As has become D114 tradition, as we start a new calendar year, I ask us to consider a word for the year. It was even a prompt in the First 5...
For 2025, my word is STRONG.
So--what's your word? If you've already thought of one...GREAT! If you haven't yet...GREAT--here's your prompt. If this isn't your jam--GREAT--so glad you're choosing what works/doesn't work for you!
If you're willing to share your word with me, please do so--I'll be your biggest cheerleader!
Heather
The December Wellness Challenge winners are...
Kim Leable
and
Karen Lobodzinski
Paste the URL below into your browser:
For Primary, use: https://www.edtomorrow.
For Secondary, use: https://www.edtomorrow.
January Focus--Understanding Routines
This Week's Wellness Invitation: Identify Emotion Patterns
When an event or situation occurs during your day that causes an unpleasant emotional response, pause for 90 seconds. Commit to using the 90-second pause to reflect on the why of the emotion, potentially say, "Let them/it go", and then say, "Let me..." and figure out how YOU want to move forward in control of your emotions and response.
A massive shoutout to Erica Barraza for always stepping up to help and for modeling a new program with my students for me! Your support and willingness to guide me through each step is beyond appreciated. You’re amazing! Thank you!
- Melissa McCart--Special Education Teacher at Lotus
Kudos to Gina for sprinkling some of her beautiful snowflakes around the building and cafeteria. I truly look forward to hanging them up every January. -Sonia Miller--Kitchen Lead at Lotus
athy Jawnyj) for always having a solution-oriented perspective and participating in productive meetings! We have a lot to do, but the team collaborates beautifully.
Thanks to Natalie Molidor for being flexible in our IC planning with my current schedule AND offering to lend a hand whenever she can.
-Katie Jalove Filippelli--Instructional Coach/6th Grade Science Teacher
Ellie and Nicole for handling a multitude of student investigations/situations with us this week, even some after school hours, your diligence is appreciated.
Kim V. for helping out at the front desk on Friday and for your flexibility!
-Natalie Udstuen--Assistant Principal at Lotus
Shout out to Calista and Oner for taking care of both 7th and 8th grade girls basketball tryouts, with a wonderful 26 students attending.
-Mark Perlman--Long Term Sub at Stanton
Kudos to Betty Cwiak for inspiring me to stop using my snooze button on my alarm clock, I am on day six and going strong! Also, for assisting me with the book room, super organized I may add, as she helped me find Frederick Douglas books!
Kudos to Renee Evans for being my midday lunch energizer, working out and laughing to boost us through the afternoon.
-Lisa Zabrantaski--Special Education Teacher at Stanton
Hi Heather, I’d like to give Jack Resnick a big kudos for stepping into a post-lunch/recess, 7th grade math class I was subbing for and wrangling unruly kids into mathing, having never taught math before in his life. He was a math miracle worker! Thank you so much for your help, Jack!
-Liz Plemmons--Permanent Sub at Stanton
Cheryl Schudk, THANK YOU, for making copies for the classroom, and for always asking if anything needs to be done.
Sue Pinkawa, THANK YOU, for always asking if you can be of assistance!!!
Chris Brown, THANK YOU for being YOU, and for your continued CARING nature!!!
Mary Fisher, THANK YOU for your willingness to help do the laundry in our room, and for showing us where laundry can be done.
Brittany Luther, THANK YOU, for your continued creativity, and for decorating the classroom in such a welcoming manner.
Megan May, THANK YOU, for continuing to compile the many spreadsheets for the classroom data collection.
Mr. Russell, THANK YOU, for joining our classroom, and for being so attentive to the student's needs.
Appreciative to you all!!!
-Jackie Gorden-Platek--Special Education Teacher at Lotus
I so appreciate being part of a team that supports me in so many ways! Thanks to Stephanie Thiel and Don for helping to rearrange the room. It has already made an improvement in participation.
Thanks to Caitlyn Fenton for so much help in my times of anxiety. Thanks to Ellie for instantly consulting on my tough friend. The list of people who help with her is enormous! Besides Caitlyn and Jackie G-P her teachers, who are going above and beyond for the student and guiding me. Ellie, Megan, Brittany, Colleen, Karen, also help me with her! Not to mention Matt, Natalie, and Allie! I needed each of you on Friday and it all was to help one child! Amazing!
