411 on 115 - 4.12.23

April 12, 2023

We have received questions regarding the status of the District 115 bond referendum vote that took place during the April 4 Lake County Consolidated Election.

All April 4 Lake County Consolidated Election results remain “unofficial.” The Lake County Clerk’s office continues to count mail-in and provisional ballots. The last update was provided by the Clerk’s office on Friday April. At that time, votes in favor of the referendum were ahead by 97.

The County Clerk will release final results no sooner than Tuesday, April 18. We will update our school community when official, final results become available. For the moment, we remain cautiously optimistic about a positive outcome and appreciate your patience.

Matthew L. Montgomery, Ph.D.

Superintendent

At a joint meeting held on April 11, 2023, the Lake Forest Elementary School District 67 and Lake Forest Community High School District 115 Boards of Education approved a new 5-year contract for Superintendent Dr. Matthew L. Montgomery. The contract will be equally split between District 67 and District 115.

Dr. Montgomery has completed two years of his current three-year contract (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2024) and, in that time, has executed the goals and objectives set forth by the Boards at the time of his hire:

• Developing a plan for full in-person learning including how learning loss will be assessed and addressed in the 2021-22 school year

• Providing a 100-day work plan outlining the approach that would be taken to know, engage, connect, and communicate with the people, programs, partners, and community cultures that support Districts 67 and 115

• Addressing critical administrative personnel vacancies and performance concerns in a timely manner

• Collaborating with the Boards to create, refine, and assess the Districts’ strategic plans

• Optimizing the District 67 and 115 shared services model as outlined by the recommendations from the Joint Shared Services Optimization Committee

In rapid speed, Dr. Montgomery has collaborated with staff, students, families, and residents to set the direction of our Districts with our Portrait of a Learner as well as researching and developing strategic plans for each District in partnership with the community. He has reignited the District 115 facilities master planning work, conducted a detailed assessment of the shared services model, made significant strides in updating and aligning curriculum with state standards and community expectations, and is now on the path to lead our Districts into an exciting next chapter.

Even with all of this progress, we recognize that we still have significant work to do. Under Dr. Montgomery’s leadership, our Districts have thoughtfully and expeditiously laid a foundation and created a framework to identify objectives and action plans aimed at achieving our desired academic outcomes. The continuity and stability of Dr. Montgomery’s leadership will better position us to activate the strategic plans created in partnership with our community.

Each year, the District 67 and District 115 Boards gather to review issues related to shared services. During these meetings last year, the Boards discussed the importance of continuity and the positive impact of steady, collaborative, and focused leadership. It was then that the two Boards jointly decided to work toward an extension of Dr. Montgomery’s contract.

We deeply value Dr. Montgomery’s dedication, hard work, and engagement with the community, and believe that this contract extension will allow our Districts to continue to thrive and progress under his guidance. We are grateful to our community for your ongoing support of our schools. We look forward to continuing our work together with our community to achieve great things for our students.

A full recording of the April 11, 2023 Joint Meeting of the District 67 and District 115 Boards of Education may be found on the Board of Education pages (District 67 and District 115) of the shared District website.

• Tuesday, May 9 - Regular Meeting

Agendas will be posted prior to the meeting on the District 115 Board of Education website.

• Recording of Special Meeting

• Agenda - Special Meeting

• Recording of Regular Meeting

• Agenda - Regular Meeting

• Superintendent's Report

• School Spotlight: Athletics and Activities Report - Watch Below!

Please see our newly released Summer School Catalog for the upcoming school year. Registration for Summer School closes on Friday, May 26 as we need to decide, based on enrollment, which courses will run.

Please see the link to our catalog below:

2023 LFHS Summer Catalog 2023

Cursos Para La Escuela De Verano 2023

Please see our registration link below (also found on our District website):

https://lakeforest.revtrak.net/summer-academics-courses-23/#/list

Spring Break seems like it was just yesterday and we’re happy to report that LFHS Band, Choir, and Orchestra students had an amazing time on their European tour! They traveled to Rothenburg, Germany, Vienna and Salzburg, Austria, and Prague, Czech Republic.

Highlights included (sold out!) performances at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Ceske Muzeum Hudby in Prague. #ScoutNation

A special thanks to Mr. Begale (choir), Mr. Bassill (symphony orchestra) & Mrs. Kessler (band) and accompanist Ms. Mah.

Did you know the LFHS Prom is completely self-sustaining and we rely solely on ticket sales, junior class fundraising and your generosity?

All students and chaperones are required to take motor coaches to and from LFHS. Transportation, security, and accessibility for all to attend Prom have been made possible by generous donations to Project Safe Prom. Thank you to those parents who have already donated!

The actual cost to host Prom far exceeds the ticket price; we rely on the support of our community to bring this annual tradition to our students.

Please use the QR Code at right or use this link to make a donation by credit card. All donations are tax deductible.

On behalf of the Junior Class and the LFHS APT Prom Committee, we are pleased to present Prom 2023, Dancing in the Moonlight, on Saturday, May 6 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare.

