Panther Post

June 5, 2020
Message From the Principal

Dear Sullivan Families,

It was so wonderful to see so many students and families at the district-wide farewell parade last Friday! While it was not our usual end-of-year closing, I know our staff appreciated the chance to say goodbye to students and families from afar and wish them well during the summer.

Another great end-of-year event was the Sullivan Recognition Presentation that students watched on the last day with their classes. If you did not get a chance to see the Sullivan Recognition Presentation, you can click here for the link. We are so proud of all our students and staff have accomplished together, both in person and virtually.

We have been sending out emails regarding library books that are still checked out. If you received a notice and returned your book during item drop off or the parade, not to worry! We are still sorting through books that may have been put in the wrong box or dropped off at a different school. If you still have items to return, you can do so Monday-Thursday from 7AM - 3 PM in the Sullivan foyer. Please place them in the box labeled for library and classroom books. Any leftover student items that were not picked up will be held until the fall. If you would like to pick those items up, please email me directly and I will put the bags in the foyer for contactless pickup.

Have a wonderful summer and stay well!

Warmly,

Traci Meziere
Principal
Anne Sullivan School
Parade Pictures
Retirees and Staffing Changes for 20-21

First, we want to recognize our retirees, Mrs. Ani Magid (Speech-Language Pathologist) and Mrs. Pragna Shah (Educational Support Personnel)! Mrs. Magid and Mrs. Shah have served the students of D23 for a combined 43 years!

We thank you for your years of service, and your compassion and care for our students will be missed! We wish you well in your retirement.
Additionally, the following staffing changes are in place for the 2020-21 school year:

  • Ms. Lisa Brusso and Mrs. Nadine Ubert will be moving from 4th Grade at Sullivan to 2nd Grade at Ross.
  • Mrs. Laura Mkrtschjan and Ms. Linda Hartmann will be moving from 5th Grade to 4th Grade at Sullivan.
  • Ms. Kelly Funk will be moving from 4th Grade to 5th Grade at Sullivan.
  • Mrs. Simona Hofer will be joining the Eisenhower staff as their School Psychologist.
  • Ms. Meghan Slowik will be joining the 4th grade team in the fall as a new hire for D23.
A Message From Dr. Angelaccio

Dear District 23 Families, Staff, and Community,

Valuing the diversity of our students, families, staff, and community has long been a core value of District 23. To truly live out this value means to take a stand and unite together when we see injustice in our world that threatens the values of who we are and what we believe. The recent events in our country have continued to illuminate how very important this work is. 

D23 believes there is no place in our world for hate or judgement of others based on race, color, or national origin. We do not condone racism in any form. We embrace the strength of our diversity. Our district board policies and district strategic plan reflect these values, and they are the foundation upon which we build the education for our students in order to positively impact the world and our future. 

In our schools, we provide educational opportunities and hold conversations with our students about the appreciation of diversity and understanding concepts of racial injustice through Social Emotional Learning, classroom talking circles, middle school advisory, and restorative practices.

For parents and families, it can be difficult to know where to start when having conversations with your child about topics of racial injustice. Sitting down and having these conversations with honesty and in an age-appropriate manner is an important step in helping us make progress with advancing respect, acceptance, and inclusion for all. 

In an effort to help support having these conversations with children, we are providing the following resources for reference and guidance:


In all that we do, D23 is committed to standing for the equality of all, embracing our diversity, and partnering with our students, families, staff, and community in this goal. We are here to support each other in this effort, and we hope that together we can all continue to work toward making lasting change in our schools, community, and country. As we return to school in the fall, whether virtually or in person, the conversation regarding how we can support our students will become even more essential.
Sincerely,

Dr. Don Angelaccio, Superintendent
Summer Learning

Keep learning this summer! Mrs. Yager created a bingo board for our incoming 4th and 5th graders, and Mr. Alms created a video announcement for the incoming 6th graders.

Click the buttons below for the summer reading lists for Sullivan and MacArthur.
Weekly Food Pick Up

We will continue to distribute food weekly to families on Wednesdays only throughout June, from 12:00-2:00 PM. The location of food pickup is at Ross and Sullivan for the remainder of the month. Please refer to the map below for the food pickup traffic flow.

  • All cars should enter through the far south entrance to the parking lot, where Ross morning drop off occurs.

  • Please follow all directions from the staff working the day of food pick up to ensure traffic flows smoothly .

Thank you for your cooperation as we try to make this process as efficient as possible for all families!
Yearbooks Are Here!

