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E-Connect February 2008 GREETINGS In recent years, we have wondered: What ever happened to our good old fashioned Chicago winters? Well, it seems that 2008 is our year! On the upside, the days are becoming a little longer. But, all in all, I know most of us have begun to long for spring. We are more than half way through the school year; pupils in grades three to eight are preparing to take the Illinois State Achievement Test next month. As ever, the sounds of learning are quite apparent in the hallways of Palos West, Palos East, and Palos South. BOARD OF EDUCATION At its February 19 Board of Education meeting, the board reviewed its mission statement and goals. Three goals and an action target for each separate goal were discussed. All goals and targets will be available online in the next several days. Please check our website ( www.palos118.org) frequently as we regularly upload new information and important announcements. In other board news, the board took action on several new items. In the case of inclement weather, the board of education approved a new late start option for our schools. The one hour late start option provides an additional solution for making an attendance decision in the event of a poor weather situation. Late start will be used if road conditions are forecasted to improve later in the morning so school can commence. The decision to institute a late start (in favor of closing school for the day) will be dependent upon the forecast and conditions at decision making time. All our usual methods of communicating school status will remain the same. If a late start is instituted, you will still receive a phone call from the Superintendent’s office. Radio, television, and our district website will still communicate a late start in the event that the decision has been made to exercise this attendance option. The late start would delay all school and bus operations by one hour. Students would report to their bus stops one hour later and schools would begin one hour later. The late-start schedule would operate as follows: 1. No before-school programs at any schools or South zero hour will be held; 2. All schools and Kindergarten would begin one hour later: East and West would begin at 10 a.m. South would begin at 9:30 a.m. Kindergarten at East and West would begin at 10:15 a.m. 3. All schools would end at their normal time; 4. After-school activities would occur unless otherwise indicated; 5. All bus route pickups would be one hour later in the A.M. with same P.M. drop-off times; 6. A.M. Kindergarten would end at its normal time; 7. P.M. Kindergarten would occur at normal start and stop times; 8. If a late start is declared, the status would not change to a full closing except in extreme conditions. (The intent is to make a commitment to late start and stay with it so everyone can plan accordingly) Deborah Balayti, teacher on assignment, presented the District’s updated technology plan to the Board. Mrs. Balayti gave a dynamic presentation outlining our vision for the future of technology; building a “21st Century” classroom. The board approved the technology plan as presented. Following state approval, the technology plan will be posted on our district website. State approval will occur around the end of March. We are truly charting the course for the future. As Mrs. Balayti explained to the board, our children are “digital natives” and as adults, we are “digital immigrants.” We are working with students whose entire lives have been immersed in the 21st century media culture. Our technology plan is a forward thinking plan that anticipates future needs, supports overall district goals, and serves as a road map for current and future technology initiatives. Our “Vision for Technology” in District 118 is as follows: “The vision of Palos Community Consolidated District 118 is to use technology tools; current and future, to augment our schools’ curricula, create technologically advanced classrooms, and provide a solid foundation for the development of productive members of society.” We give special thanks to the highly innovative and resourceful work of our technology committee members: Marcy Basch, Gail Curran, Rafiqa Abdelhadi, and Ann Cayer of Palos East. Rosalie White, Helene Valcarcel, Jo Jean Morris, Lee Harwig of Palos West. Gina Mannino, Lindsay Wulf, Tammie DeGrado of Palos South, and Scott Fox, Dr. Margaret Johnson and Deb Balayti at Central Administration. This has, indeed, been a snowy winter. Fortunately, we have only used one emergency day so far. The Board received a waiver to designate the Pulaski holiday a student attendance day. The purpose of the waiver was to have the option of making up a used emergency day on Pulaski day rather than adding a day at the end of the calendar in June. To facilitate communication, parents are advised that for the next school year (2008-09), Pulaski Day will be the first make-up day should any emergency days be used prior to that date. All of our calendars for 2008-09 will reflect this so everyone can prepare. We would like to note that as a school district, we respect the contribution that Casmir Pulaski has made to our Nation. If Pulaski Day is used in the 2008-09 school year for this purpose, students would participate in a recognition of the holiday on that date in school. Pulaski Day will remain a holiday this school year with no pupil attendance. This year the school calendar will be extended to Wednesday, June 4, 2008 to make up the emergency day used. Hopefully, no additional emergency days will be needed. If that occurs, any additional make up days would also be added to the end of the school year. GREAT NEWS from the Business Office….Pay your student registration fees online next school year! In an attempt to provide greater conveniences to District 118 families, a web based system for paying student fees was approved unanimously by the Board of Education at its February meeting. RevTrak will be implemented this spring affording parents the convenience of paying student fees at any time with a MasterCard or Visa from the comfort of home. RevTrak has been working with school districts since 1998 and is highly regarded by school business officials throughout Cook County as a safe, efficient, cost effective method of processing credit card payments online. We are thrilled to present our families with relief from waiting in lines, and paying student fees by cash or check only. Stay tuned to E-Connect and other school communications for frequent updates on this exciting new service! THANK YOU PFA! The board expressed gratitude to the PFA on behalf of School District 118 for their tremendous support of our students, teachers, and community. The Silent Auction was an awesome fundraising event that will provide extraordinary opportunities for children and educators. Our district is quite fortunate to have an exceptional Parent Faculty Association whose sole purpose is to work in service of our children and teachers. A special thanks to the PFA Executive Board: President Jeanne Johnson, Treasurer Kathy Pagoria, Secretary Sharon Rosynek, Vice President Brenda Kasch, Vice President Denise Lowry, and Vice President Maureen Collins. OTHER FEBRUARY NEWS IN 118: Palos West completed their student council sponsored 8th Annual Souper Bowl of Caring earlier this month. The annual canned food drive was bigger and better than ever this school year. Dr. Smith, Assistant Principal at Palos West, says that “some may wonder if there is a need for a food collection in this affluent area of Cook County. Many of our students cannot relate to the possibility of going without a meal or not having a nutritious and plentiful supply of food at home.” Teachers at Palos West gave students background information to teach the reality of poverty. Palos West students presented Palos Township with over 7,000 cans of food this year during the Souper Bowl of Caring. Students assisted the Township office in stocking and organizing the food at their Palos Hills office. Township clerk Colleen Grant Schumann notes that the Palos Township Food Pantry is sustained for the entire year by the Palos West Souper Bowl of Caring. This is a tremendous compliment to Palos West and I can speak for out district at large when I say how proud we are of our students, teachers, and principals at Palos West who care enough about our community to make a true difference right here in Palos. Mr. Cozza, Principal of Palos West, tells students that we build character when we show an interest in helping others and making our community a better place. He is right and Palos West is an example of the second goal of the Board of Education; To Build a Connected Learning Community. On Top of Spaghetti….. Our Music Parents Association and band students put on another fantastic spaghetti dinner last Saturday. The bands provided lively music while families enjoyed homemade spaghetti, salad, fresh garlic bread, and home baked desserts. The Music Parents Association is a very special support organization to the district. Students from fifth through eighth grade benefit from the remarkable fund raising efforts of our MPA. Our bands in 118 are impressive. When our Red Jazz Band recently performed at our Joint Boards of Education Leadership Dinner, superintendents and board members from our surrounding school districts wondered aloud whether this was a middle school band. The extra financial and volunteer support of our MPA gives our students extra opportunities and resources to enjoy their award winning reputation. Please wish a band member GOOD LUCK in the upcoming competitions.
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