October 2024 EMSD Newsletter
October Chalkboard Chatter
- It's Principal Appreciation Month in Illinois
- UT Homecoming Spirit Week for EMSD
- Family Fall Break Ideas
- Innovative Instruction
- Digital Citizenship Week For Families Webinar
- Parent University Offerings
- Living in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
- School Breakfast and Lunch Menus
- October/November Calendar of Events
It's Principal Appreciation Month in Illinois
October marks a special time in Illinois as we celebrate Principal Appreciation Month, a chance to recognize the incredible dedication and leadership of our school administrators. Our principals are the heart of our schools, navigating the complexities of the school day with unwavering commitment. They create an environment where students feel safe, teachers feel supported, and the entire school community thrives. Their tireless efforts in fostering academic excellence, promoting character development, and building a positive school culture deserve our deepest gratitude.
To our school administrators: Thank you for your vision, your passion, and your unwavering belief in the potential of every student. Your leadership inspires us all. We appreciate the long hours, the difficult decisions, and the countless ways you go above and beyond to make our schools exceptional places of learning. During Principal Appreciation Month, we celebrate you and all that you do. Your contributions to our district are immeasurable, and we are so grateful to have you at the helm of our schools.
Please join us in thanking our school leaders for all they do!
UTHS Spirit Week in EMSD #37: September 30 - October 4
Family Fall Break Ideas!
Innovative Instruction: Engaging Students in the Classroom
Professional Development Workshop on LEGO Spike Prime Robotics and Coding
The Quad City Career and Technology Education Consortium (QCC TEC) sponsored a professional development workshop centered on LEGO Spike Prime Robotics and Coding to enhance STEM education across the region. The event was held at the East Moline Administration Center and organized by Stephen Smithers. The PD attracted 25 teachers from 15 surrounding school districts. The workshop taught educators the skills and resources to integrate robotics and coding into their classrooms. It gave teachers hands-on opportunities to explore engineering, technology, and problem-solving. Sanchia Sommer, an experienced STEM educator, led the workshop.
The training also emphasized problem-solving and computational thinking, which are essential for students pursuing careers in STEM fields. The session was not only an informative experience but also an interactive one. Teachers had the opportunity to build and code robotic creations, gaining firsthand knowledge of how their students would interact with the system. Each participating school was awarded a complete LEGO Spike Prime kit and an expansion pack valued at over $550.00. This valuable resource will allow teachers to bring what they learned back to their schools, making the experience impactful beyond the workshop. Adding these kits means that students in the region will now have access to a world-class tool for exploring robotics and coding in a hands-on, engaging way.
Through its sponsorship, the QCC TEC demonstrated its commitment to fostering innovation and equipping teachers with the resources they need to inspire and prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century. By providing training and equipment, the initiative ensures that the region’s educators are better prepared to support the growing emphasis on STEM education, helping students develop the skills necessary for future success in technology-driven careers.
Digital Citizenship Week For Families Webinar
Join Alex Mayszak, EMSD37 Director of Digital Learning & Innovation, for this Parent University session over student technology during Digital Citizenship Week. Topics will include a brief overview of programs used by students, technology boundaries and device care, and more. This session will be held on Wednesday, October 16 from 5:30-6:30 pm. Register by clicking the button below.
Parent University Offerings
Check out the wide variety of offerings for the 2024-2025 school year from authors, speakers, and other experts by clicking the image below. These are learning opportunities for parents/guardians are sponsored by the Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) and offered virtually via Zoom.
Living in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become part of many aspects of our lives. It curates suggested videos and songs on YouTube and music streaming services, it shows us where traffic is congested when using GPS, acts as the first line of support for many companies, and more. Becoming more comfortable with what AI is, how it can benefit us, and the challenges it presents is essential. Click the image below for a parents' guide to AI and use it as a conversation starter with your student(s).
Click on this QR code to access our breakfast and lunch menus
September/October Calendar of Events
October 4 - Early Dismissal (UTHS Homecoming Parade)
October 4 - Fall Break starts at the end of the school day
October 7 - 11 - Fall Break
October 14 - Columbus Day (NO SCHOOL)
October 15 - School resumes
October 18 - End of 1st Quarter