District October Newsletter 2024

October 1, 2024

Dear District 31 Community,

Happy first day of October! As the leaves fall from the trees and pumpkins begin to appear, our students and staff are joyfully cultivating learning, growth and community every day.   Between outdoor family movie night, High-Five Friday with the Glenview Police and Fire Departments, and Field fall sports, the first full month of school has been to remember.  Thank you to all our staff and families who have helped make these special events possible for our students. 

Tomorrow we celebrate our custodial staff in honor of National School Custodian Day. Our custodians work behind the scenes to provide a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff. Thank you to our custodial staff for providing safe and clean campuses for our students and staff! Thank you to our amazing Field custodians Andre Lorkiewicz, Angel Amaro, Elizabeth Jimenez De Perez, and Maria Gonzalez Del-Rosario and our amazing Winkelman custodians Chuck Glen, Rene Iturralde, David Fiorenza, Shaun Borst and Margarita Calvillo.

In honor of Principal Appreciation Week on October 20-26, we send our appreciation to all of the building administrative professionals who support our students! Thank you to Principal Dr. Miller, Principal Wolverton, Principal Alvarez, Assistant Principal Eiseman, Interim Assistant Principal Erin Kranz, and Dean of Students Lisa Schaffer. We are grateful to have these amazing individuals lead our students.

Lastly, Fall conferences are right around the corner! Having this opportunity for parents and teachers to connect is a meaningful partnership opportunity to support students. Parent teacher conferences take place Tuesday, October 15 and Thursday, October 17 at Winkelman and Tuesday, October 29 and Wednesday, October 30 at Field. Signups are currently underway. If you did not receive sign up information, please reach out to Annette Maloney amaloney@district31.net. 

There is no school on Thursday, October 3 in recognition of Rosh Hashanah and no school for students on Monday, October 14 due to a Teacher Institute Day. Both buildings and the District office will be closed to the public on these days. Have a wonderful October!

Warmly,

Dr. Erin Murphy
District 31 Superintendent

D31 Education Foundation Funds New STEM Initiative 
The West Northfield District 31 Education Foundation is excited to announce the funding of a new STEM initiative for both Field Middle School and Winkelman Elementary. We are proud to provide a $22,022 donation to the District, which will support the continued development, updating, and enhancement of crucial STEM programs. These initiatives have been instrumental in ensuring that all students in our district have access to the tools needed for a quality and equitable education.

Since our inception, the West Northfield District 31 Education Foundation has been dedicated to supporting District 31 by providing the financial resources necessary for one-time capital projects that otherwise might not have been possible. Over the years, we have successfully funded a variety of impactful programs, such as the implementation of one-to-one iPads, the development of makerspaces, and the installation of safe playground equipment. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have raised and donated over $225,000 in the last decade, leaving a lasting legacy of support for our students.

Upcoming Teacher Institute Day - Monday, October 14
There is no school for students on Monday, October 14. This will serve as a teacher institute day for our teachers and staff. All District and school offices will be closed to the public on October 14.

Parent Teacher Conferences 
Parent Teacher conferences at Winkelman take place Tuesday, October 15 and Thursday, October 17. Conferences at Field take place remotely on Tuesday, October 29 and in person on Wednesday, October 30.

Health Form Reminder
All student medical forms are due by the end of the school day on Monday, October 14. Students who have not turned in all required health records may not return to school beginning Tuesday, October 15 until all required forms have been received by the school nurse. Required forms are listed below. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Field/ District School Nurse Eva Sahyouni at esahyouni@district31.net or 847-313-4454.

Directory Spot
Directory Spot information was sent home via email in September Directory Spot is a great resource to help families connect with each other and set up playdates or study sessions. Learn more here. 

New Family Information Website Page 
District 31 is excited to introduce a new dedicated website page to help new families navigate the District. Information includes links to school contacts, FAQs, food service, bus service, communication sources, and more. 

Visit the New Family Page

District 31 Employment Opportunities
Substitute Teachers
District 31 needs substitute teachers. Parents are encouraged to apply! Substitute salary begins at $140/Day. Visit our website or Contact Tina Blankenheim at tblankenheim@district31.net or 847-313-4417 to start your application process.

Candy Donation Drop
Wondering what to do with all of that leftover Halloween candy? A Candy Collection Box will be available at Field and Winkelman for all candy. Candy is being collected for the Ronald Mcdonald house, misericordia, wings, various food pantries, Fill A Heart 4 Kids (servicing foster and homeless children) and other charities. Donation boxes will be available through Friday, November 8.

