• A video message from Dr. Lubelfeld
• Board of education news
• An update on the dual language program review
• Family resources and upcoming parent/guardian events
• Community events, including a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• And more!

Watch the video in Spanish (Created with the use of artificial intelligence)

01/14: Dual Language Program Information Night at Northwood (in English) - 7 p.m.

01/16: Dual Language Program Information Night at Oak Terrace (in Spanish) - 7 p.m.

01/17: Early Release (No Early Childhood)

01/20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)

01/21: Sherwood moves to Elm Place (2031 Sheridan Road, Highland Park)

01/21: Board of Education Regular Meeting at Northwood - 7 p.m.

01/28: Board of Education Facilities Committee Meeting - 6:30 p.m.

The next regular board of education meeting is Tuesday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at Northwood Middle School (945 North Avenue). A link for the livestream feed of the meeting will be available at nssd112.org. Meeting agendas can also be found on our website (Posted at least 48 hours prior to a meeting).

Dr. Sonia Soltero, an expert in dual language education, is currently working with our district to review and analyze our dual language program. Her work aims to provide an informed set of recommendations by examining the program's historical and current context.

Dr. Soltero’s analysis will encompass key aspects of the program, including demographics, organization, operations (such as enrollment processes and outreach efforts), and implementation. She will gather insights through various methods, including parent focus groups, an analysis survey, school visits, and discussions with teachers, school leaders, administrators, and board members.

From the start, Dr. Soltero has emphasized her commitment to conducting an objective and thorough review to ensure her findings reflect an accurate and unbiased perspective.

We look forward to sharing updates as this important work progresses and to using the insights gathered to strengthen our dual language program for the benefit of all students.

Congratulations to Ravinia first grade teacher Andrea Dunning, who was honored as WGN TV's Teacher of the Month for December! Mrs. Dunning and her class were celebrated in a special segment that aired on WGN at the end of the month. Watch the full feature below!

With winter in full swing, we’d like to remind families about how we make decisions regarding school closures due to inclement weather.

Our district carefully evaluates weather conditions, facility readiness, transportation safety and input from local officials and meteorologists when deciding on weather-related closures. Families will be notified by 5 a.m. on the day of a closure, with efforts made to communicate the evening before when possible. Key factors include air temperature, wind chill, snow and ice accumulation, building accessibility and transportation safety. Regular maintenance ensures heating systems function properly, and snow removal plans keep sidewalks, walkways, and parking lots clear.

For more details, visit our Emergency Closings page.

In this section, you will find events and programs for parents/guardians and students. You can also find more information about these and other parent/guardian resources on our website.

• Cartwheel Care January Webinar (January 14, virtual)
  Learn how to recognize and support youth who may engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a way to manage emotional distress. Join Cartwheel and Dr. Taylor Burke for a webinar exploring common reasons for NSSI, warning signs, and strategies for guiding youth toward healthier coping methods. REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR
  
  
• Ask a Therapist Live with ParentGuidance.org (January 15, virtual)
  Do you have questions about parenting, relationships, or your child’s well-being? Join ParentGuidance.org on Wednesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. You can submit your questions anonymously and receive thoughtful, personalized answers from licensed therapist, Dr. Kevin Skinner. REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR
  
  
• TrueNorth Family Education (January 21, in person)
  

  Discover how inclusive classrooms benefit all students and gain practical ideas for partnering with your child’s teacher. This presentation will share recent research, supports, tools and classroom practices through video clips, stories and examples. Learn answers to key questions like “What is inclusion?” and “How can I support my child’s inclusive education experience?” Please note that this is an in-person event that will be held at TrueNorth, 760 Red Oak Lane in Highland Park. REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT

Cartwheel is a national mental health provider for students/adolescents. They provide rapid access to care for students by providing them access to a licensed clinician within seven days of referral (virtually). Clinicians are available during school hours, after school, nights, weekends, and breaks. Additionally, Cartwheel offers the ability for psychiatric evaluations and medicine management.

To learn more about Cartwheel, please reach out to your child's school or to Dr. Holly Colin, assistant superintendent for student services, at hcolin@nssd112.org.

ParentGuidance.org is a free online resource that offers parents and guardians support and guidance on various mental health and parenting topics. The platform provides expert-led courses, coaching, and tools to help parents navigate challenges related to child behavior, emotional health and family dynamics.

Explore the January newsletter from ParentGuidance.org:

• January newsletter (English)
• January newsletter (Spanish)

Parent Coaching is a FREE resource where you can meet with a coach to get personalized support for any challenges you or your child may be facing. Whether it's behavior issues or holiday stress, a coach can help guide you through it. To register for support from a coach, visit https://cookcenter.info/coaching.

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.

Families may access ReferralGPS in two ways:

• Contact a member of your school's student services team (social workers, psychologists) or your school principal
• Visit https://referralgps.com/find-help/NSSD112 to search for treatment resources

Safe2Help offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. 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).

• Call: 844-4-SAFEIL
• Text: SAFE2 (72332)
• Email: help@safe2helpil.com

TrueNorth is a special education cooperative that partners with local schools and districts, including District 112, to provide comprehensive support services for students with diverse learning needs. Learn more at www.truenorth804.org.

