The September Wellness Challenge is linked here. Remember, you just need to do ONE thing each day! I cannot WAIT to see who all takes on this challenge!!!!
Paste the URL below into your browser:
For Primary, use: https://www.edtomorrow.
For Secondary, use: https://www.edtomorrow.
This Week's Wellness Invitation: Schedule Time for You
Schedule 15 minutes per day that are just for you. Include this time in your calendar like any other appointment and engage in self-care, such as physical movement, reading, journaling, practicing yoga, sitting in silence, gardening, or listening to a podcast.
TIP: I know that the only time of day I can make this happen is first thing in the morning. So, I get up an hour before I need to do anything for anyone else, and that's MY time. I can use it for my run/workout, to work on writing the book I have in progress, or to sleep in if that's what my body needs. What time works for you?
Thank you to Collette deOliveira for working to have a translator available for three of our 7th-grade families at Curriculum Night.
Thank you to Natalie Molidor, Walter Nickles and Kaitlyn Goorsky for being an awesome Social Studies team! We've been able to share our frustrations/concerns with our new SS curriculum and create a list of questions for the consultant. We've also been able to share features we've used successfully, too!!!! Natalie, thank you for communicating with the company and spending time in my room trying to figure things out "in the moment"!
Thank you to Renee Evans and Aidan Earl for jumping right in from day one, making positive, meaningful contributions to our 7th grade team! We're lucky to have the two of you!
-Liz Andersen--7th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Thank you, Liz, for showing me grade when I forgot to refresh the page so these got in last week!
-Heather
Thank you Ellie for letting us borrow your yoga mats!!
Thanks Joe for fixing our squeaky door!!
Sherry Tietjen--Special Education Teacher at Lotus
HUGE Kudos and Thank you to Jill Becmer and Michele Burgess on this week 1. They have held my hand, shown me the ropes, encouraged and assured me this week. Thank you to Lynn Smolen and Oakley for the warm welcome and visits. Thank you to Mr. Sefcik and Mrs. Peters for welcoming me and accepting me here at Stanton. Adam Schaefer has stepped up to set up all the technology in my office to make it comfortable and functional. Sharon Preskill, thank you for answering my 1,563,677 questions a day! Finally, Thank you to all the staff that has stopped by my office to welcome not only me, but Murphy too. We are happy to be here!
-Amy McKendry--Health Tech at Stanton
Mary F, Michelle M, Ben L and Mindy, Thank you for your quick response for an important question. I appreciate your professionalism and effectiveness at putting our Team's needs first always. I appreciate you all so much.
Kim R, Amy S, Fiona W, Ellie S and my wonderful ECSE team, Mary, Monica, Mandi and Lumi, Thank you all for working together to do what was best during a challenging situation. I appreciate how everyone found a way to assist and put the needs of our learners first. Thank you for demonstrating an excellent way to work as a team!
Mike S=Thank you for being available in a moment's notice to assist with multiple student iPads in our classroom. We appreciate all you do to assure that our students have their devices working and available to all. We appreciate you!
Karen, the most fabulous van driver ever! Thank you so much for being flexible during mid-day pick up for one of our ECSE students. I am so happy to brainstorm solutions with you. You are such an asset to how our program runs. Thank you for all you do each and every day.
Pam E, thank you for the fantastic Fire Drill resources! You have wonderful ideas to enhance the curriculum with your social stories and songs. I am so thankful for your amazing heart. You made my day brighter, friend!
Thank you to Adisyn and Mary H for joining our ECSE classroom this week to assist with some staff gaps. We love having you join to assist, and our students love you! Thank you so much!
-Erin Donovan--ECSE Teacher at Lotus
Kudos to Mary Taylor for sharing your bounty of almond milk. My husband is very happy!
Kudos to everyone who helped me on Thursday! Especially Sharon, who turned the crazy alarm off my Apple Watch!
-Karen McMurphy--Special Education Teacher at Lotus
Shout to Chris, Kim & Kendra for the amazing work they have done so far for PBIS! The Courageous Cash seems to be a big hit with the kids and I cannot wait to see their excitement when the PBIS store opens!
~Kim Mack, Social Worker at Stanton
Kudos to Bryan Bailey for using a restorative circle to reset his class this week. #TraumaInformed
-Jeff Sefcik--Principal at Stanton
THANK YOU Calista Warmowski for getting our Courageous Ca$h rolled out this school year! Without your help we would all be BROKE! THANK YOU Jill Becmer and Michele Burgess for always willing to help us out with anything we ask! And a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our Stanton Staff Family for being so patient as we roll out the new PBIS Incentive Program and for all of the positive vibes!!
With Much Appreciation, Chris Carvell , Kendra Smeigh and Kim Husko
THANK YOU to ERICA for always being so available to assist with any and all classroom needs!!
THANK YOU to Colleen for her extraordinary organizational skills!!
THANK YOU to Brittany for being so conscientious and showing up to work, when she doesn't feel well.
THANK YOU to Chris Brown for her attention to the students and for her caring nature.
Adisyn for assisting with MAP testing.
