AFPC Parent Education Team Presents….

Choice Theory 101 on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 7:00-9:00p.m. in Aspen’s cafeteria.  Through lecture, discussion and interactive exercises, our introductory program will provide you with an overview of Choice Theory, tips for use at home, how it’s used at school and more.  Learning about Choice Theory will help parents to improve relationships, communication skills and family harmony and enhance the home-school connection.   Program taught by Mrs. Szoke and Mrs. Zurek (Glasser trained Aspen Faculty) and Mrs. Carson (Aspen Parent/Staff, Glasser Institute Faculty).  This program is free, but please register by emailing nc.longdon@gmail.com and provide your name, your student’s name and your cell phone number, or complete the Registration Form.  This program is for parents only, please do not bring children.  Additional choice theory workshops will be offered at the Family University on February 6, 2016 at which time a children’s program will be offered.

Announcing NEW AFPC Team-Teachers Helpers

Attention Aspen Parents!  We have a great opportunity for you to get involved at school.  We are looking for parents who would be willing to volunteer in the following ways:

  1. Work individually or with small groups of kindergartners (in the hall, not in the classroom, and not with your own child) to reinforce basic reading and math skills Thursdays from 8:05-8:35, and/or Mondays-Fridays from 11:30-12 and/or 1:20-1:50
  2. Help with clerical projects (like assembling book orders, copying, cutting/backing projects,  die cutting, etc.)
  3. Help our Art Teacher, Mrs. Riege, hang artwork at 10:00 on Mondays between now and February

To meet these needs, we are forming a new team on the AFPC called the Teachers Helpers Team.  For the first need, working directly with kindergartners, ideally we’d like parents to volunteer at least once per week or every other week, but we will take any assistance we can get even if it is one time.  For helping with clerical projects, we will set up a schedule now, but you can sign up for any day or time that works for you (and it can be a single time or multiple times).  We will provide training.  For helping our Art teacher, we are looking for 1 volunteer every Monday at 10:00 (for approximately 30-60 minutes)-even if you can only volunteer to help one Monday, that would be great!  We plan on getting our volunteers started the week of Dec. 8, with the exception of the Monday morning Art helper which we hope to start on Nov. 23.
Please email Nicole Carson at nc.longdon@gmail.com, or call her at (847) 858-5602, with questions or to volunteer (please provide specific days/times you are available).

Thank you for helping make Aspen great!!!

Choice Time Volunteers Still Needed!

We are in serious need of choice time volunteers. The greatest need is for 4th and 5th grade silent reading. Currently, we are only able to offer silent reading for 4th grade 3 times weekly, and 5th grade once per week. The greatest need for the lower grades is Monday.

If you would like to volunteer, please email Heidi Gutowski at sarahandjacksmom@live.com with your name, phone number, child’s name, grade and availability (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or specific dates). Please also indicate first and second preference for day of the week.

Donations Still Needed for Teachers’ Conference Dinner

We are still in need of appetizers for this Monday’s Teacher’s Conference Night Dinner!  If you are able to help out to provide our Aspen staff with a fabulous meal before conferences on Monday, November 23, please click here to sign up.  Your appetizer can be delivered to the Aspen office before 3:00PM on Monday, November 23.

Please contact Michelle Tran at 847-247-8157 if you have any questions!
Thank you!
The Aspen Family Partnership Council/Special Projects Team

Donations Needed for Teachers’ Conference Dinner

The AFPC Special Projects Team is looking for donations of desserts, appetizers, fruit, water bottles, cans of soda, dinner plates, dessert plates, plastic silverware, bowls, and napkins for the fall teachers’ conference dinner.

**For paper products, silverware, and drinks, please bring them to the Aspen office by Friday, November 20.**

**For desserts, appetizers, and fruit, please bring them to the Aspen office on Monday, November 23 BEFORE 3:00 PM.**

Please click here to sign up

Our teachers are so appreciative of this event where we provide them with a meal during the first night of conferences at Aspen!

Please contact Michelle Tran at 847-247-8157 if you have any questions!

Choice Time Needs Volunteers!

Looking for a way to volunteer at school during the day?  Then Choice Time is perfect for you!  From November 30, 2015 through March 18, 2016 we offer an indoor alternative to recess for students in grades 1-5.  Games, Legos and Drawing will be be offered to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders. We would like to offer silent reading for 1st-5th graders if we have enough parent supervisors, Monday through Friday, to allow students the opportunity to add to the school-wide minute total for our Reading Around the World challenge. It is a 20 minute time frame per grade level, and it would help the school meet the 2 million minute reading goal this year.  Choice Time is the one time you can bring a younger sibling with you! You can volunteer one time, monthly, bi-weekly, weekly or even for various dates throughout the winter.  Look for sign-up forms in backpack mail next week, or download one HERE.

Family Magic Night Wrap Up

We had a HUGE turnout last Friday!!!  Over 400 parents and children attended Aspen’s Family Magic Night.  We’d like to send out heartfelt thanks to Aditi Desai, Jamie Ritchie, Marie Fricano and Robyn Kaufman for their help in setting up, staffing and cleaning up at the event.  A special thank you to Stephanie Freed and Michelle Tran for organizing such a terrific and fun night!  Mark your calendars for Family Bingo Night on February 19.

Join the Aspen Family for a Magic Show

Mark your calendar for a Magical Night as we watch Steve Belliveau perform an interactive magic show that will be tons of fun for the whole family!  This energetic and funny magician will be showcasing levitation along with some furry friends!  The show will take place on Friday, October 16 from 6:30 – 8 PM in the Aspen Elementary Gym! Snacks will be served!
Cost for the show is $5 per family.  Please download this form and return it, along with $5, to school before Wednesday, October 14th.
Please contact Michelle Tran michelletran419@gmail.com or Stephanie Freed effiefreed@gmail.com with any questions!
See you there!

Join Us for Aspen Family Dance

Get on your dancing shoes and join us on Friday, August 28 from 6:30-8:00pm for Aspen’s Family Dance.  We’ll cool off with popsicles and enjoy the tunes from A-Z Entertainment.

Volunteer Sign-Up for Aspen Family Partnership Council

Look for sign-ups at all fall back-to-school events to join the AFPC and volunteer for help planning/staffing activities of the following teams:  Choice Time (winter recess alternative), Library Helpers, Parent Education, Principal’s Helpers (filling out birthday cards), Social, Special Projects.