Monday Morning Memo

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Monday Morning Memo 12/5/22

For all those who do Medicaid billing, this is your reminder to do it! We need you to please stay on top of this!!! THANK YOU!!!! 😁

If you have no idea what this means...you don't have to do it! YAY!!!!

The Guiding Coalition for our work on the Friz 5 and 7 Principles of Culturally Responsive Practices

and

Andrea Sekulich and Vivian Hernandez for their focus on our Hispanic students’ attendance

and

Rachelle for her efforts in working with our chronically absent students and their families

and

Lynn, Rachelle, Lora, Meghan, and Kim for their work assisting a student in crisis

and

Bryan “Saint Nick” Bailey!!

and

Yvette Stauner for recognizing a student in need and making it a Happy Holiday!!!

-From Jeff Sefcik (Stanton Principal)

Many thanks to Mike for always being so responsive and taking care of technology issues quickly. You are so appreciated!

and

Specials Team - thank you for stepping up to help out on Wednesday so the students who missed Art Class on Monday and Tuesday could catch up, and not fall behind on their 3D sculptures. I really appreciate you all!

and

Russ - thanks for always coming through to take care of what is needed to keep our Art room running smoothly. Your help is so appreciated!

and

Gina - you are a master snowflake maker- thanks for helping me help Amber! You rock!

and

Big thanks to Andrea who always makes time to help with ordering supplies - you're a true gem!

Blessed to work with such good people.

-From Gayle McManamon (Art teacher at Lotus)

Kudos to Mary Santi for always being willing to step in and help kids in any way even if they aren't on your caseload. It is much appreciated!

and

Kudos to Kelly Welsh (new para at Lotus) for jumping into completely unfamiliar territory and handling it so well with a positive attitude!

-From Emily Welsh (2nd grade Teacher)

Third Grade Teachers and Students- Thank you for the wonderful surprise on Friday. The cards were the highlight of our week! We appreciate the extra thought.

-From Natalie Udstuen (Assistant Principal at Lotus)

A big thank you to our preschool aide Mary M.P. for taking on cleaning and prepping all 3 classrooms on Friday after school. It was GREATLY appreciated!

-The Preschool Team

A shout out to Erica B. for stepping in and lending a helping hand on Friday at the end of the day with sad little kiddos in preschool.

and

To Ellie and Natalie- Thank you for the quick brainstorming and parent meeting to get a preschool friend the support and consistency he needs.

and

To Michelle for doing everything, being everywhere and supporting the needs of your 35 preschool students! You are an incredible teacher who cares so deeply about your students, our program and our school!

-Mary Foersterling (PreK teacher)

Thanks to everyone who helped make the Santa Breakfast a reality again! It was awesome! A HUGE shout out to Bryan Bailey who played a very special role for all 4 hours of the event!!!

Thanks to Natalie Udstuen and Cheryl Carroll for all your help with Sunday's Holiday Rotary Event. That was amazing!

-From Heather 😘

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.

A reflection...

So, I wanted to make sure I embedded the Friz 5 in a virtual session I led on Thursday. I greeted each participant at the "door", and some I knew well and some I was meeting for the first time. We reviewed learning targets and set norms to help us meet the SEL side of learning. I embedded at least one engagement task every 10 minutes, and used most of these tasks as a check for understanding. It was the BEST virtual day I've ever had, and I can't wait to see what happens on day 2 of the training this week. It was so fun to put these into practice and SEE THEM WORK!!!!!

Thank YOU for making me a smarter, better teacher!

Great Opportunity!

Please see below for a great learning opportunity, provided by an amazing, former D114 teacher!

Another Great Opportunity!
Check out the December Wellness Calendar! Thanks to Laura Livesay and Matt Shannon for doing this!

Holiday Lunch for All

Oh wow! Be ready for an AMAZING holiday staff lunch for 12/16!!!! Thanks to the incredible Al Giandonato and family for making this happen for all our staff. Bring an empty tummy and be ready to eat!!!!

