Monday Morning Memo: Monday Morning Memo 5/20/24---THE LAST ONE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!!!

Here are the May Happiness Challenges !!!

And...here are the April Challenge WINNERS:

Anna Morris

Kim VanHoorelbeke

Jamie Smeigh

Thank you Amanda for helping me format my national boards paperwork! Thank you Colleen, Courtney, & Adisyn for watching Eliana for me to go to class and get paperwork done!

Thank you Courtney, Colleen, & Sienna for retesting grades so I could complete report cards!

Thank you Erica & Amanda for getting MAPs testing done for my class since Eliana decided to come early!

Thank you Sonia, Erica, & Amanda for snuggling Ellie so I could eat with two hands!

Thanks to everyone who reached out and checked on me! I’m so thankful for this D114 family

-From Sherry Tietjen (Special Education Teacher at Lotus)

Kudos to Kelly Roland, Mo DeVoss, Christine Spittler, Natalie Udstuen and Adisyn Illg for truly saving the day on Wednesday when I had an emergency situation come up. It definitely confirmed to me that I'm working at the right place. You are all angels on this earth and I'm so lucky to get to work with you!

-From Emily Reczek (2nd grade Teacher)

Thank you Al Giandonato for helping me cook for the PTA Rocket Launch Family Night, you always volunteer and help in any way you can, YOU are very appreciated!

Thank you to the Food Service Staff Lotus and Stanton, for another wonderful school year!

From teacher lunches to kids meals, special events and daily accommodations, you are AMAZING and I appreciate all you do every day.

One more week! Enjoy your Summer :)

Thank you to the amazing Secretaries Sue, Paula, Jill and Michele, your help and support during the school year makes life easier for us, you are appreciated and loved!! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!

Thank you Andrea for all your hard work, you Rock on all you do!!

Your work makes things run smoothly.

Thank you for dealing with my supplier's statements, they can be a nightmare. I appreciate you very much!

To all my custodian friends, BIG Thank you for all you do for the food service, you help us every day in so many ways. THAN YOU!

To all the TEACHERS: KUDOS to you!!! Thank you for all you do for the kids every day, it doesn't matter how bad things can get, you will always pivot back and give the best of you. One more week, hang in there!!

Have a great Summer!

-From Georgette Franco (Food Services Coordinator)

The ILP-A squad for doing a great job on the beautification project weeding and mulching our front entrance area around the flag pole.

David Roat for being the best “tech guy” Stanton has ever had! I’m not going to admit this to him but I’m going to miss my boy!!

To all our staff starting a new journey - thanks for everything and good luck

-From Jeff Sefcik (Principal at Stanton)

We want to thank every single person that helped, participated, and cheered on our girls for the Girls on the Run 5K this past Saturday! We appreciate you all for the support and sharing in the joys of the event! We couldn’t have done this without all of you and we are so grateful!

Thank you to: Heather, Matt, Jeff, Natalie U, Amber, Russ, Renee, Teri, Nicole B, Kim V, Gayle, Colleen, Karen, Alana, Megan, Sonia, Penny, Hilda, Yesenia, Tasha, Kendra, Maureen, CJ, Erica

-From Kelly Roland and Mollie Crow (Third grade Teachers and GIRLS ON THE RUN COACHES!!!)

I want to give a big shout out to all the staff at Lotus! I am truly thankful to work with such a caring, supportive group of people. Our Lotus staff really is like a family. Hugs and kind words flow freely on a daily basis! Everyone is willing to step up and help out whenever needed. You all deserve a big round of applause and a pat on the back for being truly awesome!

To my fellow Kinder Teachers and Paras

Ashley Wydra, Donna Saranzak and Sami Harshaw

Gina C and Cheryl S

I feel blessed to work with such an amazing team. You all are such unbelievably talented educators who truly make me a better teacher ( and human) just being in your orbit. Your ideas, insight and creativity inspire me daily. A recent visit from another school, truly highlighted how strong of a team we are and how well we support each other and our students. I am proud of the way in which we advocate for our students and use data to drive instruction.

Thanks ladies for being you!!

Thanks to all the CICO coaches, Ben L. Ashley A., Gina C and Amanda L for their unwavering support helping my littles navigate their day.

Sue P., a belated, thank you for coming down to Kinder and teaching our littles about bees and beekeeping. It was an amazing presentation and we all learned so much! Whenever my students see a photograph of anyone dressed in beekeeping gear, they say "it is just like Ms. Sue". You made quite impression and some great memories!

Thank you to Monica and Courtney for bringing sunshine to our classroom each morning. Thanks for helping myself and the students get started on a positive note each morning.

Brittany L. bless you for coming down and helping out with sensory breaks. I know I have expressed my thanks many times---but I want you to know how appreciative I am.

Special shout out to Amanda Lorenz. In case you all haven't noticed but Amanda is a multi-tasking rock-star. She has been so very supportive of the Kindergarten team and students. She has been going the extra mile to offer sensory breaks to students. She is an amazing CICO Coach and interventionist who is always willing to listen and offer her insight when requested. Words cannot express my thanks to you and all your efforts!

Lisa Huck

I don't know what we are going to do without you! Thanks for always being willing to help out with sensory breaks for our wiggly friends and for rounding up the ducks at the end of each day. Seriously, thanks for all the insight and the humor. I want you to know that because of your influence I tell my students everyday (weather permitting) "ask your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, babysitter, whomever is with you after school if you can GO OUTSIDE and play". As for the shoe tying-----I am hanging my head in shame!

Okay, I am running out of tissues so I need to stop myself!!!

-From Nicole Mild (Kindergarten Teacher)

Amber and Victoria, thanks for all your hard work and dedication on preparing for the Field Day Event. I could not have done it without you.

Russ thanks for stepping in and responding so quickly on Friday to fix a situation. You are always there when we need you.

-From Kim VanHoorelbeke (Para in the Library at Lotus)

Holy moly! My whole heart was full on Saturday at the Girls on the Run 5K! I know there are lots of pictures we can share, but here are a few that I got that summed up the spirit of the event...

Our event--the first one we've done on our own site--was the BIGGEST 5k held at any local GOTR site this spring (info shared by the GOTR on site coordinator)! WOWOW!

THANK YOU to everyone who made this happen...I won't name names because I will for sure leave someone out. I am so grateful to all the staff who supported this effort on Saturday and in all ways to get ready for Saturday. I do want to thank Dan and Elizabeth Olsen for donating the balloon pillars for the photo booth. And, THANK YOU isn't big enough for Mollie Crow and Kelly Roland, who poured their hearts and souls into this effort. They have truly changed our girls' lives for the better!

-From Heather 💓

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

Just a Reminder...

This is your last week to connect personally with the kids! Let's make this week special for our kids and for each other!!!!

✅Complete check out process

✅Finish Open Enrollment for 24-25 insurance

✅Certified Staff--Complete Supply Money Survey

✅Instructional Paras--Complete 24-25 Input Survey

✅Plan to celebrate Lisa Huck's retirement and the end of year at Pug Mahones starting at 2:00 on Friday

✅Email Heather if you'd like to request summer curriculum work hours

✅Turn in your May Happiness Challenges

Come Celebrate Lisa Huck's Retirement at the Board Meeting!

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.

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!

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.