April 17, 2008

Ms. Heffron's Letter April 17, 2008

Yesterday, I gave students clarification about some playground procedures and I would like to share them with you as well. Students may bring playground balls from home to use during recess. While here, though, the balls are used in the same way as all school equipment which means following the school rules including allowing others to play. This means, for example that a student may not select who can or can't be involved in a football game because it is her/his personal football. The game needs to be open, as is required with our school equipment. Because of safety considerations, students are not allowed to bring baseballs or softballs, nor bats or tennis racquets.

On a related topic, in the morning before school begins, no ball playing is allowed on the blacktop. The high volume of traffic, including parents with strollers, makes it hazardous for the energetic games that students engage in. We also appreciate students and adults walking bikes and scooters on the playground, for the same reasons.

Before it warms up enough to need the answers, these are a few points that come up each year and I offer them for your review:

• A guideline for clothing choices is "Not too much exposed skin." This means no short shorts, tank tops, spaghetti straps, halters or strapless tops. There are two reasons for these guidelines. The first is the risk of injury to bare skin and the second is disruption to the learning environment, particularly in the older grades.
• Shoes: Students still need PE shoes which should be tennis shoes. During recess, most

students like to be quite active and it is difficult to run or climb in shoes with heels or open backs.

Have you noticed the perennials starting to poke out of the dirt out front? What a welcome sight!

Notes:

• Spanish PJ Party(La Fiesta de Pijama) is tomorrow, Friday, April 18^th from 6:00-7:00pm. Be sure to bring a blanket and a water bottle.

• The 5th Annual Lake Bluff Children's Rummage Sale will be held in the Lake Bluff School Cafetorium on Saturday, April 26 from 9:00 am to noon (11:00 am - noon: fill a bag for $3.00). Thousands of items on sale include infants' and children's clothing, toys, furniture, games, books, sports equipment, videos and more! Proceeds benefit Lake Bluff PTO. Lake Bluff School is located at 1600 E. Lake Bluff Blvd, Shorewood (one block west of Oakland, 2 lights north of Capitol Drive).

• Harry Schwartz Bookstores along with the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, is sponsoring a talk/book signing with Richard Louv at the Jewish Community Center on Thursday, April 24 at 7pm. Mr. Louv, a nationally known author of the book, Last Child in the Woods, is changing the way we think about or children's connection with the natural world. For more information, call (414) 352-2880x0 or (262) 241-6220.
• Don't forget to register for "Run the Bay" on May 10^th. It is a fun time and a great way to support the schools. Registration brochures are in the office.
• 2008 Pre-College Workshops and College Fair sponsored by PACE is Thurs., April 24^th from 6:30-9:00pm @WFBHS in the Rotunda.
• Advocates for Education is sponsoring speaker Philip Chard on Thursday, April 24th @ 7:00pm at WFB Public Library. See link below for more information:

Advocates for Education-Philip Chard