Sunday, February 22, 2026

D114 Weekly Family Updates 2/23/26

   

Thanks to everyone who came to the Family Fun Fair and to our incredible PTA for organizing it!!! 💓



Calendar Updates
 
On Tuesday night, the Board approved:
1. The change for this year's calendar to be IN SESSION on 3/2/26--update linked here
2. Our proposed 26-27 calendar--will share ASAP

5 Essentials Survey--OPEN NOW!!!

Annually, the State of Illinois asks school districts to administer the 5Essentials Survey to gather feedback from students, parents, and staff. This feedback helps guide the district in future planning. Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.


On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:


  • Effective Leaders
  • Collaborative Teachers
  • Involved Families
  • Supportive Environments
  • Ambitious Instruction


The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted now through March 13, 2026. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same timeframe.


To take the survey please visit

https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/?target_name=parent&p=1




Absences

While we ALWAYS want our students at school, please be sure to review our Illness Guidelines (linked here). 

Just a reminder that--if a student is absent from school for ANY reason--they are NOT permitted to attend any after school events. If they can't come to school, they should not attend after school events. 

Students should absolutely stay home if they are sick, but we want them back with us as soon as possible! 



Referral GPS--Reminder! 
We are committed to creating a culture of well-being of students, staff,
parents, and community. In an effort to continuously support this
commitment, the district has entered an agreement with ReferalGPS.
ReferralGPS is a web-based service focused on assisting our students,
staff, and community in finding local mental-health and substance use
related treatment. The service compliments the districts existing
systems of support as a tool for student service teams and families to
connect with treatment. Along with a searchable database of treatment
options, ReferalGPS provides Care Navigation to assist families in
triage, appointment setting, and follow up care.
School families may access ReferalGPS in two ways:
1) Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists,
counselors) to seek out treatment options.
2) Visit this link at https://referralgps.com/find-help/D114 to
search for treatment resources or connect with a Care
Navigator anonymously.

ReferalGPS takes into account all types of private and public insurance
including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, Medicare, and families who are
uninsured or underinsured. The platform also filters by age, gender, zip
code, and special requests.
ReferalGPS is available for use by district students, staff, and families at
no cost. All information entered on the ReferalGPS tool is completely
confidential and securely stored.
If you are interested in seeking counseling-related services at this time,
please consider visiting https://referralgps.com/find-help/D114 or
reaching out to the Student Services team.







Good morning, District 114!

We had such a blast at this Saturday's Family Fun Fair! Thank you to all the families who came out and to our amazing teachers, staff, and student volunteers who made the event a success. Check out some of the photos on our Facebook Page!

Lotus's Spring Bookfair is this week! We're still seeking volunteers for several time slots. See details below:
  • Lotus Spring Bookfair
    • Dates: Saturday, 2/21 through Friday, 2/27; Set up on 2/20
    • Sign up for a shift here.
      • Monday, 8 am to 11 am: 2 spots
      • Monday, 11 am to 2 pm: 1 spot
      • Tuesday, 8 am to 11 am: 2 spots
      • Tuesday, 11 am to 2 pm: 2 spots
      • Wednesday, 10:30 am to 12 pm: 1 spot
      • Thursday, 8 am to 11 am: 2 spots
      • Thursday, 11 am to 2 pm: 1 spot
Mark your calendars for the following dates:
  • March PTA Meeting
    • Date: Monday, 3/9/26
    • Time: 6:00 pm to ~7:00 pm
    • Location: Lotus Library or Google Meet
  • March Eat Out to Help Out
    • Date: Tuesday, 3/10/26
    • Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
    • Location: Culver's in Fox Lake
    • Make sure to say you're with District 114 when you order!
  • Day of Service
    • Date: Wednesday, 4/22/26
    • Our annual Day of Service fundraiser is coming soon! 
    • Day of Service is a unique event that combines fundraising with hands-on community service, where students complete projects like cleaning community gardens and creating care packages for nursing home residents. 
    • This year, our fundraising goal is $25,000 to sustain the PTA's annual programs:
      • Teacher Conference Dinners
      • Stanton Halloween Dance
      • Santa's Breakfast
      • Book Buddies
      • Holiday Dinners for Familys in Need
      • Family Bingo Night
      • Family Fun Fair
      • Teacher Appreciation Breakfast
      • Teacher Grant Money
      • School Assemblies
      • 8th Grade Funds
      • Family Rocket Launch
    • Additionally, any funds raised beyond this goal will go toward a dedicated account for the future construction of a new playground at Lotus Elementary School—an investment that will benefit students and the community for years to come!
    • We're currently seeking sponsors for this year's Day of Service! If you have or know of a small business that is interested in supporting the PTA's work, please visit our Givebacks site or email us at pta@foxlake114.org
Help us reach our goal of 90+ members this school year! We currently have 81 members, including 40 teachers and staff, and 41 parents/guardians. Thank you, Don Olson, for being our newest member!

