Huntley 158 Newsletter
Importance of Student Attendance
We’d like to remind all families of the importance of student attendance so that every child is able to take full advantage of opportunities to learn and engage within their school. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves, reduces stress and makes it easier to connect with other students and staff. We encourage students and families to build this habit in early grades so students learn right away that going to school on time every day is important.
Families can support good attendance by:
Talking about the importance of good attendance
Building regular morning and evening routines
Scheduling appointments after school or on days of none attendance
Not permitting missing school unless your child is truly ill. For information about when to keep your child home due to illness, please review these guidelines.
Reaching out to the school to discuss the ways the school can support your child, especially if your child is anxious about school (expresses she/he does not want to attend) or has trouble getting to school on time.
Beginning this school year, you will notice a difference in how absences are coded. The purpose of this change is to ensure alignment with ISBE’s requirements on what constitutes an excused absence vs an unexcused absence. While some absences are unavoidable, other situations that cause absences can be scheduled on days of non-attendance. Parents will always maintain the decision of whether to send their child to school; however, the schools/district have the decision as to what is excused and what is unexcused.
For more information about Huntley 158’s focus on attendance this year, please visit the links below:
- Huntley 158 Attendance Webpage
- Highlights of Attendance Changes for the 2024-25 School Year
- Superintendent's Attendance Presentation to the Board of Education (August 1, 2024)
Tip: If your child is ill or will be unable to attend school, please notify the school and leave a message on the school’s attendance line (All school attendance phone numbers are listed under Links & Resources below). We encourage you to save school attendance phone numbers as a contact to your cell phone for easy access .
Transportation Update
The first few days and even weeks of school are full of new experiences for our students and this includes riding the bus! Bus drivers and school staff aim to ensure safety and that all students board their correct bus at arrival and dismissal times. Bus drivers take attendance for elementary routes and do a head count for secondary routes. While this tends to slow down the process a bit in the beginning, it ensures all students are accounted for. No changes to bus routes will occur until after September 5th. We appreciate your patience as everyone becomes familiar with their new routines. Unfortunately, we are still experiencing issues with the My Stop bus app but are working with the company to have this resolved soon. Should you have any questions, please contact the Huntley 158 Transportation Department at (847) 659-3000 or transportation@district158.org.
Family / School Communication
Keeping lines of communication open between our families and schools is important to us! Should you have questions, concerns or suggestions, please follow these Family / School Communication protocols so we can ensure you connect with the appropriate individual(s).
Mass Notifications: School Messenger
Huntley 158 now uses School Messenger to send out routine and emergency communication in multiple languages to families, staff and occasionally students via email, text and/or phone. School Messenger integrates with PowerSchool, and families can manage their contact information through the PowerSchool parent portal. To view or update your contact information, please log in to your parent Powerschool account.
Note: Parents/guardians should no longer use SwiftK12 to manage communication preferences within Powerschool. Instead, to manage your communication preferences with School Messenger, you can register your account by downloading the School Messenger app (search SM Home) or by visiting the School Messenger parent portal. Please note that your student’s name will appear as the name on your account.
Should you have any questions about receiving notifications, please contact Denise Barr, Director of Communications and Public Engagement, at dbarr@district158.org.
Student Behavior Management and Instruction
Huntley 158 believes in a proactive and positive approach to student behavior management, which is accomplished through structuring classrooms/schools for success, teaching expectations, observing and monitoring behaviors, interacting positively, and correcting fluently. This is in response to knowing that our students are facing different challenges in a changing society. Read more about this approach at this link.
Schoology for Grades 6-12
Huntley 158 uses a learning management system called Schoology for students in grades 6-12. Schoology allows teachers to easily provide students with digital resources and is an interactive platform where students can complete assignments and assessments, safely engage in discussions, or even create portfolios. Schoology houses information such as student courses; upcoming assignments and due dates; calendars; and information related to groups, clubs, activities, and athletics.
Schoology is also an excellent tool for parents/guardians to view what’s happening in their child’s academic courses and to learn about extracurricular activities their student is participating in. An email will go out next week (August 19-23) to 6th grade families and all new-to-district families with students in grades 7-12 that will contain a family access code for Schoology. Families should use the unique access code provided in this email to set up their Schoology account. Visit the Huntley 158 website to learn more about Schoology.
2024-25 School Calendar / Early Release Days
For planning purposes and to make necessary childcare arrangements, please 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
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.