This year's Robot Revolution, hosted by the 112 Education Foundation, included 350 students representing 104 different teams.

Founded in 1995 and celebrating its 30th anniversary, the 112 Foundation is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to enriching and enhancing educational opportunities for all students in North Shore School District 112. Since it operates separately from the district and doesn’t receive tax revenue, the Foundation relies on community support and fundraising to bring innovative programs to D112 schools.

The 112 Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million to support students and schools in D112. Through exclusive partnerships with all nine schools in the district, the Foundation funds a range of signature programs that create meaningful, engaging learning experiences, including:

• FUNd Run – a community-based run for students and families
• Robot Revolution – an interactive robotics program
• iRead Read-a-thon – a schoolwide reading initiative
• Reel 112 Film Festival – a student-centered film event
• Art in Bloom – an arts celebration
• Kids Go Classic – an interactive concert at Ravinia Festival
• Author visits – inspiring sessions with published authors
• And a whole lot more!

Join the 112 Education Foundation for the iREAD Kick-Off event at the Highland Park Public Library on Saturday, January 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will include:

• Special performances by Paddy Lynn, professional storyactor (10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.)
• Guest teacher read-alouds
• Local authors
• Scavenger hunt
• Crafts and activities
• Bonus: Earn an extra 30 minutes on your reading log (stamp included!)
• Check out books and sign up for library cards

Additional iREAD events at Highwood Public Library and Community Center:

• Saturday, February 1 at 1 p.m.: Book Character Party (Ada Twist, Scientist)
• Wednesday, February 5 at 6 p.m.: Literaria Lotería
• Wednesday, February 12 at 6 p.m.: Literaria Lotería
• Monday, February 17 at 4 p.m.: Pajama Party

Join Insight Advocacy and Wayfarer Theaters for the inaugural MLK Jr. Festival: Let’s Dream Together, a student-led event celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of peace and unity. It will be held on Monday, January 20, 2025. Festivities will include:

• A performance by the Highland Park High School Jazz Band
• Film screening of "We Are the Dream" (please reserve free tickets in advance)
• Student presentations on how we can continue Dr. King's dream
• Various fun activities for all ages
  
  

This free event is open to everyone! Doors open at 10 a.m.

The City of Highland Park is undertaking a trauma-informed planning process to create a permanent place of remembrance that will pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Highland Park shooting, create a space(s) for reflection, remembrance, and solace, and honor the community’s resilience, especially those who were injured. As part of the planning process, the City seeks community feedback on three potential locations for the permanent place of remembrance:

• Port Clinton Plaza

• Rose Garden adjacent to City Hall

• Southwest corner of Central Ave. & St. Johns Ave.

A survey with guided and open-ended questions regarding these potential locations and the future permanent place of remembrance is available at hpremembrance.org/survey. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Polish, and will be open through January 31, 2025.

Survey responses are anonymous, and open-ended responses will be provided to the working group planning for a permanent place of remembrance and City Council in their entirety. Please do not complete the survey more than once.

For more information about the planning process, visit hpremembrance.org or email remembrance@cityhpil.com. To talk more about the permanent place of remembrance and survey, or to learn more about mental health support, please contact Resiliency Manager Madeline Kati, LCSW, at mkati@cityhpil.com or 847.875.1043. For mental health support in Spanish, please contact Place of Remembrance working group member Gaby Valverde Strobehn, Donor Relations Manager at Josselyn, at 224.489.7632 or gstrobehn@josselyn.org.

Congressman Brad Schneider’s Brad’s Bookworms program invites students to read 10 books with help from family members, log their progress, and submit it online. Those who complete the challenge will be celebrated at a special ceremony with Congressman Schneider. Students can also enter a bookmark design contest, with the winning design distributed to all program participants.

Learn more and submit your logs at Brad’s Bookworms. Let’s keep the joy of reading alive this winter!

Magic School AI offers a set of tools that supports teachers in creating engaging, personalized learning experiences while giving them more time to focus on students. Plus, we’re using it to teach students how to use AI responsibly in a safe and protected online environment, preparing them for the future.

Explore a Magic School AI student space to learn more about how students get an opportunity to use the AI platform. Visit student.magicschool.ai/s/join and enter code Da8X8g.

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.

This year, our district has implemented a new standard response protocol. What does that mean? Check out the video below from Solvei Jurmu, our director of safety and security.

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!

North Shore School District 112 is seeking full-time special education paraprofessionals (1:1) to support individual students across various schools. These roles involve working closely with certified staff to assist students with academic, functional, and physical needs, implementing IEPs, and providing behavioral support. Responsibilities include offering direct supervision, assisting with daily tasks, and participating in professional development. Candidates must hold a state paraprofessional or substitute license. These positions offer competitive pay, excellent benefits, and IMRF retirement. Apply or learn more

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 Valerie Kilen (vlariviere@nssd112.org) with any questions or apply to be a guest teacher today!

Address: 445 Sheridan Road, Highwood, IL 60040

Phone: 224-765-3000

Website: nssd112.org

Facebook: facebook.com/nssd112

Instagram: instagram.com/nssd112

Twitter: @nssd112

Contact Us: nssd112.org/contact

If you have any questions about the newsletter, please contact Ben Finfer at bfinfer@nssd112.org.