01-25-24
January 25, 2024

From the Superintendent's Desk
Welcome to the first issue of our district newsletter for parents and guardians, District 128 News. While the LHS and VHHS PawPrints newsletters focus on news specific to each school, this new communication tool will provide districtwide news to parents at LHS, VHHS and Transition Pathways.
Shift from Emergency Days to e-Learning Days
D128 developed the 2023-24 school year calendar with two emergency days built into the schedule. Since we have used both of those emergency days this month, we will utilize e-learning days instead of emergency days going forward. The e-learning program was approved by the Board of Education on May 23, 2022, for the 2022-23 school year through the 2024-25 school year. Complete details of the e-learning school day may be found at this link. Please take time to familiarize or reacquaint yourself with the details of the program in the event we need to implement the program during the remainder of this school year.
Summary of student expectations:
Students will receive an email providing the attendance form no later than 8:00 a.m.
Students are expected to complete the attendance verification form by 4:00 p.m. on the e-learning day. If circumstances prevent this, individuals will discuss the matter with school officials upon their return to school.
Students may complete class activities during the teacher contact window (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) to receive teacher support or at a time of their choosing when support may not be available.
Students with special needs will receive their directions for confirming attendance, accessing instructional activities, and completing their e-learning activities similarly to their peers in all of their classes. Any student requiring a modified format for completing attendance procedures or completing e-learning activities will make the arrangements with their case manager and they will be communicated to their teachers.
Board of Education News
- Last month, the D128 Board of Education approved a community engagement initiative. The goal of this program is to help develop a long-range facility improvement plan for our District that is rooted in community involvement and feedback. The process will kick off in February with the formation of our facilitation team. We look forward to sharing future opportunities for our community to engage in the process.
- At its January committee meetings, the Board welcomed Director of Equity and Inclusion Larry Varn who shared an update on the D128 Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. Visit this link to view the presentation to the Board, and visit this link to read the complete Jan.16 D128 Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Report
- The January Board of Education Meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the VHHS Library. As always you are welcome to join us in person or watch the live stream of the meeting. Complete details of the meeting, including the agenda, related items and a link to the live stream will be sent to parents on Friday, Jan. 26.
Student News
D128 Students Named All-State Musicians
Congratulations to the VHHS and LHS students selected for the Illinois Music Educators All-State Ensembles:
Below at left from VHHS:
(Front Row) Tyler Park - Bass Clarinet, Anaya Bindal - Alto, Eugene Kim - Clarinet
(Middle Row) Kaylee Kim - Violin, Seungyun Yang - Clarinet
(Back Row) Benjamin Frayman - Tenor, Caleb Gumminger - Cello, Eli Andersen - Bass
Below at right from LHS:
Aditi Nair Bass Trombone Orchestra
Dakota Olson Flute Band
Margo McGormley Trombone Band
Owen Gohr String Bass Orchestra
Students will rehearse and perform with a guest conductor with students from across the state Jan. 24-27 in Peoria. For high school musicians, being selected to the IMEC State Festival is the highest individual honor they can receive.
D128 Special Olympians Compete in Area Snowshoe Tournament
D128 Special Olympics started 2024 with the Area Snowshoe Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 6 at Hoffman Estates High School. Athletes, Rishi Arun, John Doherty, Matthew Elman, Elizabeth Karston, Hanna Krietsch, Chase Miller, Abigail Nowacki, McKenzie Ruhnke and Max Zinder competed in the 50m,100m and 200m races, with every athlete turning in outstanding efforts and achieving their personal bests in the races.
Congrats to McKenzie, Abi and Rishi (pictured below) for winning their races, taking home the Gold, and qualifying for the State Winter Games In Galena Feb. 6 - 8.
D128 results from the event:
Abigail Nowacki - Gold 100m, Gold 50m
McKenzie Ruhnke - Gold 200m, Silver 100m
Rishi Arun - Gold 50m, Silver 100m
Libby Karston - 5th in both the 50m and 100m
Hanna Krietsch- Silver 50m, Bronze 100m
Max Zinder -4th 50m, 5th 100m
Chase Miller - Silver in both the 100m and 200m
John Doherty - 4th in both the 50m and 100m
Matthew Elman - Silver 50m, 5th 100m
Transition Pathways Student-Run Micro-businesses
Transition Pathways offers services to eligible young adults aged 18-22. Participants engage in a variety of learning activities focused on independent living, social-emotional development, communication, self-advocacy, self-determination, and workplace readiness. Extended transition services also tailor career exploration to students' individual strengths, preferences, and interests.
Through community-based instruction, students enhance their independence and problem-solving abilities in diverse community settings. Transition Pathways further collaborates with local businesses to provide young adults with real-world vocational experiences, fostering the acquisition and improvement of skills necessary for future employment.
Transition Pathways also hosts student-driven micro-businesses under the label “Kool Cats Creations,” cultivating employability skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, entrepreneurship, strategic planning, effective communication, decision-making, global market awareness, application of academic knowledge, motivation for learning new skills, expression of individual creativity, time management, financial literacy, marketing awareness, and networking abilities. Kool Cats Creations is currently selling student-designed and made apparel on the CHSD 128 Web Store.
Visit this link to buy items from our student-operated micro-businesses, or access our link on the D128 Web Store.
Thank you for your support!
Parent Programs
D128 Hosts Free Virtual Parent Event: Raising a Drug Free Teen
All D128 parents/guardians are invited to attend Raising a Drug-Free Teen on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. The virtual program is free. The program is an operating manual for perplexed parents and will explore when, why, and how to discuss the difficult subject of substance use.
Foundation for Learning
Free Parent Social at Slyce Pizza Jan. 25 with LHS & VHHS Principals!
The D128 Foundation for Learning is hosting a free social for D128 Parents and 8th grade parents on Jan. 25 from 4:00-6:00p.m. at Slyce Pizza, 913 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. Meet other parents, have some pizza and chat with our Principals!
D128 Foundation for Learning Hosts 5th Annual Weekend of Giving
The D128 Foundation for Learning will hold its 5th Annual 1-28 Weekend of Giving campaign Jan. 26-29, 2024. All funds will go towards fostering innovation in our classrooms and assisting students in need.
Since 2007, the Foundation has awarded 192 grants with a total funding for grants and projects of $434,125. The Students In Need fund, created in 2014, has provided $119,816 to VHHS and LHS students who are in difficult financial circumstances meet their basic needs in order to be able to focus on learning.
The fundraiser will feature Facebook posts highlighting the Foundation’s recent DARING Innovation Grants, the Students in Need program, Alumni Achievement Award recipients, and more! The Foundation also hopes to boost its social media during the campaign. We hope that you will consider supporting the event by sharing the Foundation’s social media posts with your friends on Facebook. Not following the Foundation yet? Please consider liking us on Facebook by visiting this link to stay informed about the amazing work done by the Foundation.
Please help the Foundation reach its fundraising goal of . . . you guessed it . . . $12,800! Thank you for your support of our mission--to enhance and enrich learning opportunities for students in D128! Watch for the campaign posts to begin Friday morning, Jan. 26.
Visit this link to donate now.
For more information about the Foundation and its impact, visit our website.