🔄 Our Portrait of a Graduate April Focus: Growing St...

  April 4, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, I hope you and your children are finding your rhythm again as we return from spring break. Breaks in routine can be both refreshing and challenging—for students and families alike. That’s why this is the perfect time to focus on one of our Portrait of a Graduate skills: Adaptability. Our Portrait of a Graduate identifies five core skills—Collaborative, Critical Thinker, Resilient, Empathetic, and Adaptable—that are intentionally taught, modeled, and celebrated throughout our schools. These life-ready skills help students grow into confident learners who can thrive in an ever-changing world. This April, we’re highlighting Adaptability—the ability to adjust to change, remain open-minded, and stay flexible when faced with new or unexpected situations.   April Focus: Adaptable This month, we’re focusing on Adaptability—an essential skill that empowers students to navigate change, stay open to new ideas, and adjust when faced with the unexpected. We kicked off our April focus with Disability Awareness Week, celebrating the many ways adaptability helps us grow as individuals and as a community. Being adaptable means: Demonstrating Flexibility: Being willing to change plans or try new approaches. Exhibiting Open-Mindedness: Listening to others’ ideas and being open to different perspectives. Reflecting on Adaptability: Thinking about times when adjusting helped us learn or succeed. Throughout April, teachers will incorporate lessons, activities, and conversations about adaptability into their classrooms. Students will have opportunities to reflect on how they respond to change, celebrate moments of flexibility, and explore how being open-minded supports their growth. We invite families to join us in reinforcing adaptability at home. Here are a few simple ways to support your child: Encourage flexibility: Talk about times when plans changed and how your family adapted. Model open-mindedness: Show how you consider different points of view and try new things. Reflect on change together: Ask your child, What was something unexpected that happened today? How did you handle it?   This Year's Framework Each month from December through April, staff have engaged students in discussions, activities, and lessons related to a featured Portrait of a Graduate skill, while also noticing and celebrating moments when students demonstrated it. Families also received updates, including ideas for how you can reinforce these skills at home. Here’s the schedule for this year’s focus months: December: Empathetic January: Collaborative February: Resilient March: Critical Thinker April: Adaptable During parent-teacher conferences, families should have received a Portrait of a Graduate magnet. This magnet serves as a helpful reminder of the essential skills we are focusing on—Empathetic, Collaborative, Resilient, Adaptable, and Critical Thinker—and helps bridge the connection between school and home. If you haven’t already, be sure to display your Portrait of a Graduate magnet as a reminder of the skills we are cultivating together. If you need one, please contact the front office at your child’s school.   District 57 is proud to partner with families in helping our students build the skills they need to thrive—both in school and beyond. Adaptability is a lifelong skill that empowers students to face change with confidence, curiosity, and an open mind. Let’s recognize and celebrate moments of flexibility, growth, and open-mindedness together this month. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Warm regards, Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57

Friday, Apr 04 2025

📢 Superintendent's Message: Board Meeting Recap & Ke...

