Gardner Elementary School

Thank you to everyone who donated items for the House of Neighborly Service food drive. Gardner families donated 480 items! Thank you to our SHOW senators who helped daily to track and box items, and to Mrs. Shufelt's class for helping load items!

Congratulations to our November 15th, Friday high five winners! Thank you to Evelyn, Raegan, William, Evan and Jase for being helpful, friendly and dependable! We appreciate you!

Congratulations to our "Sock it to Cancer" sock decoration contest winners! Ben, Watson, Jacob, Aiden, Andie, Stella, and Tenley.

Congratulations to our November team member of the month, Jen McBroom! Here are a few things that her colleagues had to say about her....she is truly a valued team member here at Gardner. She interacts with our students in a very professional, positive, and caring way. She has a unique ability to connect with students. Her rapport with her colleagues is nothing short of wonderful. She is constantly thinking of ways to make things easier for others. She truly embodies the spirit and dedication that makes Gardner a great place to be!

Congratulations to these awesome students who won an Above and Beyond award for the month of October. The character trait was Responsibility. “The state of being independent and accountable”. Hailey Fisher, Kylie Long, Maggie Zarzeck, Maci McCormick, Lyla Carner, Clara Lutz, Logan Brewer, Emma Nichols, Trent Breitenstein, Jayden Patel, Kinley Davis, Elliot Koch, Keenan Yaekel, Watson Bloebaum, McKenna Menke, and Karter Gardner. Not pictured, Makenna York.

Parent teacher conferences are this Friday and next Monday. If you have not signed up already please visit wcusd5.net and click on Gardner under the schools tab. Please consider bringing a book to our book swap (and take one) and don't forget to check the lost and found in the cafeteria as it is overflowing .

It's High Five Friday! Our High Fives today go out to Jane, Amelia and Carter! We love your willingness to help, positive spirit, hard work and your ability to make everyone feel included!

Science Fair information for anyone interested in participating.

Congratulations to our October Team Member of the month! Mrs. Stapf is a new 5th grade teacher to our district this year and we are so lucky to have her! Here are some of the words used to describe her... eager, strong, determined and team player! Thank you Mrs. Stapf for all you do!

Check out these 4th grade High Five winners! Shelby, Willow, Owen, Aubrey, E'Lynn, Cohen, Hadley, Cruz, Anna, Clara, Amelia and Cody! We love your kindness, participation, dependability and your willingness to always lend a hand!

Congratulations to the following students for winning an Above and Beyond award for the month of September. The trait of the month was Teamwork, “People working cooperatively towards a shared goal or purpose”. Hunter Niemann, Henry Vogt, Breanna Ervin, Sawyer Matecki, Lylah Seymour, Annie Deutch, Chase Zimmer, Oliver Kurrus, Aubrey O’Leary, Lola Vincent, Carter Wolters, Brooke Blind, Lily Warren, Isabella Morris, Aiden May, Lucas Wolters, and Dallon Espenschied.

Congratulations to our 5th grade High Five Winners! Thank you for your positive energy, friendliness and your desire to work hard at everything! Kegan, Fiona, Brooke, Jase, Remy, William, Grace, Aiden, Remington, Lili, Anna, Charlotte and Easton!

The BoBo's fundraiser has been extended to next Wednesday, October 2nd! The online store will NOT close tomorrow. If you'd still like to participate please visit https://bobosfundraising.com/ the school ID is Gardner. Remember to have your student turn in their coupons for this week's drawing for participation prizes. We will also have a drawing next Thursday! For every 3 items sold next Monday thru Wednesday students should turn in a coupon! Any color coupon will work and there are more available in the office. Thank you for your support!

Check out our September Screen Challenge group who considered their habits. One student shared, "I spent more time with my family." Hooray for you all!

Homecoming week is quickly approaching! Here is all the fun for next week!

Congratulations to our Friday High Five Winners! Thank you Waylon, Gavin, Anna, Tripp, Ryland and Hazel for volunteering to help others, being friendly to all, and for being kind, hardworking, and flexible! We appreciate you!

Have your heard about the September Screen Free Challenge?! Information was included in the Sept. Gazette. We are going to have some weekly challenges. This week, week one- Charging devices outside bedrooms. Guess what the most common "own it" word is during POP. Tired! Let’s see if getting devices out of our bedroom will help us sleep better. Students that would like to participate can get a calendar from your teacher or the office! Hard work pays off, so please give it a try!

This Friday, August 30th, is a half day for 4th and 5th grade students. Town students will be dismissed at 11:10 and bus students will be dismissed at 11:30, or once traffic has cleared and busses can enter the parking lot. There is NO school for EC or Prek on half days. This year we will once again have 2 picture days. Please make sure to mark your calendars with the correct date. • 4th and 5th grade will be on Tuesday, September 10th. • EC and PreK will be on Wednesday, September 11th. There will be individual and class pictures. The online store is now open. To order online please visit INTER-STATE.COM/ORDER, the order code is 87851CA. Paper order forms will be sent home with students this week. If ordering with the paper order form, please send all orders/money in with your student on their picture day.

Congratulations to Jane O’Guin whose submitted artwork for the Daughter’s of the American Revolution art contest has won a National award! Her Stamp Art has been on a very long journey making its way all the way to Washington DC! Her submitted artwork won first place in the Whiteside Station Chapter of the D.A.R. Then it won first place at the Illinois State Organization D.A.R. It then moved on to the North Central Division where it won first place, finally landing at the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution as a First place winner in the Junior American Citizen Stamp Art contest for 4th grade! Wow! What an amazing acheivement. We are so proud of you Jane!

The staff at Gardner Elementary are excited to announce the winner of the Jenny Eckenfels Sunshine Award. Congratulations to PRESTON SMITH! Jenny was a Special Ed teacher at Gardner, who passed away last February. This award was created to honor and remember her. She was a ray of light with a heart of gold who was passionate about her students and work. She made everyone she met a better person and made Gardner a better place. She is greatly missed. This is the 2nd year for the award, which is for 5th grade students at Gardner. Students who are nominated for this award demonstrate the passion to help others, bring out the best in everyone, and share a smile that shines like a ray of light, all of the traits that were modeled every day by Mrs. Eckenfels. Congratulations to all of our nominees! Kelsey Schmitz, Ryan Hoffmann, Elayna Ewen, Kate Scalise, Lindsay gum, and Thomas North, Preston Smith, Harper Cadduck-Hipp and Madeleine Hill. A BIG Thank you to Jenny’s husband, Jeremy, children, Aubrey and Brayden, and to her family for attending today.