December 2017

Issue #115

James Howard Monroe Middle School

!!!!Wishing you a joyful holiday seasonWishing you a joyful holiday seasonWishing you a joyful holiday seasonWishing you a joyful holiday season

Inside this issue:

PTA Information

2,3

Monroe Minutes

4,5 7

Nurse’s Office Calendar

4 7

Monroe Contact Info. Sports Information

6

James Howard Monroe Newsletter

Scholastic Book Fair

December 11th-15th in the Monroe LLC

Monday Dec. 11th 8:00AM-4:00PM

Tuesday Dec. 12th 7:45AM-5:00PM

(shop during the Wrestling meet)

Wednesday Dec. 13th 7:45AM-4:00PM

Thursday Dec. 14th 7:45AM-9:00PM

(shop before or after the Orchestra concert)

Friday Dec. 15th 7:45AM-1:00PM

• Students will visit with their language arts classes.

• Parents may shop during or after school.

• All proceeds benefit the Monroe LLC.

Books make great holiday gifts!

Shop our online fair 12/3 thru 12/16

Holiday BandHoliday BandHoliday BandHoliday Band

ConcertConcertConcertConcert

(all grades)(all grades)(all grades)(all grades)

December 5thDecember 5thDecember 5thDecember 5th

7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm

Jingle Jazz Jingle Jazz Jingle Jazz Jingle Jazz

Concert Concert Concert Concert

December 7thDecember 7thDecember 7thDecember 7th

7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm

Holiday Holiday Holiday Holiday

Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra

Concert Concert Concert Concert

December 19thDecember 19thDecember 19thDecember 19th

7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm

Holiday ChoralHoliday ChoralHoliday ChoralHoliday Choral

ConcertConcertConcertConcert

December 21stDecember 21stDecember 21stDecember 21st

7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm

Wishing Monroe

families a

heartfelt

seasons greetings!

PTA Briefs:

Page 2 James Howard Monroe Newsletter James Howard Monroe Newsletter

Monroe Middle School

Please join us for the next PTA meeting on Wednesday,

January 10, 2018 at 7pm

in the Conference Room.

Thank You…

Thanks to all of you who support the PTA. We ap-preciate your time that you generously give to the school and our students. The PTA programs are a success because of the countless hours you provide. Special thanks to: Carol Matthias, Lisa Cunning-ham, Jennifer DeValk, Jocelyn Ellman and the numerous volunteers who baked for the Cupcake Flag, and the volunteers who provided dinner for staff dur-ing conferences, organizing CNO’s and getting the Di-rectory up and running….Thank You for organizing and

chairing those various committees

Staff Grants

Join us at Pack the Gym on December 1st and find out which grants are awarded. We had 16 grants submitted this year, totaling over $16,000! Grants are funded through the Write a Check Campaign and Magazine Sale. This year we raised $8,000 to fund the grants. Thank you for your

donations and support!

Write A Check Campaign

If you’re looking to make year-end donations the PTA’s Write A Check Campaign would greatly benefit from your generosity. You choose the dollar amount, write a check and send it into the Monroe in an envelope marked “Write A Check.” 100% of your donation goes back to the students/staff to fund the grant program, assemblies, 8th grade events and author visits. We still have over $8000 in grant requests that we would love to award this year! Thanks

for your continued support of PTA events and activities.

Cook’s Night Out

Take a break from the Holiday cooking and support Monroe

PTA at the same time by dining in or carrying out at

Culvers on November 29th from 5:00 – 8:00pm.

Happy Holidays to youHappy Holidays to youHappy Holidays to youHappy Holidays to you

And your Families!And your Families!And your Families!And your Families!

From: Your PTA OfficersFrom: Your PTA OfficersFrom: Your PTA OfficersFrom: Your PTA Officers

Kimberly, Erin, Michelle,Kimberly, Erin, Michelle,Kimberly, Erin, Michelle,Kimberly, Erin, Michelle,

Kate and AndreaKate and AndreaKate and AndreaKate and Andrea

Page 3 James Howard Monroe Newsletter

Pack the Gym

The 8th Grade Girls Volleyball team will take on Monroe Staff on Friday, December 1st. Don’t miss this first event of its kind! See the attached ticket flyer for more

information/ticket orders. Doors open at 6:00pm and the game begins at 6:30pm.

