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  • District Administration Announcement

    “There’s nothing more powerful than a humble person with a servant’s heart and warrior spirit who is driven by a bigger purpose.” – Jon Gordon, Author, and Speaker December 8, 2023 Dear North Shore School District 112 Staff Members, Parents/Guardians, and Community Members, I am pleased to announce that, subject to Board approval, on December 12, Wayne Thomas School Principal Michael Rodrigo will be appointed Director of Personnel Services in District 112, effective July 1, 2024! Since joining our district in 2018, Michael has exemplified outstanding leadership, resilience, creativity, and a consistent vision. His successful tenure as principal at Wayne Thomas School marks the beginning of his impactful leadership journey within our district. He embodies the essence of a servant leader, driven by a purpose far more significant than himself, much like the sentiment expressed in the quote above. We are all aware of the intense challenges we face in our district, including hiring nearly 400 staff members since 2018, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on our students, managing extensive construction projects, and supporting our administrators, teachers, and staff amid a nationwide educator shortage. Michael’s unique skill set will complement our efforts to create environments supporting our students. Michael's appointment is critical in advancing our district's mission, vision, values, and goals. His expertise in fostering a results-oriented culture and developing others will be invaluable as we continue to inspire, innovate, and engage every community member. We are committed to retaining our excellent staff and enhancing support for their professional growth and our students' learning. As Superintendent, building a leadership team dedicated to student success is paramount. I am grateful to the Board of Education for their confidence in our vision for the future of District 112. I am confident our district's future is even brighter with Michael's promotion. Please join me in congratulating Michael on his new role! The selection process for the new principal of Wayne Thomas School will commence on December 13. For any questions or further discussion, please feel free to reach out. Sincerely, Mike Michael Lubelfeld, Ed.D. Superintendent   8 de Diciembre de 2023 Miembros del personal, padres/tutores y miembros de la comunidad del Distrito Escolar 112 de North Shore, Me complace anunciar que, sujeto a la aprobación de la Junta, el 12 de diciembre, el Director de la Escuela Wayne Thomas, Michael Rodrigo, será nombrado Director de Servicios de Personal en el Distrito 112, ¡efectivo el 1 de julio de 2024! Desde que se unió a nuestro distrito en 2018, Michael ha demostrado un liderazgo sobresaliente, resiliencia, creatividad y una visión constante. Su exitosa gestión como director en la Escuela Wayne Thomas marca el comienzo de su impactante trayectoria de liderazgo dentro de nuestro distrito. Él encarna la esencia de un líder servidor, impulsado por un propósito mucho más significativo que él mismo, muy parecido al sentimiento expresado en la cita anterior. Todos somos conscientes de los intensos desafíos que enfrentamos en nuestro distrito, incluyendo la contratación de casi 400 miembros del personal desde 2018, abordando el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en nuestros estudiantes, gestionando extensos proyectos de construcción y apoyando a nuestros administradores, maestros y personal en medio de una escasez nacional de educadores. El conjunto único de habilidades de Michael complementará nuestros esfuerzos para crear entornos que apoyen a nuestros estudiantes. El nombramiento de Michael es crítico para avanzar en la misión, visión, valores y objetivos de nuestro distrito. Su experiencia en fomentar una cultura orientada a resultados y en el desarrollo de otros será invaluable a medida que continuamos inspirando, innovando e involucrando a cada miembro de la comunidad. Estamos comprometidos a retener a nuestro excelente personal y a mejorar el apoyo para su crecimiento profesional y el aprendizaje de nuestros estudiantes. Como Superintendente, construir un equipo de liderazgo dedicado al éxito de los estudiantes es primordial. Estoy agradecido a la Junta de Educación por su confianza en nuestra visión para el futuro del Distrito 112. Estoy seguro de que el futuro de nuestro distrito es aún más brillante con la promoción de Michael. ¡Por favor, únase a mí para felicitar a Michael en su nuevo rol! El proceso de selección para el nuevo director de la Escuela Wayne Thomas comenzará el 13 de diciembre. Para cualquier pregunta o discusión adicional, no dude en ponerse en contacto. Atentamente, Mike Michael Lubelfeld, Ed.D. Superintendente