Cheryl for her continued support in transporting students to and from class, and for her continued support with copying and laminating.
-Jackie Gorden-Platek-Special Education Teacher at Lotus
hank you Alana and Ellie for checking in to see if I needed help before the fire drill.
Thank you Misty for waiting on your break to make sure all kids were safe getting outside.
Thanks to everyone who donated to Mr. Ricky. I’ll have the gift card and edible arrangements for Wednesday when he is back in Fox Lake.
Thank you Colleen for getting all Laminating you got done for me.
Sherry Tietjen--Special Education Teacher at Lotus
I would like to express my gratitude to a few folk who helped procure an equipped space for UFLI instruction. Matt, thanks for your diligence as each previous option fell through. Cari, thank you for generously offering your room and use of your classroom technology. Mike, Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate how to navigate the promethean board and explain its nuances.
-Joseph Fernandez--Literacy Interventionist at Lotus
Kudos to Tracy, Andy, and Becky for coordinating a roadside vehicle repair during a student transport. It could not have gone smoother!
Kudos to Tracy for getting a student to a different drop off location and making sure he was with a parent.
Kudos to everyone pitching in to cover routes, you always make yourself available and it is truly appreciated.
Kudos to Hallie and Tammy for working with Allison as a team to help a student with transportation.
Kudos to Kristie for working together on procedures.
It is great to have another perspective and run through scenarios. Thank you!
-Andrea DeMatteo--Operations Coordinator
A big thank you to Georgette for always helping me communicate with families. I truly appreciate your kindness.
Kristie Paul--Administrative Assistant in the Business Office
Shout out to the third grade team for welcoming me in their everyday world with such open arms and open minds. Thank you for entertaining my crazy ideas and for inviting me to grow with you on this crazy, super cool, student led journey! We CAN do hard things and so CAN our kids
Shout out to Jenn Groot for handling a very delicate parent conversation with grace and compassion. Our families are lucky to have you
Shout out to all grade level teams for showing such resilience through, what has felt like, a very tricky testing season.
Shout out to Nicole and Ellie for sharing their expertise on childhood trauma and its adverse effects on tiny humans and big humans. Thank you for approaching this shared learning with such sensitivity and compassion
-Erica Barraza--Instructional Coach at Lotus
Niccole Culbertson for being the best mentor and providing chocolate on a tough day of feeling apathy this week.
Katy Gardner, Lisa Shannon, and Cathy Jawnyj for being there to talk to.
Kaitlyn Goorsky for the Friday pick me up giving me some coffee since I always love the smell of hers.
Hunter Banker for quick thinking during a lesson on Friday so I could walk and talk with some kiddos to provide support for a situation.
-Dayja Wydzierzecki-6th Grade ELA Teacher
I’d like to give kudos to Joe Fernandez for helping with the cleanup of the water fountain that was leaking on Wednesday.
-Don Ukleja--Maintenance for the District
Thank you Bryan Bailey for connecting with me on a moment's notice AFTER SCHOOL to be sure we were supporting a student.
Thank you Kim Mack for taking time to sit and have a conversation when I was having a rough day.
Thank Niccole Culbertson, Matt Shannon, Renee Evans, and Rachelle Peters for your flexibility this week when it came to 504 meetings vs MAP testing schedules.
Shout out to Karen Skorup, Oner Medrano and Leah Fahlster for your partnership supporting our students in ILPB. You are quite literally the best and I am so lucky!
Thank you Kim Husko for an impromptu chat that was needed more than you realize.
Thank you Cathy Jawnyj for tag teaming on students we share to make sure they are supported!
-Meghan Reimers--Counselor at Stanton
I just wanted to say a kudos and thank you to all of the wonderful staff at Stanton. I appreciated the encouraging texts, check-ins throughout the day and night and words of celebrations. The kindness, texts and emails from so many of you congratulating me on the birth of my granddaughter, were incredibly thoughtful and special! Thank you to every single one of you!
Walter NIckles and family--7th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Thank you so much to Jackie Mathews, Connor Macko, Hunter Banker, and Candace Johnson for their flexibility in working with our intervention groups!
-Katie Jalove-Filippelli--Instructional Coach at Stanton
Thanks to...
Everyone for helping this be our Health/Life Safety Inspections with the FEWEST number of findings in the last 7 years!!!!! WOWOWOWOWOW!!!!
Everyone who shared beginning of the year celebrations at the Board meeting.
To the Lotus Kitchen team for hooking me up with salad when I was in need of some eats!
Everyone who showed kindness or shared a positive word when last week's most stressful moments hit.
From Heather 🧡💛🖤
Please send me your kudos for colleagues each week! I'll happily post them in this section!
When thinking about your SEL target for the day, consider what skills the students need to show to be successful in learning during that period/lesson/time. You can even be more specific and think about any skill they will need to be able to do the engagement task.
For example, if they will be work in pairs:
Listen when your partner is talking.
If they are up and moving around:
Focus on the work and keep my body calm.
If they are working in a group:
Take turns and help each other do their part.