  March 21, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, Thank you for taking the time to read this update! There’s a lot happening across our district, and I’m excited to share some key highlights with you. From celebrating student leadership and academic achievements to important updates on curriculum enhancements, this message covers several topics that directly impact our students, staff, and families. One of the most exciting moments recently was at last night’s Board of Education meeting where we welcomed our Student Board Members to the table for the first time. Their insights and enthusiasm for making a difference in our schools were truly inspiring. Read on to learn about their latest initiatives, along with important district updates—including how you can help us reach our goal for the 5Essentials Parent Survey! Thank you to those who joined us for last night’s Board of Education meeting. If you missed it, you can watch the full meeting at this link: [Board of Education Meeting Link].   🏫 Student Leadership at the Board Meeting Our Student Board Members shared their latest efforts to enhance the student experience at Lincoln Middle School, including: 🌍 A Cultural Fair—highlighting underrepresented cultures in the middle school community. 🏗️ New Lincoln Middle School feedback—providing student input on the new Lincoln Middle School design. Their dedication to shaping a stronger, more inclusive school environment is commendable—we are so proud of their leadership! 📺 To watch this segment of the Board meeting, click here: [Meeting Link]   🗳️ Election Day & School Security Election Day is coming up on Monday, April 1, and three of our schools—Lincoln Middle School, Lions Park School, and Westbrook School—will be used as polling places. While school will be in session, access to these schools will be limited to one entryway and a designated polling area. Voters will not be allowed outside these areas, ensuring the safety of our students and staff. To enhance security, we are partnering with the Mount Prospect Police Department and Bluestar Security to have both current and retired police officers on-site at each polling location throughout the school day. As always, the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority.   🤖 Celebrating Lincoln Middle School’s LEGO Robotics Teams! At last night’s Board Meeting, we proudly recognized the incredible achievements of our Lincoln Middle School LEGO Robotics Teams. Both teams competed at the State competition in February, showcasing their dedication, teamwork, and innovation. 🏆 Team 493 won the Breakthrough Award at State for overcoming an obstacle during their season. Congratulations to team members: Bryan B., Henry F., Zakk B., Wally K., Grant H., Jonny S., Marko K., Minh N., and Henry T. 🌍 Team 492 won Second Place in Core Values and finished 9th overall at State, qualifying them for the World Invitational! Congratulations to team members: Brennan G., Tudor O., Bennet G., Colton B., Delaney J., Joshua S., Layah I., Lev O., Thomas R., and Zach Y. These students and their dedicated coaches have demonstrated outstanding creativity, perseverance, and teamwork. Congratulations to all! 🎉 📺 To watch this segment of the Board meeting, click here: [Meeting Link]   📚 Professional Development Plan Update At the Board meeting, Aaron Wilkins, Assistant Director for Professional Learning, highlighted recent initiatives focused on improving instruction and supporting educators in our district: ✅ Professional Development: Training has focused on building strong school communities and fostering culturally inclusive spaces, with collaboration from District 214. ✅ Reading Curriculum: We’ve launched HMH Into Reading (K-5) and Savvas My Perspectives (6-8), with monthly team meetings to ensure effective implementation. Lincoln Middle School has expanded this to include math, science, and social studies. ✅ Instructional & Technology Coaches: These specialists guide educators and help develop resources for effective teaching practices. 📺 To watch this segment of the Board meeting, click here: [Meeting Link] 📄 To view the presentation slides, click here: [Presentation Link]   🌟 Climate & Culture Update – Staff Survey Results At last night’s Board of Education meeting, we shared the results of the District 57 Staff Climate Survey, conducted as part of our ongoing commitment to Staff Growth & Support (Strategic Plan Goal #2). 📋 Survey Overview In Fall 2024, District 57 collaborated with MPEA and MPESPA leadership to develop the survey, partnering with School Perceptions to ensure a reliable and comprehensive analysis. School leaders & staff will analyze results to identify areas for celebration and improvement. Each school will create a school improvement plan goal focused on climate & culture. District leadership & union representatives will continue meeting regularly to enhance staff support structures. 📺 To watch this segment of the Board meeting, click here: [Meeting Link] 📄 For a deeper dive into the results, view the full presentation here: Staff Survey Results.   📊 District 214 Data Sharing Update At last night’s Board of Education meeting, we provided an update on our ongoing data partnership with District 214, which offers valuable insights into the college and career readiness of District 57 alumni. 🔍 Key Highlights Expanded Data Access: In addition to receiving end-of-high school outcomes, District 57 now has access to end-of-9th-grade data, helping us better track student progress after leaving our schools. D57 Student Performance: Our alumni consistently outperform District 214 averages in key success indicators, including attendance, grade-level on-track status, GPA, student connectedness, and co-curricular participation. Strengthened Data Systems: We have refined how we track GPA, attendance, and extracurricular participation at the middle school level to align with D214’s data. 📌 Why This Matters By comparing D57 middle school data with D214 high school outcomes, we can: ✅ Identify trends that link middle school performance to 9th-grade success. ✅ Assess program effectiveness in preparing students for high school. ✅ Pinpoint areas for additional student support before the high school transition. ✅ Implement targeted interventions to improve long-term outcomes. 📈 Moving Forward Continued collaboration with D214 to track alumni progress. Deeper data analysis to refine programs and student support systems. Strategic adjustments to ensure students are well-prepared for high school and beyond. 📺 To watch this segment of the Board meeting, click here: [Meeting Link] 📄 Full Memo: District 214 Data Update   🏗️ Building Brighter Futures Update On March 10, we hosted a Community Construction Update to share the progress of the Building Brighter Futures projects following the voter-approved referendum in November 2024. We had a fantastic turnout, and we appreciate everyone who joined us! This meeting focused on the new Lincoln Middle School, where we shared site plans and proposed floor plans, giving the community a glimpse into the exciting future of the school. 📺 To watch this segment of the Board meeting, click here: [Meeting Link] 📄 View the full presentation here: Lincoln Middle School Update   📊 5Essentials: We’re Almost There! See Your School’s Progress Thank you to all who have taken the time to complete the 5Essentials Parent Survey. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of our schools. Each school needs at least 20% parent participation for results to be included in the Illinois State Report Card. Here’s where we currently stand: Westbrook School for Young Learners: 14% Fairview Elementary School: 19% Lions Park Elementary School: 19% Lincoln Middle School: 33% We are so close to reaching our goal, and we need your help! The survey is quick and easy to complete and provides valuable insights to help enhance teaching, learning, and community connections for your child. 🔗 [Click here to access the 5Essentials Parent Survey] Once you arrive at the page, select the “Parent Survey” option. The deadline to complete the survey is March 31, 2025. Your voice matters—let’s work together to ensure every school reaches its goal!   Thank you for your continued support, and have a wonderful Spring Break! 🌸☀️ Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57