We have some great news...It's time to pick-up your pre-ordered Eisenhower or Ross/Sullivan 2019-2020 yearbook! This year, all pick-ups will be held curbside at Betsy Ross School. Please see below for details:

Friday, June 26th 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM 

We will require everyone to adhere to the following expectations:

  • Yearbook pick-up will be conducted curbside.
  • Parents and family members will need to stay in their cars.
  • Parents and family members are encouraged to wear a mask.
  • Parents should place their school's name and students' names in the window of the car and follow all traffic directions.
  • PTO representatives will distribute your child's yearbook as you pull up curbside.
  • Please follow the map below during our scheduled drop-off times.

Thank you for your cooperation as we try to make this process as efficient as possible for all families!
Traffic Flow Map - Food and Yearbook Pickup
Summer Learning Options

The district will offer two different distance learning options this summer: 

  • Virtual Summer School (VSS) will be offered through invite only for students who may need extra support in Reading and Math. 
  • Extended School Year (ESY) will be offered for students who have this indicated in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). 
 
  • Both VSS and ESY will be offered July 6th - July 31st. Students will attend Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Students will be participating in both live sessions with the teachers (via Google Meet) as well as independent practice. 
 
  • Specific information regarding the ESY schedule and activities will be emailed to families by the Student Services department. Questions pertaining to ESY should be sent to Joel Grafman at JGrafman@d23.org. If you have questions regarding the VSS program, please contact Dr. Amy Zaher at AZaher@d23.org.
Remote Learning Survey for PARENTS