This Year's Budget
If you were on the Board meeting for the budget hearing on Tuesday, you heard that we are on a VERY tight budget in the Education Fund (where pretty much all the salaries, PD, and stuff comes from). To be clear, the difference between revenues and expenditures for the ED fund is $40,520. So, please be mindful when making requests, and know that we may have to be more conservative in saying, "Yes" to requests this year. Thanks in advance for understanding.
National Boards
Our National Board Certification is about to begin its work again! If you'd like to jump in, we can still add you! Please see me with any questions...or talk to anyone in the cohort to get their take:
Maureen DeVoss
Amanda Lorenz
Amber Mysliwiec
Emily Reczek
Sherry Tietjen
Know Anyone Who...
If you know anyone who would be interested in being a Van Driver, Sub Van Driver, or Bus Driver, please have them reach out! We can TRAIN bus drivers ourselves if they don't have a CDL, and van drivers don't need the CDL!!!
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID...UPDATED INFO!!! (9/3/24)
Please:
1. Email or text (847-309-3921) Heather to let her know.
2. In the communication, include proof of a positive test.
You are expected to return to work as soon as you meet the following criteria:
• Be free of fever for at least 24 hours (without medication)
• Be free of vomiting and or diarrhea for at least 24 hours.
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. If you are out more than 3 days--as with any illness--a physician's note is required.
Masks are available in the office for all staff who wish to wear one.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Dinner is served!! This Friday, September 27th, join us at Panera in McHenry (1850 N Richmond Rd) for our first Eat Out to Help Out event! A percentage of the day's profits will be donated back to the PTA. Make sure to show them the attached flyer so they know you're with District 114!
Join our Facebook group to see the meeting highlights, and while you're at it, join the PTA here! Membership dues are only $6 for the whole year!
We're looking for parents, teachers, and staff who are looking to get more involved to join our first event committees of the year. Click on the links below to learn more:
We're also looking for nominations for our next PTA Secretary! Please email us at pta@foxlake114.org if you're interested or would like to know more!
Mark your calendars! Our next meeting will be on Monday, October 14th at 6:00 pm. This meeting will be held exclusively online on Google Meets!
We hope to see you there!
**************
We are hosting McTeacher Night at McDonalds on October 16th from 5-8 and need your help! I have included a sign-up sheet to this email! Please make sure to include your t-shirt size so we can ensure you get the right size!
This event will only be successful with your help! We need you! Thank you in advance!
Thank you,
114 PTA
Key 2024-25 Dates
October 21-25 Book Fair
Family Reading Night (Lotus)
October 23
Santa's Breakfast and Stanton Book Fair--TBD
February 22
Family Fun Fair (Lotus)
April 22
Day of Service
We'll be forming a committee of parents and staff to plan this event for the SPRING of 2025
May 2
Rocket Launch (Stanton)
Possible Star Wars Theme
Rain date May 9
Steve Podgorski, our NEA Investment Adviser Representative will be holding virtual meetings for anyone who would like to meet with him. He is able to help you with loan forgiveness, retirement services and other financial planning. Our meeting date will be Thursday, October 10. The link to sign up is below:
*Don't forget about your NEA no cost benefits! To check them out, you should go to Deals and Discounts: www.neamb.com/start
*Additional benefits and deals can be found at ieanea.org
IRS Reminder for School Teachers: Up to $300 in Classroom Expenses Deductible for 2024
As educators gear up for the new school year, the IRS reminds schoolteachers that the maximum deduction for classroom expenses in 2024 remains at $300. This deduction allows educators to offset the cost of supplies, materials and other classroom essentials, providing some financial relief for those who spend their own money to improve their students' learning experience. Under federal law, this $300 cap is unchanged from 2023, continuing the adjustment for inflation that began in 2022 when the limit was raised from $250. Further details can be found here.
The One Conference is an opportunity for IEA Education Support Professionals, Higher Education and Retired members to develop professional skills, earn professional development credit and network with colleagues around the state. There will be a variety of sessions to choose from.
- Sessions will begin on Friday, Oct.18 at 5 p.m. and run through Saturday, Oct. 19 at 12:45 p.m.
- Keynote speaker - NEA Secretary-Treasurer Noel Candelaria.
- Register for the 2024 One Conference
- Hotel block link is on the Cvent registration page.
Eat Out 2 Help Out-Panera-McHenry
Join us in our first ever EO2HO event with Panera Bread!
When: Friday, September 27th, 2024
BOE meeting--October 15 at Lotus at 7PM
Lotus Fall into Reading--October 23, 2024
2024-25 Early Release Plans--DRAFT--work in progress
I explained why it's not tacos and what chef's choice (it's always confusing the first time for Kinder) and after telling them two times that the meat didn't get delivered, one of my students says confidently, "Wellllll I thinkkkk it's going to be.... tacos." 
And at the same time another student is clenching her fists in excitement because she is "SO excited for the surprise!!"
And as I was writing this another student goes, "I'm going to get tacos for lunch!" 
And as I was writing this another student goes, "I'm going to get tacos for lunch!" Thank you, Sami Lear, for this one! HYSTERICAL!!!!!
Heather
