Connection
A newsletter for the staff of Minooka CCSD 201
Greetings, Minooka 201 Families & Community!
Thank you for helping us kick off such a successful start to the school year! It has been a true joy to welcome your children back into our classrooms and hallways, where they are already forming connections with peers and staff and building a strong sense of community.
As we launch our new strategic plan, our next chapter is defined by a motto shaped by hundreds of stakeholders—our students, families, and staff. It is simple, yet profound:
Positive Learning Environments
Our staff are working hard to build safe, engaging, and authentic spaces that promote student confidence, motivation, and growth. We thank you in advance for your support with the school and classroom expectations for positive behavior, social emotional learning, and academic engagement for your child.
Encourage your students to join the Minooka 201 Reading Challenge
This school year, we have set a district-wide goal to read 2 million minutes. You can track our district's progress directly on our Beanstack page.
We've attached information about how your child can log their minutes at home. We've included directions on how your child can log minutes right through Clever on their device.
There's also a Beanstack app you can download on your phone!
The reading challenge is an optional and fun way to encourage reading across our district. Thank you for supporting your child's reading at home!
Please take this short report card feedback survey
We want to ensure your student's report cards provide clear, meaningful, and actionable information about their learning.
Your perspective as a parent/guardian is essential in helping us improve our current report card system so that it truly informs and serves you and your family!
Please take 5–7 minutes to share your thoughts by clicking the button below.
Read about our new e-scooter/e-bike rules
To keep campus grounds safe and comply with changing Illinois legal standards, all electric- and gas-powered vehicles (including e-bikes, e-scooters, and dirt bikes) are strictly prohibited on Minooka 201 district grounds for individuals under 18.
If a student brings an e-vehicle to school, it will be secured until a parent or guardian retrieves it.
Standard, non-motorized bicycles and scooters remain welcome, provided they are walked once on school property and locked in outdoor racks.
For complete safety rationale and guidelines, read the full E-Bike/E-Scooter Restriction Update.
Donation to Help Fund Classroom Innovation & Materials
Thanks to a generous anonymous community donation, Minooka 201 was able to launch our inaugural $201 Mini-Grant program!
This financial gift allowed us to make available for our staff individual $201 grants to directly support innovative learning opportunities across our district.
Out of 75 total applications evaluated by a blind scoring panel, 25 teachers representing all seven of our school sites were chosen to receive funding for their proposals.
These funds will go straight into our classrooms to support creative learning tools, hands-on instructional materials, and engaging student projects throughout the school year!
Attendance Matters. Every Day.
Consistent daily attendance is key to building strong learning habits, staying connected with peers, and achieving academic success.
Did you know: Missing 10% of school (2 days each month) can make it harder to learn to read and do basic math.
We are celebrating Attendance Awareness Month every Monday in September with spirit days across the district.
- September 14 – Sports / Team Day: Show up for your team!
September 21 – Crazy Socks Day: You are one of a kind!
September 28 – Minooka Pride Day: Minooka 201: Be the ONE to wear blue!
You can also download this refrigerator-ready attendance tracker to ensure your student remains on track!
Download the Zonar MyView App
Next week, families will be able to track their student's bus location live on their phone via a mobile app: Zonar MyView.
The smartphone application notifies you when the bus is near your home (enters an alert zone). The smartphone app is free, and participation is optional. This application is a helpful feature for parents and guardians, but does not replace the necessity of your student being early to the bus stop.
Once tracking becomes live, a message will be sent to all bus rider families via ParentSquare.
Get involved with our parent advisory committees
We encourage all families to get involved with our parent advisory groups!
Our Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) & Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) provide valuable platforms for families and educators to collaborate, share resources, and advocate for student success across our multilingual and special education programs.
If you would like to know more about both committees, please join their groups on ParentSquare:
The best way to be involved in your child's school
Each of our four elementary schools and our two campus schools (Minooka Intermediate & Minooka Junior High) have their own, active parent-teacher organizations.
PTOs organize and support many events over the course of the school year, including classroom activities, school-wide parties, and staff recognition.
We highly encourage everyone to reach out to their building's PTO for information on how they can be more involved in their school community and make the experience even better for our students and staff!