Friday, Mar 21 2025

📊 Superintendent Message: Surveys, Construction Upda...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ March 14, 2025 ​ Dear District 57 Families, I hope you're enjoying the warming weather and looking forward to the upcoming spring break. It’s hard to believe we have less than three months left in the school year! Thank you for taking the time to read this update and stay informed about all that’s happening in District 57. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 📢 Community Construction Update Recap ​ A huge thank you to everyone who attended Monday’s Community Construction Update! The event showcased the significant progress we've made on our Building Brighter Futures projects since the voter-approved referendum passed in November. You can view the presentation - which includes a site plan for Lincoln Middle School - and stay updated on our Lincoln and Westbrook School for Young Learners construction projects by visiting d57.news/BuildingBrighterFutures. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 📚 Literacy Survey – We Still Need Your Input! ​ When our district set out to find new reading resources for students in kindergarten through 8th grade, we asked for your thoughts and questions about literacy instruction. Your feedback helped shape our literacy belief statements and guided our reading program selections. Now, as we reach the halfway point of our first year using these new resources, we’d love to hear from you again! Your input will help us continue supporting strong literacy development for all students. So far, we’ve only received 20 responses—we’d love to hear from more of you! Please take a moment to complete this brief survey and let us know which literacy topics matter most to you and how you’d like to engage in learning about them. [Survey Link] ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 📅 Save the Date: District 57 Retirement Celebration! ​ All District 57 community members are invited to join us in celebrating the incredible careers of three of our retiring staff members: Ed Brztowski Trina Courtney Shari Lambert April 17, 2025 | 5:45-6:45 PM Fairview Elementary School 300 N. Fairview Ave., Multipurpose Room Light refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 📊 Reminder: Complete the 5Essentials Survey ​ We need your help! The annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey is open through March 28, 2025. In order for parent responses to be reported on the Illinois School Report Card, we must reach a 20% participation rate. Here’s where we currently stand: Fairview Elementary School: 14% Lincoln Middle School: 12% Lions Park Elementary School: 13% Westbrook Early Learning Center: 11% Your feedback is essential in guiding school improvement efforts. If you haven’t done so yet, fill out the Parent Survey today! [Survey Link] ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you for your continued support and engagement with District 57! Warmly, Mary Gorr ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Friday, Mar 14 2025

