Thank you Mike Szotek for always being around and helping me with every tech thing that comes our way. Also for allowing PE to use a prometheian board and being able to implement technology in our lessons! We appreciate it very much!
and
This is LONG overdue, but shoutout to Sonia for making the staff lounge look absolutely stunning! You put in so much hard work to make that special for the Lotus staff. You truly are one of a kind! I am so honored to work with you each and every day!
and
Maureen DeVoss, you go above and beyond for everyone. Thank you for always being there to help and support everyone. You truly resemble one team all in.
and
SPED Team, thank you for sharing all of your information with the Specials and PE team! We appreciate everything you do and everything you gave us!
-From Amber Mysliwiec (Physical Education teacher at Lotus)
A big thank you to grade level teams for taking the time to look closely at schedules so that students receiving additional supports have everything they need to be successful! It is not easy to revamp schedules in the 3rd week of school and uproot the work you've already put in. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. Thank you to all service providers for taking the time to collaborate with every grade level about schedules and for your creativity and flexibility! This week I was reminded of how invested every single person is in ensuring our students get exactly what they need and more
It truly takes a village! #oneteamallin -From Erica Barraza (Instructional Coach at Lotus)
BIG Thank You to Michelle Magness for sharing her schedule format with me! I love it!
-From Kim Leable (EL teacher at Lotus)
The bus drivers would like to give a shout out to Jack Resnick for being an amazing Stanton crossing guard.
Thanks for all you do!!!!!!
-From all the Bus Drivers
To my new 6th grade teammates--thanks for the warm welcome!and
To Stephanie Kaye for always jumping in with both feet whenever asked for assistance!
and
To Miss Jalove-Filippelli well, for ALL you do!
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Of Course NORM!
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To Jeff and Rachelle for setting an incredible building culture.
-From Rich Bressett (6th grade Social Studies teacher)
Thank you Stephanie Kaye for offering me the use of your office to meet with a student who needed more quiet and privacy than my office was able to provide during their moment of need.........And thank you for your insights and suggestions for improving student engagement during Community Building!
and
Thank you Karen Brnot, Lemar Wilson, Sarah Groebe, Kim Husko, Laura Livesay, Kendra Smeigh, Leah Falster, Veronica Kretz, Liz Andersen, and Mary Taylor for bringing your student concerns to my (and Meghan's) attention. Your compassion and attentiveness to their needs is greatly appreciated.
and
Thank you Chris Carvell for taking the time to carry down the whiteboards to our offices and to Norm Fischer for installing them. We are so grateful to have them. We promise they will be well used!!! Thank you!!!
and
Thank you Michele Burgess for your time and effort in ordering our crisis stickers and getting them out to staff. And Thank you Jill Becmer for notifying parents that this information was shared. I am so grateful to know that our students have these invaluable resources if they should ever need it.
and
Thank you Nicole Brinkman and Ellie Seyfert for taking the time to communicate with Meghan and I mutual concerns.
Thank you Jeff Sefcik, Rachelle Peters, and Lynn Smolen for ALL your support in navigating a variety of challenges this week.
Thank you Meghan Reimers for EVERYTHING you have brought to the table! I am sooooo grateful to have you by my side this year as we navigate the highs and lows of this amazing year!
-From Kim Mack (Social Worker at Stanton)
A huge thank you to both Stephanie Silverman and Lisa Werner for all of their hard work to support students. I appreciate all of the time you have each spent in making certain that the needs of students are met. Thanks, too, for connecting with all adults (teachers and parents) to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
-From Mary Santi (Special Education teacher at Lotus)
Thank you to Erica Barraza for coming in twice this week to allow the Preschool Team to have time for classroom peer observations AND for facilitating reflection time after school! I am blessed to work with colleagues who value the amazing process of peer observations and who were ready and willing to participate in this process! Thank you to Ben Landmesser and Mary Foersterling for coming together and demonstrating that we truly are “one team, all in!” I’m so proud of the work our team has been doing to best help our youngest learners! 
-From Michelle Magness (PreK teacher at Lotus)
Kristine Gumm---Thank you for your creativity in designing the Kindergarten Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree. We appreciate all your efforts!
Deb Marineau and Kristine Gumm---Thank you for all your hard work making copies and organizing Kindergarten letter activities. Kristine you are an organizational queen.
Deb M, Ellen , Linda and Melanie thank you for greeting our Kinders with smiles, kind words and, of course, assisting with breakfast.
Thanks to all of our wonderful cafeteria staff for helping Kinders navigate the lunch room and procedures.
Amanda Lorenz---thanks for making an idea for a listening station a reality.
-From the Kindergarten Team
Thanks to Ellie S. and Cathy J. Thank you for brainstorming seating for a wiggly Kinder student.
-From Nicole Mild (Kindergarten teacher at Lotus
Thank you to:
The Evaluation Committee for all your hard work and the great staff presentations!
and
The EAFL executive board for your partnership in leading D114. I appreciate the input, questions, perspective, and collaboration more than you can know.
and
Kendra Smeigh and Chris Carvell for quickly clearing out locker room space to create more privacy areas for students to change.
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Everyone whose classroom I've visited. I'm WOWED by what's happening. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
and
THE ENTIRE LOTUS STAFF FOR BEING AWARDED MODEL SCHOOL STATUS!!!! I couldn't be more proud of you!!!!
-From Heather (Lucky, Lucky Superintendent)
Please send me your kudos for colleagues each week! I'll happily post them in this section!
I saw learning and SEL targets in EVERY ROOM I visited this week!!!!! Here are some examples 😍
Board of Education Vacancy
I'm sad to let you know that the amazing Nannette Kiesgen has decided to step down from the Board of Education. Nannette gave so much time and energy to D114 in many roles but especially as a Board member. We'll formally accept her resignation at the September meeting then move forward with seeking a candidate. HOWEVER, if you know of a D114 resident who may be a good candidate, please let me know so I can informally reach out to them. Candidates must, on the date of their appointment, be citizens of the United States of America, 18 years of age or over, residents of the State of Illinois and the school district for at least one year immediately preceding their appointment, and registered voters. Please reach out with any questions!
SPIRIT WEAR!!!
The store will be open until September 16, and we have been guaranteed that orders will arrive by mid-October. Please contact Kristie Paul with any questions.
THANKS!
Found these this week and they really spoke to me. Maybe you'll like them, too!
Don't forget that being a member of the NEA and IEA has benefits. Visit the benefits page to see what they have to offer for you!Not sure how to access the IEA Members Only section?
Go to www.ieanea.org, and click on the Members Only link (above the red banner in the upper right corner.)
Login or register on the following page.
If you need your IEA number, registration, or login information, use IEA Connect located in the lower right hand corner of every screen.
**Mark your calendar...we will be having our EAFL Articulation meeting on Wednesday, September 21 at Stanton. A more detailed agenda will follow.
Looking for learning opportunities? Check out these offered by the IEA:
Check out the IEA Teaching and Learning Portal on the IEA website for FREE clock hours on your own time! It is found on the IEA Members Only section of www.ieanea.org.
See below for Curriculum Night dates!
September 20--Board of Education Meeting at Lotus at 7PM
October 6--Day of Service--details coming soon!
Curriculum Nights
All from 6-7 PM
Sept 13 (Kinder & 3rd)
Sept 15 (Stanton)
PBIS World--NEW ADD! This site is awesome for identifying strategies to use to support challenging behaviors! Thank you to Nicole Brinkman for this share!
-Thank you, Misty Madula, for this share!!!
Have a really, really awesome week!
