Hello Ames Parents-

Because Ames is a polling place, the general public will be entering, voting and exiting the school next Tuesday, November 4th. Once again, our intention is to route voters to the back door to enter, then directly to the gym and out the gym exit door to the parking lot. In the past, we have had volunteers to “man” both the front and back doors to keep the traffic in-line and stop anyone from roaming near the classrooms where our children will be. This voter traffic pattern is a safety procedure that’s been successful; however, strong volunteers are needed now more than ever. The bake sale will be at the back door so we’ll need 7 parents to work an hour each by the front door and make sure voters walk around to the back.

8-9a Tom Reeze

9-10a Carolyn Hughes

10a-11a Karen Dachota

11a-12n

12n-1p

1-2p Lorraine Meyer

2-3p Denise Rehder

If you can help during one of the times during lunch, please reply directly to me 447-0436.

Thank you, thank you!
Debbie Alm

Daisy Troop #41184 is now accepting Kindergarten and 1st grade Girl Membership. Please come out and be a part of THE Largest worldwide organization for Girls. Click here to learn more about Meetings and Membership.

Because the Girl Scouts believes no girl should be turned away due of financial reasons, there is a Grant available to all girls in need of assistance with dues, troop fee and uniforms. Please feel free to contact Wendy Winkler for the form or questions.

The Yearbook Committee will be producing a yearbook again this year and we’re looking for photographers! If you’d like to take photographs at various events, please contact us. If you don’t want to be an “official” photographer, you can send us any pictures you have from school activities this year, especially from the Holiday Festival, Halloween, and the First Day of School. We can’t guarantee that we’ll print all the pictures but we’ll try our best to print as many as possible.

Like the yearbook last year, it will be a black and white, soft cover book with a color cover, about 50 pages long. Order forms will come home sometime in May. If you have any suggestions for the yearbook this year, please contact the Yearbook Committee. There will be class pictures from Lifetouch for each class as well as candid shots for each class. There will also be pages from the following events at school:

First Day of School
Grandparents’ Day
Halloween
Veteran’s Day Program
Holiday Parties
Holiday Festival on December 16th
100th Day of School (Kindergarten)
Science Fair
Math Night
Cultural Arts Programs
Artist in Residence
Educational Programs
Tropical Days
If you have pictures you’d like to share or any questions, please contact us.
Thank you!
– The Yearbook Committee
– Mary Lescher
– Nicole Temple
– Kristen Mimlitz

Occtober 22, 2008

The October regular meeting of the Board of Education was held in the gymnasium at Hollywood Elementary School on October 21, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

The Board acted to approve the Consent Agenda items as follows:

Minutes of the Budget Hearing and Regular Business Meeting of September 16, 2008.
Minutes of the Building Committee Meeting of September 30, 2008.
Financial Statement as of September 30, 2008.
General Invoices, Schedule A-680.
Accepted the resignation of Blythe Park paraprofessional, Asta Cuplinskas, effective 9/19/08.
Approved the appointments of Blythe Park paraprofessional, Artemis Daglas, and Hollywood School night custodian, Ricardo Vega.
Approved the Extra-Duty Appointment Schedule for 2008-09 according to the provisions in the Board/REC Master Agreement.
Adopted a resolution to approve and adopt the FSA Plan documents to establish a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account for all eligible employees of District 96, subject to review and approval of the Plan by the Board’s attorneys and dental program statement of benefits.

After discussion at the August and September Board meetings, the Board approved and adopted the 2008-09 District Goals, Board Agenda Calendar and Committee Meeting schedule as presented.

Superintendent Lamberson reviewed with the Board the Mission deliverables (as evidenced by . . . statements) for each of the identified mission imperatives – Academic Excellence, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Respect. During the 2007-08 school year the administration and staff focused on observing the viability of achieving the desired outcomes as written and determined that the potential for successful achievement of the goals is attainable. Following discussion at the Education Committee meeting, the Board adopted the District 96 Mission “Deliverables” as presented.

The Board approved a letter of support written by Board President Cheryl Berdelle to the Illinois Surface Transportation Board in favor of approving the Canadian National acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway to reduce freight train congestion in Riverside and promote student safety.

Supt. Lamberson provided informational materials to the Board regarding a possible State Constitution Convention and the potential impact it could have for District 96.

Superintendent and Staff Informational Reports:
a. Each of the District’s administrators gave a brief overview of the start of the new school year including new programs and initiatives for 2008-09.
b. Enrollment for District 96, as of September 30, 2008 was 1,458 students.

Future Meeting Dates:
November 18, 2008 Building Committee Meeting, Blythe Park School, 6:00 p.m.
November 18, 2008 Regular Business Meeting, Blythe Park School, 7:30 p.m.

Another way that Ames is going Green and helping you do it too! Mrs. Ekstrom is looking for your old Newspapers to reuse in the Art Room. Instead of leaving them at the curb, drop them off at aMES! Thanks

Thom and Laura Cleveland are longtime Riverside residents who have continually contributed to our community through their leadership roles. Thom lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully on September 3rd. Thom was self-employed and left behind his wife Laura (housewife) and four children who attend school in Riverside. Any contribution you can make to this fundraiser would be greatly appreciated during this difficult time for the Cleveland Family. If you are unable to attend, please consider purchasing a raffle ticket. There are several contacts to call to purchase a ticket,
CLEVELAND FAMILY BENEFIT
DATE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH
TIME: 2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M
LOCATION: “THE STATION OF BROOKFIELD RESTAURANT”
(ACROSS FROM HOLLYWOOD ZOO STOP)
8420 W. BROOKFIELD AVE. BROOKFIELD, IL
708-387-9920
DOOR PRIZES
APPETIZERS
CASH BAR
!!!!CASH PRIZES!!!!
RAFFLE TICKETS AVAILABLE
1ST PRIZE $2,500.00 – 2ND $500.00 – 3RD $250.00
4TH THRU 8TH $50.00 – 9TH&10TH $25.00
$25.00 PER TICKET
TICKET GOOD FOR 1 FREE DRINK AND APPETIZERS
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TICKETS
PLEASE CONTACT:
FRAN GUERRERI 442-6459 LISA BUFFA 387-1248 ROSE GRZESKOWIAK 485-1909
NANCY GUELFI 387-1948 CHRISTINA MENCHACA 485-1345
BONNIE POWELL 275-9633 KATHY DUDEK 442-1125 ANTIONETTE ELY 447-2165
PEG ALDAPE 442-0465 GINA DEMITRO 485-4022 MARYBETH DEMITRO 250-1608
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY!

Network 6 is now airing the 2008 Ames Talent Show daily at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. It will air for approximately 3 weeks.

The goal of the Art Guide Program at Ames School is to nurture our studentsʼ creativity and appreciation for the arts by having volunteer parents present artists and their art and to reinforce key ideas through hands-on activities.

Each grade has four artists that are to be presented each school year. Ideally, one artist should be presented in each of the following four months: October, November, January and February.

The program is straightforward. The research is done for you already. The binders with materials by artist are provided for you and are located in the storage room under the bleachers in the gym. Should you have an interest in volunteering for this program, further information will be forwarded to you to assist you with preparing for your presentation.

This is a unique way to be involved in the classroom and one the children enjoy and appreciate.

For those interested in volunteering as an Art Guide for the 2008-2009 school year, please contact Lisa Muldowney at 708-447-3264