Family Engagement Committee 
The Parent Engagement Committee held its first meeting of the 2024 - 2025 school year on September 30. This year, the Committee will be overseeing the Family Engagement Strategic Plan and working on implementation of the plan for the 2024-2025 school year. 

The Committee meets once a month on Mondays at 7:15 p.m. If you are interested in joining the Parent Engagement Committee, please reach out to Hayley Garard at hgarard@district31.net. 

Upcoming Parent Engagement Committee Meeting Dates

• Monday, October 28 at 7:15 p.m.
• Monday, November 25 at 7:15 p.m.
• Monday. January 27 at 7:15 p.m.
• Monday February 24 at 7:15 p.m.
• Monday, April 28 at 7:15 p.m.

September Board of Education Recap

Board Meeting Highlights: 

• Presentations and Discussion Items:
  • The Board of Education recognized the new teachers that have been hired for the 2024-2025 school years. Administrators introduced each staff member and thanked them for their service to District 31.
  • Dr. Erin Murphy, Superintendent, recognized our community partner, Hunger Free Northbrook, a dedicated community coalition through the Hunger Resource Network. Their mission is to enhance food security for seniors and children in our community.
  • In collaboration with District 31, Hunger Free Northbrook supports the Caring Corner by providing groceries, staples, personal care items, and other essential supplies. A heartfelt thank you to Henry Fetta from Hunger Free Northbrook and Susan Tran, our District 31 parent program coordinator and volunteer, for their invaluable contributions to making this program a success and supporting our families in need! We also appreciate social worker Sandi Newman for her ongoing support of Hunger Free Northbrook.
  • Director of Finance and Operations Nicole Schramm presented the budget for the 2024-2054 school year during a Public Budget Hearing. The final budget will be submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education, and both reports will be submitted to the county.
  • June, July and August Financial Reports were reviewed by Nicole Schramm.  The Board of Education also reviewed the Administrative Compensation Report for FY25 and the Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits FY24 Report. These were presented in accordance with law and will be available on the District website for public review.
  • The Board of Education reviewed the Annual Report of Student Services. Dr. Janine Gruhn, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, was available to answer questions. 
  • The Board of Education reviewed the Annual Report of Multilingual Services. Dr. Janine Gruhn, Director of Multilingual Services, was available to answer questions. 
  • Board Member Darrin Stern shared that the Education Foundation was making a $22,022 final donation to District 31 which will support the continued development, updating, and enhancement of crucial STEM programs.  Also, the Education Foundation has decided to move forward with officially ceasing foundation operations.
  • The Board of Education reviewed a data sharing Intergovernmental Agreement with Glenbrook District 225.  It will be presented for approval in October.
• The Board of Education made the following approvals:
  • The Board of Education approved the 2024-2025 Budget.
  • The Board of Education approved the resolution appointing Superintendent Dr. Erin Murphy as one of the Trustees of Schools for Township 42 North, Range 12 East (Northfield Township Trustees of Schools).
  • The Board of Education approved the consent agenda. 

The Board of Education meets monthly, usually on the last Thursday of the month, at 7 p.m. in the Field Middle School Learning Center. We welcome any member of our community to attend in person or virtually via our live stream. Agendas, minutes, and the link to the live stream can be found here. The District 31 Board of Education is composed of seven elected representatives from the District 31 attendance area. Each is elected for a four year term. Meet the members of the District 31 Board of Education here.

October Board of Education Meeting 
The next regular Board of Education meeting is Thursday, October 24, 2024 in the Field Learning Center at 7 p.m. The agenda is posted two days prior to the meeting here.  The Curriculum Committee Meeting will take place at 6 p.m. 

PTO News
View the October PTO Newsletter which includes information on important upcoming PTO events and programs.

Electronic Assessment Reports 
All parents/guardians should have received their child(ren)’s assessment reports electronically via secure email on September 30. 

The following assessment reports were emailed:

• Fall 2024 NWEA MAP Growth: Students currently in grades 1 - 8
• Spring 2024 IAR: Students currently in grades 4 - 8
• Spring 2024 ISA: Students currently in grade 6

If you need support accessing your electronic reports, please contact Annette Maloney amaloney@district31.net.

