Connection

Thank you for reading our latest newsletter! Connection is meant to inform our entire Minooka 201 community on what's happening around the district. You can expect a newsletter every quarter keeping you up to date on everything Minooka 201.

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Greetings, Minooka 201 Families & Community!

It is truly remarkable that we are already closing out the first quarter at the end of this week! The successful start to the year is a testament to the strong partnership between our homes and schools. Thank you for your continued support with safety protocols, positive behavior reinforcement, and promoting regular student attendance.

Students are doing a great job with meeting school and classroom expectations and procedures! Our teachers have done an exceptional job to build this critical foundation so students can have positive connections and engage deeply with their learning goals.

Schools have reviewed Minooka 201 School Bus Expectations for student behavior with students. We ask for your support in reviewing these expectations with your child if he/she is a bus rider (see graphics below in the Student Services Section). School buses are an extension of our school environment and we must work together to ensure a safe space for all students and transportation staff.

Our goal is to ensure that families are connected to student learning and growth—what students are expected to know and be able to do and how well students are progressing in meeting or exceeding those grade-level expectations. Our schools and staff have been working hard to increase this school to home connection through regular updates. A formal milestone for First Quarter Communication is just around the corner.

Report Cards will go live in Power School on October 17 and Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on October 30-31.

Your child’s school/teacher will soon be sharing specific scheduling details. We encourage you to attend conferences or to set up a time to discuss your child’s progress with his/her teacher(s). This is a vital opportunity to discuss growth and collaborate to support for the next quarter.

Just as we strive for continuous growth for every child in Minooka 201, we are committed to continuous improvement for us adults and for our entire school district.

This Friday (October 10th) at 9:00 a.m. Superintendent Kinder is hosting the second Coffee and Chat of the school year. Anyone in the community is welcomed to come by the district office, share a cup of coffee and talk about what's happening in the district from your point of view. We hope you take this opportunity to meet with Superintendent Kinder in an informal setting! It's your chance to stay up-to-date with what's happening in the district and ask any questions.
If you'd like to join us, please email Lori at LShanholtzer@min201.org!

Your voice matters—help us understand what is working well and where we can improve to best serve our students and community. The link to take this very important survey was 🔗sent to you via ParentSquare. Please share your input before the Fall Survey Closes on October 17th!

The Fall Panorama Survey focuses on several key areas of our school community, including:

• School-Family Communication

• Perceptions of School Safety

• Areas of Strength in our District/Schools

• Areas of Opportunity for our District/Schools

Thank you for your continued partnership to support the growth and success of your child(ren)!

Whether it's helping to guide our curriculum, joining a PTO, or giving input on our special education efforts, the input of our families and community is vital.

We value your partnership and invite families to be part of this work! If you’re interested in contributing to discussions by joining a future committee, let us know! Filling out the form is only an expression of interest and by no means a commitment to serve.

We’re proud to announce that the Minooka 201 Board of Education has once again earned the IASB 2025 School Board Governance Recognition, one of only 42 districts in Illinois to receive this honor.

This recognition celebrates boards that go above and beyond to strengthen leadership, engage the community, and focus on student success.

This is the second consecutive time our Board has earned this distinction—proof of their ongoing commitment to excellence in public education!

Good news for Minooka families and taxpayers! At its September meeting, the Board of Education received excellent financial updates for our district.

An independent audit of the 2024-2025 fiscal year gave Minooka CCSD 201 a clean bill of health, earning a Financial Profile Score of 3.9 out of 4.0. This score places our district in the Financial Recognition category—the highest honor awarded by the Illinois State Board of Education. Translation? Our district is managing your tax dollars responsibly and effectively.

The Board also approved the 2025-2026 budget, which projects a surplus of more than $311,000 while maintaining healthy reserve funds. This means we can continue investing in our students and schools while keeping the district on solid financial footing for years to come.

Minooka 201 continues to be a strong steward of community resources while providing quality education for our students.

National Attendance Month is officially over, but our commitment to it never stops!

Did you know? Students who miss 15 days in a school year miss an ENTIRE year of education by the time they graduate from high school! 😮 Check out our Attendance Traffic Light to see where your student stands.

Let's keep them in the green zone!

At Minooka 201, we’re committed to ensuring that every child has the academic, social, emotional, and health support they need to thrive. We know navigating school services can feel overwhelming, so we’ve created easy-to-use guides to help families understand the resources available.

Here’s a quick look at what we offer:

• MTSS – Multi-Tiered System of Supports:
  A schoolwide “safety net” that provides different levels of academic and behavioral support, so students get the help they need as early as possible.
  
  

• Special Education (IEP) & Section 504 Plans:
  Designed to ensure students with disabilities receive the services or accommodations they need to access learning and participate fully in school.
  
