Originally delivered on 12/12/2024 9:24 am

SUBJECT: Lake Bluff PTO Newsletter - December 12, 2024

Happy holidays Lake Bluff Families! 


Please join the PTO in showing our gratitude to our amazing Lake Bluff staff:

  1. Holiday Treat Buffet for Staff Next Thursday, Dec 19th: Do you make a delicious treat or are you stopping by the store? There are still lots of treats - healthy and sweet needed. Spoil our amazing Lake Bluff staff with donations of desserts, treats & drinks! Sign-up here.
  2. Every single staff member (78 people!) receives a gift through our Annual Staff Gift Fund! Have you contributed yet? The PTO purchases a holiday gift for each staff member (classroom teachers, specials teachers, aides, administrative staff, janitorial and cafeteria staff). This year there are 78 staff members!   Each year families are asked to contribute $20 per student to fund the annual Staff Gift Fund. Contribute here

Looking for a fun winter break activity? Mark your calendars and join your friends from Lake Bluff at the Admirals Game on December 30th. Tickets are $18 and the Admirals will donate $10 from each ticket sale back to Lake Bluff! 

Save the date for our annual Lake Bluff Movie Night on January 17th. Find out more info below and sign-up to help make the night a success!

Please read the full newsletter letter for details on the Educational Grants and more news and events. Please get in touch with PTO President Tracy Yothsackda with any questions. Together, we are the Lake Buff community!

Treat Donations Needed! Let's Celebrate Our Wonderful Staff With A Holiday Treat Buffet, Next Thursday, December 19th

The holiday season is here! Let's provide the staff and teachers at Lake Bluff with a wonderful Holiday Treat Buffet to show them how much we appreciate them! 

Next Thursday, staff will enjoy a break filled with fruit, seasonal treats, coffee & hot chocolate with all the toppings. Sign-up to contribute your favorite holiday treat here.  You can bake or buy something to share. There are still lots of openings. 

Staff Gift Fund - Has Your Family Made Their Annual Contribution?

Each fall, the PTO collects $20 per student via our website to fund the Annual Teacher and Staff Gift Fund. That money is used to purchase each staff member (classroom teachers, special teachers, aides, administrative staff, janitorial and cafeteria staff) a holiday gift and each classroom teacher a year-end gift. This year, there are 78 staff members. 

The PTO purchases the holiday gifts and room parents purchase the classroom teacher year-end gifts on behalf of the class with these funds. The PTO will share this year's holiday gift after they have been distributed. 

Please take a moment to go to https://lakebluffpto.membershiptoolkit.com/my-account on the PTO Website to make your annual contribution. Not sure if you contributed? Click "Previous Orders" under "My Account" to check.

Lake Bluff Night at the Admirals Game! Monday, December 30

Join your friends from Lake Bluff for some fun over winter break! Monday, December 30th is Lake Bluff night at the Milwaukee Admirals hockey game as they take on the Cleveland Monsters.

Tickets are $18 and the Admirals will donate $10 from each ticket sale back to Lake Bluff! You can purchase your tickets here!

As a bonus, if the Admirals win, the following weekday game will be free for all fans in attendance!

Lake Bluff Movie Night - January 17

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP TO HELP MAKE THIS ANNUAL EVENT A SUCCESS!

All Lake Bluff Families are invited to join us for a movie night on January 17th in the Cafetorium, doors will open at 6:30pm and the movie will start at 7pm.

Feel free to bring a blanket, and/or folding chairs.

Popcorn and juice will be available for purchase.

Bottled water will not be for sale, but feel free to bring your own!

Please note, this is not a drop off event.

Featured Movie: TBD


Questions? E-mail LakeBluffPTOPresident@gmail.com

Educational Grants - Phase 1 Awarded!

Thank you to the Lake Bluff community for your generous support of the Beagle Dash! The first phase of the educational grants have been awarded. We are on track to be able to provide the highest amount of grants in our history!

Grants awarded to date:

  • Almost $2,500 in books to support the new ELA curriculum and Battle of the Books
  • Almost $2,500 in classroom accessories like magnetic white boards, flexible seating options, and bulletin boards to display student artwork throughout the building
  • $1,700 in early education toys
  • $2,000 in student experiences like Thai dance, Comedy Improv, and the 1st grade First Stage Play
  • $600 in playground equipment and microphones

More grants coming soon!

Lake Bluff Spirit Wear Part 1

Did you know you can shop online for Lake Bluff spirit wear and gifts? The shop has a small curated collection of items including t-shirts, mugs, water bottles, Pura Vida bracelets and more! Items are delivered to classrooms weekly.

Visit our shop at https://lakebluffpto.membershiptoolkit.com/FallStore2024.

Need Holiday Cards? Order From Minted

Are you purchasing Holiday Cards this year? You can use the promo code  FUNDRAISELAKEBLUFF to support the Lake Bluff PTO! You will receive 20% off Minted holiday cards & gifts, and 15% of every order placed using your code will be donated back to the PTO. 

The Yearbook Needs Your Photos!

Do you have photos from any of our school events - First Day, 100th celebration, Walk & Roll to School, Beautification, Beagle Dash, Playground time, etc? 

Please take a moment and email them to LakeBluffYearbook@gmail.com.

Have you registered for the School Directory?

Please take a moment to go to the PTO Website, www.LakeBluffBeagle.com. Within five minutes and a few clicks, you can update your child's information in the PTO/School Directory, pay your annual contribution to the teacher/staff gift fund, review the volunteer opportunities, and more. Please be sure to select this year's teacher for each student to receive class-specific communications.

The Lake Bluff Directory is the only place to find the names and contact information of Lake Bluff students. It serves as the school directory. Also, by updating/inputting your information, the PTO can send occasional emails regarding upcoming events.

Download the free Membership Toolkit companion app for mobile access to the website.

How the PTO Supports the Lake Bluff Community

It's the PTO's mission to foster the Lake Bluff through community events and supporting the wonderful staff. 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 2024-25 school year, your PTO has:

  • Free Little Libraries installed and filled. (One FLL was donated by the 2023 6th grade class and the other was donated by the PTO in conjunction with the All School Read)
  • Hosted the New Families Popsicle Social for over 240 people and gifts for new families
  • Hosted Back to School Breakfast for all staff
  • Provided mini-grants to all teachers to help underwrite the out-of-pocket beginning-of-the-year costs
  • Beautification and cleanup of the Lake Bluff grounds
  • Hosted our Welcome Back Coffee
  • Planned and Hosted the 100th celebration!
  • Hosted Walk & Roll to School Celebration
  • Hosted a the Fall grounds beautification and planting
  • Planned Parent Teacher Conferences' Staff Buffet 
  • Executed Beagle Dash
  • Hosted Hot Chocolate for the Halloween Party
  • Planted 1000 tulip bulbs across the school grounds
Volunteer - We have opportunities for everyone's interest and availability!

Please take a few minutes to look at the list of volunteer opportunities. We have something for everyone's interest, time limits and talents.

Additionally there are a number of volunteer opportunities including helping with Conference Snacks for Staff, the Fun Run and more.  Sign-up here

Upcoming Events
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Thank you!

Thank you for your support. We are grateful for our volunteers and families that contribute to the support of staff and students at Lake Bluff.

Questions/suggestions?  

Email Tracy Yothsackda at LakeBluffPTOPresident@gmail.com.

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