Curriculum Review Cycle Update
As a part of the District 31 2022 - 2027 Strategic Plan, we have articulated characteristics that embody a Portrait of a District 31 Graduate:

• Critical Thinkers
• Problem Solvers
• Collaborators
• Effective Communicators
• Empathetic
• Responsible Global Citizens
• Self-Advocates
• Resilient
• Curious Life-long Learners

In order to provide students at all levels with access to challenging and engaging learning experiences that allow them to develop these characteristics, it is of paramount importance to have a regular cycle of curricular and resource review, thus ensuring practices and resources are updated to meet these needs. Therefore, the District 31 Curriculum Review Cycle Process includes three phases which comprise a five year timeline to ensure each content area is reviewed on a regular basis. 

This year, we will begin our Math curriculum review with “Phase 1: Research/Study: What is the current reality?” Our Math committee is composed of teacher representatives at each grade level, support staff, and administrators. Our Math committee will be led by our new Math/Science Coordinator & Coach, Lauren Lipsey, and Meg Knapik, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction.  

Our first committee meeting was held on September 19 and focused on the following objectives:

• Review district philosophy/strategic plan/mission statement
• Created a committee belief statement about mathematics instruction, aligned to D31’s Portrait of a Graduate
• Unpacked relevant Common Core State Standards in Math, along with the 8 Mathematical Practices to articulate learning expectations in each grade level
• Reviewed District 31 Enhanced Rigorous Curriculum Design (ERCD) Units of Study and Pacing Guide for alignment with philosophy, state, and national standards
• Developed an understanding of current best practices and researched-based approaches to instruction
• Engaged in a data dive to better understand current and historic district trends in the area of mathematics

We are excited to keep our families updated with the progress and findings of the Math Committee as we work to ensure our instructional practices and resources truly “empower every student”!

SEL Update
This October and continuing throughout the year, the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Task Force is focusing on how the District can ensure the social emotional needs of both students and staff are met. 

The SEL curriculum review cycle will begin this year to update our materials over the next two years. The District continues to utilize the Second Step curriculum to reinforce proactive social emotional skills throughout the learning environment and outside of school. In addition, during the month of October, Winkelman and Field will begin the DESSA social emotional screeners to identify students who may need more support either inside the school environment or additional outside resources. The DESSA is a strength based  brief questionnaire that asks about eight domains of student social-emotional wellness: personal responsibility, optimistic thinking, goal-directed behavior, social awareness, decision-making, relationship skills, self-awareness and self-management. Data will be reviewed and information will be utilized to ensure students are receiving the necessary social emotional skills.

Mental Health Day
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. Approximately one in five children in the U.S. will experience mental illness at some point in their lives (source: CDC). World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness and mobilize support to improve mental health on a global scale. The District partners with Care Solace to ensure that every member of West Northfield School District 31 has access to the mental health resources they need.

Care Solace, is an outside resource that provides support to our families in their home language, assists with getting appointments, and helps meet the needs no matter what insurance the family has available. This partnership provides the necessary support for all families and students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that can be accessed at www.caresolace.com/district31 or call  888-515-0595. Other community resources can be accessed on our District website under community resources.

Partner Spotlight - CATCH

Community Action Together for Children’s Health (CATCH) is a group of local parents who have come together to help others find the tools and resources to support their children's mental health by sharing their own experiences raising kids with mental health struggles. Join their conversation by attending a Lunch & Learn presentation, joining a Parents Connect Group, listening to a CATCH podcast, or spending time exploring their website and all of its resources. 

Their mission is to empower families to foster resilience and prioritize mental health and emotional wellness in their children through educational programming, access to resources, and peer support.

District 31 has partnered with CATCH to provide Fidget Kits for all 3rd and 6th grade students for this school year. Last year, CATCH provided Mental Health Coping Kits to Field and Winkelman to offer children an assortment of tangible items and a list of strategies they can turn to and discover what works for them.. District 31 also partners with CATCH for “My Red Said”, a public awareness campaign designed to encourage conversations about mental health. During this campaign, a station is placed at Field that offers students and staff the opportunity to read and write messages of hope and compassion.

Thank you to CATCH for their invaluable contributions to our community and for making our children’s mental health a top priority.

No School in Observance of Rosh Hashanah
Thursday, October 3

Illinois Resource Center Presents Understanding Special Education: Know Your Rights! 
Thursday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
More Information

Illinois Resource Center Presents Understanding Special Education: Know Your Rights! 
Tuesday, October 8 at 10 a.m. via Zoom
More Information

Glenbrook 2025 Academy of International Studies Curriculum Night
Tuesday, October 8 at 7 p.m.
More Information

TrueNorth Presents Special Needs Financial Planning Tips
Thursday, October 10 at 7 p.m. via Zoom
More Information

Yom Kippur 
Saturday, October 12

No School for Students 
Monday, October 14

PTO Book Fair 
Tuesday, October 15

Winkelman Conferences 
Tuesday, October 15

Winkelman Conferences 
Thursday, October 17

Illinois Resource Center Presents Comprensión de la educación especial: ¡Conozca sus derechos!
Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.
More Information

Illinois Resource Center Presents Comprensión de la educación especial: ¡Conozca sus derechos!
Tuesday, October 22 at 10 a.m.
More Information

TrueNorth Presents The Programs of The Arc of Illinois: What We Do and How We Help
Tuesday, October 22 at 1 p.m. via Zoom
Register

Curriculum Committee Meeting
Thursday, October 24 at 6 p.m.

Board of Education Meeting
Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m.

No School for Little Wildcat Preschool
Friday, October 25

TrueNorth Presents Accessing Services and Supports: How the PUNS List Can Help
Friday, October 25 at 12 p.m. on Zoom
Register

Parent Engagement Committee Meeting
Monday, October 28 at 7:15 p.m.

Field Conferences 
Tuesday, October 29

Field Conferences 
Wednesday, October 30

GBN Community Halloween Party 
Wednesday, October 30 from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Glenbrook North High School

No School in Recognition of Diwali
Thursday, October 31

No School
Friday, November 1

Election Day - No School 
Tuesday, November 5

Illinois Resource Center Presents Understanding Special Education: IEP Meetings and More!
Thursday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
More Information

PTO Kindness Evening Event
Wednesday, November 13

PTO Trivia Night at Field
Friday, November 15

Illinois Resource Center's 2024 Special Education-Focused Informational Sessions for Bilingual Families and BPAC Members
The Illinois Resource Center fall 2024 sessions will discuss supporting multilingual students with disabilities, including a Know Your Rights session, information about IEPs and more. We encourage you to take some time to encourage you to distribute these materials to families in your school community.

If you have any questions, please contact Adelicia Brienzo at abrienzo@cntrmail.org or 224-366-8555.

Registration and More Information Here

Dyslexia Awareness Month
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. According to the International Dyslexia Association, Dyslexia refers to a cluster of symptoms that results in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading. Students with dyslexia often experience difficulties with both oral and written other language skills, such as writing, and pronouncing words and writing. Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their lives, however, its impact can change at different stages in a person’s life. It is referred to as a learning disability because dyslexia can make it very difficult for a student to succeed without phonics-based reading instruction. Students with dyslexia may qualify for special education with specially designed instruction, and as appropriate, accommodations. For more information and resources, see the IDA fact sheets. 

Special Education Evaluation Information
The special education department has updated the parent handbook, please click here to review the updated information. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Janine Gruhn, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services. 

Community Resources 
The Community Resources page on the District website has been updated to include several beneficial resources to help families on a variety of different topics. The page is divided into the District’s community partners, mental health and crisis resources, health and safety resources, and academic resources. Please take a few moments to explore the many resources available to our families and community! 

Caring Corner: Groceries and Personal Care Products Available 
The District 31 Caring Corner is open every school day from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.  in the District 31 Admin Office outer lobby, 3131 Techy (adjacent to Field Middle School). Groceries, staples, personal care products, and other items are available for the taking to any family who might need the items. No need to check in with the office.  Take what you need.

Thank you to the PTO for collecting Caring Corner items at the Outdoor Movie Night, and thank you to all of the families that donated!

Homeless (McKinney Vento) Students
If you are homeless and need assistance, please contact Dr. Gruhn Assistant Superintendent for Student Services,  at Jgruhn@district31.net. 

Homeless or McKinney Vento is defined as: 

• Youths who are sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
• Youths who are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals; have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed to be a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
• Youths living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings;
• And migratory children, who qualify as homeless because of their living arrangements.
• Visit D31 website for additional resources.

For any additional questions regarding Student Services, please contact Dr. Janine Gruhn at 847-313-4411 or email at jgruhn@district31.net.