Monday Morning Memo: October 2022

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Monday Morning Memo 10/31/22

For all those who do Medicaid billing, this is your reminder to do it! We need you to please stay on top of this!!! THANK YOU!!!! 😁

If you have no idea what this means...you don't have to do it! YAY!!!!

Thank you to Brian Crask for meeting and discussing all things music theory & technology. The passion for your craft is amazing!

and

...Thank you to the 5th grade team for all of your hard work so far this year! You've had to learn ARC & IRLA, Number Corner, iReady, plan for Social Studies and Science, and (most of you) learn the D114/Stanton way of things.The dedication you've shown in planning after the school day is commendable. With this said, a special thanks to Katie Jalove Filippelli for your guidance and support with the new 5th grade team and for always being willing to answer questions and help out.

-From Stephanie Kaye (Instructional Coach at Stanton)

Kudos to Natalie Udstuen! She snagged a friend who was having a hard time in the hallway and then prompt with sending out important emails. Thanks so much.

and

Kudos to the lunch ladies for always being awesome! From helping out, being flexible with kids and staff lunches.

and

Kudos to those who have already signed up for culvers Eat Out Night! We couldn't have these events without your help.

and

Kudos to Amber M for putting on a great gymnastics performance.

-From Victoria Miller (STEM teacher at Lotus)

A shout out to Melanie, Colleen, and Debbie Miller for always riding a bus when needed. You are so appreciated. Also, thanks to Mike F for riding the bus everyday. You are so appreciated!

Also, thanks for having the opportunity to play and get to meet the PreK kiddos. I had the best time with them. Thank you PreK teachers/paras who gave me grace and guidance. You all made it so much easier.

-From Cheryl Schuck (Paraprofessional at Lotus)

Thank you Matt for the note. Thank you Natalie for checking in on me. Thank you Erica for helping with ARC. Thank you Mo for sitting with me during plan so I wasn’t alone. Thank you Mike F for helping with my caffeine addiction . Thank you Brittany for our “class pet”!! Thank you Kelly for the special treats x 2! Thank you Amber for helping with a student n the treats. Thank you second grade team for helping me through a difficult couple weeks at home and school. I love this school family and if I missed you thanks you! I truly appreciate all the love and support from everyone around me. #SoTHANKFUL

Sherry Tietjen (ILP-B teacher at Lotus)

I would like to thank Jeff Sefcik for helping me get a pair of shoes for a student that was in desperate need. Your generosity was greatly appreciated!

-From Karen Brnot (7th grade Science teacher at Stanton)

Thanks to Mike Szotek, who is always there to figure things out. He can quickly find permanently deleted emails that you suddenly realize you need and restore them to your inbox.

And

Thank you to Sue Pinkawa, who is a "Jane"-of-all-trades. When you request help and say that there's no rush, Sue has it for you in no time flat. When you have to speak in code over the phone because students are in the classroom, Sue can decipher it. When you want to surprise someone, Sue is able to assist without the person finding out.

From Mary Santi (Second and Third Grade Case Manager at Lotus)

To the entire Stanton staff for all the work it takes to be ready for Student-Led Conferences. I know they will go GREAT!!!

-From Heather (Your very grateful and blessed Superintendent)

Please send me your kudos for colleagues each week! I'll happily post them in this section!

Here's a link to all the ideas gathered for the HOW and WHY of the Friz 5...I'll keep adding as great ideas come forward.

In the Friday with Friz video, I made up the strategy that we used. In it, I asked a question that was a yes or no answer to get a show of hands (involving everyone in thinking) and then a "dig in" where kids who wanted to add more detail could volunteer to do so. This is an easy way to get everyone involved before inviting one or two or a few to add more in depth thoughts.

Please know that the commitment to the Friz 5 is really making a difference for kids! SO MANY have told me that they notice the greetings, the targets, and the efforts to get them even more involved in learning. THANK YOU!!!

Paraprofessional Hours during Parent Teacher Conferences

Here's a schedule to clarify working hours for paras. All paras are expected to work a total of 15 hours between the two conference days.

Please review the schedule below and follow your start time:

6:15 am - 6:45 pm Meal break: 5-6 pm
7:15 am - 7:45 pm Meal break: 5-6 pm
7:30 am - 8:00 pm Meal break: 5-6 pm
8:00 am - 8:30 pm Meal break: 5-6 pm

Total paid hours - 11

All paras will work 8 am - noon on the second conference day for a total of 4 paid hours. Please let Maddie know if you have any questions.

THANKSGIVING LUNCH

Mark your calendars! Our AMAZING Kitchen teams will be providing a yummy lunch for everyone on November 18 at both sites to make sure you know how THANKFUL we are for our D114 staff!!! And just WAIT til you see what's planned for before the winter break and for the Super Bowl!!!!