📢 Superintendent’s Message: March Focus on Critical ...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ March 4, 2025 ​ Dear District 57 Families, March brings new opportunities for growth and learning in our schools, and we have several important updates to share with you. Below you'll find information that will focus on this month’s Portrait of a Graduate skill, an invitation to a March 10 Construction Update for our Building Brighter Futures project, and a reminder to complete the 5Essentials Survey to share your valuable feedback. As always, thank you for taking the time to stay involved in your child's education. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March Focus: Critical Thinker ​ Our Portrait of a Graduate identifies five core skills: Collaborative, Critical Thinker, Resilient, Empathetic, and Adaptable. These skills are taught, modeled, and celebrated across our schools to help students develop the habits and mindsets they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. This month, we are excited to highlight another key Portrait of a Graduate characteristic: Critical Thinker. Being a Critical Thinker means: Leveraging inquiry and questioning skills Demonstrating problem-solving abilities Exhibiting curiosity and lifelong learning Making thoughtful decisions and taking responsible action Reflecting on critical thinking Throughout March, students and staff will engage in activities that encourage critical thinking in various ways, such as discussions, problem-solving challenges, and recognizing moments when students demonstrate these skills. Staff members will be actively noticing and naming critical thinking in action, reinforcing its importance in everyday learning. At home, you can support this skill by asking open-ended questions, encouraging curiosity, and discussing how to approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. Thank you for your partnership in helping our students develop the habits and mindsets they need to succeed! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ YOU'RE INVITED! Building Brighter Futures Construction Update ​ Get the latest on our progress! Join us for a Construction Update where you’ll get a first look at the preliminary Lincoln Middle School site plan, hear from District 57 leadership, and have the chance to ask questions. When & Where: Monday, March 10 5:30–6:30 PM Lincoln Middle School – Busse Gym (Door 8) 700 W. Lincoln St. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and engaged! See you there! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 📊 Reminder: Complete the 5Essentials Survey ​ Don’t forget to complete the annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey! The survey window for the 2024-2025 school year runs from February 18, 2025, through March 28, 2025. Your feedback is essential in guiding school improvement efforts. If you haven’t done so yet, check your email for a message from District 57 and take a few minutes to share your input. We value your voice! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you for staying informed and engaged. Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead! Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Wednesday, Mar 05 2025

Important Update: PowerSchool Data Security Incident

  Dear District 57 Families, We are reaching out today because PowerSchool  is starting  to send direct notifications to affected individuals of its December 2024 data security incident, including details on the information compromised and the support available.  If you or your child were impacted, you may have already received a communication from PowerSchool outlining the next steps. This is part of the previously communicated incident, which was shared with families on  January 7, 2025 . PowerSchool has since been working with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to investigate and mitigate the situation. Summary of the Breach: PowerSchool has assured us that the following information was downloaded, but not shared: Compromised Data:  Student and family contact information, limited medical alert information (e.g., allergies, life-threatening conditions), doctor name and phone number, date of birth, enrollment dates, Free and Reduced Lunch status, and staff school email addresses and ID numbers. Not Compromised:  Financial information, student and staff photos, and user credentials. As a precaution, PowerSchool is offering  two years of complimentary identity protection services  for impacted students and educators, which include: Credit monitoring for affected adults Identity protection services for affected minors Fraud alerts, dark web monitoring, and identity restoration support If you have received an email from PowerSchool, we encourage you to follow the instructions for enrolling in these services. Although this breach occurred within PowerSchool’s systems, District 57 continues to take cybersecurity seriously by: Working closely with PowerSchool and cybersecurity experts to stay informed Monitoring our internal network security Maintaining multi-factor authentication for employee accounts We understand that data security is a serious concern, and we are committed to keeping you informed as we learn more. If you have any questions or concerns about this notice, please call Power School at 1-833-918-9464, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am through 8:00 pm Central Time (excluding major US holidays). Thank you for your patience with this matter.

Wednesday, Feb 26 2025

📢 Superintendent Message: BOE Highlights Recap, Stud...

