Highcrest Middle School PTO

HIGHCREST HEADLINES
For the week of February 5 - 11, 2012

Announcements

Please join us for the next joint HMS/WJHS PTO Meeting

• February 9, at 7:00 p.m., at the Junior High. 
  
• We have an outstanding guest speaker, Peggy Kubert, LCSW and Director of Erika’s Lighthouse, leading a presentation on raising resilient kids. 
  
• Every parent wants their child to have the skills they need to manage life successfully on a daily basis and to be happy in life.  The capacity to cope effectively with life’s challenges is called resilience – and some researchers say it is the most important quality you can instill in your child. 
  
• Don’t miss this important opportunity to learn about it!

Calling all Highcrest parents! 

• The nominating process for executive and general board positions for the 2012-2013 Highcrest PTO kicks off this week. 
  
• Here’s a list of the open positions; you can also find the information on the Highcrest PTO website at highcrestpto.org. 
  
• If you are interested in a position, or if you have questions, please contact Rhona DiCamillo, chair of the nominating committee, at rkd@dg-cg.com.

Parent-student bowling party 

• Parents, bring your Highcrest student and join the HMS Parent Connection for a bowling party!
• Where – Wilmette Bowl, 1902 Schiller Avenue
• When – Sunday, February 26, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
• Price - $15 (cash or check) at the door (includes bowling, shoes, soda & a slice of pizza!)
• Games, prizes and another chance to meet the parents of those new friends your kids have been talking about! 
  
• Please sign-up by emailing Roxy Freel (roxannefrell@yahoo.com), Gayle McCormick (gaylemccormick@comcast.net, or Karen O’Sullivan (growgrain@sbcglobal.net).

Cafeteria help needed! 

• Come volunteer for a shift (or more) at the Highcrest cafeteria.  
• Not only is it a great way to get in to see your child, even if they don’t come through the lunch line, but the cafeteria workers cannot get our kids fed in a timely fashion without our help. 
  
• The shift is no more than two hours.  
• To sign up, go to www.highcrestpto.org and click on the cafeteria sign up link on the left side of the page.  Thank you!

“Educating the Whole Student: Integrating Academic, Social and Emotional Learning”. 

• Presentation by Dr. Roger Weissberg, Wilmette resident and co-founder of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional  Learning (CASEL) at the Yale Child Study Center. 
• Wednesday, February 8, 7:00 p.m., Gaffney Auditorium, New Trier – Winnetka Campus. 
  
• Dr. Weissberg will discuss the importance of social and emotional competence and why it is essential to authentic success in adulthood.  He will reflect on his own family’s experiences within New Trier Township schools and address how social and emotional learning can be taught in schools, and the academic benefits that can be derived from that teaching. 
  
• For more information, see: http://fan-ntts.ntnow.org/media/weissberg/WeissbergFlyer.pdf.

Come see the new recording studio at WJHS!! 

• Open house on Friday, February 3. 
  
• Just in time to host our Battle of the Bands musicians, WJHS is opening a state-of-the-art recording studio to anchor the school’s performing arts wing. 
  
• The D39 Educational Foundation installed the studio in memory of WJHS parent, Paul Tilley, and hopes it will serve as a creative incubator at the school for many years.
  
• All parents and students are invited to an open house from 6:15 – 7:15 p.m. to dedicate the recording studio on Battle of the Bands night, February 3. 
  
• Please stop by to see this wonderful resource before taking your seats for Battle of the Bands!

Youth Connection

Battle of the Bands

• 7:30 p.m. at Wilmette Junior high School on Friday, February 3^rd! 
  
• Your Highcrest kids are welcome to come hear the local talent of their WJHS friends and siblings, or just come to see a great event in which they can participate when they are students at WJHS. 
  
• The event features KISS-FM DJ, Brotha Fred. 
  
• Tickets are $10 at the door and will include a chance to win a four-person pass to the popular Fantabuloso concert in May.

Save the date! 

• TGIF is coming on Friday, March 16 from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. at Highcrest. 
  
• TGIF is a Youth Connection-sponsored event for Highcrest students only.  There are inflatables, a DJ, and snack food. 
  
• Tickets cost $10 and will go on sale the week of the event. 
  
• Parent volunteers are needed to work the event.  Please email Toni Stapel  (tstapel@comcast.net) if you are interested in volunteering!

For more information on this week’s news and other PTO activities, please visit www.highcrestpto.org. 

Highcrest Office:  847.853.2900                                                     Safe Phone:  847.853.2900 ext. 1    
School website: www.wilmette39.org/highcrest                              PTO website: www.highcrestpto.org

Want your info printed in the HEADLINES?  Just send your information to communications@highcrestpto.org by 5:00 p.m. on Monday.  Thanks!