CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOO LS

September 2012

Belding News
Back to BeldingSeptember 2012!
Welcome back to school! Our teachers and staff cant wait to get back to work with the students and families of Belding. It has been a tense political year as the Board of Ed and the Teachers Union negotiate a contract. Despite these uncertainties, Belding teachers have been busy working this summer. Almost every teacher has taken many days of professional development or graduate level courses to further their training. Almost every teacher has been at Belding for days and days to set up classrooms, prepare and plan curriculum and collaborate with colleagues. Their hard work this summer will make the launch of the school year a success.

This year at Belding we continue the work of aligning what and how we teach with the Common Core State Standardsnew, more rigorous curriculum guidelines for what students need to be prepared for college and career.

School Fees
On the first day of school, students will receive an envelope for the payment of their school fee. The fee for children in grades PreK 1 is $35. The fee for grades 2-8 is $40. Included in the fee is: one Belding uniform shirt, one field trip, CPS network fee, a student planner, and additional supplies for special projects such as hands-on science, art, music, display boards, etc. Everyone feels the effects of the Illinois budget crisis, and Belding School is no exception. The Belding School Fee allows up to provide a rich program for our children despite budget woes.

Monthly Newsletter Via E-mail

If you would like to receive the monthly school newsletter via e-mail, you may sign up to join my Google group on our Belding web site: beldingelementary.com. Principal Yutzy will use the group email list to send the monthly Parent Training Survey newsletter and occasional other important announcements. We Please take a moment to give us feedback on send home newsletters the final Thursday of each month, so that what types of parent training would be meanyou have important dates before the start of the coming month. ingful to you this coming year. The anonymous survey can be found on Survey Monkey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3BRN3TF

September 2012
Tue
AUG 30
BACK TO BELDING 5-7 p.m.

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Second Cup of Coffee

2 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL8:45 am 11 13

Second Cup of Coffee9 am

LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

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8 Parent Workshop: September 13 14

Using the Parent Portal to Track Your Childs 15 Grades 5:306:00 p.m. in the school lunchroom

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September 11th Join Heather Yutzy for a cup of coffee, and an opportunity 9 to ask questions or offer suggestions for making Belding a great school. At these parent gatherings, 16 Mrs. Yutzy will also share news about the school and plans for the school.

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9:30 am School Tour for prospective parents

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LSC/ Parent Meeting 6pm see pg 3 20 21

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23 Chicago Cares Volunteer Day

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28 PTA Hot Dog Lunch

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Parent Involvement at Belding

MONTHLY PARENT and LSC MEETINGS At 6:00 p.m. SECOND Thursday of EACH MONTH in the Belding Lunchroom
September 13 October 11 November 8 December 13 January 10 February 14
MONTHLY PARENT MEETINGS: This year there is an easy way to stay informed and get involved at Belding. Once a month were holding a combined Local School Council/ Parent Meeting. This is a one-stop place to learn about the important initiatives and work of the school, to connect with other parents, and to get involved in making great things happen. The MONTHLY PARENT MEETING will be on the second Thursday of each month at 6 pm in the school lunchroom. Food and babysitting will be provided for each parent meeting. Our first meeting will be on Thursday, September 13 and we want you to join us then!

March 14 April 11 May 9 June 13

FOOD AND BABYSITTING ARE PROVIDED For every parent meeting

Second Cup of Coffee and School Tours

Each month parents will have an opportunity to meet with Principal Yutzy at a casual event called a Second Cup of Coffee. These gatherings will generally be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Join Heather Yutzy for a cup of coffee or tea, and an opportunity to ask questions or offer suggestions for making Belding a great school. At these parent gatherings, Mrs. Yutzy will also share news about the school and plans for the school. Many prospective parents want to visit Belding School before deciding to enroll their children. We are setting up a monthly tour for parents who are considering Belding but want to see us in action. If you know of a neighborhood family who might enjoy a school tour, refer them to the school office. The September tour will be on Tuesday, September 18 at 9:30 a.m. Visitors to Belding will be impressed, especially when they see our teachers and students at work!

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New Staff Members at Belding

