Sunday, August 19, 2018

Happy Week 2!







Thanks to everyone who helped lead learning on our opening few days. It's huge to have so many people leading the way...you are appreciated!

 Thanks to EVERYONE for an amazing first week! I can't believe how well everything went---and it's because of YOU! A special shout out to our fabulous BUS DRIVERS! On time by Friday---what?!?! :) Thanks also to the Kitchen Staff for all the yummy eats!!
To the Insurance Committee for spending hours and hours working through all the information we were given. The NIHIP recommendation is SUCH a win for D114---thanks for all your hard work and commitment.

I would like to put a shout out to Home Depot for donating all our rocks and spray paint (I'm prepping the rocks) for our Kindness Rocks Project!  
Kevin, the asst. manager, was not only helpful, but super quick in securing what we needed. If you're not familiar with the "kindness rock craze", check out FB "Fox Lake Illinois Rocks" page.  There are about 500 members that are part of our FL community kindness project. We are going to piggy back on their page. Our young artists will begin the year with Kindness Rocks, and perhaps continue w/rocks for our rules - responsible, respectful and cooperative too!  <---that idea came out when talking to Kim about this. ;) Teamwork is dream work!

-From Gayle McManamon

Thank you to Chris Carvell for sorting and organizing all the PE uniforms to start the school year, it was a big help!
-From Melissa Jakstas

 A HUGE shout out to Erica Bender, Pam, Amber, Paige, Jackie, Christina, and Mollie for supporting me by coming to see my show this weekend. Your cheers made my night. =]
-From Kally Kibitlewski
When you have a kudo to share for someone, please just email me and I'll include it here! The goal is to create system celebrations--so your input is truly welcome!

 














  

News from the Business Office
PAYROLL
In case you have questions about the check you received on August 15....
-The check you received on the 14th was the check you typically received on August 15th
-The check you received on 15th was the check you typically received on September 1 (final check from previous school year).
-The second check on the 15th was just for any curriculum work you may have done.
-Recall last spring when all staff were notified about the change in paycheck dates.  OLD WAY - the 1st & 15th. NEW WAY - 15th & last day of the month. Please see the 2018-19 payroll calendar in the Business Office Share Folder. To accomplish the transition we had to release all 17-18 checks by August 15th.  
-The first check for the 2018-19 school year will be August 31. 
If you have any questions, please contact Maddie Espinoza! 

SKYWARD
Please be sure to check and update, as needed, all your personal information in Skyward Employee Access:
-Address
-Phone 
-Emergency Contacts
Thanks--we'll be using this information to generate the 2018-19 staff directory. It's also CRITICAL that we have accurate emergency contact information for each of you just in case!

INSURANCE
NIHIP representatives will be at our District next week (Wednesday & Thursday) to assist with open enrollments and answer questions. A table will be set up in the staff lounge. Everyone is welcome to stop by with questions you may have. The schedule is as follows:

Monday (8/20) Becky and Maddie will be available at Lotus from 10 am to 1 pm.
Tuesday (8/21) Becky and Maddie will be available at Stanton from 11 am to 2 pm.
Wednesday (8/23) NIHIP Team, Mary and Maddie will be available at Lotus from 10 am to 1 pm.
Thursday (8/24) NIHIP Team, Mary and Maddie will be available at Stanton from 11 am to 2 pm.

For those who prefer to have a private conversation, representatives from NIHIP will be available on Monday and Tuesday by phone. If so, please reach out to me and I will schedule an appointment for you.

Curriculum Updates
One of our new staff members asked me to clarify a few terms that we use...and not everyone knows. I thought it was awesome that this person asked!!!

TIGHT--What is non-negotiable. The things that MUST get done because we have all agreed that they are best for our students. Examples of "tights" include:
  • Implementation of ReadyMath and Second Step with 100% fidelity. This means at the times scheduled for the duration specified in training. These are THE resources to use...I expect to see them in action and fully implemented. We spent a great deal of time selecting and money purchasing these materials. 
  • Continued use of 15 Day Challenges.
  • Keeping ALL MEANS ALL as our mindset
  • Focusing all our efforts and time on the 3 Big Ideas and 4 Critical Questions of a Professional Learning Community. 
SLO--Student Learning Objective. This helps us be accountable for the student growth component of teacher evaluation that is mandated by Senate Bill 7/PERA law. For 2018-19, there are 2 options:
  • Continued use of SLO assessments developed in prior years.
  • Use of two 15 Day Challenges.
Please refer to the Student Growth Measures document shared during Wednesday's collaborative team time for more information. 

Facilities Updates
Don't forget...if you have a maintenance request, please use the work request link to share it. Our team will take care of it ASAP!

Technology Updates
If you have a technology service request, please use this link to request it. 
if you have a specific Special Education program/app/purchase, please use this link to make your request.



Education Association of Fox Lake News and Updates
We hope everyone had a great first week with the kids! 

The IEA Membership Pays conference is coming up the second week in September; two identical conferences will be held on Tuesday, September 11 from 4:30 – 8:00 or Saturday, September 15 from 8:30 – Noon. The Membership Pays conference will be held at Carl Sandburg School. 855 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL. Park in the California Street parking lot and enter through the multipurpose room doors - doors by the flagpole. The conference is FREE for members!

Registration and pizza/breakfast will be from 4:30-5:00 or 8:30-9:00 depending on the day you choose.
You may then select from up to 3 different sessions that will cover different information. If you are only interested in one session, you don't need to stay for the other sessions.  Sessions will start on the hour and run for 50 minutes, with a 10 minute break inbetween sessions. All sessions will be offered every hour.  

