Meeting Tomorrow

The November PTA meeting will be on Wed. Nov 10 at 5:30pm at the Austin and Irving Library.

Scholastic Bookfair

The Scholastic bookfair is on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Monday morning. Family night will be on Thursday.

Board of Education Meeting Update

We were just informed the Board of Education has cancelled the meeting tomorrow. We will post more information as we receive it.

UPDATE:
The meeting is still being held, but our Principal is not attending and has asked that parents not attend either. Sorry for any confusion.

Board of Education Tomorrow

The latest information regarding the bus ride to the CPS board meeting tomorrow.

According to the Principal:

All people who wanted to ride the bus must meet at the school auditorium no later than 8:15am.

We will board the bus at 8:30am.

The bus will leave at 8:45am sharp.

We should still make it in time to for those who want to sign in to speak, but if you want to drive your own car or car pool there you can.

The bus is being sponsored by the PTA so there is no cost to those who want to go. The people who signed up to go last night will have their seat waiting for them. After the meeting the bus will return all riders to Thorp.

If you want to try to get a seat on the bus, email oathorppta@gmail.com for seat availability.

Spread the word to other parents. Let's keep O.A. Thorp a Magnet School.

Chicago Wolves Tickets

Please turn in money for the Wolves tickets by Oct 5th. We always have a great turn out so please join us for some hockey fun!

Candy Sale!

Candy sale packets will be sent home at the end of next week. We are using Market Day again, as we did last year. We've been asked if it's OK to send in a monetary donation in lieu of purchasing items. Our answer to this is we appreciate any form of support, so if you just want to donate, please feel free to do so.

Meeting Tuesday!

Our first general meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, September 14th at 8:15am. We will be discussing our membership drive and other upcoming events. Hope to see you there!

Back to School Tuesday!

School starts on Tuesday. The PTA will have a welcome table with baked goodies and coffee and juice in the East playground at the start of school. We hope you will join us as we start the 2010-2011 school year!

Happy Summer!

And congrats to all the newly elected board members. Thanks so much to everyone who came out to vote and let their voices be heard.

Have a safe and happy summer!

Election Meeting Tuesday!

Our last meeting of the school year and election for next year will be Tuesday at 2pm in the auditorium. If you are a member please come vote!

Emergency Board Meeting Tuesday

The Board has just announced an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss various resolutions related to CPS's budget woes.

Chicago Board of Education Calls Special Board Meeting Regarding Budget Deficit Resulting From State Cuts in Education Funding and Delayed Payments


Chicago Board of Education members at a special board meeting Tuesday will consider several resolutions aimed at confronting the District's fiscal crisis that has resulted from significant cuts in state funding and delayed payments of more than $400 million in state aid.

Board members will meet at 9:30 a.m. in their fifth floor chambers, 125 S. Clark. Public participation will be at approximately 10 a.m. for 30 minutes with comments restricted to matters on the agenda.

Board members will consider the following:

A resolution delegating authority to the Chief Executive Officer to honorably terminate/discharge tenured and probationary appointed teachers who are displaced as a result of cost-saving measures being implemented to address financial necessities for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. The resolution includes terminations/dismissals that result from increases in class size.

A Board report giving the Chief Executive Officer the authority to increase class sizes up to 35 students per class if necessary.

Resolutions concerning the Board's ability to fund contractual wage and salary increases with CPS union members in fiscal year 2011.

A resolution authorizing establishment of a line of credit of up to $800 million due to uncertainty in state funding as well as current and potential further delays in state payments.

Chicago Public Schools serves approximately 409,000 students in more than 670 schools. It is the third-largest school district in the nation.

Help Wanted

Candy Sale Chair and Co-Chair Needed for the Fall

This job includes creating letter, stuffing envelopes, distributing materials to students, collecting orders and money, counting money, placing orders, distributing product, keeping tally for room participation, buying and distributing sale participation prizes,and running winning room pizza parties.

Please email oathorppta@gmail.com if you are interested in taking on this task. This is the largest fundraiser for us and we need two people to volunteer.

