Kudos to Karen and Becky Brnot and Chris Katuzny for working the concession stand this week
during our home wrestling meets.
during our home wrestling meets.
and
Kudos to Jill and Michele for helping prepare the concession table.
and
Kudos to Walter, Niccole, and Katy for committing to partnering with me as possible (application
pending) presenters at the 2019 Illinois Principals Association Fall Conference - Peoria in October.
pending) presenters at the 2019 Illinois Principals Association Fall Conference - Peoria in October.
-From Jeff Sefcik
Thank you to the lunch ladies for allowing me to use your supplies for materials for STEM! Even
when I ask last minute. You are life savers.
when I ask last minute. You are life savers.
and
Thank you to teachers for working around an already crazy schedule and allowing your students
extra time on Wednesday's to work on & finish their STEM projects. Greatly appreciated!
extra time on Wednesday's to work on & finish their STEM projects. Greatly appreciated!
-From Victoria Miller
Kuddos to Victoria Miller for pulling our progress monitoring and reading enrichment students on
Wednesdays! We really appreciate all that you do for our 3rd Graders!!
Wednesdays! We really appreciate all that you do for our 3rd Graders!!
-3rd Grade Teachers
Kuddos to Erica Barraza for going above and beyond to help one of my students! She has built a
great relationship with him and it really shows with his confidence in the classroom. Thanks!!
great relationship with him and it really shows with his confidence in the classroom. Thanks!!
-From Stephanie Brual
Thank you to our Kindergarten Paras for working SO HARD in so many ways for our kiddos! We
truly appreciate you. Your dedication makes our work possible!
truly appreciate you. Your dedication makes our work possible!
-From the Kinder Team
I wanted to give a shout out to Don Ukleja for fixing my heater so quickly on Monday morning!
My students and I really appreciate the warm classroom to learn in! ALSO, he came in and checked
to make sure it was still functioning normally on Wednesday! Thanks for all the hard work you do Don!
My students and I really appreciate the warm classroom to learn in! ALSO, he came in and checked
to make sure it was still functioning normally on Wednesday! Thanks for all the hard work you do Don!
-From Paige Shaffer
To the members of the Stanton Staff who volunteered to chaperone the Valentine's Day Dance.
Beth Rendon, Liz Andersen, Dan Olson, Karen Brnot, Niccole Culbertson, Megan Dulen,
Maddie Kerr, Mandy Bartlett, Katie Jalove, Laura Livesay, Walter Nickles, Ashley Palmer, and Cathy Jawnyj.
Maddie Kerr, Mandy Bartlett, Katie Jalove, Laura Livesay, Walter Nickles, Ashley Palmer, and Cathy Jawnyj.
-From Jeff Sefcik
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who facilitated learning at Friday's Institute Day!
-From Heather :)
-From Heather :)
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!
The goal is to create system celebrations--so your input is truly welcome!
Business Office Updates
Schedule Reminder:
Just a reminder that Maddie will be out on vacation Feb 25-March 1, so please contact Maureen
and she’ll forward questions to make sure they are answered. Maddie and Mary are partnering on
payroll, so there will be no issues.
and she’ll forward questions to make sure they are answered. Maddie and Mary are partnering on
payroll, so there will be no issues.
911 Call Update:
After tons of work by Mike Szotek and help from Kim VanHoorelbeke, we’re happy to report that all
rooms have direct links to 911. This means that, if a call is placed from any room, 911 will be able to
immediately identify the room just by the call. The only “but” to this is if you, for some reason, have
your phone on Do Not Disturb--if 911 needed to call you back, it would go straight to voicemail.
rooms have direct links to 911. This means that, if a call is placed from any room, 911 will be able to
immediately identify the room just by the call. The only “but” to this is if you, for some reason, have
your phone on Do Not Disturb--if 911 needed to call you back, it would go straight to voicemail.
Curriculum Updates
Please take a moment to give your input on Friday’s Institute Day! A quick survey is linked here.
HURRY...the survey closes on Friday! :)
HURRY...the survey closes on Friday! :)
Math
*Without k-1 information= 53%
PIZZA PARTY CHALLENGE---pizza for all staff when we reach 80% of students meeting the
45 minute goal!
45 minute goal!
SEL
Region 49 NEA RA Delegate nominations are going on now!
Nominations are due by 2/22!
