Staff Appreciation - Chesak/Martin PTA

Step right up and join the fun, the Circus Carnival Staff Appreciation Week was the
best one! Games, prizes, balloons and more, popcorn, cotton candy and treats
galore helped to celebrate the outstanding staff at Chesak and Martin Elementary
Schools and the District 158 Preschool during Staff Appreciation Week 2011.
This week we wanted to let the staff know that they are the "Greatest Staff on
Earth", so students placed their hand-prints on train cars for the staff doors. Staff
members joined us "Under the Big Top" throughout the week with a delicious
breakfast sponsored by the HEA, mailbox goodies, prize drawings, a catered
luncheon by Jersey Mike's, and buffets of salty snacks, candy and sweets tables
donated by the Chesak, Martin and Preschool families. Students were entertained
by a wide variety of Circus Performers in the staff costume contest and played a
daily trivia game with carnival and circus themes. Staff members also played
"Spin It to Win It" to receive raffle tickets for donation prizes.

What we do:
The Staff Appreciation committee honors those that work hard each and every day
to make our children's education a great one. That includes over 350 teachers
and staff in both Chesak and Martin. In addition to staff appreciation week, we
have smaller various events throughout the school year.

A special Thank You to everyone who
donated gift wrap supplies and helped wrap
gifts for our annual "Gift of Time".

Staff Appreciation Week:

May 7-11, 2012

We Are Thankful For:

In November, in the spirit of
Thanksgiving, parents and students
at both Chesak and Martin
expressed their appreciation for
staff members (teachers,
lunchroom supervisors, aides,
administrators, etc.) with 'turkey
feathers' Each feather was
decorated with the name of who
they were thankful for and why. The
feathers were then displayed in the
lobbies of both schools for staff
members to read.

The Gift of Time:

Chesak and Martin can drop of their
gifts to have wrapped by our
volunteers. Last year we wrapped
lots of gifts for the Holiday season!

Donations of gift wrap, gift bags,
tissue paper, fabric ribbon and tape
are gladly accepted (year-round).
You can drop your donation off at
the Chesak office. Just let them
know it's for the PTA and they'll see
that we get it.

Each December
the Chesak / Martin
PTA gives staff
members the gift of
time.

Staff members at

The first full week of May is always
dedicated to honoring and supporting the
Staff that have an impact on the lives of our
children on a daily basis. This includes, but
is not limited to, classroom teachers,
administrative staff, specialist teachers,
special support services, custodial, and
lunchroom staff. These people are
instrumental in the running of our schools.

We adopted the idea of Staff Appreciation during the 2008-2009 school year and it
has been very well received. While teachers are a vital part of our children's
education, there are many more staff that have an impact on the lives of our
children on a daily basis. This includes, but is not limited to: classroom teachers,
administrative staff, specialist teachers, special support services, custodial, and
lunchroom staff.

Each Staff Appreciation Week is based on a
theme and daily activities are centered
around this theme. Teacher lounges and
hallways are decorated to create a fun
environment.

Thank you from Chesak:
All staff members at Chesak Elementary would like to send a HUGE THANK YOU
to Niki Burkey and the PTA for their generosity during Teacher's Appreciation
Week. From the decorations, fun filled events, and daily surprises in our
mailboxes, to the daily goodies, lunch, and snacks, we cannot say thank you
enough. We feel very blessed to be teaching our wonderful students and work with
such a great staff and fabulous PTA! Thank you!

Thank you from Martin:
To our PTA,
Thank you so much for the absolutely FABULOUS Teacher Appreciation Week!
Despite our wonder and amazement each year, you always manage to top
yourselves. This year was no exception. We loved all the food, decorations, and
games; the spinning wheel was genius! You spread such good cheer throughout
the building at the perfect time. Thanks again, Martin Staff.

2009 Staff Appreciation Week
"Our Teachers Are Our Stars"
Staff was treated to a VIP luncheon,mailbox
goodies, prize drawings, Star Treatment
breakfast, buffet of salty snacks and sweets
table (donated by the Chesak and Martin
families), costume contests and more.

More about Staff
Appreciation

2010 Staff Appreciation Week
"You Mean The World To US"
Staff was treated to a 'Luncheon on the Lido
Deck' ,mailbox goodies, prize drawings, Bon
Voyage breakfast, buffet of salty snacks and
sweets table (donated by the Chesak and
Martin families), Where in the World is Mr.
Lamb / Mrs. Maciejewski contest and more.

Thank you!

"I wanted to personally thank you for making
my life run a little smoother. Wrapping my
gifts was such selfless act of kindness and
needs to be recognized!"
-Mrs. Hopp, Kindergarten teacher

Staff Appreciation Week 2012:

Past SA Weeks:

Teacher Appreciation vs. Staff Appreciation:

Thank You
The Chesak Martin PTA appreciates the generosity of our area merchants. They
have graciously donated services, products and gift certificates.

Brunswick Zone XL
Buddyz
Buffalo Wild WIngs
Centegra Healthbridge
Colonial Cafe
Culver's of Huntley
Dairy Mart
Einstein Bros.
Hand & Stone Massage
Jewel - Algonquin
Alfredo's
Jimmy John's
Kosta's
Laura Nuccio Hair Salon
Lou Malnati's
Mary Kay Cosmetics, Brittany Readinger
Noodles& Co.
Papa Saverio's, Lake in the Hills
Pinecrest
Rosati's, Algonquin
See's Candies
Target
Tastefully Simple, Heather Rivera
Thirty One, Melissa Schmit
Tropical Smoothie
Village Squire
Walmart, District Manager

Our Staff Rocks! We used a retro Rock 'n Roll theme to help celebrate the
outstanding staff at Chesak and Martin Elementary Schools and the District 158
Preschool during Staff Appreciation Week 2012. During the week we wanted to let
the staff know they rocked, so students wrote positive fan mail on record posters
for the staff doors.

Staff members joined us throughout the week with a delicious breakfast
sponsored by the HEA, amazing dishes of custard generously donated by
Culver's, incredible mailbox goodies including free lollipops from See's Candy, a
catered luncheon by Jersey Mike's, and buffets of salty snacks, candy and sweets
tables donated by the Chesak, Martin and Preschool families.

Students were entertained by a wide variety of retro-dressed staff from the 50s,
60s, 70s and 80s and they played a daily trivia game with retro themes. Staff
members also scratched off cards to receive raffle tickets for donation prizes.

We concluded the week by delivering mugs etched with love by the SA Committee.
In addition, for the first time this year, we were able to include the Chesak/Martin
Bus Drivers. SA Committee members delivered Colonial Café ice cream to the
bus drivers as they waited for their afternoon runs. Overall, it was an incredible
week for staff and could not have been achieved without the ongoing dedication
and support of the Staff Appreciation Committee members.