Attention 8th Grade Parents!!!

Create a memory by submitting a favorite picture of your child along with a message to be placed in the

yearbook. The funding from this project allows us to have color pages in our yearbook. To participate,

please do the following:

Make sure your child’s name is on the back of the photo.

Place photo, message (not to exceed 25 words), and $20.00 in the yearbook box in the front office.

(Make check payable to Monroe Middle School)

Thank you for your support and contributions! **Remember to buy your yearbook before December 22nd. In January the price will rise

from $27 to $30.

From the Nurse’s Office:

JoAnn Monahan, RN and Natalie Early, RNJoAnn Monahan, RN and Natalie Early, RNJoAnn Monahan, RN and Natalie Early, RNJoAnn Monahan, RN and Natalie Early, RN

A friendly reminder to our parents regarding treats sent to school for birthdays and other celebra-tions. Our students at Monroe have a wide range of food allergies and accidental exposure to these foods could cause a life threatening situation. Sometimes with a little creative thinking or internet search an alternative to food

can also be sent!

If you would like to send food to school, here is a list of gluten free, nut free and egg free common treats that are

available at your local grocery or big box stores.

Skittles Starburst Candies and Mini Starburst Candies Starburst Jelly Beans Lifesavers Gummies Dots/Mike&Ike’s/Hot Tamales/Swedish Fish Jolly Rancher Hard Candies or Candy Sticks/Suckers Good & Fruity Candies Sour Patch Kids Haribo Gold Bears Warheads Super Sour Spray, Double Drops, & Sour Dippers Bazooka Ring Pops, Push Pops, and Ring Pop Gummies Candy Jewelry by Galerie (candy bracelet, bracelet w/pendant, necklace w/pendant) Smarties (giant Smarties, candy money, Smarties in a pouch, Smarties pops & lollies, candy necklaces) Remember to check labels for dairy and whey ingredients for our student’s with Dairy allergies!

Winter Weather is Here!

We are seeing students in shorts at school. We understand that it is a short walk from your car to the school en-

trance but keep in mind that the potential to evacuate school in the event of an emergency always exists!

Monroe Minutes

Page 5 Issue #115

The decision to close school because of snow, extreme cold, or other emergency will be made as close to 6 a.m. as possible. Dr. Jeff Schuler, Superintendent, will record a telephone message to be delivered to the households of all District 200 families and staff announcing the closing by 6 a.m. For you to receive this message, your current phone number must be on file with your child's school. Families may also check school and District answering machines and the District's home page (www.cusd200.org) for closing information. Local radio and TV stations will also be informed and announcements should be made over the following

radio and television stations:

Closing information is also available by: Online: www.EmergencyClosings.com E-mail: Sign up for personalized e-mail notification at www.EmergencyClosings.com Facility Search: You will need to enter " Dist. 200" or your child's school name along with the city that the school

is located in at www.EmergencyClosings.com to search. You may also search for the school's phone number.

Radio and TV stations are likely to report closings as Community Unit School District 200 or CUSD 200 and not list individual

schools. Please listen to these announcements carefully as there are several District 200 school systems in the metropolitan area.

If it is necessary to close school once classes begin, students will be dismissed based on information parents provide at registra-tion. While the school will make every attempt to reach parents, it is not always possible. In those cases, the emergency infor-mation provided by parents at registration will be used. Please be certain that the school office has current names and phone numbers

of your family's emergency contacts. It is suggested that you discuss these emergency arrangements with your child.

WGN Radio 720 WBBM News Radio 78

CBS Channel 2 NBC Channel 5

ABC Channel 7 WGN Channel 9

Fox Channel 32 CLTV News Channel 48

Christmas Sharing 2017Christmas Sharing 2017Christmas Sharing 2017Christmas Sharing 2017 Christmas Sharing is an all-volunteer charitable organization run by a coalition of Wheaton and Warren-ville churches that provides assistance to families in need during the Christmas season. Families are assist-ed without regard to their religious affiliation and our goal is to make their holiday a little brighter. The program is supported by School District 200 donations and 100% of donated items go to District 200 stu-

dents and families. You can be a part of helping others!

