Kudos to Rachelle and David for thinking outside the box to use technology for a student while being in an air conditioned setting.
-From Keli Swierczek
I'd like to send a kudos to Sue Kartman - I overheard her prompting her class to use their new skills from their Second Step lesson while in the hallway! It was great to hear those connections being made throughout the school!
-From Sarah Ferens
Thanks to Katy (Gardner) and Connie (Lancaster) for donating a fan to my classroom, using their classroom money! WOW!
-From Greer Lally
Thank you David Roat for creating the "What Is Second Step?" link on the Parents tab of our D114 website!
-From the Mental Health Team
Kudos to David Roat and Rachelle Peters, who ran around solving MAP testing
and Chromebook issues this week.
and
Kudos to Andrea DeMatteo, who has patiently put up with my million Traversa questions
and teaching me how to run reports.
-From Michele Burgess
We have a kudos going out to 2nd grade this week!
The reading team would like to thank the 2nd grade team for being so flexible with the master schedule. They flip-flopped their ELA and math times so that we can maximize the number of students that we see! It was a huge help and we are so very grateful! You are the BEST!
-From the Reading Team
Thank you, thank you, thank you grades 1-4 for being so accommodating with your schedules so we can get all of the iReady diagnostics finished! I know all the testing can be hard on you and the kiddos so I truly appreciate your patience. Of all the students in third and fourth grade, we only had 3 students finish their test in the first session. This really shows how hard the majority of our students worked and that they really did their best. Kudos to them and you!
&
Thank you, Victoria & Kim, for being so flexible with the labs and laptop cart!
&
Thank you all for keeping the students so quiet in the hallway!
-From Erica Barraza
To Linda for remembering what she learned in her diabetic training and making sure KF got up to me safe after her sugar levels dropped during lunch. You are awesome
-From Colleen Robinson
Also Shout out to Linda Rasmussen - she gave up part of her lunch to jump in and monitor my class while I was calming down a former student in the hallway. She didn't even let me know she was missing her lunch to do so. She just jumped in right away when she saw I needed help. THANK YOU!
-From Kelly Roland
Kudos to Jill Becmer for designing such colorful and creative newsletters! She makes us look good!!!’
-From Betty Cwiak
Thank you to the teachers at Stanton for allowing me to pull your students for my mas vision and hearing screening. Thank you to Melissa Jakstas, Chris Carvell, and Kim Husko for allowing me to pull most of the students in between PE fitness testing so that no class time was be missed and also to Renee Kanarri for being my "runner!" You all made one of my biggest "projects" of the year so much easier!
-From Jessica Lanners
Katy Gardner for leading her students through a tremendous Ready Math lesson on Friday! I was absolutely amazed at the discussion happening between shoulder partners and loved watching the light bulbs go on when student that got it shared how with the students that didn't. Tremendous job Katy and class!!!
and
Rich Bressett, Cathy Jawnyj, Rachelle Peters, Walter Nickles, Melissa Jakstas, Connie Lancaster, Colleen Hitzler, Beth Rendon, Kendra Smeigh, and Matt Shannon for volunteering to be a part of our Flex Committee. Great first meeting! Can't wait to get deeper into the work!
-From Jeff Sefcik
To the amazing first grade team for embracing and supporting me in the transition to first grade!! You are incredible people that truly care and want what is best for all of our kids.
-From Tiffany Mihovilovich
Thank you Don for the “new” paper towel dispensers in the upstairs bathrooms. My students think you are amazing!!!!
and
Thank you Russ for getting all my desks lowered so my students can learn! They are so happy! (This one is a late entry. 🙂)
and
Christina, Chris, Christine and Fiona- thank you for being an amazing team to work with. Our students have already shown some of what they can do and I can only see success in their future due to all of you!
and
Lisa and Amber- thank you for always going above and beyond for my students to make sure that they are successful, especially going outside the box to make this happen.
and
Kim thank you for always watching out for one of my students in particular and allowing him to do a little more each day. The constant communication is great!
-All from Erica Bender
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!
Business Office Updates
Please note that everyone was given the employee only District dental benefit on the 8/31 payroll. This didn't impact your pay at all...but it is a benefit that appears on your "paystub" and in Skyward. This was shared with you at Opening Day and automatically marked on the open enrollment form, but thought we'd remind you here that this is a "given" that doesn't cost a cent to you but is reflected on your check. Any questions---please talk with Maddie Espinoza.
Now that we have our fabulous new logos/mascot images for each building and for the District, please be sure to ONLY use these graphics. Before ordering any spirit wear, be sure to check your design with your principals or with me. THANKS! We want to "brand" our fabulous District, and keeping consistent with our images is one little way to do so.
