Payton Community Newsletter: January 2024

JANUARY 2024 - In this issue:

RECAP OF DR. ANSARI'S PRESENTATION

ANNUAL APPEAL FINAL DRIVE!

DINE DURING PAYTON RESTAURANT WEEK!

KEY DATES

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS!

AND LOTS MORE!

DR. ANSARI'S RECAP

Watch January's recorded meeting here.

Passcode: c&krc%j4

We were fortunate to have Assistant Principal Dr. Ansari kick off the first 2024 FOP Community Meeting with some stellar updates about our school!

WPCP earned the College Board's AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women's access to AP Computer Science Principles. Payton is one of only 834 schools nationwide to have at least 50% female participation in science AP classes!
The school is evaluating and will be seeking parent input on PSAT & SAT Test Prep options, including the Princeton Test Prep Review.
SY2025 course programming will start next month, with students attending Town Halls. Dr. Ansari encouraged families to start conversing with students about next year's courses.
LSC applications for parents, students and community members are due in less than a month on February 8, 2024!
Dr. Ansari expressed her sincere gratitude to Friends of Payton and reinforced how much Admin, Faculty & Staff appreciate FOP's involvement.

TWO WEEKS LEFT TO MEET

OUR ANNUAL APPEAL GOALS!

We need to raise $199,000 in the next two weeks to meet our $585,000 goal!

Donate to Annual Appeal between January 18th and 24th and send a message of gratitude and a cup of coffee to our industrious Payton Faculty and Staff, thanks to two generous donors!

Our goal is to have coffee and donut holes for our entire faculty and staff members. Along with your donation you can add a note that will be on display when coffee and treats are served on the morning of Friday, January 26th!

DONATE TO ANNUAL APPEAL!

Chicago Restaurant Week is

Jan 19th through Feb 4th

Please sign up to join other Payton parents for lunch, brunch or dinner. Everyone is welcome to sign up for as many meals as your stomach can handle.

Each diner is responsible for payment of their own meals. Learn about Chicago Restaurant Week Here. Join old friends and make new ones during this fun and laid back Payton Families networking event!

UPCOMING DATES

January 19 – February 4: Chicago Restaurant Week

January 18 – 24: Help Caffeinate the Annual Appeal!

Monday, January 22: Principal Shabazz’s birthday!

Wednesday, January 24: Seminar Day

Friday, January 26: Annual Appeal Coffee Date for Faculty/Staff

Wednesday, February 7: FOP Community Meeting, 6pm via zoom

Friday, February 9: No School (School Improvement Day)

Friday, February 16: FOP Coffee Huddle

Monday, February 19: No School (President’s Day)

UPCOMING FOP COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Payton Community Meetings:

The next FOP meeting is on Wednesday, February 7th, 6-7pm via Zoom.

Please check your inbox on the morning of the meeting - we will email the Zoom link at that time! Winter 2024 Meeting Dates:

FEBRUARY 7

MARCH 13

Donate Treats, Sweets, or Desserts this Valentine's Day!

Let's shower our amazing teachers, admin and staff with sweets on Wednesday, February 14th! Donate candy, sweets, or desserts. They can be dropped off by 9:45am or sent in with students. Sign up here.

Volunteer to help on Valentine's Day!

We could use the help of three (3) volunteers to collect treats and set up the table in the mail room on Wednesday, February 14th from 7:45-10:00am.

Join the

Grizzly Spring Bash

Planning Team!

The Grizzly Spring Bash 2024 is on Friday, April 26th at The Geraghty and there are positions open on the planning team! Interested in joining the fun? Email co-chairs Nikki Stratton and Lara Field at FOPSpringBash@gmail.com

Join FOP's newly created Teacher Appreciation Committee!

Let's celebrate our dedicated teachers, admin, and staff even more! Please join co-chairs Sheri Kromelow (sophomore mom) and Lyz Bodnar (freshmen mom) and become part of FOP's newly created Teacher Appreciation Committee! We will keep our current programs (for example faculty lunches, Valentine's treats and spring Teacher Appreciation Week events), and add a few fun surprises throughout the year. Have ideas? Want to help? We'd love to meet you! Please email FOPVolunteering@gmail.com if you are interested in being part of this important group.

FOP APPRECIATES THE HARD WORK

OF OUR SWEET VOLUNTEERS!

Thank you December Faculty & Staff Dessert Donors:

Vanessa Alvarez, Mary Anderson, Annie Beach, Susan Bovay, Helen Brewer, Jeanie Bussell, Christine Chan, Alesia Churyla, Nicki Collins, Michelle Creed, Olawale Ebietomiye, Lauren Fischer, Jod Glickman, Kevin Katz, Alison Largura, Caitlin Page, Emily Raub, Sabina Shie, Kim Strauss, Teri Szewczyk, Kate Wainwright, Krassimira Warble

Thank you, December Faculty & Staff Dessert Volunteers:

Christine Chan, Cira Conley, Nellie Vargas, Olawale Ebietomiye, Krassimira Warble, Teri Szewczyk

Help a Payton Alum! Payton alum Lizzy Brahin, a current Harvard Junior, is looking for help with her research on how to best help adults 50+ with technology. If interested, please complete her 2-minute Google form survey about your experience with technology.

Stay updated about all FOP events and meetings, as well as key WPCP dates by subscribing to the FOP calendar here.

Questions about this FOP newsletter?

Contact: Riddhi Jani, FOP Communications Director and Newsletter Editor.

Questions about FOP?

Contact: Ellen Zickmann, FOP President.

Questions about volunteering?

Contact: Erica & Ruben Lara, FOP Directors of Volunteering.