Mustang Minute

April

4/23- 2nd Field Trip

4/24- Theme Day (90s), Reading Theme Day

4/25- EPIC Family Fun Night

4/28- Spring MAP testing begins

May

5/5-5/9- Teacher Appreciation Week

5/7- Wendy's Fundraiser Night

5/8- Kindergarten Music Concert

5/12- Talent Show Rehearsal

5/13- Getting Ready for Kindergarten Parent Session

5/14- Spring Band Concert @ MMS

5/16- Talent Show

5/21- Spring Choir Concert @ MMS

5/27- 1st Grade Field Trip

5/28- 1st Grade Picnic

5/29- Field Day (K-5)

5/30- Last Day of School

• Lakes High School Fun Run

• ACK Challenge
• 24/25 Yearbooks
• Talent Show (NEW)
• 2025/2026 Class Placements
• Kindergarten Music Concert
• Millburn Educators of the Year Nominees (NEW)
• New iPads Next Year/ Headphones (NEW)
• Are You Moving Out of District?
• Substitutes Needed
• EPIC News (NEW)
  

We are moving into the last 2 months of school and connecting with our motto T.E.A.M.

“Together Everyone Achieves More”

As a school, we are working together to earn a special end of the year assembly. The type of assembly will be revealed week by week during announcements. Mr. Walshire will share hints as students work towards the big goal of 60,000 ACK’s! Each student will be working hard to earn them in every location at school by showing kindness, responsibility, and safe behaviors. All staff members will be looking for students who show these values. There will be a thermometer in the cafeteria to help us keep track of our progress for everyone to see.

Individual students will earn those ACK’s to help the school, but they will also have them to enter into our last 2 raffles for the months of April and May. Encourage your child to show our school values each day to help to achieve our goal! You might even want to try a similar process with your family.

The 2024-25 school year isn’t over yet, but before you know it, summer will be here, and your kids will be asking, "Hey, remember that time...?" Now’s your chance to make sure they do!

Our Millburn Mustangs Yearbook is packed with unforgettable moments—first-day smiles, field trip adventures, class shenanigans, and that one time someone showed up to Picture Day with bedhead (we won’t name names… but we have the photos 😆).

📅 Order Deadline: May 16
🎉 Secure your copy before it’s too late!

Don’t let your child be the only one left flipping through someone else’s yearbook, searching for their own face! Order now and lock in a piece of Mustang history.

At Millburn Elementary, we take great care in placing students into their classes for the next school year. This process is not random; we consider each child’s academic, social, and emotional needs to create well-balanced classrooms that support student success.

How the Placement Process Works

Around this time of year, each grade-level team—including resource teachers—begins forming homeroom groups for the upcoming year. We ensure that each class has a balanced mix of skill levels, gender distribution, and social dynamics. Teachers also consider peer relationships to foster a positive classroom environment.

Once homeroom groups are established, the next step is matching them with teachers in the next grade level. We carefully consider learning styles, personalities, and academic needs to make the best fit for each class.

Review and Adjustments

Student placement is a thorough process with multiple checks and adjustments. Lists are reviewed and refined throughout the spring and summer to account for student movement and potential staffing changes. Any summer adjustments will be made in consultation with the grade-level team.

Parent Input & Requests

We understand that parents want the best possible learning environment for their child. However, we cannot accommodate specific teacher requests, as this would make an already complex process unmanageable. Please do not ask teachers to recommend or request a specific teacher, as they are not in a position to make these decisions.

If you would like to share insights about your child’s learning needs, you may submit a letter to me by the end of April outlining the qualities you believe would best support their success.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (847) 245-2800 or via email at bwalshire@millburn24.net.

Thank you for your trust and partnership in this process.

We are thrilled to announce and celebrate our Millburn Educators of the Year! These outstanding individuals were nominated by peers and/or parents, vetted using the criteria set by the Regional Office of Education, and ultimately selected by a panel of past award recipients. Please join us in congratulating the following honorees:

🏅 Classroom Elementary/Early Childhood Teacher (PreK–5)
For educators with 4+ years of teaching experience who spend 50% or more of their time instructing students.
⭐ Kelly Clendening – 5th Grade Teacher

🏅 Classroom Diverse Learner Teacher (ELL, SPED)
For educators working primarily with diverse learners and with 4+ years of experience.
⭐ Dana Booker – K–2 RISE Teacher

🏅 School Administrator
For staff with roles that are more than 50% administrative.
⭐ Courtney Lastacy – MMS Assistant Principal

🏅 Student Support Personnel
Includes nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors, librarians, speech/language therapists, and more.
⭐ Michelle Huerta – MMS Social Worker

🏅 Educational Service Personnel
Includes paraprofessionals, secretaries, aides, cafeteria staff, custodians, bus drivers, and others.
⭐ Suzanne Hampton – MES Administrative Assistant

These amazing team members will be honored alongside other Lake County recipients at a special celebration on May 7. We are proud of each of them and grateful for the incredible work they do every day to support our students and community!

Next year, all students will be receiving a new iPad for use during the school day. With these upgraded devices comes a change regarding headphones. The new iPads will only have a USB-C input. Therefore, headphones will need to have a USB-C connection.

We will include this information in next year’s supply lists, but wanted you to be aware ahead of time.

If your family is planning to move out of the school district, we kindly ask that you follow the steps below to ensure a smooth transition for your child(ren) as they move to a new school.

1. Notify the School
Please inform the school as soon as possible about your intent to move. This helps us prepare necessary documentation and ensure proper communication between schools.

2. Request Records
We will need to transfer your child’s academic records to their new school. Once you know which school your child will be attending, please provide us with the name and contact information for their new school, so we can forward their records promptly.

3. Return School Property
If your child has any school-issued items such as textbooks, library books, technology devices, or sports equipment, please make sure to return these items to the school before your departure.

4. Update Your Contact Information
Ensure that we have your most up-to-date contact information. This will allow us to reach you in case there are any follow-up questions or details regarding your child’s transition.

5. Confirm Withdrawal Date
Please provide us with the exact date of your child’s last day of attendance, so we can officially process their withdrawal.

6. Check your PushCoin Account

Please check your student's PushCoin account (pushcoin.com) for any balances owed to the school or refunds you'd like to withdraw from the account. Please contact the main office for the refund form or with help accessing your student's account. You will need to provide an updated mailing address for any refunds.

We understand that moving can be both an exciting and challenging time for families. Our team is here to support your child(ren) and make this transition as seamless as possible. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact the school office.

Millburn School District is actively seeking substitute teachers. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a substitute, please read on. If you know someone who you believe would be interested in becoming a substitute, please feel free to forward this email to them.

Feel free to take a moment to view Educator Licensure Information & Requirements from the Lake County Regional Office of Education CLICK HERE.

• View Substitute and Paraprofessional License Checklist
• Different Types of Substitute Licenses - This page provides the licensure requirements to obtain a substitute or short-term substitute teaching license in Illinois. ​
• How to Become a Substitute Teacher

Now that you know a bit more about the qualifications, Millburn welcomes you to complete the next steps to join our extraordinary team of educators!

Please gather all of the documents needed and complete the online application to begin the hiring process.

For inquiries, please email vcollins@millburn24.net.

Email: bwalshire@millburn24.net
Phone: 847-245-2800

Email: kgedville@millburn24.net