The April Happiness Challenges are linked here! Please turn them in by the end of the day Friday, May 3.
And here are the May Happiness Challenges if you want to be ready!
To Meghan Reimers for stopping a peer conflict in the 5th grade hallway.
and
Chris Carvell, Walter Nickles, Maddie Friestedt and the grade level teams for helping to manage an ongoing peer conflict that started over the weekend.
and
Yesenia Flory, Matt Peters, Erin CJ and Abby Kadera for all their work hosting a wonderful BPAC event!
and
Rachelle Peters for meeting a teacher candidate this Saturday to give a tour and answer questions.
and
Erin CJ for leading the Lotus Choir at the Mayor’s Senior Luncheon on Saturday. The kids made the seniors’ day!
-From Jeff Sefcik (Principal at Stanton)
To everyone who is making it a priority to be in attendance each day! It helps everyone, most importantly...our students!
To Jeff, Andrea, bus drivers for coming together for a breakfast learning meeting. I appreciate your time and how much you do for our kids! To Chris Carvell and Kendra Smeigh for letting me help with a student situation.
To Natalie Molidor and Katie Jalove Filippelli for subbing at Lotus on Friday when we were super short staffed.
To the Stanton Guiding Coalition and Jill Becmer for the FABULOUS FOXES plan! I've seen lots of kids smiling as they head to the office with their positive referrals!!!
To everyone who attended and especially those who helped organize the BPAC Multicultural event!
-From Heather 💓
Please send me your kudos for colleagues each week! I'll happily post them in this section!
Just a Reminder...
It's been a bit since we've checked in on the Friz 5! I'll be sharing some reminders on each of the 5 over the next weeks.
24-25 Insurance
Our annual open enrollment period will begin on May 6, 2024 and end on May 31, 2024. Benefits will be effective September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025. All benefit eligible employees must complete the open enrollment process, even if you are not changing any elections or waiving coverage.
This year we will be hosting a virtual open enrollment meeting on 5/8 at 1:50 pm.
All staff are expected to attend the virtual meeting.
During open enrollment you can enroll, waive coverage, add family members or make necessary changes. It's also a great time to review beneficiary, address and other personal information for accuracy. Note: You must re-enroll into your Flexible Spending Plan every plan year.
Dental/Vision Coverage:
Employees are no longer required to take Dental/Vision Insurance through the district. If you do not use our Dental and/or Vision insurance plan, feel free to waive coverage.
Please reach out to Maddie Mercado with any questions or concerns, and please check your email for all needed links/materials.
BPAC
WOW! Thanks to everyone who participated or helped organize the first BPAC Multicultural Event!!!
A special thank you to Yesenia Flory for leadership of the BPAC. She, along with the BPAC Board, organize events for us, Gavin, and Grant. We have always led this effort, and we continue to do so. And Yesenia--thank you for all the hours you spend outside your job to do this work---and for being sure to timesheet your time outside your shift!
Company Nurse
Please know that our nurses are required, when staff report injuries, to have the staff member:
1. Complete an injury report
2. Contact Company Nurse
Our district insurance policy requires this. If we don't consistently follow this practice, we put the District in a place of liability, and I can't let that happen. That's why I get a copy of every injury summary report of injury---part of my job responsibility is to monitor for these, follow up with staff, and ensure that we are in compliance.
I know it can be a pain, but I really need everyone to follow the protocol. Thanks in advance!
24-25 Student Registration
FYI, registration for next year is open ! If families pose any questions that you can't answer or need assistance, please just direct them to the office. We got this!
Summer Curriculum Work
Hello!!! Just reminding you that it's that time of year...when I ask for your ideas and proposals for summer curriculum work! THANK YOU to the teams who have already sent in ideas! WOW....amazing!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing your great ideas! Please send any questions my way!
Let's Get Running!!!!!
