WOW lots of trivia submissions this week, way to go! Our staff is really taking time to dive into Kaneland Connects and bring it alive. Kudos to Tracy Maz for the winning raffle answer!
Tracy your prize is on the way!In our previous post regarding social justice, we shared the qualities of student-centered social justice conversations. These included focusing on student-generated topics, scaffolding kids to speak with clarity, and challenging ideas that don't ring true. As you work to create the classroom conditions necessary to support this student-centered dialogue, the following tangible skills and strategies chart may be helpful.
We are so thrilled to have the 4 FTE Behavior Facilitator positions this year. We hope they are already making an impact and supporting our students in the classrooms. We wanted to share a bit of clarification of the purpose of the positions. The Behavior Facilitator position is focused on:
-Supporting tier one classrooms
-Coaching and supporting staff with Social Emotional Learning implementation
-Serve as a resource for problem solving individual students
-Service as a consultant to assist in planning behavior interventions and BIP plans
-Assisting with students in crisis on the spot
-Assisting in researching materials or ideas for lessons
These are just a few of the key tasks for the positions to support our learning structures. If at any time you have ideas please contact your Behavior Facilitator.
LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE FOR SEPTEMBER! Please take a moment to nominate yourself, or a colleague, for always shooting for the stars! This month, we're continuing to focus on building relationships. If you know someone who shines in this area, be sure to nominate them HERE for a chance to win a customized Box o' Fun
All nominees will have their name displayed as a "Shining Star" on the Ed Services Homecoming float, at the Homecoming game booth, and on the Star of Fame at Meredith!
We are excited to have Homecoming week upon us. This is a great week to celebrate, share our excitement and pride for Kaneland. Please take a moment to step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Be proud that during this difficult fall you have all persevered and are making a difference every day in the lives of our students. Educators rarely celebrate themselves and the hard work put into each and every day of teaching and learning. This year the Department of Educational Service wants to celebrate all of you as the Stars of Kaneland Connects. Please note the exciting events that celebrate you this week:
1. On Wednesday night during the Homecoming parade, Kaneland Administration had a float that featured all staff members that were peer nominated for Star Knights through Star Search.
2. . All the nominated staff members will have a star at the booth Friday night at the football game. Please stop over at the booth to play some games and check out the stars of our district. You can also enter to win a raffle or on the spot prizes at the booth too!
3. At the booth Friday night we will have a chance for students and community to also nominate a staff member for a chance to win a great prize box. We will encourage all community to stop over and celebrate you with a nomination.
4. All the stars of Kaneland will be posted in the LRC at Meredith this year. It has already been impressive how many peer to peer nominations have been sent in and we want to celebrate your hard work all year long. Any time you are at Meredith stop over and see the Star of Fame wall.
We want to thank each and every one of you for being strong and finding the energy every day to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Cheers to you!
This fall the State of Illinois adopted new sex education standards for K-12. Like any newly approved standards process, we are looking for a subgroup of staff members to come together, review the standards as written, and complete a crosswalk based on current practice and new expectations of the standards. This team will meet starting in October or November (depending on members' schedules) during contract time to review the content and determine where to embed the standards or shift our learning practices. The new standards do not go into effect until next Fall, but we want to begin the process with a half sub to review the content and begin the discussion. This is a voluntary subgroup of K-5 EAC and will share updates with the EAC. The standards are a requirement for next year and this year is the opportunity to share your voice on how to deliver the content. Please email Sarah Mumm at 10358@kaneland.org if interested in being on the subgroup.
Let's take some time to share fun facts about our Knight Family. Did you figure out the answers from last week's submissions? Here they are for you.
1. Who cannot keep plants alive...not even succulents? Courtney Yager
2. Who is a mom to twins and has a twin niece and nephew also? Jill Hardekopf
3. Who is teaching their dog to talk with buttons? Amanda Mojica
4. Who worked in Alaska for a summer season? Sue Sensor
Try your hand at these fun facts about your peers, can you guess who?
1. Who hated reading as a child but loves browsing the bookstores now?
2. Who has been skydiving?
3. Who does not drink but met their husband at the pub?
4. Who taught English in Taiwan?
Hints to help you match this week:
Kristin Schroeder- KSS
Kara Christensen- KSS
Morgan Padalik- KSS
Katie Reilley-KBK
This summer a EC-12 team of staff members came together to create a parent resource and newsletter for SEL. We are excited to share the link with all staff and families this month. Please feel free to PR this link in any communication you have with families. Happy reading. Thank you to the members of the summer SEL team for this amazing work.
