Quarterly Update
Greetings, Minooka 201 Families!
Early Release today will mark the official start to Spring Break!
While the weather is still quite undecided about Spring, I am hopeful that the next week gives families a chance to slow down the pace of our busy schedules, have some fun, and spend some extra family time together. Hopefully warmer temperatures and sunshine will come our way as well.
The newsletter below contains several important reminders for the week after break: local election on April 1st, Illinois Assessment of Readiness for students in grades 3-8, and the kick-off of registration for the 2025-2026 school year. There are also updates on our efforts to improve communication, collect stakeholder voice, and improve transportation services for the upcoming school year.
We are looking forward to an exciting season of growth for our learners this Spring and we are energized for the opportunities for growth this summer into the new school year. We thank you for your continued engagement, partnership, and support!
In partnership,
Rachel Kinder
Superintendent of Schools
5Essentials Survey
Panorama Survey Platform
ParentSquare
In response to feedback from families, we are taking several efforts to improve our communication efforts. We will soon be initiating the process of improving our website design, accessibility, and navigation. Additionally, the Board has approved the recommendation to implement ParentSquare, a powerful communication platform designed to streamline and enhance communication between schools, teachers, and parents. Our team is working to introduce the tool this summer and launch in Fall 2025.
The Consolidated Election is quickly approaching on April 1, 2025. This includes School Board member elections along with other important local offices. Local elections are often decided by only a few votes, so every vote matters!
Need to check if you are registered to vote? Visit https://ova.elections.il.gov/registrationlookup.aspx
Board Member Bios are available online: https://www.min201.org/board/board-members
The calendar of board meeting dates, board agendas/packets, and recordings of the meetings are also accessible on our webpage. https://www.min201.org/board/electronic-board-packets
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is a statewide assessment that measures students’ academic progress in reading and math. It is important for students to take the exam seriously and to do their best, as the results are used to inform instruction and help schools identify areas where students may need additional support. This is also the measure that is utilized for our Illinois State Report Card.
Students in 3rd through 8th grade will be taking the assessments from Tuesday, April 1, 2025 through Friday, April 11, 2025. If any students are unable to take the exam during the scheduled testing window, it is good to know that make-up exams will be offered during the week of April 14, 2025.
The following strategies will best support your child during the assessment days:
Encourage a regular sleep schedule
Provide a healthy breakfast
Promote a positive attitude
Help your child with test-taking strategies such as reading instructions carefully, managing their time, and reviewing their work. This can help feel more prepared and confident during the test. Provide support and encouragement and celebrate their efforts
Have necessary materials packed: Your child will need headphones and their charged chromebook during portions of the test.
Help your child prepare to do their best to show “I Am Ready” for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness!
Curriculum Maps
We're excited to continue to update our Curriculum Maps for parents and guardians. These maps provide a clear overview of what your child will be learning throughout the school year in each subject. They outline key concepts, skills, and learning goals, helping you stay informed and support your child's education at home. Currently, we have an updated map for most of our grade levels in the areas of English-Language Arts and Mathematics (K-8) and are working to have our Science and Social Studies Maps (3rd-8th) all updated soon, followed by our Fine Arts Curriculum Maps (K-8). Keep checking the Min201 Curriculum Page for the latest updates on all of our Curriculum Maps.
Our Multilingual teachers, serving students from K to 8th grade, provide essential language support in various instructional settings, including co-teaching, targeted small groups based on student needs, and in-classroom support. Research consistently shows that language development thrives within the general education environment, where students engage in meaningful, content-rich interactions with peers and teachers. By integrating language instruction into the typical classroom setting, we ensure that multilingual learners receive the support they need while actively participating in their academic learning.
At Minooka Primary Center, our Multilingual teacher designs lesson plans that align with the thematic units taught by classroom teachers, ensuring continuity and reinforcement of key concepts. During small group instruction in her classroom or when providing push-in support, she creates engaging, hands-on lessons that enhance students' language development. These lessons support all four language domains, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, helping multilingual learners build their language skills while actively connecting to their classroom learning.
By integrating language support across all grade levels and instructional settings, our Multilingual program ensures that students receive meaningful, research-based language development opportunities. Whether through co-teaching, push-in support, or hands-on lessons aligned with classroom themes, our approach fosters growth across all language domains while keeping students engaged in their academic learning. This intentional support empowers multilingual learners to thrive in their educational journey.
Supporting Our Youngest Multilingual Learners
Mrs. Lopez brings language learning to life through interactive, hands-on activities that get students moving, talking, listening, and writing. Whether in small groups or push-in support, she incorporates engaging strategies like songs, science experiments, and movement-based learning to reinforce early literacy and writing skills.
Supporting language learners early on is crucial for setting a strong foundation for their academic success. Early language support helps students build essential skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, which are critical for their overall learning and development. In our district, many multilingual students meet state language proficiency requirements before entering kindergarten, demonstrating the effectiveness of early support in helping them thrive in both language and academic achievement. This proactive approach ensures that they are well-prepared for a successful educational journey.
The state mandated assessment, ACCESS is very challenging, requiring students to work diligently to demonstrate their language growth in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Recognizing their hard work, Mrs. Parga and Mrs. Hristov at Jones Elementary organized a celebration to mark the culmination of testing. The event featured a fun game and a popcorn celebration, providing students with a well-deserved opportunity to relax, reflect on their efforts, and celebrate their achievements in language development.
Annual Sports Physical Clinic is Back!
On June 13th, Minooka #201 is once again hosting our Annual Sports Physical Clinic for all students, particularly 5th-8th graders participating in sports!
All proceeds are generously donated by Morris Hospital to the Minooka #201 Athletic Department!
Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. Click the poster link to schedule an appointment.
Get ready for the upcoming sport season and support Minooka #201 Athletics!
Friday, March 21
- Early Dismissal (5 Hour Day)
- World Down Syndrome Day (rock your best socks)
March 24 - March 28
- Spring Break (Classes resume March 31)
April 2
- School Registration opens for 25/26 SY
April 14
- Summer Programs Registration (Camps & Enrichment)
Thursday, April 17
- Early Dismissal (5 Hour Day)
Friday, April 18
- Good Friday - No School
*For the full Academic calendar for 2024-2025, please click the image above.
2025-2026 Calendar Approved at February 24, 2025 Board Meeting (please note - Early Release days have not been determined yet) 2025-2026 Academic Calendar.
Inscripción de Estudiantes para el Año Escolar 2025/2026
Community Resources Information
Minooka 201 is fortunate to have a wealth of community resources. If you or someone you know are in need of resources, visit our website to find a collection of community resources available throughout our communities.
