Crystal Lake Elementary District 47’s Post

Faces of D47: “I was born and raised in Crystal Lake. My husband and I grew up here and we are both graduates of Crystal Lake Central. When I was young, my family moved across town, so I attended both North and South Elementary. We now have two daughters who have attended South Elementary and the whole experience has felt very nostalgic!” “I have my Bachelor’s in Marketing from Butler University. I worked for a Fortune 500 company for 12 years as a leader in sales operations before becoming a stay-at-home mom. When our oldest daughter started Kindergarten at South, I knew I wanted to get involved. I began volunteering in the classroom, working on TAP room projects, and helping on committees. As our girls got older, I became a member of South’s PTO board. I started shadowing my predecessor, Erin Mapes, two years ago. She really laid the groundwork for a successful transition and helped set up our PTO to be as successful as it is today.” “We recently wrapped up our big APEX fundraiser and celebrated with a ‘Glowtacular’ party — a fun glow-in-the-dark dance for the kids! It’s rewarding to see how the funds we raise directly support the students and staff. We use these funds to pay for our all-school field trips, teacher appreciation events, and assemblies. We also provide health office snacks, classroom supplies, and PBIS incentives.” “We have many family events coming up that I’m excited about this year too! South’s Literacy Night, Gingerbread House Competition, Bingo Night, Sledding Event, and Skate Night are already in the works. South is also putting on a school musical this year! It’s just another example of how special this community is. We all come together to create memorable experiences for our kids.” "South’s PTO is truly amazing! There are many different ways to volunteer without a huge time commitment. Whether it’s a TAP room project, helping at an event, or just coming to a PTO meeting, there are countless ways to get involved and make a difference. South is a small, close-knit community and it often feels like family. It’s been wonderful to give back to the place that meant so much to me growing up.” -Ginny Pondel, South PTO Financial Secretary