    Friday, Dec 08 2023

  • NSSD112 December Newsletter

    North Shore 112 Monthly December 2023 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Not displaying correctly? View in browser   In this newsletter... Important December dates Social and emotional learning (SEL) resources Safety and security update Board of Education news Curriculum Corner   12/05: BOE Policy Committee Meeting 12/12: BOE Finance Committee Meeting 12/12: BOE Regular Meeting 12/19: BOE Facilities Committee Meeeting 12/21: Early Release (All Schools) 12/22-1/5: Winter Break* *There is no school on Friday, December 22     Update from Director of Safety and Security Solvei Jurmu In our commitment to maintaining a secure and prepared learning environment, our district employs precise terminology to effectively communicate the gravity of emergency situations and guide the response of staff and students. Understanding these specific designations is crucial for ensuring a swift and appropriate reaction: SHELTER IN PLACE The objective is to provide refuge to students, staff and visitors in our school buildings during a severe weather event. Our students and staff practice this during a tornado/severe weather drill.  EVACUATION This may be necessary when it is safer outside of the building than inside. A couple of examples of this would be a high-level bomb threat or a structural issue with the school building, as well as a possible active threat within the building. Evacuation is part of the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuation) protocol that we teach and utilize. If students and staff are asked to evacuate the building and re-entry is highly unlikely, then they will proceed to a relocation site that has been selected for their building. All of the relocation sites are within walking distance and have recently been approved as an appropriate and safe site.  SECURE BUILDING This designation is primarily used in two situations: The conditions outside of the building could potentially present a threat to the safety of the students and staff. An example would be police activity on the street outside of the school. A situation inside the building where the school or local first responders need to keep students and staff inside their classrooms and away from an incident or activity. An example would be a student or staff member having a medical event in a hallway. LOCKDOWN This is part of our ALICE protocol (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuation). Students and staff would be directed to lockdown if there is an active threat inside the building and the option to evacuate is not available. Each term denotes a unique protocol designed to protect our students, staff and visitors under varying emergency scenarios. From severe weather to external threats or active dangers within our buildings, these protocols, integrated with our ALICE strategy, are essential in guiding swift and appropriate responses. Regular drills and continuous education ensure that everyone in our school community is prepared to act decisively and safely, ensuring the well-being of all during any emergency situation.     Event Information Next Regular Board of Education Meeting When? Tuesday, Dec 12, 2023, 07:00 PM Where? Northwood Middle School, North Avenue, Highland Park, IL, USA There will also be Policy Committee meeting on December 5 and a Finance Committee meeting on December 12, prior to the regular meeting. Meeting agendas can be found on our website . (Posted at least 48 hours prior to a meeting) Livestream feeds for regular meetings can also be found at nssd112.org .   What does the Board do? How do they operate? Can I attend meetings? Find the answers to the most  frequently asked questions  about our school board.   Board Highlights for November 14 Did you miss the November meeting? Catch up with this month's highlights! nssd112.org Ravinia Construction Bids Approved! At the November 14 meeting, the Board of Education approved bids for the Ravinia Elementary School modernization project. The district will hold a groundbreaking event this month, making Ravinia the second referendum-funded project to begin construction, following Indian Trail Elementary School.   In this section, you will find several events and programs for parents/guardians and students. You can also find more information about these and other social and emotional learning (SEL) resources on our website.         Throughout the year, our district is partnering with ParentGuidance.org and the Cook Center for Human Connection to deliver presentations developed by licensed therapists. These events are virtual, interactive and designed to help parents and guardians support students. Registration, attendance and interactions are kept completely anonymous from other viewers. Recordings of these events will be shared with out parent/guardian community, as well. The next event is on December 14. You can register by clicking the image below or by scanning the QR codes. If you have any questions about these events, please contact Dr. Holly Colin at hcolin@nssd112.org .   Check out recordings of past mental health webinar events... Supporting Your Child's Mental Health (Spanish) Supporting Your Child's Mental Health (Spanish) Bullying - Stop the Cycle (English) Bullying - Stop the Cycle (Spanish Subtitles) ABCs of Substance Abuse and Vaping (English) ABCs of Substance Abuse and Vaping (Spanish) School Avoidance (English) School Avoidance (Spanish Subtitles) Emotional Regulation: Recognizing What's Wrong (English) Emotional Regulation: Recognizing What's Wrong (Spanish)     ReferralGPS ReferralGPS is a web-based service focused on assisting our students, staff and community in finding local mental-health and substance use  related treatment. The service complements the district's existing  systems of support as a tool for student service teams and families to  connect with treatment. Along with a searchable database of treatment  options, ReferralGPS provides Care Navigation to assist  families in  triage, appointment setting, and follow up care. School families may access ReferralGPS in two ways: Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists,  counselors) to seek out treatment options. Visit this link at https://referralgps.com/find-help/NSSD112   to search for treatment resources or connect with a Care  Navigator anonymously.   