🐰 Here's the link to the April Wellness Challenge! 🐰
Congrats to March Challenge winners:
Renee Evans
Kelly Roland
Natalie Molidor
Please let me know your choice of gift card!
April Focus--Trust Routines
This Week's Wellness Invitation: Model and Build Trust
Trust builders seek ways to help those around them. This week, take the initiative to help someone without being asked, including for an area of responsibility that might be outside your normal duties. Look for any issues or challenging situations, and then take action to help students or colleagues solve the problem!
Katy Gardner and Dayja Wydzierzecki- Thank you both so much for helping me set up the Salad Bar in the lounge on Wednesday! I appreciate all the help from you too. Also, thank you to everyone who contributed to bring food for the event!
Natalie Molidor, Cathy Jawnyj, and Niccole Culbertson -Thank you so much for helping me clean up the lounge after the salad bar on Wednesday!
Kaitlyn Goorsky--6th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Thank you to my mystery co-worker for the week. My students tried lots of new snacks and loved the blood orange ice tea!
Sherry Tietjen-Special Education Teacher at Lotus
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the support staff salad bar! It was a great turn out. A special thanks to our fabulous kitchen staff for their contributions, as well as Niccole Culbertson, Cathy Jawnyj, and Kaitlyn Goorsky for helping clean up and wash dishes.
Natalie Molidor--Instructional Coach at Stanton
Adisyn Illg- thank you for sharing your lunch and borrowing me the wheelchair.
Sherry and Russell for the support in our amazing classroom.
Donna for the fun gifts all week. You really know me.
-Colleen Robinson--Paraprofessional at Lotus
Thank you Mo DeVoss for watching my class in the hallway so that I could use the bathroom. I also learned how well they respond to the phrase "whisper voices"! Thank you!!
-Mollie Crow--3rd Grade Teacher
(A little late) Many thanks to Erica Barraza! She was super helpful with IAR testing and making sure everyone was completed. Besides the learning curve with the new format, testing was very smooth!
-3rd Grade Team (Mollie Crow, Kelly Roland, Teri Valenziano)
Oner Medrano: An enormous thank you for coming to the rescue for a Domain meeting to translate for a family. You are so talented in so many ways and an amazing asset to our community. Thank you for going above and beyond for our families.
Dan Olson: You are one heck of a great teacher mentor. You have shown so much support to Oner and the kids are loving having the two of you to learn math.
Renee Evans: Thank you for our entertaining power walks during our lunch break. I will never forget our pencil scavenger hunts or the excitement of what we will see next that is out of the ordinary, such as a mattress flying out the window of an apartment. Also, I love your fancy Friday!
Adam Schaefer: Thank you so much for all the tech support and friendship throughout the year! Also, for being kind and approachable to all our student needs.
Matt Shannon, Dan Olson, Laura Livesay, Oner Medrano, Jackie Matthews and Walter Nickles: A huge thank you to the absolute best 8th grade team. You inspire me every day with your heart, your energy and the way you lift up our students and each other.
Betty Cwiak: You show kindness every single day, through your words, your actions, and the way you support everyone around you.
Jeff Sefcik: The power of the pause is a valuable lesson and a gift that teaches us patience, reflection, and strength. My team of children at home are slowly integrating it into their sharing habits of toys, Incredible Hulk only lost one limb last week, but it was resilient and snapped back into the socket! Thank you for all of your guidance to our community and your friendship. Also, I love the quote, " Coffee is a warm hug in a mug!'
Rachelle Peters: Thank you for being so kind and supportive to our amazing community of friends. Your warmth and encouragement make all the difference.
Karen Lobodzinski: Thank you for all you have taught me with speech services. You are amazing with our students. You care and truly make a difference.
Collette de Oliveira: Our Math class would not be the same without our adventures together. Thank you for your flexibility with student learning groups and for exploring different approaches to enhance their learning.
Kim Mack: Thank you for all your guidance with our students. It has been a pleasure to watch a certain student blossom together.
-Lisa Zabratanski--Special Education Teacher at Stanton
Thank you so much to Kim Leable and Karen Lobo for immediately offering to help me with the finishing touches of the students’ Day of Service projects! It was extremely helpful since I had to attend a meeting after school.
-Caitlyn Fenton--4th Grade Teacher
Thank you to the Lotus Kitchen staff for cleaning all of the fruit and helping to get the snacks ready for the articulation meeting on Wednesday. You are the best.
-The EAFL Board
Thank you to:
*EVERYONE for a wonderful, successful, awesome Day of Service and an extended 10 Day Principals Challenge to get us to our goal!
*Jill Becmer and Al and Sue Giandonato--thanks for the work and for being at Tom's Meet and Greet
*Stanton Social Squad--thanks for the amazing salad bar lunch!
*Meghan Reimers and Lynn Smolen--for going on a home visit for one of our really complex families to help and check for safety!
*Kim VanHoorelbeke--for sending me a bucket filler picture...needed it more than you know!
*Stanton track coaches--for running a meet that wasn't yours to run. You did it for the kids, and it's noticed and appreciated.
*Ellie Seyfert for the late Friday call to help us get a planning team together for a complex student situation!
From Heather 🧡💛🖤
Please send me your kudos for colleagues each week! I'll happily post them in this section!
_
Let's all take a deep breath and remember that this is true...
Some strategies to remember and keep trying:
1. Stay calm and model regulation. When kids get louder and behaviors get bigger, we (voices and actions) get softer.
2. Assume positive intent.
3. Offer choices when possible.
4. Use simple and supportive language. Include visuals when you can, even using visuals instead of words.
5. Create consistent, safe routines.
6. Allow time and space for regulation.
7. Reinforce persistence, not just outcomes.
8. Model repair after mistakes.
9. Warn ahead before transitions.
10. Focus on connection before correction.
Summer Sealcoating
Our lots will be patched, sealcoated, and striped this summer:
Stanton - Monday June 2nd sealcoat and Tuesday June 3rd for striping.
