August 18, 2017
A Message from the Superintendent
District 67 Staff,

If you come in the front door of any one of our schools, you will notice that a lot changed over the summer.  All building entrances now have new safer and more secure vestibules.  Once inside the building, you may notice that each of the nurses' offices has handicap accessible bathrooms as well.  Further, each building now has a "test classroom" and is awaiting furniture.  Finally, DPMW is worth a special trip. The Haskins Center is the largest space in the District and one through which every student will pass, so it's impact will be great.  Like the Cube, it is now a beautiful and engaging space. As with everything we do in the District, it takes a team effort to make it happen. The Administration Center Finance and Operations staff has been getting bids and riding herd on the projects (while doing the annual District audit and making sure payroll goes out on time). Carol White and the Building and Grounds Department have been moving and removing everything to make way for the construction and clean up, and support staff in the buildings have been flexible as they moved into new spaces. Teachers have been volunteering to try new things, Technology staff has been ensuring things get rewired and function properly, and principals have been serving as conduits for all kinds of information during the projects.  So, thank you to everyone involved for making things go as well as they did. It was a Herculean undertaking and one from which all of our staff, students, and families will benefit.

Sincerely,

Michael Simeck
Human Resource Report 
TeachBoost/Evaluation Update
As you embark upon the start of a new school year, we want to ensure you have access to the evaluation handbook and have access to the evaluation rubrics, which can be found in the Alio Portal. Should you have any questions regarding the evaluation process or the rubrics used in your evaluations, please don't hesitate to reach out to your building principal or to the HR Department. In addition, we will host the following optional TeachBoost/Evaluation Trainings:
  • Deer Path Middle School - Wednesday, September 6, 7:45 am in the Lecture Room
  • Everett Elementary School - Wednesday, September 13, 7:30 am in the IRC and Thursday, September 14, 3:00 pm in the IRC
  • Cherokee Elementary School - Wednesday, September 6, 7:30 am in the IRC and Thursday, September 7, 3:00 pm in the IRC
  • Sheridan Elementary School - Tuesday, September 5, 3:05 pm in the Science Room
All Staff will receive notice of their evaluator prior to September 15, 2017.

Entering Professional Development into ELIS
If you completed professional development activities over the summer, now would be a great time to enter your professional development hours in ELIS on the ISBE website. The following link will guide you through this process: Recording Professional Development Hours In ELIS.
Teaching and Learning News 
While we can't believe it is this time already, we couldn't be more excited to welcome you back! We are hopeful that you found much time to relax and rejuvenate with family and friends and we look forward to hearing all about it on Monday!

Each year, we get more organized and are able to hone our focus even more. We are thrilled to launch another year and have resources to get you started! Below you will find links to the 2017-2018 Roadmap for Success (containing our NEW Curricular Calendars!), the K-4 CII Calendar and the Assessment Calendar. They should help you begin the year with tools you need.

2017-2018  67 K-4 Roadmap to Success
2017-2018  67 5-8 Roadmap to Success
2017-2018  67 K-4 CII Calendar
2017-2018  Assessment Calendar
(*Please note MAP begins 9/6)

Additionally, we want to get our D67 Committees up and running as soon as possible. Please use the link below to review the various opportunities for you to share your expertise and grow with your colleagues. Please use the form to express your interest in serving on particular committees no later than Friday, August 25.  We will inform everyone of committee membership by the end of the following week.

2017-2018 D67 Committees

We are looking forward to the support we will have  the opportunity to provide each and every one of you throughout the school year. Your principals will be sharing different ways that the Teaching and Learning Department will be available to you! Stay tuned...!

Lastly, we have been working since spring to bring you a calendar that represents a unified and coordinated effort that is purposely planned and organized for teachers to have strategic professional development opportunities, while maximizing your time in your classrooms. In your google calendar, you have  access to a new calendar called D67 PD/Meeting Calendar. Think of this calendar as the "master calendar" of daily events across the district. All pull-outs, committee meetings, professional development opportunities, etc. in ONE place! Please use this video for support in adding this calendar to your google account. As always, if you need more support with this, your tech coach would be happy to assist!

Once again, we hope these resources help you get  off to a great start! Much joy awaits us in the school year ahead!
Technology and Learning Spaces Update
A New Acceptable Use Agreement for Students
The time had come to revise our Acceptable Use Agreement - the code of conduct for students to guide their responsible use and care of technology devices and accounts. The new version will be titled "Responsible Use  Agreement" or RUA for short. The librarians and ILIs will share this updated agreement with students. The revised RUA has been updated to reflect current SEL Standards and uses the categories of: Be Caring, Be Safe, and Be Responsible.
Grades 2-8 have a 4th category: Be Productive. Please look for a copy of the revised Responsible Use Agreement via email soon!