The National Education Association Representative Assembly (NEA RA) convenes July 3-7, 2019
in Houston, TX. Delegates will propose, debate, and take action on new business items for the
Association and other association policies, and vote by secret ballot on proposed amendments to
the Constitution and Bylaws, and participate in elections. Elections for this position will be held
on March 15, 2019. A member may either nominate him/herself or a colleague. If you are
recommending someone, please make sure that person wants to/and can attend. The region does
provide funding for elected delegates. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain experience and insight
into the NEA structure and be a collective voice in the decision making process. If you have questions
about the NEA RA or the election process, please contact your region representative or Melissa
DeBoor.
in Houston, TX. Delegates will propose, debate, and take action on new business items for the
Association and other association policies, and vote by secret ballot on proposed amendments to
the Constitution and Bylaws, and participate in elections. Elections for this position will be held
on March 15, 2019. A member may either nominate him/herself or a colleague. If you are
recommending someone, please make sure that person wants to/and can attend. The region does
provide funding for elected delegates. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain experience and insight
into the NEA structure and be a collective voice in the decision making process. If you have questions
about the NEA RA or the election process, please contact your region representative or Melissa
DeBoor.
Awesome IEA Podcast: Episode 14: ESSA Update & IBAM Interview
IEA Legislative Update – Feb. 15, 2019
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:
SEL Pacing Guides
Stanton:
My man George Couros strikes again!
Questions:
How do we empower students to “own” the school?
What are opportunities?
Empowering Students in the Day-To-Day
Operations of Our Schools
The word “technology” was in my title for a large part of my career as a teacher, with the
hopes that I would work with colleagues on finding meaningful ways to implement technology
within the curriculum. Yet, simply having “technology” in my title meant to many others on my
staff that I could and should fix anything that was technology related in the school. Literally.
Anything that had electricity was fair game. I hated it.
hopes that I would work with colleagues on finding meaningful ways to implement technology
within the curriculum. Yet, simply having “technology” in my title meant to many others on my
staff that I could and should fix anything that was technology related in the school. Literally.
Anything that had electricity was fair game. I hated it.
One day, I was asked to fix something in a classroom and I was busy working with students
so I asked some of my tech-savvy students to go and check in and help the teacher that was
asking for help. While I was annoyed with the request, to be honest, my students were
excited with the opportunity. They went to the teacher’s classroom immediately, helped them
out, and came back and asked if they could do that again in the future.
so I asked some of my tech-savvy students to go and check in and help the teacher that was
asking for help. While I was annoyed with the request, to be honest, my students were
excited with the opportunity. They went to the teacher’s classroom immediately, helped them
out, and came back and asked if they could do that again in the future.
LIGHT BULB MOMENT!
From then on, they became the student tech team and all requests went their way to help
teachers with technology issues in the school. I was a last resort if the students were stuck,
yet they never asked me for help. It was beautiful.
teachers with technology issues in the school. I was a last resort if the students were stuck,
yet they never asked me for help. It was beautiful.
So many schools do things similar to this today, and I think it goes beyond taking something
off of a teacher’s plate. It is about giving students ownership over the building. Do you
remember when students used to pop keys off the keyboard? That ended altogether in
our school because students would stop each other because they knew they would have to
fix it eventually. Through the process of empowering students in the day-to-day dealings of
a school, I unintentionally created a situation where students took more pride in their school
because it became “theirs” through the process. They felt valued because they were given
ownership over important aspects of the operations of the school.
off of a teacher’s plate. It is about giving students ownership over the building. Do you
remember when students used to pop keys off the keyboard? That ended altogether in
our school because students would stop each other because they knew they would have to
fix it eventually. Through the process of empowering students in the day-to-day dealings of
a school, I unintentionally created a situation where students took more pride in their school
because it became “theirs” through the process. They felt valued because they were given
ownership over important aspects of the operations of the school.
Making sure that a) students feel that they are valued and needed for school and b) have
true ownership, is something that is beneficial to students as individuals and the school
community as a whole.
true ownership, is something that is beneficial to students as individuals and the school
community as a whole.
How do you give students ownership over your school community?
Save the Dates!
Ronald McDonald physical and immunization mobile clinic will also be coming to Lotus on
Thursday, February 21st, 2019 and to Stanton on Friday February 22nd, 2019. More information to
follow!
Thursday, February 21st, 2019 and to Stanton on Friday February 22nd, 2019. More information to
follow!
February 19, 2019--Board of Education meeting
April 17, 2019--New IEP platform(EMBRACE) training...DETAILS COMING
May 14, 2019--Board of Education meeting--NEW DATE
I heard great things about Friday’s Institute Day, and I’m so happy that it went well. I also truly
appreciate everyone’s hard work! Wanted to share a couple pictures of our get away---because of
YOUR talents and commitment, I was able to get to be a mom enjoying a little time with her family.
appreciate everyone’s hard work! Wanted to share a couple pictures of our get away---because of
YOUR talents and commitment, I was able to get to be a mom enjoying a little time with her family.
YOU are appreciated!
Heather
Heather
