Avoca Weekly - December 7, 2021

Avoca Weekly - December 7, 2021
Posted on 12/07/2021
Avoca Weekly Newsletter Logo Temperatures are dropping, but Avoca news is H O T 🔥
December 7, 2021
12/16/2021
Board of Education Meeting 
12/20-12/31/2021
Winter Break
1/3/2022
School Resumes
1/6/2022
PTC Meeting 
1/6/2022
Board of Education Meeting
1/17/2022
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School
1/20/2022
Board of Education Meeting

12/6-12/12 - Computer Science Week
12/7-12/9 - NT Working Production
12/7 - F.A.N. Event
12/8 - 8th Grade Committee Meeting
12/10-12/17 - MM Book Fair
12/13-12/17 - Spirit Week
12/14 - F.A.N. Event


Top Announcements

Avoca Spirit Week
We're going to count down to winter break in style with Spirit Week, which runs December 13-17. Refer to the below flyers for day-by-day themes at Avoca West and Marie Murphy (please note they are different). 


COVID Vigilance & Care
As noted in Dr. Osburn's recent Superintendent's Corner - December 5, 2021, local and regional COVID incidences and positivity rates are increasing after Thanksgiving and could rise more as we head into Winter Break. In addition to reading the post, please check your emails regularly and our COVID website for timely news and updates. 

Marie Murphy Book Fair 
Mark your calendars for the beloved MM book fair, which runs from December 10-16. Come shop the book fair on the following days:

Friday, December 10 from 8am-4pm
Saturday, December 11 from 9am-3pm
Monday, December 13 from 8am-4pm
Tuesday, December 14 from 8am-4pm
Wednesday, December 15 from 8am-4pm and 5:30-8:30pm
Thursday, December 16 from 8am-4pm

See the flyer for full details. We hope to see you there!


Avoca PTC 501C3 Status
What are the perks that come with our PTC's new non-profit status? For one: tax-deductible contributions! It also allows the PTC to work with more businesses and vendors when it comes to the events you love! Visit the PTC website regularly for new events and announcements. 

Have Your Voice Heard: Last Chance to Complete the Second Survey on Strategic Planning
Click here for the link to the Town Hall 2 Video Presentation, which focuses on Facilities, Learning Spaces, and District Finances. Although it is lengthy, watching it will help inform you and help you inform the District about what you think should be future priorities.

At the end of the video is a link to the survey that closes on Wednesday, December 8. You will need to type the URL of the link into your browser to access the survey.

This survey data will directly impact decisions made by the Strategic Planning Committee and the Board of Education related to future decisions about finances, facilities, and learning in Avoca.

The Giving Tree Project
The Roots and Shoots club at Marie Murphy is coordinating the Giving Tree project again this year, which provides gifts for children from our community who are in need this holiday season. We are looking for volunteers to sign up to support a person for the holidays.

Want to help? It’s simple!

  1. Sign up to sponsor a person - Use this link
  2. Receive a wish list 
  3. Go shopping for the items on your person’s wish list
  4. You can wrap your gifts or the Roots and Shoots Club member will wrap them for you!
  5. Drop it off at the Marie Murphy office with the 

Questions? Email Ms. Rachmiel at [email protected].

2022 Fun Fair Silent Auction
We are still looking for volunteers to help us secure items from local businesses for the auction and/or donate an auctionable item for the Fun Fair.

Here is the link for the signup genius:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0545afa82eabfc1-2022  

For questions on volunteering or to donate reach out to [email protected]

8th Grade Fundraiser - ShopWithScrip
Hurry and get your holiday shopping done while supporting the 8th-grade fundraiser! All orders will be placed tomorrow, December 8. A percentage of all gift card sales will be returned to the school. To place an order, head on over to www.shopwithscrip.com and enter our unique enrollment code: EL34D84A65879. See the flyer for more details. 

8th Grade Committee Meeting
The Marie Murphy 8th Grade Committee meets tomorrow, December 8th at 7 p.m. Please contact Betsy Harootyan at [email protected] if you'd like to attend or want to know more about getting involved with the committee. 

Staff Holiday & Teacher Gifts  
The holidays are right around the corner, and you still have a chance to contribute $25 to be used for staff holiday and teacher gifts. Contact your room parent for more information. Thank you to everyone who has already donated. 

Northfield Food Pantry Drive
The Northfield Food Pantry Food Drive, sponsored by the Avoca West Cub Scout Troop 7, runs through December 10. You may drop your donations in the boxes located at Avoca West. Or, drop off directly at Northfield Pantry - place donations in the collection bins located to the left of the front doors. Please view the flyer for priority food items and more details. 

Green Committee 
Roots & Shoots launched its composting initiative last week in the Marie Murphy cafeteria! If you are interested in supporting this terrific student club initiative or want to help with other environmental projects, consider joining the Green Committee and please contact [email protected].

