411 on 67 - 9.13.23

Dear District 67 Families:

With a new school year underway, it is important for our families to feel connected to the safety and security plans across our District. Mr. Chuck Walsh, Director of Safety, has now spent almost three full months in our District and provides important guidance below.

Sincerely,

Matthew L. Montgomery, Ph.D.

Superintendent

Dear Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood Parents and Guardians:

The safety and welfare of our students and staff are our highest priority. In the unlikely event of an emergency, it is important to note that our District has distinct plans, and school administrators and personnel are trained to respond quickly and appropriately.

Throughout the year, we practice safety drills to help our students and staff know what to do in various types of emergencies. The goals of safety drills are to improve our ability to protect students, save lives, and reduce injuries in the event of a crisis. When conducting drills we work closely with our local authorities to implement the best possible safety practices (105 ILCS 128).

Definition of Terms

There are several key terms that are used in cases of emergency. For information purposes, I have included two terms below that are less commonly used in school settings and often confused:

• Shelter-In-Place: This is used if there is a potential, external threat. In this example, all doors are secure and there will be no exit or entry without police involvement; however, classroom activities might proceed as scheduled.

• Lockdown: This term is used if there is an internal threat. Students and staff will remain silent and in their classrooms until released by local authorities.

Testing Our Notification Systems
Later this month, we will also test our emergency communication systems. In the near future, and in coordination with our D67 and D115 school principals, we will send a TEST BrightArrow emergency message. This test message will be directed to your emergency contact preferences (any combination of email, phone, and/or text), using the information provided during online registration that is on file with the school district.

For Parents and Guardians
Please check your BrightArrow notification settings by following the BrightArrow Instructions to log onto the BrightArrow Website. If your contact information is NOT correct, please notify your school office immediately. If you have students in both Districts, please ensure your information is updated in both districts accordingly.

For Faculty and Staff

Faculty and Staff are asked to review and update your information in Alio as necessary.

Finally

The purpose of this communication is simply to test and verify that our District 67 and District 115 emergency communications systems are working and able to notify you during an actual emergency. The efficacy of the test will be based, in part, upon the quality of contact information we have on file. Thank you for your support of our continued commitment to keeping the safety and security of our schools at the forefront of our work. Please contact me with questions.

All my best,

Chuck Walsh

Director of Safety

Lake Forest School Districts 67 and 115

The APT (Association of Parents and Teachers) & the Spirit of 67 Foundation invite all parents to attend a kick-off meeting on September 14th with guest speaker, Matthew Dewar, Ed.D., is a LFHS teacher, professional health educator, speaker, and author researching and applying the science of stress optimization and biofeedback for enhanced health and performance.

Dr. Dewar will speak to us as parents, teachers, and leaders about how our responses to stress and adversity are instructive to the children and young adults under our guidance and in our care. Through the practice of mindful attention and through the development of healthy and sustainable stress-management skills, we can build resilience in ourselves, our families, and our communities.

• September 14
  
• 9:00am - All-District APT Meeting (see more info below!)
• September 15
  
• 9:30-11:30am - New D67 Families Coffee
• 4:30-6:30pm - CH Back-to-School Family Picnic
• September 19
• 9:30am - DPM APT Meeting
• September 20
• 9:30am - CH APT Meeting
• 5:30pm - EV APT Meeting
• September 22
• 7:30pm - Lake Forest High School HOMECOMING Varsity Football Game - All Scout Alumni and D67 Families Welcome!
• September 26
• 7:00pm - D67 Board of Education Regular Meeting
• September 27
• 9:00am - SH APT Meeting
• September 28
  
• 10:00am-2:00pm - Spirit of 67 Fall Home & Garden Tour
• 6:00-8:00pm - DPM Open House for Parents/Guardians

• September 26, 2023 - Regular Meeting
• October 24, 2023 - Regular Meeting
• November 14, 2023 - Regular Meeting
  
  

Agendas will be posted prior to the meeting on the District 67 Board of Education website.

• Agenda
  

• Recording of Meeting

• Superintendent's Report

Thursday, September 28, 10am - 2pm

The Spirit of 67 invites all District 115 families and community members to kick off the fall social season by immersing yourself in the breathtaking beauty of five of the finest homes and gardens in Lake Forest! We look forward to treating you to the best of our community, including culinary delights, artistic gems, talented District 67 musicians, and much more! EVENT TICKETS are now available for purchase using the link below.

We are thrilled to offer several raffles including beautiful tablescapes, unique art and home goods from local artisans, and an extraordinary VACATION PACKAGE. Raffle tickets will be available after Sept 6.

We are also seeking volunteers to help us make this year's tour a success. As a volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy the homes and gardens on the tour before or after your shift. Plus, each volunteer will receive a discounted ticket price, a swag bag, and a chance to win an incredible raffle prize. If you're interested, please fill out this SURVEY.

All proceeds from this event go towards enriching, educational and cultural experiences for the students, parents, faculty, and staff of Lake Forest School District 67.

Join us for Homecoming weekend beginning with the Varsity Football game on Friday, September 22. For all LFHS home athletic events in which a gate fee is charged, tickets must be purchased via www.GoFan.co and redeemed at the gate via mobile phone. CASH IS NO LONGER ACCEPTED .

You can use the following link or QR code to purchase your tickets in advance. Lake Forest GoFan Tickets

GO SCOUTS!

We currently have two open opportunities for athletic employment at LFHS. If you or anyone you know is interested, please apply!

• Lifeguards - Must be American Red Cross Lifeguard Certified

• Pay: Starts at $13/hr
  
  

• Boys and Girls Community Education Basketball Coaches (5th-8th Grade)

• Commitment: Two weekday practices; games are generally on weekends, but occasionally a weekday game will occur

Join us in welcoming the next three new additions to the DPM family - Chris Berry, Heidi Thedwall, and Katie Hoskins! Here are some fun facts about Chris, Heidi, and Katie for your families to enjoy!

⭐ Chris Berry - Health Teacher

“I worked on Wrigley Field for the winter, when I was a carpenter, I've met two other Chris Berry's in my life, and I enjoy practicing Judo!”

⭐ Heidi Thedwall - 5/6 World Language (French) Teacher

“In the past 20 years, I have moved 12 times! My husband just finished his 20th year of active duty service in the Navy. I love soccer. I have played most of my life, though now I mostly support my kids who both play. I also love to ski, but I only started learning to ski when my own kids began learning. I met my husband in our high school French class."

⭐ Katie Hoskins - Special Education Teaching Assistant

“I have a huge heart. I have a fun sense of humor. I love to smile. I love flowers. Being a mom is a joy that is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I enjoy traveling with my family. I love going to new coffee shops. I like trying new foods. The sky’s the limit.”

Welcome to District 67! We are fortunate to have you. 💚

The District utilizes Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Follow us to learn more about celebrations, student achievements, and District news!

The District is seeking to fill parent/guardian vacancies for a three-year Curriculum Coordinating Committee (CCC) term. Appointments to the committee will be based upon interest and qualifications. Please use this link for additional information.

Those interested in serving on the CCC should apply using this application form. Qualifications include the ability to analyze and discuss curricular issues, to participate in collective decision-making, and to communicate effectively. Applications are due by 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023.

School districts in Illinois are required by ISBE to update anaphylaxis and food allergy guidelines every three years. Last spring, we invited community members, staff, and administrators from District 67 and District 115 to participate on the Anaphylaxis and Food Allergies Response Plan Committee. Beginning in May and throughout the summer, a group of 20-30 met three times to review and revise the document. We are sharing the near-final draft of the handbook, HERE.

The most notable changes emerging from this effort are twofold:

1.) The increased availability of epinephrine injectors (epi-pens) in all District 67 and District 115 school buildings

2.) A pilot program of recommended allergen-free classroom snacks

• Please note: the classroom snack list primarily applies to grades PreK-4. Per DPM policy, food and drink (other than water) are allowed in the classroom at the teacher's discretion.

Allergen-Free Snack Pilot

This pilot will run for six weeks (August 23 - October 6). We will continue to listen closely to our community and will be sending out a parent and staff survey at the end of the pilot to gather collective feedback. At that point, we will determine how best to proceed.

The pilot snack list may be found HERE.

• If a child is unable to eat any of the allergen-free daily snack items due to medical reasons, parents are asked to contact the Building Nurse.

• During the pilot period, if a child is unable to eat any of the allergen-free snack items (for reasons other than medical), parents may submit the District 67 Snack Approval Request form to suggest an additional snack item be added to the approval list. The request will be reviewed by an administrator and a decision will be made and communicated within 14 school days.

Further information may be found in this District 67 anapylaxis and food allergies response summary.

Weekly Newsletter: TrueNorth just released their weekly newsletter with plenty of opportunities for all Lake Forest families!

Now Accepting Applications for Illinois Partners in Policymaking Class: Sign up for a leadership training program for adults with developmental disabilities, parents of children under the age of 22 with developmental disabilities, adults siblings of people with developmental disabilities, legal guardians, and Supporters in Supported Decision-Making Agreements for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Please join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in collaboration with the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative for a virtual listening session on September 20 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. about mental health screening of students in schools. This session is for parents, guardians, caregivers, community members and school personnel. Spanish Language Interpretation will be included.

Those seeking more information about the initiative can learn more here. Should you have any questions about this initiative, please contact mentalhealth@isbe.net.

Please click below to sign up and you will be emailed a zoom link closer to the date.

Register for the Listening Session

Please join us for an evening of conversation about our most important natural resource, the Great Lakes! Speakers include Scott Sowa, The Nature Conservancy's Juli Plant Grainger Great Lakes Director, Joel Brammeier, CEO & President of The Alliance for the Great Lakes, and economist John Austin from The Brookings Institution and University of Michigan. Register at northshorecivicclub.org. All who attend will be automatically registered for a Patagonia Gear Giveaway!

Be a part of the Race to ReNew 5K and Fun Run on Saturday, September 30, 2023. It all happens at the West Lake Forest High School Campus. Race the grass LFHS Cross Country team course, then get the K-8 kids out for the Fun Run.

Please use this link for more information, and to sign up!