Monday Morning Memo

Sunday, September 11, 2022

Monday Memo 9/12/22

Thank you Mike Szotek for always being around and helping me with every tech thing that comes our way. Also for allowing PE to use a prometheian board and being able to implement technology in our lessons! We appreciate it very much!

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This is LONG overdue, but shoutout to Sonia for making the staff lounge look absolutely stunning! You put in so much hard work to make that special for the Lotus staff. You truly are one of a kind! I am so honored to work with you each and every day!

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Maureen DeVoss, you go above and beyond for everyone. Thank you for always being there to help and support everyone. You truly resemble one team all in.

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SPED Team, thank you for sharing all of your information with the Specials and PE team! We appreciate everything you do and everything you gave us!

-From Amber Mysliwiec (Physical Education teacher at Lotus)

A big thank you to grade level teams for taking the time to look closely at schedules so that students receiving additional supports have everything they need to be successful! It is not easy to revamp schedules in the 3rd week of school and uproot the work you've already put in. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. Thank you to all service providers for taking the time to collaborate with every grade level about schedules and for your creativity and flexibility! This week I was reminded of how invested every single person is in ensuring our students get exactly what they need and more It truly takes a village! #oneteamallin

-From Erica Barraza (Instructional Coach at Lotus)

BIG Thank You to Michelle Magness for sharing her schedule format with me! I love it!

-From Kim Leable (EL teacher at Lotus)

The bus drivers would like to give a shout out to Jack Resnick for being an amazing Stanton crossing guard.

Thanks for all you do!!!!!!

-From all the Bus Drivers

To my new 6th grade teammates--thanks for the warm welcome!

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To Stephanie Kaye for always jumping in with both feet whenever asked for assistance!

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To Miss Jalove-Filippelli well, for ALL you do!

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Of Course NORM!

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To Jeff and Rachelle for setting an incredible building culture.

-From Rich Bressett (6th grade Social Studies teacher)

Thank you Stephanie Kaye for offering me the use of your office to meet with a student who needed more quiet and privacy than my office was able to provide during their moment of need.........And thank you for your insights and suggestions for improving student engagement during Community Building!

and

Thank you Karen Brnot, Lemar Wilson, Sarah Groebe, Kim Husko, Laura Livesay, Kendra Smeigh, Leah Falster, Veronica Kretz, Liz Andersen, and Mary Taylor for bringing your student concerns to my (and Meghan's) attention. Your compassion and attentiveness to their needs is greatly appreciated.

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Thank you Chris Carvell for taking the time to carry down the whiteboards to our offices and to Norm Fischer for installing them. We are so grateful to have them. We promise they will be well used!!! Thank you!!!

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Thank you Michele Burgess for your time and effort in ordering our crisis stickers and getting them out to staff. And Thank you Jill Becmer for notifying parents that this information was shared. I am so grateful to know that our students have these invaluable resources if they should ever need it.

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Thank you Nicole Brinkman and Ellie Seyfert for taking the time to communicate with Meghan and I mutual concerns.

Thank you Jeff Sefcik, Rachelle Peters, and Lynn Smolen for ALL your support in navigating a variety of challenges this week.

Thank you Meghan Reimers for EVERYTHING you have brought to the table! I am sooooo grateful to have you by my side this year as we navigate the highs and lows of this amazing year!

-From Kim Mack (Social Worker at Stanton)

A huge thank you to both Stephanie Silverman and Lisa Werner for all of their hard work to support students. I appreciate all of the time you have each spent in making certain that the needs of students are met. Thanks, too, for connecting with all adults (teachers and parents) to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

-From Mary Santi (Special Education teacher at Lotus)

Thank you to Erica Barraza for coming in twice this week to allow the Preschool Team to have time for classroom peer observations AND for facilitating reflection time after school! I am blessed to work with colleagues who value the amazing process of peer observations and who were ready and willing to participate in this process! Thank you to Ben Landmesser and Mary Foersterling for coming together and demonstrating that we truly are “one team, all in!” I’m so proud of the work our team has been doing to best help our youngest learners!

