Hard to believe that there are less than two months left before the end of the school year!

Mark your calendar for three upcoming dates (full details below):

April 19 is the last Improve Comedy Workshop this Friday for 4th-6th graders
April 22 is Dine Out for Lake Bluff at Three Lions Pub from 4pm-9pm. Please mention Lake Bluff.
May 18 (Saturday) Lake Bluff Beautification - yard clean up and Planting from 9 AM to 11 AM

We are celebrating Staff Appreciation Week (SAW) starting April 29, celebrating thecontributions of all staff members, including teachers, aides, interventionists, administrative staff, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, and so many more. We need your help providing a catered boxed lunch for all 77 Lake Bluff employees. Kindly donate here.

And/or consider contributing to the staff breakfast by preparing an item or donating funds for the PTO to purchase items. Sign-up here to bring something.

After SAW, Screen-Free Week starts! The week includes planetarium visits, beautification activity, Shorewood Library events, family night at the scholastic book fair All School Read Celebration and more.

The All School Read is underway! Don't forget to participate in the weekly reader response question. More details are below.

Looking ahead, the PTO is seeking volunteers for this year and next. a full listing is below. Some positions include:

The 100th Anniversary Celebration. There will be planning over the summer to prepare for the fall events.
Beagle Dash Committee Members There will be a couple of meetings over the summer to prepare for the October Fun Run.
Communications Board member—Ideally, two people can share the work, including graphic design and PR/Marketing. A mentor/coach will be available to help with the transition.

We still need a few families to donate to our SEED (the District's educational foundation) basket, which will be auctioned at the May gala. Learn more about SEED's great work and impact on Lake Bluff below. Additionally, the newsletter has information on how to donate to the LB basket and how to purchase tickets to the gala. Donations are due by the end of the day TOMORROW.

Staff Appreciation Week Is Coming! Purchase a Lunch and/or Donate or Bring an Item To The Breakfast

We are in our Lake Bluff era and ready to show our appreciation for the fantastic Lake Bluff staff!

Sunday, 4/28: Chalk the Walk with messages of appreciation. Chalk will be set out at the EEC and the main building at 9:00 am; stop by at your convenience. Please do not use chalk on the
Monday, 4/29: Nothing Bundt Cakes and Coffee/Tea for staff. Donate toward their purchase here.
Tuesday, 4/30: Fanmail from students. Make your own or use one of our printable designs.
Wednesday, 5/01: Catered lunch from Apple Spice Catering Co. You can purchase lunch for a staff member here. To date, 20 lunches have been purchased out of 77.
Thursday, 5/02: Family donated breakfast. Sign up here to bring an item or donate, and we will shop for you.
Friday, 5/03: Goody Gourmet Popcorn buffet. Sign up here to donate.

Comedy Improv Workshops for 4th-6th Graders - This Friday, April 19

4th -6th graders are invited to join the second Comedy Improv Workshop tomorrow, Friday, after school. Do you like to laugh and be funny? This workshop is taught by Jordan Reichardt, an expert teacher from Comedy Sportz! You will learn fun games and how to do comedy.

Come to both sessions if you can, but if you can’t, it’s okay to come to just one. If your student is interested in participating in Lake Bluff Comedy Improv Workshops, please fill this form out with your student.

Friday, April 19

3:30-5:00 Workshop
5:00-5:30 Party. Social time, snacks, music

Who: Lake Bluff Students in grades 4-6, beginners welcome

Location: Lake Bluff Cafeteria

Cost: $0 It’s free.

This event is hosted by Ms. Church, and sponsored by the PTO.

Dine Out at Three Lions Pub, Monday April 22, 4-9PM

Take a night off from cooking and support your school with dinner from Three Lions Pub on Monday, April 22 from 4-9pm! Mention Lake Bluff when ordering, and a percentage of sales will go toward upcoming events and activities.

Three Lions is located at 4515 N Oakland Ave, Shorewood.

Reminder to Answer the Weekly Reader Response Questions by Thursday at 9:00 pm

We hope you enjoy reading this year's book, The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass, and/or listening to our Lake Bluff Staff read chapters.