Safe2Help Illinois The State of Illinois has developed a school safety program called Safe2Help Illinois in an effort to raise awareness of 21st-century threats facing schoolchildren in Illinois. It is available   24/7 and offers students a safe outlet to share information on school safety issues in a confidential environment . It can be accessed via  a free app, text/phone, and website ( Safe2HelpIllinois.com ).   Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) The purpose of the NSSD112 BPAC is to advocate for academic excellence in all programs serving English learners. BPAC strives to provide family support, communication and information regarding the district’s Dual Language and ESL programs. BPAC is a multilingual space where members can access information, voice priorities and take steps to strengthen our schools and community.   Upcoming BPAC Events: 02/20: Language First and Literacy Night 04/23: Multilingual Learner Month Celebrate All families are welcome to attend. An interpreter, childcare and food will be provided. Email bpac.d112@gmail.com for more information or to sign up for our mailing list. Learn more about BPAC on our website .   Community Anti-Drug (CTAD) It's the season of friendship and celebrations. While alcohol is often associated with holiday meals and New Year's Eve, there are ways to make it festive for those who can't or choose not to drink alcohol - like our young ones, as well as people who are pregnant, take certain medications, are driving or in recovery. Check out  CTAD 's December newsletter  for festive, fun drink (non-alcoholic) drink ideas as well as ways to support and guide your child if their friend uses drugs or drinks alcohol. CTAD December Newsletter (Spanish)     The renovation at Indian Trail Elementary School is making a lot of progress! The interior of the building has been completely gutted to make room for all of the changes. There's still a long way to go, but the project is on time and on budget. Soon enough, these spaces will be transformed into a modern, state-of-the-art learning environment!   Free On-Demand Virtual Tutoring District 112 partners with Paper , a company that offers virtual tutoring services to all of our students in grades 6 through 8, at no cost to families. Paper provides unlimited, 24/7 high-impact tutoring. Whether students are stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students via a secure, chat-based platform. Paper tutors have been specially trained to conduct expert, academic support with a commitment to helping students learn. They will never give students answers, but rather interact with them in an encouraging tone to lead them forward. All student-tutor interactions are recorded and accessible to teachers, and Paper provides data analytics that will provide District 112 educators with insight into learning gaps and give district administrators a better understanding of where support is needed. All tutors are Paper employees and not freelancers or sub-contractors. This is a free service that we’re providing, so students are encouraged to use it as much as they need, whenever they need it. Paper is now available as an app in your student's Clever Learning Management System . Our teachers also have accounts and will be able to review all student activity to see what they’re working on and provide more targeted instruction as needed. So far this year, there have been more than 100 tutoring sessions for NSSD112 students and 155 essay reviews. The most requested support topics are: Essay Writing Basic Arithmetic Spanish Language Arts Basic Algebra   Why choose us? Our staff works hard to create schools where students want to learn and teachers want to teach. High-quality materials and technology give our staff and students the tools needed to be innovative and highly engaged. As a member of District 112, you’ll be working to advance yourself as well as fulfill a long legacy of District 112 being the home of pioneering educators, dedicated staff, and innovative instructional practices. Visit  careers.nssd112.org to learn more!   Associate Principal at Northwood Middle School You'll play a pivotal role in shaping the educational experience at Northwood. This position involves assisting the principal in various administrative and leadership aspects of the school. You'll be instrumental in developing programs that encourage lifelong learning, maintaining a positive educational environment and ensuring effective school-community relations. Lear more or apply   Director of Operations, Facilities and Transportation We are actively seeking a qualified individual for the position of Director of Operations, Facilities, and Transportation, which will become available on July 1, 2024. Our current director plans to retire in December 2024, allowing for a transitional overlap of directors to facilitate a smooth handover. The responsibilities of this role involve overseeing the day-to-day operations of the school district, including managing facilities, contracted services, maintenance, security, construction, transportation, and more.  