spotlight on the Board is a synopsis of notes and recordings taken at Palatine school board meetings by District 15/211 resident Jennifer Mondy. They are meant to help parents and staff who are unable to attend the Board meetings on a regular basis to keep informed about the issues and plans affecting the district. These notes are not endorsed by District 15 (K-8), District 211 (high school) or their Boards of Education. Visit - www.spotlightontheboard.orgFollow @d15spotlight for a LIVE Twitter stream during D15 Board Meetings. |
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If you would prefer a printed copy of this newsletter, please pick one up from the Whiteley School Office.
Thank you for your interest in your child's school,
Katie Hogan, Dayna Steneck & Jean Swenson,
Communications Committee, Whiteley PTA
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