  

• Health Services:
  Our dedicated nurses care for students’ day-to-day needs, support chronic conditions, give medications safely, and ensure required screenings and immunizations are up-to-date.
  
  

Families are our most important partners! We encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher, school administrator, or the Student Services team if you have questions or need guidance.

For full details and links to helpful guides—including Bus CHAMPS expectations—click here:

At Minooka 201, we use CHAMPS to create consistent behavioral expectations across all school settings—whether students are in the classroom, on the playground, in the lunchroom, or riding the bus.

CHAMPS helps students understand what's expected regarding voice levels, participation, movement, and respect for others.

Please talk with your child about following CHAMPS expectations on the bus. When families reinforce the same expectations students hear at school, it creates consistency and helps everyone have a safer, more positive experience!

Minooka 201 & Minooka Transportation Department are seeking dedicated community members for substitute positions that offer competitive pay, flexible schedules, and the opportunity to make a real difference in students' lives.

Current Openings:

• Substitute Bus Drivers – Morning and afternoon shifts available
• Substitute Program Assistants (Aides) – Support students in the classroom
• Substitute Teachers – Lead classrooms across all grade levels

Don't Have Credentials? We'll Help! Our district provides full support and guidance to help you obtain:

• CDL licensure for bus drivers
• ParaProfessional licensure for program assistants

We're committed to developing local talent and will walk you through every step of the certification process.

Ready to Apply? Visit the Employment section at www.min201.org or contact Dr. Sarah Massey, Director of Human Resources, at smassey@min201.org or (815) 467-6121.

If you've been thinking about earning some extra cash, having holidays and summers off, and working a flexible schedule, it just may be the perfect gig!

Hear what our current drivers have to say about why they joined and what keeps them driven!

Wondering where the bus is? Now you can know exactly when it will arrive!

Minooka 201 is excited to roll out Zonar MyView, a free app that lets parents track their student's school bus in real time. No more guessing about pickup times or waiting in uncertain weather—you'll get live updates right on your phone.

• Shows your bus location on a live map
• Sends notifications when the bus is approaching your stop
• Provides estimated arrival times
• Tracks both morning and afternoon routes
• Works for all regular bus routes

How to Get Started:

1. Download the Zonar MyView app from the App Store or Google Play
2. Use your student's information to register
3. Start tracking!

Detailed setup instructions and your student's bus information are 🔗available on the district website!

We hope this new tool makes your mornings and afternoons a little easier!

Last week, you received your child’s NWEA MAP report for Reading and Math through ParentSquare. These reports give families and teachers valuable insight into how students are growing and where they may need extra support.

Think of MAP Growth as a check-up for learning—it helps us see what your child knows today and how they’re progressing over time. This helps us celebrate their successes and focus on the areas where they can grow even more.

Here’s how it works:

• MAP Growth adjusts the questions as your child answers.

• If they get a question right, it gets a little harder. If they get it wrong, it gets a bit easier.

• This helps us understand their current skills and identify next steps for learning.

Your child’s score, called a RIT score, allows us to track their progress throughout the school year—and even across multiple years—to make sure they’re growing in their learning journey.

We encourage you to:

• Review your child’s MAP report sent via ParentSquare.

• Talk with your child’s teacher about where your child is excelling and where they might need a little extra support.

• Ask how you can help at home to support their learning.

We believe families deserve to know what their child is learning and why.

Our ELA (Reading) and Math Curriculum Maps outline the key skills and topics students will learn throughout the school year.

You can find the curriculum maps here:

We encourage you to explore these maps to better understand your child’s classroom experience. If you have questions, your child’s teacher, school administrators, and our district team are always here to help.

With ParentSquare you choose when and how you receive post notifications. Follow along to learn about different notification settings and how to adjust your own.

We are happy to welcome to the safety team our newest SSO (School Safety Officer) Mr. Dan Rogina!

Mr. Rogina is a retired police officer and a Minooka 201 parent, and we're very excited to have his skills and expertise strengthen our outstanding safety team.

Our safety team, led by Mr. Bill Lipke, works in partnership with us every day to ensure our staff and students can learn and grow in a safe environment.

• Riders must be at least 13 years old (Illinois State Law)
• Speed limit: Posted roadway speed or 15 mph, whichever is lower
• Helmets are required
• Ride in bike lanes or on sidewalks (NOT on streets or roadways)
• Prohibited on Mondamin Street between Wabena Avenue and the alley west of Missouri Street.

• Class 1 & 2 e-bikes: No age requirements; can be ridden on bike paths and sidewalks
• Class 3 e-bikes: Riders must be 16+; helmet required; NOT allowed on bike paths
• Classified label must be affixed to the bike

Please expand the image to the right, which comes courtesy of the Minooka Police Department. Violations can result in fines ranging from $60 (first offense) to $240 (third offense).