Student Council

Not only did the Stanton Student Council march in the Fox Lake parade, but they also got the 2nd Place Spirit Award!!!!!

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

Attached to this week's Monday Memo email, you'll find an updated access flyer for the EAP program. Remember that this is FREE to all employees to provide a whole bunch of different supports (examples: mental health, finances, quitting smoking, etc.). ANY access of EAP is completely confidential. If you need any assistance or have questions, please reach out to Maddie Mercado.

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!

We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and stayed warm!

EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

Proactive Behavior Strategies for ESPs with 321 Insight: This Proactive Behavior Strategies for ESP session will be held on Thursday, Jan. 12 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Presenter Sue Lyons from 321 Insight will host. The session will provide strategies for IEA ESP members allowing them to implement the strategies to address the challenging behaviors and often preventing the behaviors from happening. For further information and to register, please click here. Please contact Mary Jane Morris with any questions.

Applications are open for ISBE’s 2023 Those Who Excel and IL Teacher of the Year Awards! You can nominate an educator for:

IL Teacher of the Year

Outstanding Early Career Educator of the Year

Outstanding Community Volunteers

Outstanding Teams

Applications can be submitted here! Deadline is Dec. 2

IEA Awards nomination deadline is Dec. 15.

Online nomination forms can be found on the IEA website under Members/Benefits/Awards:

· Bob Haisman Student of the Year Award: This award honors an undergraduate IEA Student Program member working toward a degree in education who has shown outstanding accomplishments in several areas.

· Bob Haisman Teacher of the Year Award: This award, named in honor of former IEA President Bob Haisman, recognizes the individual contributions of a new teacher (a teacher with at least one year’s experience and not more than five).

· Mary Lou and Keith Hauge Retiree Award: Given in honor of the late Mary Lou Hauge, first chair of the IEA Council of Retirees, and her late husband Keith, former editor of the IEA-R Informer, this award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the IEA as a retired member.

· ESP of The Year Award: This award is meant to emphasize the contributions of education support professionals to their association, their schools and their communities.

· Higher Ed Program Educator of the Year Award: This award recognizes an active higher education member who has shown outstanding accomplishments while promoting the association, publishing research, participating in community organizing or taking other actions that go above and beyond.

· Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award: Named after former IEA President and NEA President Reg Weaver, an individual IEA-NEA member or an IEA-NEA group may be nominated for this award, which recognizes those who have performed an outstanding humanitarian/civil rights activity or community service above and beyond normal association endeavors.

· Friend of Education Award: This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated commitment to the success of public education and to the ideals and mission of the IEA-NEA. The nominee, proposed by IEA members or IEA staff members, will be an external candidate who is not an IEA member or an employee of IEA-NEA.

Presentation Opportunities

Aspiring Educator’s Spring Conference will be held in Oakbrook on April 28-29, 2023. If you would like to present on the 29th, please submit an RFP by Jan. 15.

Educator Rising will be having their Annual Conference on March 6, 2023 in Bloomington. If you would like to present on the 6th, please submit an RPF by Jan. 15.

December 16--Staff Holiday Lunch! You'll LOVE it!

December 20--Board of Education meeting at 7PM

December 21--Early Release to kick off Winter Break!

December 22-January 8--Winter Break!

In case you're interested...

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

22-23 Second Step Pacing Guide

PBIS World--This site is awesome for identifying strategies to use to support challenging behaviors!

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

OOOHHHHHHH...I just love this one!

Thank you for making our schools a safe place for kids to learn, grow, and take risks!

-Heather 💝

Sunday, November 27, 2022

Monday Morning Memo 11/28/22

For all those who do Medicaid billing, this is your reminder to do it! We need you to please stay on top of this!!! THANK YOU!!!! 😁

If you have no idea what this means...you don't have to do it! YAY!!!!

Thanks to Vicky Alper, Mollie Herchenbach and Emily Reczek for well-led conferences. It was a privilege to be seated with each of you.

and

A special thank you to Lynn Smolen for attending a conference. Despite the multiple time changes and the late hour, your presence was much appreciated.

