Week 15--THANKFUL

Kudos to Karen Simon for her calm demeanor and putting safety first for one of our complicated students last week.  It's truly appreciated when trying to problem solve on the other end.

-From Maureen Koenig

A huge thank you to Chris Carvell for giving up some of his lunch minutes to help us manage the 5th and 6th grade lunch period.  His presence is greatly appreciated!

-From Betty Cwiak

Much appreciation goes out to Amanda Usyak for helping EC problem solve a student situation and volunteer her room as an option without any hesitation.

Thank you to Erica Barraza, Lauren Nee, Cathy Jawnyj, Gina Crosthewaite, and Michelle Magness for filling in the staff gaps when needed.  You have been our glue the last few weeks.

Thank you to Maureen DeVoss who seems to always know when help is needed and offers support no matter what. 

Shout out to Maddie Espinoza for being extremely flexible with our sub coverage and helping us navigate options for how to onboard new subs in the area.

-From Natalie Udstuen

Thank you to the amazing Joan Kantenwein for teaching a full class for the first time in 10 years to model shared reading/interactive writing in Kindergarten! You are fabulous!!

-From Heather

Thank you to atalie Udstuen and Amanda Lorenz for helping motivate one of my students to come to school every day!

~From Natalie Molidor

Thank you to Misty Madula for all that you do for our team and our students. The little things do not go unnoticed. We appreciate you!!

~From the 2nd Grade Team

Shout out to Erica Barraza for covering my class Friday morning so I could go celebrate my little brother receiving the student of the month award!!! It was great to see all my kids were working on math when I walked into the room!! Thanks again Erica!! Also thank you to Mollie & Brittany for stepping up when I was out!! You ladies rock!! #blessed

-From Sherry Tietjen

A BIG thank you to  EVERYONE who made Family Reading Night possible!

and

Victoria, I appreciate your helping with my one class on Thursday!!

and

To our Front Office All Stars ⭐⭐⭐Sue, Colleen & Paula I don't know how you do it, but THANK YOU for what you do everyday for us and our students!!!

-From Kim VanHoorelbeke

Thank you Matt Peters, Erica Barraza, and Joan Kantenwein for hearing our concerns for Kinder ELA and helping us make adjustments for what is best for our learners.  We are so grateful!  

-From The Kinder Crew

Anyone can give a SHOUT OUT to anyone, so please send those positive notes to me and I'll publish each Monday! 

NEW!

Discipline Corner

It's becoming more and more clear that we as a whole system need to do some shared learning around effective discipline. This is true for ALL of us...every single person in D114. Our kids face challenges and therefore can be challenging. 

Thanks to everyone who shared stories of AVOIDING POWER STRUGGLES!

Let's continue with DEVELOP ROUTINES (and teach them). The MOST IMPORTANT tool for this this is the use of visuals. Here's why:



One "must have" for any and every class is a VISUAL SCHEDULE. This means that you have a schedule of the day/the class posted in terms that the students can understand. In primary classrooms, this means words AND pictures. As kids get older, words become enough. 

Here are some videos and samples if you don't currently have a visual schedule or if you don't love how your current model is working. 

Video 1:https://youtu.be/7I25mxV69yY 

Video 2: https://youtu.be/POySP6A-4bo

Another sample is in a video attached to this week's email--thank you, Mary Foersterling. for sharing your model. 

I'd love to get videos/pictures of other visual schedules! Please send me YOURS!

TOSA Corner

THANK YOU for all you are doing to make this data possible...

iReady Usage Goal = 80% or our students receive 30-49 minutes per week

iReady Proficiency Goal= 80% of our students receive 70% or higher on their lessons

Thanks, Erica and Cathy, for the weekly blast of awesome!

Click here to access!

Did you know the IEA now has an Emmy?! 
The Illinois Education Association won an Emmy at the 61st Annual Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy Awards. The IEA won for Outstanding Achievement for Public/Current/Community Affairs Programming – Series for IEA Teachers Stories. You can find out more information HERE, as well as find links to the videos of the four teacher stories. 

If you are interested in purchasing IEA items (shirts, pens, magnets, coffee mugs, etc.) the IEA STORE is open now until December 2nd. 

Melissa and Cathy attended the Region 49 meeting on Wednesday last week. The Region budget was approved and we heard from the ethnic minority delegate, our grass roots political activist, and a bylaws committee was formed. If you are ever interested in any Region happenings and would like to attend a meeting, guests are welcome to attend!

November 20, 2019 IEA Press Release: IEA calls for end to seclusion rooms

If you are interested in nominating one of your colleagues for an IEA award you can do so HERE. Nominations close January 15th. 

