D34 What's News?
December 21, 2018
If you're reading this newsletter while in the District and are having problems seeing videos or photos below, make sure to log into the proxy server (Securly).
Thank You Strategic Planning Team!
At the final meeting, the team reviewed input on the draft of the plan and suggested final edits. Members of the team will present the final plan to the Board of Education at their meeting on January 14, 2018 at 7:30pm - all community members are welcome (that means you!).
What's Next?
The Board's approval of the plan is the beginning of much work ahead. The administrative team will develop action plans for each strategy within each goal area of the plan. We will have priority areas for action each year of the plan. We will know we're on the right track when you see and hear and feel the strategic plan in your work, and in your daily interactions with students, parents and each other.
5Essentials: You Can Do It!
Please. Pretty please! Dig through your email inbox to find the 5Essentials email from UChicago Impact. If you can't find it, you can use the "Forgot Your Passcode" link and the email will appear in your inbox, like so much holiday magic!
Each school needs a 50% response rate in order to receive a report, and we will use those reports to evaluate our climate and culture, and to find ways to improve. Learn more about 5Essentials here.
GEF Spring Grant Application Deadline is March 11, 2019
Last school year, the Glenview Education Foundation awarded thousands of dollars in grants. This year GEF is looking to award $150,000 in grants! Don’t miss the opportunity to submit your ideas for the Spring 2019 grant cycle. Visit GEF’s website for more information, including sample grant applications from prior years:
GEF’s Grant Committee School Liaisons can help refine ideas, collaborate with administration, and assist you with the application process. Contact your school’s liaison if you need any assistance:
- Attea: Chiara Andrews, chiaraandrews@gmail.com
- Springman: Elyce Ventura, elycev@gmail.com
- Henking: Nicky Stannard, nickyhstannard@comcast.net
- Pleasant Ridge: JD Lathrop, lathrop33@hotmail.com
- Westbrook: Vibha Gupta, vibhag@gmail.com
- Lyon: Chris Rettig, crettig@gmail.com
- Hoffman: Megan McClung, mhmcclung@gmail.com
- Glen Grove: Mike Zimmerman, zimmdad@gmail.com
Attention all previous grant recipients: We love hearing updates from you! Be sure to share anecdotes, photos, videos or your full grant report with us at grants@gef34.org. Thank you!
Mentor League
Are you a certified staff member and interested in becoming a mentor? Take a look at the recent Mentor League newsletter for more information about the program and how you can get involved
Certified Staff: Update Your Credentials
Update Your Personal Information with Human Resources
To ensure that you receive important information from the District, please provide any name, address, or phone number changes to Dori Browne in Human Resources at dbrowne@glenview34.org or x5016.
The calling system used by the District for emergency and snow days is based upon this information. If a staff member does not provide updated information, he or she will not receive those calls. You can check your personal information by logging into:
- The Staff Directory on the Intranet
- Skyward Employee Access
Thanks for your assistance in keeping our records current!
ESL/Bilingual Endorsement
(Job)Share & Share Alike
The Constitution states that full time, tenured teachers may apply for participation in the Job Share Program in accordance with a process developed and monitored by the Personnel
Committee. The purpose of the Job Share Program is to provide the opportunity for tenured staff members to contribute to the District in a flexible manner.
Job sharing differs from part-time employment. When job sharing, two teachers assume complete responsibility for one full-time position. The professional responsibilities, required by the District, are not divided - both teachers are required to meet the professional obligations of all full-time teachers. The District and entire school community benefits from the knowledge and expertise of both staff members. Teachers who job share retain their tenure and seniority status and have a guarantee to return to a full-time position when the job share ends.
Job Postings
Visit Frontline to learn more or apply for any of the positions listed:
Certified Staff
- Long-Term Sub: PE Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Special Education Resource Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Language Arts Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Science Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Early Childhood SpEd Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Band Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Educational Life Skills Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Teacher On Assignment/Assistant to Principal
- Long-Term Cadre Substitute (Ongoing)
- Long-Term Sub: School Psychologist (part-time)
Support Staff
- Associate
- Early Childhood Secretary
- Long-Term Sub: Part-Time Custodian
- Substitute RN
LAST CALL: Want Smore?
Great Graphics: Canva & Pixabay
Another place to find images and be sure they aren't subject to copyright: Use Google Advanced Image Search, and under "Usage Rights," select, "Free to use or share."
