Monday Morning Memo: Monday Morning Memo 1/3/22

As we kick off 2022, it's time to share our "words" for the year. For 2021, mine was BELIEVE. I needed it... A LOT...during 2021.

For 2022, my word is PERSPECTIVE.

I'm picking this word because it holds 3 key reminders I want to focus on:

1. Keeping things in perspective to help me monitor my reactions to the stuff life throws me.

2. Seeking to understand others' perspectives to be a better colleague, friend, mom, and person.

3. Believing (yep, it's still there 💓) in my own perspective to stay true to myself and stay the course on things that matter to me (exercise, meditation, time for rest, time for family, boundaries, etc.).

So...what's your word? If you'd like to share it with me, I'll create a list so we can all see each others' words. If you want to share it with me but not add it to the public list, just tell me.

Jill and Michelle for EVERYTHING they do to help Stanton run!!

-From Rich Bressett

Kudos to Karen, our van driver, for transporting a family on short notice, thanks Karen!
and

Kudos to Rusty, our van driver, who jumped on a couple of runs for us in the last week, thank you!

and

To our transportation department, thank you for all you do! You are amazing!

-From Andrea DeMatteo

To Ryan Hochman for supervising the Band rehearsal and concert at Stanton!

and

Norm, Don, Al, and Nick for getting Stanton student ready!!!

and

everyone that will go above and beyond during the upcoming week!!!

-From Jeff Sefcik

Thank you Chris Francke for helping me with PE classes! Hope you enjoyed the chaos! You crushed being a PE teacher for a few days!
Natalie Udstuen, you have been so much help to me this past year! Thank you for being you and always willing to listen to me and do what you can to help me and the students.
Mo Devoss, for always caring so deeply about the students and staff at students here at Lotus! You are a rock and the best one yet!

-From Amber Mysliwiec

I would like to thank my co-teacher, Becca Strandberg for going above and beyond during a week that is already hectic. Since I was out this week she took on the task of clearing our room and my desk to get it ready for the new furniture. She also helped keep me sane as I was quarantined in my room by setting up Google meets so I could still work with students and accomplish something this week.

and

I would also like to thank Mollie Herchenbach for bringing all the wonderful gifts and a couple items I needed from my room right to my front stoop. Thank you for thinking of me and going above and beyond for me!

and

Thank you Russ and Linda for all the help you gave me moving furniture in my room. You are the best and can always be counted on to lend a hand anywhere it's need. I truly appreciate it considering all the extra work you had already done this break.

-From Cary Scarpino

Huge thank yous to Maureen DeVoss, Natalie Molidor, Cheryl Schuck, Gina Crosthwaite, Erica Barraza, Victoria Miller, Kim VanHoorelbeke, and Deb Miller for giving so much help to Santa's Shop! The PTA really appreciated all your help...and so do I!
-From Heather

Thank you to everyone that participated in our Secret Santa and Book Exchange before break! We had 41 staff members participate in Secret Santa and 12 for the Book Exchange which is awesome! Thank you to everyone for being flexible and letting me learn the best way to execute such big events!

-From Mollie Herchenbach

Please send me KUDOS to give shout outs to colleagues! I LOVE to put them in the Monday Memo! 🎉

EQUITY TEAM WANTS YOU!

The Equity Core Team has been working hard together for a long time, and we have learned a lot. We'd love to welcome anyone interested in exploring equity and how to reach out to ALL students in our classrooms in new and different ways. If this is something you'd like to be a part of, please plan to join us on Wednesday, January 26 at Stanton at 3:15. We'll share some of our efforts, show you some great activities we learned at Deep Equity Training, and then get input from YOU on how to move forward to help us all continue to grow. Participants will be paid for their time, so mark your calendar if this sounds like something that interests you. More info coming after break!

SUPPLY MONEY

If you haven't yet spent your supply money for the year, you can still do so through Feb. 1 in case there are things you need once the new furniture is in place over winter break. Please reach out ot Andrea DeMatteo with any questions.

COVID Updates

Linked here is the communication that went out 12/31/21. Key points/details:

*We will be using all the same procedures that were in place for isolation/quarantine before Winter Break as we return, per IDPH/LCHD direction.