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the University of Illinois Springfield invites members to participate in the Illinois Educator Well-Being Survey. The purpose of this survey is to examine how the climate and culture of your workplace impacts the quality of your life. The IEA will use this data to develop and improve programs and services that support members’ well-being in the workplace. This survey is voluntary and will take approximately ten minutes to complete. Data collected as part of this survey will remain confidential. See the informed consent document for additional information. The survey will close on December 1st. Please contact IEA Instructional Resource and Professional Development Director Diana Zaleski, Ph.D. with any questions.

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 Weber, Lotus School Representative

Wellness Committee November Challenge---GRATITUDE!

Thank you to the Wellness Committee!!!

Digging in a bit on Pete Hall's 10 keys to a healthy brain...here's the scoop on #7...

7.       Challenge. This one seems like a no-brainer, haha. When you put your brain to the test – that is, learn a new skill, vary your routines, or engage in some rigorous research – you may in fact spur neuronal plasticity, which prompts the growth of new brain cells, creates new connections, and generally protects against cognitive decline. So there’s a good reason to learn the mamba, brush your teeth with the opposite hand, take a foreign-language class, or join a book club. Just like a muscle, these mental workouts will strengthen your brain’s performance. (Harvard Medical School)

MTSS Ongoing Q and A

D114 Curriculum Resources--

2019-20 Assessment Calendar--Winter iReady being moved to January!

2019-20 Wednesday Early Release Plans

D114 Friday Facts--Blog sent to all families each Friday--let me know if you ever have something you'd like added. Thanks to Sue Pinkawa and Jill Becmer for helping me with this each week!

Link to D114 Business Office Share Folder

*check here for documents most frequently used/requested

Please let Heather know of suggestions for any documents to add to this

folder!

Work Order Request

Technology Support Request

Blue Cross Blue Shield:

www.bcbsil.com

SEL Pacing Guides

Lotus

Stanton:

5th

6th-8th

Saturday, December 7--Santa's Breakfast at Stanton from 8:00AM-12:00PM
Tuesday, December 17--Board of Education meeting at Lotus

I'm so very grateful for each one of you. I hope your Thanksgiving is one of happiness, rest, and family. Please know how much you are appreciated!

Heather

Week 14: An Add to the Monday Memo--DISCIPLINE

We are grateful to Mrs. Behnke, our artist in residence, for her commitment and talent. Without her, our Mosaic Project would not have been possible.  

Thanks for the support of our 4th grade teachers, Pam, Becky and Jamie for taking the time, in the midst of managing many other commitments, to participate in our 4th grade project!

Thanks to Don Ukleja for his support with all of our art projects. Including putting the backing up and most recently framing our mosaic mural. It looks great Donnie!

Big thanks to Lemar, Erin and all the helpful Sayles Foundation Board members who moved the Lotus artwork, broke down displays and activities and neatly put them back after the Sayles Foundation event.  Wow, thanks so much!

Many thanks to Heather Friziellie, and our school board, for their vision and determination  in bringing Visual Arts back to D114. The excitement and spark in our students is heartwarming.

I appreciate you all! 

-From Gayle McManamon 

Maureen Devoss - thank you for being you! Your constant guidance and support means so much. From offering to work one-on-one with one of my struggling learners, to proof reading parent emails, and even introducing me to the wonders of elderberry...you are an amazing co-worker and friend :)

-From Natalie Molidor

I need to acknowledge Brittany Mason for always being willing to collaborate with the Kindergarten Gen Ed Teachers. She takes time out of her day to work with me to make my classroom a more effective learning environment for all students not just those with IEPs.

Have a wonderful day!

-From Nicole Mild

Thank you Karen,Jo, and Yvette for your continuous hard work each day. So thankful to have your help preparing our Thanksgiving lunches for Staff and students. You are the best team!

I appreciate your hard work and support!

-From Chris Katuzny

A HUGE thank you to Walter Nickles, Laura Livesay and Lynn Grosclaude for chaperoning the Future Quest field trip to the Tech Campus with me!! Thanks to Hallie Romanelli and Tina Gitterle for getting us there and home safely!

-From Liz Andersen

Kudos to Gayle McManamon for an amazing class of pottery, great teacher for first timers, you are patient! Thank you so much for this, I found a new hobby!

Kudos to the Stanton Kitchen Staff for the hard work and the 

beautiful spread for Teachers Thanksgiving Lunch.

And creating a wonderful lunch for the kids as well.

You are appreciated, thank you for your hard work.

Grateful for amazing Food service teams, Lotus and Stanton,  the care, love and hard work you put in your activities everyday does not go unnoticed. Thank you!

Happy Thanks Giving to my District 114 Family, Grateful for all of you.