​​ ​​​​ ​​​​ February 21, 2025 ​ Dear District 57 Families, Our schools and classrooms are thriving, filled with energy, collaboration, and a strong sense of community as we move well into the second half of the school year. It is truly an honor to partner with you in creating such a dynamic and supportive learning environment for our students. Thank you for taking the time to stay informed about important updates in our district. Below is a recap of last night’s Board of Education meeting, which you can view in its entirety [here]. ​​​​ ​​​​ ​​​​ 🌟 Introducing Our New Student Board Members! ​ At last night’s Board of Education meeting, we had the honor of welcoming four outstanding Student Board Members: Michelle G., Alex M., Josh S., and Zoe S. These students were selected from a strong pool of 19 applicants, all of whom demonstrated incredible courage and dedication in applying for this role. We are incredibly proud of all the applicants and thrilled to have our four new Student Board Members represent their peers at our Board meetings. Our new Student Board Members will serve as a bridge between their classmates and district leadership and the Board of Education, helping us better understand student needs and experiences. You can watch their introductions [here]. ​​​​ ​​​​ 🏅 Lions Park Teacher Diane Rush Receives Prestigious ISBE Award! ​ We are thrilled to congratulate Diane Rush, a third-grade teacher at Lions Park Elementary School, for being awarded the prestigious Those Who Excel - Award of Excellence by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)! This honor recognizes Diane's exceptional commitment to fostering an inclusive, engaging, and supportive learning environment for her students. Diane’s passion for teaching, along with her unwavering dedication to our community, truly embodies the values we hold dear in District 57. Please join us in congratulating Diane on this well-deserved recognition! ​​​​ ​​​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ 🏢 Building Brighter Futures Update ​ Our Building Brighter Futures initiative continues to make progress! Last night, we shared updates on efforts at Westbrook School for Young Learners, including: ✔️ Design input surveys sent to students, staff, families, and community members. ✔️ Surveys conducted with Westbrook’s local neighbors to gather feedback. ✔️ Kindergarten Learning Spaces tours in Glenview School District 34 and Park Ridge School District 64. ✔️ Principal Advisory Committee students brainstorming creative ideas for the new addition—including both practical suggestions (elevators, lunchroom spaces) and fun ideas (chocolate waterfall, sushi bar!). Next steps include refining Lincoln Middle School’s design plans, hosting a community open house this spring, and continuing the Village approval process. You can watch the full Building Brighter Futures update [here] and view the presentation file [here]. ​​ ​​​ ​​​​ 🏀 Recognizing Our 8th Grade Boys Basketball Team ​ At our last Board meeting, we celebrated all of Lincoln Middle School’s basketball teams for an incredible season. However, the 8th grade boys team was unable to attend that evening due to a prior commitment, so we honored them at last night’s meeting. A huge congratulations to the 8th grade boys basketball team and their head coach, Carolyn Crost! This team finished 1st place in their conference and earned 3rd place in their end-of-year tournament. Their hard work, sportsmanship, and dedication throughout the season were truly commendable. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments! ​​​​ ​​​​ ​​​​ 🏫 Spotlight on Lincoln Middle School’s 5 Star Program ​ Principal Eric Larson shared an update on Lincoln Middle School’s 5 Star Program, an incentive-based initiative aimed at fostering a positive school community and school pride. Through this program, students earn Lincoln Bucks for demonstrating positive behavior and can use them in the 5 Star Store to purchase Lincoln swag. Check out this short video to learn more about the 5 Star Program: Watch here. ​​ ​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ 📊 Stay Tuned: 5Essentials Survey Coming Monday! ​ On Monday, you’ll receive an email from District 57 about the annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey, an important opportunity for parents to share feedback about their child’s school. Your input helps guide school improvement efforts, and we value your voice. Be on the lookout for this email and take a few minutes to complete the survey! ​​ ​​​ ​​​​ Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57 ​​​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​​ ​