REMOTE LEARNING SURVEY for PARENTS
Prospect Heights School District 23 invites you to complete ECRA’s online remote learning Survey. This will provide us with important information about your experiences, needs, and expectations.
Please use the following ACCESS CODE: 9h#22 (this access code is case sensitive)  
Friendly Tech Reminders
  1. Balance your time with technology over the summer.
  2. Keep your district iPad in a safe place away from liquid and food.
  3. If you choose not to use your district iPad, shut it down and put it in a safe cool place until the fall. Don’t forget the charger!
  4. In the event your device gets damaged please send a message to techsupport@d23.org.
  5. Don’t forget your district device is intended for educational use. Parental supervision is recommended.
  6. Check-out our iPad Handbook for further guidance.
PAWSITIVE Panthers!
Dylan is a PAWSOME Panther because, everyday of fourth grade he demonstrated safe, respectful and responsible behavior. Because of his hard work, Dylan reached and surpassesd many of his goals this year!
These students were recognized by Sullivan staff as our Pawsome Panthers of the Year. Congratulations to our students for demonstrating the character traits that make them Pawsome Panthers!
Henry works hard, is responsible, and is a great role model. He is kind and compassionate and is a great friend! He has been a Pawsitive Panther all year!
Maya has demonstrated Pawsome behavior all year. She has shown respect to all her peers and teachers. She has been helpful, kind and hardworking. Maya always tries her best and puts forth her best effort. She comes to school each day with a smile and ready to learn. During Distance Learning she still put forth her best effort and continued to shine.
Eduardo has a positive attitude, and he comes to class each day with a smile. He is hardworking, kind, and respectful. Eduardo has put forth his best effort and has completed his work to the best of his ability and stayed focused during Distance Learning. Eduardo is PAWSOME!
Zoe is caring, hardworking, and dedicated. Every day she was eager to learn and motivated to give her best. She approached challenges with an open mind and persevere. She is always willing to lend a helping hand. Zoe has been an outstanding role model to her peers.
Amelinka comes to school everyday with a smile on her face. She is kind, polite, and respectful towards others. Her joy has brought a lot of positivity to our classroom this year. She also has a great work ethic and always tries her best!
Sierra gave 100% every day of 4th grade! She worked hard, was kind to others, and was a great role model for her peers. Sierra is a PAWSOME Panther!!
Alexandra has been very diligent in all her schoolwork. She is friendly to all her peers and a great role model! She is a Pawsitive Panther!
Keira has demonstrated Pawesome behavior throughout the school year. She has been responsible, respectful, and safe. Keira comes to school each day ready to learn and always puts forth 100% effort. She is kind to her peers and teachers. Keira is a Pawsitive Panther!
Alyssa is an extremely hardworking, helpful, and caring student. She is always cheerful and smiling and willing to give a helping hand to anyone she can. She has shown safe, respectful, and responsible behavior throughout the year. She is a Pawsome Panther!
Reid is very responsible and works hard to complete his work. He is always ready to lend a helping hand to his peers! Reid has been a Pawesome Panther this year!
Jimmy is hardworking, creative, and resilient. He has demonstrated amazing growth inside and outside of the classroom this year. He has a growth mindset and perserves through challenges. Jimmy is PAWSOME!
Cam has shown amazing growth this year. He enters the classroom each day with the biggest smile and the best hugs! Cam is hardworking and shows compassion for others. He has continued to demonstrate the characteristics of a Pawsome Panther throughout our distance learning. Way to go buddy!
McKayla is a kind, hard-working, and responsible citizen. She has put forth effort in all that she does and is always kind to everyone. McKayla comes to school everyday ready to learn with a positive attitude. She has been a Pawsitive Panther all year long!
Anna has a growth mindset and perseveres through new challenges! She is kind to others and a good friend to her classmates. Anna always has a smile to share and has continued to ask questions when she needs help. She is a Pawsitive Panther!
Lucas not only follows the three school expectations, being safe, respectful, and responsible on a daily basis but he always goes above and beyond on his school work. He is helpful to teachers, students, or whoever is around him and there isn’t a day that went by that he didn’t put forth best effort!
Over the year, Grant has become such an enthusiastic reader. So much so, that he rode his bike to school each week during distance learning to get battle books. He is polite, respectful and a good role model for others! Grant is truly a Pawsome Panther!
Isabella’s positive attitude is a joy to have in Music class! She is always smiling, ready to work, and full of energy! Isabella is always willing to do anything that is thrown her way! She is a leader in class, as well as in Chorus and the Musical. Congratulations Isabella! Keep up the good work.
Marco has a wonderful, outgoing personality. He has such a great depth of knowledge that he is willing to share with others in a helpful manner. He has a positive attitude and is always ready to work. I always enjoy our discussions about books and other subjects! Congratulations, Marco!
Naomi comes to Music with a smile on her face! She is always ready to learn, eager to participate and a leader in class. Naomi is always willing to work with any student any time, play an instrument, and is not afraid to be the first to try new things! Naomi also participated in Chorus and the Musical for 2 years, demonstrating leadership and guidance as well as a positive attitude.
Kaylee has made a tremendous amount of progress with learning her cello this year. Not only is Kaylee engaged in learning the cello in the classroom, but she has pushed herself to explore cello and learn new material on her own outside of the classroom. Kaylee’s attitude and commitment to the orchestra make her a strong leader of her section and a positive example for all orchestra students. Thank you Kaylee for all of your hard work and perseverance this year.
Jason's tenacious attitude in the orchestra has led him to excel in learning cello this year. Jason continues to challenge himself and inspires others in his section to be the best they can be. Jason's sense of humor, thoughtfulness, and perseverance are only a few of the traits that Jason consistently exhibits during orchestra lessons, rehearsals, concerts, and trips. I am really proud of the progress Jason has made as well as the examples he sets in class for others.   
Mahalia has shown grit and tenacity in learning the oboe this year! The oboe can be a difficult instrument and she demonstrated hard work and a positive attitude in tackling all its many challenges. Additionally, she is a team player and interacts well with her peers. We are very lucky to have Mahalia in band!
Lian is dependable, hard-working, and trustworthy. He shows up ready to work and on time with all his materials for every lesson and rehearsal. In addition, he is very diligent about practicing at home and coming in prepared to play everything that is put in front of him. He attacks every challenge with a positive attitude and is very receptive to feedback. He is a leader in his section and in the band!
Lexi is hardworking, athletic, passionate and kind. She demonstrates outstanding participation every time she walks into the gym. Lexi is a natural leader who always jumps in to help her fellow classmates. She is an absolute joy to have in class!
Abby is determined, hardworking, athletic and competetive. She demonstrates maximum effort every class. She is a natural leader who other students look up to. She is constantly pushing herself to do her best. It has been a pleasure to watch Abby grow into the well-rounded person that she is today.
Josephine is a delight to have in art class. She is always friendly and respectful to myself and her peers. Her dedication and hard work has continued on at home during our e-learning assignments this Spring. I am deeply impressed by the growth Josephine has made this year as an artist and I look forward to seeing her Pawsitive Panther attitude this Fall.
Lorenzo has made a tremendous amount of growth this year as a student and artist. I have had the pleasure of knowing Lorenzo since he was a second grader at Ross and I can say that this year he has truly come into his own. His talent and creativity will carry him far. I am so proud of the growth that Lorenzo has made this school year. Congratulations and best wishes at MacArthur.
Charlotte always has a smile and always shows great effort especially during Remote Learning. Way to go Charlotte!
Delanee is such a hard worker and always puts in her best effort. She asks questions, helps others, and always has a smile. Stay awesome Delanee!
Everleigh has demonstrated a positive attitude and the ability to work hard all year long. Everleigh always has a smile on her face and is willing to help others. She is a joy to be around. Keep it up, Everleigh!
Community Partner Resources
Beginning June 8, 2020, the Library will offer curbside pickup to  Prospect Heights Library cardholders by appointment only . Items must be requested in advance. Visit  www.phpl.info  for details.
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