-Chris Brown--Paraprofessional at LotusKudos to Andrea De Matteo for sharing! What a nice way to start 2025 at Lotus! Thanks for thinking of me!
-Karen McMurphy--Special Education Teacher at Lotus
Thank you Tasha for all that you do to keep the classroom running and always stepping in EVERYWHERE you are needed in the room! It’s not an easy task switching gears with 20 kiddos and the many non-stop needs in the room (especially with 2 potty training the first week back!) but you are always there to help with everything and I couldn’t do it without you!
Thank you to Russell and Sarah for always helping me prep my many parent/child activities. It seems like there is always something to cut, laminate, and prep and you are always there to help me! It’s greatly appreciated!
This week it was amazing to see Adisyn, Mary H, Monica, Lumi, Mandi, and Mary F all help when they had unexpected time so we could get some extra preschool activities laminated, cut, created, and ready! Thank you so stepping up and helping when you had extra time!
-Michelle Magness--PreK Teacher and Parent Coordinator
I want to send a Kudos out to Donna Saranzak. The way she talks to her students with so much love and kindness always makes me smile. Her students know how much she cares about them
-Alana Carlson--Speech/Language Pathologist at Lotus
I would like to thank the Administration, Andrea and my wonderful Food Service Teams for all the support and going above and beyond to help me go through my procedure and recuperation, I wouldn't have been able to do it without ALL of you.
Thank you to all my Family from District 114, for all the love and prayers during this time, It meant so much to me.
-Georgette Franco--District Food Services Coordinator
Kudos to Chris Carvel and Kendra Smeigh for the Olympics Unit in PE, especially the opening dance activity.
The support you provide to your students made it a safe space to perform in front of their peers!
-Karen Skorup--Special Education Teacher at Stanton
THANK YOU...Amber, Jillian, Erin C-J, Gayle and Matt for taking their time and helping start off our new Year with a Fun PBIS Kick off on our first day back. The PBIS Committee could not have done it without you and the kids loved it:)
-Kim VanHoorelbeke--Library Paraprofessional at Lotus
Thank you to Nicole Mild for taking time in an evening to send a text to help us get ahead of a situation!
Thank you to Kim VanHoorelbeke for covering the Lotus front desk on Friday!
Thank you to Jill Becmer and Michele Burgess for the laughs last week. GREATLY NEEDED. You are appreciated!
Thank you to Jill Becmer and Michele Burgess for the laughs last week. GREATLY NEEDED. You are appreciated!
Thank you to the Stanton Principal Search Committee for alllllll your time so far!
From Heather 🧡💛🖤
Please send me your kudos for colleagues each week! I'll happily post them in this section!
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PreK Goes Gold AGAIN
Congrats to our PreK team for all the time, energy, effort, and PATIENCE shown to again get GOLD STATUS in the audit. It was a wild ride, and we are allllllll so proud of you! THANK YOU to everyone who made this happen!
What's Up With the Hallway Panel TVs?
Cool update!!! There's an interactive panel already up at Stanton and one coming at Lotus. What the heck are these?
Well, the Board feels strongly that we need to highlight the District's history AND celebrate as we move forward. So, they funded panels for each site to tell the story of each school, how the district came to be, and big events along the way. Additionally, everyone will be able to see announcements as well as any new info we want to add since it's all done in Google slides. Thanks to Paul Jakstas and Bill Lomas, long time Fox Lake supporters who have PhDs in oru schools. Thanks also to Adam, Mike, and Don for helping bring this idea to life.
January 21 Board Meeting
The 1/21/25 meeting will be held at Stanton so the Board and all other attendees can see the updates to the building, see a new sign added inside to help celebrate Stanton's roots, and see the new panel. We'll start at 6:00 PM in the cafeteria to kick off the informal part of the meeting, and the formal meeting will start, as usual, at 7PM. We'll be recognizing LOTS of amazing students, including all participants from last spring and this fall in the Girls on the Run program!
Winter Weather
Let's be ready for when winter weather comes our way! Please review our procedures below.
