Huntley 158 Newsletter

The Stay Up-to-Date in D158 district e-newsletter is published once a month and is sent via email to Huntley 158 families, staff, and interested community members. The newsletter is also posted on the district website. If you are not a parent or staff member but wish to receive the district's e-newsletter, email Denise Barr, director of communications and public engagement, at dbarr@district158.org. Please provide your first name, last name and email address, as well as your affiliation with the school district, to be added to the district's email distribution list.

Tune into our first episode of Raider Roundtable, Huntley 158's new monthly video series, where Huntley 158 Superintendent Jessica Lombard discusses the importance of student attendance with special guest and Director of Curriculum Lindsay Spears. Discussion revolves around local, state and national data trends related to student attendance and chronic absenteeism, as well as the impact of absenteeism on students’ overall well-being and academic growth and achievement. As they take a deeper dive, you’ll learn how the district takes a collaborative and supportive approach to absenteeism and how families can partner with the district for student success.

Parents/guardians/family members: Are you looking for ways to get involved in Huntley 158? We would love to have more representation on the district’s Parent Teacher Advisory Committee, also known as PTAC. PTAC is a required school board committee per school code to routinely review and address the following areas of focus:

• Pupil discipline policies, the implementation of those policies, and other factors related to the safety of schools, pupils and staff (including discipline of students with disabilities)

• Reciprocal reporting system between the school district and local law enforcement agencies

• Policy guideline procedures to establish and maintain school bus safety procedures and ensure they are incorporated into the district’s pupil discipline policy (in cooperation with school bus personnel)

• Student discipline policy to ensure it includes provisions to address students who have demonstrated behaviors that put them at risk for aggressive behavior, including bullying

• Policies and guidelines around administering medication at school (in cooperation with health services staff)

While the group’s input and participation will factor into the district recommendations to the board of education, PTAC is not a decision-making body. Your voice matters and the work of this committee is of great importance. Last school year the committee had a large focus around student conduct and attendance. The behavior matrix and attendance campaign were two projects that the committee was able to provide great feedback on to the district on in terms of needs, enhancements, etc.

Quarterly meetings for this year will be held from 6pm-8pm on the following dates:

• October 22, 2024
• December 10, 2024
• March 11, 2025
• May 6, 2025

If you are interested in participating and joining the committee for the 2024-25 school year, please reach out to me at jlombard@district158.org by Friday, October 4th.

Schoology is the learning management system for students in grades 6-12. It allows teachers to easily share digital resources and provides a platform where students can complete assignments, take assessments, participate in discussions, and even create portfolios. Through Schoology, students can access information such as their courses, upcoming assignments, due dates, calendars, and details about groups, clubs, activities, and athletics.

Schoology is also a great way for parents to stay connected with their child’s academic progress and extracurricular activities. Families with students in grades 6-12 should have received a family access code via email. This code is used to set up your Schoology account. If you already have an account, no action is needed unless you now have a child in 6th grade. Visit the district website to learn more about Schoology and how it can help you support your student’s learning journey

In May, the state of Illinois announced that the SAT would be transitioning to the ACT as a state accountability assessment which all Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors will take in the Spring of this year. We wanted to provide some of our key steps to help ensure a smooth transition for our students.

• Student Support: All Juniors will take the PreACT, a practice exam, on Tuesday, October 8th during the school day. In addition, students will additional practice exams through one of our internal technology resources called Albert I.O, one before the PreACT, another this Winter, and final one before Spring Break. High School Administration is also working to offer additional ACT readiness opportunities outside of school hours.

• Curriculum Updates: ACT practice is being integrated into Junior-level courses such as English 3, US History, Chemistry, and Algebra II.

• Teacher Training: During the Early Release on September 24th, staff will participate in professional development focused on ACT-aligned instruction, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Building and district administration are also collaborating with educational partners to enhance our understanding of the ACT.

• Parent and Community Communication: Families will receive updates on the ACT transition, including tips on how to support their students from High School Administration. A dedicated section on the High School website will provide resources and FAQs for those wanting more information.

The Special Services Department is collaborating with American Eagle Outfitters in Algonquin to offer a sensory-safe “Back to School” shopping experience, ensuring a comfortable and supportive environment for students. This opportunity will offer reduced stimuli, such as loud noises, music, and/or bright lights, to offer a more regulated environment and enjoyable shopping experience. A flyer with more specific details, including an RSVP, will be sent to families who wish to participate in this unique opportunity.

When: Sunday, October 6, 2024; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Where: American Eagle, Algonquin Commons

Huntley 158 Superintendent Jessica Lombard and HHS Junior Niko Knanishu co-authored an article on the importance of student voice in the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development’s (ILASCD) Summer Journal. See page 42 to check it out! READ HERE: https://issuu.com/ilascdpublishing/docs/summer2024final

Huntley 158 will launch its new website on Friday, September 27th! Here’s a sneak peek of the district's new home page! Some features of the new website include:

• Access to news: District and school newsletters will be posted on home pages under News & Events. Links to past newsletters will also be posted on home pages.

• New “Upcoming Events” sections will feature upcoming meetings and events on all home pages

• Improved navigation: New “Quick Links” section will provide shortcuts to frequently visited pages

• New integrated calendars and staff directories will provide more accurate, timely information

Please note that some interior webpages may still be "under construction" at the time of launch. While the district’s domain name will not change (still huntley158.org), there will be new URLs for all D158 schools - see below. While you will be redirected to the new site from the old URL, we encourage you to bookmark your school's new URL for easy access!

Huntley 158 still has open positions for employment across the district. You can find current openings here. If you have any questions, contact Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, Adam Zehr, at (847) 659-6150 or Director of Human Resources, Karrie Baughman, at (847) 659-6178.