Here's what you need to know:
  • Dues are $10 for the whole year! That's less than a dollar a month!
  • You'll receive a District 114 PTA Calendar featuring student artwork
  • Join here today!
  • Join the PTA and help enrich your child's educational experience this year!
Make sure to join our Facebook Group Page

YOUR PTA Board

                                                                       






THIS WEEK
Let's make it a great week!😁

Looking Ahead...
Monday, March 2--Casimir Pulaski Day--SCHOOL IN SESSION! 
March 23-27--Spring Break

Watch here for community opportunities for our students and families! 


Fox Lake Spring Activities Catalog

Lacrosse, Anyone???



Or How About Basketball?


















If you or your student are in a crisis, please call the following numbers as applicable:


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




               


D114 is a special place to be! Thank you for your partnership with us! We are blessed to get to work with our students! 

Monday, February 16, 2026

D114 Weekly Family Updates 2/17/26

  


5 Essentials Survey--OPEN NOW!!!

Annually, the State of Illinois asks school districts to administer the 5Essentials Survey to gather feedback from students, parents, and staff. This feedback helps guide the district in future planning. Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.


On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:


  • Effective Leaders
  • Collaborative Teachers
  • Involved Families
  • Supportive Environments
  • Ambitious Instruction


The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted now through March 13, 2026. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same timeframe.


To take the survey please visit

https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/?target_name=parent&p=1




Absences

While we ALWAYS want our students at school, please be sure to review our Illness Guidelines (linked here). 

Just a reminder that--if a student is absent from school for ANY reason--they are NOT permitted to attend any after school events. If they can't come to school, they should not attend after school events. 

Students should absolutely stay home if they are sick, but we want them back with us as soon as possible! 



Referral GPS--Reminder! 
We are committed to creating a culture of well-being of students, staff,
parents, and community. In an effort to continuously support this
commitment, the district has entered an agreement with ReferalGPS.
ReferralGPS is a web-based service focused on assisting our students,
staff, and community in finding local mental-health and substance use
related treatment. The service compliments the districts existing
systems of support as a tool for student service teams and families to
connect with treatment. Along with a searchable database of treatment
options, ReferalGPS provides Care Navigation to assist families in
triage, appointment setting, and follow up care.
School families may access ReferalGPS in two ways:
1) Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists,
counselors) to seek out treatment options.
2) Visit this link at https://referralgps.com/find-help/D114 to
search for treatment resources or connect with a Care
Navigator anonymously.

ReferalGPS takes into account all types of private and public insurance
including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, Medicare, and families who are
uninsured or underinsured. The platform also filters by age, gender, zip
code, and special requests.
ReferalGPS is available for use by district students, staff, and families at
no cost. All information entered on the ReferalGPS tool is completely
confidential and securely stored.
If you are interested in seeking counseling-related services at this time,
please consider visiting https://referralgps.com/find-help/D114 or
reaching out to the Student Services team.







Good morning, District 114!

We hope everyone enjoyed the lovely weather this weekend and that you'll join us at this year's Family Fun Fair on Saturday, February 21st. Read on for more details.
  • Family Fun Fair
    • Date: Saturday, February 21st
    • Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
    • Place: Lotus Gym/Cafeteria/Library
    • What to expect:
      • Free Admission
      • Food
      • Games
      • Inflatable Obstacle Course
      • Face Painting
      • Balloon Animals
      • Book Fair
Help us reach our goal of 90+ members this school year! We currently have 81 members, including 40 teachers and staff, and 41 parents/guardians. Thank you, Don Olson, for being our newest member!