Friday, Feb 21 2025

💌 Superintendent's Message: Literacy Survey, Library...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ February 14, 2025 ​ Dear District 57 Families, Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you for reading this message and staying informed about district news. Our schools were filled with joy today as students celebrated Valentine’s Day with classroom parties and special events. I hope your family felt the love and excitement! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 📚 Literacy Survey 📚 ​ When our district set out to find new reading resources for students in kindergarten through 8th grade, we asked for your thoughts and questions about literacy instruction. Your input helped shape our literacy belief statements and guided our selection of reading programs. Now, as we reach the halfway point of our first year using these new resources, we want to hear from you again! Your feedback is essential as we continue to support strong literacy development for all students. Please take a few moments to complete this brief survey and let us know which literacy topics matter most to you—and how you’d like to engage in learning about them. [Survey Link] ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 🇺🇸 Presidents' Day Reminder 🇺🇸 ​ Please remember that Monday, February 17 is a non-attendance day in observance of Presidents' Day. We look forward to welcoming all students back on Tuesday, February 18. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 📖 Mount Prospect Public Library Partnership 📖 ​ We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Mount Prospect Public Library to celebrate our Portrait of a Graduate skills. Families are encouraged to visit the youth section of the library to see the Resilience display. Your child will likely recognize our Portrait of a Graduate graphics, and this community-school connection is an exciting opportunity for them. Celebrate this connection by checking out one of the wonderful books on display that highlight resilience and growth. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ I want to thank you for your understanding regarding the decision to close schools on Wednesday due to the snow forecast. I understand any frustration that was felt when the expected snow did not materialize, and school could have continued as scheduled. The decision to close school is never easy and hinges on the best available weather information at the time and alignment with neighboring districts. While it may have felt like an overreaction in hindsight, the priority is always the safety of our students and staff. I appreciate your patience and understanding. Stay warm during these chilly February days, and thank you for being an integral part of our district community! Warm regards, Mary Gorr ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Friday, Feb 14 2025

🔄 Our Portrait of a Graduate February Focus: Buildi...

​​ ​​​​ ​​​​ February 7, 2025 ​ Dear District 57 Families, As we move well into the second half of the school year, our students continue to grow, learn, and build important life skills. This time of year presents valuable opportunities for reflection, perseverance, and progress—making it the perfect moment to highlight another essential Portrait of a Graduate skill. Our Portrait of a Graduate identifies five core skills: Collaborative, Critical Thinker, Resilient, Empathetic, and Adaptable. These skills are taught, modeled, and celebrated across our schools to help students develop the habits and mindsets they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. This February, we are focusing on the skill of Resilience. ​​​​ ​​​​ ​​​ ​​ February Focus: Resilience ​ This month, we’re focusing on Resilience, a crucial skill that helps students navigate challenges, overcome setbacks, and continue growing. Being resilient means: Demonstrating a Growth Mindset: Embracing challenges as opportunities to learn. Exhibiting Perseverance: Sticking with a task even when it’s difficult. Utilizing Coping Strategies: Managing emotions and stress in healthy ways. Reflecting on Resiliency: Thinking about past challenges and how they were overcome. Throughout February, teachers will incorporate lessons, activities, and discussions about resilience into their classrooms. Students will have opportunities to reflect on their ability to bounce back from challenges, celebrate moments of perseverance, and learn strategies for handling obstacles with confidence. We invite families to join us in reinforcing resilience at home. Here are a few ways to support your child: Encourage a growth mindset: Praise effort and persistence rather than just outcomes. Share personal stories: Talk about a time you faced a challenge and how you overcame it. Reflect on challenges together: Ask your child, What was something difficult you faced today? How did you handle it? ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ This Year's Framework ​ Each month from December through April, staff will engage students in discussions, activities, and lessons related to a featured Portrait of a Graduate skill, while also noticing and celebrating moments when students demonstrate it. Families will also receive updates, including ideas for how you can reinforce these skills at home. Here’s the schedule for this year’s focus months: December: Empathetic January: Collaborative February: Resilient March: Critical Thinker April: Adaptable During parent-teacher conferences, families should have received a Portrait of a Graduate magnet. This magnet serves as a helpful reminder of the essential skills we are focusing on—Empathetic, Collaborative, Resilient, Adaptable, and Critical Thinker—and helps bridge the connection between school and home. If you haven’t already, be sure to display your Portrait of a Graduate magnet as a reminder of the skills we are cultivating together. If you need one, please contact the front office at your child’s school. ​​ ​​​ ​​​​ District 57 is proud to partner with families in preparing our students to contribute positively to their communities. Resilience is a skill that will serve our students well in school and in life. Let’s celebrate it together this month! Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Warm regards, Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57 ​​​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​​ ​