Safety First: Always wear a helmet, stay alert at intersections, avoid crowded areas, and obey all traffic laws.

For complete regulations, contact the Minooka Police Department at 815-467-2298 or visit www.minooka.com

For everyone's Safety, please remember that all bicycles and electric devices must be WALKED (not ridden) when on Minooka CCSD 201 school grounds.

We’re excited to share that Orland Park Dental Services (OPDS) will once again bring its free dental clinic to all Minooka 201 schools this winter!

This is a wonderful opportunity to make dental care more accessible and help families meet state requirements—all during the school day.

• Feb. 2: Minooka Junior High School

• Feb. 3: Minooka Intermediate School

• Feb. 4: Minooka Elementary School

• Feb. 5: Aux Sable Elementary School

• Feb. 6: Jones Elementary School

• Feb. 9: Walnut Trails Elementary School

• Mar. 2: Minooka Primary Center

• Satisfies the state dental exam requirement for current Kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th graders who haven’t yet submitted their forms.

• Fulfills the requirement for incoming Kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th graders for the 2026–27 school year.

• Meets the dental exam requirement for 8th graders entering high school next year.

• This year, OPDS is also offering Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) treatments, which can help stop tooth decay.

Wait...what's SDF?! Glad you asked! ⤵️

Families must provide permission for their child to be seen at the clinic.

• A digital permission form is available by 🔗clicking here.

• Paper forms will be sent home in the coming weeks.

• Dental exams will only be provided for students with a completed permission form.

This is a simple, convenient way to keep your child’s smile healthy and meet state health requirements, all without leaving school!

Did you know that more than 40 languages are spoken by students and families in Minooka CCSD 201? Our Multilingual Services Department is dedicated to ensuring every student has access to quality education, regardless of their home language.

This year, we're focused on:

• Strengthening classroom support through co-teaching partnerships
• Offering family engagement opportunities
• Celebrating the rich diversity of cultures in our community
  
  

Get Involved! Families are encouraged to connect with our Multilingual Services team for:

• Language development support and resources
• Information about the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC)
• Upcoming cultural events and family programs
  
  

We're building a community where every language and culture is valued. Contact our Multilingual Services Department to learn more about how we can support your family.

BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) events are a wonderful way to connect with families, learn about programs, and celebrate our community!

TODAY! We're partnering with local libraries for a special evening of fun, literacy, and community!
🎉 Enjoy a special reading and signing by award-winning author Milagros Wallace—plus a library card sign-up drive, snacks, and a cozy PJ-friendly atmosphere!
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to Minooka 201 families
📖 First 20 families to RSVP will receive a signed copy of the author’s book!
🪑 Space is limited to 75 attendees, so RSVP to save your spot!
🛏 Don’t forget to wear your PJs for this fun evening event!
🗓 Date: October 9th
🕔 Time: 5:00–6:30 PM
📍 Location: Meeting Room A (Shorewood Public Library)

Please RSVP on ParentSquare!

This October, we celebrate the our leaders who make our schools run smoothly and our students feel valued every single day. Our principals wear countless hats! They know students by name, celebrate successes, and work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure every child has what they need to succeed. Minooka 201 is lucky to have principals and assistant principals who lead with passion, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our staff and students. Thank you for all you do!

Our Backpack Food Program provides nutritious food items for families in need—delivered right in your child's backpack at no cost thanks to the generosity of the Rotary club of Channahon-Minooka.
To take advantage of this program and ask any questions, please email Lori at LShanholtzer@Min201.org.

Grundy County officials are excited to launch "Level Up Grundy County!" It's their comprehensive plan refresh, but they can't do it without your input! Every Grundy County resident can choose a “mission” and complete a 5-minute survey to shape the county’s future.

Take your first quest: https://forms.office.com/r/x7FGrq8gA0

Thursday, October 9th

Fall Fest at Minooka Intermediate School

Friday, October 10th

Coffee and Chat with Superintendent Kinder

Monday, October 13th

Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day - (No student attendance)

Monday, October 20th

Board of Education meeting

Wednesday, October 22nd

School Improvement Day (early dismissal)

Thursday, October 30th

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 31st
Parent/Teacher Conferences

The QR code gives you access to the District website and social media pages. This includes: the schools' websites, job openings, and the academic calendar. Don't forget to follow us! For mobile users, please click the link below to access the Minooka CCSD 201 Linktree.

The bond between Walnut Trails Instructional Coach Mr. Seaton and Ricardo were forged quickly!

MES invited Minooka first responders to breakfast and to hear students explain why they are heroes!

Thanks to the talents of the Jones Elementary School PTO VP, the students at Jones have a big and bright mascot adorning the library window!