Thank you, Becky Vedder, for putting together the activities and slide shows for Camp Duncan from all the random ideas Jamie and I sent you. There was a lot to muddle through, but you picked out what would work and presented it to the students in a way that was understandable!
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Kudos to Mr. Mike Szotek for calling me to clear up some questions I had with Google Meet within Google Classroom. He figured it would be easier than trying to write back and forth in emails. He was correct!
-From Pam Exon
I'd like to give special thanks to Mike Szotek for helping me troubleshoot connectivity issues with the laptop!
I was up and "Meeting" on Google, in no time. I can only imagine how much you are making possible, sir. 'Couldn't tell by your calm demeanor though. Dist 114 is quite lucky to have such a capable tech team!
-From Joseph Fernandez
Kudos to the first-grade team for using an iReady online comprehension check as a formative. Glad to see this great feature is being utilized!
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Kudos to the PreK team for launching SeeSaw for our youngest learners! It is so much fun to see their video responses to the work you send out. Melts my heart!
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Thanks to the 6th-grade team for welcoming me into your grade level meetings! Love seeing your faces and collaborating with you!
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Thank you to Cathy Jawnyj for being so flexible with MTSS! Your flexibility and willingness to do what's best for teachers and students is so appreciated.
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Kudos to Abbey Kadera, mi contraparte, for spending hours with each and everyone of our ESOL families to make sure they are connected to all of their devices and platforms. You are such a blessing to our district and community.
-From Erica Barraza
Kudos to Natalie Udstuen for putting together special TLC baskets for 8 of our most needy families--baskets full of fresh fruits, dry goods, and TLC!!! Thanks also to the PTA for funding this special effort!
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Thank you to Erin Connolly-Jordt for the Sunday night lullabyes to send out to families!
-From Heather
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Thank you to Erin Connolly-Jordt for the Sunday night lullabyes to send out to families!
-From Heather
Kudos to Theresa Kovach and Kelly Roland for all that they do!! Teaching from home and wrangling 3 kids would be impossible without them!
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Sherry Tietjen for making sure our student had everything he needed to get set up with Google Classroom. And a HUGE thank you for taking over during our Classroom Live Chat when my internet was not cooperating.
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Kelly Roland ran 50 MILES (you read the correctly), 50 MILES on Saturday!!! Congrats on setting your mind to something and making it happen!! Kelly, you are the epitome of what dedication and perseverance looks like!!!
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Kelly Roland ran 50 MILES (you read the correctly), 50 MILES on Saturday!!! Congrats on setting your mind to something and making it happen!! Kelly, you are the epitome of what dedication and perseverance looks like!!!
-From Stephanie Brual
Thank you to Ellen Stirrat and Joe Fernandez for filling book bags with me every week to ensure that our aspiring readers have books to read at their reading levels while learning at home. Your dedication is appreciated!
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Thank you to Matt and Natalie for distributing the reading book bags to our families every Thursday at the grab and go pickup. You both are awesome!
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Thank you to Abbey Kadera for helping me communicate with my ELL students’ families to ensure they have books and can participate in live reading lessons. Your kindness is much appreciated!
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Thank you to Cathy Jawnyj for teaching me how to create invites for my Google Meet lessons. I couldn’t have done it without you!
-From Joan Kantenwein
A super duper thank you goes out to Mary, Michelle, and Lauren for always brainstorming with me, being flexible, and offering to help in any way possible. You guys are tremendous team players and I'm so grateful for you!
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Thank you to Brittany Mason and Erica Barraza who both took time to show me how to do all things technology! I thought I was better at this stuff than I really am.
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Speaking of technology, thank you Kelly Roland for continuing to muddle through PDFs and google classroom as we work to get things editable!
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Thank you Theresa Kovach for always keeping me up to date on the students we share and sharing the load of getting in touch with families!
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Thank you to admin for all the support. There are so many ways you are being supportive I cannot name them all. I really appreciate how much you are doing for our families!
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Becky Vedder, THANK YOU so much for helping me to put together a comprehensive timeline for one of our students! The detail you maintained throughout the year is incredible and thank goodness for you and your notes!
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Thank you kindergarten, 3rd grade, and ILPA for letting me be a co-teacher. I just love seeing what the kids say in response to the lessons!
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To all staff, thank you for continuing to do what you do. This has been hard on so many levels. I know many of us are working harder than we ever imagined while still trying to maintain a sense of calm. I cannot thank you enough for all that you do and for those who have been a great support to me as well. I'm a social worker so I often feel like I have to always have it together, but that is unrealistic. Thank you to those who have held me up when I needed it!!!
-From Jessica Urban
Thank you to Jeff who has reached out to some of our hardest to reach students who have not been connecting yet.
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Thank you to Matt who delivers food to families on Mondays and Thursdays.
