Koala Talk: December 2010 - Cowlishaw Elementary School

KOALA TALK
NEWS FROM THE PTA
Cowlishaw Elementary School
1212 Sanctuary Lane, Naperville, IL 60540
DECEMBER 2010
Important Phone Numbers:
Office: (630) 428-6100
Fax (630) 428-6101
Attendance (630) 428-6114
DECEMBER 2010
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 Manna due
Early Morning
Game Hour
4
5 6 7 8 9
PTA Mtg.
2 pm
Dine At Culvers
10 Manna due
Early Morning
Game Hour
11
Holiday
Shop
10-2
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21
Classroom
Winter Parties
22
No School
Winter Break
23
No School
Winter Break
24
No School
Winter Break
25
26 27
No School
Winter Break
28
No School
Winter Break
29
No School
Winter Break
30
No School
Winter Break
31
No School
Winter Break

NEWS FROM THE PTA
2
Special Needs PTA NEWS
Peace on Earth
Such a seemingly simple ideal…
why then is it so hard to achieve
peace in our house during
December? Over the past few
years, I have learned which
traditions and social occasions
are truly joyful for my entire
family, and those are the ONLY
ones we plan to participate in this
year. The peace of mind I have
regarding this decision is a result
of first being honest with myself,
and then being just as honest
with my relatives. It certainly was
not easy to explain why we won’t
be at certain events. The sense
of Family Tradition and a need for
sameness runs deep in some
people.
However, the reality is that my
family is not the same as
everyone’s. We need more quiet
and less chaos. We need
comfortable clothing without tags.
We need to keep our gluten free/
casein free food separate from
everything else. We need less
judgment and pity from those
around us, because frankly, we
are quite joyful, and we truly DO
love the holidays, albeit on our
own terms.
I sincerely wish each Cowlishaw
family a very happy Holiday
Season. I hope that each of you
is able to enjoy special time with
Family, however that is defined.
May we all have some great
memories of the holiday Season
to look back on next year!
~Karyn Borden
Preparing For a Holiday Gathering
With a Special Needs Child in The
Family
by Samantha Brody, Associate
Editor of Scholastic Parent & Child
Communicate with family before the
party. This is especially important if you
only see these relatives once a year.
―Some relatives may be well-meaning but
do or say things that are inappropriate,‖
says Linda Enders, Ph.D., associate
professor of marriage and family therapy
at the University of Alabama. ―Let them
know what to expect from your child. Invite
them to ask questions and bring up any
concerns.‖
Connect with your child. During the
holidays, when there may be lots of
people over, be sure you’re connecting
with your child to see what she needs.
―You’re your child’s number one ally, so
do all that you can in a positive way to get
her needs met,‖ suggests Mollie Marti,
Ph.D., a psychologist and adjunct
professor in the department of psychology
at the University of Iowa.
Let him lead. Special needs kids may
require a little extra time to transition to a
busy environment — like Grandma’s
crowded kitchen. ―Trying to strictly control
their behavior may trigger a tantrum,‖
adds Marti. ―Instead, allow them to take
the lead and find an activity they want to
do or a place where they want to sit. It will
help them feel like they’re in control.‖
Selecting a toy for a child who has a
disability? Here are the questions the
play experts at the National Lekotek
Center ask when choosing
developmentally appropriate toys for kids
with special needs.
MULTI-SENSORY APPEAL
Does the toy respond with lights, sounds
or movement to engage the child?
Are there contrasting colors?
Does it have a scent?
Is there texture?
METHOD OF ACTIVATION
Will the toy provide a challenge without
frustration?
What is the force required to activate?
What are the number and complexity of
steps required to activate?
PLACES THE TOY WILL BE USED
Will the toy be easy to store? Is there
space in the home?
Can the toy be used in a variety of
positions such as side-lying or on a
wheelchair tray?
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS
Can play be open-ended with no definite
right or wrong way?
Is it adaptable to the child's individual
style, ability and pace?
CURRENT POPULARITY
Is it a toy that will help the child with
special needs feel like "any other kid?"
Does it tie in with other activities, like
books and art sets, that promote other
forms of play?
SELF-EXPRESSION
Does the toy allow for creativity,
uniqueness and making choices?
Will it give the child experience with a
variety of media?
ADJUSTABILITY
Does it have adjustable height, sound
volume, speed and level of difficulty?
CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES
Does the toy provide activities that reflect
both developmental and chronological
ages?
Does it reflect the child's interests and
age?
SAFETY AND DURABILITY
Does the toy fit with the child's size and
strength?
Does it have moisture resistance?
Are the toy and its parts sized
appropriately?
Can it be washed and cleaned?
POTENTIAL FOR INTERACTION
Will the child be an active participant
during use?
Will the toy encourage social
engagement with others?
Source: Toysrus.com