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

Attached to this week's Monday Memo email, you'll find an updated access flyer for the EAP program. Remember that this is FREE to all employees to provide a whole bunch of different supports (examples: mental health, finances, quitting smoking, etc.). ANY access of EAP is completely confidential. If you need any assistance or have questions, please reach out to Maddie Mercado.

BILINGUAL FAMILY LIAISON

We have offered this position to an amazing candidate and are finalizing details now!! More info to come ASAP!

My friends Jeanne and Matt are doing a podcast called "Real Talk". It's pretty amazing and there are 3 episodes so far. It's definitely real talk about real school stuff, so if podcasts are your jam, check it out!

Thanks to everyone for your feedback! Erica and Stephanie are sending out Lotus- and Stanton-specific supports, but I'll also post the link to a folder containing them all here so they are easy to find, everyone can see everything, and you're reminded to check them out!

Thinking of all of our Stanton staff as they embark on their parent teacher conferences this week. We know that you will do wonderfully and hope you have a successful evening of conferences.

NEW Professional Development especially for school support staff

As an IEA member, one great benefit of membership is that you have access to vetted professional development. IEA has recently entered into an agreement that provides professional development that is specific to support staff in schools. This library of trauma-informed trainings is broken down into modules that are anywhere from three to 17 minutes long. There are courses that apply generally to support staff and ones that are job specific, such as for paraprofessionals, bus drivers, school office staff and more. The link to this program is located in Members Only on the IEA website. If you’d like to access it, please contact IEA Connect at 844-432-1800, through live chat on the IEA website at ieanea.org or through email at IEAConnect@ieanea.org. Once you contact Connect, the Connect Specialists will check to see if you’ve already registered for Members Only. If you haven’t, they will assist you in completing that process and then send you a link for the professional development tool. The Connect Specialists will already have set up an account in the tool and given you a temporary password. You are free to change that password when you log in. Good luck and happy learning!

Awards, grants and scholarships

Education Support Professional of the Year Award: Online nomination forms for the IEA ESP of the Year will be accepted through Dec. 15. The award will be presented in March at the 2023 IEA Representative Assembly (RA).ESP STAR Award: The ESP Council created the ESP STAR program to allow IEA local leaders, IEA members and members of the board of directors to recognize and publicize the good work of their ESP members from across the state. Use the online nomination form (nominations accepted monthly) to nominate one or more special ESPs!SCORE grants: Grants for up to $1,000 are available for IEA members and their local associations to collaborate and create opportunities for community service or school projects. Apply by Jan. 15.Athletic grants: California Casualty’s Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant program will award $1,000 grants to school athletics programs. Apply by Jan. 15.$2,500 for college: The Burroughs Education Scholarship, sponsored by Woodruff Johnson & Evans Law Offices, will be awarded to a college-bound high school senior with at least one parent who is a school employee. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 31. Apply Now!

November 3 and 4--Student Led Conferences at Stanton, normal schedule at Lotus

November 5--Day of the Dead celebration at Stanton (details below). Thank you to our BPAC for organizing this for the entire community!!!!

November 8--Election Day--School Holiday

November 15--Board of Education Meeting--details TBD

November 18--Thanksgiving Lunch for all!

2022-23 Fencepost Standards all grades, all content areas!

22-23 Second Step Pacing Guide

PBIS World--This site is awesome for identifying strategies to use to support challenging behaviors!

2022-23 Early Release/Professional Development Planning Calendar

2022-23 Assessment Calendar

2022-23 D114 Calendar

2022-23 Parent/Student Handbook

Shared folder of 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!

D114 Family Update

Work Order Request

Technology Support Request

Say this, not that...

Thanks, Kim Husko, for this share!

Have a really fabulous week!!!!

-Heather 🍂

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Monday Morning Memo 10/24/22

For all those who do Medicaid billing, this is your reminder to do it! We need you to please stay on top of this!!! THANK YOU!!!! 😁

If you have no idea what this means...you don't have to do it! YAY!!!!

Kudos to Mrs Karen Brnot for all the time and effort on doing the Fox's Closet!

You are amazing, and the kids appreciate what you do very much, seeing their smiling faces is priceless.

and

Our National Lunch Week was so much fun and it is never too late to thank

and

The Kitchen Staff, thank you for going above and beyond for our kids and Staff, and for making the National Lunch Week a success and fun for all YOU GIRLS ROCK!!

and

Stephanie Kaye, for your help coordinating with the student council, spreading the word and helping us.

and

Sue, Paula, Michele and Jill for helping us with announcements, advertising and receiving the coloring sheets.

And All the Staff that participated on the Tie Dye dress up on Friday! Without your help we couldn't have made it as fun as it was.

