DISTRICT 29 PTO MONTHLY MATTERS
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Monday, March 3, 2025
March has always felt like a month of change – weather starting to warm, trees and flowers starting to bud, far too many bunnies showing up in my yard. And the change isn’t just happening at home or outdoors, it’s also on the PTO side with our new programs preview, nominations for next year’s slate, and of course, the Benefit.
The Miami Nights Benefit is happening this Saturday, March 8th! If you haven’t already, please buy your tickets, sponsor a teacher ticket, and donate to support our organization. All the funds we raise go towards running programs for our students like AM Rec, Coding, Junior Great Books, Family Fun Fair, International Night, and so much more. We couldn’t do this without all of you. See the note from our Benefit Co-Chairs below!
Our next meeting will be Monday, March 10th at 9AM. As you may have heard, this will be where we preview many of the PTO programming changes for 2025-2026. We will provide an overview of all the new initiatives and how we hope they address the feedback from this community. Our PTO After Party will focus on answering any questions regarding these program changes so please stop in!
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 818 3080 9002
Passcode: 423325
Pro tip: If you don’t want to miss any future PTO or D29 event please be sure to subscribe to the district calendar here.
Ranjini Shankar
STAY INFORMED
Winter Benefit 2025
🌴🎉 Miami Nights Await! 🎉🌴
There are still a few tickets left for the District 29 Winter Benefit: Miami Nights! 🎟️☀️ Join us on Saturday, March 8th for a night of tropical fun, exciting auctions, live entertainment, and endless vibes. Can’t make it? Click the link to sponsor a teacher, remote bid on auction items, or even buy a raffle ticket. Plenty of ways to celebrate and win!
💃🕺 Don’t miss the hottest event of the season! https://givebutter.com/miaminights
Board Reports and Committee Budgets
Reminder: please send in your board reports!! Once your event/activity is done for the year, update the old board report while it’s fresh on your mind. Please ensure you have submitted all your receipts for reimbursement and that you have updated the expected budget on your board report. These are so important as we start thinking about next year’s budget!
Email completed board reports to Katie Lutz: kj.lutz@gmail.com and send any budget related questions or updates to Karie Smith: treasurer@district29pto.org.
International Night
Save the Date: April 30th, 6PM at Sunset Ridge School!
All families are invited to D29’s First Annual International Night at Sunset Ridge. Come celebrate different cultures with food, student performances, art, and more! Any questions? Email Carolyn Kelley at carolyn@alumni.nd.edu.
CALLING ALL PARENTS – PTO Board Positions and Volunteer Opportunities for 2025-2026 school year
The PTO programs are only possible because of our dedicated parent volunteers. It's a great way to get involved with your child's school and to meet other parents!
There are still some open PTO Board Positions and volunteer opportunities for next school year, and we are looking to have the slate filled by March 14th. Reach out to the PTO Nominating Chair, Sandy Norbot, at sandynorbot@yahoo.com or 847-826-8630 with any questions or to express your interest in a position. All are welcome!
COMMUNITY NEWS
Election Day: April 1, 2025
Election Day is coming up, don’t forget to vote for all your local government representatives! If you’d like to get to know your School and Park board candidates, please come visit us at our Open House on March 13th from 7-9PM at Clarkson Lodge. Early voting and mail ballots are also available.
A Message from the Northfield Park District
Please visit the Northfield Park District website for information and registration for the upcoming 2025 Summer Camps. Register before March 31st for early bird savings. If you know someone interested in applying for a summer camp counselor or seasonal maintenance job, they can apply here.
Spring class registration will open on March 3. Click here for our spring class calendar. Looking ahead, save the date for our Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19th.
The Park Board of Commissioners recently voted to place a referendum on the ballot for the upcoming April 1st election. The referendum will propose an increase to the limiting rate to support sustainable Park District growth including the implementation of our Comprehensive Master Plan. More information on the referendum can be found here: https://northfieldparks.org/about/expand.
Sign up to receive the Park District news here and follow the Northfield Park District on Instagram and Facebook!
A Message from The Alliance for Early Childhood
This year we are working with 40 different schools across the region to provide teacher and professional learning, parent education, and family experiences in the Let’s Play! series. Here is a link to the 2024-2025 Member School Program Guide.
A Message from the Northfield Library
Please visit the Winnetka-Northfield Library website for information on upcoming events and more!
Cub Scout Pancake Breakfast
The annual Cub Scout Pack 17 pancake breakfast will take place on Saturday, April 5th from 8-11AM at St. Philip the Apostle Church (Hyde Park Day School entrance). For $10 a person, the scouts will serve you and your family a hot and delicious breakfast. There will also be a raffle with fabulous prizes!
We are holding a boxed Cereal Drive benefiting the Northfield Township Food Pantry. Bring a box of cereal and get a free raffle ticket. Let’s stock their shelves!
PTO SHOUT OUTS AND THANK YOUS
Teacher Appreciation Chairs Jayaa Poddar and Ema Dzaka-Dizdarevic for the fabulous Smoothie and Hot Chocolate bar for our teachers!
Conference Meals Chairs Lydia Fields, Maureen Huhs, Erica Marinello, and Lizzy Silvia for ensuring our teachers were stocked with energy to get through spring parent-teacher conferences.
Program Committee Chairs and Members Sarah Cohn, Hillary Bufalino, Katie Lutz, Devon Pearce, Dana Santostefano, Carrie Boyd, Annette Marek, and Jeanine Rashkow for taking on such a major initiative of rethinking our PTO programming and helping us shape the PTO for the future.
All the Room Parents for their help in creating such great memories at the Valentines Day parties across both schools.
COMING SOON & NOTES
Important Dates
March 8: D29 Spring Gala
March 10: PTO Meeting 9AM
March 11: Board of Education Meeting 7PM
March 19: Parent Connections Meeting 9AM
March 24-28: No School – Spring Break
April 8: Board of Education Meeting 7PM
April 14: PTO Meeting 9AM
April 17: Early Dismissal/School Improvement Day
April 18: No School – Good Friday
April 23: Parent Connections Meeting 9AM
All Zoom links can be found on the District 29 Calendar.
How to Help
Community involvement is instrumental in making the PTO a success. Please consider volunteering your time! Contact Ranjini Shankar at president@district29pto.org to get involved or with any questions.
Kommentare