Tickets will be sold online until Thursday, April 20 at noon for $95 per person. In an effort to make it possible for all junior and senior students to attend Prom, the APT has established an LFHS Student Grant for those in need of financial assistance. Please contact Ms. Ashleigh Malec, amalec@lfschools.net for more information.

Please visit the Prom webpage for additional details!

LFHS Foundation is excited for spring at LFHS. Orders have been placed, items have been received, and registrations have been completed as the 2023 Grants begin being implemented. We have our Annual Spring Luncheon at The Knollwood Club coming up on Friday, April 28th and we hope you will join us. If you are unavailable to attend, please partake, participate, and get involved in the auction or raffle. Tickets and all the details for this event, including the auction and raffle, can be found at https://LFHSLUNCH2023.givesmart.com.

Save the Date

Pitch Night 2023 will take place on Thursday, May 18th this year. There are so many strong teams this year - the judges will be making some tough decisions when it comes to which teams will take the stage. We are in the process of building our $10,000 prize fund and need your support. We have commitments for $2,250 thus far and are seeking additional community partners to support this program. The prize funds are allocated to the winning teams on Pitch Night by the judges. Winning teams move on to the Accelerator program as seniors and truly get their businesses up and running.

Please Consider Supporting our Efforts

Typically our partnerships start at $500 but we are offering a new LFHS Partner level at $300 this year. If you are interested in supporting Pitch Night, please reach out to Jodi Cofer at jodicofer68@gmail.com or check out are partnership information below.

Ready for an adventure? Lake Forest High students take audiences on an amazing journey in the fantastical musical “Big Fish,” directed by LFHS teachers John Wanninger and Kelly MacBlane, and based on the Daniel Wallace novel and the Tim Burton film. “Big Fish” follows the story of Edward Bloom, a charming traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest with his tall tales about everything from befriending a giant to saving a small town. With heart and humor, “Big Fish” will enthrall audiences. Performances are 7 p.m. Thursday, April 27; Friday, April 28; and Saturday, April 29 in the Raymond Moore Auditorium. Tickets: $10-$20 at https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=143248

Featuring Mary Louise Kelly, Co-host of NPR's "All Thing Considered" and Heidi Stevens, Chicago-based writer and Director of External Affairs for the University of Chicago’s TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health

Apr 17, 2023, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

New Trier High School, Northfield Campus, Cornog Auditorium

7 Happ Rd., Northfield, IL 60093

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Ever since she became a parent, Mary Louise Kelly has said “next year.” Next year will be the year she makes it to her son James’s soccer games (which are on weekdays at 4 p.m., right when she is on the air on NPR’s All Things Considered, talking to millions of listeners). Drive carpool for her son Alexander? Not if she wants to do that story about Ukraine and interview the secretary of state. Like millions of parents who wrestle with raising children while pursuing a career, she has never been cavalier about these decisions.

James and Alexander are now seventeen and fifteen, and a realization has overtaken Kelly: her older son will be leaving soon for college. There used to be years to make good on her promises; now, there are months, weeks, minutes. And with the devastating death of her beloved father as well as a surprising turn in her marriage, she is coming to grips with the reality every parent faces: Childhood has a definite expiration date. You have only so many years with your kids before they leave your house to build their own lives.

It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs, a chronicle of Kelly’s eldest child’s final year at home, of losing her father, as well as other curve balls thrown at her, is not a definitive answer―not for herself and certainly not for any other parent. But her questions, her issues, will resonate with every parent, especially with mothers, who are judged more harshly by society and, more important, judge themselves more harshly.

Featuring Rachel Macy Stafford & Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D.

Apr 27, 2023 07:00 PM

Zoom registration link: www.bit.ly/StaffordFANSponsor

Living in a time of isolation, instability, and information overload comes at a great cost to our happiness and well-being. As we struggle to keep up with endless demands on our time, energy, and attention, we neglect the very things that make us feel most alive. We fail to grasp what really matters to us.

In Soul Shift: The Weary Human’s Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy, New York Times bestselling author and celebrated motivational speaker Rachel Macy Stafford guides us on a journey to remember and reconnect with what truly delights and fulfills our hearts. Throughout this shame-free, hope-filled guide, you’ll follow the guidance of your soul through eight key areas of discovery—self-worth, forgiveness, authenticity, and more. As you gain valuable awareness, you’ll be able to shift how you respond to life’s challenges, replacing depleting habits with growing presence and healing joy.

This year, our “graduating class” of 17 talented teachers and staff members represent a total of 411 years of service. Together, they have taught and supported thousands of students during their LFHS careers. Each 411, we will share several of their profiles. Please join us in thanking and congratulating them!

Our DPM administrative team was honored to be included in last week’s Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Deerpath Community Park Improvement project!

"This is a transformative project for Lake Forest," said Mayor George Pandaleon at the Groundbreaking Ceremony. "There are so many young children and families who will benefit from the project for years to come, including the many new families who have moved to Lake Forest in the last few years."

You can learn more about project updates by visiting the City of Lake Forest's website.

• April 2023 Choir Newsletter