Monday Morning Memo: Monday Morning Memo 12/2/24

The December Wellness Challenge is linked here. I changed it up a little bit for this month, but I'm guessing you'll still see the 4 domains of wellness reflected!

Paste the URL below into your browser:

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

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

December Focus--Awareness Routines

This Week's Wellness Invitation: Track Daily Emotions

Track your daily emotions this week, such as anger, sadness, fear, joy, tenderness, or excitement. Pause throughout the day and ask yourself, "What emotions and I experiencing right now?" No judgement...just observation!

A big thank you to our wonderful kitchen staff for a tasty Thanksgiving feast!

Sending the biggest thank you to Haley B. for handling a sick student so quickly and calmly. Better you than me this time haha!

Thank you to Abbey Kadera for translating during our shared students conferences. You are so great with our families and they respect you so much!

Finally, a big thank you to Don for always being so accommodating to my heating requests. I appreciate you!

Jen Groot - First Grade Teacher

As for the kudos, I'd like to write about Calista Warmowski.

Calista decorated the entire sixth grade hallway at Stanton and even ventured out towards the cafeteria. To top it off, people walking by were amazed at what a wonderful job she did!

Have a great week...Mark Perlman--Long Term Sub at Stanton

Thank you to Calista Warmowski and Marla Walinski for the awesome holiday door decorations in the 6th grade hallway!

-Katy Gardner--6th Grade Math Teacher

Sherry and Ashely for clarifying information and for providing much needed resources!!!

Brittany and Megan for revising and compiling Data Sheets.

-Jackie Gorden-Platek--Special Education Teacher at Lotus

Kudos to the 8th grade team: Laura, Matt, Walter, Dan, and Jackie! Let's make the next 15 days of education before break fun and motivating for all! We got this team!

Kudos to the SPED team as we dive into December's IEPs/3years evaluations, and data collection. Making a difference, one student, one goal at a time!

-Lisa Zabrantanski--Special Education Teacher at Stanton

Thank you, Colleen for coming with Eliana and I to Ellie’s first movie!!!

Thanks, Ashley for always being there to support me even when it’s home life and not school related!

Love you both so much for being a part of my village!!

-Sherry Tietjen--Special Education Teacher at Lotus

I would like to kudo the 6th grade team and all their hard work the last week with flexibility and completing conferences.

I would also like to shout out Callista and Marla and anyone else that helped decorate the doors to our rooms.

-Dayja Wydzierzecki--6th Grade ELA Teacher

Thank you so much Calista Warmowski for decorating my door. I appreciate all of your hard work

Thank you to the sixth grade team for a great conferences. Thank you for coming together for one student's mom on Tuesday morning.

-Cathy Jawnyj--Special Education Teacher at Stanton

The ECSE team for helping me carry in all the Thanksgiving Dinner Donations from PTA and some of our wonderful community members. A huge shout out to Paula Kvacik for organizing all of the meals and helping ensure families got what they needed for the occasion.

Kelly Roland and Kendra Logar for letting me sit in on conferences for two very different reasons, but ultimately to ensure long term success and maintaining positive relationships for our students.

-Natalie Udstuen-Assistant Principal at Lotus

I want to thank Sonia Miller and Hilda Serna for their help in decorating for the Reading Bootcamp. It was so nice of you to jump in to help me out when I was running short on time.

I would also like to thank the following people for their help with putting up and/or taking down the decorations and pictures on our Veterans Day Wall: Cary Scarino, Erin Connolly-Jordt, Donna Saranzak, Tasha Pfau, Courtney Maas, Sonia Miller, Sue Pinkawa, Paula Kvacik, and Teri Valenziano. Your help was greatly appreciated and the wall looked amazing!

-Joan Kantenwein--Literacy Interventionist at Lotus

Kudos to Calista Warmowski and Marla Walinski for decorating my door! All of the doors in the 6th grade hallway look amazing!

Thank you to Natalie Molidor, Kaitlyn Goorsky, Kim Husko, and Cathy Jawnyj for all their support through my new role.

Huge shoutout to Hunter Banker and Leah Falster for everything they do for the kiddos in my room, they have so much patience and have been incredibly flexible while I have been trying out some different things within the last few weeks.

Last but not least, I have so much appreciation for the entire 6th grade team.. Katy Gardner, Dayja Wydzierzecki, Kaitlyn Goorsky, and Cathy Jawnyj collaborate, problem solve, and help make work fun!

-Katie Jalove-Filippelli--Instructional Coach/6th Grade Science Teacher

Thank you, Abbey, for going above and beyond for conferences!!! Without you, we wouldn't have been able to communicate with many of our parents! You are such a valued member to Lotus School and especially to me:) I couldn't and wouldn't want to do my job without you!!!

-Kim Leable--EL Teacher at Lotus

Thank you to...

Everyone at Stanton who signed the card for my dad and had anything to do with the amazing letters written by the kids for the next Honor Flight. A special thank you to Natalie Molidor for making it all happen. He has shown the card to literally anyone who comes over and he tears up each time he talks about his Veterans Day at Stanton. Thanks to everyone for making one of my most important people feel so special.

From Heather 🧡💛🖤

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

As we transition back from break, here are a few quick check in questions...pick one to welcome your kids back to learning! Remember...not all of our students have happy times away from school, so questions like these can help everyone feel welcome back!

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!

Good Morning, District 114!

Stanton's Book Fair is this week from Monday, December 2nd through Saturday, December 7th. We're still looking for some volunteers to ring up purchases in the mornings from 8:00 am to 8:30 am. Please consider signing up here!

Santa's Breakfast is this Saturday, December 7th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Have a jolly good time eating a delicious breakfast, making a craft, visiting Santa, and shopping at our Holiday Market! Purchase your tickets here!

Join our Facebook group to see the meeting highlights and more, and while you're at it, join the PTA here! Membership dues are only $6 for the whole year!

Mark your calendars for our next PTA meeting: Monday, December 9th at 6:00 pm in the Lotus library! We'll be discussing the Family Fun Fair and Day of Service. We'd love to hear your thoughts on these two events. Don't have anyone to watch your kiddos? Bring them with you! Members of the National Junior Honor Society from Stanton will be with us to keep them entertained while you get caught up on what's happening this month. Can't join in person? Join us on Google Meets!

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

Want to know what is happening in the Region? Check out the Region 49 Newsletter!

**Get your SCORE GRANT applications in!! Grants for up to $1,000 are available for IEA members and their local associations to collaborate and create opportunities for community service or school projects APPLY HERE

PD Calendar: Take a look at all the PD trainings we lined up here at IEA by clicking here : The IEA is an ISBE approved provider for Professional Development Clock Hours. Clock hours are offered at trainings that meet the PD requirements set by ISBE. Events on the calendar are hosted by IEA or vetted by IEA

Burroughs Education Scholarship - $2,500

Applicants must be graduating seniors heading to college and have at least one parent or legal guardian who is a school employee. Scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement, character, career goals, and potential. Learn more and apply by Jan. 31. Share the flier.