Mill Street Parent Newsletter
February Edition
Mill Street Excels!!
We are THE MUSTANGS!
The Best Place to Learn and Grow!
A Message from Mrs. Salness
Dear Mill Street Families,
The new year has brought some interesting weather challenges, yet learning and growing continues here at Mill Street. We appreciate your support in fostering learning during our recent E-learning days, as we know there are many competing factors that can make attention and focus to content somewhat difficult. Hopefully, the cold, icy days are behind us and we can move forward with all the exciting happenings coming our way in February without interruption. Below, please see a review of happenings this month and beyond.
Mrs. Salness
Shout Out To Mill Street's Involvement in the "203 In Focus" Video Series
Each month District 203 will share a new video that focuses on one of the 10 components of Naperville 203's Instructional Mindset, which was designed to capture the values of Naperville 203's approach to teaching and learning. These videos aim to help our families develop a better understanding of what learning looks like in our schools.
This month's video highlights work being done at Mill Street! Our Reading Specialist, Lauren Krok, helps to narrate the content and several staff and students are seen in the video implementing the components of growth mindset and high expectations for all.
Please watch the fifth video on Cultivating A Growth Mindset & High Expectations For All Students by clicking the link below. Once you have completed the video, feel free to take part in the district's ThoughtExchange.
District Assessment Presentations/ MAP Growth Data
At our upcoming Home & School meeting held on January 25th, at 7:00pm in the learning commons, Patrick Nolten, Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and Accountability, will offer valuable insights into the various testing programs at Mill Street, including NWEA MAP Growth, CogAT, and IAR testing.
Jeremy Lin, Gifted Testing Coordinator for Naperville 203, will provide a deeper understanding of the district's gifted programs: Honors Math, Project IDEA, and Project IDEA Plus.
Parents will receive individual MAP Growth student reports on Tuesday, January 30th. If you have question regarding your child's specific growth or achievement scores, please reach out to his/her classroom teacher or one of our assistant principals, Ms. Kribs or Mrs. Dornan for further explanation.
We are pleased with our overall winter data that indicates 74% of students are meeting achievement expectations in math compared to 69% in the fall and 71% of students are meeting achievement expectation in reading compared to 69% in the fall. The MAP Growth Assessment will be given once more at the end of the year and will show growth and achievement across the academic school year for 2023-2024. Parents will receive those individual student scores in mid May.
Principal/ Staff Retirements
As I have shared in the past, this will be my last year as Principal of Mill Street. After 39 years in District 203 as a teacher, instructional coach and administrator, I will be retiring. To say I have mixed emotions about this change, is an understatement!! The Mill Street staff have become family and the community has been so very supportive and responsive in contributing to our great success in meeting student needs and providing the best learning environment in the district!! I will cherish these last few months as our building leader and thank you all for the kindness and support your have shown me throughout these past 7 years. It has truly been my honor to serve our students and staff. The principal replacement process has begun and interviews will be taking place in mid February to include representatives from staff and the parent community.
Along with me, several veteran staff will also be retiring and those staff include:
Michael Buckley- Kindergarten Teacher
Lisa Connell- 2nd Grade Teacher
Donna Lehmann- 3rd Grade Teacher
Jeanine Crockett- Math Specialist
Chris Roy- Learning Support Coach
Cheryl Gach- Instructional Assistant
Michele Paladino- Instructional Assistant
Pam Folkins- Instructional Assistant
Sue Ekkebus- Instructional Assistant
Our Home & School will be communicating soon about events in honor of our retiring staff so that students and families have the opportunity to honor them as they leave our school and community.
December Giftmart Program
This December, as part of our ongoing outreach and community support efforts, we partnered once again with Giftmart Family Charity, a re-imagined holiday shopping experience for families from our local schools facing economic hardship. The Mill Street community was so very generous in providing hundreds of toys to support this charity! During this event, 451 students participated across the district and 67 students from Mill Street received 268 toys for the holidays. Mill Street then received a portion of the profits in the sum of $536.00.
Thank you to all who donated and gave of their time to support this wonderful cause.
Kindergarten Enrollment
Welcome Class of 2037!
To enroll in kindergarten in the 2024-25 school year, a student must turn 5 years old on or before September 1, 2024. On March 11, all District 203 elementary schools hold Kindergarten Preview. At this special event, you and your child will meet the school’s administrators, the kindergarten teachers, other school personnel, and representatives of parent organizations. While your child remains in the classroom and enjoys a sample of the kindergarten experience, school personnel will meet with you and other parents to share information about the kindergarten program. Due to the nature of this meeting, we respectfully ask that you make childcare arrangements for your younger children during the time of the program.
Important Dates:
February 1: Kindergarten enrollment begins
February 12: Dual Language Information Night at Naperville North High School from 6-7 p.m.
March 11: Kindergarten Preview. Please contact your school directly for specific information.
March 22: For participation in the Dual Language Lottery your student’s Kindergarten enrollment must be completed by Friday, March 24th. Enrollment must be COMPLETE to be considered for the Dual Language lottery. Complete means that you have turned in all the paperwork and received an enrollment confirmation.
April 5: Dual Language Lottery results will be emailed.
To enroll your Kindergarten student, complete the Enrollment Intake Form
Student Council
This year at Mill Street, we are modifying how we run Student Council to increase participation and student impact. Beginning in February, students in grades 2-5 will be selected by classroom teachers to participate as a representative for their class and grade level. Students will attend meetings during the school day to help inform important school decisions, provide feedback, and help to make Mill Street even more student centered. Student Council meetings will be held twice a month and representatives will rotate throughout the remainder of our school year to ensure a variety of voices are heard. It is sure to be a great leadership opportunity for many of our students! If you have any questions, please reach out to Miss Carrico and Mrs. Cundiff.
Volunteer Opportunities
Look for opportunities each week to sign up to volunteer in our school store and publishing center in the Mill Street Mustang Minute that comes to you each Monday! Sign up opportunities to support our Valentine Parties the afternoon of February 14th, can also be found in that weekly publication!
Lost and Found Reminder
As shared in several previous newsletters, our Lost and Found is once again overflowing. We provide daily reminders to students to check for their belongings. Please label student clothing and winter gear! Our lost and found items are collected and donated at the end of each month to our USAgain bin. Thus, all unclaimed items will be removed this Friday. Parents may check in at the office and visit our Lost and Found to reclaim items at any time during school hours.
Upcoming Events
January 25th: Home & School Meeting 7:00pm Presentation by District Assessment Team
January 30th: MAP Growth Student Reports Sent Home
February 1st: Kindergarten Enrollment Begins
February 1st: Open House
- Kindergarten - 2nd grade & Structured Learning: 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
- 3rd-5th grade and PI/HM: 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
February 5th: Access Testing Begins ( for EL Students only)
February 12th: Battle of the Books Qualifying Exam
February 12th: Gifted testing begins
February 19th: No School, Presidents' Day
February 21st: Principal Interviews at District Office
March 1st: No School, County Institute Day
March 7th: No School, Institute Day; Parent Teacher Conferences 5-8:30 p.m.
March 8th: No School, Parent Teacher Conferences 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
March 11th: Kindergarten Preview; No School for Current Kindergarten Students
March 13th: IAR State Assessment Testing Begins (Grades 3-5)
March 25th: Spring Break