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Thank you to Natalie for shopping for food and creating baskets of food for some of our families. (Thank you to the PTA for their donation to support these baskets.)
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Thank you to our amazing kitchen staff who organizes and puts together meals for our families.
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Thank you to Sue Pinkawa for making masks for us and keeping us safe!
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Thank you to Norm Fischer for fixing our signs during grab and go after the wind destroyed them.
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Thank you to all our volunteers that have prepared and served meals, organized and mailed remote learning packets, read a book, or created videos for our families.
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Thank you to our amazing staff who connect to our students and families daily. I could not be more proud to be a part of D114!
-From Rachelle Peters
Congratulations to Kelly Roland for accomplishing quite a self care goal. Yesterday she ran from sunrise to sunset running for a total of 50 miles.
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Thank you to everyone who has graciously donated supplies from their classrooms. I know many of you have stated to go into your classes and take what we need. Specifically, I would like to thank Jenn Wenc for all the pencils and markers, Theresa Kovach for the huge piles of spirals and notebook paper, Samantha Harshaw for the two large boxes of paper towel and other supplies, and the PreK team for all the boxes of crayons. The families truly appreciate your help.
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Thank you Abbey Kadera for all the translations you are doing for our ELL population.
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A huge shoutout to our PTA for donating funds for food pantry items. Thank you Georgette for ordering those items. Also, I would like to thank Natalie Udstuen who went shopping with a portion of those funds and created food baskets for our families in need.
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This Wednesday is Administrative Assistant's Day, so I would like to give a special thanks to Sue Pinkawa, Paula Kvacik, Colleen Robinson, Michelle Burgess and Jill Becmer for always going above and beyond for our staff and students in D114.
-From Matt Peters
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?
Sending this to families tomorrow, and I'm guessing you've seen this too, but it sure struck a chord with me after Friday's announcement...as an educator and as a parent.
We WILL get through this, but I sure am sad this is now our reality. Thank you for all your support and for all you're doing!!!!
Sending this to families tomorrow, and I'm guessing you've seen this too, but it sure struck a chord with me after Friday's announcement...as an educator and as a parent.
We WILL get through this, but I sure am sad this is now our reality. Thank you for all your support and for all you're doing!!!!
Virtual Spirit Week!
REMOTE LEARNING UPDATE
We'll be mailing out new Choice Menus on Thursday this week. Thanks in advance to the volunteers who are helping put this together and to everyone who contributed to the menus!!!!
I can't say enough positives about all you are doing for kids through this crazy time. Thank you for connecting, innovating, taking risks, collaborating, and giving 110%. You're the BEST!
AND---to our Paras...WOW on the Fostering Resilient Learners book study! Your comments are SO insightful and I love the connections you're making.
COVID-19 UPDATE
All superintendents have been asked by the Lake County Health Department to make sure the following are in place for all staff who come onsite:
- No one can come to work who is sick and/or has a temperature at or above 100.4.
- Staff must take their temperatures at home.
- If you don't have a thermometer at home, let the administrator on site know and we'll take your temperature for you.
- All staff should wear gloves when handling materials at Grab and Go that will be given to families.
Remember...what I want to see is as FEW people on site as possible to keep everyone safe.
For all others, please stay home until/unless there's something you can't do/absolutely need in order to continue supporting student learning. Thanks to those of you who have volunteered time so far and who signed up on the Volunteer Log to help with essential tasks.
THIS WILL BE UPDATED SOON SINCE THE CLOSURE IS NOW THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
If you positively need to come in, please notify Jeff/Matt to make a plan to do so. 💗
TOSA Corner
Please take care of YOU!!!
Please take care of YOU!!!
Voting for the proposed 2020-2024 contract will end Monday, 4/20 at noon, if you'd still like to vote, please use the link emailed to you last Thursday. Thanks to everyone who already voted! Results will be announced by the end of the day Monday.
Cathy Jawnyj and Melissa Jakstas attended a virtual Region 49 meeting on Wednesday. It is looking very probable that the NEA RA in Atlanta scheduled for July will be cancelled. Delegates elected to the RA would meet virtually on matters deemed essential and vote via mail in ballots. All other matters will be postponed to the 2021 NEA RA in Denver.
Don't forget about all the free online professional development that is included with your IEA membership. You can see what is available here: https://ieanea.org/
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
We hope everyone enjoyed participating in the 2-week step challenge!
Don't forget to log your steps, and share your tickets with Melissa Jakstas by the end of the day Tuesday, April 21st.
Starting Monday, we will be launching a 10-Day Declutter Challenge!
You can earn up to 10 tickets ... one for every item you declutter! Here is a link of some great ways to declutter: 75 Things to Declutter
At the end of the challenge, "Make a Copy" of the challenge, add your name to your raffle tickets, and share with Melissa Jakstas by Friday, May 1st.
Look for details on a meditation challenge coming in May!
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
