Good morning, D114! Welcome back! I hope your Spring Break was wonderful!
I'm so excited to share that Stanton playground has a long awaited update! When we planned for the renovation to the Stanton playground a few years ago, the student committee who helped with the design and vision felt strongly that we needed to add some equipment for younger kids so that the site would be a safe place for them to play and a place for younger siblings and family members to have fun while Stanton students participate in outside events like cross country, soccer, track, etc. We took a pause on this for awhile, but I'm thrilled to invite you to check out the additions to the playground, inspired by our very own Stanton grads!
I'm looking forward to seeing the Lotus playgrounds get updates, too, as a result of the Day of Service fundraising efforts! Every dollar donated will go to fund the work our PTA and the special project of the Lotus playground update, which will be done over time and as a result of our community fundraising!
Speaking of the Day of Service (April 22)...
We have changed the calendar to make this day (a Tuesday) an Early Release Day. Once the kids and staff do their day of service projects, they are usually tired and ready to call it a day. The updated 24-25 calendar is attached to this week's email. Moving forward, the Day of Service will be scheduled on a Wednesday so it's a naturally occurring Early Release.
Parents’ Night Out
Friday, April 11th
5:30 - 8:00 pm, Lotus School
The Stanton School National Junior Honor Society is hosting Parents’ Night Out at Lotus School. This is an opportunity for parents/guardians of Lotus students to enjoy an evening out while your child has fun with us! Here is the important information:
Child MUST be a Lotus student grade K-4
Each child is $10.00 (proceeds will go to a local charity)Children can be dropped off at Lotus at 5:30pm
Children MUST have a ride home at 8:00pm
There will be games and a G-Rated movie for your child
Snacks, water and juice boxes will be served
lllinois' students in grades 3-8 will participate in the state assessment called the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The 2025 window for testing is from March through April. Our students will be completing the assessments during the week of April 7. Make-up testing for students who are absent will be given as soon as possible within the remainder of the testing window.
The IAR exam asks students to demonstrate and apply their knowledge and skills with the updated Illinois Learning Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The exam measures students’ problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and reading and writing skills, which are abilities all students need to stay on track for college and career readiness after high school. These spring assessments correspond with what your child is learning in the classroom and they should not require time outside of school to prepare for the test, however you can visit the following link to see practice questions to better understand the types of questions your child may be asked.
https://il.mypearsonsupport.com/practice-tests/
It is important to remember that no test provides a complete picture of student performance; the IAR results are one of many factors that we use to measure progress. Assessments help provide a sense of where and how we are succeeding and where and how we must improve, along with other indicators such as classroom work samples and teacher observations. While the scores from last year’s test administration have provided a new baseline for student performance going forward, the IAR assessment is designed to give schools and teachers more information to support improvement efforts and personalize teaching to better guide your child’s learning.
Results from the IAR assessment should be received in the fall. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns, including any requests for students to not participate in testing. We thank you for your continued support and commitment to your child’s academic and social-emotional growth and success.
Each year, D114 participates in the 5Essentials Survey, a valuable tool developed by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. This survey helps us assess our school climate and culture by collecting feedback from students, teachers, and parents. We strongly encourage families to take a few minutes to complete this online parent survey. The results of the parent portion of this survey are only utilized if we have enough participation.
Please note that this survey is intended as a public-facing, “high-level look” at our community; we do not receive the feedback in a way that allows us to be responsive to immediate or individual needs. As always, please reach out to your child’s school if you have questions or concerns that need to be addressed.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY, PLEASE!
We sure appreciate your input!
District 114 CARES
At District 114 Fox Lake, the well-being of our students and families is our top priority. Understanding the critical role mental health plays in student success, we have launched District 114 CARES—a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving access to quality mental health services across our community.
What is District 114 CARES?
District 114 CARES stands for Community, Advocacy, Resilience, Engagement, and Support. This program is specifically designed to provide essential mental health resources and support to students and families, with a focus on those facing financial challenges.
Our mission is to ensure that every student has the tools they need to thrive—both emotionally and academically. By addressing barriers to care, we aim to empower students to reach their full potential in and out of the classroom.
Our Commitment
Through District 114 CARES, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering a supportive, resilient community where every student has equitable access to the resources and support they need to succeed.
For a Life Threatening EMERGENCY CALL 9-1-1
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call or text 9-8-8 or chat 988.lifeline.org provides 24/7, free and confidential support
CRISIS TEXT LINE: text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States anytime. A live trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds.
The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386 provides crisis support services to LGBTQ youth.
Non-Emergency Community Help Line 2-1-1
JARS Resale Shop
36325 N Maple Ave. Ingleside, IL 60041.
Hours:
Wednesdays 5:30-730pm
Saturdays 9-1pm
2nd and 4th Fridays 9-1. Or by appointment