Remember, for the first snow/cold day, our three options are:
1. Regular day
2. Late start
3. Snow day, makeup on March 4 (Casimir Pulaski Day)
Once we use/get past Pulaski Day on the calendar, we do the best we can to switch to a virtual day should we need to close. PLEASE be ready for this just in case and make sure kids are ready, too.
As always, I'll let you know any changes just as soon as I can!
Lotus Nurse
For now, we will have sub coverage for the Lotus Health Office. When a permanent assignment is made, I will inform you. Please see me with any questions.
Remember the Employee Assistance Program!
The EAP is typically a great place to start when you need care and aren’t sure what support you or a family member might be needing. They can guide you to specific care and even set up the appointment for you. Take advantage of this confidential and supportive service to address any
personal or work-related challenges you may be facing by calling Perspectives at 800.456.6327.
Know Anyone Who...
If you know anyone who would be interested in being a Van Driver, Sub Van Driver, or a Sub Bus Driver, please have them reach out! We can TRAIN bus drivers ourselves if they don't have a CDL, and van drivers don't need the CDL!!!
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID...UPDATED INFO!!! (9/3/24)
Please:
1. Email or text (847-309-3921) Heather to let her know.
2. In the communication, include proof of a positive test.
You are expected to return to work as soon as you meet the following criteria:
• Be free of fever for at least 24 hours (without medication)
• Be free of vomiting and or diarrhea for at least 24 hours.
You are STRONGLY encouraged to wear a mask upon your return to prevent the spread of illness to others. Please alert me as to your date of return.
Any days out are sick days. If you are out more than 3 days--as with any illness--a physician's note is required.
Masks are available in the office for all staff who wish to wear one.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Happy Monday, District 114!
The first PTA meeting of the new year is TONIGHT, Monday, January 13th at 6:00 pm in the Lotus library!
Can't join in person? Join us on Google Meets!
Along with regular updates, we'll be discussing the upcoming Family Fun Fair and our big fundraiser of the year: Day of Service!
We're looking for members to help plan and run this year’s Family Fun Fair to be held on Saturday, 2/22 from 11am- 3pm. Please sign up here!
We're also looking for members to help plan and run this year’s Day of Service fundraiser to be held on Earth Day, April 22nd. Please sign up here!
Mark your calendars for our next Eat Out to Help Out at Antioch Pizza: Wednesday, January 22nd, all day! Make sure to mention you're with District 114!
Don't forget to join our Facebook group to see the meeting highlights and more, and while you're at it, join the PTA here! Membership dues are only $6 for the whole year!
YOUR PTA Board
Key 2024-25 Dates
February 22
Family Fun Fair (Lotus)
April 22
Day of Service
We'll be forming a committee of parents and staff to plan this event for the SPRING of 2025
May 2
Rocket Launch (Stanton)
Possible Star Wars Theme
Rain date May 9
*The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21 please feel free to join either in person or virtually to stay up to date on happenings in our district.
**Don't forget about your NEA no cost benefits! To check them out, you should go to Deals and Discounts: www.neamb.com/start
*Additional benefits and deals can be found at ieanea.org
Region News:
Want to know what is happening in the Region? Check out the Region 49 Newsletter!
**Get your SCORE GRANT applications in!! Grants for up to $1,000 are available for IEA members and their local associations to collaborate and create opportunities for community service or school projects APPLY HERE
PD Calendar: Take a look at all the PD trainings we lined up here at IEA by clicking here : The IEA is an ISBE approved provider for Professional Development Clock Hours. Clock hours are offered at trainings that meet the PD requirements set by ISBE. Events on the calendar are hosted by IEA or vetted by IEA
Burroughs Education Scholarship - $2,500
Applicants must be graduating seniors heading to college and have at least one parent or legal guardian who is a school employee. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, character, career goals, and potential. Learn more and apply by Jan. 31.
January 6--Welcome back to school!
January 13--PTA Meeting at 6:00 PM
January 20--School Closed--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 21--Board of Education Meeting 7:00 PM at STANTON or via Meet (special event/tour starting at 6:00 PM)
Newest info added at the top...not organized by date!
2024-25 Early Release Plans--DRAFT--work in progress
Heather 🧡