Curriculum Updates
Kagan--I wanted to clarify that, while we are using a TON of Kagan engagement strategies...and will be regularly sharing them with you...this is not another new thing for you to implement this year. While these are GREAT tools, we continue to hold tight to our focus for 18-19: PLC practices, Math, and SEL. I'd like everyone to try engagement strategies when/if they fit, but there are no formal expectations for their use. We plan to offer formal Kagan training next summer for anyone interested, but this will not be an expectation until/unless we as a system determine that it is. We will offer training and we will share strategies because they are GREAT for learning...and we expect you to try them when/if they fit what you are doing.
Facilities Updates
Lockdown procedures--While we are considering new strategies for use in a "lockdown" situation, for now, we will implement current practice. Until we know more and--if we decide to make a change--have time for training, we'll continue current practice.
Lotus--We plan to keep all unit vents running at all times to regulate the temperatures in the building. I know this causes some classroom noise, but, for now, I'd ask that they remain running while we make plans to resolve the insulation issues. THANK YOU!
There will be a national emergency systems text on Sept 20. More info coming on this, and no need to do anything at this point...
Technology Updates
Thanks to everyone for your flexibility on MAP texting last week! We're hoping the system will be up and running for testing this week...fingers crossed!!!
Our fall articulation meeting is coming up on Wednesday, September 19th. Please reach out to Melissa if there are any topics you would like to be addressed.
Volunteer(s) Needed for The IPACE Committee Candidate Recommendation Meeting
Two candidates, Douglas Bennett (R) and Brad Schneider (D), for Congressional District 10, will be meeting with committee members to seek the recommendation of the IEA-IPACE. Meeting attendees will vote for the candidate they recommend on behalf of our local.
If you are interested in attending, you must RSVP by September 12 to Courtney Groves at (800) 252-8076 extension 2238, or courtney.groves@ieanea.org. Also, please let Melissa know of your intention to attend so we can sign-off on your ability to vote on behalf of our local.
Saturday, September 15 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. (lunch provided)
Libertyville Illinois Education Association
FREE Conference for Members!
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.
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
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 to Consider
How does STEM connect to the thoughts in this article?
How do YOU help students foster their own sense of curiosity?
The Importance of Curiosity and Challenge in Education
In the book, “The Power of Why” by Amanda Lang, two quotes on the importance of curiosity in education stood out to me:
In an educational system in which productivity is measured by hours logged per task, number of worksheets completed and scores on standardized tests, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to prompt kids to ask more questions unless the questions are about what’s going to be on the test. In many classrooms, stopping to encourage and mull over questions that aren’t procedural or directly related to the material at hand is viewed as wasting time. It’s no big surprise then that most kids come to school bursting with questions, but exit, a dozen or so years later, asking very few. Curiosity declines from one grade to the next, and the reason isn’t that kids’ thirst for knowledge has been satiated and they now know everything they want or need to know.
Here is something I have been thinking about…Whether “school” is the direct reason why kids lose curiosity over time shouldn’t matter. What should matter is that school should become a place where curiosity is developed in individuals no matter what factors have led to its decline.
And then this:
So instead of learning how to learn, many kids are learning how to be good at going to school. The straight-A student is, in virtually every educational setting, the one who has figured out what the teacher wants and how to deliver it.
I am not sure that I agree with the idea that the straight-A student” is always the one that appeases their teachers, but I know that all students should feel challenged to grow as learners. I had an interesting conversation with a student recently and they had acknowledged how “school” came naturally to them and when they first faced adversity, they had buckled under the pressure because they were not used to feeling challenged. Resilience is developed through challenge, not comfort.
Curiosity is often what leads to challenge. We often ask questions about the things we don’t know (but want to) and finding answers to those questions is part of what leads to growth within education and after.
September 11: PTA meeting--6:30PM at Lotus
September 25: Board of Education meeting--7:00PM at Lotus
October 20: Rotary Trivia Night---funds raised pay for the December Neediest Children event!
October 26: RD Sayles Foundation event--more details to come (but it will be right after school with employee TLC to kick it off!)
JOIN THE D114 GUIDING COALITION!
I got some GREAT questions about this initiative!
I got some GREAT questions about this initiative!
YES--everyone is welcome, including anyone who did or did not participate in the PLC Hybrid this summer.
We expect to meet no more than monthly through the year---a schedule TBD at the first meeting.
YES--participants will be paid for the time in this important effort.
Again, the purpose is to create a GUIDING COALITION of interested people who want to learn, lead, and collaborate for our district as we forge forward. If this sounds like something that is up your alley, please plan to attend the first meeting of the D114 GUIDING COALITION:
Tuesday, September 18
3:15-5:00
Stanton
ONE TEAM...ALL IN
ALL MEANS ALL
I hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend! Looking forward to a great week!
Heather
