Monday Morning Memo: Monday Morning Memo 10/28/24

The October 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!!!!

October Challenges need to be turned in by Monday, November 4 to be part of the gift card raffle.

Paste the URL below into your browser:

For Primary, use: https://www.edtomorrow.com/439p

For Secondary, use: https://www.edtomorrow.com/439s

October Focus--Balance Routines

This Week's Wellness Invitation: Ask for Feedback

Ask several colleagues/family members whether you demonstrate a high-energy, well-balanced, professional, and joyful self--a life where you are confident, connected, hopeful, and happy--on most days. Record their responses and reflect on them.

Kudos to Kaitlyn Goorsky who brightened my day with a surprise pumpkin treat.

-Michele Burgess--Administrative Assistant at Stanton

Thanks to Adam for helping me troubleshoot google issues working across multiple devices, would not have figured it out without your help!

Thanks to Cathy Jawnyj for building connections and learning opportunities with your students. Thank you for working with a student before school to show him how to sew up holes in his Halloween costume, he learned a life skill while building a stronger relationship with you.

-Lynn Smolen--Special Education Coordinator at Stanton

Thank you, Caitlyn Fenton for being flexible and helping me with my class during the book fair preview. I truly appreciated your patience and understanding.

-Mollie Crow--3rd Grade Teacher

"HUGE SHOUT OUT OF THANKS" for everyone who was a part of our Fall Family Reading Event. We had at least 80 students attend with families who had a blast. It's such a fun event with a powerful purpose and WE pulled it off. I'm so grateful for all your support and wonderful ideas/creations.

-Kim VanHoorelbeke--Lotus Library Paraprofessional

Gayle McManamon – Thank you for generously sharing your room with Innovation Learning, allowing us to set up for Family Reading Night smoothly.
Kim VanHoorelbeke – A huge thank you for organizing such a fantastic Family Event! Your hard work made it a wonderful experience for everyone, and we appreciate all the volunteers who helped bring it to life.
Mike Szotek – Grateful for you taking a late call to troubleshoot a tech issue with me.
Yesenia Flory – Thanks for your dedication in organizing the Day of the Dead Event. Your efforts, along with the help of our wonderful volunteers, created a meaningful and memorable celebration.
Sonia Miller and Russ Xhemaili – A big shout-out to both of you for stepping up in a crunch to get the building clean on Friday night.

-Matt Peters--Lotus Principal

To Cheryl Schuck, Chris Brown, and Erica Barraza for helping, being flexible, and accommodating this week with small group testing for our students who need it. We appreciated your help. Thank you!

-Stephanie Kolk--4th Grade Teacher

Thank you to Hunter Banker for everything you do for the students on my caseload and the students in sixth grade. I appreciate how you problem solve to help students that struggle see success. I can tell that you really care about our kids! I am grateful you joined the Stanton family this year."

Thank you to Connor Macko for always going above and beyond to do what's best for students. You are so helpful and I appreciate the care that you give to the students on the 6th grade team as well as the students on my caseload. I am grateful you joined the Stanton family this year.

-Cathy Jawnyj--Special Education Teacher at Stanton

Thank you Matt Peters for coming to visit our class and watch how enCORE works. They boys were proud to show you them learning math!

Thanks Amy McKendry for being in my village and helping me last minute.

Thanks Colleen for being flexible with her breaks and lunch Friday to meet the kids needs. Also thanks for creating a password cheat sheet for more independence with the boys!

Thanks you Mindy for the climbing toy for Ellie to grow with!

Thanks Alana for bringing in a pumpkin for my boys to work together and create!

--Sherry Tietjen-Special Education Teacher at Lotus

Thank you Staff (and Students) for the All Star Principal Appreciation Day surprise in my office. I LOVED IT!

Ms. Kim - thank you for setting up an amazing family reading night

Yesenia - putting so much work into BPAC event this weekend

Ellie and Nicole- for helping me brainstorm ideas for some holiday programs

Jen Groot- going above and beyond for an absent student situation

Michelle Magness- helping the behind the scenes audit work for prek

Prek Team- being flexible with our littlest learners in all situations and helping each other brainstorm ideas for student needs

Allie Mixon and Matt Peters- always remaining calm and proactive in whatever comes our way

Adisyn Illg, Sarah Gallivan, and Mary Honea - reliable, helpful and always willing to be everywhere and anywhere needed

--Natalie Udstuen--Assistant Principal at Lotus

Thank you to...

Kim VanHoorelbeke and everyone who made an amazing Family Reading Event happen!

Karen Brnot, Laura Livesay, and everyone who was part of a great Halloween Dance at Stanton!

Yesenia Flory and the BPAC for an incredible Day of Dead celebration for our families!

Fabulous events for our kids and families, and each was a team effort. We're so lucky to have people who care so much in D114!

Kudos to Natasha Pfau and her husband, Will--they coached the first ever Grant Jr Bulldogs all girls flag football teams this year. They placed 2nd overall! This is a huge victory as the girls range from 2nd-5th grade and were playing 4th and 5th graders. They had one of smallest teams in the league and still held their own. Neva and Effy were the only Lotus students on the entire team... hoping to see more Lotus All Stars next year!!!

