Community Consolidated School District 146
CMS Winter Guard
The Horizon
May 2020
Dr. Jeff Stawick
From the Superintendent

These are truly unusual times. Never in my time as an educator have I seen a crisis that forced schools to close for such an extended period of time. Yet, our District 146 families and staff have come together in exceptional ways. 

After our schools closed and before e-Learning was instituted, our families and teachers took it upon themselves to pick up the torch immediately to assure learning continued at home. Our curriculum department compiled online learning resources to assist with at-home learning.

Our administrators, principals, teachers, and staff quickly developed an e-Learning plan so our students could continue to receive an organized educational experience. As always, our District 146 families stepped up. Parents are getting students online to access assignments. They are helping with math, English, and science. They also continue to focus on the social and emotional health of their children.

On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank our families, students, staff, teachers, principals, and other administrators for quickly coming together to ensure learning continues. I continue to be impressed by our outstanding community and the importance placed on student learning.


Sincerely,

Dr. Jeff Stawick
Superintendent
Adding Up a Good Time
At the beginning of the event, the CMS cafetorium is virtually silent. Only the scratching sounds from pencils can be heard. By the end of the day, the space is energized with students working together, discussing problems, and laughing with each other. This is how it has been for the last 17 years at the District 146 Math Challenge. This year, 128 students participated in the challenge held on February 27.

To qualify for the Math Challenge, students take preliminary tests at their home school. In grades one through five, the top four students and one alternate are chosen at each grade level from each of the elementary schools. At Central, 16 students are chosen with two or three alternates per grade level. These students prepare for the event by working and studying similar problems individually and in groups.

The Math Challenge is broken into four events. The first two, Mental Math and Written Computation, are individual events. 
Students perform at the D146 Math Challenge.
Students perform at the D146 Math Challenge.
The students also compete in two team events. Elementary students are teamed up, by grade level, with students from other elementary schools. Oftentimes, this is the first time these students have met. The team events include Visual Pattern puzzles, Ken-Ken puzzles, and Logic Grids. The scores from the two team events are combined to determine the winning team, or teams, at each grade level.

Winners of the events, along with those students selected to represent District 146 at the South Cook Math Bowl were scheduled to be announced at an awards ceremony. Unfortunately, the awards night had to be canceled because of the closure. Winners were announced via video instead. The South Cook Math Bowl has also been canceled.
Students perform at the D146 Math Challenge.
Students perform at the D146 Math Challenge.
Also recognized are the winners of the Virginia Koepel Award. This award is given to students who have participated in the Math Challenge for the eight years in which they are eligible.

The Virginia Koepel Award is named for a long time Memorial School teacher. Mrs. Koepel was instrumental in organizing the first Math Challenge. She had a passion for children and learning, especially in the areas of math and science. Through her commitment and love of challenging students in the area of math, the Math Challenge has grown and become a much anticipated event each year.

“Mrs. Koepel was an inspiration not only to students but to teachers as well,” says Lisa Pusatera, Accelerated Math Teacher at Memorial School. “It is very fitting that this year's Math Challenge happened to fall on Mrs. Koepel's Birthday. It seems like a very appropriate way to celebrate her Birthday and remember everything she's done for District 146 and our students."

Click here for a video of more photos from the Math Challenge and the announcement of award recipients.
Congratulations Class of 2020!
Click here for a list of this year's graduates!
Graduates Clipart
Best wishes to District 146 staff members who will be retiring this year! You will be missed!
Mrs. Dian Schulz, Fierke 5th Grade Teacher
Mrs. Terri Stahulak, HR Specialist
Mrs. Lorrie Staneart, Fierke Paraprofessional
Mrs. Annette Sultanian, Fulton 3rd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Schulz
Mrs. Staneart
Mrs. Stahulak
Mrs. Sultanian
Learning at Home
District 146 families keep the learning going strong
Central
Mrs. Kressel's communication class has been busy throughout the school closure. Seventh grade students have been learning about elements of photography, while sixth grade students created some fantastic stop motion films! Click the photos below to view more examples!
Fierke
Almost 60 kindergarten students took part in a Writer’s Workshop on Zoom. Based on the Schoolwide FUNctional Writing curriculum, students learned how to write invitations! They wrote their invitations, hosted their events and uploaded photos and videos to Seesaw. Everyone had a lot of fun!
Invitation Writing
Invitation Writing
Invitation Writing
Fulton
Second grade students have been exploring and learning about the properties of matter. Recently, they learned how matter has mass. Mrs. Keiser showed students via video how the mass of an object determines if it can sink or float. She then invited students to complete a similar activity. Students could send videos or photos of their experiments. Click the photo below for to see a video of Ameer conducting his experiment!
Kruse
Fifth grade students held a huge Zoom meeting with 38 students participating! Mrs. Snaidauf's class also had some fun with a scavenger hunt. Can you guess the last item they had to find?
Big 5th Grade Zoom Meeting
Scavenger Hunt
Memorial
Mrs. Shervino and Mrs. O'Young challenged students in a creative way! In a Music and Media collaborative assignment, students were asked to rap the words from a book or poem of their choice. Students had fun and did a great job! Click the photos below for a video.
Rap Video 2
Rap Video 1
Click here to be sure you receive updates from District 146, including Quarterly Updates and e-Learning updates. Also consider following Follow the District and school social media accounts for more examples of remote learning!
Tag, You're Fit!
In this edition of the D146 Wellness Committee's newsletter: learning more about stress.

