Superintendent News
Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95
March 12, 2024
Dear District 95 Families,
This is an exciting time of the year as the weather warms and spring activities begin. It is also a favorite time of year because this is the time when we have an opportunity to honor some of our exceptional staff members. You have been a part of that process by submitting nominations - thank you to all who nominated a staff member for the Teacher's Make a Difference Award! Please know that although we only select three winners, all nominees receive a copy of their nomination in the weeks after the award winners are announced. Below you will find photos from our surprise visit for this award and for our staff nominated awards as well. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed recognizing our staff.
Please be sure to scroll down and read the other important articles including information about Summer Semester Programs, Health Updates, videos of two high school students who participated as members of the Empower95 strategic planning team sharing their thoughts, and many more photos - we have much to celebrate in this amazing school district!
Best wishes for the remaining weeks of March and a safe and enjoyable spring break at the end of the month!
Dr. Kelley Gallt
Superintendent
Annually, District 95 takes time to recognize its exceptional staff members through various awards, one parent/student nominated, others through peer nominations. This week we had the pleasure of surprising staff members throughout the district with these awards! All staff members who were nominated will receive a copy of their nomination regardless of whether or not they received the award. Award recipients will be recognized again at the annual staff end of year recognition program. Please enjoy these photos from the surprise announcements and THANK YOU to all who submitted nominations for the Teachers Make a Difference Awards !
On January 25, 2024, Mr. Scott McConnell resigned his seat from the Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 School Board, after serving in this capacity since 2012, including more than four years as Board President. The School Board accepted applications from candidates interested in filling the open Board seat and selected candidates to interview in a closed session.
The Board will announce the newly appointed Board member at the School Board Meeting on March 21, 2024. The newly appointed School Board member will serve on the School Board from the date of appointment until the first school board meeting after the canvas of the results of the April 1, 2025 consolidated election.
As summer approaches, it's time to start planning for your student's summer activities. District 95 will once again be offering a variety of programs for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, including our Extended School Year (ESY).
Summer Course Offerings
Please click here to access further information about the summer semester and the programs that will be offered. If you are having trouble viewing any of these resources or need translations, please contact Aubrey Allen at aubrey.allen@lz95.org or (847) 540-5489.
Summer Semester Registration
Summer Semester registration will open on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and run through Friday, May 17, 2024 for in-district families. Families who are not residents of District 95 will be able to register for a limited number of courses at the high school level from May 1, 2024 - May 17, 2024. Registration will be conducted exclusively through ParentVue, accessible via the district website (www.lz95.org) including for non-District 95 families.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that it is adopting the updated guidance from the CDC to simplify recommendations for dealing with COVID-19 - effective Friday, March 1st. We have since received confirmation from the Lake County Health Department (LCHD) that school districts are free to move forward adopting the same guidance.
Please see below for changes to guidance for students who test positive for COVID:
Students who test positive for COVID “can return to normal activities when symptoms have been improving for 24 hours,” per LCHD
If there was a fever present, students may return to school once their fever has been gone for 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication
This updated guidance removes the mandatory 5-day isolation period, and instead focuses on symptom monitoring - which means that a student may be able to return to school in fewer than 5 days, or may be out more than 5 days (depending on the severity of their symptoms)
Please continue to monitor your child for symptoms of illness, and communicate with the school health office if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to implementing this adjusted, more flexible guidance with respect to COVID cases.
Throughout these newsletters this school year, we have been introducing the Mission, Vision (Portrait of a Graduate), Values, Goals & Strategies, and Action Plans that are part of the new Empower95 Strategic Plan which represents the strategic initiatives of the district (beyond the regular daily work) for the next five years.
Thus far these articles and images have been used to explain each of the components of the plan and the strategic planning process. Now it is time to hear from some of those involved with the creation of this strategic plan. Over the next several months we will hear from some of the stakeholders involved with creating this plan. Click on the video below to hear from two of our Lake Zurich High School students, Lucas McMahon and Paige Kutsor, about their experience and impressions as members of the Empower95 strategic planning team!
A Day in the Class of Ms. Hedstrom, Sarah Adams
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 Instruction and Collaborative Learning (relating to the District 95 Instruction Learning Model).
What a privilege it was to visit Ms. Hedstrom’s kindergarten classroom at Sarah Adams Elementary School! The focus of the lesson I observed was on literacy skills, and I found myself utterly captivated by the enthusiasm and eagerness of our young learners! The students embarked on a journey of exploration, learning about the power of word patterns and rhyming words to create new words. It was truly inspiring to witness their engagement and excitement as they tackled each new challenge. The lesson kicked off with practice as a collective group where students gathered around the carpet area to collaborate and create words together. I was amazed by their creativity and determination, as they effortlessly identified patterns and experimented with word blends. One of the highlights for me was witnessing the students' enthusiasm for learning, as they clamored for more challenging and longer words, ready to test their skills. The energy in the room was simply infectious as the lesson progressed, with students transitioning into a partner activity, working hand-in-hand to identify and read words. This activity encouraged collaboration in partnerships, as students supported each other… my partner and I had a great time. You could not help but feel the room buzzing with excitement and a true love for learning and words. As the lesson reached its culmination, students were encouraged to write full sentences on the whiteboard, a task they tackled with confidence and pride.
Reflecting on the experience, I couldn't help but feel an immense sense of pride in our students and gratitude for Ms. Hedstrom who guided them to success. Today's lesson exemplified the power of dynamic instruction and collaborative learning, and I am honored to witness the remarkable progress our students are making. As we continue our journey of academic excellence, Ms. Hedstrom’s lesson reminded me of the invaluable role that collaboration and enthusiasm play in fostering a love for learning. I am immensely proud of our kindergarten students and look forward to witnessing their continued growth and success going forward!
Appreciation Days
Please join us in celebrating members of our staff with a 'thank you' or a kind email in honor of these recognition days!
March 4 Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day
- March 4-8 National School Social Workers Week
- April 1-5 National Assistant Principal Week
- April 3 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
- April 4 School Librarian Appreciation Day
- April 22-26 Public School Volunteer Week
- April 24 Administrative Professionals 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
Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95
Email: feedback@lz95.org
Website: www.lz95.org
Location: 832 S Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL, USA
Phone: 847-438-2831
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LZdistrict95
Twitter: @LZdistrict95