Mary Santi (2nd and 3rd grade case manager)

Thank you to Mike who went above and beyond to help assist with my personal tech device. He is a huge lifesaver.

and

Thank you Sonia for always having the PTA's best interest and helping out.

and

Thank you to Sue and Paula for helping set up the conference dinners. It was really appreciated.

-From Victoria Miller (STEM teacher at Lotus)

Just wanted to say many thanks to all who participated in Family Reading Night from sharing your room space, sending out emails, set up and helping at the event. "It Takes a Village".

and

Sonia, Penny, Yesenia & Hilda - so thankful for all you do everyday for the staff and all the students> From your cool decorations to always being so positive. Thank You!

-From Kim VanHoorelbeke (Library Paraprofessional at Lotus)

Thanks to Laura Livesay and Stephanie Kaye for spending their time over break with Student Council in the Fox Lake holiday parade! You are amazing!

-From Heather 😘

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.

SUPPLY MONEY

Please remember that--if you haven't already done so--you must place supply money orders on Amazon or turn in receipts for reimbursement by December 1st.

SUPPORT FOR YOU...IDEAS WE GOT...

1. ADDITIONAL GLOBAL COMPLIANCE DATE

The total time now required for Global Compliance Training is up to 5+ hours. YIKES! To provide additional paid time for this, we are adding Wednesday, January 18 during Early Release as another time to complete the required trainings. If you have already completed all the modules, the time is yours to remain on site but do what you need to do.

2. PARAPROFESSIONAL LEAVE TIME WHEN SUBBING A FULL DAY

When paraprofessionals are asked to sub a full day for a certified teacher, you are able to leave after student dismissal rather than at the end of your hourly paid time since you have spent the day in a certified role. While this has been in place, we believe it may have been inconsistently implemented and wanted to be clear!

All ideas are welcome, so please keep them coming! I know we ask a lot of everyone, so if you have ideas for how to show appreciation or do things better, please share your thoughts!

One Team... All In!

BILINGUAL FAMILY LIAISON

I'm thrilled to share that Vivian Hernandez starts as our new Bilingual Family Liaison on Monday, November 28. Vivian is a real go getter, a community member, and a Grant High School graduate. You will LOVE her! I'll share contact information once she officially begins, and I am fairly certain that her schedule will be Lotus on Thursdays and Stanton on Tuesdays, with much flexibility to make sure she's doing what each of the 3 districts (us, Gavin, and Grant) needs.

With that said, if you have specific input on ways to make this position even more impactful for our kids, staff, and community, please let me know!

SANTA'S BREAKFAST (INFO FROM PTA)

Please join us for D114 PTA's Santa's Breakfast & Holiday Market!

Saturday, December 3rd, 2022
8 am-12 pm
Stanton Middle School

Use this link to purchase your tickets ahead of time and for more information on ticket pricing. You will claim your tickets at the door. *Online ticket purchasing is open until 12/2 at 10 PM.
*Tickets will be available for purchase at the event.

We will have the Scholastic Book Fair taking place.
Our holiday market with crafters and vendors to shop from.
We will also be having this year Raffle Baskets! Purchase raffle tickets at the event. Choose which baskets you like to put your tickets in for a chance to win!!
Bring Cash for purchases.

All proceeds go to the Fox Lake School District PTA!!

This event is open to the public.

File attachments:
Santa Breakfast #3.GIF

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

Don't forget about these amazing opportunities for educators:

Educator grants

Schools and Community Outreach by Educators (SCORE) 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 by Jan. 15.

The Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant is a California Casualty grant program which awards $1,000 grants for school athletics programs. Apply by Jan. 15.

And these member opportunities:

Download the My Deals Mobile app for IEA Member Discounts and Deals. Find it on the App Store or Google Play.

Need some extra support this school year? Our coaching and mentoring program has been expanded to those in their first three years of teaching. Watch this video to learn about this awesome program!
IEA ConnectIf you have questions about your member benefits or anything else IEA, contact an IEA Connect Specialist from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday by email, live chat or call 1-844-432-1800.