This section is where we highlight all of the wonderful things going on in the district, schools, and classrooms. If you have items to share or would like an event covered, please fill out the Staff Shares Request Form.
Don't want to write something up, but you want to share? Fill out that form! Or, even easier, email Cathy Kedjidjian and she'll be excited to come to your classroom and share your story!
EC Community Helper of the Month: River Trail Nature Center
District 34’s Early Childhood Program had The River Trails Nature Center come as their community helper of the month. The students were able to see and feel a variety of animal pellets and learn about how animals use their unique features to their advantage in the wild. Students were able to meet a speedy turtle as well! Students were able to ask questions and learn more about the animals in their area
submitted by Jobeth Wilson (WB)
Flipped Learning
Diy Cardenas (SP), 7th grade math teacher, recently flipped her classroom and has had resounding success! She will be presenting at the ICE Conference in February on the “Frictionless Classroom”. Her teaching companion, Instructional Tech Facilitator Jeanette Simenson, teamed up with her to make this happen!
Diy, what were the some of the fears or worries you had leading into this experience?
My initial fear was that my students would not do their homework (watch my videos and fill out their guided notes). I also worried about their not getting immediate feedback if they were confused or needed clarification.
What level of technology experience did you need to have to do this?
Not much. I use Screencast-O-Matic to record my videos and it is no different than what I used to do during direct instruction. Having an organized google drive and a good label scheme has been essential.
Tell us how you flipped your classroom!
I used to start my class with a quick warm up, direct instruction and then students work independently and/or in groups. If they didn’t finish their in class work, it became part of their homework. Now I record the lesson and that has become student’s homework. In class we do a quick recap of the lesson (where I increase the difficulty of the problems we try as a group) and then students begin their assignment. If they do not finish it in class (which now happens very rarely) it becomes part of their homework.
What were some of the benefits? Did anything surprise you?
Students LOVE this format. Students who used to struggle during a lesson now come to class much happier and willing to try challenge problems. I now have almost an entire block to check in with students. What’s been really great is listening to how much math talk is happening amongst students.
What challenges have you had to overcome making this transition?
There has been more upfront work. I now need to make sure that my videos are recorded and posted before students walk into the door. It did take a couple of days for students to get used to what is defined as classwork and what is defined by homework. Now, two weeks later, students are well adjusted to the routine.
What feedback have you gotten from students?
“Being absent is not stressful anymore because of the videos. Before there was no recording of you teaching the lesson. The homework at home is easier and I’m more comfortable working on problems in class.”
submitted by Carly Spina (Admin) and Jeanette Simenson (SP)
Talking Points from the Personnel Committee Meeting on December 4:
- The Draft 2019-20 Calendar was updated with staff feedback and will go to the Board for their consideration at the December 10, 2018 meeting.
- The Committee agreed to sponsor the annual D34 Wellness Challenge with significant updates to encourage greater participation and recognition.
- The committee continued its dialogue on how best to update our Staff Recognition Program. We are looking to celebrate staff accomplishments in meaningful ways that are personal and cumulative.
- The district will host an informational workshop on retirement for certified staff on December 5th from 4pm-5pm at Admin. A TRS rep will present information to all interested staff members and answer questions.
Talking Points from the Education Committee Meeting on December 11:
- K-5 Report Card Update - The first use of the new report card seemed well receive. The district will gather more feedback from staff.
February Institute Day - The plan for the February Institute Day was approved for K-5. EdCo will revisit the plan for 6-8 at our January meeting.
Balanced Literacy Update - A draft long-term plan for K-5 to move forward with Balanced Literacy is being considered by EdCo.
Social Studies Update - Matt shared an update on the new Social Studies standards and the resource pilots.
Mentor Program Update - An update was given on the program. More details will be shared with staff after the new year.
No Red Ink Update - Data was shared on how this newly adopted resource is being used.
Best Wishes to:
- Kathryn Baumgartner (SP) and her fiancé Chris York on their engagement.
Go To Your Happy Place!
We hope that Attea's Heidi Reitman thinks that here happy place is her office. She's the raffle winner for this issue, and that's where her swag-bag-o-granola was delivered! Check out the resolutions that D34 staff members have for the new year, and then click the button below the video to enter the raffle.
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Glenview School District 34
Email: news@glenview34.org
Website: http://www.glenview34.org/
Location: 1401 Greenwood Rd, Glenview, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 998-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glenview34/
Twitter: @glenview34