To each and every one of my D114 colleagues...
Did you ever think we could have accomplished ALL of this? I am SO PROUD of and HUMBLED by EVERYTHING that each of you have done in such a short amount of time. You are amazing, strong, inspiring, caring and kind~I am truly grateful to work alongside you.
Through all of this....please remember to take a deep breath, take care of yourself and love your family
we will get through this together!
Over Spring Break, just breathe. Take care of you and your family. Breathe some more.
When we're all back together, albeit virtually, on 3/30--we'll talk more about next steps. If you are able to stay connected with your students during this week, please feel free to do so...it means so much to them in this bizarre time. If you need the week to disconnect, feel free to do just that...whatever you need to be your best self.
Anyone can give a SHOUT OUT to anyone, so please send those positive notes to me and I'll publish each Monday!
How can we stay connected with our students and each other?
Zoom with your students and colleagues!
Zoom is a free platform to get LOTS of user online and in a "classroom" at the same time...virtually. You can join by video or phone. You can share screens, too, and it's all SUPER easy!
Thanks, Tiffany Tardio Weber, for finding this great resource to help families (and us!) with easy to use Zoom directions:
https://youtu.be/NIYudDeULlw
Virtual Spirit Week!
Thanks to Amanda Lorenz for taking the lead on developing virtual spirit weeks! More to come on this, but it sure seems like a fun way to connect us all and add some fun to this whole closure!
Zoom with your students and colleagues!
Zoom is a free platform to get LOTS of user online and in a "classroom" at the same time...virtually. You can join by video or phone. You can share screens, too, and it's all SUPER easy!
Thanks, Tiffany Tardio Weber, for finding this great resource to help families (and us!) with easy to use Zoom directions:
https://youtu.be/NIYudDeULlw
Virtual Spirit Week!
Thanks to Amanda Lorenz for taking the lead on developing virtual spirit weeks! More to come on this, but it sure seems like a fun way to connect us all and add some fun to this whole closure!
COVID-19 UPDATE
We keep getting more clarity around what can/can't happen during the "stay at home" order in place through April 6.
What I CAN tell you is that educational entities are identified as essential services and staff can come onsite as/when needed to perform essential functions to :
1. Provide food/resources for families.
2. Provide/monitor/facilitate remote learning for students.
3. Complete functions/tasks so that the business side of our schools continue to operate.
This means anyone on this list CAN be onsite if:
1. The purpose meets one or more of the criteria above,
2. The task is completed in a timely fashion (so, you come in to do what you need to do, then go home),
3. We have groups no bigger than 10, and
4. All use social distancing at all points.
What I want to see is as FEW people on site as possible to keep you safe.
We have a great plan in place for Grab and Go at Stanton with a limited staff and very clear focus.
For all others, please stay home until/unless there's something you can't do/absolutely need in order to continue supporting student learning. If you positively need to come in, please notify Jeff/Matt to make a plan to do so. 💗
TOSA Corner
A great self care menu...also attached to this week's email!
Our challenge to you---TWO PER DAY!
Our challenge to you---TWO PER DAY!
We once again want to say THANK YOU to all of our members who contributed in any way to the referendum effort! A special thank you to Kim VanHoorelbeke for leading the canvassing committee and Gayle McManaman for leading the communications committee. Both of these ladies took on a HUGE workload and our success would not have been possible without their amazing contributions!
Our association leaders from the local level, all the way up to the state level, have been working hand-in-hand with our school and government leaders to ensure that students and staff are taken care of during the Coronavirus crisis and we are very grateful for those partnerships. If you are interested, please visit the IEA Coronavirus Information Page for more information about how the IEA is working with officials to ensure we are working collaboratively on any issues related to our schools.
While you are home, don't forget the IEA offers a ton of FREE online professional development courses, many of which can be used for CPDUs. The Online Learning Portal is linked HERE. Be sure to enter any CPDUs your earn at any time into the ELIS on the ISBE website.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help!
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
If NOW you have time to check out Tina Boogren's Book Take Time for You that I offered up as a book share at the beginning of the year, let me know. I'll get a copy to you!
Heather's Question
If we know that movement is a key to staying mentally well, how are you MOVING each day?
If we know that movement is a key to staying mentally well, how are you MOVING each day?
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!
*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