Several new staff members have joined us at Belding this year. We are delighted to introduce you to these fantastic teachers and staff: Dr. Patrina Singleton is our new assistant principal. Dr. Singleton and her family moved to Chicago this summer to be closer to family. Chicago is her husbands hometown and she is originally from Milwaukee, WI. However, they spent the past 14 years in Tulsa, OK. She was a classroom teacher for 6 years and a principal for 3 years. She graduated from Oral Roberts University with a BS degree in Elementary Education. For graduate studies, she attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a Masters degree and Doctoral degree in Educational Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision. Dr. Singleton is a National Board Certified Teacher. Dania Saleh is a new first grade teacher. Dania graduated from Northeastern Illinois University last year and taught part of the year at Wildwood School. Dania holds ESL credentials and will also be our girls soccer coach. Katie Keuler is a new kindergarten teacher at Belding but not a new face at our school. Ms. Keuler just graduated from Indiana University and completed her student teaching at Belding. After working with her for a semester, we knew we wanted her on our staff as a full time teacher! Azza Amdouni is our new Arabic teacher at Belding but she is not new to teaching. Mrs. Amdouni has an undergraduate degree from DePaul and taught for a number of years at the Universal School in Bridgeview. She then completed her teaching credentials at St. Xavier University and student taught in Oaklawn. She brings extensive experience in both primary and middle school to her new position at Belding. Suzan Kheireddin is our new ESL and Arabic bilingual teacher. Suzan taught last year in Burbank, IL and joins our team highly recommended. She holds a degree in education from UIC and completed advanced training at Concordia. Jennifer Tando is our new Literacy/ Full School Day Teacher. Jennifer joins us from previous teaching experience at CICS-Washington Park and Francis Scott Key Elementary. Jennifer holds degrees from Northeastern Illinois, St. Xavier University, and Grand Canyon University. She will be working as a specials teacher who meets with every grade level once a week for additional literacy activities. Natalie Schoonewolff is not a new face at Belding, she worked here as a teacher assistant and then as a part time special education teacher. But this year Natalie will be with us full time as a special education teacher. Kelly Sladkey worked at Belding as a teacher assistant last year but has moved into a new position at Belding: special education. Kelly graduated from North Park College and completed her special education licensure this past summer. Lunch and Recess Supervisors: This year weve created a new part-time position at Belding to help supervise lunch and recess. Six part time employees will be here every day from 11 am1 p.m. You will recognize some familiar names: Rick Redmond, Candice Ramirez, Diane Whalen, Laurie Marlow, Tom Stillwell, and Hanan Ayyad. Two new teacher assistants join our team: Daniel White and Taryn Johnson will work as Special Education Classroom Assistants. Both have extensive experience working with special needs children at other schools and both have advanced training in special education. (Daniel just completed his special education teaching license and Taryn is working to complete hers).

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Friends of Belding
Parkway Planters Completed: Many thanks to Belding Art Teacher, Ken Klopack, and his student art club who have completed the finishing touches on the beautifully painted (and sealed for posterity!) parkway planters. Each of the 7 fiberglass containers are uniquely and vibrantly painted based on Belding student designs. FOB was thrilled to sponsor the supplies. We will be putting out a call to parents and students to help us with our annual Fall Spruce Up in the coming month. Classroom and Specials Wish Lists for the new school year: This is year #2 of a program we started last year aimed at helping our Belding teachers, both in the classroom and the specials (Library, Arabic, Music, etc.) enhance their classroom tools and supplies. Please take note of the large poster size wish lists displayed (usually on the classroom door) throughout the school. If you want to learn more, please contact your childs teacher, as he/she can provide you with the wish list electronically. Also, all items purchased are tax deductible. Simply stop by the school office to obtain a receipt. Easy ways to help Belding earn money: There are lots of programs out there aimed at letting shoppers identify a school to receive financial benefit. Many of you know about the Target RED card, for example. Over the summer, FOB scoured the internet and drew up this consolidated cheat sheet to identify all the EASY ways shoppers can help the school. Did you receive the flyer at Back to Belding? Yes, no, maybe? Well check out the same info on Beldings website (www.beldingelementary.com) under the Get Involved tab. Save the date Call for Parent Volunteers: On Tuesday September 25th, a crew of 150 Chicago Cares volunteers will spend the school day tackling a variety or indoor and outdoor projects. Belding is so fortunate to receive this support and we would like to show our appreciation by providing the work teams with moral support, guidance, and refreshments. We are looking for 5 10 parents available to help in one of two ways: (1) provide home baked or store bought treats (40 50 pieces per parent volunteer), or (2) lend your time during the project (morning shift or afternoon shift) to serve as a parent ambassador to float between projects providing treats, encouragement, thanks, and direction. If you are available, let us know by e-mailing ContactFriendsOfBelding@gmail.com. Want to know more about Friends of Belding? Come to the monthly parent meeting (2nd Thursday of every month at 6pm in the school lunchroom). Or, visit our website www.FriendsOfBelding.org

Cell phone policy for Belding School:

Possession or use of cell phones or pagers are prohibited in Chicago public schools without prior permission of the Principal. At Belding School, the following policy holds:

Families and students are discouraged from bringing cell phones or electronic devices to school.

If a cell phone or electronic device is brought to the school it should be turned off and not be used during the school day. If the device is used or is brought out into view it will be confiscated and held in the office for parent pick up.

has no responsibility for such loss.

Cell phones and electronic devices may only be used during the school day if the principal so authorizes. For example, the principal would authorize students to use cell phones to contact parents in the event of a disaster or emergency.

