Originally delivered on 12/16/2025 10:30 pm

SUBJECT: The Bamboo Bulletin: Volume 13 - Pandas Spread Holiday Cheer

December 16, 2025

Leading into Winter Break we are in awe of the community Sherwood Elementary has created. The PTO, Staff, and Volunteers partnered together to end the calendar year on a festive note.


Thank you to our Co-Chairs, Renee Baldassarre and Desiree Wilkow for bringing a fun and meaningful shopping experience to students for our annual Penguin Patch Holiday shopping event! A special thanks to all our volunteers for their swift wrapping and math skills, and to Kelly Canady for leading our checkout station each day. This year, we raised over $2,000 at our Penguin Patch event. With these funds, all students were able to participate in the event and we are able to funnel the remainder of our profits toward other upcoming initiatives.

 

Yesterday, Staff enjoyed the PTO Holiday Gift Card Bar organized by our resident elf, Betsy Scher. Betsy transformed the teacher lounge into a winter wonderland with sweet snacks and gift cards dripping from sparkling trees for each staff member. Thank you to Leslee Cohen-Lavin once again for stocking the teacher lounge with delicious Holiday treats to keep the staff going through the week! Teachers will also have a little fun this week participating in Holiday Trivia with prizes sponsored by the PTO. 


A big thank you to parents/guardians for their generous donations which allow our Room Parents to send teachers home with holiday cheer in the form of a class gift from all students in their class. Keep an eye out for a communication from your Room Parent(s) with what Holiday gift your child's teacher received. 

Mornings with Military Mommas

Looking for more ways to connect with other Sherwood parents/guardians? Come have a coffee and some breakfast with Military Moms (and Dads) to build your network. All Sherwood parents/guardians are welcome to join these informal gatherings. 


If you missed this morning's get together (12/16 @ 9am- Walker Bros Pancake House), don't worry, we'll host another one in the New Year. In the mean time, feel free to reach out to Stephanie Vidal s.vidal805@yahoo.com to get added to a text chain and stay connected.  



5th Grade Fundraiser

Our 5th Grade Fundraising team is off to a great start of raising funds for their class gift (a tree and commemorative plaque) at the newly constructed Sherwood. 


Your participation in the Donut Sales and Shop the Block have helped them reach 1/3 of their fundraising goal thus far! 

 

We look forward to getting some ice time with the next 5th Grade Fundraiser, at the Chicago Wolves Hockey Game on February 21, 2026! More details coming your way soon....


If you would like to make a direct donation toward the 5th Grade Fundraiser, click on the DONATE button on the 5th Grade Fundraising page





Sherwood PTO Bingo Night

"B-4!" we go on break, save the date for Sherwood's Bingo Night! It will take place in Sherwood at Elm Place's Gymnasium. 


Doors will open at 5:30 PM and Bingo begins at 6pm! 


We'll be looking for volunteers. More info to come after Winter Break!

Behind the Bamboo
How to Stay In the Know

If you are receiving a copy of the Bamboo Bulletin, it's because you have registered on the Sherwood PTO Website (Membership Toolkit) www.sherwoodpto.org

(**Please double check your student(s)' profile to make sure they are reflected in the correct Grade and Teacher).


We've heard from several parents/guardians, they didn't know about events, how to participate in Bookfair or Penguin Patch, and just stay up to date on what is taking place at school...why is this? In order to receive communications from the PTO, we need your contact information! Therefore, the best way to share your contact information is to register on the PTO website. 


We offer 2 registration options

1) Register yourself, a 2nd parent/guardian, and your student(s) with your contact information. 

2) Register yourself, a 2nd parent/guardian, your student(s) with your contact information PLUS purchase a $35 membership (funds go toward supporting PTO sponsored events) which grants you access to the Student Directory. Membership must be renewed each school year to continue to access the directory. 


*Please reach out to Ms. Katie (kmader@nssd112.org) if you would like to inquire about qualifying for financial assistance for a PTO Website Membership purchase.  


What about your privacy? Once you register, you will have the option to edit your account preferences such as whether or not you want your contact information published in the Directory. If you choose to increase your privacy settings, you will still receive our communications, have access to make purchases via the website, subscribe to the PTO calendar, and access the Directory (if you have a paid membership). 


Are your friends still saying they can't access the PTO information? Tell them to hang tight...we will be providing teachers/staff with instructions on how to register, receive our emails, make purchases, etc. to share will all families. 


Please pass on the word to register as we have some exciting new things coming to the website in the New Year! 



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!


Looking for photos from: 

- Dine & Donate- Pizza with the Principal @ Alex's Washington Gardens

- Book Fair

- Penguin Patch

- Panda Project

- 2025 Robotic Competition @ Northwood 

- Panda Super Stars

... and more! 


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.


Order Lunch Solutions Hot Lunch
PANDA BIRTHDAY SIGNS

Purchase 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. 

Thank You Sponsors!
Follow us on Instagram!

Follow us for all things Sherwood PTO! Don't forget to tag us in pictures during events 


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 17: Panda Superstars Safety Booster Celebration Assembly (In-school event sponsored by the PTO) 

December 18: Early Release 1:36pm

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

January 23: Sherwood BINGO Night 

February 13: Valentine's Day Service Project

February 21: 5th Grade Fundraiser Chicago Wolves Game

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -