district 64
APRIL 2016
Dear Colleagues:
Seems impossible, but the “A-B-C Countdown” to the end of the school year has begun, which means we are in the last 26 days of the 2015-16 calendar!
Happy Teacher Appreciation week! You certainly deserve more than a week’s worth of thanks for all you do for D64 students. As a small token of sincere appreciation we will be sending baskets of apples to each school again this year on Tuesday.
As we look ahead, our registration process for 2016-17 includes the online version of our Student-Parent Handbook. Thank you to Sonja Dziedzic and our art teachers for again offering a colorful and creative array of student art for the covers. View a copy of the handbook here.
We have partnered with Thoughtexchange to engage staff, parents and the larger community in answering three powerful yet open-ended questions about how we are doing within each of our schools and as a District as a whole. Watch for an email invitation to participate in this important online conversation tool. Thoughtexchange will be utilized every other year opposite the required 5 Essentials survey by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Earlier this week, the Board approved new K-5 Science resources for the 2016-17 school year, and heard important recommendations from our Primary Challenge/CofC committee. As you know, Washington will be receiving a secure vestibule and office enhancements this summer. On Monday, the Board also approved many other critical infrastructure projects in our schools for the summer, which is in addition to the roofing work that will be underway at most buildings. Please watch for new building restricted access guidelines from Ron DeGeorge. We will need everyone’s cooperation for the foreseeable future as we have significant work to do on all of our buildings and tight timelines to complete summer construction projects. In another agenda item from Monday, the Board did not approve the expansion of the Hot Lunch program to the elementary schools. As reported at the start of all Board of Education meetings recently, we continue to make headway with PREA negotiations and had one meeting with the PRTAA to kick-off their contract negotiations. A page has been added to our D64 website regarding negotiations and provides a brief overview of sessions that have taken place this year.
I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to the members of the numerous committees we have working this year. Without your dedication and willingness to participate -- the important work we are undertaking simply wouldn’t get done.
I hope you enjoy the last month of the school year with your students. I know this time of year is both exciting and overwhelming. Thanks for all you do!
Warmly,
Laurie
Planning for Field Trips
If you are planning a field trip and students will be ordering food/going to a restaurant, please include this information with your permission forms:
Parent/Guardian: Please note that students will be eating at a restaurant ___________. (Fill in name of food venue.) Please check the menu in advance or call the food venue directly if you have concerns about your child's food allergies/restrictions/intolerances. Contact the school health office if you have questions about your child's health plan.
REMINDER...Summer Professional Growth Registrations Due May 6
Summer 2016 Professional Growth Workshops (for certified staff) are now posted to the Professional Growth page of the Staff Portal. We hope you will be able to join us this summer!
Remember... Preregistration is required for all in-district Professional Growth Workshops. (Per Professional Growth guidelines, walk-ins are not allowed and will not be given Professional Growth credit or pay.)The registration deadline is Friday, May 6, 2016.
Even Geniuses Work Hard
Check out this 2010 Educational Leadership article about using learning tasks to promote a growth mindset in students. It’s a great summary of the growth mindset research and connects to Wednesday’s Mastery Learning conversation!
RECORDS/PLANNING DAY
The 2015-16 school calendar allows for a records/planning day on June 1, 2016 if sufficient emergency days remain. At this time we anticipate that June 1, 2016 will be used as a records/planning day. Classes will not be in session on Wednesday, June 1, 2016; District 64 staff will be working in their assigned building on this day.
In the event we experience a weather-related or other emergency any time prior to this date, this decision may need to be revisited.
Lincoln Seed Library
CONGRATULATIONS!
Kristie Harvalis (5th Grade Teacher at Roosevelt) and husband Chris, and daughter Everly, welcomed baby girl Reese Lila Harvalis on April 7th weighing 8 pounds and 19 inches long.
Aileen Stonelake, (2nd Grade Teacher at Roosevelt) and husband, Patrick, are proud parents of a baby girl, Nora Kathleen born on March 10th, 6 lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long.
for sale
Drop Pocket Corners
Balls, Rack and 1 Stick
Good Condition $300.00
Contact: Maribeth Aimers at maimers@d64.org
NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING-EMERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL-MULTIPURPOSE ROOM
Monday, May 23, 2016, 07:00 PM
Emerson Middle School, North Cumberland Avenue, Niles, IL, United States
2015-2016 PAYDATES
5/05/16 and 5/19/16
6/02/16, 6/16/15 and 6/30/16
7/14/16 and 7/28/16
8/11/16