Monday Morning Memo: Monday Morning Memo--5/13/24--ONE MORE TO GO!!!

Here are the May Happiness Challenges !!!

Thank you to EVERYONE who took time out of their day to help us with skating week!! From skating with your class to helping us tie! HUGE shoutout to Chris Brown and Gayle McManamon for your consistent support and help with skating week making sure everything went smoothly!

Shoutout to Russ for helping me cut PVC Pipe and Donny for helping me put my skate trainers together! The kids LOVED them and you were a huge part in making that happen!

- Amber Mysliwiec (PE Teacher at Lotus)

I just want to give a BIG thank you to the fourth grade team for being such awesome teammates and collaborating with me each day. You have been such a huge help to me and my first year. Thanks for all you do!

and

Brittany Luther, I don't know what I would do without you. You have such a BIG heart and I can't thank you enough for everything that you do day in and day out. You are such a great teammate and we rock together. You have totally made this year a year to remember. Sending you some much deserved appreciation for all you’ve taught me. Thanks for becoming such a dear friend to me. Much love my girl!

and

Colleen, thank you for your communication and always being on the same page with me to ensure our students are being safe and successful in all environments. You have such a devotion to your work and I appreciate you.

-From Ashley Arff (Special Education Teacher at Lotus)

Thank you Sue Pinkawa! We loved having you present to our class about Bees! The kids had such a wonderful time and loved the dance! You are a special person! Thanks again!

-From The Dream Team (ILP at Lotus)

Chris Carvell, Kendra Smeigh, and Kim Husko thank you for sharing your PE supplies and space with the NJHS for the the knockout tournament and Parents' Night Out. You always enthusiastically support any event they plan.

Sue, Karen, and Yvette, thanks so much for sharing your freezer for the 7th-grade ice pops, providing snacks for our NJHS Parents' Night Out, and supplying the Staff Pride Cookies. Your willingness to help is amazing!

Thank you David Roat and Jeff Sefcik for getting the NJHS new recording equipment for their WNJHS-TV project.

A million thanks to those of you who donated so generously to the Fox's Closet this year! Every day I see kids at Stanton wearing things that they have gotten from it. Thank you, Georgette Franco, for being my Fox's Closet partner, and to Norm Fischer for always helping us with setting up tables.

Cassie Curtis, Liz Andersen, and Niccole Culbertson, thanks for being the best teammates and making this year awesome!

-From Karen Brnot (7th grade Science Teacher)

Averie Schultz was 1 of 2 recipients of the Fox Lake Grade School District 114 scholarship presented on May 8th. Each candidate writes a personal essay and answers an additional prompt about their experiences while attending Lotus and Stanton School.

Kudos to the following staff members mentioned by name in Averie's response.

Mr. Bresset for challenging me to get out of my comfort zone.

Mrs. Husko for making me feel like I could do anything and that I am amazing.

Mrs. Smeigh for being my #1 supporter in and out of school

Averie finishes with - I love Stanton School - every aspect - she lists several examples concluding with even the lunch ladies!

-From Jeff Sefcik (Principal at Stanton)

Thank you to the 6-8 ELA team at Stanton for welcoming our colleagues from Lake Forest into their classrooms and participating in a rich Q&A session!

-From Natalie Molidor (Instructional Coach at Stanton)

Thanks to everyone who contributed and helped us celebrate the staff last week! I know I'll forget someone if I try to name everyone, so just please know that I appreciate you!

-From Heather 💓

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

Just a Reminder...

Come Celebrate Lisa Huck's Retirement!!!

Chromebook Pilot

Please find linked here a What, Why, and How document about student device and staff device replacement. I know much of this was shared with you at the EAFL articulation meeting (thank you!) because I've already gotten emails from certified staff who are interested in piloting the Chrome devices next year as their main device.

David Roat put together an awesome slide deck to list out the pros and cons of Chromebooks and Laptops---if you're looking for more information, please check it out.

I'd ask that you:

1. Please do a read through of the document--any questions, send them to me.

2. Email me if you're interested in being part of our learning pilot next year of certified staff trying out Chrome devices instead of laptops.

Support staff--please read through, but the plan would be for you to continue using Chrome devices!

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.

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.

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!!!!!

Here's WHAT:

Summer Curriculum Writing:
What do YOU want to work on this summer?

Example Projects:
*Using Flash Back (will be created during upcoming CTT time) to plan to Flash Forward for next year
*SST Planning
*Fencepost work, including 3-2-1 unit designs and 15 day challenge plans
*Stuff YOU want to work on!
Here's How:

Email Heather:
Name(s)
Purpose of the work/intended outcomes
Proposed number of hours
Proposed schedule and plan for work

Notes:
Work must be completed onsite.
Artifacts of the work must be shared with Heather.
Timesheets must be completed, and pay rate is the curriculum rate/hour.

Looking forward to seeing your great ideas! Please send any questions my way!

Let's Get Running!!!!!

We are so excited that our Girls on the Run/D114 Community Run/Walk 5K is approaching on Saturday, May 18th!

Here is the link for the 5K event waiver that all participants will need to complete:

https://forms.gle/aVhCSGi36wGjEue3A

When you arrive at the event, all participants must check in at the check in table. Participants will receive a wristband they need to participate in the event.

*Every participant on the course has to have a completed waiver on file.

Here are some important reminders about this event:

Race starts at 8:30am
This is a FREE event
You must check in before the race starts to receive your wristband
Parking is available in the Stanton School Parking Lot
Volunteers will be helping direct runners. Runners MUST STAY on the designated course
This is a rain or shine event
This is NOT a drop off event. Parents/guardians must be present at the event at all times

Please reach out to us with any questions. Thank you for supporting the Girls on the Run program and participating in this community event!

Coach Kelly & Coach Mollie (3rd Grade Teachers at Lotus)

Kelly Roland (kelly.roland@foxlake114.org)

Mollie Crow (mollie.crow@foxlake114.org)

Field Trips

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

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

May 20th - 8th Grade Class Trip

May 23rd - 1st Grade - Chicago Botanic Gardens

Family Rocket Launch--CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER!

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!!

Save the date: The next EAFL Spirit Day will be on Tuesday, May 21st. Join us that evening for a Board Meeting at Lotus!

What is YOUR passion project? Do you have one? Do you need money to get it going? IEA is here to help you get that project off the ground. Click below to start the application process

Click here for application:

All applications submitted January 16th to July 15th will be reviewed and applicants will be notified of their funding status by August 15th from score@ieanea.org.

Benefit Highlight - CustomGuide Interactive Training Courses for IEA Members & Staff

Did you know IEA members and staff have access to the interactive online CustomGuide training library for free? Brush up your Business Communication Skills with the Business Writing, Effective Presentations, or Email Etiquette courses!

Self-register for an account then login to access these courses and more. Questions? Reach out to Kelsey.Harms@ieanea.org

Cubs-Padres game at Wrigley Field - Special Ticket Offer for all Educators

Tuesday, May 7, 6:40 p.m. Learn more here.