-From Georgette Franco

Anyone can give a SHOUT OUT to anyone, so please send those positive notes to me and I'll publish each Monday! 

NEW!

Discipline Corner

It's becoming more and more clear that we as a whole system need to do some shared learning around effective discipline. This is true for ALL of us...every single person in D114. Our kids face challenges and therefore can be challenging. So what are some go to strategies or ways to put boundaries in place while we also sustain relationships? Each week, we'll focus on a strategy. My challenge to ALL OF US is to apply the strategy and then report back. When you have a success, a struggle, or a question about a strategy, please email me and we'll solve it together and share successes in the Monday Memo (anonymously, of course). So, I found this to kick us off--let's dig in here to start:

Let's start with AVOID POWER STRUGGLES! I have a hard time with this FOR SURE, especially when kids are escalated. 

Here are some solid "go to" tips! If you need these, feel free to print the images and keep them somewhere you can see them!

I LOOOOOOVE this one! I plan to use this THIS WEEK when I'm helping support student behavior!

Then, give the student two choices that you can live with (Examples: "You can do this or this." or "You can start here or here." or "Do you want to use pencil or crayon?" or "Do you want to type or write?"). 
DO YOU HAVE OTHER EXAMPLES OF WAYS TO GIVE CHOICES? PLEASE SHARE!

Another great strategy to avoid a power struggle is to use "first...then" thinking. For example:
"First, I need you to do one math problem. Then, you can have a break."
"First, I need you to show me a calm body. Then, you can have your fidget."
"First, I need you to write for 3 minutes. Then, we can check over your work together."
DO YOU HAVE OTHER EXAMPLES OF WAYS TO USE "FIRST...THEN" TO AVOID POWER STRUGGLES? PLEASE SHARE!

PLEASE share your successes in AVOIDING POWER STRUGGLES! And remember--in working with students...and in life---

TOSA Corner

Great data---and a 4 day week!

Thanks, Erica and Cathy, for the weekly blast of awesome!

Click here to access!

EAFL Sprit Day is Tuesday this week... wear your shirt if you'd like to participate! 

Legislative Update for November 14, 2019

Melissa and Cathy will be attending the Region 49 meeting on Wednesday, updates to follow!

If you are interested in nominating one of your colleagues for an IEA award you can do so HERE. Nominations close January 15th. 

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the University of Illinois Springfield invites members to participate in the Illinois Educator Well-Being Survey. The purpose of this survey is to examine how the climate and culture of your workplace impacts the quality of your life. The IEA will use this data to develop and improve programs and services that support members’ well-being in the workplace. This survey is voluntary and will take approximately ten minutes to complete. Data collected as part of this survey will remain confidential. See the informed consent document for additional information. The survey will close on December 1st. Please contact IEA Instructional Resource and Professional Development Director Diana Zaleski, Ph.D. with any questions.

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 Weber, Lotus School Representative

Wellness Committee November Challenge---GRATITUDE!

Thank you to the Wellness Committee!!!

Digging in a bit on Pete Hall's 10 keys to a healthy brain...here's the scoop on #6...

6.       Teamwork. Brains, like many animals, thrive in the company of similar creatures. In this case, other brains. It seems that when we work together, cooperating in an attempt to achieve a common goal, our brains tend to get “in sync” with one another. Not only that, they release oxytocin, the feel-good neurochemical that is released when we eat chocolate, share a first kiss, or find out we’re the 9th caller to our favorite radio station, winning that amazing trip to Vegas! So go ahead and team up, link arms and brains, and win the day…together! (Science Daily)

MTSS Ongoing Q and A

D114 Curriculum Resources--

2019-20 Assessment Calendar

2019-20 Wednesday Early Release Plans

D114 Friday Facts--Blog sent to all families each Friday--let me know if you ever have something you'd like added. Thanks to Sue Pinkawa and Jill Becmer for helping me with this each week!

Link to D114 Business Office Share Folder

*check here for documents most frequently used/requested

Please let Heather know of suggestions for any documents to add to this

folder!

Work Order Request

Technology Support Request

Blue Cross Blue Shield:

www.bcbsil.com

SEL Pacing Guides

Lotus

Stanton:

5th

6th-8th

Tuesday, November 19--Board of Education meeting at Lotus
Saturday, December 7--Santa's Breakfast at Stanton from 8:00AM-12:00PM
Tuesday, December 17--Board of Education meeting at Lotus

So incredibly proud of Braden and his Featherweight football team. They won the SUPER BOWL on Sunday. Braden battled his weight and a concussion this season, and his team fought so hard to make it here. Shaun (coach and Dad) and I are so proud of our boy...had to share!
  

Have a really fabulous week, and THANK YOU for all you do!
Heather