Here's what you need to know:
  • Dues are $10 for the whole year! That's less than a dollar a month!
  • You'll receive a District 114 PTA Calendar featuring student artwork
  • Join here today!
  • Join the PTA and help enrich your child's educational experience this year!
Make sure to join our Facebook Group Page

YOUR PTA Board

                                                                       






THIS WEEK
February 17--Board of Education Meeting at 7PM at Lotus or via Google Meet

Looking Ahead...
Monday, March 2--Casimir Pulaski Day--SCHOOL IN SESSION! 
March 23-27--Spring Break
Watch here for community opportunities for our students and families! 

Lacrosse, Anyone???




Or How About Basketball?






Village of Fox Lake FUN Offerings












If you or your student are in a crisis, please call the following numbers as applicable:


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




               


D114 is a special place to be! Thank you for your partnership with us! We are blessed to get to work with our students! 

Sunday, February 8, 2026

D114 Weekly Family Updates 2/9/26

                 


5 Essentials Survey--OPEN NOW!!!

Annually, the State of Illinois asks school districts to administer the 5Essentials Survey to gather feedback from students, parents, and staff. This feedback helps guide the district in future planning. Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.


On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:


  • Effective Leaders
  • Collaborative Teachers
  • Involved Families
  • Supportive Environments
  • Ambitious Instruction


The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted now through March 13, 2026. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same timeframe.


To take the survey please visit

https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/?target_name=parent&p=1




Absences

While we ALWAYS want our students at school, please be sure to review our Illness Guidelines (linked here). 

Just a reminder that--if a student is absent from school for ANY reason--they are NOT permitted to attend any after school events. If they can't come to school, they should not attend after school events. 

Students should absolutely stay home if they are sick, but we want them back with us as soon as possible! 



Referral GPS--Reminder! 
We are committed to creating a culture of well-being of students, staff,
parents, and community. In an effort to continuously support this
commitment, the district has entered an agreement with ReferalGPS.
ReferralGPS is a web-based service focused on assisting our students,
staff, and community in finding local mental-health and substance use
related treatment. The service compliments the districts existing
systems of support as a tool for student service teams and families to
connect with treatment. Along with a searchable database of treatment
options, ReferalGPS provides Care Navigation to assist families in
triage, appointment setting, and follow up care.
School families may access ReferalGPS in two ways:
1) Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists,
counselors) to seek out treatment options.
2) Visit this link at https://referralgps.com/find-help/D114 to
search for treatment resources or connect with a Care
Navigator anonymously.

ReferalGPS takes into account all types of private and public insurance
including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, Medicare, and families who are
uninsured or underinsured. The platform also filters by age, gender, zip
code, and special requests.
ReferalGPS is available for use by district students, staff, and families at
no cost. All information entered on the ReferalGPS tool is completely
confidential and securely stored.
If you are interested in seeking counseling-related services at this time,
please consider visiting https://referralgps.com/find-help/D114 or
reaching out to the Student Services team.







Happy Monday, District 114!

We hope to see you tonight at 6:00 pm for our next meeting! 
  • February PTA Meeting
    • Date: Monday, February 9th
    • Time: 6:00 pm to ~7:00 pm
    • Place: Lotus Library or Join on Google Meet
Mark your calendars for the following dates:
  • Family Fun Fair
    • Date: Saturday, February 21st
    • Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
    • Place: Lotus Gym/Cafeteria/Library
    • What to expect:
      • Free Admission
      • Food
      • Games
      • Inflatable Obstacle Course
      • Face Painting
      • Balloon Animals
      • Book Fair
  • Lotus Spring Bookfair
    • Dates: Saturday, 2/21 through Friday, 2/27; Set up on 2/20
    • Keep your eyes peeled for sign-up information!
Help us reach our goal of 90+ members this school year! We currently have 80 members, including 40 teachers and staff, and 40 parents/guardians.

Here's what you need to know:
  • Dues are $10 for the whole year! That's less than a dollar a month!
  • You'll receive a District 114 PTA Calendar featuring student artwork
  • Join here today!
  • Join the PTA and help enrich your child's educational experience this year!
Make sure to join our Facebook Group Page

YOUR PTA Board

                                                                       







THIS WEEK
February 13--Institute Day--No Student Attendance

Looking Ahead...
February 16--President's Day--District Closed
February 17--Board of Education Meeting at Lotus
Watch here for community opportunities for our students and families! 

Lacrosse, Anyone???




Or How About Basketball?






Village of Fox Lake FUN Offerings












If you or your student are in a crisis, please call the following numbers as applicable:


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




               


D114 is a special place to be! Thank you for your partnership with us! We are blessed to get to work with our students!