Box Tops Update

Starting this summer, you'll be seeing the pink Box Tops for Education coupon on Welch's® Jams and Jellies. So when you’re enjoying the great taste of Welch’s Jams and Jellies, you’ll get the extra good feeling of knowing you’re supporting your school, too.

Welch’s Grape Jams and Jellies are made from Welch’s family farmer’s Concord grapes, picked fresh from the vine. Welch’s is also available in a strawberry spread, made with delicious, sweet strawberries.

Look for Box Tops on Welch’s Concord Grape and Strawberry jellies, jams and spreads. These family favorites are available in jars and easy to use squeeze bottles. Give your family the taste they love and your school the support it needs.

Welch's is a registered trademark of Welch Foods Inc., A Cooperative

Thank You...

To the first grade classes and teachers for the lovely Spring concert this morning. It was great to see all the kids dressed up and singing for all the parents!

Next Meeting on Tuesday

We will be meeting this Tuesday at 8:15am in the auditorium. Hope to see you there!

Scholastic Bookfair Starts Monday, April 12th

Are you ready to rock and roll? Our Scholastic Bookfair starts on Monday, April 12th. We need volunteers for all five days, so please email oathorppta@gmail.com with the days and times you are available. And we encourage volunteers to dress up in the "1950's" theme. Hope to see you there!

House approves bill for four-day school weeks

SPRINGFIELD -- In an effort to help strapped school districts save money, the House today approved a bill that would let local school boards set four-day weeks for students.

Students would still be required to go to school the same amount of hours every year. That would mean school days could be longer or summer vacation would be shorter.

The bill passed the House on an 81-21 vote and goes to the Senate for consideration.

Lawmakers said the move could save schools districts money on fuel for buses and could scale back their electric bills for school buildings.
Rep. Bill Black, a Danville Republican who sponsored the bill, said he took up the issue when a school superintendent in Vermilion County approached him about ever-increasing fuel costs. Black said many smaller, rural districts have long bus routes with students who live in farms several miles away from their schools.

"All he wanted to do is try and keep their school district operating," Black said.

Schools statewide are struggling due to delayed payments from the state for items like transportation and special education.

But the legislation is opposed by some major education groups, including the Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Lawmakers opposed to the bill said denying kids a day of school is the wrong way to address the state's enormous backlog of bills.

"It is tragic when we try to balance the budget of the state of Illinois on the backs of our babies," said Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago


Let's keep an eye on this and see if the Senate approves...

Proposed Budget for Next Year

There has been a lot written about the next CPS school year in the newspapers this week, as well as on the news channels. It does seem like there are some big changes in store for all CPS schools, including O A Thorp. Please read the information and stay informed. In the presentation linked below there is an email address where you can email ideas and concerns.

If you would like to leave a comment here feel free to do so. There is an option to leave a comment as anonymous if you don't want to use your name.

You can read the proposed 2011 CPS school budget at CPS Website Link Here

I survived the test!

Today the 3rd through 8th graders received "I survived the test" pencils from the PTA. It's just another small way the PTA likes to give back to the students.

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! To celebrate the birthday of Dr Seuss volunteer parents will be reading "The Cat in the Hat" to the K, 1st, and 2nd grade classes. Thanks to the volunteers to help make this fun event possible!

Campbell's Kitchen

Be sure to check out the new link on the side bar to the right to Campbell's Kitchen. You can find all sorts of recipes using Campbell's products. It's a really great site to get new meal ideas! (And be sure to turn in those Campbell labels from all your new recipe ideas!)

Reflections Lunch and Awards!

Tuesday afternoon the students who were chosen to go on to state with their Reflections submissions will be honored with a luncheon and awards ceremony. We had a few students move on, and two received honorable mentions. We're very proud of all participants! Awesome job! And thanks to Gina and Maria for running the event this year. You ladies are the best! :)

Hello February!

Can you believe it's February already? The school year is simply flying by. Check back here later this week for lots of news regarding PTA activities that will be happening NEXT WEEK. We've recovered from the holidays and are back in action!