Folks we know: A parent's perspective hits the shelves

From the Gravity Pulls You In publisher's website:

"View the universe of autism--its marvels, chaos, and life-changing impacts--through the eyes of the contributors to Gravity Pulls You In. In 33 essays and poems, mothers and fathers raising children on the autism spectrum explore their lives in the context of autism's gravity, discovering what's important and what they find centering."

Flip through Gravity Pulls You In: Perspectives on Parenting Children on the Autism Spectrum, and one of the contributors' stories might start to sound familiar - that's because it's the voice of Ellen Pinkham, a member of our PACTT family. In her essay, and throughout the book, parents of children across the spectrum share common (and uncommon) struggles - but most importantly, showcase the uniqueness of the experience of each of our children and families.

The collection, edited by Kyra Anderson and Vicki Forman, is available on amazon.com and (for a discounted price) through the Woodbine House website.

Congratulations, Ellen!

Q: When is a plate of cheesy nachos more than a tasty snack?

American Red CrossA: When the sale benefits the American Red Cross and its disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

Today PACTT's student community service club hosted a nacho sale, in the hopes that we could do our part to help the earthquake surviors and disaster relief in Haiti. Students helped make signs to advertise the sale, and manned the nacho table this afternoon.

After all the classes filed through the kitchen, and the donations were totaled, we celebrated -- our small nacho sale will send $300 to the Red Cross!

Thank you to everyone who participated in today's sale! 

Additional donations to the Red Cross efforts can be made through the American Red Cross website.

 

Jewel Shop-and-Share Days - update!

Click to download the Dec. 28-29-30 shop-and-share coupons!First, thanks to everyone who supported us on our first Jewel shop-and-share in October -- more than $2800 was spent to help PACTT. We received nearly $140 from that week! We'll keep you posted about our November success as soon as we find out.

In the meantime, start planning -- our December Jewel Shop-and-Share dates are Dec. 28-29-30. Simply give the coupon to the clerk at checkout. They'll fill in how much you spent, and ask you to sign it. Then PACTT gets 5% of your purchase total.

It's as easy as that!

 

Vote for PACTT!

Chase Community Giving is giving away $5 million to local charities. Top vote-getters can win $25,000.

Click the "Vote for us" picture and we could be one of those winners!

----- 

AND U.S. Cellular's "Calling all Communities" program is giving away $100,000 to 10 top vote-getting schools. Visit your local U.S. Cellular store, to get your voting code, then vote online.

For more information, visit U.S.Cellular.

What -I- learned at my IEP: Autism Resource Center

At one of our IEP staffings this week, Dr. Louis Kraus brought me information about a new online Autism Resource Center. Rush University Medical Center is working on compiling a clearinghouse of information and resources for parents, educators, therapists and caregivers alike ... So if you're, say, looking for a dentist who specializes in autism, a place to do hippotherapy, or a summer camp - they've got listings all across the Chicago Metro area. I haven't had much time to explore, but from my cursory glance this afternoon, it seems like a worthwhile project.

Check it out at: www.rush.edu/autism

- Paula

Yale Alumni volunteer to help with Cleaning Day!

On Saturday, May 16th, a group of Yale alumni - coordinated by PACTT Board of Directors member Robbin Schowe - descended upon the school campus. For the Yale folks, it was part of a nationwide day of service. For the PACTT school team, it was our annual spring cleaning day. The help was greatly appreciated, as the alumni and friends jumped in to plant, paint, and more. Thank you, all!


FYI -- PECS User Group

I received this info from one of our school districts, and thought I'd pass it along to you ... If you have questions, contact the person listed at the bottom.

