Originally delivered on 1/30/2025 10:35 am

SUBJECT: Lake Bluff PTO Newsletter - January 30, 2025

Hooray for 4K Success!

Thanks to all friends and neighbors who came to the Hooray for 4K Open House at Lake Bluff last night. Families toured the big building and met the 4K teachers and Principal French. The PTO is excited to welcome new faces and returning families to 4K in the fall! Registration for 4K opened on January 1st! If you want to enter the AM Lottery, registration must be completed by February 10, 2025. More information can be found on the Shorewood District website.


Mark your calendars for these upcoming PTO events:

1. Parent Trivia Night on Saturday, February 1st: join the PTO for an adult only event! Get a group of friends or neighbors together to compete for the coveted BluffWater Trophy at the Annual School Trivia Night at Hubbard Lodge!

2. 5th & 6th Grade Dance on Friday, February 7th: time to walk the red carpet! All Lake Bluff 5th and 6th graders are invited to join their friends for a night of music and dancing (and snacks) in the Cafetorium. Sign up here to volunteer.


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!

Shorewood Schools Trivia Night: Saturday, February 1st

Parents and caregivers are invited to join us for Trivia Night! All teams from Atwater and Lake Bluff, SIS and SHS take each other on to vie for the coveted BluffWater Trophy! Event will take place at Hubbard Lodge. Drinks and food will be available for purchase.

Adults from the Shorewood School District (parents, guardians, teachers and staff) are welcome to form teams connected to one of the four schools (but please leave the kids at home). 

Don't have a team? Don't worry! Contact Amanda Gilman (akgilman@sbcglobal.net) to form a team with other interested individuals.

More info and registration instructions can be found here!

Lake Bluff 5th and 6th Grade Dance: Friday, February 7th

All Lake Bluff 5th and 6th Graders are invited to join their friends on Friday, February 7th from 6:30-8pm for music and dancing in the cafetorium. Students voted on the theme and have chosen Hollywood Red Carpet! Get ready to find your name on the Lake Bluff Walk of Fame!


This is NOT a drop off event, adults are asked to stay (limit of four students per chaperone).


Volunteers needed, find more information here!

Comedy Improv, Lake Bluff Cafeteria

Friday, January 31: open to grades 4-6, 3:30-5:20 pm

Friday, February 21: open to grades 4-6, 3:30-5:20 pm

These fun workshops are taught by Jordan Reichardt, an expert improv teacher and performer, who teaches comedy through games. Coming to both sessions is preferred, but not required. This is organized by Ms. Church, sponsored by the PTO. 

Required: Parent/guardian permission, and student understanding of behavior expectations. Nut-free snacks are provided. 


Here’s the link to sign up: http://bit.ly/LBComedyForm

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 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
  • Hosted the Lake Bluff Movie Night
  • 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 5th & 6th Grade Dance in February and Conference Snacks in March.

Upcoming Events
Saturday, February 1
7:00p ATW/LB Family Trivia Night Out
Friday, February 7
6:30p LB Dance Party (Gr. 5-6)
Friday, February 28
ATW/LB NO SCHOOL
Friday, March 7
ATW/LB End of Trimester 2
Wednesday, March 12
ATW/LB (4K ONLY) NO SCHOOL
Thursday, March 13
ATW/LB NO SCHOOL 4K-Gr. 6
12:30p ATW/LB Conferences
Friday, March 14
8:00a ATW/LB NO SCHOOL 4K-Gr. 6
Facebook
Facebook
Instagram
Instagram
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.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -