02-19-2025

D128 Parents and Guardians:

We hope you're staying warm and making the most of these chilly days. Something to look forward to: in just a month, we'll be welcoming Spring Break and the start of spring!

As we eagerly anticipate the new season, we're also excited about the bright future ahead for D128 with new leadership on the horizon. The search for our next Superintendent is nearing its conclusion, and we're excited for the Board of Education to vote on the final candidate at next Monday’s meeting, February 24, 2025. A huge thank you to everyone who has been involved in this important process.

As experienced Co-Interim Superintendents, we understand the complexities of transitioning to new leadership and have led the process in several other districts. Over the course of the remainder of this school year, we will meet weekly with the incoming superintendent to ensure a smooth and successful transition as they take the helm of D128 on July 1, 2025. We are excited to support this important process and look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of D128.

Have a great day!

Ray Lechner and Becky Nelson

Co-Interim Superintendents

The D128 Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the VHHS Library. The meeting agenda and related documents will be shared on Friday afternoon.

Congratulations to the following D128 seniors named National Merit Finalists:

LHS: Maya Anderson, Alexander Brown, Ahanaditya Dey, Lena Dogadalski, Hannah Kurien, Hayden Mazzeno, Allen Wang

VHHS: Caleb Gumminger, Lora Kashidova, Lakshmi Nair, Kristina Semenova, Madelyn Wright

D128 Special Olympics Athletes had amazing snowshoeing performances at last week's State Winter Games in Galena. The athletes won the following honors in their events:

Libby ​Karston -- Gold and Bronze

Rishi ​Arun -- 5th Place

Ben​ Brumer -- Bronze and 6th​ Place

Noah ​Hewiitt -- 2 Silvers

Abi ​Nowacki-- Gold and Silver

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​Also of note: Abi Nowacki won Gold in the 200m and is the #1 200m female runner in Illinois. Ab​i​ was also #2 in the State in the 100m. Noah Hewitt won Silver in the 200m and is the 2nd fastest male 200m runner in Illinois.

It is time once again for our district to join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the statewide 5Essentials Survey, which measures five “essentials” critical for school success:

• Effective Leaders

• Collaborative Teachers

• Involved Families

• Supportive Environment

• Ambitious Instruction

Parent/Guardian Survey

To complete the parent survey, please click on this link and select Parent Survey. The survey is available in English and Spanish and will be available from Feb. 18 through March 28, 2025. Please complete the survey before March 28. The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes.

Student Survey

Students will take the 5Essentials survey on Thursday, March 13, 2025. The student survey will be administered during second period, using a modified bell schedule for the day. Students will receive all the information needed to access the survey that day.

The student version of the 5Essentials survey is extremely important. Not only is it an opportunity for our students to make their voices heard, but the student participation rate is also one factor that goes into each school’s summative designation score, which is reported each year on the school state report cards.

Because of the importance of this survey, we are aiming for 100% student participation and will be holding survey make-up sessions and/or asking students to complete the survey at home if they do not complete it on March 13. As with all surveys we administer, you may opt your child out by clicking on this link and filling out the form. If you have opted your child out previously, you do not need to do so again. Please submit all opt-out requests by Friday, March 7.

The 5Essentials is a confidential survey. No names or other unique identifiers are connected with individual responses or used in any report. The 5Essentials System is designed with these protections to allow teachers, students, and parents to respond honestly to the survey to provide valuable input about their schools.

If you have further questions, please contact Charlotte Eames, Director of Data and Assessment, at charlotte.eames@d128.org.

Enjoy competitive pricing on over 100 native species to meet our mission of expanding native habitats in our region. Proceeds from the LHS LEAF/ECOS Clubs' native plant sales are reinvested into sustainability projects on the LHS campus. With grant money and sale proceeds, LEAF/ECOS members have planted thousands of native plants across 700 feet of the shoreline of Butler Lake, adjacent to the LHS campus, but there is still more work to do to remove invasive plants and expand habitat for wildlife.

Pick up orders on Monday, May 12 between 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. A list of plants, prices, order form, and other helpful information can be found here

Get ready to roll into the wellness event of the year - Snowball 2025! This event is where prevention and wellness meet serious fun! Cutting-edge keynote speaker, Matt Bellace, fun-filled outdoor adventure activities, and an arts-based project with our very own art teachers, this is where you’ll learn the tools to create a ripple effect in your life and community. Whether you're just starting out or already into leadership and wellness, Snowball’s tools, insights, and experiences will help you grow into your best leader and self. Join Prevention and Wellness and 150 other students from VHHS and LHS on Thursday, Feb. 27 as we head up to Wisconsin to explore ideas, connect with others, and participate in outdoor activities and workshops—all aimed at helping you progress toward a healthier lifestyle. You won't want to miss this leadership opportunity--but hurry, registration closes Feb. 19!

VHHS and LHS students can sign up on the 5 Star app!

On Saturday, March 8, 2025, the Libertyville Sunrise Rotary will sponsor a performance by The Second City at Libertyville High School. A dozen Libertyville restaurants will be supporting the event by providing pre-show dinners. An after-party will be held at Mickey Finn’s. For tickets and more information visit the event website.