Thank you!

A big thank you to the amazing volunteers (including some Longfellow alums) that helped make the 2024 Winter Carnival happen.  From donating a sweet treat for the Sweet walk, to spending a Friday evening decorating the school and assembling games, day of activities like morning set-up, supervising games, concessions & ticket booths, texting raffle awards to being part of the cleanup crew, we couldn’t have done it without you.  A special thank you to Deb Taylor for her amazing support throughout the planning process, Lisa Shea for acting as a liaison to the teachers and to the custodial staff that helped set up and clean up after the Carnival.  
 
A Big Thank you to the following businesses for their sponsorship of the Winter Carnival:
Oak Park Jewelers
Bulley & Andrews
Sparkle Aesthetics 
Jamilla Yipp Photography
Spilt Milk
Courageous Bakery
Sticks & Cones
 
Thanks to the local businesses that donated raffle items for the Longfellow Carnival:
Bead in Hand
Candycopia
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Bulls
Chicago Wolves
DuPage Children's Museum
Escape Factor
Eterna Home/Nossa Family
INTUIT Dance!
Jamilla Yipp Photography
Kidcreate Studio
Kribi Coffee
Kumbaa Kids
Lake Theatre
Legacy Sports
Longfellow PTO
Mascot Hall of Fame
Michelle Lin-Luse, PLA
Natalie Walsh Designs
Park District Oak Park
Pumpkin Moon
Purple Sun Arts
School of Rock Oak Park
Shabby Fly
Sloomoo Institute - Chicago (slime museum)
Spilt Milk Pastry
Sticks and Cones
Usborne Books/Kate Susmilch
Victory Italian
We, the Collective Fitness
Yoga Loft Studios

Thank you to our educators who donated fun experiences for the raffle:
Principal Jefferson
Ms. Deb Taylor
Ms. Tatro
Mrs. Perry
Ms. Golemes
Mrs. Utter
Mrs. Keto
Mr. Naber
Miss Scott
Ms. Patterson
Ms. Vogt
Ms. Shea
Mrs. Friesen
Ms. Bee
Ms. Sciara
Ms. Beilecki
Ms. Ryan
Mrs. Sorg
Oak Park River Forest High School Athletic Department (Athletic Director Nicole Ebsen)

Thank you to the Longfellow families that donated items for the raffle:
The Frenden Family
The Robinson Family
The Sarnecki Parente Family
The Hall Family
The Henderlong Family
The Howland Family
The Mistretta Family
The Tribbia - Malloy Family
The Wong Family
The Van Last Family
The Newgard family
The Zuhlke-Smith family

Thanks to the amazing students who donated a cake to the cake decorating contest and the teachers who blind judged (you know who you are).  The winner of the contest was 2nd grader Keegan Saetia with an awesome looking Longfellow Bear cake.
 
Thanks to Humphrey the Bear for showing up and bringing the school spirit.  An enormous Thanks  to Ms. Friesen, Ms. Utter, Ms. Patterson, Mr. Sorensen, Ms. Taylor & Principal Jefferson for volunteering for pie in the face – what a way to close out the Carnival.  
 
Last and certainly not least a BIG and GENEROUS thank you to the Winter Carnival Planning committee - Lindsay Lucas-Kamm, Margaret Nekrosius, Sara Bailey, Carolyn Sarnecki, Clare McDermott, Lori Serradas, Kate Susmilch, Jen Settle, Tracy Templin, Dana Bynum-McMurry, Kate Ernstom, Chris Parente, Preeya Mbekeani, Tree O’Connor & Sara Enloe  The Winter Carnival was a great way to bring the Longfellow Community together and it wouldn’t have been possible without your time, dedication and effort.  
 
Sincerely,  
Danielle Zuhlke-Smith & Pamela Simone
Co-VPs of Community & Winter Carnival Co-chairs