From Heather 🧡💛🖤

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

Key Insights on During-the-Lesson Assessment of Student Learning

• Keep checks for understanding brief and frequent. “Delivering long blocks of direct instruction without stopping to assess can lead to big gaps in learning,” says Gonzalez. Better to inject formative assessments several times during a lesson.

• Plan “hinge” questions. Assessment guru Dylan Wiliam is an advocate of building in short, mid-lesson questions to check on whether students have grasped what’s been taught so far. A well-constructed hinge question (for example, tell which of these fractions is biggest:
4/5, 1/8, 2/2, 5/16) builds in common misconceptions and gives the teacher immediate feedback on how many students understand the concept or skill.

• Use a system that checks all students. Some teachers check for understanding by asking, “Any questions?” or having students signal their level of understanding with thumbs-up, thumbs-sideways, or thumbs-down. These commonly used strategies often fail to reveal gaps in student understanding. Better to use high-tech polling (Kahoot, Plickers, or other
digital polling programs) or low-tech approaches like small whiteboards or students responding to multiple-choice questions by holding one, two, three, or four fingers on their chests.

• Create a culture that normalizes mistakes. When formative assessments are low- stakes, students will take risks and explore their level of understanding without fear of negative consequences.

• Follow up on students’ responses. “Giving a formative assessment is pointless if we don’t do something in response to the results,” says Gonzalez. Some effective practices:
- Telling students to “convince your neighbor” that their understanding is correct;
- Reteach the concept to a small section of the class while other students work independently;
- Have students visit learning stations that provide instruction for the different ways students may have misunderstood.
The key is prompt follow-up that directly addresses errors, misunderstanding, and confusion revealed by the formative assessment.

“5 Condition for Getting Formative Assessments Right” by Jennifer Gonzalez in Cult of
Pedagogy, October 14, 2024

Here's a CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING strategy...

Veterans Day Reminders

Board Resignation

We've received Liz Curatolo's resignation from the Board. Given this, we need to publicize the vacancy, interview those interested in serving, and appoint to fill her position. Here is information that will go out to families, will be posted on the website, and will be published in the Daily Herald....

On October 14, 2024, the D114 Board of Education was notified of a member’s resignation, creating a vacancy on the Fox Lake Grade School District 114 Board of Education. Residents of Fox Lake District 114 who are interested in applying for the vacancy are requested to submit a letter/email of interest by noon on Friday, November 8, 2024 to:

Email:

heather.friziellie@foxlake114.org

Mail/Drop Off:

D114 Board of Education

℅ Heather Friziellie, Superintendent

29067 W. Grass Lake Road

Spring Grove, IL 60081

Candidates must, on the date of their appointment, be citizens of the United States of America, 18 years of age or over, residents of the State of Illinois and the school district for at least one year immediately preceding their appointment, and registered voters.

Letters of interest should include a brief biographical background as well as work experience. The candidate will be seated at an upcoming Board meeting.

For further information please contact:

Heather Friziellie

Superintendent of Schools

847-973-4028

heather.friziellie@foxlake114.org

Any Santas Out There???

The PTA is looking for someone to play Santa at the Breakfast on December December 7th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. They have two Santa suits, so the time can be split up. If you're willing to volunteer, please let me know!!!!

SPIRIT WEAR!!!!

You have the opportunity to order spiritwear for Lotus, Stanton and District. There are two stores that you can shop from. One is for staff only and there is a store that the students and parents can order from. You are welcome to order from whichever you like. All orders are due by October 31st with delivery mid-November. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Here are the two links to the stores:

Staff: https://d114staff2024.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Students: https://d114student2024.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

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!

Happy Monday District 114!

Happy Halloween week!

Thank you to everyone who made purchases at the Scholastic Book Fair this past week! We're pretty sure this was the most successful book fair we've ever had! The proceeds from book fair sales go right back to the kids and the library and help fund things like Book Buddies!

Our next EOTHO will be at Chipotle in Lakemoor on Tuesday, November 12th from 5pm to 9pm. We hope to see you there!!

Teacher Conference Dinners will be held on Monday, November 25th from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. We're looking for parents who are interested in helping coordinate. Sign up here!

Santa's Breakfast will be here before we know it! We've already started planning, but if you are looking to get more involved to help us plan this year's Santa's Breakfast: Sign up here!

During Santa's Breakfast, we'll be running our Holiday Market. If you or someone you know is interested in securing a spot, please email us at pta@foxlake114.org so we can get an application sent your way!!

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!

Our next meeting is Monday, November 11th at 6:00 pm in the Lotus Library. Can't make it in person? Join us on Google Meets! Come hear about all the cool stuff we've got planned and share your input.

YOUR PTA Board

Key 2024-25 Dates

Santa's Breakfast and Stanton Book Fair--December 7th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm

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

**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

Region 49 has it in their budget for people from local schools to go to a variety of different conferences and professional development opportunities. If you choose to attend, please contact Kendra Logar and save your receipts for any expenses regarding the event. You can get reimbursed up to a certain amount specified by the region depending on the event. There are tons of opportunities coming up!