Jan. 10, 2010
Shine Bright with Supt. Rebecca A. Jenkins
Dear District 70 Families,
Happy New Year! And welcome back to D70 after our winter break. It has been so energizing to see our students again as we return to our routines of Learning Together.
In this season of resolutions, I find myself recommitting to the goals we have set for our district. Our mission continues to guide us. We aim to empower student growth and achievement through equitable, challenging opportunities that promote excellence, innovation, critical thinking, and respect.
Our values inform all our decisions as we seek to be a district that values Engagement, Excellence, Innovation, Safety, Equity, and Collaboration. We do all of this through our ongoing commitment to Learning Together.
I look forward to all we will continue to accomplish together and with our students at the center. Thank you for your continued partnership and participation as we navigate each new day on this journey together.
Shine Bright!
Rebecca
Rebecca A. Jenkins
Superintendent of Schools
Libertyville School District 70
Rebecca's Instagram
Students in grades K-5 will take the winter benchmark assessments during the week of January 14-17. For grades 2-5, this includes the STAR Math and STAR Reading assessments. On these days, please ensure your child's device is fully charged before coming to school, and try to avoid absences or tardiness.
Students in Kindergarten and 1st Grade will be assessed the same week using AIMSwebPlus. More information about this tool, please click here: AIMSWeb Parent Letter.
Parents can help their child on these assessments by:
- Making sure that your child attends school on time each day of testing.
- Making sure your child gets a good night’s rest the night before testing.
- Providing breakfast on the mornings of testing.
- Reminding your child to ask the teacher questions if he or she does not understand the test directions.
- Letting your child know that you have confidence in his or her ability to do his or her best.
STAR assessment information available for grades 6-8 in PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Highland Middle School students took the STAR assessments before winter break. These (grades 6-8) scores are available for parents/guardians to view in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. To access your child’s scores please log into your PowerSchool account and scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “View Star Test Results.”
Want to know more about the STAR assessment and scores?
Radon Testing in Schools as Part of D70's Environmental Safety Plan
As part of D70's ongoing effort to expand our environmental safety plan, we have scheduled a radon measurement to be conducted in all of our buildings.
Testing is being done as a proactive approach to environmental safety and we are not anticipating any concerns or issues. The additional testing was discussed at the District’s Safety Committee meeting and at the May 2024 Families Learning Together meeting. The schedule is as follows over the next few weeks:
1/13 - 1/16 - Copeland (10 a.m.)
1/14 - 1/17 - Adler (10 a.m.) and Rockland (Noon)
1/21 - 1/24 – Butterfield (10 a.m.)
1/28 - 1/31 - Highland Middle School (10 a.m.)
A District 70 staff member and a representative of the company with whom we have contracted, will leave a small, black testing device (as seen above) in classrooms and offices of each building during the visits. This will take approximately 10 seconds. They will then return to collect the device approximately 48 hours later.
The screening is chemical-free and harmless to students and staff.
Normal coming and going will not affect the outcome of the test.
Classroom and offices windows will be kept closed during measurement process.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Should you have any questions, please contact either Stacey Bachar, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, at 847-362-9030, or Radon Detection Specialists, Inc., at 630-325-4443 /800-244-4242.
Hats Off to the D70 Foundation for Excellence in Education!!
The D70 Teaching, Learning, & Assessment Department, along with the fourth grade teachers and students of D70, would like to extend their gratitude to the D70 Foundation.
The D70 Foundation provided financial support for all fourth graders to attend a field trip to Medieval Times in Schaumburg. This field trip connected to the English/Language Arts unit about the Middle Ages, during which students learned ELA skills and strategies while building knowledge about this interesting historical period.
At Medieval Times, students were transported to another time during the 90-minute interactive show that included watching knights compete in a jousting tournament and enjoying a medieval feast. We are grateful for the support of this organization and the contribution they make to the experiences of our students.
If you would like to learn more about the D70 Foundation for Excellence, please visit their website: https://www.d70schools.org/d70-foundation-for-excellence
Families Learning Together/FAN Events This Month!
We're excited for our upcoming Families Learning Together virtual event:
FLT/FAN Topic: The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better
Presenters: Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, Ph.D
Interviewer: Charles Duhigg
When: Jan. 16, 2025, at 7 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link: Zoom Registration Link: www.bit.ly/AWFANSponsor
Program Information: Join us for an unmissable evening of insights and inspiration! Award-winning journalist Jenny Anderson and renowned education expert Rebecca Winthrop, Ph.D., will dive into strategies to support teens in learning, mental health, and overall well-being from their book, The Disengaged Teen. Guided by Charles Duhigg, this dynamic conversation will leave you empowered and ready to make a difference.
FLT/FAN Topic: Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground
Presenter: Kurt Gray, Ph.D.
Interviewer: Paul Bloom, Ph.D.
When: January 23, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Zoom Registration Link: www.bit.ly/GrayFANSponsor
Program Information: Come join us for a thought-provoking evening with Kurt Gray, Ph.D., a top expert in the science of morality and the director of the Deepest Beliefs Lab! He'll be diving into why we often disagree over our values and sharing ways we can bring people together. Joining him for this enlightening talk is his mentor and well-known psychologist, Paul Bloom, Ph.D. This event promises to offer fresh insights and practical tips for navigating our divided world with understanding and compassion.
FAN Topic: Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes
Presenter: Sunita Sah, MD, Ph.D.
Interviewer: LaTosha Brown
When: 7 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2025
Zoom Registration Link: ZOOM COMING SOON
Program Information: Sunita Sah, an author, also is an award-winning professor of management and organizations at Cornell University's SC Johnson Graduate School of Management, and a core faculty fellow in the new Cornell Health Policy Center. Sah is a force, and her research as to why people remain silent and compliant in situations that they know are wrong is revelatory. Many seek to align their actions with their values -- Sah's research and framing offer a path to making that happen.
