WELCOME TO THE FAST 5
A compilation of "snackable" news, announcements, and important reminders!
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What's Happening in District 65? The Fast 5 is sent weekly in English and Spanish to staff, families, and community members. Don't want to receive the Fast 5? Unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Happy Reading!
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BPAC ‘Bonus’ Virtual Workshop on April 28: D65’s Portrait of a Graduate |
Please join us for a bonus BPAC session on Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. to share your input about D65's Portrait of a Graduate. A Portrait of a Graduate is a set of skills, character traits, or social-emotional competencies created collaboratively that captures what a community believes a student should embody at graduation. Come share your ideas and learn why these characteristics are important and go beyond traditional learning and will help set our students up for success in school, career, and life!
Registration is required at:
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Educator Assignment Changes in 2022-2023 |
This time of year represents an opportunity to engage in our planning for the upcoming school year, including developing staffing plans to ensure alignment with student enrollment and programming needs. Given the substantial and continued decline in student enrollment, it was evident some changes would be necessary in advance of the 2022-2023 school year.
In the spirit of collaboration and transparency, the district administrative team and District Educators’ Council (DEC) leadership designed a collaborative process to develop staffing plans. Despite needing to reduce 22 teaching positions for the next school year, district and union leaders worked together to ensure that all returning educators will still have jobs and there will be no honorable dismissals. This will largely be accomplished through natural attrition (retirements, resignations, and leaves of absence) and the transfer of a small number of educators to other grade levels/buildings to ensure student needs can be met across schools.
The school community cares very much for our educators, and it may be difficult to hear about a beloved educator moving to another school, but know that impacted educators will be supported during this transition. The unparalleled level of collaboration with our school leaders, union leadership, and staff on this process will allow these changes to take place with transparency and care. Any impacted educators will be informed individually and in person on Friday, April 29.
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Film Festival Featured Fifty 10-Second Climate Change Videos Produced by D65 Students |
In honor of Earth Day, the D65 Climate Action Team and Citizens’ Greener Evanston (CGE) organized the 10-Second Film Festival (10SFF) on April 22, held at Rotary in Evanston. This event was a zero-budget, community-driven climate action event involving student filmmakers, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who powered the event with creative ideas and generous spirits.
In addition, Director of Operations Tierre Brunson gave a presentation on D65's new sustainability initiatives, including hiring a new D65 sustainability coordinator and the composting programs in our school lunchrooms. The event also featured a drumming circle led by Evanston Township High School music teachers John Carroll and Arturo Fuerte. Participants created music using instruments made from recycled materials.
Several community organizations and individuals generously donated raffle prizes for the filmmakers who attended the event.
You can view the videos featured (below) and learn more about students’ perspectives on the environment and climate action. Special guest video submissions were included from Superintendent Dr. Horton and Mayor Daniel Biss.
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Panorama Survey Open to 5 through 8 Grade Students |
District 65 partnered with Panorama Education to administer a short online survey to gain insight from students regarding their experiences of equity, inclusion, and social and emotional learning. The survey is given to students in grades 5-8 and takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The window for the survey is April 25 - May 13, 2022. Students will be able to access the survey via their D65 email account. The subject line for the survey is ‘Equity and Inclusion and Social-Emotional Supports’. During the window, students will be provided time in class to complete the survey and if they do not complete it in class, they can finish it at home.
The responses yielded from students across the district will provide valuable information and will further guide school improvement efforts and the work of refining the district's educational equity professional practice. This survey is distributed in the fall and in the spring to more fully capture and reflect on students' social and emotional experiences within the district.
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High Five! March Recipient: Bridgette Evans |
Congratulations to D65 licensed staff member Bridgette Evans, one of the winners of the March High Five! Celebrating Excellence in District 65 Award. Bridgette is a 7th-grade ELA teacher at Nichols Middle School. She was nominated by a D65 staff member, who shared, “Ms. Evans is an inspiration to her students and her colleagues. She is consistently going above and beyond to help everyone around her. Ms. Evans gives up her lunch periods to work with students, helps sub for colleagues in the building, assisted in creating the High Jump program, and has sat on various committees. She does it all with a positive attitude (and a smile under her mask). For example, she set up her classroom for "speed dating." Each student took on a different persona, and through a set of questions, the goal was to determine each other's word. Students loved it, with one saying it was the best experience they'd had in school.”
Thank you, Bridgette, for going above and beyond to engage our students.
D65 March monthly award recipients were recognized at the April 18 Board of Education meeting and received a $100 gift card from sponsorship provided by Byline Bank and a framed certificate.
The window to submit nominations for May is open!
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Evanston/Skokie School District 65 |
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