MMM

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Monday Morning Memo 2/12/24

YAY! ORANGE you glad it's February?

The 4 February Happiness Challenges are linked here! I hope you have some fun with them!!!!

It's Kindness Week at Lotus!

Love this! Thank you, Lotus, for making this happen for students and staff this week! 💟

KUDOS to Matt P., Sonia M., and Russ X, for helping with our ACCESS Pizza Party! We are so

grateful to all of you for allowing us to do this! The kids were so excited and they all cheered for

themselves when we talked about how proud we are of them at the party! You are the best!

-From Kim Leable (EL Teacher at Lotus) and Abbey Kadera (Bilingual Teacher at Lotus)

Thank you Lotus and Stanton Kitchen Staff for always going above and beyond to give the best

service, and doing an amazing job.

The super bowl lunch was amazing, Thank you for all you do!!

-From Georgette Franco (Food Services Coordinator)

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! to our fabulous, incredible, sunny, go-the-extra-mile Kitchen Team- aka

The Fantastic Four!! for such a great lunch!! We appreciate the extra work you do for us!!

You’re the absolute bomb!!

-From Erin Connolly-Jordt (Music Teacher at Lotus)

To Don U for fixing our fun timer!

From Sherry Tietjen, Colleen Robinson, and Courtney Maas (ILP team at Lotus)

To Oner Medrano for thinking outside the box to get a student struggling with math some extra help.

and

To the Student Wellness Crew for organizing our SOS presentations. And David Roat for assisting

with technology.

-From Jeff Sefcik (Principal at Stanton)

To the 6th, 7th, 8th grade teams, Exploratories and Wellness - Thank you for your support and

flexibility during our SOS Programming this week.

and

To Kim Rauchfuss - Thank you for your support this week as we rolled out the SOS program for the

first time. Your input as we prepared and supported students this week was SO greatly appreciated.

To Karen Skorup, Oner Medrano and Leah Fahlster - Thank you for your communication and

collaboration! You're the best!

-From Meghan Reimers (Counselor at Stanton)

Shout out to David Roat for all the tech prep and support for the SOS program. We appreciate all

the time and energy you put into setting up and troubleshooting for the program. AND for taking a

moment out of your busy schedule to ease the mind of a student who was in great distress over a

technology issue.

and

To the 6th, 7th and 8th grade level teams for your assistance in guiding our students through each

step of the SOS program: post-test, lesson in the gym, surveys and post-tests. This was no small feat

The feedback from the post-test shows that our kids are better equipped to seek help for themselves

or a friend when in need.

and

To Kim Rauchfuss for coming alongside Meghan and I to implement the SOS program and for helping

us check in on students. We also greatly appreciate all of your insights and suggestions that were

pivotal in rolling out the program.

and

To Marla Walinksi for helping with SOS material prep & for being anywhere and everywhere to

support us during the event!

and

To our beloved friends in the kitchen--- THANK YOU SO MUCH--for the much needed-- AMAZING

lunch on Friday!

~From Kim Mack (Social Worker at Stanton)

Huge thanks to Kelly Roland and Mollie Herchenbach for bringing Girls on the Run back!!!! Thank you

for investing so much time and energy already to get this going for this spring. This will be a life

changing experience for all the girls who get to participate. I also appreciate how we are starting small

to get it right and then grow it!!!

and

Thank you soooo much to the Kitchen teams at both buildings for the amazing SOUPER BOWL treats

on Friday. DELICIOUS TLC APPRECIATED!!

and

Thank you to Kristie Paul for all your down in the weeds work to get us ready for the massive task that

is the 3 year compliance audit. YOU are appreciated!!!!

-From Heather 💓

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

Engagement Task Alert!!!!

2024-25 Calendar Options

Thanks so much to the 90+ employees who gave input on the calendar options! GREAT PARTICIPATION!!!! The Committee is meeting on Monday 2/12 to review the data and determine how we want to move forward. I'll share the data with everyone once the Committee has been able to review.

February 16 Institute Day

We are putting the final details together for the 2/16/24 Institute Day-still working on final details, and will have a DRAFT out for everyone ASAP!!! Thanks for your patience...there are a LOT of moving parts!!!

Summer School!

We are still planning for summer school. We will be building the enrollment lists via SST in the next couple of weeks and then will assign staffing after the class lists are built. To ensure that we meet the goal of CLOSING LEARNING GAPS, we will NOT open this up to the full community. Rather, we will limit to only the students you recommend as the most in need based on their benchmark data.

