February 15, 2023

In this issue…

• Safety Message
• Calendar Reminders
• Board Meetings
• D41 First Heart Safe School District in Illinois
  

• Black History Month

• Invite the D41 Board to Engage With You

• Hadley 7th grade performs at Wolves game

• Dual Language Night | March 2

• De-Stress Event Feb. 16

• GPS Offerings

Dear District 41 Community,

Over the past several months, schools and school districts across the country have experienced false reports of shootings in their buildings. These hoax calls are known as “swatting” and are intended to create chaos and draw a large law enforcement response. Find out more about swatting here.

While Illinois schools in our area have not yet been subjected to these hoax calls, we want to make you aware of our protocols should an incident occur in our schools.

If an emergency occurs in our schools, parents will be notified through all contact information that is on file in Skyward (email, phone, and text message). A major incident is considered to be any event that would require first responder involvement from multiple agencies and may include students being evacuated from their school and transported to an offsite location.

If a major incident occurs at your child’s school, we will first inform you that an incident has occurred. When you receive this notification, the following steps should be taken immediately:

1. Do not go to your child’s school – this interferes with the ability of first responders to do their job effectively and could potentially put you or others in danger.

2. Locate your driver’s license or another form of photo ID – this will be required to pick up your child at the reunification site.

3. Allow school district and law enforcement officials to assess the situation and determine if the threat is valid. Once this occurs, administrators and law enforcement will determine the best site to relocate students safely. You will receive communication as soon as students are safely transported to an alternate location and reunification details are available.

Please talk with your child(ren) about the seriousness of making false threats. District 41 and law enforcement take false threats seriously and students making false threats will be charged accordingly.

Student and staff safety is a top priority of District 41. We are continuously reviewing our safety practices and training our staff so we are prepared in the event of a major incident.

Sincerely,

Dr. Melissa Kaczkowski

Superintendent

• Friday, February 17 - SIP Day (11:30 a.m. dismissal for grades 1-8. No PreK/EC or Kindergarten student attendance)
• Monday, February 20 - President's Day (No School)

Tuesday, February 21 - Regular Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Hadley
Monday, March 6 - Committee of the Whole Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Hadley

- View Board meeting agendas HERE | Watch live and recorded Board meetings HERE

- Board meeting schedule HERE

With the leadership of District 41 Nurse Katie Adduci, District 41 is in the process of becoming the first Heart Safe School District in Illinois. To become a Project ADAM Heart Safe School district, District 41 is implementing a quality sudden cardiac arrest program of awareness, training and effective emergency response to promote a safe environment for students, visitors and staff.

The importance of cardiac emergency response is highlighted in this news segment featuring Katie Adduci and her work in District 41.

All schools in District 41 are celebrating Black History Month in a variety of ways throughout the month of February. In the elementary schools, teachers are focusing lessons on learning about influential African Americans, libraries are featuring books on Black history, some schools are including Black history facts in the daily announcements, and music classes, for example at Lincoln School, are teaching lessons about jazz and musicians such as Duke Ellington.

This Friday morning at Hadley Junior High School, all grade levels will be showing films that focus on African Americans at different time periods in American history and showcases character traits. All character traits will be discussed with students before and after the films with projects and reflection afterwards.

6th grade: Ruby Bridges; 1950 - focus on resilience and perseverance

7th grade: Remember the Titans; 1970s - focus on integration, inclusion and accepting the differences of others.

8th grade: Hidden Figures; 1960/1970 - focus on facing sexism and racism in the workplace and overcoming adversity.

Congratulations to Hadley Jr. High School 7th Grade Bands on their performance at the Chicago Wolves Game on Friday, February 10! The musicians played a setlist of “pep band tunes” in the concourse prior to the start of the game, including Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, Centuries by Fallout Boy, and many recognizable “shorties!” Students were able to watch the Chicago Wolves beat the Iowa Wild, enjoy concessions and game festivities with family and friends, and even get a souvenir Chicago Wolves hat. Hadley Band Directors Samantha Tribley and Chris Cooper would like to thank the parents and guardians who joined as chaperones or enjoyed the evening and outing with their families! Thank you to Hadley and D41 administration for supporting this excellent event!

Please consider attending this important event sponsored by the District 41 PTA Council. Neuropsychologist and founder of Marvelous Minds Dr. Kymberly Larson will present this program to help parents of K-8 students recognize signs of distress and how to cope with them.

WHAT: "Change Distress to De-Stress" presented by Neuropsychologist Dr. Kymberly Larson

WHEN: Thursday, February 16th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Hadley Junior High Library, 240 Hawthorne Blvd., Glen Ellyn

Join us to learn more about the D41 Dual Language Program

WHAT: Dual Language Informational Meeting

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023

WHERE: Churchill Elementary 240 Geneva Rd, Glen Ellyn IL

CLIC PARA ESPANOL

Stay up to date on the upcoming offerings from the Glenbard Parent Series HERE

Gina Biegel

-Take in the Good: Skills for Staying Positive, Reducing Stress and Living Your Best Life

Wed, Feb 15 -- 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Click for more details

Ana Mandujano, YWCA Educator
- Relaciones Actuales entre Adolescentes/Teen Relationships Today

Thu, Feb 16 -- 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Click for more details

Josh Shipp

- The Grownup’s Guide to the Human Teenager: How to Decode Their Behavior and Develop Their Trust
Thu, Feb 23 7:00 p.m. -- 8:00 p.m.

Click for more details