1. education
2. school

Mary Gage Peterson Elementary
April 27, 2015
PETERSON PARENT PERIODICAL
College Graduates. Community Leaders. Cultural Ambassadors.
Celebrating Peterson
This past Thursday, April 23,
2015, many families participated
in STEAM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Art, and
Mathematics) Night at Peterson.
This was the first ever STEAM
Night at Peterson, and it was
hosted by the Peterson PAC
(Parent Advisory Council).
Thank you to everyone who
worked hard to make the PAC
STEAM Night a huge success!! !
PARCC Testing 2015
The end of the year PARCC
(Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and
Careers) Assessment will take
place at Peterson on Wednesday,
May 6, 2015, and Thursday, May
7, 2015. The PARCC
Assessment will be for all
students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
and 8. Students will be assessed
in English Language Arts and
Mathematics.!
Family Green Day
Peterson Family Green Day
will be May 9, 2015, from 9am
until 12pm. Families are
encouraged to come help clean
up the school and participate in
nature activities. Please bring
your rake and a water bottle, and
please come prepared to do a
little bit of work and have a lot
of fun!!!
Peterson Parent Periodical
Letter from the Principal
Dear Peterson Families,!
!
It was another busy week this past week at Peterson!! !
!
Thank you to everyone who made PAC STEAM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Night a success!! IN
particular, I would like to thank our presenters: Mr. Dave Beucher, Ms.
Kim Marinac, Mr. Rob Reynolds, Mr. Chuck Deters, Ms. Jendy Barnes,
Ms. Stephanie Thill, Ms. Carrie Martens, Ms. Katreena Dyrek, and Ms.
Kathleen Hurley. I would also like to thank all of the parents who
collaborated in planning the event as well as those that helped out
during the evening: Ms. Catherine Korda, Ms. Mandy Bevacqua, Ms.
Shari Kittaka, Ms. Sonisa Nasir, Ms. Anita Gabor, Mr. David Wetzel,
Ms. Lloy Johnston, and Ms. Lois Korda. Finally, a huge thank you goes
to the Peterson Cultural Ambassadors, a team of 7th and 8th grade
students mentored by Mr. Tom Ruby, who did an extraordinary job of
providing support for the presenters. I hope the evening provided
insight into the extraordinary STEAM education happening at
Peterson.!
!
Several students on the Peterson Panthers Track and Field Team
also participated in the NEIU 5K Run this past weekend. The Track
and Field Team is being coached by Ms. Wendy MacWilliams, Ms. Jen
Dixon, and Ms. Andrea Oliver. Thanks so much to all these individuals
for their hard work for students!! All of the games for spring sports are
Website: peterson.cps.k12.il.us
Twitter: @MGPPrincipal
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Mary Gage Peterson Elementary
April 27, 2015
being added to the community calendar on the website, so please take a
moment to check out the event times and come and support the
Peterson Panthers!!!
Upcoming Events
4-27-15: 7th Grade Health Education
4-28-15: 8th Grade Health Education
4-28-15: Parent Tea at 8:15
4-30-15: Last Day of Afterhours at
Peterson
5-1-15: Deadline to Submit Ready to
Learn Application for Preschool (Visit
cps.edu/readytolearn) or call Chicago:
Ready to Learn! at 312-229-1690
5-4-15: Teacher Appreciation Week
5-4-15: 7th Grade Health Education
5-5-15: 4th Grade Field Trip to Cultural
Center
5-5-15: 8th Grade Health Education
5-5-15: LSC Meeting at 6pm
5-6 and 5-7: End of Year PARCC Testing
for Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
5-8: Science Fair at Peterson
5-9: Family Green Day
5-11: NWEA MPG and MAP Window
Opens
!
Please also mark your calendar for Family Green Day. Family
Green Day is on May 9, 2015, from 9am until 12pm. It is a great
opportunity to clean up the school and participate in activities that
increase awareness of nature and sustainability. Among other things,
there will be composting demonstrations, snack sales to raise money for
the eighth grade, and tours of the school garden. Families should come
prepared to do a little bit of work and have a lot of fun.!
!
I would like to inform families of an important staffing transition
for the remainder of the year. Ms. Rachel Rivera will be teaching Ms.
Jen MacFarland’s Kindergarten class for the remainder of the year. Ms.
Rivera had previously worked as an aide at Belding, and I am very
excited that she will be joining the Peterson team.!
A couple of friendly reminders: !
•Peterson afterhours ends this Thursday, April 30, 2015!!
Thank you to all families for their participation in this year’s after
school program.
!
•Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is almost here!! Would
you help the PTA celebrate Peterson’s exceptional team of
professionals by contributing a batch (20 to 30) of treats for the
staff lounge between 5/4 and 5/8? If you are willing, please drop
off your package of sweets at the front desk in the morning before
school starts. The PTA is seeking volunteers from the following
grade levels on the days listed: Monday (Kindergarten); Tuesday
(Grades 1 and 2); Wednesday (Grades 3 and 4); Thursday (Grades
5 and 6); Friday (Grades 7 and 8). If there are questions, please
contact Michelle Nickerson at 773-706-3134 or
mnickerson@luc.edu.
!
•My Voice My School Parent Survey: The My Voice, My School
Parent Survey will be available between April 1, 2015, and April
30, 2015. Please take the time to give your feedback that will aide
in school improvement. Access the survey on-line here:
cps.edu/Pages/mvms_surveys.aspx
!
Have a great week,!
Kate Kane, Principal
5-11: TRC Window Opens
5-11: REACH Performance Task Window
Opens
5-15: Progress Report Distribution
5-15: Deadline to Purchase a Yearbook
5-16: Invention Convention
!
Peterson Parent Periodical
Website: peterson.cps.k12.il.us
Twitter: @MGPPrincipal
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