Each Wednesday, reader response questions will be posted on our All School Read webpage and our Facebook page. Students must not be caught up in the reading to enter the drawing. Respond by 9:00 pm on Thursdays to be entered into a drawing for 1 of 4 weekly prizes.

We will conclude our celebration by gathering during Screen-Free Week on May 8. More information about the celebration will be announced next week. For more details about this year's Read, please visit our All School Read webpage.

Lake Bluff Beautification Days, May 7 & 18

The Beautification Committee invites all families to help clean up and beautify our school grounds.

On May 7, during Screen Free Week, stay after school to help the beautification committee clean up the grounds. Trash collection supplies will be provided. Together we can make a difference.

On May 18 from 9-11am, Help the beautification committee get the grounds ready for spring! We will be weeding, raking, and hopefully doing some planting. Supplies and tools will be provided but we encourage you to bring your own gardening gloves. Students are welcome with a grownup. Please let Julia know if you will be able to come or if you have any questions.

Attn: Families of 6th Graders!

We will celebrate the 6th graders on the last day of school with a completion ceremony, Edelweiss boat cruise, and more! All of the day's details can be found here, including the schedule for the day, volunteer signup, class t-shirt purchase, and the class gift donation.

There will be a slide show during the ceremony. Please email a baby photo and a current picture to 6thgradepicslb@gmail.com by May 17.

Volunteers Needed - Inquire Now - We have opportunities for everyone's interest and availability!

Please take a few minutes to look at the list of volunteer opportunities.

Board Positions:

Communications Co-chairs
- Graphic Design
- Social Media & Flyers (Canva)
- Newsletter, Infinite Campus Communications
- There will be someone to mentor/coach new communications chairs.

Committee members are needed now. There will be some meetings over the summer.

Lake Bluff's 100th Anniversary Picnic, 9/20
- Planning committee members needed
- Meeting in May and over the summer
Beagle Dash Fun Run, 10/10
- Planning Committee
- Meeting in May

2024-2025 Committee Chairs Needed

Spirit Wear (throughout the school year)
- Fulfill spirit wear orders
- Coordinate volunteers to take a shift at the spirit wear sales table at Meet and Greet, New Family Picnic, and 100th Anniversary Picnic.
- Design or work with a volunteer for the Fall back to school t-shirt and Hot Dog Day
Family Math Game Night (Winter)
- Mathnasium supplies games, a few prizes, and training for volunteers
- Coordinate volunteers to run the games
- Purchase snacks for the snack table
Conference Snacks Coordinator (October and March)
- Solicit snack donations through Signup Genius
- Purchase snacks that do not have volunteers
- Set up/clean up staff lounge
Staff Appreciation Week (Spring)
- Coordinate week of staff meals, snacks, and appreciation
Screen-Free Week (Spring)
- Coordinate a week of student activities in conjunction with the Book Fair, All School Read, Shorewood Library, etc.

Contact Sarah Keefe for more information.

Last call for SEED donations for our Door County themed basket!

Due TOMORROW! Shorewood SEED, the district-wide educational foundation, needs your help creating a fabulous Lake Bluff basket to auction at the May annual gala. Atwater and Lake Bluff will be donating travel-themed baskets. A Lake Bluff family has generously donated time at their home in Door County. Can you add something related to Door County, summer travel, or a gift card to the basket?

Ideas include items related to hiking (water bottle, map, park pass, sunglasses, etc.), water sports (sunscreen, goggles, rental gift card, etc.), dining (gift cards to restaurants, ice cream shop, items to make breakfast in the home, etc.), and relaxing (gift card, books, tea, wine, coffee, blanket, etc.). All ideas are welcome.

If you prefer, you can contribute funds here. The PTO will purchase items for the basket. Questions? Contact Sarah Keefe for more information at LakeBluffPTOPresident@gmail.com.

SEED, Shorewood’s Educational Foundation, Makes a Difference In the Lives of Lake Bluff Students

SEED, Shorewood’s educational foundation, makes a direct impact on the lives of Lake Bluff students. Each year SEED generously makes financial donations that benefit all schools including Lake Bluff.

This year alone, SEED helped fund the new and popular elementary math curriculum and training. They are also the organization that has funded the Children's Hospital mental health initiative that provides onsite mental health support for our children. SEED generously provided the new electric orchestra instruments. Members of Lake Bluff’s staff have been recent recipients of the Shorewood Excellence in Teaching Awards. This is just a small example of the big impact SEED has on the community.

