DrumBeat: Drummond LSC and PTO News & Views

As a reminder- the LSC included a letter in the last mailing soliciting comments on our bylaws and asking if you’d like to participate in LSC committees.  Please feel free to contact us with your participation.

The LSC is seeking your review and comment on two matters currently being considered- its bylaws and committees. The current bylaws are posted here. (Bylaws are the operating rules of the council.) Copies of the current bylaws are also available through the school office. Please forward any comments to , an email address that will go to all Drummond LSC members. You can also place comments in any LSC members’ mailbox.  Please submit comments by July 28, 2008. With the expiration of the LSC’s previous term, each LSC committee must be reauthorized. Seven committees were proposed to help the LSC do its work for the coming year.  Although the actual scope of what each committee will do has not yet been determined, here’s a list of the committees and a brief description of their area of work:

• Agenda(for LSC Meetings)
• Budget and Fundraising  (reviews budget proposals and fundraising, including grants)
• After-school Program (advises the Council on after-school programming)
• Diversity and Outreach (organizes outreach on diversity issues)
• Parents of Differently-Abled Children (PODAC) (advises on special education)
• Principal Evaluation (gathers information on principal performance)
• School Improvement Plan (reports on and evaluates school improvement plan)
• Communications Committee (develops communication strategies for the LSC)

All Drummond parents, teachers and community members are eligible to serve on Local School Council Committees.  We are soliciting interest in membership on the committees. If you have served on a committee in past years, we commend your efforts and encourage your continued service.  If you have not previously served on an LSC committee and would like to work on one, please consider applying for a spot. Service on an LSC committee is a good way to get involved in your child’s education.  We highly encourage you to participate. Please inform us of your interest in service on a committee to or place a note in any LSC member’s mailbox. 

July 26, 2008
 

Dear Parents, Teachers and Students:
 

This is a difficult letter to write as I announce the departure of one of our original Montessori teachers, and a good friend, Ms. Maria Luisa Gonzalez. Ms. Gonzalez has been offered and has accepted a wonderful new challenge at Suder Montessori where she will become the new director for this emerging program. I know that it has been a difficult decision for her to make as she has been at Drummond for many successful years and helped give our program the solid legs we now stand upon. Her dedication and experience will be greatly missed amongst our faculty and surely amongst her students. However, it is these very attributes that make her the perfect candidate for this promotion. Suder is fortunate to be receiving such extraordinary quality. I know that she will bring tremendous opportunities to the teachers, students and families at our sister school: Suder Montessori.
 

In true fashion, Ms. Gonzalez labored over this decision and how it would affect the students in her classroom first, before considering what this promotion could mean for her and her family. I know she wrestled with this decision for several days before committing to take on this exciting challenge and is still torn by this opportunity. On a personal note, I can tell you I too hate to see her go yet, I fully support this opportunity to grow professionally and to share her skills as a teacher and as a leader. Already Ms. Gonzalez and I have discussed a number of projects that we will be able to collaborate on making both of our schools thrive and offering a stronger base for Montessori within Chicago Public Schools; something the faculty and I have worked diligently upon this past school year. With Ms. Gonzalez on the administrative team at Suder I know that our efforts at building professional development between our schools will only soar.
 

I know that all of us are saddened to see Ms. Gonzalez leave Drummond after so many wonderful years and it is my hope that you and your children might be able to join me in hosting a picnic to celebrate our time with her on August 1st from 2 to 4pm at Walsh Park. Please come and share your favorite stories and memories with Ms. Gonzalez. Please bring your own lunch and enjoy some cake and refreshments that will be provided as we celebrate this exciting move in Ms. Gonzalez’s’ professional career. If the 1st happens to be a “rain day” we will hold the picnic in our gymnasium same date and time.
 

Please also rest assured that our Early Childhood cycle, along with the help on Ms. Gonzalez, have met with me several times in the past weeks to discuss and interview the optimal candidate to best fulfill Ms. Gonzalez’s vacancy. We are excited to invite Ms. Johanna Andrade into our faculty. She has a wonderful mix of Montessori experience as well as public school experience and we are looking forward to working with her.

In closing I want to thank Ms. Gonzalez for several years of service at Drummond both as a traditional teacher and as a Montessori teacher. She has worked with and inspired hundreds of children, parents and colleagues over the years and deserves our full support as she moves on to new challenges and experiences that I know she will conquer with ease. I look forward to working with her in her new role; one that I know will bring her great happiness.
 

Please plan to join us on the 1st of August.
 

Sincerely,
Mark Neidlinger
CC: Maria Luisa Gonzalez  and Johanna Andrade

 
We are still seeking volunteers to work in Drummond’s new book room and classroom libraries. 
Thursday 7/24 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
 Friday 7/25 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
If you can’t make it during these times but would still like to help out please let me know.
Tasks include:
Making boxes

Bagging books
Stickering books
Stuffing folders
Printing guides
Entering data
Please e-mail Ms. Wheatley () if you are able to volunteer. 

Some sought-after Drummond news for this week:

-Drummond has requested that JCC start the after-school program during the 2nd week of August. We will again have a JCC table at pick-up during the 1st week of school for easy enrollment.

-A free parent mediation session is scheduled for tomorrow, 5:30-7:30pm, at the Bucktown Public Library, 1701 N. Milwaukee.  All Drummond parents are welcome.

Hi, does anyone know when Kids Club is starting. I heard it does not start this year until September. I work until 5 everyday and need help with my son from 3-5 ( he is 3 1/2 a first year and super easy). I would be willing to share the fees for a babysitter, or team up with other moms and alternate days of watching the kids after school, or pay a mom who might not mind doing some babysitting themselves. I can trade and watch some kids on Saturday as well. Basically, I’m desperate!

If anyone can help or has any answers let me know.

Summer Volunteers Needed
 

We are seeking volunteers to work in Drummond’s new book room and in a classroom library. 

Tuesday 7/22 and Thursday 7/24 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
 

Tasks include:
Making boxes

Bagging books

Stickering books

Stuffing folders

Printing guides

Entering data

Comfort with computers a plus but not necessary.  Some tasks involve using online databases and entering information into Excel. 

Please e-mail Ms. Wheatley () if you are able to volunteer.

If you can’t make it during these times but would still like to help out please let me know.

Dear Parents,

This is just a quick reminder that tomorrow evening from 6 to 7:30pm is the first in a series of three classes that our NCLB committee has set up for our parents to better understand Montessori education. I both welcome and urge all to attend. All three of these course will be taught by our very own trainers at Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center. This is an adults only meeting however childcare will be provided here on site. Each of these courses will also be simultranslated in Spanish. Pleaase plan to join us here.

The dates and courses are as follows:

Tomorrow, July 15th 6pm - Understanding Montessori Philosophy

Tuesday, August 12th - Moving across the Second Plane: Growing from El 1 to El 2 (6pm)

Saturday, October 18th (NEW DATE) FROM 10 - 11:30 - Taking Montessori Home.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,

Mr. Neidlinger

Reminder- the Drummond Local School Council’s organizational meeting  is tonight- July 8th at 6:30pm in room 007. Childcare will be provided for a nominal fee. 

Our previous bylaws. http://www.drummondlsc.org/main/drummond-lsc-bylaws

All are encouraged to attend.

The Drummond Local School Council’s first meeting is an organizational meeting and is scheduled for July 8th at 6:30pm at Drummond School, Room 007 (in the basement.)

A copy of the agenda is available here. 

Childcare will be provided at minimal cost. Refreshments will also be served. All Drummond parents, teachers and community members are invited and encouraged to attend!