Our Agenda will have sessions on:  
- TRS – Explanation of TRS benefits for teachers  
- IMRF – Explanation of IMRF benefits for support staff  
- Degrees Not Debt – how to reduce and eliminate your student loan debt 
- 403(b) Savings – how to save a lot with little effort
- Member Benefits – Use your IEA membership to save you money 
- IEA Professional Development – Free professional development with CPDUs
- IEA SCORE Grants – Have IEA pay for your project  
- IEA Action Network – How to get involved and make a change 
- Surviving Your First Years – How to be successful

Please RSVP for the conference using this link. 

New staff members... don't forget our new member meet-and-greet is this Wednesday, August 22nd at 3:15 in room 10 at Stanton. We will be handing out member shirts so please take a minute to let Melissa know your shirt size if you have not already done so, thanks!

Melissa Jakstas, President 
Maureen DeVoss, Vice President for Certified Staff 
Chris Brown, Vice President for Non-Certified Staff 
Katy Gardner, Treasurer 
Betty Cwiak, Secretary 
Cathy Jawnyj, Region Representative
Kendra Smeigh, Stanton School Representative
Tiffany Tardio, Lotus School Representative

*check here for documents most frequently used/requested
Please let Heather know of suggestions for any documents to add to this folder!


Blue Cross Blue Shield:
Guardian:
Questions for thought...
So, George Couros is my latest cognitive crush. Please take a look at this post...
It's written for school leaders---and I think we are ALL school leaders. Take a peek and consider:
-What are you already doing to positively impact our ENERGY?
-What is one thing you could do differently to even more positively impact how it feels to work in D114?

For me, I want to be sure to express my appreciation to others in the moment...there's so much great stuff happening every day, I want to do a better job pointing it out in the moment. 

What about you???





3 Ways to Build the “Energy” in Your Schools

By George on Aug 19, 2018 06:26 am
Recently, I wrote about the “3 E’s of Building a Great School Culture,” and they were as follows:
The Environment is about the space(s) around us and the “stuff” that is needed to serve students learners.
The Experience is about what we design for learning and what we empower others to create for themselves.
The Energy is what we bring in ourselves to our schools and what others help unleash in others.
Although I see all three as being of great importance, I have been focusing a lot on the “Energy” as of late.  Not only for myself but also for being a part of school openings all around North America. I have been blown away by the enthusiasm and passion in so many school districts that I have had the pleasure to be around, and I have thought about how this is maintained throughout the year.  Although “energy” is something that as individuals we should do our best to fill, we also have an impact on those around us as well.
Here are three things that I have picked up over the course of my travels this summer:
  1. Take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously.
    I had the pleasure to connect with Superintendent David Faltys this summer, and his team of staff is incredible. I was literally crying because my heart was beating so fast feeling the passion from his district. It was incredible.
    One thing that I noticed was that although he takes serving his staff very seriously, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. His easy-going way and sense of humor, especially at his own expense, make the atmosphere extremely light and fun.
    Education is an emotionally taxing profession, and if we are serious all of the time, burnout can become more likely.  I saw this image recently, and it was a powerful reminder:

    The most influential leader in my career would always say the following to me after a hard day; “If you don’t laugh, you will cry.” She would continuously give me the reminder that a positive and fun attitude was just as contagious as the opposite, so it was always up to me to choose what I hoped other people would catch.
  2. Show appreciation to people every time it comes to your mind.
    Whether it is a colleague, our boss, a student, a parent, we often hold in our good thoughts and let loose with the bad ones.  I always make this joke about how hard the IT department has it because they never hear the comments, “Hey! The Internet worked all day today! Thanks!”  I guarantee they are exposed to the opposite sentiment ALL THE TIME!
    It takes very little energy to say something nice, but it sure can suck the energy out of people when all they hear is the opposite. Saying something kind is always free but can have more of an impact on people than you will ever know.
    Always err on the side of the positive.
  3. Always remember why you do what you do.
    There is a significant difference when I see presentations that feature media and the voice of students.  As well, on professional learning days, having students be a part of the day and/or sharing their gifts with educators, always seems to lift the enthusiasm of the room.
    A simple thing I used to do as principal when I was bogged down with paperwork or email was to simply go into classrooms to see students. It reminded me why I did the “boring work” that needed to be done.
    Remember why you do what you do.





MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!! D114 has 2 tables reserved for Trivia Night!!! Please let me know ASAP if you are able to attend. This is SUCH a fun event, and the proceeds directly benefit our D114 students through the Holiday Party for our neediest children. 



Also, the RD Sayles Foundation is planning a fabulous event! The first part of the event is all about saying THANK YOU to our staff! Some details so far...

October 26
Happy hour - snacks right after school
Free drink / Drink specials
Activities (maybe pumpkin carving contest, minnow races etc.)
Main Event-
Fundraising event starting after teacher happy hour - including silent and live auction items
We may ask for classroom or grade level projects to be auctioned off at the event - maybe Halloween related decorations - i.e. a large tree with colored leaves with all of the students names on them or a graveyard scene with funny things on the tombstones, pumpkin patch with each student making little pumpkins for the patch.

More details to come as I have them! Again, let me know if you may be able to attend or help. The Foundation is committed to supporting our STEM and Art efforts with major financial contributions. I am sincerely hoping our staff will step up and support this effort.



We are in need of a babysitter for our LEAP program (where adults in our community come to learn English). The posting for this is also being sent out tonight. I want a D114 staff member to assist in this, as I have the greatest faith in our terrific staff being able to offer care so the adults can attend. If you are interested in filling this role, let me know ASAP...and remember, it can be split between people!!!!


Here's to a great week 2!

One Team, All In!

ALL MEANS ALL!
Heather
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