We are so excited to share that we are hosting a Girls on the Run 5K on Saturday, May 18 at 8:30AM at Stanton School. A team of 3rd and 4th grade girls from Lotus have been working hard towards their goals in the Girls on the Run program. We are going to celebrate their unstoppable strength, resiliency, and courage at our community 5K. Each girl is unique with her own personal goals, so it is important that we encourage girls to go at their “Happy Pace” and that the goal is simply to keep moving forward towards the finish line (time does not matter!).
FREE ways YOU can support our 5K:
Run and/or walk it with our girls *all participants will need to complete and sign a waiver
Cheer for our participants along the way and/or at the finish
Volunteer to help the event run smoothly
Here are some important details about this event:
Race is on Saturday, May 18 at Stanton School
Race starts at 8:30am
Parking is available in the Stanton School Parking Lot
Volunteers will be helping direct runners.
Runners MUST STAY on the designated course
We look forward to you joining us in our community celebration! Please reach out to Mollie Crow or Kelly Roland with questions. THANK YOU to Mollie and Kelly for making this amazing event happen!!!!
Field Trips
FYI--field trips are already booked on the following dates. No additional trips can be booked on these dates:
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 20th - 8th Grade Class Trip
May 23rd - 1st Grade - Chicago Botanic Gardens
Illness Reporting
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!
May PTA Meeting
Thursday, May 9th, 2024
6:00 pm @ Lotus Library or Virtual
We are voting in new positions! Please attend.
Use the link to join: https://meet.google.com/
Family Rocket Launch
Thursday, May 16th 5-8pm (Rain Date: Friday, May 17th)
Lotus School -Use the Events Entrance
Dinner will be served!!
*Bring a 2 liter bottle for your rocket!!
You will decorate and launch your rocket!! Enjoy some dinner and snacks to celebrate the end of the year!!
Don't Forget- Wednesday, April 24 is our Union Articulation meeting at Stanton School for all EAFL members. Things to remember:
-An updated agenda will be mailed out to all members on Monday.
- If you are traveling from Lotus, please do not arrive before 1:45 PM to allow for a safe Stanton dismissal.
- We will be taking nominations for new board members, so if you are interested, make sure that you ask your questions ahead of time, and have someone nominate you. Wer will be looking for nominations for a new non-certified Vice President, certified Vice President, Stanton representative and Treasurer.
- Come for the company and stay for a sweet treat.
Check out our Region 49 Newsletter
Items to check out:
The Disability Rights and Inclusion (DRI) program at NEA is currently accepting grant applications from local affiliates through May 15, 2024. Local affiliates are strongly encouraged to apply for grants of up to $25,000 to support initiatives promoting disability rights and inclusion. This is an opportunity to support local leaders and members working to advance accessibility and equity for students and educators with disabilities. The grant program landing page with more information can be found here: Disability Rights and Inclusion (DRI) Coalition Grant | NEA.
Supporting Migrant Students and Families: A Fireside Chat: Please join us on April 23rd, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., for a fireside chat with partner and member experts in supporting migrant students and families, moderated by NEA Secretary-Treasurer Noel Candelaria. Link here.
Autism Acceptance Month: April is Autism Acceptance Month, a reminder to support and celebrate all students, regardless of ability or disability. Check out (and share!) our introduction designed to guide educators to best understand, support, and teach their students with autism.
Earth Month: April is Earth Month, a time to celebrate and protect our planet. NEA has a variety of resources to help teachers educate students about the Earth.
Thursday, May 9--PTA meeting at Lotus or via Meet
Thursday, May 16 5-8pm (Rain Date: Friday, May 17th)--PTA Family Rocket Launch
Saturday, May 18--GOTR/D114 Community 5K Walk/Run
Tuesday, May 21--Board of Education Meeting
Wednesday, May 22--8th Grade Promotion Ceremony at Grant
Friday, May 24--Early Release and Last Day of School---staff party details coming soon!
Just keep playing ball!!! WE GOT THIS!!!!!
Heather 💙