*We're adding an OPTIONAL site-based COVID test on 1/3/22 (mail in 1/4/22) through O'Hare Labs. We'll restart regular weekly testing on 1/4/22 (mail in 1/5/22). You can sign up for weekly surveillance testing using this link. You do not need to sign up again if you have already done so.

*We will also have testing available through O'Hare Labs (our current provider) on Mondays and Fridays to implement "Test to Stay" without having to worry about getting our own rapid tests (which are hard to come by!). O'Hare is also sending us all the rapid tests they can spare so we have them on hand for "just in time" testing. Our nurses will determine who participates in "Test to Stay" or has access to a rapid test.

Close Contact Protocols for STAFF
Please click here to see the updated quarantine plans.

The newest section is as follows:
UPDATED QUARANTINE PROCEDURES--DRAFT 12/12/21
STAFF ONLY: If someone in your household tests positive for COVID that you continue to live with during their quarantine period YOU MUST FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE BELOW:

YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED- you must quarantine for the 10 days of the COVID + individual and then another 7 days with a negative PCR result on day 6 or 7 to return on day 8 of your quarantine or day 10 without a PCR result. This is a total of 17-20 days of quarantine for unvaccinated individuals. If you are a certified employee, you may work remotely per the MOU from the beginning of the school year.

YOU ARE VACCINATED AND SYMPTOM FREE- you may return onsite but must obtain a negative test 3-5 days after the initial exposure and again 3-5 days after the family member’s 10 day quarantine is over.

YOU ARE VACCINATED AND SYMPTOMATIC- you must quarantine until you can produce a negative RAPID OR PCR test within 48 hours of symptom onset. If the COVID test is negative you can return onsite if fever free and then obtain a NEGATIVE PCR test 3-5 days after the family member’s 10 day quarantine is over.

PLEASE NOTE: If another family member tests positive the above protocols start over respective to their positive test date. If you become positive at any point then a MANDATORY 10 DAY QUARANTINE WILL BE IN PLACE. You can return after your 10 day quarantine as long as you are symptom/fever free for 24 hours.

ANY UNVACCINATED OR SYMPTOMATIC VACCINATED EMPLOYEE WHO HAS TAKEN A COVID TEST AND HAS RESULTS PENDING MUST STAY AT HOME UNTIL A NEGATIVE RESULT IS OBTAINED.

Current Local COVID Data

D114 Daily COVID Data

1/1/22
CDC thresholds and local data for Lake County
Indicator
Low Transmission
Moderate Transmission
Substantial Transmission
High Transmission
Current Status

Incidence Rate:
Total new cases per 100K persons in the last 7 days
0-9
10-49
50-99
100 or greater
637.01
7 Day Average Test Positivity Rate
Less than 5%
5.0%-7.9%
8.0%-9.9%
Greater than 10%
11.15%

D114 Local Zip Codes Data from Northwestern University COVID Dashboard--ALL DATA INCLUDES ACTUAL AND PROBABLE CASES!
Indicator
Low Transmission
Moderate Transmission
Substantial Transmission
High Transmission
Current Status

Incidence Rate:
Total new cases per 100K persons in the last 7 days
0-9
10-49
50-99
100 or greater
767.3
7 Day Average Test Positivity Rate
Less than 5%
5.0%-7.9%
8.0%-9.9%
Greater than 10%
11.41%

We hope that everyone had a relaxing break and got to spend some well needed time with family. Cheers to 2022 and a better year ahead!

The NEA in a partnership has created an app to promote mental health for its members. Here is a link for the flier if you are interested. Sanvello Flyer

Don't forget to join us for the January school board meeting on Tuesday, January 18th!

Winter PD: The 2022 Winter PD Newsletter includes fliers and registration links for FREE professional development! New online courses and book study begin Jan. 10.

SCORE Grant deadline approaching! Jan. 15, 2022 is the application deadline for IEA SCORE Grants. All IEA members are encouraged to apply! Funds are available for IEA members and their local associations to collaborate and create opportunities for community service or school projects. To learn more and apply online, visit ieanea.org/score.

And don't forget, if you are interested in learning more about TRS IMRF or are looking to find out more about financial programs available to teachers, Steve Podgorski is a wonderful resource. Feel free to reach out to him by phone or email Cell: 847-815-1595 Email: SPodgorski@LincolnInvestment.com