A Message from Dr. Kelley Gallt
January 31, 2023
Dear District 95 Families,
I hope that 2023 has begun in a positive way for all of our students, staff, and families. As always, a new year brings with it reflection on the past and goals for the future. As we evaluate all that has gone well in the past year, my first thoughts are of gratitude for the work of District 95 staff, teachers, and administrators. I continue to be so proud of the amazing demonstrations of learning, caring, growth, and perseverance by students and staff alike.
For this reason, I am so proud to share below information for nominating exceptional teachers for our Teachers Make a Difference Award. Each year we award and recognize three exceptional teachers who represent our mission and have gone far beyond normal expectations in supporting or motivating a student or group of students. Each year I am beyond proud as I read the dozens of nominations from students and families. Each year I continue to be incredibly humbled to be Superintendent of such an amazing school district.
Best wishes for a healthy and happy February!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kelley Gallt
Superintendent
Teachers Make A Difference Awards - Nominations Now Being Accepted!
Annually, District 95 takes time to recognize its exceptional staff members. The Teachers Make a Difference Award is designed to recognize those teachers who have represented our mission and gone far beyond normal expectations in supporting or motivating a student or group of students. Our greatest hope is that each family will embrace this opportunity to complete a nomination and share their own appreciation for our educators!
Click here to complete a nomination for the Teachers Make a Difference Awards
All nominations are due by Friday, February 17, 2023
From the many nominations we anticipate receiving, an identified committee of district administrators will select three of our outstanding educators to be honored in front of their peers during our annual staff awards program. Winning teachers will also receive a monetary award toward the use of professional development or other educational resources to continue to support their exceptional work with students as well as to further their professional development.
School Fees and Comparable Values
By January each year, the Board of Education evaluates the fees that are charged to our families for registration and participation in activities. The Administration has surveyed neighboring school districts for comparable information and is pleased to report that District’s 95 registration fees continue to remain well below the average of the eighteen surrounding districts that were surveyed. School districts charge a variety of fees for registration, activities, equipment, etc., that vary from district to district. The data shows that our general registration fees continue to be notably lower than the average which affirms the great value the district provides to its families with students. Specifically, the data shows the following:
Elementary Registration Fees:
- LZ95 fees are less than 50% of the average cost of other districts
Middle School Registration Fees:
- LZ95 fees are approximately 46% less than the average cost of other districts
High School Registration Fees:
- LZ95 fees are approximately 46% less than the average cost of other districts
The recommendation of the administration, approved by the Board, is to keep general registration fees flat (unchanged), except for a $10 increase to the Mobile Learning Initiative (MLI) fee in response to an increased cost of equipment. This MLI fee will be combined with the registration fee this year but will still offset the cost of technology. For example, fees for middle school will change as follows:
2022-23: MLI - $40; General Registration Fee - $100
2023-24: No separate MLI fee; General Registration Fee - $150 (includes the MLI fee)
District 95 continues to offer high quality educational experiences while also maintaining a strong fiscal position with responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. These traits maintain home values and speak to the desirability of our community. We are pleased to be in a position that enables us to keep fees low relative to surrounding districts!
Kindergarten Information & Registration Night
District 95 will hold a Kindergarten Information & Registration Night on Thursday, February 16th, 2023 at each elementary school from 6:30 - 8:00pm.
To register an incoming Kindergartener:
- Complete online registration forms prior to attending (click on the link below).
- Parent/Guardian must attend Kindergarten Information & Registration Night to complete registration with required documents (or contact the school to make other arrangements).
Visit the district website: www.lz95.org/register for more information.
Tickets Now Available - Joanie's Closet Valentines Dance Fundraiser
Purchase your tickets now before they sell out!! A fun-filled and memorable evening awaits you and your special little someone on Saturday, February 11, 2023. This “dressed-up” affair is sure to be the talk of the town! Don’t miss this popular event which features dancing, a craft, photo keepsake, raffle baskets, and more!!
This event will be held at May Whitney Elementary School from 6pm–8pm and is open to grades pre-k through 8th. Please note, no dinner will be served this year. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS!
Joanie’s Closet is a committee under the District 95 Educational Foundation that serves under-resourced District 95 students and their families, in collaboration with the community, by providing basic needs to help students achieve their full potential.
Can't make it to the dance but still want to donate? Joanie's Closet is always looking for financial assistance and is greatly appreciative of monetary donations! Click here to make an online donation.
A Day in the Class of....Mrs. Prejna, Spencer Loomis
In this feature article, “A Day in the Class of…”, we highlight the Superintendent as a member of a classroom for one full period. A different school and class are highlighted each month, allowing readers a view into the classroom from a new perspective!. This lesson demonstrated Dynamic and Responsive Environment, relating to the District 95 Instruction Learning Model.
Just amazing! Those are the only words to describe Mrs. Prejna and her third grade students at Spencer Loomis Elementary School. Students had an opportunity to highlight all they have learned related to solving complex word problems. I was so impressed with our third graders’ ability to explain their thinking using mathematical language as they identified the necessary information to solve a word problem. Following an opportunity to sit together on the carpet area while warming up and preparing our minds to solve a challenging problem, we were quickly grouped into teams. Our team had three learners, including me. My teammates helped each other to persevere through multiple, required steps in order to successfully solve the assigned problem. Throughout this process we discussed and identified the important information… there were distractors in the problem that were unnecessary; we determined the strategy we wanted to use to solve the problem (a table was used with different algorithms); we solved the problem and checked our work; and lastly, we made other connections that helped us to realize that there were many correct solutions to this problem. I had so much fun working with my partners, as I learned a little bit about them while working together (I was surprised to learn one has a pet turtle!).
As I continue to participate in classrooms across District 95, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to have such exceptional staff working with our students, and how fortunate we are to serve a learning community committed to the success of our students. A huge shout out and thank you to Mrs. Prejna and her students! I cannot wait to come back!
Appreciation Days
Once again this year we are highlighting appreciation days for various staff roles throughout the district. By sharing these dates with you via this newsletter and social media, we hope you will take a moment to share your appreciation with the individuals who serve our district in these roles. A card, email, post, or a simple thank you in person means so much!!
February 6-10th National School Counseling Week
- February 15th National School Resource Officer Day
- February 22nd National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
District 95 Job Openings
In addition to an ongoing need for bus drivers (see below for more information), District 95 also has many other current employment needs including playground/lunchroom supervisors, classroom aides, and more. For a current list of openings, please visit our online job listings by clicking here.
Bus Drivers
Looking for an opportunity to give back to the community? Retired and looking for a way to stay active and connected? A parent wanting to have the same schedule as your children? Want to bring your preschool aged child to work with you? Join our amazing team of bus drivers. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
Benefits Include: · Paid Behind the Wheel Training · Partial Paid Health Insurance · Retirement Benefits · Sick Leave · Personal Days· Competitive Pay including pay for prior experience
Qualifications: · Good Driving Record · Minimum of 21 years old (Drivers) · Pass required Federal Background check · Pass a pre-employment/ annual physical & drug test · Enjoy working with kids!!
If you have any questions, contact the District 95 Transportation Department at 847-438-2834.
Click here to apply online by visiting our website or go to www.lz95.org/jobs ~ Click on Job Openings ~ Select Transportation ~ Select Apply button