Screen Shot 2021-08-09 at 2.29.50 PM.png

August 9, 2021

Human Resources and Business Services

Please find a handbook for 2021-22 Frontline Professional Growth options and entries. This is a useful document to review prior to the start of the school year. Please reach out to your principal or Human Resources Department with questions. 

Teaching and Learning

Institute Days

Welcome back! We are excited to kick off another school year together. You can access the Aug. 23-24 agendas using this link. 


2021-2022 Curriculum Leadership Committee Sign-Up

If you are interested in serving on a District Curriculum Leadership Committee this year, please take a look at the 2021-2022 Committees and fill out the Committee Sign Up form. Please remember we are recommending that veteran staff serve on NO MORE THAN one (1) District committee and new staff (first and second year teachers) serve on zero (0). Thank you for your interest, dedication, and commitment to the work of District 67!  


Important Links

See below for links to our curriculum and professional development resources for 2021-22. 

EC-4 Roadmap to Success


EC-4 Curriculum Calendar


Professional Development Catalog


Monday/Friday Schedules for K-4

5-8 Roadmap to Success


5-8 Curriculum Calendar


Internal Governance Document

Technology

With a new year comes new communication. Why? A request has come from many to have Google Chat disabled at the start of the year for all students in grades 5-8. Gmail will be turned on for K-8 students. The Gmail app will be added to all iPads. Students can only email inside our domain to anyone with a lfschools.net address. Building iCoaches will provide a digital citizenship lesson and expectations as we begin the year.

 

This year all iPads/headphones will be brought to and from school each day. We’ve done this for grades 5-8 but now we are adding in K-4. 

Student Services

Foundations/ CHAMPS

All of the buildings’ Foundations teams have worked hard this summer to prepare for the new school year and bringing all students back! Something that was heard again and again last school year was how nice it was to have so few behavioral issues to address. Many staff attributed this to the level of structure that was established and maintained. As we begin to think about our planning for the beginning of this school year, take a moment to reflect on what are things that worked so well to facilitate students meeting behavioral expectations and determine what you want to maintain as part of your CHAMPS approach to classroom management. If you have a sense of your students from articulation discussions this tool can help guide this reflection and help with that initial proactive planning to start the school year off on the right path.  Here are some BIG IDEAS to consider as you prepare for the first month of school:

  • Goal for the first 20 days is to build positive relationships with students and teach expectations clearly so that the class works productively by the end of the first 4 weeks.
  • Greet students at the door from day 1 - Best way to provide non-contingent attention!
  • Use an attention signal immediately, then teach it within the first 15 minutes, and reinforce consistently over the first 20 days.
  • Take an instructional approach when correcting misbehavior in the first few weeks of school while students are learning your expectations.
  • Consistently follow the 3-step process below when teaching expectations for activities and transitions throughout the first 20 days.
StudentServices.png

Brainstormers

brainstormers.png

K-4 students have the opportunity to register for Brainstormers classes. Are you interested in sharing your passion while getting paid to lead a class? Brainstormers' classes are held before or after school. Use this form to submit your class proposal.


WHAT IS BRAINSTORMERS? This is a self-funded enrichment program sponsored by Lake Forest School District 67 for students who are registered in District 67. Classes are hosted in the fall, winter and spring. Students must pay to attend a class and teachers are compensated at an hourly rate for leading classes. Brainstormers offers a wide variety of academic, fine arts, and other unique classes which teachers propose. Annual musicals are offered for students at all grade levels. Class offerings are available through the Brainstormers Button found on each school’s website as well as advertised through each school’s weekly e-newsletter and through special District announcements.

Communications and Community News

Free Jurassic Gardens Visit Offered for Teachers

Educator Appreciation Week set Aug. 7-15 at new, indoor dinosaur park


VOLO — Educators are invited to check out Jurassic Gardens the week of Saturday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 15, free of charge, Volo Auto Museum officials announced.


“We want to show our appreciation for teachers, who certainly rose to the occasion through extraordinary circumstances over the last year and a half,” said Brian Grams, director of the auto and dinosaur museum complex at 27582 Volo Village Road. “We also want to show off what we have to offer.


“Jurassic Gardens is a great place for a field trip,” he continued, referring to the indoor, animatronic, life-like dinosaur park that opened in May. “It’s educational, it’s affordable, and outings can be done in a timely manner.”


Not only will teachers get in free during Educator Appreciation Week, but they might also win a free field trip for their entire class. Two free field trips for up to 40 students and staff each will be given away in a drawing of names submitted during the event. Regular cost is $13.95 apiece for groups of 15 or more, down from $15.95 for individual admissions.


Winners will be notified by email and will have up to one year to use the prize. Full details are available at jurassicgardens.com.


Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, and continuing through 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, educators currently employed at any accredited K-12 school, public or private, plus one guest will be provided free entry to Jurassic Gardens. Verification of employment must be provided at the time of entry, Grams said. If desired, participating educators may opt for discounted auto museum entry as well, at $3.95 off the regular $19.95 adult ticket price.


“We hope to see a lot of teachers, principals and other administrators take advantage of our offer,” Grams said. “Visitors who have seen Jurassic Gardens since we opened have been thrilled with what we’ve built. This is an exciting opportunity for teachers to check out a way to immerse students in dinosaur lore.”  


The Volo Auto Museum reopened in May after more than a year of pandemic-prompted closure. Numerous improvements to the grounds and exhibits were undertaken during the shutdown, Grams said.


The museum is following state COVID guidelines. Visitors who have been vaccinated are not required to wear masks. Those who have not been vaccinated are urged to mask up.


Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for both the auto museum and Jurassic Gardens. For other information, find Volo Auto Museum or Jurassic Gardens on Facebook, visit volocars.com or call 815-385-3644.

View Newsletter Archive