December 2, 2025

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break! As we look back on the last two weeks there are so many things to be thankful for and so many people we're grateful for:

Thank you to Alex's Washington Garden's and the Kaulentis family for a fabulous Dine & Donate! With their partnership, we raised over $400 for the PTO.

Thank you to Leslee Cohen-Lavin for stocking the teacher lounge in preparation for conferences! As our Hospitality Chair, Leslee takes care of our teachers/staff throughout the school year, filling their wish lists, dropping off snacks and beverages, and orders meals for institute days while the teachers are hard at work.

Thank you to our Book Fair Chairs, Mandi Baker, Elizabeth Berenz, Lauren Rosen and all of our incredible volunteers for the most successful Book Fair at Sherwood in as long as we can remember!!! Thank you, Panda parents and guardians, for valuing this event and fostering the love of reading through your students' purchases. Additionally, because of your continued and generous donations to the PTO, we were able to provide EVERY Sherwood Student at least 1 new book to take home and enjoy.

Continuing the theme of gratitude, the staff shared their thoughtful words of appreciation with a mural for all of the PTO's and volunteers' contributions! We're blushing!

Shop the Block on Central Avenue with Sherwood

Swing by one of these fave retailers on Central Avenue in the heart of downtown Highland Park to help our 5th Grade Class raise funds for their class gift back to the school (a tree at the newly updated Sherwood Elementary).

From this Thursday, December 4th through Saturday, December 6th, 15% of total sales identified as shopping with Sherwood will generously be donated back to the school. Thank you the Pedowitz family!

That's only 3 days, so plan ahead. And don't forget to say, "I'm shopping the block with Sherwood!"

Beanstalk Toys: 654 Central Ave

Central for Men: 662 Central Ave

Central for Women: 678 Central Ave

Elevate: 672 Central Ave

Harper & Ash gifts: 668 Central Ave

Sprout Kids Boutique: 644 Central Ave

Wild Willow: 658 Central Ave

Happy Shopping!

Sherwood Penguin Patch

Get your Pandas ready for our annual Holiday shopping event: The Sherwood Penguin Patch! Set up a Pre-Paid Account now until Tuesday, 12/9 at 8pm so your student(s) can shop during their class's scheduled time (Wednesday, 12/10 - Friday, 12/12).

Items are set out by price ranging from $0.25 - $12. **Max amount for your panda to spend will be $40. This is a gift fair where items will be set out by price. Students will get to pick gifts, wrap them, and make cards for loved ones.

Ordering must be done BY STUDENT and not by family. For example: if there are three pandas in your family, each one needs to have their own loaded gift card in order to shop during the event. The website should automatically populate your active students for you to place your order(s).

*A Pre-Paid Account for each student is the only payment option; cash will not be accepted at the event. Pre-Paid sales will close Tuesday 12/9/25 at 8pm CST.

If you would like to volunteer to help students make purchases, write gift tags, and wrap gifts during out annual Penguin Patch shopping event, please use this link, Penguin Patch Volunteer, and sign in to your Membership Toolkit (Sherwood PTO site) account to see the options and sign up for a time slot. Thank you!

PTO Office Hours

Last Call for Panda Pop-In! Join the Sherwood PTO Co-Presidents on Friday afternoons from 1-4 pm at Double Cup to come share ideas, ask questions, provide feedback, chat with members of the PTO, or just check in to see what's happening! Open to all Sherwood families and staff. Look for the Panda!

**Will not be taking place 12/19 and 12/26.

Join us for Panda Spirit Fridays!

Now that we've received our spirit wear, let's create school unity and pride by wearing our Sherwood gear on Fridays!

Don't forget to take a picture and tag us on Instagram @ sherwoodhp_pto

Behind the Bamboo

Did You Know About Your PTO?

~The Season of Giving~

Did you know the money the PTO raises enables us support our Angel Fund which helps ensure all students are equally able to participate in student activities and programs?

Whether you donate to the Angel Fund directly on our site, or indirectly through the various opportunities we make available throughout the year, know that your contributions are making a difference to our Panda families.

From hot lunches and snacks, to fairs, events, and spirit wear, we're providing an inclusive environment where all students can thrive and fully participate.

And we couldn't do it without you! Click the link above to learn more about how the Angel Fund works and how we utilize those donations to put smiles on all our Panda students' faces. Thank you!

Share Your Photos

We need your help to collect photos throughout the year! Using photos from our Sherwood events, please upload a group photo and include the student's name(s) and teacher's information whenever possible to assist our yearbook team.

Scan the QR code or click the button below, and include code 17799 to upload your photos!

Yearbook Uploads Here

Lunch Solutions

To ensure your child enjoys their meals, place your orders by Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for the following week.

Need to make adjustments? You can easily modify your order on the "Orders and Payments" screen, as long as changes are made by Thursday at 10:00 a.m. of the previous week.

If your child is absent on a day when lunch has been ordered, simply call the school by 10:00 a.m. if you’d like to pick up their lunch. Thank you for your cooperation!

Order Lunch Solutions Hot Lunch

PANDA BIRTHDAY SIGNS

Make your child's day by purchasing our Panda Birthday Signs! For $25, we will come to your house the night before your child's birthday and decorate your lawn with the signs. They will be up all day, so be sure to take plenty of pictures with them, and don't forget to share on our Instagram— and don't worry about removal! We have you covered. It's a great way to celebrate your child's birthday AND support the Sherwood PTO in the process!!

**Please remember to enter your child's birthday and address in the box provided on the form, and order at least two weeks prior to the date requested.**

Thank You Sponsors!

Subscribe to the PTO Calendar! Stay in the Know. Click the link to sign up to receive automatic calendar updates and scroll down on the "Manage Subscriptions" page.

Save the Date!

Upcoming Events:

December 4: General Sherwood PTO Meeting (open to all parents)- in person and Zoom

December 4 - 6: Shop the Block on Central

December 10 - 12: Penguin Patch Holiday Fundraiser

December 18: Early Release 1:36pm

December 19 - January 4: Winter Break (no school)

SUBJECT: The Bamboo Bulletin: Volume 12 - Pandas and Penguins Holiday Edition