EXTRACURRICULAR & COMMUNITY EVENTS
 
Amplify Avoca
If your child is interested in being part of Amplify Avoca, the Avoca West weekly news and entertainment show, please return this form by December 10

We will follow all safety protocols during Amplify Avoca meetings. Performers and directors will be masked and maintain recommended distance. If your child needs to record a performance unmasked or requires access to a piano or other large materials, Ms. Michael can arrange for them to record from home via Zoom. 

Any student K-5 can sign up to perform. Performers commit to coming to meetings on a Monday and Tuesday one week before Spring break. Monday is a rehearsal and Tuesday is a recording session. You can indicate your schedule preference in the form. Ms. Michael will notify you of your assigned dates before winter break. 

Students in grades 4-5 can also sign up to direct. Directors commit to coming for one, 3-week block on Monday and Tuesday.  

Students in grades 4-5 can also sign up to edit. Editors commit to coming for three Wednesdays to edit the show on iMovie. No knowledge of iMovie is required: Ms. Michael will teach you how to edit. 

See previous shows on our YouTube channel. We are now on season 2! We hope to see your child(ren) soon at an Amplify Avoca meeting. Please reach out to Janis Michael ([email protected]) with any questions.

NEW! Assembly Ensemble 
The Assembly Ensemble (formerly Assembly Ambassadors) is returning to Avoca West! The group will meet on Wednesdays after school beginning January 10. The Assembly Ensemble is a group of 3-5 graders that create and perform Spirit Assemblies around themes that promote social-emotional learning. Students can choose to explore assembly themes through writing, performance, tech crew, or set design. Please fill out this form by Friday, December 10, if your child is interested in participating.

December 6-12 is Computer Science (CS) Week! 
One fun way to explore these concepts is through coding. Enter Hour of Code, a collection of short experiences to introduce coding concepts to kids (and adults). Click here for the link for the Avoca HOUR of CODE document with a list of curated sites by grade and ability level!

New Trier Theatre & Arts
New Trier's Theatre Department is performing a musical based on the real-life experiences of working Chicagoans, which runs December 7th - 9th, in the Cornog Theatre at the Northfield Campus. All NT shows are currently free for students 17 and under. Also, there will be a backstage tour and audience talkback after the show on December 9th (4:30 show of Working). Current Marie Murphy Theatre students can get extra credit for attending (by taking a selfie with one of the NT Theatre teachers to show Ms. Janssen).
 
  
There is also a great arts opportunity for students 13 and older called TAP (Teen Arts Pass) that is offered in Chicago. It allows students to register for free for a TAP pass which allows them $5 admission to many live shows in the area. Also, TAP provides a wealth of wonderful TAP at Home offerings for arts classes and experiences from home. Interested students can go to the TAP website to register and find out more!

FAN - Family Action Network

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021 | 7-8 PM*
Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding 
Daniel Lieberman, Ph.D. and Gretchen Reynolds
Register Here
Prof. Lieberman will be in conversation with Gretchen Reynolds, “Phys Ed” columnist for The New York Times.
After-hours Event: Attendees who purchase a copy of Exercised from FAN's partner bookseller The Book Stall are invited to attend an AFTER-HOURS event hosted by Prof. Lieberman that will start immediately after the webinar. Click here to purchase the book.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021 | 7-8 PM*
Career and Family: Women’s Century-Long Journey Toward Equity
Register Here
Prof. Goldin will be in conversation with David Figlio, Ph.D., Orrington Lunt Professor and Dean of the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University.
After-hours Event: Attendees who purchase a copy of Career and Family from FAN's partner bookseller The Book Stall are invited to attend an AFTER-HOURS event hosted by Profs. Goldin and Figlio will start immediately after the webinar. Click here to purchase the book.

*All event start times are Central Time (CT)
AVOCA FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM 

DECEMBER PICK-UP SCHEDULE
Monday December 13, 2021   8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Avoca School District 37 Avoca School District 37
@AvocaOsburn @AvocaOsburn
Preschool Preschool
Avoca West Avoca West
Avoca West Avoca West
NEW! Marie Murphy NEW! Marie Murphy
Marie Murphy Marie Murphy
Avoca West ITC Avoca West ITC
Avoca PTC Avoca PTC
Avoca PTC Avoca PTC
Help expand the reach of the Avoca Weekly to the community & forward to a friend Help expand the reach of the Avoca Weekly to the community & forward to a friend
Looking to feature something in the Avoca Weekly? Send all inquiries to [email protected]
Update your preferences or Unsubscribe

Avoca School District 37 | 2921 Illinois Road | Wilmette, IL 60091 | P: 847-251-3587
Avoca West Elementary School | 235 Beech Drive, Glenview, IL 60025 | P: 847-724-6800
Marie Murphy School | 2921 Illinois Road | Wilmette, IL 60091 | P: 847-251-3617


Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp