August 31--Welcome to our PreK learners!!!! :)

I just want to give a shout out to my second-grade team. You ladies are the true definition of

ALL IN. Thank you to Emily Welsh for committing to a screen-free lunch and a walk during

recess with me! Thank you to Mo DeVoss for your expertise and constant reassurance! And

thank you to Misty for preparing our supply bags and making connections with our kiddos! I

couldn't do this job without you all :)

-From Natalie Molidor

In her typical fashion, Abbey Kadera has been going above and beyond to help with our ELL

students and families. Thank you sooooooo very much Abbey!

and

Thanks to Sue and Paula for keeping calm and cheerful during this first week! We couldn't

have gotten through it without you!

-From Nicole Mild

Many thanks to my team for always being so supportive and creative with your ideas and

help.  Our specials team is made up of an amazing variety of talent and everyone is so

generous and helpful - I appreciate you all!!

and

Huge thanks to Sue for her amazing ability to always find a way to make things work. 

The labels are PERFECT!  Thanks so much!!!

-From Gayle McManamon

I wanted to give a BIG shout out to Abbey Kadera for welcoming me into the EL world

with open arms!  She is so accommodating and easy to work with!  You work so hard! 

Especially by getting parents to come in and teaching them how to use the chrome books so

they can be successful in their Google classrooms!  You are a bilingual SUPERSTAR!

and

I also wanted to give a BIG Shout Out to Andrea Sekulich for coming over to Lotus and

helping me learn how the district runs the EL program, teaching me how to create the

ACCESS score/EL program letters, and helping me finish and distribute them to all to the

parents!  You are AMAZING!!!

-From Kim Leable

Could I do a big shoutout to Georgette for helping me figure out a copy machine issue and

to Debbie Marienau for helping to get all the first grade bus packets ready! 

-From Cheryl Schuck

I have a kudos for Erica Barraza!

Erica has been unbelievably amazing! She has helped every single teacher that needs

something and has been so helpful and thoughtful making sure everyone feels comfortable

with the new technology and resources that we are using in school. She is going above and

beyond to help teachers and it really shows! Thank you, Erica, for all you have done for me

thus far!

and

Kudos for Mike Szotek

Mike thank you so much for all of your help with technology this year for PE! From the

computers to the Promethean board to the Ipad! We are extremely grateful for your help! 

-From Amber Mysliwiec

Sending Kudos to - 

• David Roat.......Wow!!!!

• The Para Squad......for always implementing their Special Weapons and Tactics in

assisting students and staff!

• Norm, Sabi, and Cari for cleaning and disinfecting the school to keep all of us safe!

• Jill and Michele for gracefully handling every tough situation.

• Rachelle for being a tremendous AP and even better friend!

• Jamie Smeigh for jumping in head first and nailing remote learning!

• Our teachers for connecting to and caring for our students...attendance was

awesome this week and that's because our kids want to be with you!

-From Jeff Sefcik

Kudos to everyone for an amazing...and tiring and stressful and frustrating and awesomely

messy first week! I cannot believe how much grit I saw from everyone...you truly blow me

away. Our students are so very lucky to have you in their corner!

and

Kudos to Jeff for getting two articles published in the ALL THINGS PLC magazine!

He's published!

-From Heather

 

 

 

 

 

What an awesome first week!!! I know there were bumps, but what else happened?

Connections. Learning. Flexibility. Perseverance. Collaboration. Amazingness. YES!

That’s because of YOU! 

 

Recording Live Lessons--UPDATES

Please be sure that, when you are in a LIVE session using Meet, you record and then post the

video. This allows students who may not be able to join live to be able to access the content

too. This means that, anytime you are live with your class, you are recording. Small group

work, 1:1 work, office hours do NOT need to be recorded or posted. Please send any

questions on this my way! :)

 

Keep Your Days Current

Please update your onsite days as needed using this form. This allows us to monitor for

safety and make sure there are plenty of spaces for people to work. THANKS!

 

Phone Masking

I know many of our certified and instructional paraprofessionals want to be able to

receive/make phone calls as well as text with students/families now more than ever.

Totally get this and appreciate your commitment so much!

Here are your two current options:

1. Set up (or continue using) Google Voice via a personal GMail account. This is free! 

2. We can purchase Google Voice lines through the District, but they are NOT free

3. (or even close to free) since we are a business/school entity rather than a person.

4. Cost is $10/person/month. If this is your only option, please reach out.
   
   

 

Food and Materials 

We had a really good first materials run Friday. Thanks to everyone who made this happen!

To make things go even more smoothly...

• Teachers--PLEASE let families know if there are/are not materials to pick up each week. 

• Materials should be labeled by student. If there are materials from multiple teachers

(classroom, music, art, etc), they should be bundled for efficient handout. 

• Materials should be organized in alphabetical order by route. Please do NOT sort by

stop. We had lots of parents pick up at different spots than their assigned one and I

don't want to fight that battle. 

• Materials not picked up on the route can be picked up the same day from 9-10 at Lotus

OR at Grab and Go from 8-10 daily at Lotus. 

• Any family who cannot get materials at either of those times should come to the Lotus '

office and we will assist them--the unclaimed materials will stay down by the Events

Entrance alpha by bus for easy grab. 

We are also restarting meal Grab and Go daily at Lotus from 8:00-10:00AM. This is in addition

to the bus runs. We will also likely open a daily “Early Bird” pick up for families that neither of

the other options work. If you have ideas or suggestions, please share them! :)

 

 

As always, when you have questions, please ask. When you have suggestions, please bring them

forward. We are ONE TEAM, ALL IN...now more than ever. 

 

 

 

FLASH BACK...FLASH FORWARD TO START THE YEAR!

THANKS to everyone for your work to complete the FLASH BACK reflection to help us know where our

students' gaps exist!!!! 

These documents should be used by EVERY team to help in planning. The tools you need are linked

below:

LINKS:

PreK-8 Flash Back Standards

Exploratories Flash Back Standards

Case Manager Flash Back Reflections

COVID-19 SAFETY PROCEDURES

If you are concerned that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 and have been

or are scheduled to be onsite, please let your principal, Maddie Espinoza, and/or me know

immediately so we can partner with you for your safety and for the safety of others.

You can trust that we will keep all this information confidential, balancing staff privacy and system

safety needs. 

All staff MUST wear masks AT ALL TIMES

when onsite and in public spaces. 

If you are working in an office/classroom

with the door closed, you may remove your

mask. It must be worn when anyone enters

that space with you. 

In addition, the steps below (from the CDC website) MUST be taken if you have been diagnosed with or

exposed to COVID-19:

COMING ONSITE:

You MUST complete the daily self-certification form. 

Social distancing of 6 feet and following handwashing

procedures--inside and outside--remain expectations and

a priority for your safety and the safety of those around

you. 

 

EAFL t-shirts have been organized and will be delivered to new members this week. Just a heads up

if you are a medium... we were a few shirts short, more have been ordered and we will get you your shirt asap! 

 

The IEA and EAFL encourage all members to VOTE! Be sure you are registered for the upcoming

November election. You can find more information using the links below. 

IL Voter Registration Page

WI Voter Registration Page

 

Link to IEA COVID Resources and Information Page

 

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

Michelle Serini, Stanton School Representative

Tiffany Tardio Weber, Lotus School Representative

                                                  

TREAT YO SELF TO SELF CARE

I'm going to use the book 180 Days of Self-Care for Busy Educators by my friend Tina Boogren to

share weekly nuggets of self-care ideas

for all of us.

Week 2: Nutrition and Hydration

Not always easy, but eating foods that align with your health goals (with an occasional splurge) helps

stabilize your mood!  

This week's invitation: Think about your nutrition and happiness.

Here are some CAN DO ideas:

-Don’t skip meals!

-Keep a food journal

-Drink more water--8X8 rule (8 ounces, 8 times a day)

Fun ways to get more water:

*Get a fun, new water bottle

*Use a straw

 

 

D114 Virtual Toolbox

D114 Family Update

Classroom Management Links

MTSS Ongoing Q and A

D114 Curriculum Resources

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

Curriculum Nights

Lotus Virtual Curriculum Nights

Sept 1st- 2nd grade 6PM

Sept 1st- PreK  7PM

Sept 2nd- 1st grade 6PM

Sept 2nd -4th grade 7PM

Sept 3rd- 3rd grade 6PM

Sept 3rd- Kindergarten 7PM

 

Stanton Virtual Curriculum Night--Wednesday, September 9 at 6:30pm. All sessions will be

posted and shared so you can see ALL the updates for your children if you have kids in more than

one grade. 

Tuesday, September 15--Board of Education Meeting (details TBD)

ONE TEAM...ALL IN...ALWAYS!

Heather

August 24

  

A MILLION KUDOS to the Stanton Para Team for sorting, labeling, organizing,

streamlining and all-out KICKIN' it for the Stanton materials pick-up.  YOU ALL ROCK!

and

KUDOS to David Roat, the most sought-after person in the building

after some technical difficulties during Virtual Meet & Greet.  He handled

the constant calls with calm patience, time and time again.  "GOOGS" is

our hero!

-From Michele Burgess

A big shout out to David Roat and Jamie Smeigh for all of your work with Chromebook acquisition and preparation. Your work directly impacted both schools in being prepared for distribution day!

and

Many thanks to Colleen Robinson, Georgette Franco, Cheryl Schuck, Debra Marienau, Linda Rasmussen, Mike Fefferman, Gina Crosthwaite, Mollie Herchenbach  and Brittany Miller for your help with the Chromebook preparation for our students at Lotus.  Couldn’t have done it without you!  Thanks Matt Peters for providing a great team!

and

A thank you to Michelle Burgess, Paula Kvacik, and Sue Pinkawa for your help in preparing Chromebook labels, student imports lists, and follow up work for the Chromebook preparation. 

-From Mike Szotek

Shout out to Mr. Peters for hiring Michelle Jessop! She is a wonderful fit on the third grade team. (She would be a wonderful fit to any team)! She is quick to learn, quick to share her knowledge and an absolute pleasure to be collaborating with in all subject areas!  Thanks for making such a great choice, third grade is reaping the benefits. 

and

Special thanks to Christine Spittler for moving around each third grade classroom and taking care of ALL our third grade needs!  The third grade team is so excited to have her back on the team! She is marvelous! The third grade team is so pleased! 

and

Kudos to Kelly Roland for being extremely organized and positive! And stepping up in order to get third grade subjects online and loaded, ready to teach!  Amazing job well done!

-From Theresa Kovach

Thank you to every single person in D114 for being ready to rock and roll tomorrow! The start of ANY year is crazy, but this is one for the record books! I am so thankful for all the hard work and passion you are all bringing to this and how much you have done and will keep doing to make 20-21 amazing for our kids. So lucky to work with each of you...and our students are families are truly blessed to have you in their lives. 

-From Heather

FALL PLANNING UPDATES

WELCOME BACK!!!!!

As we kick of opening week, please remember how AWESOME you are. The areas for focus this week are:

*Building connections with your students. 

*Helping students know what is expected of them. 

*Making sure students know how to learn remotely. 

*Taking lots of deep breaths and showing yourself grace---perfect is NOT the target. You're going to be fabulous!

Safety guidelines must be followed at all times...and all times you are outside, too. We will continue to ask staff coming onsite to complete a daily self-certification verification and, if you are a "no" to either question---please immediately notify your principal and me.

Attendance

Videos are coming to show you how to embed the attendance links into your Google Classroom for anyone struggling to do so. Also, a video is coming to show you how to view and sort the student data in case you are still learning Google Forms. 

Thanks in advance for entering your first "class" attendance into Skyward. This gets us our state required attendance data. In addition, THANKS for monitoring student attendance during each "class" to be sure kids are engaging. We'll provide more support and outreach to students who struggle with this. 

Recording Live Lessons

Please be sure that, when you are in a LIVE session using Meet, you record and then post the video. This allows students who may not be able to join live to be able to access the content too. Please send any questions on this my way! :)

A few repeat reminders from prior Memos:

*Please know that, while we are in full remote, Wednesdays are days the buildings WILL be open and staff CAN be onsite. Since we will have so few kids and staff onsite, we can disinfect and sanitize daily and a full closure isn’t required. 

*On days you are onsite, we’d ask gently that you please leave the building by 4:00 daily so that we can clean thoroughly. Thank you so much in advance! 

*We have NO INTENT to furlough or lay off anyone. We have work for everyone to do as long as people can be flexible! 

*We WILL have kids onsite for learning! Students invited to be onsite 4 days/week are PreK and our most complex IEP-entitled students. Students invited to be onsite Wednesday only are IEP-entitled students whose goals/SpEd support time are a majority of their day. All other IEP-entitled students will receive support through remote learning. Every single IEP-entitled student will have to have a Remote Transition Plan written--training and time for this will be provided during Welcome Week. It’s really not too hard--I promise! :)

*Grab and Go meal pick up will continue through the week of August 17 and then will stop. Starting August 24 (the first day for students), we will shift to meal drop off by our buses. Daily meals will be dropped off by bus stop on the Lotus bus schedule. Our drivers will have route helpers to do this. This keeps families from having to leave home to get meals so they can stay home to support remote learning. We’ll push out a reminder each day. We will discuss the logistics of this during Welcome Week to make sure everyone knows their role and has input into the process. 