INSTITUTE DAYS
Friday, October 11, 2024 - No School
Monday, January 6, 2025 - No School
Reading and Math Fall Universal Screener
In the upcoming weeks, students will participate in the fall math and reading universal screener on the STAR (1st-11th grade) and AimsWeb (K-5th grade) assessments. These assessments empower teachers to pinpoint students’ progress in mastering crucial skills, helping identify areas where additional support may be needed. The data gathered allows teachers to make tailored adjustments to instruction, ensuring students receive the support or enrichment opportunities required. Assessments will cover skill progression, performance compared to peers, and overall growth in math and reading. Results will be shared by teachers. Parents/guardians should direct any questions to their child's teacher.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Survey: Satchel Pulse
Huntley 158 uses a survey to help measure student learning in relation to Illinois Social and Emotional Learning Standards and CASEL competencies. The survey, called Satchel Pulse, is similar to a temperature check -- providing a quick view of how students are doing in different areas, such as decision-making, organization, and managing stress. The results from this survey allow teachers to adjust how they teach students and identify areas of extra help as needed. Between September 9th and September 20th, teachers will complete the survey for students in grades K-5, while students in grades 6-12 will do a self assessment. Families will receive results the week of October 7-11 and can provide additional input from their lens on the survey if desired. Families can opt out of the Satchel Pulse survey by submitting a form by Friday, August 30. A new opt-out form is required each year. Families will receive detailed information about the Satchel Pulse screener, including opt-out instructions, by August 22nd via email.
Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MPAC): Did You Know?
In Illinois, a Multilingual Parent Advisory Committee (MPAC) is a group of key stakeholders formed within schools to support and enhance the educational experience of students who are English Language Learners (ELLs). The committee includes bilingual parents, educators, and community members. Their role is to provide input on the development and implementation of bilingual and ESL programs, address concerns related to language barriers, and promote effective communication between the school and bilingual families. Huntley 158's MPAC will have its first meeting of the 2024-25 school year on Monday, August 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the district office. Parents/guardians of bilingual and multilingual students are encouraged to attend! To learn more about MPAC, click here for resources in multiple languages. If you have any questions, please contact Lissette Jacobson, Director of Curriculum for Multilingual Services, at ljacobson@district158.org.
Food Service / Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
Starting in September of the 2024-25 school year, breakfast and lunch will be available to all D158 elementary, middle and high school students. Breakfast is new this year at D158 elementary schools (grades K-5) and will be served in the school cafeteria. See below for elementary breakfast details:
Breakfast is optional, but will be available to all students.
Breakfast will be served daily when school is in session from 8:20 a.m. to 8:35 a.m. (Chesak, Leggee, Conley, and Mackeben) and 7:50 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. (Martin)
Breakfast will be a cold item kit consisting of a bowl of cereal or cereal bar, an additional grain, fruit juice and milk.
The cost of meals is based on a student’s fee status. Standard meal prices for the 2024-25 school year are as follows:
Breakfast: $1.75
Lunch: $3.35
Meal applications and fee waivers must be filled out annually. See links below to access these documents electronically. Paper copies are also available at the District Office. For more information, please contact Michelle Escudero at mescudero@district158.org or 847-659-6155.
Meal applications: Free and Reduced Meal Applications are available online. Note: Meal applications must be submitted prior to submitting a fee waiver form.
Fee waiver forms: Fee waivers are available for eligible students once a meal application has been submitted. Applications for fee waivers can be downloaded from the Forms page (see Food Services) of the District website. Forms can be dropped off at the District Office (Attn: Food Service Department, Michelle Escudero).
Families can set up (or continue to use) a MySchoolBucks account to manage food purchases. MySchoolbucks allows you to make online payments, monitor account balances and student purchases, and replenish accounts. To learn more about MySchoolBucks, visit the D158 website.
Hootenanny 5K: Register by Wed., 8/21 for T-shirt and Goody Bag
The Huntley 158 Education Foundation and the Village of Huntley will host the 7th annual Huntley Hootenanny 5K run/walk in the heart of downtown Huntley on Saturday, September 7, 2024! All Huntley 158 staff and families are invited to participate. The event starts at 7:15 p.m. Register by Wed., 8/21 to get your T-shirt and goody bag! http://www.runreg.com/hootenanny.
Job Opportunities in Huntley 158
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.
August / September 2024
Tues., 8/20 - Parent Teacher Advisory Committee (PTAC) meeting: 6pm @ district office
Mon., 8/26 - Multilingual Parent Advisory Committee (MPAC) meeting: 6pm @ district office
Tues., 8/27 - HHS back-to-school night; 6pm to 8:30pm
Thurs., 9/5 - Committee of the Whole Board of Education meeting: 6pm @ district office
Sat., 9/7 - 7th Annual D158 Education Foundation Hootenanny 5K
Wed., 9/18 - Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) meeting: 6pm @ district office
Thurs., 9/19 - Regular Board of Education meeting: 7pm (open session) @ district office
Fri., 9/20 - HHS Homecoming Football Game
Sat., 9/21 - HHS Homecoming Dance
Tues., 9/24 - Early Release Day*
*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.
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 (August 2024)
Middle School Breakfast (August 2024)
Middle School Lunch (August 2024)
High School Breakfast (August 2024)
High School Lunch (August 2024)
Misc. Resources