-----

PECS User Group Meet with a PECS Consultant for FREE! Our PECS User Group is free of charge and open to parents, professionals and students who are dedicated to enhancing their knowledge of PECS. Members receive discounts on Pyramid workshops. Raffle every meeting for a free workshop of your choice- up to $395 value!! Meetings consist of a clinical session led by a Pyramid Consultant, an opportunity to practice new skills, a period for questions, troubleshooting and sharing ideas, and an open time for networking and socializing. User Group Members must have previously attended PECS Basic Training.Chicago PECS User GroupDate: March 12, 2009Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pmLocation: North Shore University Health System Pediatric Outpatient Clinic9811 Woods Drive, Suite H-190Skokie, IL 60077Please RSVP to Jill Waegenaere at jwaegenaere@pecs.com by March 9, 2009.

Important Phone Numbers - Transportation

As much as we'd like to be in charge of transportation for all our students, we don't have that luxury. If you have a question about transportation services or need to change your child's schedule for whatever reason, please first contact the transportation company directly. If you are unable to reach them, or are having difficulty, then call PACTT and we'll do our best to help you resolve things.

  • United Quick (CPS Students): 773/522-1995
  • 303 Taxi (Skokie & Lake Forest): 847/446-0303
  • Best Taxi (Evanston): 847/864-2500
  • Grand Prairie (Oak Park): 630/655-8739
  • Northwest Special Taxi Service (Huntley): 815/790-4418

Wish List Extraordinaire

A handful of parents have recently asked me about our school wish list ... this list typically is sent home with the Parent Handbooks at the beginning of the year, but I'll add it here, too, and update it occasionally as the need arises. Monetary donations also are always welcome toward the following projects and purchases:

- General updating of school building and grounds (current projects include: central air conditioning, bathroom renovations, playground equipment, etc.)

- Replenishing of daily office / classroom supplies

  • 8.5" x 11" copy paper
  • Laminate sheets (heat-activated) - letter and legal-sized
  • Large packets of 1"-wide Velcro
  • Legal pads
  • 3-ring binders
  • Standard-sized file folders
  • Dry erase markers
  • Washable markers
  • Construction paper
  • Glue sticks

- Replenishing of PACTT School Store Inventory

  • Canned soda
  • Individual bags of chips
  • Granola bars
  • Candy / fruit snacks
  • Bottled water

2008-2009 Calendar

For your planning pleasure, I offer you the official PACTT agency calendar for the 2008-'09 school year. Note that Group Homes close for all-staff inservice weekends four times during the year. :

August
25 (Mon.) - Staff return
26 (Tue.) - Students return

September
1 (Mon.): NO SCHOOL – Labor Day

October
13 (Mon.): NO SCHOOL – Columbus Day
25 (Sat.): All-Staff In-Service **

November
10 (Mon.): NO SCHOOL – Veteran's Day, observed
26 (Wed.): School Thanksgiving Feast, Families welcome!
27-28 (Thu-Fri): NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving

December
19 (Fri.): Last day of class before Winter Break

WINTER BREAK: Dec. 20th through January 4th - NO SCHOOL!

January 2009
5 (Mon.): Students return
19 (Mon.): NO SCHOOL – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
24 (Sat.): All-Staff In-Service **

February
13 (Fri.): NO SCHOOL – School Staff In-Service Day
16 (Mon.): NO SCHOOL – President's Day

March
2 (Mon.): NO SCHOOL – Pulaski Day
13 (Fri.): NO SCHOOL – School In-Service Day (First Aid/CPR)
14 (Sat.): Group Home In-Service Day (First Aid / CPR)**

April
9 (Thu.): Last day of class before Spring Break
SPRING BREAK: April 10th – April 19th - NO SCHOOL!
20 (Mon.): Students return

May
8 (Fri.): NO SCHOOL – School Staff In-Service Day
25 (Mon.) : NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day

June
5 (Fri.): Last day of class before June break
JUNE BREAK: June 6th – June 14th - NO SCHOOL!
15 (Mon.): Students return. Summer School Hours begin (8:45 – 12:45, M-F)

July
18/19 (Sat./Sun.) All-Staff In-Service Weekend**
31 (Friday): Last day of summer school! Family & friends picnic ...