*We’ll also use the bus routes to deliver any materials that students need EACH FRIDAY. Teams will be responsible for organizing these materials, but this will allow us to get supplies, hard copy documents, books, novels, etc. to our students when we need them to have them. The supplies will stay on the routes so--in case someone misses a Friday drop off--they can still get the materials. 

As always, when you have questions, please ask. When you have suggestions, please bring them forward. We are ONE TEAM, ALL IN...now more than ever. 

FLASH BACK...FLASH FORWARD TO START THE YEAR!
THANKS to everyone for your work to complete the FLASH BACK reflection to help us know where our students' gaps exist!!!! 
These documents should be used by EVERY team to help in planning. The tools you need are linked below:
LINKS:
PreK-8 Flash Back Standards
Exploratories Flash Back Standards
Case Manager Flash Back Reflections

COVID-19 SAFETY PROCEDURES

If you are concerned that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 and have been or are scheduled to be onsite, please let your principal, Maddie Espinoza, and/or me know immediately so we can partner with you for your safety and for the safety of others. You can trust that we will keep all this information confidential, balancing staff privacy and system safety needs. 

All staff MUST wear masks AT ALL TIMES when onsite and in public spaces. 
If you are working in an office/classroom with the door closed, you may remove your mask. It must be worn when anyone enters that space with you. 

In addition, the steps below (from the CDC website) MUST be taken if you have been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19:

COMING ONSITE:

If you are sick, STAY HOME. 

If you come onsite, you are self-certifying and verifying that:

*You are not experiencing any known symptoms of COVID-19, including,  a fever (100.4 or higher), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or any other COVID-19 symptoms identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

*Within the last 14 days, you have not tested positive for COVID-19 and do not suspect you have COVID-19.

*Within the last 14 days, you have not had close contact with someone who has tested positive for or is suspected of having COVID-19. For COVID-19, the CDC defines a “close contact” as “any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.”

*Within the last 14 days, you have not traveled internationally.

Social distancing of 6 feet and following handwashing procedures--inside and outside--remain expectations and a priority for your safety and the safety of those around you. 

NEW MEMBERS... if you haven't already, please make sure you email Melissa Jakstas your t-shirt size. We will be organizing shirts this week and want to make sure everyone gets one! 

If you haven't already... make sure you pick up your EAFL mask from the lounge at either building. 

The IEA and EAFL encourage all members to VOTE! Be sure you are registered for the upcoming November election. You can find more information using the links below. 

IL Voter Registration Page

WI Voter Registration Page

Link to IEA COVID Resources and Information Page

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

Michelle Serini, Stanton School Representative

Tiffany Tardio Weber, Lotus School Representative

TREAT YO SELF TO SELF CARE

I'm going to use this book my friend Tina Boogren to share weekly nuggets of self-care ideas

for all of us. If you didn't get a chance to see Tina's welcome video, it's linked here. Please

take a peek if you haven't done so...I promise, it's worth the 3 minutes!

Week 1: Music

Music is such a powerful tool to help us change our moods. Music can reduce anxiety,

depression, blood pressure, and pain and can IMPROVE sleep quality, mood, memory,

concentration!

Speaking of myself, I BLAST the radio as I drive to school and sing at the top of my lungs. Note: it's dreadful to hear, but super fun to do. This helps me start my day off right.

My current "go to" songs are "Somebody to Love" by Queen and "Rain on Me" by Lady

Gaga and Ariana Grande.

This week's invitation: Put the power of music to work for you.

Monday-Create or find a "feel good" playlist.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday--CRANK IT UP!

Friday-Share your playlist with someone else. Play a couple songs (as appropriate) during

a live lesson with your students to help them get to know you. You could even ask the kids

to share songs they like, too!

D114 Virtual Toolbox

D114 Family Update

Classroom Management Links

MTSS Ongoing Q and A

D114 Curriculum Resources

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

Monday, August 24--First day of school for K-8 students (full day)

Monday, August 31--First day of school for PreK students (all half day)

Tuesday, September 15--Board of Education Meeting (details TBD)

ONE TEAM...ALL IN...ALWAYS!
Heather