NEWS FROM THE PTA
3
GINGERBREAD JUNCTION CRAFT FAIR
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2010 (9AM-3PM)
Hill Middle School
1836 Brookdale Road, Naperville (off Rt59, just south of Diehl Road)
Over 55 vendors! ...holiday gifts, home decor, glass, wood, jewelry & more!
$2/adult: $1/student (3-14years old): Free-under 3 years old (Strollers restricted.)
*All proceeds benefit Hill Middle School students.
Thank You!
A BIG thank you to
Kim and Don
Schwenneker,
Subha Sriram,
Jackie Cuculich
and Lynn Dobbs for
donating a dessert for our Fall
Conference Teacher Dinner.
It was a big success! Also, I could not
have done it without the help of Karen
Ahern, Mary Dworzycki and Gina
Mantia. Thank you for donating your
time for our wonderful teachers here at
Cowlishaw!
~Jen Mantia
Thank You to Jeanne Kern for all her
hard working on putting our PTA
directory together! Thanks Jeanne!
~Carol Borowski
Dinner out at Culvers
December 9th!
Please help support the PTA by joining us at
dinner at Culver’s of Aurora (Rt. 59 & 75 th St.) on
Thursday, Dec. 9th, 2010, from 10:30 am – 10
pm. The PTA will receive 20% of all the orders we
bring to the restaurant (drive-thru, carryout and
lobby) all day on Dec. 9 th . A flyer will be sent
home with students. Bring in the flyer, or if you
forget, just tell the register person that you are
there for Cowlishaw and they will credit your order
to our account. Bring family and friends for lunch,
dinner, or a snack and help us reach our goal!!!
There will be a class competition that day to see
which class has the most participants come out!
The winning class will receive a free custard party
from Culvers!!!!
Have a nice winter break.
School resumes on
January 5th, 2011

NEWS FROM THE PTA
4
Thank you to those who have helped support the Cowlishaw PTA by becoming a
member!!! Your membership cards are on the back of your directory.
If you would like to become a member please fill out the attached form along with your
12 dollars and send it to the school with your child to give to the teacher.
MEMBERSHIP COVERS THE ENTIRE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR:
PTA Membership fees are $12.00 per family. A portion of the membership fee goes to state and
National PTA dues ($7.50). Fees are not pro-rated and will cover your membership from July 1, 2010
through June 30, 2011. With your membership you will receive the school directory FREE.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION:
Mother’s Last Name
________________________
Mother’s First Name____________________________________________
Father’s Last Name
________________________
Father’s First Name ____________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________
Home Phone Number_________________________________
Cell Phone Number___________________________________
Email Address _____________________________________
Children at Cowlishaw School
(Last name, First Name)
Name ________________________________
Name ________________________________
Name ________________________________
Name ________________________________
2010-2011 Grade Level
___________
___________
___________
___________
Amount Due $12.00
Cash / Check
Ck #____________ Ck Date_______________
Please make your check payable to “Mary Lou Cowlishaw PTA” and return to the school office.

NEWS FROM THE PTA
5
H o l I d a y S h o p
Saturday December 11th
10am—2pm
Your children are invited to holiday shop in a fun environment!

NEWS FROM THE PTA
6
Birthday Book Club 2010—2011
NEWS FROM THE LMC
It is never too late to participate in this program. Forms are available in the LMC or you may get the form
online @
http://cowlishaw.ipsd.org/uploads/Cowlishaw%20BBC%20form%202010-2011.pdf
Lillie C. KW Biscuit and the Little Pup by Alyssa Capucilli
Olivia T. 2MB Gabriella the Snow Kingdom Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Isabella G. KR Clifford the Champion by Norman Bridwell
Lily V. KR Airy Fairy Magic Mistakes by Margaret Ryan
Jennifer L. 1T Little Kitten
Madison S. 3R Miss Mary is Scary by Dan Gutman
Jordan V. 2DB Chicago Bulls by Ellen Labrecque
Samantha M. 2MB Scaredy-Cat Splat by Rob Scotton
Minuk P 2K Bone: Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith
Mrs. DeGeus Sup. Ed. Teacher Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Williams
NEWS FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Vision and Hearing
Vision and hearing screenings will be done this school year, February 1 st and 15 th by DuPage County
Health Department nurses or nurses from district 204, as mandated by the state of Illinois, for the
following children:
Kindergarten: hearing / vision if there is no mandated exam on file
1 st grade: hearing only
2 nd grade: hearing/vision
3 rd grade: hearing
Special education students: hearing /vision
Foster children: hearing/vision
Children new to district 204 or any student who does not have any documentation of previous
testing: hearing/vision
Parent/teacher concerns: as indicated
Children with glasses or hearing aids should have them with them on screening dates.
~from our School Nurse Linda Weisenberger