HOWEVER, I do want to know who will be interested in teaching/working as a paraprofessional, so here are the details:

PreK-8 Program

July 8-August 8

Monday-Thursday

8-11 am daily (plus one hour of plan)

Certified rate: $52/hour

Para rate: TBD

We are blessed to have unexpected grant funding to allow us to keep the hourly pay rate for this summer!

Note: We cannot start the bulk of summer school until after July 4 so that much of the construction work can be completed.

My goal is to have the class lists and staffing plan complete by Spring Break!

Questions--let me know!

Staff Illnesses

If you test positive for COVID, please let me know immediately. You may return to work as soon as you meet all the criteria above. I am not asking for a 5 or 10 day window at this point; rather, you must meet the return to school criteria listed above. 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.

Masks are available in the office for all staff who wish to wear one.

All staff MUST follow the same sick guidelines we apply to students. These days are counted as sick days. The guidelines are as follows (linked here and copy/pasted below):

Sick Day Guidelines: Making the right choice!

Dear Parents: To help prevent the spread of illness, we would like to give you some guidelines to help with your decision on whether or not to send your child to school. We ask that you keep your child home if he or she:

• Has a fever of 100.4 (oral) degrees or higher

• Has cramps and or vomiting • Has a sore throat with fever (see below)

• Has a persistent cough (dry or productive)

• Has diarrhea (three or more episodes in 24 hrs)

• Has a rash or open and draining sores

• Has symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school, such as:

o Excessive tiredness or lack of appetite

o Headaches, body aches, earaches

o Severe sore throat (could be strep-throat even without fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache & stomach upset. Contact your pediatrician to assess or diagnose strep throat).

If your child has recently been ill, please be aware of the following guidelines before having your child return to school, athletic or social activities:

• They should feel fit for at least 24 hours.

• Be free of fever for at least 24 hours (without medication)

• Be free of vomiting and or diarrhea for at least 24 hours.

• If strep throat, they must be on the appropriate antibiotic for at least 24 hours.

• If conjunctivitis, they must be on the appropriate eye drops for at least 24 hours or cleared by a physician.

• Rash illnesses should be assessed by a doctor. If chicken Pox is suspected, keep home for at least 5 days after the appearance of the rash or until all blisters have scabbed over.

Please reach out to me with any questions, for clarification, or for support. Your safety and the safety of our students remains our utmost priority!

Reporting Absences

All employees are expected to enter all absences in Frontline, even if you text/call/email others to let them know you will be out. This is a professional responsibility!

In Case You're Interested...

Family Fun Fair

Saturday, February 24th,2024

11am-3pm

Lotus Gymnasium & Cafeteria

*This event is FREE and FUN for the whole family! Come and stay as long or little as you like!!

Lotus Book Fair

Saturday, Feb 24th-During the funfair

And during the school week of Feb 26- March 1st

*We are looking for parent volunteers to help out during the day, the week of the bookfair.

If you are interested in helping, please email Katelyn at pta@foxlake114.org

CHIPOTLE Eat Out 2 Help Out

Tuesday, March 12th, 5-9 pm

Rt 120 Lakemoor, IL

*Mention D114 at time of purchase to get credit! This is a MUST for this establishment.

March PTA Meeting

Thursday, Mar 14th, 2024

6:00 pm @ Lotus Library or Virtual

Use the link to join: https://meet.google.com/rps-xjos-qnn

Our next EAFL spirit day will be Tuesday, February 20. Join us in wearing your EAFL shirt and then join us at the school board meeting that evening.

Some opportunities:

IEA Member Planning Time Survey

The Illinois Education Association is collecting information from members on planning time. The goal is to use the collected data to support advocacy for increasing uninterrupted individual planning time each day. Please complete the survey by Feb. 18.

Educators Rising Conference

March 4 at ISU, Normal. Learn more at EducatorsRisingIL.org and register by Feb. 9.

Share the flier.

Friday, February 16--Institute Day

Monday, February 19--School Closed--Presidents' Day

Tuesday, February 20--Board of Education Meeting at Lotus--7PM

Monday, March 4--SCHOOL IN SESSION--Emergency Day Make Up

Second Step Pacing Guide 23-24--updated 1/16/24

Work Order Request--please use this to ask for help with anything facilities, room, cleaning related!

