School of Thought
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Illinois Online Academy - Fall Courses
Looking for self-paced PD? Get yourself some hot chocolate, grab your laptop and cozy up next to your fireplace for some at home PD courses!

Illinois Online Academy offers over 50 courses that are all 100% online!

Raising Student Achievement Conference - Early Bird Registration Ends SOON!

New Venue, New Logo, New Website, Nationally Recognized Keynotes, Unforgettable Featured Speakers!


Less than one month until Early Bird Registration ends! This is a conference you won’t want to miss! There were over 200 presenter proposals submitted, and over 30 featured school/district applications! This year’s conference has something for everyone K-12. Highlights of the conference include:
  • We have 2 world renowned keynotes – Dave Burgess & Greg Wolcott!
  • The Raising Student Achievement Conference has been upgraded to the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.
  • We have upgraded to a new registration system through EventBrite that allows you to view all of the presentations and reserve each session before you step foot in the door minimizing a last minute rush! 

Student Photography Contest | Week 1 & 2 Results
The Student Photography Contest is already into the third week!

We've had some amazing submissions from talented school districts across Kane County in just the first two weeks.

If you are interested in getting involved in the photo contest, you can reach out to Matt Muntner at mmuntner@kaneroe.org for more questions!

Operation Snowball Fall Event 2019
The Greater Fox River Valley of Operation Snowball (GFRVOS) Fall Event is coming soon! Operation Snowball focuses on leadership development to empower youths to lead drug-free lives and make responsible decisions. For more information visit  http://gfrvos.org

The Fall 2019 Event will take place on Nov 8-10, 2019 and the cost is $175 per person + $5 PayPal processing cost.
Registration is OPEN and will close on Nov 1, 2019. Please complete and turn in the Parent Permission form in order to make registration complete. The medical form must be turned in with medication upon arrival on Nov 8, 2019.
The Progress Report: Mind Boggling Math
This week's post in The Progress Report writes about the perspectives of Math and how they changed over time from Katie's personal and professional experiences. Katie also writes about ways to incorporate math learning into your curriculum!

The Progress Report is a collaborative discussion space for professional learning. If there are any topics that you would like to see a post on or guest write yourself,  please contact Katie Algrim.

2020 - 2021 FAFSA - Register Now!
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2020-21 school year launched on October 1 and is the first step to the financial aid process. The FAFSA assesses family finances to help determine your ability to pay for college.

The FAFSA is your primary tool to qualify for federal programs such as Pell grants, work-study programs and loans. States and colleges also frequently use the FAFSA to qualify students for local financial aid, as well as for school grants and scholarships.

Eastview Elementary School Among 25 Schools Receiving National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for 2019.
SPRINGFIELD  – The U.S. Department of Education today announced the 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools, naming 25 Illinois elementary, middle, and high schools among recipients of the prestigious award. The diverse awardees include an elementary school with less than 200 students and a high school with more than 4,000 students. Sixteen are public schools, and nine are nonpublic schools. Two schools received recognition for their exemplary progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups. Twenty-three schools received recognition for overall exemplary academic performance.
“We are very proud of our 2019 Blue Ribbon Schools for exemplifying Illinois’ commitment to equity and excellence,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “Illinois’ Blue Ribbon Schools are nationwide leaders in academic achievement. They challenge students to think critically about today’s and tomorrow’s issues and equip students with the skills they need to thrive. To the teachers, staff, administrators, students, families, and volunteers whose passion and drive make their schools great, congratulations on a well-deserved recognition.”

View profiles of the 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools at https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners/index.php
Upcoming & Ongoing Workshops
AA#1815 – Meeting Tips, Tools and Techniques to Achieve Results
Dates: 100% Online
PD Credits: 6
Cost: $100
Adaptive Schools Seminar
Dates:   January 16 and 17 &
March 12 and 13, 2020
Location: Kane ROE
Cost: $400
Illinois Online Academy:
Growth Mindset
Dates: 100% Online
PD Credits: 5
Cost: $40
Illinois Online Academy:
Social Emotional Learning
Dates: 100% Online
PD Credits: 2
Cost: $40