Walden PTO Weekly October 18th,2019

• Wildcat Lunch
• Walden’s Disability Awareness Week
• Walden Family Skate Night Tonight!!!
• Veterans Day
  
• Veterans' Photos Needed!
• Walden's Green Team
• Pumpkin Decorating Contest Fundraiser
  
• Book Fair Thank You

Walden Wildcat Lunch Ordering is open!- Go to the KIDDOS website at www.kiddoscatering.com/WALDEN

Weekly orders can be placed through January 31, 2020! Orders, Changes, or Cancellations need to be checked out by Wednesday at NOON for the following week of lunches.

Please contact Kiddos support@kiddoscatering.com with any questions!

We are excited about our upcoming program of activities to help our students better understand the challenges of people who have special needs. he focus will be on hidden disabilities as well as the needs of those with physical disabilities that are more apparent, such as those who need wheelchairs or those with visual challenges. And, you have an opportunity to participate!

Please see the attached flyer to learn more about the Volunteer Opportunity!

Bring your whole family out to Walden's Family Skate Night TONIGHT from 6:10-8:10pm at Centennial Ice Arena in Highland Park. Everyone will enjoy an evening of ice skating, raffles, treats, and fun! The entrance fee for ALL skaters is $5 per person, which includes skate rental if needed. The rental skate sizes at Centennial are limited so please bring your own if you have them. If you are interested in baking for the bake sale, please email Jodi Wittenberg at jodifleisher@yahoo.com. If you would like to volunteer at Skate Night, please email Ilona Wozniak at wozniakilona@yahoo.com. We hope to see you on the ice!!

On Friday, November 8th Walden will be hosting their third annual Veterans Day breakfast and assembly. The staff and students had such an impactful experience the past two years thanks to the amazing veterans and their families who came to share stories, answer questions, and be honored and recognized!

We are inviting all local veterans back this year to join us starting at 8:00 in the MPR for a breakfast with the staff and then attend our all school assembly. For those veterans available and interested, we would love to have them back in our classrooms after the assembly to meet with the students.

If you or someone you know is a veteran or is currently serving, and would be interested in joining this wonderful experience, please email:

Kelly Jakymiw (kbandur@yahoo.com)

We are looking to create a display of photographs of our students' and staff's family members that have served or are currently serving in the military! If you are interested in participating, please email Kelly Jakymiw (kbandur@yahoo.com) a jpeg of your family member in the service, along with their name, which branch they served, and their relation to your student or yourself. We will be displaying these in the hallway in the days leading up to our Veterans Day assembly - thank you!

**IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SENT US A PHOTO LAST YEAR, WE STILL HAVE IT :-) NO NEED TO RESUBMIT! THANKS!!**

Leaves aren't just fun to rake and jump in! Instead, Leave the Leaves this Fall instead of raking or using leaf blowers. Let the leaves fall below trees and shrubs, or accumulate in a corner of the yard that doesn't have much grass coverage.

Did you know?

- Hundreds of insects like bees and butterflies spend the winter in the "litter" of leaves! See this interesting insect info from the Xerces Society, a leader in insect conservation. https://xerces.org/blog/leave-the-leaves

- Gas-powered leaf blowers contribute a significant amount of air and noise pollution. Check out this recent article from the Wall Street Journal.

The Pumpkin Decorating Contest is coming soon! During lunchtime on Monday October 28 through Wednesday October 30 the students can bring in coins to donate and vote for their favorite pumpkin. This year, the money raised will go towards Fill a ❤️ for Kids which helps homeless and foster children throughout the Chicagoland area. More information coming soon.

• Thank you to Dog Man for your awesome appearance at the Book Fair
  
• Plus a special thanks to our amazing student volunteers
  
• Thank you to all of our shoppers as well!
  
• Congratulations to Mrs. Arlia and Miss Ward's class for BEST Attendance!

The success of the event was a direct result of all of your efforts-we couldn't have done it without you!!

Alyse Katz, Julie Warhaftig, Lisa Shlifka, Shara McLennan, Mandy Siegel & Dana Brodsky

Book Fair Co-Chairs