Kudos to Andrea Sekulich for taking lead in the classroom more this week!! It was eye-opening
to see where the students understand and need more assistance. Your hands on approach made
learning so fun!!
to see where the students understand and need more assistance. Your hands on approach made
learning so fun!!
-From Tiffany Mihovilovich
I'd like to give a shout out to my 1st grade team (a little late) for spending their lunch time helping
me prep our 120th day snack!
me prep our 120th day snack!
and
Kudos to Tim for spreading cheer after school, too!
Thanks,
-From Kelli Kuehn
To Jeff Sefcik, Rachelle Peters, and Maddie Espinoza for working together to get Austin Thoreson
onboarded and ready to start!
and
onboarded and ready to start!
and
To Erin Connolly-Jordt and our amazing choirs for the Saturday performance at the Fox Lake
community event. Thanks also to Natalie Udstuen and Ally for helping me present to the group.
A special thanks to Ally for co-presenting with Taylor and then playing Hatchables afterwards.
And...thanks to Jeff for showing up to show support and ask Congressman Schneider the...
interesting...questions.
community event. Thanks also to Natalie Udstuen and Ally for helping me present to the group.
A special thanks to Ally for co-presenting with Taylor and then playing Hatchables afterwards.
And...thanks to Jeff for showing up to show support and ask Congressman Schneider the...
interesting...questions.
-From Heather
To the bus drivers for communicating and collaborating during the car accident on Grand Ave. on
March 13th. A major incident had a minor impact on our kids getting home because of the great
teamwork!!
March 13th. A major incident had a minor impact on our kids getting home because of the great
teamwork!!
and
Rachelle for being Rachelle!!!
and
David for his patience with me as I battle with technology
.
.
and
Jill and Michele for providing a positive vibe every day in our main office!
and
Nurse Lanners for staying on top of our students health needs!
and
the 5th Grade Team for providing an opportunity for our students to experience the Grant Township
and Fox Lake Historical Society - first group to tour in a long long time.
and Fox Lake Historical Society - first group to tour in a long long time.
-All from Jeff Sefcik
Thank you to Michele Burgess and Jessica Lanners for being so organized and keeping the
track coaches in the loop regarding sports physicals for tryouts!
track coaches in the loop regarding sports physicals for tryouts!
-From Melissa Jakstas
Kudos to Joan Kantenwein! Thank you for coming into my room and modeling a guided reading
group in my classroom. The students and I greatly enjoyed seeing your expertise in action. I also
sincerely appreciate the resources you provided to help our 3rd grade students. Thank you for all
that you do!
group in my classroom. The students and I greatly enjoyed seeing your expertise in action. I also
sincerely appreciate the resources you provided to help our 3rd grade students. Thank you for all
that you do!
-From Kelly Roland
Shoutout to Christina M for checking in on me during a really hard day. You're so uplifting!
-From Kally Kibitlewski
Thank you Cheryl Shuck for consistently providing us with recycled containers! They are perfect for
paint...and so many uses!! Chris Brown, Cherri, and Melanie, thanks for checking in and providing
our art program with the exact recyclables needed. They are being put to good use!
paint...and so many uses!! Chris Brown, Cherri, and Melanie, thanks for checking in and providing
our art program with the exact recyclables needed. They are being put to good use!
and
And special thanks to Stephanie Brual for donating pastels and a bin full of yarn for our art projects!!
We are going through what I had, so what you brought was perfect!!
We are going through what I had, so what you brought was perfect!!
Thanks again!!
-From Gayle McManhamon
The reading team would like to thank Paige Shaffer and Cindy Carlino for demonstrating to us how
to use the Lexia program. We learned a lot about the program, and we are excited to try something
new!
to use the Lexia program. We learned a lot about the program, and we are excited to try something
new!
-From the Lotus Reading Team
Thank you, Paula, for being on the ball and uploading student information into Pearson for IAR.
Everything is working out smoothly.
Everything is working out smoothly.
and
Thank you, Lynn, Paige, Meghan, & Andrea for being prompt and making sure accommodations
were in and ready to roll for the upload of IAR at the beginning of February.
were in and ready to roll for the upload of IAR at the beginning of February.
and
Thank you, Mike, for making sure all Test Nav programs are updated on all devices in order to test
when we get back from break.
when we get back from break.
and
Greatly Appreciated by all for making the process smooth this year. :D
-From Victoria Miller
Kudos to Theresa Kovach, Brittany Mason and Paige Schaffer for entering their students in the
Lexia Learning Challenge. It is a nation wide challenge to increase student learning. Their classes
will be competing with classes across the country in meeting the students' needs of prescribed
minutes of online learning from Feb 25-March 10! Winners will be announced at the end of the
month!! Stay tuned!
Lexia Learning Challenge. It is a nation wide challenge to increase student learning. Their classes
will be competing with classes across the country in meeting the students' needs of prescribed
minutes of online learning from Feb 25-March 10! Winners will be announced at the end of the
month!! Stay tuned!
and
Kudos to Brittany Mason, Paige Schaffer and Jackie Harmon for volunteering to train new staff on the
Lexia Reading Intervention! You are amazing and have provided so much additional support to follow
up questions!