If an electronic device is lost or stolen, the school

Parent Volunteers NeededSeptember 25

On Tuesday, September 25 Chicago Cares will bring 150 adult volunteers to Belding for a day of service. These volunteers from Discover Financial Services will do painting, landscaping, and murals. We are grateful for their support, and we need a team of parent volunteers to help. Can you offer one of the following?

GARDENING TOOLS: Can you lend us a shovel, hand trowel, garden fork, or rake? We need tools for volunteers to use that day. Please bring tools to Belding on September 24 or 25. If your tool is clearly labeled, it will be easier to return after the event.

GARDENING VOLUNTEER: As we put a team of volunteers to work weeding and raking, we need a few parents who feel confident making decisions about what are weeds/ what are worth keeping. Are you a gardener with a good sense of what to pull? We could use your help that day (September 25). Email Principal Yutzy at hsyutzy@cps.edu. If you are available, let us know by emailing ContactFriendsOfBelding@gmail.com.

TREATS: Provide home baked or store bought treats (40 50 pieces per parent volunteer).

PARENT AMBASSADORS: Lend your time during the project (morning shift or afternoon shift) to serve as a parent ambassador to float between projects providing treats, encouragement, thanks, and direction. If you are available, let us know by e-mailing ContactFriendsOfBelding@gmail.com.

PTA News
Dear Belding Families, Welcome back to another exciting year at Belding. The Belding PTA is working hard to provide you and your child with programs this year. Here is just a short list of programs and events that we are sponsoring or cosponsoring: Afterschool programs, including chess, dance, creative writing workshop, art, and the student newsletter - the Belding Buzz Spring Musical Reading Contests & Book Fairs Art Buck$ and Field Trip grants Room Parents Program How can you support the Belding PTA? Join! A membership form is included with this newsletter. (Note: The first 100 families to join the PTA at the Back to Belding night August 30th will receive a $5 coupon to Forever Yogurt!) Volunteer! We have opportunities Attend a meeting! Here are the future Parent Super Meeting dates: 9/13/12 at 6:00pm 10/11/12 at 6:00pm 11/8/12 at 6:00pm 01/10/13 at 6:00pm 02/14/13 at 6:00pm 03/14/13 at 6:00pm 04/11/13 at 6:00pm 05/09/13 at 6:00pm 06/13/13 at 6:00pm (Note: Babysitters and refreshments are available at the Parent Super Meetings.) Donate! Its tax deductible

Beldi ng

Belding Spirit Wear

Get your Belding Spirit Wear! New order forms will be distributed at the Back to Belding night on August 30, as well as with your students on the first day of school. The first order of the school year will be due by Friday, September 14. Questions? Contact Shelly Magnus at mrmagnus@cps.edu.

Hot Dog Day

Studentsmark your calendars for the first of two Hot Dog Days this school year. On Friday, September 28, you can buy a hot dog lunch, grilled to perfection by PTA members for you to enjoy outside with your friends.

6th Annual Walk-A-Thon

Dust off your track shoes, warm up your muscles, and join the Belding students and staff as we walk on our track to raise funds for the school! The 6th Annual Belding Walk-A-Thon will take place during school hours on October 3rd. Help your students collect pledges to earn cool prizes. Be on the lookout soon for details on this very exciting event.

Uniform Swap
Have your children outgrown their Belding uniforms or Spirit Wear? We are collecting gently used clothing so that we can provide a uniform swap (completely free of charge) to any interested families. Simply drop off any clothing you would like to contribute to this event at the school (label your bag Uniform Swap). Ideally, we would like to collect your donated items by the first week of school. Once we have collected enough items, we will announce a date for any interested families to come to Belding and pick out clothing they can use. Questions? Contact Maureen Lontoc at mlontoc@yahoo.com

Box Tops for Education is a Free and Easy Way to Make a Difference!
Clip your Box Tops!
For every Box Tops for Education coupon you bring in, we receive a rebate from Box Tops. These little coupons add up fast! Classroom contest are going on right now! Bring in your Box Tops to your classroom.

Shop at www.boxtops4education.com Belding will receive a donation of up to 15% of your purchase -- at no extra cost to you. Log on to www.boxtops4education.com and sign up as a Belding supporter, and start earning more for our school right now!
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Yes, Id like to join the Belding PTA for the 2012-2013 school year!
Annual membership dues for Beldings PTA are $10.00 per adult. Checks should be made payable to the Belding PTA.
Name(s) ________________________________________________________________ Phone (s), including Cell ____________________________________________________ Email(s) _________________________________________________________________ Child(ren)/Room(s) _______________________________ _________________________

Here are my/our dues for _____ memberships at $10.00 each = $_____ Total enclosed.
I am able to volunteer. Please let me know when you need help!

Im sorry, but I am not able to volunteer. I am still enclosing dues for _____ membership(s)
at $10.00 each for a total of $_______. Please clip and return to the PTA lockbox in the school office in an envelope with your dues.