-From Michelle Magness (PreK teacher at Lotus)

Kristine Gumm---Thank you for your creativity in designing the Kindergarten Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree. We appreciate all your efforts!

Deb Marineau and Kristine Gumm---Thank you for all your hard work making copies and organizing Kindergarten letter activities. Kristine you are an organizational queen.

Deb M, Ellen , Linda and Melanie thank you for greeting our Kinders with smiles, kind words and, of course, assisting with breakfast.

Thanks to all of our wonderful cafeteria staff for helping Kinders navigate the lunch room and procedures.

Amanda Lorenz---thanks for making an idea for a listening station a reality.

-From the Kindergarten Team

Thanks to Ellie S. and Cathy J. Thank you for brainstorming seating for a wiggly Kinder student.

-From Nicole Mild (Kindergarten teacher at Lotus

Thank you to:

The Evaluation Committee for all your hard work and the great staff presentations!

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The EAFL executive board for your partnership in leading D114. I appreciate the input, questions, perspective, and collaboration more than you can know.

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Kendra Smeigh and Chris Carvell for quickly clearing out locker room space to create more privacy areas for students to change.

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Everyone whose classroom I've visited. I'm WOWED by what's happening. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
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THE ENTIRE LOTUS STAFF FOR BEING AWARDED MODEL SCHOOL STATUS!!!! I couldn't be more proud of you!!!!

-From Heather (Lucky, Lucky Superintendent)

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

Here's a link to all the ideas gathered for the HOW and WHY of the Friz 5...I'll keep adding as great ideas come forward.

I saw learning and SEL targets in EVERY ROOM I visited this week!!!!! Here are some examples 😍

Board of Education Vacancy

I'm sad to let you know that the amazing Nannette Kiesgen has decided to step down from the Board of Education. Nannette gave so much time and energy to D114 in many roles but especially as a Board member. We'll formally accept her resignation at the September meeting then move forward with seeking a candidate. HOWEVER, if you know of a D114 resident who may be a good candidate, please let me know so I can informally reach out to them. 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. Please reach out with any questions!

SPIRIT WEAR!!!

If you'd like to purchase Lotus/Stanton/D114 spirit wear, please check out this link!

The store will be open until September 16, and we have been guaranteed that orders will arrive by mid-October. Please contact Kristie Paul with any questions.

THANKS!

Found these this week and they really spoke to me. Maybe you'll like them, too!

Thanks to everyone for your feedback! Erica and Stephanie are sending out Lotus- and Stanton-specific supports, but I'll also post the link to a folder containing them all here so they are easy to find, everyone can see everything, and you're reminded to check them out!

Don't forget that being a member of the NEA and IEA has benefits. Visit the benefits page to see what they have to offer for you!

Not sure how to access the IEA Members Only section?

Go to www.ieanea.org, and click on the Members Only link (above the red banner in the upper right corner.)
Login or register on the following page.
If you need your IEA number, registration, or login information, use IEA Connect located in the lower right hand corner of every screen.

**Mark your calendar...we will be having our EAFL Articulation meeting on Wednesday, September 21 at Stanton. A more detailed agenda will follow.

Looking for learning opportunities? Check out these offered by the IEA:

Check out the IEA Teaching and Learning Portal on the IEA website for FREE clock hours on your own time! It is found on the IEA Members Only section of www.ieanea.org.

See below for Curriculum Night dates!

September 20--Board of Education Meeting at Lotus at 7PM

October 6--Day of Service--details coming soon!

Curriculum Nights

All from 6-7 PM

Sept 13 (Kinder & 3rd)

Sept 15 (Stanton)

2022-23 Fencepost Standards all grades, all content areas!

22-23 Second Step Pacing Guide--UPDATED!!!

PBIS World--NEW ADD! This site is awesome for identifying strategies to use to support challenging behaviors! Thank you to Nicole Brinkman for this share!

2022-23 Early Release/Professional Development Planning Calendar

2022-23 Assessment Calendar

2022-23 D114 Calendar

2022-23 Parent/Student Handbook

Shared folder of resources

Link to D114 Business Office Share Folder

*check here for documents most frequently used/requested

Please let Heather know of suggestions for any documents to add to this

folder!

