PTO

Welcome to the Countryside PTO Web Site

Message From Your PTO Presidents...

As you know, the Countryside Parent Party is fast approaching. We know many of you are attending and looking forward to a fun and memorable evening. This event is an extremely important part of the annual fundraising efforts required to make our annual goals. It helps support PTO Programming (such as Assemblies, Field Day, and the Cultural Art Fair), as well as purchases for Countryside School in the areas of Technology, Literacy, and Classroom Enhancements. Based on the outcome of the Parent Party, the PTO will begin to approve staff purchase requests that currently include a SmartBoard for Gifted Classroom, a SmartBoard for Primary Special Services Classroom, an All Weather Clock for the playground, and Document Cameras for 5th Grade.

Perhaps, you are unable to attend the Parent Party on Friday, March 9. If so, we hope you will consider making a donation to the Countryside PTO toward our goal of making these purchases and supporting our ongoing programming. In these times of budget cuts in the school district, the purchases of the extras that enhance our children’s educational experience are in our hands. If you would like to make a donation, please make checks payable to “Countryside PTO” and forward them to the Countryside office in an envelope marked “Fundraiser donation”. You may also make donations online at www.countrysidepto.com under "Donate Online Now" . Countryside PTO is a 501C3 organization and your donation is tax deductible.

We are so fortunate to have a school with such enriching programming and such supportive parents. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Kelly Henry & Lori Madison, PTO Presidents

Sweatpants Needed

Countryside nurse, Mary Anne Wesoloski, is in great need of gently used sweatpants in sizes 8, 10, 12 and 14. In addition, she needs sweatpants loaned to students returned (the tag reads Nurse). Please help by donating sweatpants or returning those that may have been loaned to your student. Thanks for helping our Countryside nurse and students!

Parent Party RSVP Deadline February 21

Did you send in your RSVP to the Parent Party? If not, please RSVP by Tuesday, February 21. We hope you will join us for this fun and casual evening scheduled for Friday, March 9 at Francesca's Famiglia. You can download a copy of the invitation and/or RSVP at www.countrysidepto.com. Please contact Cathy Nealey ktynealey@mac.com, Lara Berry Berrytoadberry@aol.com, or Anne Horwath anne@strategyskills.com with any questions.

Cultural Art Fair at Countryside February 24 from 6:30 to 9 pm

This year Countryside is combining the annual Art Fair with the Cultural Fair for it's first-ever Cultural Art Fair! Join us on Friday, February 24, to explore Chinese culture-- it's holidays, customs and art. The students' artwork will be on display, highlighting some of the many rich and beautiful traditions of Chinese Festivals such as Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Moon Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival. We will also have musical entertainment, artist demonstrations, crafts and food tastings. So, save the date to immerse yourself in Chinese culture and art! Click here to volunteer: Cultural Art Fair Opportunities. For more information please contact Purnima Bhogaraju at pub8@hotmail.com, Sandra Chlebek at Sandra@chlebek.com, Cindy Cramer at cindy409cramer@sbcglobal.net, or Jan Faulkner at janice_faulkner@yahoo.com. This free family event is sponsored by Countryside PTO.

Spring Spirit Wear Sale Ends March 2

The Countryside Spirit Wear Fundraiser is now under way. One hundred percent of the profits made during the sale will come directly back to our school. There are some great new styles for spring available. Consider being festive and full of spirit for our upcoming luau themed family dance by purchasing a Countryside Luau tie dye tee. You can check out the new styles inside the school office.

Look for the order forms in your child’s backpack. If you did not receive an order form or have lost it, you can check out the line here. All orders MUST be back no later than Friday, March 2. Just make checks out to “Countryside PTO” and send it to the office with your order form in an envelope labeled “Spirit Wear Order”. All orders will be delivered to the school in time for the Family Dance on April 13. Please call or email Jennifer Shimp at 847-277-0637 or jenshimp@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.

Next PTO Meeting March 14 at 9:15 am

Please join us for our next meeting at Countryside. Refreshments and babysitting are provided.

2012-2013 PTO Chair and Co-Chair Positions

It's that time of year...time to think about the Countryside PTO 2012-2013 Chair and Co-Chair positions. We have wonderful parent volunteers that have donated their time to Chair or Co-Chair Committees during the current school year. For the 2012-2013 school year, some have chosen to stay on in the same position and others have decided to take on another challenge. We have some openings and hope that one of the positions will interest you. Click here for a list of the open positions and a brief description. If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee.

Please take a moment and consider one of these PTO positions. The PTO Positions form should be returned to school by Friday, March 16 in an envelope marked “2012-2013 PTO Positions”. Alternatively, you can email your choices to a member of the Nominating Committee: Anne Cook anne@johnandanne.com; Amy Winkelman cawinks@comcast.net; John Landenberger john.landenberger@att.net; or Jenn Adams jennadams2@yahoo.com.

Thank you for consideration. Together, we can make a difference for Countryside students!

Countryside Cares

Fourth and fifth grade students will have the opportunity to participate in the Countryside Cares student committee held Mondays during lunch/recess beginning on March 5. This committee will select the local charity to be the beneficiary of the funds raised at the Countryside Cares 5k and will also engage in a hands-on service project with the charity chosen. You should have received a flyer in your student's backpack. Please see a copy here.