2023-24 Certified Staff Evaluation Documents

2023-24 D114 Calendar

Business Office Shared Drive

(OR GREAT STUFF WE HEARD OR SAW LAST WEEK!)

I had a funny moment last Friday (at least I thought it was funny). One of the 6th grade students asked, "Why are all of the teachers wearing college sweatshirts today?" We really weren't, but my sweatshirt... Looney Tunes.

Thanks, Katy Gardner, for this one!!!! 😆

Please email me to share your funny stories, moments, and quotes (from kids or adults) so I can include them!!! (Ask permission first, please!)

YOU hold the power to change students' days!!!! How can we all work to be the excited adults our students need?

Thank you, Adisyn Illg, for sharing these with me!

I truly appreciate each of you and all that you do!
Heather

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Monday Morning Memo 2/5/24

YAY! ORANGE you glad it's February!!

Click here for the January Happiness Challenges.

The 4 February Happiness Challenges are linked here! I hope you have some fun with them!!!!

Thanks to everyone who completed January Challenges! Your stickers are coming your way for your Award Board! Fun, right?!?

Our January Challenge raffle winners are...

Tasha Pfau

Molly Monk

Jen Leazer

Gayle McManamon

Let me know where you'd like a gift card to! 😃

Shout out to Kim V. for quickly pulling books for a new unit we are starting with our 4th grade friends :)

-From Cortnee Snell (SpEd Teacher at Lotus)

Thank you Abbey Kadera for helping me share positive news to a parent about an outstanding student! I know it made the mom happy and the student!

-From Amber Mysliwiec (PE Teacher at Lotus)

Karen Skorup for doing a great job leading our ILP-B classroom during her first 100 Days at Stanton School! Your calm confident approach is awesome!

-From Jeff Sefcik (Principal at Stanton)

JIllian Rejczyk and crew (Betty, Jamie and Laura) for always participating and modeling school expected behaviors during weekly Social Work push-in lessons. This is truly the highlight of my week and the positive energy from your classroom fills my bucket. And for providing time and space for one of our Grand High School student interns to join your class! She has enjoyed getting to know you and the students- and- also for you taking the time to provide her with opportunities to directly interact with the students.

and

Lora Viers for providing materials for one of my push in lessons! And for always reaching out to Meghan and I with any and all of the social and emotional concerns that you observe in our students.

and

Laura Livesay, Jen Leazer and Student Council for jumping on board with an idea to support the homeless. I am so proud of the effort, enthusiasm and care the kids put into the blessing bags. Your kind hearts and work ethic are making an amazing impact on our kids!!!

and

The 6th grade team for your time and effort in completing some outside assessments for a few of our students. I know how time consuming these can be. And also for your willingness to try new interventions for some of our struggling kiddos. Trying new things can be daunting and I truly appreciate your efforts in this.

and

Madeline Friestedt and Lisa Shannon Thank you for taking the time to connect this week to consult about students on my caseload. I appreciate your insights and updates!

and

Coach Carvell for your dedication in supporting our students to be the best that they can be. I appreciate you taking the time to connect with me in discussing our views on how we can best support the social and emotional needs of our students. Meghan and I truly appreciate each and every social and emotional concern you bring to our attention. It has helped so many!

and

Lynn, Jeff and Rachelle for the leadership, guidance and support you provide each and every day. I honestly could not do this job without your team oriented approaches in doing what is best for our staff and students. Thank you!

And

Meghan Reimers for being the best colleague a person could ask for. I truly appreciate the way we are able to work together as a team to meet the needs of our students. Thank you for your insights, ideas and the “glitter” you bring to our office space each and every day! YOU ARE THE BEST!

-From Kim Mack (Social Worker at Stanton)

WOW to Lotus!!!! Two groups of visitors last week and they were ALL so impressed by your practices and how the building feels as a whole! I know it's a LOT to have that going on, so THANK YOU for making it happen!!!!

and

Thanks to Stanton's ELA, Science, Math, and 5th grade teams for all meeting with me last week. I appreciate the time and all your efforts!

and

Thank you to Karen Brnot and the NJHS at Stanton for making and sending Valentine Cards for senior citizens!

-From Heather 💓

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

I was in an AMAZING training this weekend, and one of the first things we were asked to do was to think about our WHY for being an educator. It was framed like this:

I want to help __________________________

achieve/to ___________________________________.