D114 Family Update

Work Order Request

Technology Support Request

-Thank you, Misty Madula, for this share!!!

Have a really, really awesome week!

-Heather 💗

Monday, September 5, 2022

Monday Morning Memo---9/5/22

Welcome to...

Kelly Capp--Permanent Substitute at Stanton

Krystal Halek--Custodian at Stanton

Thank you Katie Jalove-Filippelli for sharing your "student-view Skyward" slides with me to use for FLEX. You saved me a ton of time and it's much appreciated!

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Thank you Veronica Kretz for getting us the fox hand sanitizer holders!!

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Thank you David Roat for being so kind and understanding when I need endless help with systems questions re: Amplify, and for helping with my broken technology.

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Thank you Laura Livesay and Liz Anderson for your guidance with Student Council as I learn the ropes. I know I have big shoes to fill!

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Thank you to the ELA teachers for your persistence and patience as everyone navigates the new curricular resources, digital programs, double blocks...etc...One step at a time!

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Kudos to Sarah Groebe for starting the year off strong with her Sheltered ELA program...you have lots of great things planned while we work out the kinks with the benchmarking program!

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Thank you to Mike Sementa for helping organize a bunch of student data for the SST agendas.

-From Stephanie Kaye (Instructional Coach at Stanton)

Melanie S., Thank you for being the yin to my yang. Your constant support and can-do attitude is amazing!! I appreciate your efforts to transform our classroom into a home-like atmosphere by helping to create curtains for our room. I am so excited to see what this year will bring for us, and I am beyond thankful to have you by my side through it all!

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Sue R., Thank you for joining us during a crazy busy first week! I am appreciative of your love of reading with our students. They will continuously grow with literacy with your gift of reading!

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Don, Russ, Tim, Eddie and Kent, Thank you ALL so very much for all the heavy lifting, extra assistance and help to get our ECSE class up and running! We are forever thankful!!

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To the entire preschool team-Teachers and Paras, Thank you for being ONE TEAM ALL IN. One week down and....how many more to go? You all have been so incredibly welcoming and supportive, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

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To Lotus Cafeteria Staff: ECSE is SO THANKFUL for going above and beyond assisting our classroom this week. Your efforts have helped to make our first week back at school run smoothly and so successful! We are so appreciative of your help, smiles and suggestions for meals and snacks for our little ones.

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To Mike-Technology extraordinaire: I am incredibly thankful for all of your assistance getting us up and running this week. Your suggestions, tutorials and guidance helped ease the transition into our first week back at school. I appreciate your time, your words of wisdom and your quick response to every email or request ( I know I kept you busy!)

-From Erin Donovan (Early Childhood Special Education teacher at Lotus)

The 5th grade team would like to recognize the hard work, leadership and caring that Katie Jalove-Filippelli has provided this year to the entire team. You have been our rock and have made the start of the year an amazing experience. Thank you for all you do, you are amazing!

-From the 5th grade team

Thank you to EVERY person who has made my first week with kids possible! Thank you to Natalie, Matt, Lynn, Ellie, Fiona, Molly, Erica, and Paula! All of you have been into my classroom at some point to assist and many of you have been in daily! I truly mean this, Linda and I could NOT have made it through this week without all of your help!

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Thank you to the whole Preschool team and to all the aides who have been extremely flexible as we navigated scheduling and staffing changes all while trying to get through the first week of school. I know it's been a lot of unknowns and I really appreciate all of your patience and understanding.

-From Michelle Magness (PreK teacher at Lotus)

To the Stanton Guiding Coalition for providing leadership during our Grade Level Team Times this week!

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Kim Mack and Meghan Reimers for handling a difficult situation!

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the Para Sensational 7 Squad for all you do!

-From Jeff Sefcik (Principal at Stanton)

Thank you Mike for getting Kim and I QR codes and Google Usernames for our kids to sign in to Chromebooks. You Rock!

