WJ MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mr. Phil Georgia
Principal
Round Lake Area Schools Community Unit District 116
220 Greenwood, Round Lake Park, Illinois 60073 Mrs. Jennifer Arroyo
Office: (847) 270-9950 Office Fax: (847) 546-2394
Assistant Principal
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Birthdays are a special time for children and we believe it is important for your
child to receive special acknowledgement at school on his/her birthday.
Starting this school year, no food items will be distributed to classmates if your
child chooses to celebrate a birthday during the school year. We are asking all parents and guardians to work
with your child’s teacher to plan a “fun, not food” means of recognizing your child’s birthday at school such as
(but not limited to): pencils, erasers, stickers, bubbles, bookmarks, notepads, a book donated for the
classroom, or a ball donated to the school for the playground.
We recognize that birthday treats can be expensive and time consuming for parents or caregivers. In addition,
with the growing focus on health and nutrition, Murphy Elementary School has also increased our attention in
this area as well. Healthy eating patterns are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full
physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and well-being. These healthy celebrations will also help
support our teachers’ focus on teaching, as food-focused celebrations usually require a lot of time to serve
and clean up, reducing instructional time. Our non-food celebrations will also help to ensure the safety of our
students with allergies.
Please know that we are not trying to take the fun out of birthdays. The goal of acknowledging your child’s
birthday at school is to provide him/her with a day of feeling special on a special day. This goal can certainly be
accomplished in many fun and creative ways that do not require food. Classroom teachers will continue to
recognize students on their special day in special ways. Students will still be recognized on their birthdays
during morning announcements and will get a small gift in the office. We hope that you will further support
our wellness and fitness efforts and work with your child’s teacher to choose a “fun, not food” activity to
recognize your child’s birthday at school.
Thank you in advance for your support of this policy and for helping promote health and wellness at Murphy
Elementary School.
Sincerely,
Phil Georgia, Principal
Jennifer Arroyo, Assistant Principal
Mission of Round Lake Area Schools Community Unit School District #116
Ensure the highest achievement for every student in meeting academic expectations that exceed standards, learning 21 st century skills,
and developing social and cultural proficiency. Promote life-long learning, ethical leadership, and active citizenship
in concert with every member of our community.
WJ MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mr. Phil Georgia
Principal
Round Lake Area Schools Community Unit District 116
220 Greenwood, Round Lake Park, Illinois 60073 Mrs. Jennifer Arroyo
Office: (847) 270-9950 Office Fax: (847) 546-2394
Assistant Principal
Estimados padres y tutores,
Los cumpleaños son momentos especiales para los niños y creemos que es
importante que su hijo(a) reciba el reconocimiento de su cumpleaños en la escuela.
Empezando este año escolar no se permitirá distribuir alimentos a los compañeros
de clase si su hijo decide celebrar su cumpleaños durante el año escolar. Estamos pidiendo a todos los padres
y tutores que se pongan de acuerdo con el maestro de su hijo para planear el cumpleaños en la escuela con
“diversión, no comida” con artículos como: lápices, borradores, calcomanías, burbujas, marcadores para
libros, bloc de notas, un libro donado al salón o una pelota para el patio.
Sabemos que los bocadillos para cumpleaños pueden ser costosos para los padres. Además con el crecimiento
de atención en la salud y nutrición la Escuela Primaria Murphy lo ha hecho también. Hábitos para comer
comidas saludables son indispensables para que los estudiantes logren su máximo potencial académico, físico
y mental y una vida saludable. Esto ayudará a los maestros a enfocarse en enseñar ya que estas celebraciones
usualmente requieren mucho tiempo para servir y limpiar lo que reduce el tiempo de enseñanza. Nuestras
celebraciones sin comida también ayudarán a asegurar la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes con alergias.
Sepa que no estamos tratando de sacar la diversión de los cumpleaños. La meta del reconocimiento en la
escuela del cumpleaños de su hijo es de darle un día de buenos sentimientos en un día especial. Esta meta
puede ser lograda en muchas maneras creativas y divertidas que no necesitan comida. Los maestros
continuarán reconociendo a los estudiantes en su día especial. Los cumpleaños de los estudiantes serán
anunciados durante los anuncios de la mañana y recibirán un pequeño regalo en la oficina. Esperamos que
apoye nuestros esfuerzos de salud y buen estado físico y hable con el maestro de su hijo para escoger una
actividad de “diversión, no comida” para celebrar el cumpleaños de su hijo en la escuela.
Gracias por adelantado por su apoyo de esta política y promover la salud y el buen estado físico en la Escuela
Primaria Murphy.
Sinceramente,
Phil Georgia, Director
Jennifer Arroyo, Subdirector
Mission of Round Lake Area Schools Community Unit School District #116
Ensure the highest achievement for every student in meeting academic expectations that exceed standards, learning 21 st century skills,
and developing social and cultural proficiency. Promote life-long learning, ethical leadership, and active citizenship
in concert with every member of our community.