Here's what I wrote:

I want to help all learners (big and small) around me achieve a state of active BELIEVE…the faith that they are fully supported to achieve their intentions, fail forward, and be GREAT in their own unique way.

What's yours? I'd love to see it if you're willing to share!

2024-25 Calendar Options

During CTT this Wednesday, members from the Calendar Committee will share our calendar options for input. You'll then have access to the options and a survey to give your input. Remember...you get to give input, the Committee makes a recommendation based on the input, but the Board of Education actually is who gives final approval on the calendar.

February 16 Institute Day

We are putting the final details together for the 2/16/24 Institute Day--I hope to have the DRAFT out to everyone this week for input. THANKS!

Summer School!

HOWEVER, I do want to know who will be interested in teaching/working as a paraprofessional, so here are the details:

PreK-8 Program

July 8-August 8

Monday-Thursday

8-11 am daily (plus one hour of plan)

Certified rate: $52/hour

Para rate: TBD

We are blessed to have unexpected grant funding to allow us to keep the hourly pay rate for this summer!

Note: We cannot start the bulk of summer school until after July 4 so that much of the construction work can be completed.

My goal is to have the class lists and staffing plan complete by Spring Break!

Questions--let me know!

Staff Illnesses

All staff MUST follow the same sick guidelines we apply to students. These days are counted as sick days. The guidelines are as follows (linked here and copy/pasted below):

Sick Day Guidelines: Making the right choice!

• Has a fever of 100.4 (oral) degrees or higher

• Has cramps and or vomiting • Has a sore throat with fever (see below)

• Has a persistent cough (dry or productive)

• Has diarrhea (three or more episodes in 24 hrs)

• Has a rash or open and draining sores

• Has symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school, such as:

o Excessive tiredness or lack of appetite

o Headaches, body aches, earaches

o Severe sore throat (could be strep-throat even without fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache & stomach upset. Contact your pediatrician to assess or diagnose strep throat).

If your child has recently been ill, please be aware of the following guidelines before having your child return to school, athletic or social activities:

• They should feel fit for at least 24 hours.

• Be free of fever for at least 24 hours (without medication)

• Be free of vomiting and or diarrhea for at least 24 hours.

• If strep throat, they must be on the appropriate antibiotic for at least 24 hours.

• If conjunctivitis, they must be on the appropriate eye drops for at least 24 hours or cleared by a physician.

• Rash illnesses should be assessed by a doctor. If chicken Pox is suspected, keep home for at least 5 days after the appearance of the rash or until all blisters have scabbed over.

Please reach out to me with any questions, for clarification, or for support. Your safety and the safety of our students remains our utmost priority!

Reporting Absences

All employees are expected to enter all absences in Frontline, even if you text/call/email others to let them know you will be out. This is a professional responsibility!

In Case You're Interested...

February PTA Meeting

Thursday, Feb 8th, 2024

6:00 pm @ Lotus Library or Virtual

Use the link to join: https://meet.google.com/rps-xjos-qnn

Family Fun Fair

Saturday, February 24th,2024

11am-3pm

Lotus Gymnasium & Cafeteria

*This event is FREE and FUN for the whole family! Come and stay as long or little as you like!!

Lotus Book Fair

Saturday, Feb 24th-During the funfair

And during the school week of Feb 26- March 1st

*We are looking for parent volunteers to help out during the day, the week of the bookfair.

If you are interested in helping, please email Katelyn at pta@foxlake114.org

Join the IEA Region 49 Facebook page. This is another great way to learn about the different happenings in our region and to communicate with other educators:

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS FACEBOOK PAGE

2024 Aspiring Educators Spring Conference RFP - If you or someone you know someone who would like to be considered to present a 1-hour professional development session to Aspiring Educators at their Spring Conference on April 5-6, 2024, please forward this link to the application. Proposals are due no later than January 31, 2024, with notifications of acceptance going out in February. Staff and members are welcome to apply! 2024 Aspiring Educators Spring Conference RFP Form

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

BURROUGHS EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP: $2,500 for College-Bound Seniors

(Sponsored by Woodruff Johnson Evans & Haugen Law Offices)

Deadline to apply is Jan. 31

The Burroughs Education Scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Stacy Burroughs, past Director of the ESP Program at the Illinois Education Association. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

· Be a graduating high school senior heading to college

· Have at least one parent or legal guardian who is a school employee

The scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement, career goals, and character. www.woodrufflawyers.com/giving-back/scholarships.