Lexia Reading Intervention! You are amazing and have provided so much additional support to follow
up questions!
and
Kudos to Theresa Kovach, Michelle Magness, Tiffany Tardio, Amanda Lorenz, Joseph Fernandez
and Ellen Stirrat for volunteering to be trainees on Lexia this school year and your willingness to take
on interventionist roles to support student growth.
and Ellen Stirrat for volunteering to be trainees on Lexia this school year and your willingness to take
on interventionist roles to support student growth.
and
THANK YOU Erica Barraza for your enthusiasm and support in coaching me on the data retrieval
and growth measures of I-Ready and providing additional support to our problem solving teams and
students this year!
and growth measures of I-Ready and providing additional support to our problem solving teams and
students this year!
-All from Cindy Carlino
To Erica Barraza for being the TOSA with the most-est! Thank you for helping us ALL implement and
understand ReadyMath. We wouldn’t be where we are without you! Wishing you a magical sabbatical
of learning...can’t wait til you’re back!
-From your D114 Family
understand ReadyMath. We wouldn’t be where we are without you! Wishing you a magical sabbatical
of learning...can’t wait til you’re back!
-From your D114 Family
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!
Only appropriate for a St. Patrick’s Day blog…Spring Break is coming! :)
Business Office Updates
PTA Receipts:
Please turn in ALL PTA receipts ASAP! We are working with PTA to plan for major purchases,
but we cannot do so with so many pending receipts out there. THANKS in advance for doing
your part!
but we cannot do so with so many pending receipts out there. THANKS in advance for doing
your part!
Purchasing:
Any and all purchasing for 2018-19 must be completed by spring break. Right after break,
we’ll start building the budget for next year!
we’ll start building the budget for next year!
Curriculum Updates
Summer Curriculum Hours
Please know that summer curriculum work will be prioritized for work on fence posts/rails/
pacing/assessments. I’m happy to pay teams to get ahead on this for next year, but--with
limited funds--requests for this work will be the priority!
pacing/assessments. I’m happy to pay teams to get ahead on this for next year, but--with
limited funds--requests for this work will be the priority!
Math
YES!!!! It’s Pizza Party week! We’ll have pizza for
everyone this Thursday to thank everyone for helping
us meet our iReady minutes target.
everyone this Thursday to thank everyone for helping
us meet our iReady minutes target.
Per our math data from Erica Barraza:
Wahoo!!! YOU did it! 83% of our student population has received at least 45 minutes of online
instruction! What a wonderful way to end this week! Kudos to all of you and congratulations
Your hard work has not gone unnoticed!
instruction! What a wonderful way to end this week! Kudos to all of you and congratulations
Your hard work has not gone unnoticed!
P.S. You actually achieved this goal twice- once the week of February 25th and again this week!
I was only looking at that green graph not realizing that the 50 min and above worked towards our
overall goal. My sincerest apologies for overlooking that, I know how hard you all have worked to
achieve this!
I was only looking at that green graph not realizing that the 50 min and above worked towards our
overall goal. My sincerest apologies for overlooking that, I know how hard you all have worked to
achieve this!
Now it’s time for a new challenge….
When we meet this goal, we’ll do a yummy dessert bar!!!
SEL
EAFL Spirit Day is Tuesday, March 19th!
Wear your shirt if you'd like to participate!
Spring Articulation - Wednesday, March 20th at 2:00
In the interest of student safety during Stanton's end of the day dismissal,
please be at Stanton and parked by 1:30 OR plan to arrive after 1:45.
Village Bakery cookies will be served!
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
Two weeks into our Step Challenge, D114 employed have logged 3,403,972 steps... great job
everyone! We have one employee who has already surpassed the 200,000 step mark, way to
go Kelly Roland! For every 50,000 steps you take, you earn one RAFFLE TICKET for a chance
to win a $20 gift card. You can "make a copy" of the raffle tickets and type your name on each
raffle ticket you've earned and share the file with Melissa Jakstas. Or, you can print the raffle
ticket sheet and write your name in each box. Tickets may be sent via interoffice mail, put in
my mailbox, or scanned and sent electronically to Melissa Jakstas. It's not too late to join, you
can start tracking your steps anytime this month!
everyone! We have one employee who has already surpassed the 200,000 step mark, way to
go Kelly Roland! For every 50,000 steps you take, you earn one RAFFLE TICKET for a chance
to win a $20 gift card. You can "make a copy" of the raffle tickets and type your name on each
raffle ticket you've earned and share the file with Melissa Jakstas. Or, you can print the raffle
ticket sheet and write your name in each box. Tickets may be sent via interoffice mail, put in
my mailbox, or scanned and sent electronically to Melissa Jakstas. It's not too late to join, you
can start tracking your steps anytime this month!
Thank you to everyone who has been completing the weekly self-care challenges, we hope
you find them fun and useful! This week, give yourself 20 minutes... do something that relaxes
you!
you find them fun and useful! This week, give yourself 20 minutes... do something that relaxes
you!
Betty Cwiak has organized a fabulous mani/pedi event this coming Wednesday, March 20th.