Friday, Feb 07 2025

🌟 Board Meeting Recap + Long Weekend Ahead + Celebra...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ January 17, 2025 ​ Dear District 57 Families, As we head into a three-day weekend, I want to thank you for being such an important part of your child’s education and for staying connected with everything happening in our schools. Your support truly makes a difference! Below, you’ll find highlights from last night’s Board of Education meeting and a note about celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 🏗️ Building Brighter Futures Update ​ Dr. Jason Kaiz, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, shared an update on the progress made this past month as part of the Building Brighter Futures initiative. Focus groups for the new Lincoln Middle School were recently completed, providing valuable insights and direction from area experts to guide the design phase of building a new Lincoln Middle School. Additionally, the steering committee visited recently constructed middle schools to draw inspiration and gather ideas for this exciting project. Looking ahead, efforts are shifting to the planned expansion at Westbrook School for Young Learners. Phase 1 will include staff, parent, student, and community surveys, focus groups with teachers and students, visits to other kindergarten centers, and the formation of a steering committee to guide the process. We remain deeply grateful to our community for supporting these transformative projects. The progress we’re making reflects your investment in the future of our students, and we’re excited to see these plans come to life! You can view last night's presentation here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 💵 Financial Projections: Citizens Finance Advisory Committee Update ​ Dr. Jason Kaiz, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, and Citizens Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC) member Fred Shaffer presented the financial projections and updates for the 2024-2025 mid-year budget at last night’s Board meeting. These projections are a critical tool to help the district make informed decisions in the years ahead. The mid-year review showed that the district is on track to remain on budget, thanks to careful fiscal stewardship and strategic planning. Highlights included: Maintaining balanced budgets through thoughtful financial management. Preparing for future facility needs. Revenue projections based on local, state, and federal funding sources. We are incredibly grateful to the members of the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee for their dedication to our schools. These volunteers give so much of their time and talent, offering thoughtful and selfless contributions that benefit our entire community. You can view the full presentation here and watch the meeting segment here. ​ ​ ​ ​ View CFAC Presentation Here! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 🏀 Lincoln Basketball - Conference Champs! ​ Last night, we celebrated the incredible achievements of our 7th and 8th grade boys and girls basketball teams. Each team won the regular season conference this year, and the 7th and 8th-grade girls and the 7th-grade boys won their conference tournaments and 8th grade boys finished 2nd! They even beat the staff in the 8th-grade students vs. staff game, and the 8th-grade girls team triumphed over the 8th-grade boys in a friendly competition. Although the 8th-grade boys team couldn’t attend the Board meeting last night, I want to recognize their teamwork, dedication, and skill. Congratulations to all the players! 7th Grade Girls Basketball: Leah A., Mattea B., Abby D., Huxley F., Michelle G., Sadie H., Chryssi K., Khloe K., Alivia P., Nicole R., Anna S., Nicole V., Anthia H., Elizabeth D., Julia G. 7th Grade Boys Basketball: Ian C., Ryan C., Harrison C., Jackson F., Austin F., Taj G., Gannon H., Nolan H., Jack I., Adrian M., Zachary M., Diego O., Steven P., Cameron S., Dane Z., Franklin S., Pano S. 8th Grade Girls Basketball: Molly B., Tara C., Kaia D., Olivia G., Claire J., Mairead K., MaryTherese K., Gabriella M., Mia M., Victoria M., Kaylee P., Brynn S., Ashley S., Alexis V., Emmy R. 8th Grade Boys Basketball: Jovan B., Jack B., Adam C., Danny C., AJ C., Joaquin H., Jack K., Justin M., Daniel M., Jack M., Landon N., Jake P., Michael P., Kian V. And a very special thanks to the 4 coaches of these teams: 7th grade girls coach - Kyle Sakowicz; 8th grade girls coach - John Bonadurer; 7th grade boys coach - Julius Oni; and 8th grade boys coach - Carolyn Crost. Incredible leadership! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 🚍 Transportation Contract Update ​ After a thorough bidding process, the Board of Education approved a new transportation contract with Grand Prairie Transit, Inc. during last night’s meeting. Grand Prairie, a family-owned business with strong ties to our community, previously served District 57 from 2010–2020 and is known for its reliable service and personal touch. In a unique and thoughtful gesture, several Grand Prairie staff members attended the meeting to witness the contract approval, highlighting their commitment to our partnership. This moment truly reflected the company’s dedication to fostering meaningful connections with the districts they serve. To learn more about the process and hear David Armbrecht from Grand Prairie Transit share insights, you can watch the presentation here. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 🏫 Fairview Spotlight: Indoor Recess Initiative ​ Principal Dan Ophus shared an exciting update on the indoor recess initiative at Fairview Elementary, which expanded to include the entire school this January. This reimagined program gives students the freedom to choose from a variety of themed activities, such as board games, quiet reading rooms, building stations, and more. By offering diverse options, the program fosters collaboration, adaptability, and critical thinking while ensuring students have fun and recharge during the school day. Watch the segment where Principal Ophus discusses this initiative here. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ​ Monday, January 20, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a moment to honor a leader whose vision and courage forever changed the course of history. Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to equality and justice advanced civil rights in ways that continue to inspire us all. His legacy reminds us of the importance of standing together to build a brighter future. This celebration also serves as a meaningful introduction to Black History Month in February, a time when we deepen our understanding of the contributions and resilience of Black Americans throughout history. I encourage you to take time on Monday to reflect and remember as a family, celebrating Dr. King’s enduring impact and the values he championed. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you for your continued support of District 57. I hope you enjoy the long weekend, and we look forward to seeing our students back on Tuesday, January 21. In partnership, Mary Gorr ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​  ​​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Friday, Jan 17 2025