SEED raises its funds from direct donations from community members and through their Annual Gala, Swing With Shorewood.

You can join SEED by attending the gala on May 4. Learn more here. And/Or contributing to the Lake Bluff Door County Getaway Basket through a financial donation or item to add. Items can include anything related to a weekend away (recreation, meal planning, spa, relaxing, etc) or travel. Click here to donate. Or contact Sarah Keefe with your item. Thank you for supporting SEED.

Spring Activities

April 19: Comedy Sportz Improv Workshop, 4th-6th Grade
April 22: Dine Out For Lake Bluff At Three Lions Pub
April 29-May 3: Staff Appreciation Week
May 6-10: Screen-Free Week
May 7-9: Scholastic Book Fair
May 7: LB Beautification: Grounds Clean up
May 8: All School Read Celebration
May 9: Family Fun Night at the Scholastic Book Fair
May 18: LB Beautification: Morning Planting at Lake Bluff
May 24: Rock out for the All School Read - CANCELED
May 30: Hot Dog Day
June 6: Sixth Grade Celebration

In stock Spirit Wear - Adult Sizes Restocked & Pura Vida bracelets and 1924 caps Are Here!

Our Fall t-shirt is restocked for Adults and Youth. Visit our School Shop for in-stock t-shirts, Beagle coffee mugs, Pure Vida bracelets, and our new 1924 baseball caps. Items are delivered to the classroom once a week. Contact Sarah Keefe with questions: LakeBluffPTOPresident@gmail.com.

What does the PTO accomplish in a year?

The PTO is attempting to streamline our fundraising for the year into one large fundraiser. The PTO raises money to support a wide array of programming for the Lake Bluff Community. What do we spend it on?

To date in the 2023-24 school year, your PTO has:

Hosted New Families Popsicle Social for over 240 people
Hosted Back to School Breakfast for all Staff, including gift cards for a raffle
Purchased a box fan for every classroom, specials room, teachers' lounge, and more
Provided mini-grants to all teachers to help underwrite the out-of-pocket beginning-of-the-year costs.
Purchase items immediately needed for the new math curriculum, including individual whiteboards, plastic page protectors, reams of card stock, and more
Gave each student (525 students) a Sprit Wear Shirt with the Lake Bluff motto on it.
Hosted multiple Morning Coffee stations for parents and a Hot Cocoa station during the Costume Parade
Hosted the Walk & Roll to School Celebration
Parent Teacher Conference Snack Buffet - Plan and Supplement
Scholastic Book Fair - Fulfilled teacher wishlists; assured each student left with a book and giving the library up to $5,000 to purchase books.
Educational Grants - Granted approximately $7,500 to fulfill teacher requests across all areas of Lake Bluff.
Holiday Treat Buffet - coordinate and supplement donations
Purchased and Wrapped 80+ staff gifts for the holidays.
Hosted Lake Bluff Family Night at the Admirals During Winter Break
Coordinated in conjunction with Atwater, Trivia Night for parents.
Funded Family Thai Dance Afternoon
Funded school bus transportation to Madison so orchestra students could perform at the capitol.
Funding of the new student-led compositing program at Lake Bluff.
Planned and executed 5th & 6th Grade Dance, Family Movie Night and Family Math Game Night.
Planned and hosted Spring Conference Snacks.
Funded the student led Composting Initiative

Upcoming Events & Activities:

Artist in Residence Program - PTO funds an artist and special project for students each year. It switches from the music to the art department annually.
Scholastic Book Fair - Fulfill classroom and library wishlists
Staff Appreciation Week Events
Screen-Free Week Activities - plans and underwrites all costs
All School Read - Books and activities for all students
Staff Gift Fund - Supplement funds as needed
Parent Teacher Conference Meals (2x a year) - Coordinate and supplement donations
Scholastic Book Fairs - All staff receive books on their classroom wish lists, and the librarian can purchase books for the library. Additionally, the PTO makes sure all students receive a book.
Hot Dog Day - T-shirts and festive fun
6th Grade Celebration - Ceremony and day of celebration
Other items as needed or requested throughout the years