For more information about the event, click HERE.
For more information about the event, click HERE.
We hope you will mark your calendar for April 3rd at 3:45 to join us for a walk in Grant Woods
to celebrate the completion of the Step Challenge. The rain date will be April 10th. More
details coming soon!
to celebrate the completion of the Step Challenge. The rain date will be April 10th. More
details coming soon!
Look for information on an April hydration challenge coming soon!
*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:
Questions:
I loved this piece.
What resonates with you when you read it?
4 Ideas to Help Improve Teacher Well-Being
By George on Mar 12, 2019 04:08 pm
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss
it.” Ferris Bueller
it.” Ferris Bueller
One of the things that I say to teachers beginning the profession is that they should be much
better than I was from when I first started teaching. The big difference today and when I started in 1999 was the access to other great teachers. On any day, you can be blown away by the
plethora of things that you can try within your teaching context shared openly by other educators.
better than I was from when I first started teaching. The big difference today and when I started in 1999 was the access to other great teachers. On any day, you can be blown away by the
plethora of things that you can try within your teaching context shared openly by other educators.
But this doesn’t mean you have to try everything. And that abundance of choice can become
overwhelming. Barry Schwartz, author of the “Paradox of Choice”discusses this idea:
overwhelming. Barry Schwartz, author of the “Paradox of Choice”discusses this idea:
“Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in
a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.”
a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.”
― Barry Schwartz
When you try to do too much for others, it can often lead to too little for yourself.
I have been thinking a lot about this inundation of ideas in my own journey toward better mental
health. Here is a question I have thought a lot about…Where do I put my main source of
“energy” and what gets the “leftovers?” When I refer to things as “leftover” are those things that
should have received more energy? This quote from Jenny Anderson resonates:
health. Here is a question I have thought a lot about…Where do I put my main source of
“energy” and what gets the “leftovers?” When I refer to things as “leftover” are those things that
should have received more energy? This quote from Jenny Anderson resonates:
“The thing that makes us happiest in life is other people. And yet other people are often
the first thing to fall off our list of priorities.”
the first thing to fall off our list of priorities.”
So when I look back at my career, from the beginning until today, I have shifted a lot of my focus
on what fuels me and what depletes me of energy. Hopefully, some of the advice below can help
others in their process.
It is okay to enjoy things that take you away from your job. I had a conversation with an
educator recently, and they shared that they were losing themselves in their job. My advice was
that students connect better with people that are teachers, not those that only identify as
teachers. Having those outside interests and hobbies makes you more relatable to students.
Don’t get caught up in teacher guilt. Take some time to relax and have fun.
You will never be done so quit acting like it is possible. Here is a little secret in education
No matter what you do, or how hard you work, there will always be more work waiting for you.
There is no”done.” I have tried to provide professional learning opportunities for educators at
times where school might be a little slower but they don’t exist! There are deadlines that we
must pay attention to, but learn to take breaks. Email will still be there when you get back.
Also, look for opportunities to hand over things in your school or classroom for students to lead.
Not only does this take some stuff off your plate, but it also helps to give students more
ownership over the school.
You don’t have to try everything. There are great ideas and things you can implement every
single day. That is awesome! But if you try to do all things, you will do no things well. Great ideas
will be there in the future as well. Look to do more items of depth, rather than everything at a
surface level.
Find people that give you energy. I limit my circles to those that lift me up. This doesn’t mean
they don’t challenge you to get better, but you know they have your back. You often are who
surrounds you.
on what fuels me and what depletes me of energy. Hopefully, some of the advice below can help
others in their process.
It is okay to enjoy things that take you away from your job. I had a conversation with an
educator recently, and they shared that they were losing themselves in their job. My advice was
that students connect better with people that are teachers, not those that only identify as
teachers. Having those outside interests and hobbies makes you more relatable to students.
Don’t get caught up in teacher guilt. Take some time to relax and have fun.
You will never be done so quit acting like it is possible. Here is a little secret in education
No matter what you do, or how hard you work, there will always be more work waiting for you.
There is no”done.” I have tried to provide professional learning opportunities for educators at
times where school might be a little slower but they don’t exist! There are deadlines that we
must pay attention to, but learn to take breaks. Email will still be there when you get back.
Also, look for opportunities to hand over things in your school or classroom for students to lead.
Not only does this take some stuff off your plate, but it also helps to give students more
ownership over the school.
You don’t have to try everything. There are great ideas and things you can implement every
single day. That is awesome! But if you try to do all things, you will do no things well. Great ideas
will be there in the future as well. Look to do more items of depth, rather than everything at a
surface level.
Find people that give you energy. I limit my circles to those that lift me up. This doesn’t mean
they don’t challenge you to get better, but you know they have your back. You often are who
surrounds you.
Not all days will be good in education. You might look back and laugh, you might look back and
cry. That is part of the journey.
cry. That is part of the journey.
Just take care of yourself.
March 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
Thanks, Tiffany Tardio, for sharing some Kinders’ thoughts on why they are lucky!
Super cute!
Super cute!
Hope everyone had a great St. Patrick’s Day weekend!
Heather