This position is particularly significant due to the recent success of a $114.4 million dollar referendum. Learn more or apply   Student Services Coordinator Play a crucial role in fostering a world-class education for 3,800 Pre-K to 8th-grade students. In this role, you'll assist and coordinate support services, ensuring the well-being and success of students across our seven elementary and two middle schools. This position is ideal for those with a passion for special education and student advocacy. Your commitment and expertise will contribute significantly to our long-range plans for educational innovation and excellence. Learn more or apply   Substitutes! Do you want to choose your own hours and make a difference in our students' lives? Consider becoming a guest teacher (substitute) for North Shore School District 112. Rates were recently increased to $150 a day for guest teachers. Please feel free to reach out to Patty Samuelian ( psamuelian@nssd112.org ) with any questions or  apply to be a guest teacher  today!   Check out all our open positions   It is hard to believe the Holiday Season is almost here! Join us for the 13th Annual  Day of Giving 2023  on  Saturday, December 9 . Let's keep the tradition alive, supporting 200+ families in Highland Park and Highwood. Day of Giving 2023  will be co-facilitated by Northwood Gives Back (NW), SaLT, D112 Parent-Teacher Organizations, along with support from the 112 Education Foundation and the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood.  The Day of Giving 2023 goal is to serve approximately 800 people in 200 families.  Each family will receive: 2 grocery bags of Food Items 1 grocery bag of Toiletries, Personal and Household Items 1 laundry basket filled with customized Winter Clothing Items and Toys Baby Items if appropriate Families and staff members can donate to  Day of Giving 2023  in the following ways: Contact your PTO Presidents to contribute to the item(s) your school selected. Sign up on the Day of Giving  list for  Food, Toiletries, Personal, and/or Household Items.   In addition,  Winter Clothing Items  or  Baby Items  may also be purchased from the Amazon Day of Giving Wishlist .  All donations purchased on the Amazon Wish List will be shipped to Northwood Middle School - 945 North Ave. Please make sure orders are in by December 7. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity and collaboration as we try to provide support for our local community this Holiday Season. Your Kindness matters! Please contact Jamie Cohn ( jcohn@nssd112.org ) with any questions or concerns and  THANK YOU  in advance for your support!   Throughout the year, we are highlighting some of our incredible teachers and staff in a series called Meet 112! In November, we learned about Ravinia kindergarten teacher Rebekah Hopkins.   If you are unable to view the video here, you can  find it on our Vimeo page .   Having an issue with your student's device? Need assistance with district software, such as Infinite Campus? Submit a support ticket and a member of our tech team will reach out as soon as possible.   Contact the NSSD112 Tech Department   Now that we're into cold and snow season, please be aware of our guidelines for emergency closings . The decision to close school or to change start or dismissal times because of inclement weather or other unanticipated emergencies will be based upon available information from local law enforcement agencies, weather forecast services, and neighboring school district administrators.  If school will be closed, every effort will be made to finalize the school closing decision by 5 a.m. of that school day. Roadway conditions and the possibility of dangerously unsafe temperatures are the main factors that drive the decision. In these situations, you will be notified via email, text and phone. A message will also be posted on our website at nssd112.org . ParentSquare is North Shore School District 112’s primary communication tool. It is used by the district office and schools to send emails, text messages and phone calls to parents/guardians, staff members and the community. Visit the ParentSquare page on our website to learn more or access your account.   iOS Mobile App Android Mobile App   Address: 445 Sheridan Road, Highwood, IL 60040 Phone: 224-765-3000 Website: nssd112.org Facebook:  facebook.com/nssd112 Instagram:  instagram.com/nssd112 Twitter:  @nssd112 If you have any questions about the newsletter, please contact Ben Finfer at bfinfer@nssd112.org   North Shore School District 112 www.nssd112.org North Shore School District 112 is a beacon of quality education for more than 3,500 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Serving Highland Park, Highwood and Fort Sheridan, the district encompasses nine standout schools, each committed to fostering academic growth and readiness for high school and beyond. NSSD112 is driven by core principles encapsulated in the motto: Inspire...Innovate...Engage!  

    Monday, Dec 04 2023

  • Last Day to Complete the Family Engagement Survey

    December 1, 2023 Dear North Shore 112 Parents and Guardians, Recently, your school shared a Family Engagement survey link with you. Thank you to those who have already completed the survey. If you have not completed it, today is the final opportunity to do so.  To find a link to the survey, please check your inbox for a recent email from your school or reach out to your principal . Your input is invaluable in helping our schools understand your perceptions and expectations. Please consider taking a few minutes to share your feedback. Thank you! North Shore School District 112 ---------- Estimados Padres y Tutores de North Shore 112, Recientemente, su escuela compartió con usted un enlace a la encuesta de participación familiar. Gracias a quienes ya completaron la encuesta. Si no lo has completado, hoy es la última oportunidad para hacerlo.  Para encontrar un enlace a la encuesta, revise su bandeja de entrada para ver si hay un correo electrónico reciente de su escuela o comuníquese con su director. Su opinión es invaluable para ayudar a nuestras escuelas a comprender sus percepciones y expectativas. Considere tomarse unos minutos para compartir sus comentarios. ¡Gracias! North Shore School District 1112

    Friday, Dec 01 2023