-From Georgette Franco (Food Services Coordinator)

Coach Becmer and Coach Falster for leading their teams to Conference Championships and maintaining a perfect record in keeping their players off the Ineligibility list for the entire season!

and

Norm Fischer for his willingness to put in weekly overtime, Al Giandonato for his willingness to help out 4 days a week, and Cari Ayala for her consistent effort!

and

Laura Livesay and Stephanie Kaye for their work with our Student Council and Karen Brnot for leading the National Junior Honor Society.

-From Jeff Sefcik (Stanton Principal)

I would like to send out a Thanks to Jill Becmer, Michele Burgess, Betty Cwiak, Lora Viers, and Matt Shannon for being "patients" for my 7th grade STEM lesson.

-From Tim Yoder (STEM teacher at Stanton)

Vicki and I would like to give Russ a kudos for his incredible acting skills. Also, for giving us a laugh when saying "rugs." If you need a laugh visit with Russ!

-From Mollie Herchenbach (3rd grade teacher)

I have a Monday memo shoutout to Nicole Brinkman and Amanda Lorenz. They both came out to recess with my class to watch my students put on a performance they have been working on. It filled the girls' buckets to know staff members cared so much for them!

-From Victoria Corrado (4th grade teacher)

A huge “Thank you!” to Mr. Russ for being in a video clip trying a pumpkin ice cream sandwich. The kids loved it!

-From Lisa Werner (Occupational Therapist)

Thank you, Georgette, for all of your amazing help and hard work with getting the recent Fox's Closet set up and put away! Thank you Brian Bailey for giving up your lunch period to cover for me in my Flex class so I could do the closet for the 5th/6th lunch kids! Thanks also to Kim Husko for your continued support, hanging rack, and hangers! Thank you Niccole Culbertson, Cassie Curtis, Liz Andersen, and Maddie Hansen for your help folding and bagging clothes for the kids! I also want to thank all of the staff members that have donated so generously to our Fox's Closet.

-From Karen Brnot (7th grade Science teacher)

Kudos to Sue P. for helping me schedule our EL conferences! You are the best!

and

Kudos to Abbey K. for contacting many parents to confirm conferences and inform some parents that we were sending home chromebooks for them to practice Imagine Learning and IReady at home:) We make a great team!

and

Kudos to Cathy J. for setting up a collaboration with ELC for one of our students! You are so easy to work with!

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Kudos to Kim VH. for helping Abbey and I set up AR accounts for our EL students that need more Reading support!:) You rock!

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Kudos to Amber M. for donating tennis balls for the chairs of some of our EL students! We are so thankful!

-From Kim Leable (EL teacher at Lotus)

To the Lotus Guiding Coalition for your willingness to be videoed by Solution Tree. I know it must have been awkward, and your time and vulnerability are truly appreciated.

-From Heather (Your very grateful and blessed Superintendent)

Please send me your kudos for colleagues each week! I'll happily post them in this section!

Here's a link to all the ideas gathered for the HOW and WHY of the Friz 5...I'll keep adding as great ideas come forward.

Thanks to everyone working on Checking for Understanding. Here's a quick read for 8 Ideas to Check for Understanding. See how many you already do...and maybe one to try!!!

RED RIBBON WEEK--10/24-10/28!

Lotus...please see below for the dress up day plan! Can't wait to see your door decorations!!!

QUARTER 1 STIPENDS

Just a friendly reminder, 1st quarter stipends will be processed on 10/31. Please submit your stipend documentation log by 3pm on Monday, 10/24.

OCTOBER 26 EARLY RELEASE

Just a reminder that time is alloted for everyone to work on Global Compliance requirements as well as a KnowBe4 training during CT time on 10/26. You'll receive the link for the KnowBe4 training that week. Thanks for doing these...I know they can be a pain, but they also keep us current in knowledge and compliant for our insurance providers!!!!

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

BILINGUAL FAMILY LIAISON

Eli Panchi has resigned her position, and we are now looking for a new Bilingual Family Liaison. Please reach out to me, your principal, or Lynn Smolen for any interpretation/translation needs.

OCTOBER WELLNESS CALENDAR

Thanks to Laura Livesay and Matt Shannon for putting together this October Wellness Calendar and for letting me share it with everyone!

One of our speakers at the Lake County Superintendents' conference last week was the amazing Devin Hughes. The guy blew me away with his knowledge and insights about gratitude and what REALLY matters. I'm digging in on his blog to keep learning, and I thought I'd share it here, too, in case you need a spark or a little bit of a kick in the rear!

Check out the Region 49 newsletter! A great place for central information and resources!

Don't forget! Steve Podgorski is offering virtual sessions on October 25 and 26. Follow the link here to sign up: Steve Podgorski Sign Up

Don't forget to check out the discounts and deals that other members are receiving at ieanea.org

**Membership cards and new T-Shirts are here! PLEASE let Katy Gardner or Maureen DeVoss know if you need a T-shirt this week, and what size. We will do our absolute best to get them distributed this week.

October 26--Time to complete GCN/KnowBe4 trainings during Early Release time