🤝 Our Portrait of a Graduate January Focus: Growing ...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ January 10, 20225 ​ Dear District 57 Families, Happy New Year! As we return from winter break and look ahead to a bright 2025, I’m excited to continue our focus on the essential skills and attitudes that define a District 57 graduate. These skills, outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate framework, guide our efforts to prepare students for success in high school and beyond. Our Portrait of a Graduate identifies five core skills: Collaborative, Critical Thinker, Resilient, Empathetic, and Adaptable. These skills are taught, modeled, and celebrated across our schools to help students develop the habits and mindsets they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. This January, we are focusing on the skill of Collaboration. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ January Focus: Collaboration ​ In January, we’re focusing on Collaboration—a key to building strong relationships and achieving shared goals. Being collaborative means: Balancing independence and interdependence: Knowing when to take initiative and when to work with others. Contributing and participating: Sharing ideas and engaging fully in group efforts. Exemplifying cooperation and teamwork: Building trust and working toward shared goals. Demonstrating accountability and responsibility: Taking ownership of actions and fulfilling commitments. Reflecting on collaboration: Thinking about what went well and how to improve next time. Throughout the month, teachers will incorporate lessons, activities, and discussions about collaboration into their classrooms. Students will have opportunities to practice teamwork, reflect on their group experiences, and celebrate their collaborative achievements. We invite families to join us in reinforcing collaboration at home. Here are a few ideas to get started: Encourage teamwork: Work together on a family project, like cooking a meal or tackling a home improvement task. Model accountability: Share examples of how you keep your commitments and follow through. Reflect on collaboration: Ask your child about a time they worked with others. What went well? What was challenging? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ This Year's Framework ​ Each month from December through April, staff will engage students in discussions, activities, and lessons related to a featured Portrait of a Graduate skill, while also noticing and celebrating moments when students demonstrate it. Families will also receive updates, including ideas for how you can reinforce these skills at home. Here’s the schedule for this year’s focus months: December: Empathetic January: Collaborative February: Resilient March: Adaptable April: Critical Thinker During parent-teacher conferences, families should have received a Portrait of a Graduate magnet. This magnet serves as a helpful reminder of the essential skills we are focusing on—Empathetic, Collaborative, Resilient, Adaptable, and Critical Thinker—and helps bridge the connection between school and home. If you haven’t already, be sure to display your Portrait of a Graduate magnet as a reminder of the skills we are cultivating together. If you need one, please contact the front office at your child’s school. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ District 57 is proud to partner with families in preparing our students to contribute positively to their communities. Collaboration is a vital skill that helps our students succeed in school and life. Let’s celebrate it together this month! Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Warm regards, Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Saturday, Jan 11 2025