Monday, November 27th thru Friday, December 1st:

What: Money, clothing, household supplies and food.

Where: Monetary donations will be collected by elves outside of school in the morning and

during lunch. Donated items will be collected at the stage before school.

Why: To help the Wheaton community and make sure that every child has a magical holi-

day.

Winter Sports Information

Intramurals:Intramurals:Intramurals:Intramurals:

7th & 8th Girls Basketball:

Dec 4—Jan 12 M/T/W/F 7:00-7:45am

Box Ball :

December thru March

*Dates TBA, PM 3:10-4:00pm

Important Upcoming Dates

1855 Manchester Road Wheaton, Il 60187

Phone: 630-682-2285 Fax: 630-682-2331

Attendance Line: 630-682-2290 www.cusd.org

James Howard Monroe Middle School

December 1 Pack the Gym 6-7:30pm

December 5 Boys Basketball vs Hadley @ Hadley

Wrestling vs Leman @ Monroe

Winter Band Concert 7pm

December 7 Boys Basketball vs Jay Stream @ Monroe

Wrestling vs Indian Trail @ Indian Trail

Jingle Jazz Concert 7pm

December 11 Chamber Choir Community Tour Day Field Trip

December 12 Boys Basketball vs Edison @ Edison

Wrestling vs Hadley @ Monroe

December 14 Boys Basketball vs Leman @ Monroe

December 19 Boys Basketball vs Stratford @ Monroe

Wrestling vs Edison @ Edison

Winter Orchestra Concert 7pm

December 21 Boys Basketball vs Hubble @ Monroe

Winter Choir Concert 7pm

December 22 8th grade field trip to Drury Lane for “A Christmas Carole”

December 23

January 7

January 8 First day back to school after Winter Break

Winter Break No SchoolWinter Break No SchoolWinter Break No SchoolWinter Break No School

7th and 8th grade

Girls Basketball Tryouts:

7th grade: Jan 17th and 18th 4:30-6pm

8th grade: Jan 17th and 18th 3-4:30pm

**All girls must have a current physical

on file in order to try out.

A big thank you to the Cast and Crew for a job well A big thank you to the Cast and Crew for a job well A big thank you to the Cast and Crew for a job well A big thank you to the Cast and Crew for a job well done and to Mrs. Prather, Mrs. Klenck and Mrs. Minar-done and to Mrs. Prather, Mrs. Klenck and Mrs. Minar-done and to Mrs. Prather, Mrs. Klenck and Mrs. Minar-done and to Mrs. Prather, Mrs. Klenck and Mrs. Minar-ich for their time and efforts put in for this wonderful ich for their time and efforts put in for this wonderful ich for their time and efforts put in for this wonderful ich for their time and efforts put in for this wonderful fall production!fall production!fall production!fall production!

Our Physical Education department will be having a fundraiser beginning in Decem-ber. Your student will be bringing home this information the week of December 11th thru the 15th. They will be selling KidStuff coupon savings books and for every book that is sold, the PE department will earn 50% or more in profit! Please see

this information on the next page of this newsletter.

Rachael Lee, an 8th grade student at Monroe, entered A First Amendment Essay contest sponsored by the An-ti-Defamation League of Chicago last May. It was just announced that Rachael’s poem placed 1st place and she will receive a $5000 scholarship! Rachel was invited to a Freedom Award Dinner at the Palmer House where she read her poem in front of more than 500 guests! Rachael is very excited for this opportunity to share how the First Amendment affects her daily life and the

lives of all Americans.

Congratulations Rachael!

Monroe Happenings

Digital Creativity from

7th Grade

Digital Literacy Classes:

The 2018 Talent Show is Coming!

In May, students will be able to partici-pate in the Monroe Talent Show. This show is for brave and talented Monroe students who are ready to show off their talent and charm. The talent show is looking for singers, musicians, danc-ers, gymnasts, martial arts enthusiasts, magicians, comedians, and any other school-appropriate acts that can be put on the Monroe stage. Soloists, duets and groups are welcome. Students who are interested in being part of the talent show this spring should watch for school flyers in the halls as important dates and times will be posted. An in-formational meeting with distribution of paperwork will be scheduled in January with tryouts beginning in February. So, get your “ACT” together!