Monday Morning Memo: Monday Morning Memo 3/4/24

The ☘March Happiness Challenges are linked here! I hope you have some fun with them!!!!

Thank you to the fifth grade team for being brave and trying something new this week to support our kiddos!

Thank you to Kim Mack, Lynn Smolen, Jeff and Rachelle for assisting students as needed while I was occupied with 8th grade transition meetings.

Thank you to the eighth grade team for your flexibility during 504 transition meetings, to accommodate our visitor from Grant high school and be available to provide valuable feedback for our students as they prepare to move on next year.

Thanks
-From Meg Reimers (Counselor at Stanton)

Thank you to ALL STAFF for being flexible with bus arrangements this week and going forward. Students in the ECSE classroom have been exploring a variety of ways that enhance their independent mobility. With that being said, transportation needs were adjusted in order to provide the safest route for arrival and dismissal. A HUGE thank you to Andrea and all of the transportation team for being flexible in order to make this happen. Your flexibility is greatly appreciated!

and

To Allie, Stephanie, Fiona, Ellie and Lisa, you ladies are so amazing to brainstorm with! I appreciate working as an amazing team that continuously promotes inclusivity and safe practices for our most vulnerable learners. The ECSE classroom has incredibly supportive providers who lead with their hearts -our students are thriving because of all of you!

and

Don, thank you for ordering tennis balls for under the desks and placing them on within days of me asking you. I appreciate you making sure the classroom is safe and always has what it needs for our students. We appreciate all you do!

and

Lotus Kitchen staff, thank you for taking extra steps to assist in food prep for the ECSE students. Your heart is in all you do, and we are beyond thankful!

and

Kristine, Mia, Monica, Sienna, Allie, Ellie, Lisa, Stephanie, Fiona and Molly-I appreciate meeting as a team to work as One Team, All In. Thank you for adjusting arrival and dismissal routines and being flexible at all times-you all have been vital to the success of our students and their independence! I am so thankful for each of you every day

-From Erin Donovan (ECSE Teacher at Lotus)

Big thanks to Colleen, Meghan, Misty, Brittany and Courtney for all you do to help our kiddos during Art!! Your undivided attention/engagement in what’s happening and how you can help things go smoothly makes an incredible difference!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

and

Thanks to Don for fixing all the chairs so they don’t shriek when scooted - bless you!

and

Big thanks to Russ for his help in picking up the free piece of art furniture and helping me get it setup in my room.

and

Thank you to the lunch gals for always thinking of art and saving cardboard, plastic containers for upcycling/use in art!!

and

Thanks to Kate for helping with all the material handling - your attention to detail is so appreciated!

Thanks again to each of you for all you do to help make things run smoothly for our kiddos!

-From Gayle McManamon (Art Teacher at Lotus)

Thank you 3rd grade team and Colleen for hosting my baby shower!! Thanks to everyone who brought delicious food! Eliana loved all the snacks & Thank you to the ~40 ladies who came to celebrate Eliana!! I’m so blessed to have this amazing D114 family!

and

Thank you Allie for being my last minute Uber.

-From Sherry Tietjen (ILP Teacher at Lotus)

Thank you to Rachelle, Lemar and Jill for playing along with a 2nd step lesson regarding the "gossip" story spread about me. The students really bought into it and were really worried about what was spread and a few reached out to make sure I was OK and reached out to Mrs. Peters to explain the situation. Amazing things can happen when these situations apply directly to their learning!! Thank you so much!!!

-From Veronica Kretz (5th grade Teacher at Stanton)

Jill Becmer for planning a terrific academic pep rally! Loved the theme and all the smiling face!

and

the 5th grade team for partnering with the Administrative Team on creating a calm and inviting plan for our students every morning!

and

Kim Mack and Meghan Reimers for spending Saturday afternoon with me setting up our 5th grade calm classrooms and reset stations!

and

The 5th grade team, Rachelle and Lynn for being brave enough to create change 2/3 into the school year!

-From Jeff Sefcik (Principal at Stanton)

Kudos to Norm Fischer from the Grant Jr Bulldogs Basketball program. They said

Norm was AWESOME in getting everything set up for them when they used the

Stanton gym in the evenings during their season

-From Michele Burgess (Administrative Assistant at Stanton)

Lisa Huck, THANK YOU for being a fantastic collaborator. Being part of your team and Lotus Family is absolutely a joy! You are always thinking about students first and taking the time to check in and ensure that our Dream Team members are getting the most of inclusion as they can to aid in their individual success. I appreciate you and your big heart! You truly are a wonderful person inside and out!

Brittany Luther, our amazing artist and teammate. I just want to thank you for all the fun activities and art projects you planned for our Dream Team. The students had a blast and without you we wouldn't have made such great memories to capture! Each day you come with a smile and make it easy! I am so happy to be working with you!

Matt Peters, Natalie Udstuen, and Allison Mixon, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are such team players and support me whenever needed. You are open to ideas and ensure that plans are followed for our Dream Team students. It is such a great feeling to have the support from each of you in making set plans for our students! Just can't thank you enough! Rock stars!

Erica Barazza, you are a jack of trades woman! Thank you for always having the answers or finding them for me! You are always willing to help and make sure that I have what I need. Thank you for all the sharing and activities you have put together to help our students get ready for IAR. You are fabulous!!

-From Ashley Arff (ILP Teacher at Lotus)

Thank you to the Administrative Team for helping me do all the things. I have no idea what I would do without you, and I swear you all keep me sane!

-From Heather 💓

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

Why Academic and SEL Targets Matter

Lotus IAR Spirit Week

Lake County Educator of the Year---Please, please nominate our amazing colleagues!!!

Educator of the Year

Reminder about Educator of the Year Info

Electronic nomination packets are due to the ROE by Friday, March 15, 2024.

Here are links for the 2024 EOY.

Educator of the Year Nomination Submission (Link to submit your nomination packet for EOY)

Gillespie Wiper Event

Field Trips

FYI--field trips are already booked on the following dates. No additional trips can be booked on these dates:

April 10th - Future Quest - 7th Grade - 3-7:30 pm - Lake County Tech - Career Exploration

April 11th - Future Quest - 8th Grade - 3-7:30 pm - Lake County Tech - Career Exploration

May 3rd - 3rd Grade - Legoland, will eat lunch on buses, 1Reg Ed, 1 SpEd bus

May 14th - 4th Grade - Camp Duncan - End of year class trip

May 17th - 1st Grade - Chicago Botanic Gardens

May 20th - 8th Grade Class Trip

If you test positive for COVID, please let me know immediately. You may return to work as soon as you meet all the criteria above. I am not asking for a 5 or 10 day window at this point; rather, you must meet the return to school criteria listed below. You are STRONGLY encouraged to wear a mask upon your return to prevent the spread of illness to others. Please alert me as to your date of return. Any days out are sick days.

Masks are available in the office for all staff who wish to wear one.

All staff MUST follow the same sick guidelines we apply to students. These days are counted as sick days. The guidelines are as follows (linked here and copy/pasted below):

Sick Day Guidelines: Making the right choice!

Dear Parents: To help prevent the spread of illness, we would like to give you some guidelines to help with your decision on whether or not to send your child to school. We ask that you keep your child home if he or she:

• Has a fever of 100.4 (oral) degrees or higher

• Has cramps and or vomiting • Has a sore throat with fever (see below)

• Has a persistent cough (dry or productive)

• Has diarrhea (three or more episodes in 24 hrs)

• Has a rash or open and draining sores

• Has symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school, such as:

o Excessive tiredness or lack of appetite

o Headaches, body aches, earaches

o Severe sore throat (could be strep-throat even without fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache & stomach upset. Contact your pediatrician to assess or diagnose strep throat).

If your child has recently been ill, please be aware of the following guidelines before having your child return to school, athletic or social activities:

• They should feel fit for at least 24 hours.

• Be free of fever for at least 24 hours (without medication)

• Be free of vomiting and or diarrhea for at least 24 hours.

• If strep throat, they must be on the appropriate antibiotic for at least 24 hours.

• If conjunctivitis, they must be on the appropriate eye drops for at least 24 hours or cleared by a physician.

• Rash illnesses should be assessed by a doctor. If chicken Pox is suspected, keep home for at least 5 days after the appearance of the rash or until all blisters have scabbed over.

Please reach out to me with any questions, for clarification, or for support. Your safety and the safety of our students remains our utmost priority!

Reporting Absences

All employees are expected to enter all absences in Frontline, even if you text/call/email others to let them know you will be out. This is a professional responsibility!

In Case You're Interested...

Stanton NJHS Parents Night Out

Click here or see below for information!

Millburn Resale

BPAC Multicultural Event

CHIPOTLE Eat Out 2 Help Out **NEW**

Tuesday, March 12th, 5-9 pm

Rt 120 Lakemoor, IL

*Mention D114 at time of purchase to get credit! This is a MUST for this establishment.

March PTA Meeting

Thursday, March 14th, 2024

6:00 pm @ Lotus Library or Virtual

Use the link to join: https://meet.google.com/rps-xjos-qnn

Culver's Eat Out 2 Help Out

Monday, April 8th 5-8pm

Rt 12 Fox Lake, IL

Some opportunities:

IEA Member Planning Time Survey

The Illinois Education Association is collecting information from members on planning time. The goal is to use the collected data to support advocacy for increasing uninterrupted individual planning time each day. Please complete the survey by Feb. 18.

Educators Rising Conference

March 4 at ISU, Normal. Learn more at EducatorsRisingIL.org and register by Feb. 9.

Share the flier.

Monday, March 4--SCHOOL IN SESSION--Emergency Day Make Up!!!!

Second Step Pacing Guide 23-24--updated 1/16/24

Work Order Request--please use this to ask for help with anything facilities, room, cleaning related!

2023-24 Certified Staff Evaluation Documents

2023-24 D114 Calendar

Business Office Shared Drive

(OR GREAT STUFF WE HEARD OR SAW LAST WEEK!)

While a student was in my office waiting to get picked up due to being ill, we were chatting to kill time. We talked about family, favorite subjects and pretty much anything to pass the time. We got on the subject of pets and this student said " I have 4 cats and one big fat dog". We giggled and I told her how fun it is to have so many pets. I then told her that I have 5 cats....her giggles instantly stopped and she proceeded to give me the side eye and rolled her eyes, then said "5 cats is weird. I'm just gonna color now". She did not speak another word to me after that. I was totally cat shamed by a 6 year old.