NEWS FROM THE PTA
7
PTA NEWS
Back Row: Madison S., Ms. Walton, Yanswanth U.
Middle Row: Ananya I., Mason S., Humza S., Rayne S., Matt D.
Front Row: Sophia C., Apurva I., Sabrine E.
Congratulations to this year’s winners of the
National PTA Reflections Program! The children whose entries
advanced to the IPPC level will have a recognition ceremony on
January 27th, 2011 at McCarty Elementary. Information regarding
time slots will be communicated by the first week of January. Also
wanted to give everybody a head’s up on next years theme which is
“Diversity means….”
~Usha Iyengar
BOOK FAIR THANK YOU!
OOPS! Book Fair Volunteers names!
In the November Koala Talk we omitted the name of one of our
Book Fair Volunteers. Sorry! Mrs. Andoni - thank you for helping
us during the fall book fair!
~LMC Staff

NEWS FROM THE PTA
8
5th GRADE FAREWELL NEWS!
Attention all 5th Grade Parents!
A committee has been formed to work on the exciting 5th Grade Farewell party that will be held
at the end of the school year for all our departing 5th graders. We need your help! You can be
part of the planning. Contact Jeanne Kern at JPKFamily@wowway.com. Please support all the
fundraising opportunities you will see and hear about as proceeds will go
toward the party itself and the traditional class gift the 5th graders will give to
the school! Please see the Bakers Square Pie flyer on page 9 of this Koala
Talk. Below please read about a Tastefully Simple fundraiser!
Save the Date! Wednesday January 12th order an Aurelio’s Pizza for dinner!
Look for more details in the January Koala Talk.
TASTEFULLY SIMPLE FUNDRAISER
FUNDRAISING DEADLINE: Sunday, January 9, 2011
TWO WAYS TO PLACE ORDERS: Online or Call
1) Online: YOU CAN FORWARD THE DIRECTIONS TO FRIENDS and FAMILY NEAR AND FAR!
(Check out Facebook Page - MLC Fundraiser - for more details.)
Orders can be placed directly online following these simple steps:
1. Go to: www.tastefullysimple.com/web/cdragas
2. Click shop our products/Scroll down to “FIND YOUR HOSTS/EVENT NOW” located to the upper left of
the facebook logo and click it.
3. To associate the order to the fundraiser - Please enter the following:
First Name: Mary Lou
Last Name: Cowlishaw School
Then hit the SEARCH button. Scroll down/once you see Mary Lou Cowlishaw School
under host name click SELECT.
Proceed to order by clicking CONTINUE SHOPPING on the top of the page.
Now you will be able to add products to your shopping cart.
4. Once you are finished ordering, click proceed to checkout in the upper right hand corner.
Click CHECKOUT and follow the directions to pay for the order.
*IMPORTANT: Step 3 (associating the order) must be completed or the order WILL NOT count for the fundraiser!
2) Catalogs: Each Teacher has a few catalogs. Please send a note to your teacher if you would like to view
an actual catalog.
Contact the Tastefully Simple Consultant:
● If for any reason you cannot or prefer not to place your order online, you may contact the Tastefully
Simple Consultant, Cindy Dragas at 815-624-0350 or cindydragas@charter.net. Please be sure to
mention that the order is to benefit Mary Lou Cowlishaw 5th Graders. These orders can be paid by credit
card or debit cards over the phone.
ORDERS WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS 7-10 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER YOU PLACE YOUR
ORDER.
Fundraising Contact: Cindy Dragas, Tastefully Simple Independent Consultant
815-624-0350 ~ cindydragas@charter.net ~ www.tastefullysimple.com/web/cdragas
Or Denise Orto (Brianna Orto’s MOM) 630-200-3535

