Originally delivered on 12/19/2024 9:14 am

SUBJECT: Lake Bluff PTO Newsletter - December 19, 2024

Happy Holidays!

Tomorrow is the last day of classes before the holiday break! The PTO would like to thank all of the volunteers who donated to the Holiday Treat Buffet. The treats were shared this morning and it was a massive success! 

Thank you to all who donated to the Staff Gift Fund this year! This year all 78 Lake Bluff staff members received a Lake Bluff Tote and a gift card to Marcus Theatres. Thank you again to everyone for your generosity this holiday season!  Forgot to donate? No problem, donations accepted here,

Thank you to all of the volunteers this year! The PTO depends on volunteers from our community and we are so grateful to all of those who have helped! The PTO would like to especially thank our various committee chairs...

  • Lisa Gallagher - New Family Popsicle Social
  • Kate Flynn Post, Catie Boon, Sarah Keefe, DeeDee Nelson and Nickie Scher-Hubing - 100th Anniversary Celebration
  • Martha Bodden, Catie Boon and Sean Wiler - Book Fair
  • DeeDee Nelson and Taylor Hughes - Yearbook
  • Sara Schooley - Walk to School Day
  • Lizzy Howayeck and Kim Robinson - Beagle Dash
  • Julia Ela - Beautification
  • Lizzy Howayeck - Picture Day
  • Lisa Menon and Sarah Richards - Original Works Fundraiser
  • Melanie Isaacs - Staff Grants

You can still purchase tickets to our Winter Break Admirals Game on December 30th. Tickets are $18 and the Admirals will donate $10 from each ticket sale back to Lake Bluff! Details below.

Looking ahead to January, join the Family Movie Night on January 17th. We will be screening Inside Out 2! Families are invited to join us in the Cafetorium, popcorn and juice will be available for purchase. Volunteers are still needed, sign up here.

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!

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!

Educational Grants - Phase 2 Awarded!

Thank you to the Lake Bluff community for your generous support of the Beagle Dash! The first and second phases of the educational grants have been awarded. This enabled the PTO to provide the highest amount of grants in our history - approximately $13,000! 


Grants awarded in Round 2:

  • $1800 for new dictionaries, books, and reading intervention tools
  • $1500 access purchase to an education platform that enhances reading and literacy skills
  • $230 in winter gear storage for the Heath Office


Grants awarded in Round 1:

  • 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
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 a water bottle!

Please note, this is not a drop off event.

Featured Movie: Inside Out 2


Questions? E-mail Lizzy Howayeck here.

Lake Bluff Spirit Wear

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.

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 volunteer run 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
  • Hosted Scholastic book fair and made sure every child had a book and all classroom wish lists were fulfilled.
  • Distributed over $14,000 in Education Grants throughout Lake Bluff
  • Thanked teachers with Thanksgiving Pizza Pie lunch.
  • Planned, purchased and wrapped Holiday gifts for all 78 staff members through the Staff Gift Fund. 
  • Coordinated Holiday Treat Buffet for staff
  • Purchased books for little free library.
  • Planned winter break Admirals game
  • Working on various activities for 2025!
  • And more...
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. Looking to 2025, there will be several events in the beginning of the year including the Family Movie Night in January and the School Dance in February.

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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