Huntley School District 158 and the Huntley Area Lions Club are excited to partner together again for the 2nd Annual Recycle for Sight Used Eyeglass Collection Drive.

How can you help? Look through dresser drawers and closets for prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, reading eyeglasses, empty plastic and metal eyeglass frames that are no longer of use to you and donate them. Donated eyeglasses are taken to the Lions of Illinois Foundation where they are cleaned, sorted by prescription and distributed by trained volunteers, free of charge, to children and adults in developing countries. Don’t forget to ask friends, neighbors, and relatives to participate for a great cause!

Donation boxes will be available at all District 158 schools and the Administration Office from Monday, October 21 thru Friday, October 25. More information will be provided next month. So for now, let the search begin!

The next MPAC meeting will be held on Monday, October 7th at the District Office at 6 p.m. MPAC's mission is to support and enhance the educational experience of students who are English Language Learners (ELLs). The committee includes bilingual parents, educators, and community members. To learn more about MPAC, click here for resources in multiple languages. We hope to see you there!

When: October 7, 2024; 6:00 p.m.

Where: District Office, Room 180

RAD Event: Celebrating Individuals with Disabilities

When: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Where: Heineman Middle School

Visit local vendors from Huntley, Lake in the Hills and Algonquin who will showcase how their business supports individuals with disabilities. Light refreshments will be provided!

Inclusive Schooling Live Virtual Event @ Heineman

When: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Where: Heineman Middle School (or join virtually HERE via Zoom)

Huntley 158 Superintendent Jessica Lombard welcomes the authors of “The Way to Inclusion" who will be presenting on ways to support All Students Always. This live, virtual event will be streamed live at a group viewing party at Heineman Middle School following the RAD event, or it can be viewed virtually via Zoom. The audience will learn more about why and how to support a community where every student belongs! Open to all D158 staff, family and community members.

Huntley 158 district staff -- Lindsay Sara, Julie Jensen and Kristi Kubic-Peterson -- will present information on special education transition planning. This event will provide information on ways to plan for educational and adult services to support students in their employment, education, training and independent living goals.

When: October 16, 2024; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Where: District Office, Room 180

Tues., 9/24 - SIP Early Release Day* / ECC Parent Education Day

Thurs., 10/3 - Committee of the Whole Board meeting; 6pm @ district office

Mon., 10/7 - MPAC meeting @ district office; 6pm

Tues., 10/8 - Recognizing American Diversity (RAD) Event: Celebrating Individuals with Disabilities @ Heineman Middle School; 4:30pm-7:30pm (see above for details)

Fri., 10/11 - Institute Day - NO SCHOOL; Education Foundation ChariTea event

Mon., 10/14 - Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day - NO SCHOOL

Wed., 10/16 - Special Education Talks: Transition to Adult Services; 6pm @ district office (see above for details)

Thurs., 10/17 - Regular Board of Education meeting; 7pm (open session) @ district office

Mon., 10/21 - MPAC meeting; 6pm @ district office

Tues., 10/22 - PTAC meeting; 6pm @ Martin Elementary School

*Early Release Dismissal Times

Elementary school (Chesak, Conley, Leggee, and Mackeben): 1:30 p.m.

Martin Elementary School: 12:55 p.m.

Middle and high school: 12:30 p.m.

October Observances

Custodian Appreciation Day - October 2

World Cerebral Palsy Day - October 6

World Mental Health Day - October 10

Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day - October 14

Illinois Bus Driver Appreciation Day - October 22

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

National School Lunch Week - October 14-18

School Safety Week - October 20-26

National Bus Safety Week - October 21-25

Principal Appreciation Month

Bullying Awareness Month

National ADHD Awareness Month

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month

National Physical Therapy Month

For planning purposes and to make necessary childcare arrangements, check out the 2024-25 school calendar. Huntley 158 early release and institute days for the year are listed below.

EARLY RELEASE DAYS

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Friday, December 20, 2024

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Thursday, April 17, 2025

*also ECC Parent Education Day

INSTITUTE DAYS

Friday, October 11, 2024 - No School

Monday, January 6, 2025 - No School

The Huntley 158 Board of Education meets twice monthly. Regular board meetings are held the third Thursday of each month and Committee of the Whole (COW) meetings are held the first Thursday of each month. All meetings are held at the Huntley 158 district administration building, 650 Dr. John Burkey Drive in Algonquin, unless otherwise noted. Meetings are live streamed and archived on the Huntley 158 YouTube Channel. Visit the D158 website for more information:

September 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting: Click the link for the agenda and supporting documents or watch the meeting via YouTube.

September 5, 2024:

• Budget Hearing agenda
• Committee of the Whole Board Meeting. Click the link for the agenda and supporting documents or watch the meeting via YouTube.

The links and resources below are intended to provide important and timely information for families and shortcuts to frequently visited places on the district website. These links will appear in every district newsletter.

School Attendance Lines

Chesak: (847) 659-5711

Conley: (847) 659-3711

ECC: (847) 659-5411

Heineman: (847) 659-4311

Huntley High School: (847) 659-6611

Leggee: (847) 659-6211

LIGHT: (847) 659-4928

Mackeben: (847) 659-3411

Marlowe: (847) 659-4711

Martin: (847) 659-5311

Menus

Elementary Breakfast (September 2024)

Elementary Lunch (September 2024)

Middle School Breakfast (September 2024)

Middle School Lunch (September 2024)

High School Breakfast (September 2024)

High School Lunch (September 2024)

Misc. Resources

Attendance

Bullying

Care Solace

2024-25 School Calendar

Guidelines for Keeping Kids Home from School

Smart Social

Student Helpline

Virtual Bulletin Board

Visitor Procedures