Lotus - Wednesday June 4th for sealcoat and Thursday June 5th for striping.
Friday June 6th will be a rain date.
Summer Curriculum Work
Hello!!! 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!
Looking forward to seeing your great ideas! Please send any questions my way!
Open Enrollment for 25-26
Our annual open enrollment period will begin on May 5, 2025 and end on May 31, 2025. Benefits will be effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. All benefit eligible employees returning for the 2025-26 school year 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.
I've attached the following Open Enrollment materials for 2025-26:
- Benefit Summary Booklet
- Self-Service Guide
- Health Insurance Rates
Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Thanks,
Maddie
Injury Reporting
If you are injured on the job, you MUST IMMEDIATELY do the following:
1. Report this injury to an administrator.
2. Report the injury to Company Nurse.
Thanks in advance!
May 17, 2025!!!
Here's the waiver link to sign up for the Girls on the Run 5K! At the Girls on the Run event, which you can run, walk, skip, dance, or whatever you choose for FREE!
Here's the link to sign up for Jeff's event. All cash contributions directly offset costs or will be used as a donation. This is a not for profit celebration.
Remember the Employee Assistance Program!
The EAP is typically a great place to start when you need care and aren’t sure what support you or a family member might be needing. They can guide you to specific care and even set up the appointment for you. Take advantage of this confidential and supportive service to address any
personal or work-related challenges you may be facing by calling Perspectives at 800.456.6327.
Good morning, District 114!
We have a LOT to share!!
Day of Service: 10-Day Principals' Challenge!!
Thank you to everyone who pledged money to support this year's Day of Service fundraiser! We managed to raise nearly $16,000!
However, we missed our goal by about $4,000, so Mr. Peters and Mr. Sefcik have agreed to put on a 10-Day Principal's Challenge to see if we can meet or exceed our goal!!
Starting today through Friday, May 9th (10 school days), we'll be asking for additional donations. These can be sent to school in cash or check or donations can be made online here.
Mr. Peters and Mr. Sefcik will meet the following challenges based on how much money we raise:
- $2,000
- Mr. Peters will do the ice bucket challenge and dye his hair!
- Mr. Sefcik will do the ice bucket challenge!
- $4,000
- Mr. Peters will be duct taped to the wall!
- Mr. Sefcik will dress like a fox for the day!
- $6,000+
- Mr. Peters will dress up as the Kool Aid Man and crash through a Lego wall! Everyone one else will enjoy some Kool Aid!
- Mr. Sefcik will dress like a maid for the day and direct traffic during arrival and dismissal!
Remember, the funds earned will be going to fund the PTA's work for next year AND start a fund to build a new playground at Lotus!
Family Rocket Launch: Launch Into Summer!!
This Friday, May 2nd is the Family Rocket Launch!! Come join us at Stanton from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Bring an empty 2 liter soda bottle to decorate and blast off! We'll also have pizza, popcorn, and lemonade. Help us launch into summer!!
Teacher Appreciation Week!
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. On Wednesday, May 7th, the PTA will be catering breakfast for our wonderful teachers at each school!! We are asking parents to donate juice and pastries (especially gluten free options), and we need 2 volunteers at each school to help set up and clean up. Please consider signing up here (easier to sign up on a computer instead of a phone)! Thank you!
Last Eat Out to Help Out Event for the school year: Dogs N Suds!!
Our last EOTHO event will be held on Tuesday, May 13th from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Miller's Dogs N Suds Drive in in Ingleside. 10% of all sales made between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm will be donated to the PTA! Come join us for a final fun dining experience and you might just see Rocky the Star and Stanton's Fox make an appearance!
Next PTA Meeting!
Mark your calendars for the next PTA meeting! Monday, May 12th at 6:00 pm in the Lotus library!
Can't join in person? Join us on Google Meets!
Don't forget to 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!
YOUR PTA Board
Dates to Mark Down:
Wednesday, April 30- EAFL Elections and Bylaw voting at each building throughout the day.
We would still love to have a couple more people willing to serve on the election committee for this election. This would include counting votes and sharing election information. If you are interested in helping out and getting involved, please email Maureen @ maureen.devoss@foxlake114.org
**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 News:
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 & their local associations to collaborate and create opportunities for community service/school projects APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 SCHOOL YEAR WILL OPEN APRIL 1, 2025
PD Calendar: Take a look at all the PD training 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
🛬 May 5-9--STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK 2025! 🛫
May 17
District 114 CARES
At District 114 Fox Lake, the well-being of our students and families is our top priority. Understanding the critical role mental health plays in student success, we have launched District 114 CARES—a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving access to quality mental health services across our community.
What is District 114 CARES?
District 114 CARES stands for Community, Advocacy, Resilience, Engagement, and Support. This program is specifically designed to provide essential mental health resources and support to students and families, with a focus on those facing financial challenges.
Our mission is to ensure that every student has the tools they need to thrive—both emotionally and academically. By addressing barriers to care, we aim to empower students to reach their full potential in and out of the classroom.
Our Commitment
Through District 114 CARES, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering a supportive, resilient community where every student has equitable access to the resources and support they need to succeed.
ICE and D114 Plans
Please see the document linked here, which outlines exactly how we will respond should ICE come onsite.
Paste the URL below into your browser:
For Primary, use: https://www.edtomorrow.
For Secondary, use: https://www.edtomorrow.
2024-25 Early Release Plans--DRAFT--always a work in progress
Heather 🧡