Click below to read this quarter's edition!
Alumni Spotlight:
Heather (Crowley)Rudolph (Fulton, Sandidge, CMS '88)
Mrs. Heather Rudolph
Fulton families will recognize Heather Rudolph as one of the District’s dedicated 5th grade teachers. Some might not know that she is also a District 146 alumna! Mrs. Rudolph was in the first third-grade glass that made the switch from Fulton to Sandidge.

Ever since she was a child, Mrs. Rudolph saw herself as a teacher. She went from turning her bedroom into a classroom and playing school, to receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Governor’s State University and her Master’s degree from Saint Xavier University. Mrs. Rudolph remembers thinking she wanted to be just like her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Angeletti, and never entertained the idea of doing anything other than teaching.

Luckily, Mrs. Rudolph was easy to track down so we could talk to her about her transition from student to teacher at District 146.

What was your favorite subject as a student?
My favorite subject as a student was reading. I loved to read. I especially loved our Drop Everything and Read time. Any time spent reading my library books was the best time of the day!

What is your favorite subject to teach?
I love teaching social studies! I love bringing history to life. I love teaching the students about geography and different cultures. I find it most rewarding when I hear students looking at maps and talking about where they want to travel. As far as the history part of social studies, it is awesome when kids can make connections between what’s happened in the past and how it is affecting the world now. I find that fascinating.
Mrs. Rudolph in 8th Grade.
Were there any staff members who left an impression on you?
I can honestly say that I think I learned a little something from every teacher I had. The characteristics that stuck with me the most are patience and compassion. Nothing really ever came easy for me, so I was insecure. The teachers that were patient with me and the ones who went the extra mile to help me feel confident were absolute blessings. The teachers that made the biggest impact on me were Mr. Doug Jones, my PE teacher; Mrs. Vicki Hayes, my 4th grade teacher; and Mrs. Paula Boase, my 6th grade teacher. I am grateful that I still keep in contact with all of these teachers.

What brought you back to the District 146 family as a teacher?
District 146 is the only district I’ve known. I went to school here, I student taught here, the only subbing I did was here, and then I was blessed enough to be hired here. This is my home. I feel so fortunate to have grown up in this community. I believe in what we’re doing here, and am proud to represent this district.

What advice would you give current students in the district?
Take advantage of every opportunity, work hard, and ask for help when you need it! You never know which opportunity will open a new door for you, so you have to be ready to take them all. Also, it’s important to work hard. Nothing worthwhile is easy, and you can’t be afraid of doing the work. That is when you’ll truly grow. Finally, ask for help whenever you need it. Don’t expect someone else to read your mind and come over to save you. That strategy is useless it only leads to frustration and wasted time. So many people are willing to help you; all you have to do is ask
Do you know someone to feature in an upcoming Alumni Spotlight? Contact Keegan at  kkociss@district146.org .
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Board of Education

John Malloy
President

Darcy Nendza
Vice President

Julie Berry
Secretary

Vince Aiello
Member

Dean Casper
Member

Julie Jackson
 Member

Rick Lloyd
Member
Administration

Dr. Jeff Stawick
Superintendent

Mrs. Wendy Wolgan
Director of Curriculum

Mrs. Kelly Voliva
Director of Student Services

Mr. Vern Bettis
Director of Technology

Mr. Jeff Charleston
Director of Business Services/CSBO

Mr. Matt Shanahan
Director of Buildings and Grounds
Our Schools
6535 W. Victoria Drive
Oak Forest, IL 60452
(708) 614-4520

6601 W. 171st Street
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 614-4525
7617 W. Hemlock Drive
Orland Park, IL 60462
(708) 614-4530 

6701 W. 179th Street
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 614-4535
18146 S. Oak Park Avenue
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 614-4510
Community Consolidated School District 146
Phone 708-614-4500 | Fax 708-614-8992