District 107 needs you to help shape the future of our schools!  The district is seeking stakeholders who are interested in taking part in the Future Planning Committee.  As the district takes on changes and new initiatives, the goal is to improve students' experiences.  The Future Planning Process brings parents, community members, staff, and students together to create a vision of the future; this process has the potential to transform the district's schools. 

This committee will meet at Pleasantdale Middle School for three, two-hour meetings.  The only requirements for participation are that members are a Pleasantdale SD 107 resident or staff member and can commit to all three meeting dates on Oct. 5, Nov. 2, and Dec. 14 from 6-8 pm.  At the meetings, members will identify areas the district can improve and ways the district can better serve students and families.  The outcome of the Future Planning Process will be a long-term strategic plan that will help shape the education of district students.

For those who would like to be a part of this exciting process, please click here to register for the committee.  Registration is open now and will remain open until Sept. 23.  Questions can be directed to Superintendent Dave Palzet at [email protected].      

Parents of fourth through eighth grade students in the Lyons Township area are invited to a special presentation by Devorah Heitner, Ph.D., technology and social media expert, on Sept. 22 at 7pm at Park Junior High School, located at 333 N. Park Rd. in La Grange Park.  This free event, titled Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World, is open to all parents whose children attend Districts 101, 102, 105, 106 and 107.  At this event, Heitner will help parents better understand how to raise digital natives.  Her presentation focuses on setting limits, understanding the importance of technology and the applications children use and how it impacts their digital footprint.

Heitner founded Raising Digital Natives ( www.raisingdigitalnatives.com) to help schools and organizations cultivate a culture of responsible digital citizenship. Her book, Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in the Digital Age is a guide for parents. Heitner holds a Ph.D. in Media/ Technology and Society from Northwestern University, and has been published in Edutopia, Good Digital Parenting, and PBS Kids.

Signed copies of her book will be available for purchase.  Space for the event is limited and parents are asked to register through Eventbrite at http://screenwise.eventbrite.com

Prior to the parent event, Heitner will address township staff on Sept. 22 at 4 pm at Park Junior High School.  Her presentation will be approximately an hour long and will focus on Positive Approaches to Digital Citizenship.  All attendees will receive CPDU's for their participation.

This presentation is hosted by the Parent Community Network and Pleasantdale School District 107, La Grange School District 102, Western Springs School District 101, LaGrange-Highlands School District 106, La Grange School District 105 and the La Grange Area Department of Special Education.