NEWS FROM THE PTA
9
Get
Pie!
5 th grade Farewell Fundraiser
Give
Pie!
Bakers Square Sweet Return Cards
Available for purchase from the 5 th Grade Farewell Committee
Throughout December
The 5 th Grade Farewell committee will be selling Bakers Square Sweet
Returns Cards throughout the month December to help raise funds for the 5 th Grade
Farewell class gift.
The cards are $13 each and expire on 12/31/2011
The Sweet Returns cards can be used for one whole Fruitabulous TM , Silk or Classic Pie at Bakers
Square. Pies not included in these categories have an additional small up-charge of approximately
$2 at time of pie purchase with the Sweet Returns card (with the exception of cheesecake & carrot
cake).
Use the Sweet Returns Cards to get pies for upcoming holidays & family gatherings or as teacher
gifts & holiday gifts. You can purchase them now and save them to use for future holidays and end
of the year teacher gifts. Better yet, treat yourself!
You may order your Bakers Square Sweet
Returns Cards by printing out the order form
on the right.
Thank you for your support. We will receive
about 30% of our total Bakers Square Sweet
Returns card sales which will be used toward
the purchase of the 5 th grade Farewell Class
Gift.
Please send in the order form along with your
check to school in an envelope marked “5 th
Grade Farewell – Bakers Square Fundraiser”
Your Bakers Square Sweet Returns Cards can
be sent home with your child via Backpack
Mail or you may pick them up before or after
school at my house 2519 Blakely Lane,
Naperville.
Thanks ~
Jeanne Kern
5th Grade Farewell Chairperson
Bakers Square Sweet Returns Card Order Form
Sweet Returns cards are $13 each
Please make checks payable to: Cowlishaw PTA
(no cash)
Name: _________________________
Phone: _________________________
Email: _____________________
Order amount due: _____________
# of Sweet Returns cards ordered:________
Marked box at left indicates Bakers Square
Sweet Returns Cards should be sent home
by Backpack Mail.
I will take full responsibility.
Marked box at left indicates Bakers Square
Sweet Returns Cards will be PICKED UP at
2519 Blakely Lane before or after school by
you.
Questions? Jeanne Kern 630-778-1811 or
JPKFamily@wowway.com

NEWS FROM THE PTA
10
Manna Fundraiser
December’s Manna order is due Friday the 3rd. This is your last chance to get gift cards before
the holidays. Pay for your holiday dinner with gift cards from Jewel or Dominick’s at no extra
cost to you. You get a gift card for face value and the PTA makes a profit. Pay for your
holiday shopping with cards for Toys R Us, Kohl’s, Game Stop, iTunes, and Build-A-Bear and
many more. For fun family time over the holidays treat them to a movie with a Regal or AMC
card, or go bowling with a card from the Brunswick Zone. Don’t forget that along with the
holidays you can fill up with gas with a gas station card from our list. And lastly, remember cold
and flu season comes too and we’ve got CVS and Walgreen’s cards available.
Gift cards also make great holiday gifts for employees. If your company gives out gift cards,
ask them if they could buy them through us. I did, and I got an order of over $3200 of gift
cards! Holiday cards will be back Friday December 10.
Gift cards will be returned on the following Friday in backpack mail when you mark the box on
the form. If you prefer, they can be picked up at Jen Phelan’s house on Thursday from 3:45pm
-6:30pm or by special arrangement.
Return completed orders by 3:30pm on
this date to school with your payment
The Manna Schedule for the Year
Friday, December 3 Friday, December 10
Thursday, January 13 Friday, January 21
Pick up gift cards at Jen & Howard Phelan’s
home, 816 Livingston Ct, on this date
Between 3:45PM – 6:30 PM
Friday, February 11 Thursday, February 17
Friday, March 11 Thursday, March 17
Friday, April 8 Thursday, April 14
Friday, May 13 Thursday, May 19
Manna order forms will be at the end of each Koala Talk for you to print. You can also obtain
additional order forms at any time on the Cowlishaw website. From the Cowlishaw home page
click on ―PTA‖ on the left side of the screen. Then click on ―Documents‖. There you will find a
current 2010-11 Manna order form.
For specific company information on gift cards, click on ―Vendor Guidelines‖ on the Manna
website at http://www.mannagroup.net/index.htm.
Direct questions to: Jen Phelan, home 630-548-2518 phelanjh@wideopenwest.com

NEWS FROM THE PTA
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Teacher Holiday Manna Gift Form
Need a holiday gift idea for your favorite Cowlishaw staff members? Contribute to a Group Gift Card!
Just complete the information below and have your child color and/or write a short note to the gift
recipient on the picture of the present below. During the winter party, staff members will receive the
children’s holiday notes and a gift certificate for the total amount of money contributed. They will then be
able to spend the money on Manna gift cards of their choosing by May 2011.
Please fill out the following information and thank you note. Return the entire completed form
(information and card from child) with your check to the office no later than 3:30 pm on Friday December
3, 2010. Please staple your check payable to ―Cowlishaw PTA‖ to this form. We will cut the thank you
note off for you and prepare a nice booklet for the staff. Use one form for each staff member desired.
Feel free to make additional copies or pick up extra forms in the office. Example: if you are gifting 4 staff
members $5 each, please return 4 information forms with the attached thank you notes and one check
for $20. Please call Jen Phelan with any questions (630)548-2518. Please print clearly.
Child’s Name: __________________________________________________________________
Gift Recipient’s Name: ___________________________________________________________
Gift Amount: ___________________________________________________________________
To: _____________
From:_______________