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Thank you to Emily Reczek for letting me take her kiddos on Wednesday.

-From Victoria Miller (STEM teacher at Lotus)

Shout out to Nicole for making an AMAZING calm down corner board for our class.

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Shout out to the 4th grade team for being so welcoming and awesome to work with!

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Shout out to Ryan for helping a student's transition down to him for math be so welcoming and accommodating.

-From Cortnee Snell (Special Education teacher at Lotus)

Thanks to Niccole Culbertson for representing our team on the Guiding Coalition. Thanks a bunch to Cassie Curtis for being our PBIS team rep, too!

And, to Walter Nickles and Rich Bressett... I'm looking forward to working with you both as a Social Studies team this year!

-From Liz Andersen (7th Grade Social Studies teacher at Stanton)

Shout out to Gina Crosthwaite and Mollie Herchenbach for being so kind and donating a water bottle and circuiting one of my students names on it!

Also thank you to Amanda Lorenz for donating some clothes to one of my students as well, seeing the smile on her face when she told me about all the new clothes was priceless!

Thank you to my amazing third grade team for always being supportive and coming with open minds. I’m so incredibly lucky to work on a team with you all!

-From Vicki Alper (3rd Grade teacher at Lotus)

Thank you to Gina Crosthwaite for her attention to detail and keeping things in confidence. You are always appreciated!

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Much thanks to Kim Jacobs-Leable and Sharon Preskill for going above and beyond to always put the needs of students first. I am grateful for your ongoing efforts.

-From Mary Santi (Special Education teacher at Lotus)

Thank you to Kim Mack and Meghan Reimers for handling a TOUGH parent situation...after hours!

and

To Jill Becmer and Leah Falster for handling a difficult parent situation, too!

I know it's not easy and the grace and professionalism you all showed is truly appreciated.

-From Heather (Luckiest Superintendent in the World!)

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

Here's a link to all the ideas gathered for the HOW and WHY of the Friz 5...I'll keep adding as great ideas come forward.

I saw LOTS of the Stanton staff doing a Personal Greeting at the Door last week! THANK YOU!!!

Help Needed!!!!

We have a Lotus family in need. In particular, we are in need of:

New or gently used GIRLS' CLOTHING

Shirts: 10/12 or 14/16

Pants: 7/8

Shoes: size 5

Outerwear and winter gear also needed!

Please direct the items to me and I'll make sure they get in the right hands.

THANK YOU!!! 💗

Board of Education Vacancy

SPIRIT WEAR!!!

If you'd like to purchase Lotus/Stanton/D114 spirit wear, please check out this link!

The store will be open until September 19, and we have been guaranteed that orders will arrive by mid-October. Please contact Kristie Paul with any questions.

THANKS!

Here's a link to an amazing article about the impact of speaking about our students entitled with IEPs and their superpowers.

Challenge--can you work on saying:

"Students with IEPs"

"Students entitled with IEPs"

"Students in an ILP class"

instead of

"SpEd kids"

"Special Ed students"

"ILP students"

Language matters...to our students, and to US!

AND...

Check out PBIS World! This site is awesome for identifying strategies to use to support challenging behaviors! Thank you to Nicole Brinkman for this share! You simply click on a behavior, and the site pops up strategies! Here are sample screens...

If I click on "Anxiety"...and there are LOTS more as you scroll down...

The site takes me here to things to try...and there are LOTS more as you scroll down!

Thank you to Katie Jalove Filippelli and Victoria Alper who have stepped up and volunteered their time for the EAFL Board. Katie will be our new Stanton Representative and Victoria will be our new regional representative. Cathy Jawnyj will now be our Vice President for certified staff. We welcome them to the team and we are so excited to have them as a part of the team.

Mark your calendars! Our first union articulation meeting will be on Wednesday, September 21. We are excited to have a chance to all meet together. Our meeting will be held at Stanton and further information will follow.

Finally, if you are a new staff member and did not get an EAFL t-shirt, don't forget to email your shirt size to maureen.devoss@foxlake114.org.

Have a wonderful week!