Superintendent News
Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95
February 2, 2024
Dear District 95 Families,
It is hard to believe that this week we experienced temperatures in the 50's while just a short time ago the snow and cold was so significant that we utilized two emergency days - January never ceases to amaze with it's volatility! As a result of the district's two emergency school cancellation days for severe weather in January, the tentative last day of school has been adjusted to Friday, May 24th, 2024. Please note, this is a tentative date in case there is a need for any additional emergency days. There are no changes to the high school graduation date or middle school promotion dates.
As we turn the calendar page to February, there are many exciting district and school events coming up in the next few weeks. From the ribbon cutting on the new District 95 Young Adult Center, to the District 95 Film Festival, to the Joanie's Closet Valentine's Dance, to the District 95 Educational Foundation Gala, to spring sports and musicals, there are so many opportunities for our students and families to engage across the district. Read more below about several of these events.
I am also thrilled to announce that we are now accepting nominations from parents/guardians and students for the district's Teachers Make a Difference Award! Please see the article below for more information - we look forward to reading these nominations and selecting a few winners to honor from our exceptional staff!
Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank Mr. Scott McConnell, who has served on the Board of Education for the past 12 years, most recently as president. Mr. McConnell stepped down from the Board as of January 25th; in accordance with Board policy, the vice president - Mr. Doug Goldberg - became president and the Board is currently accepting applications from candidates interested in filling the open Board seat. Please see the article below for more information about this important civic opportunity.
Dr. Kelley Gallt
Superintendent
Teachers Make a Difference Award
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. I hope each family will consider 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 midnight on February 19, 2024!
From the many nominations we anticipate receiving, a selection 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.
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 wishes to thank Mr. McConnell for his leadership and dedication to our students, staff, and community throughout his tenure.
The School Board is now accepting applications from candidates interested in filling the open Board seat. In accordance with School Board Policy 2:70, the vacancy will be filled following a public Board vote at a 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.
QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION PROCESS
The community member selected to serve on the School Board must meet the following qualifications (Policy 2:40):
- A United States Citizen
- At least 18-years old as of the date of appointment
- A resident of Illinois and District 95 for at least one year immediately preceding the appointment
- A registered voter
- Not a child sex offender
- Not hold an incompatible elected office or be employed in certain State or Federal government roles prohibited by Illinois Law
Qualified community members interested in filling this vacancy should submit an application consisting of a resume and a cover letter explaining their interest in serving on the District 95 School Board by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024.
Please send both the application and cover letter via email to the attention of:
Doug Goldberg
School Board President, Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95
The School Board will review all applications and select candidates to interview in a closed session in February and/or March. Updated information will be available on the District 95 website at www.lz95.org.
We are excited to share that, through a partnership with the Lake County Regional Office of Education, all students in District 95 will have access to on-demand virtual tutoring support through Varsity Tutors at no cost to families – as of January 2024. Varsity Tutors has a long-standing reputation for providing services to students and is positively regarded in this area.
- To learn more about Varsity Tutors services and platform, parents/guardians can click the link HERE (NOTE: District 95 students will have the 24/7 on-demand tutoring option available to them at no cost)
- Additional features available at no cost on the platform include on-demand writing sample review support and on-demand classes (self-paced for students) in a wide range of high-interest topics
More details were sent to families by building principals in mid-January. We look forward to being able to offer this support to our students!
District 95 Film Festival - DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FEB. 9TH
The District 95 Film Festival provides an opportunity for D95 students of all ages to create a film with the possibility of having it shown on the “big screen” at the LZHS Performing Arts Center! Students (solo or group projects accepted) should enter their original film for a chance to be featured in the 12th Annual District 95 Film Festival on Tuesday, February 20th. The submission deadline has been extended to Friday, February 9th. ⭐ Prizes will be awarded to winning films! For details, click here to visit the Film Festival webpage!
A Day in the Class of Ms. Joneikis, 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 Learning Environment (relating to the District 95 Instruction Learning Model).
What an exceptional visit to the first-grade classroom at Spencer Loomis Elementary School where Ms. Joneikis captivated her students. The learning session was focused on enhancing students' number sense, delving into the understanding of larger and smaller numbers, as well as effectively representing and explaining their thinking when determining "more than" and "less than." To set the stage, students were provided with warm-up and practice time, ensuring they were well-prepared for the lesson. It was heartening to witness the collaborative learning environment, with students working in partnerships to play a mathematics spinner game. During my time as a participant, my partner and I enjoyed several rounds of representing the numbers we spun with the manipulatives provided, and engaging in lively discussions about which number was larger and the reasoning behind our choices. The enthusiasm was infectious, and we had so much fun that we momentarily lost count of who had earned the majority of the larger numbers!
The class also participated in a whole-group activity, involving mac-n-cheese partner conversations related to solving word problems. Ms. Joneikis skillfully navigated between providing direct instruction and supporting small groups of students, ensuring a targeted approach that was responsive to individual learning needs.
The dedication and creativity demonstrated in this first-grade classroom are truly commendable. Ms. Joneikis’ commitment to creating a dynamic and responsive learning environment was evident throughout the entire visit. The energy and enthusiasm exhibited by both the teacher and students are indicative of the vibrant learning culture at Spencer Loomis School.
I look forward to witnessing more inspiring moments in my classroom visits, and seeing firsthand how our staff foster a daily love for learning and excellence across our district.
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