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Parent Partners:
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Happy New Year! I have always found it interesting the need for many to have a time to start anew. We have a new calendar year, a new school year, a new fiscal year, etc. Many use these benchmarks as times to realign, recommit, and revitalize. People may set goals and resolutions (which are often put aside prior to them being realized) to change behaviors that may be less than healthy or socially/financially/academically beneficial. I am all for new beginnings. I certainly have my share of habits and behaviors that I have committed to changing this year to be a better husband, father, superintendent, and musician. I am confident I have already been less successful in implementing a couple of them already!
For a school district, January is an interesting time of celebration and refocusing. We are almost halfway through the school year and have the first half of the year’s worth of data to use when making decisions for the last half of the year. Eighth grade students and parents are already preparing for the transition to high school. Teachers are making changes to groupings and instruction to ensure that students are getting the most out of the significant amount of time they have with their classes this year.
2020 is the year of clear vision. The kindergarten class of 2020 will be the high school graduating class of 2032. What will change in our world for those current kindergarteners by the time they graduate? The next five months of school, while incredibly important, are but a small segment of their future. Part of our job is to educate the children for today while preparing them for the future in such ways as incorporating critical thinking when finding solutions to problems; teaching them how to convey ideas for better communication; helping students think outside the box to promote creativity; as well as encouraging collaboration with others. In these ways the students will be better prepared for the challenges and opportunities the future brings. District 102’s Strategic Plan was created, with parent; staff and community input to best prepare our students for a quickly evolving future.
I encourage you to talk with your children and, where possible, have them talk with the generation prior to you (grandparents, or other older family members and friends) about the differences that you experienced from when you were in school to 2020. What did you think you were going to do and are you doing it? What things existed when you were in school that do and don’t exist today? Conversely what are the things that exist today that didn’t exist when you were in school? (I will pause and say that I have come to realize as a newer member of AARP, many of you may not have seen the same changes that I have experienced and that older generations have experienced, but I am confident there are changes your children will appreciate talking about!)
As we look to the future with a clear vision in 2020, take time to reflect on how you can make a difference and how your children can make a difference in the local, state, national, or even world community. 2032 will come sooner than we realize. Reflect on the past, but don’t live in the past. Focus on the future with a clear vision for making a difference in our world. Our children are amazing…I am excited for what their (our) future holds.
Kyle
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Ambassadors News:
The D102 Special Education Ambassadors invite any and all parents to join them for an informal social gathering at Brixie's on the evening of January 30th.
The Ambassadors are a group of parent volunteers who have offered to help parents of children with special needs understand some of the basics of special education in La Grange 102 while also providing interested parents with a sense of welcoming connection and social support. Ambassadors can help parents to network with one another and may also be able to provide suggestions for outside resources, based on their own individual experiences. Although Ambassadors are La Grange 102 parents, they are not employed by the school district, and their opinions are theirs alone. The District provides guidance to the Ambassadors through regular team meetings, consultation, and check-ins. It does not sponsor outside activities or endorse any particular opinions or advice offered by Ambassadors.
Dyslexia Information and Resources:
Recently, a group of parents with students who have been diagnosed with dyslexia met with Assistant Superintendent for Special Education, Terry Sofianos Wohlgenant, and Superintendent Schumacher to review the district's processes and procedures for identification of students with dyslexia as well as follow-up steps for students, which may or may not include eligibility and services under special education. Please see the bottom left-hand corner box on the special education web page, "Dyslexia Identification and Services."
https://www.dist102.k12.il.us/SpecialEducation
Additional Special Needs Advisory Panel (SNAP) Meeting:
SNAP will hold an additional meeting on Wednesday, January 22nd, from 4pm to 6pm, in the Park Junior High LRC. The focus of this meeting will be small and large group dialogue on current issues of concern to parents and staff. All are welcome to attend, and you do not need to be an official member of this district advisory group in order to participate. For planning purposes, please RSVP to
sofianoste@dist102.k12.il.us
if you plan to attend. If you have an issue or concern you would like addressed as a topic of the meeting, whether or not you are able to attend, please complete this anonymous survey.
https://forms.gle/G6TmPGt2zL6VF4cS8
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D102 is more aware than ever of the benefits certain foods can provide. There’s a growing demand for plant-based foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. Our new school lunch menu will feature several meatless options and a deli bar filled with fresh toppings. D102 is also testing several 100% fruit slushies for students to enjoy during lunch. All options will be available Tuesday, January 21st, 2020.
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Engie is the new provider for certified Green-E RECs for our District. Switching to this energy has offset 100% of our carbon emissions; helping to reduce our carbon footprint.
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Google Docs are a great built in application with most, if not all, of the features you could want from a word processor.
For those who doubt the practicality of Google Docs—or have yet to make the most of Google’s powerful word processor—here are some tips and tricks that make google doc useful.
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Summer School Dates:
June 8th-11th, 2020
June 15th -18th, 2020
June 22nd - 25th, 2020
June 29th - July 2nd, 2020
SOAR
August 3rd- 6th, 2020
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Please save the date for D102's summer school 2020 and SOAR 2020 programs. Future communication will be available on the district website soon.
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The 2020 Census: What You Need to Know
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The US Census is a constitutionally required decennial (once every ten years) count of all persons living in the United States.
The data collected during the Census determines representation on a federal, state, and local levels, the distribution of billions of dollars of funding, and provides information used to make decisions about education, business, health care, and many other issues that affect the our community.
Activities related to the Census will take place throughout 2020, but most people will only have to actively participate in March. Learn more on the
2020 Census website
, a great resource to learn more about participating in the 2020 Census.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day -- January 20th, 2020
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Future D102 events:
Run for 102 Race to the Finish
May 3, 2020
D102 STEM EXPO
Kindergarten Parent Information Night
February 18th and 19th, 2020
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1/20 MLK Day -- NO SCHOOL
1/23 Board of Education Meeting
1/27 PAC Meeting
1/30
D102 Special Education Parent Ambassadors Parent’s Night Out
2/6
Board of Education Meeting
2/14 Non-Attendance Day -- NO SCHOOL
2/17 Presidents Day -- NO SCHOOL
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