Mustang Minute

8/9- EPIC Event @ Launch

8/12- New Families to the District Orientation- 6PM

8/13-New Families to the District Orientation- 1PM

8/15- Kindergarten Parent Night (6-7PM)

8/16- Back to School Event @ Millennium Park

8/19- Supply Drop Off/ Pictures (3:30-6:00)

8/21- First Day of School (Release @ 11:00)

8/24- Lindenfest Parade

9/2- No School- Labor Day

9/4- Early Release @1:00PM

9/17- 1st-3rd Grade Parent Night @ 6PM

9/19- 4th/5th Grade Parent Night @ 6PM

• School Supply Lists
• FC Lake County Soccer

• 24/25 Homerooms
  
• 3rd-5th Grade Math
• School Supply List
• New to the District Orientation
• Kindergarten Parent Night
• EPIC Back to School Event
• Supply Drop Off/ Student Pictures
• End of Day Dismissal
• 24/25 Cross Country
• MES New Staff
• School Attendance
• EPIC News

Here is the breakdown of the number of homerooms we will have this year:

Kindergarten= 6 Homerooms

• Ms. Jazo
• Ms. Aunet
• Ms. Frank
• Ms. Fritsch
• Ms. Sanders
• Ms. Weber

1st Grade= 6 Homerooms

• Ms. J. Anderson
• Ms. Novak
• Ms. L. Anderson
• Ms. Pursche
• Ms. Parkman
• Ms. Jacobsen

2nd Grade = 5 Homerooms

• Ms. Coleman
• Ms. Griswold
• Ms. Laughman
• Ms. Habetler
• Ms. Bergman

3rd Grade = 5 Homerooms

• Ms. David
• Ms. Richardson
• Ms. Tuley
• Ms. Edelmann
• Ms. Krupa

4th Grade = 6 Homerooms

• Ms. Hogan
• Ms. Boyce
• Ms. Long
• Ms. Catalano
• Ms. Haley
• Ms. Seidel

5th Grade = 6 Homerooms

• Mr. Thomas
• Ms. Clendening
• Ms. Piekarz
• Ms. Clark
• Ms. Russo
• Ms. Miekczynski

3rd-5th grade either have general math or accelerated math. Students selected for accelerated math takes place in the spring based on MAP scores. We look at the historical trend of students and then select a cut off score for that grade level.

One teacher from those grade levels will teach the accelerated math classes. They are: 3rd Grade- Ms. Richardson, 4th Grade- Mrs. Boyce, 5th Grade- Mrs. Piekarz. During math time students will go to those classrooms for their accelerated math instruction.

What about students who are in general math and in those homerooms?

Students whose homeroom teacher is teaching accelerated math will be divided into the other classrooms to receive their math instruction. That will be their math teacher for the year.

How will this effect parent/teacher conferences?

If your child's math teacher is not with their homeroom teacher, parents can request to meet with the math teacher during conferences. This is not required, but the accelerated math teacher will be communicating with the rest of their team on their students' math progress so they can discuss math progress during conferences.

How will I know what is going on in Math class during the year?

With the exception of accelerated math, our general math classes follow the same timelines and content skills throughout he school year. For example, if fractions are being taught, all general math classes will be teaching math at the same time. We will continue to use our homeroom teachers to communicate news about learning throughout the year.

Stores are already gearing up for the coming school year and there are a lot of sales going on. Please take advantage of getting yoru school supplies sooner rather than later. Below is a link to each grade level's supply list.

Each year we have new families that move into the district or families that will be sending their first child into Kindergarten. To help with their transition into a new school district, Millburn Elementary and Middle school offer orientation sessions for families. Topics of the orientation include:

• School Information
• Schedule
• Assessments
• Arrival/ Dismissal Procedures
• Lunch
• iPads
• Extra-Curricular activities
• Building Tour

Monday, August 12, 2024

MMS Welcome- 4:30PM

MES Welcome- 6:00PM

OR

Tuesday, August 13, 2023

MES Welcome- 1:00PM

MMS Welcome- 3:00PM

**This is designed for families that are NEW to the district

We invite all Kindergarten Parents/Guardians to Parent Night on Thursday, August 15 . This event starts at 6:00PM. Parents will head straight to their child's homeroom. Once there, families will get information from the teacher about what their child will experience in Kindergarten this year.

Parent Night is designed for parents only. 1st-5th Grade Parent Night will be later in September.

Supply Drop Off Night will be Monday August 19 from 3:30-6:00. This is an opportunity for families to come in to drop off materials, introduce yourself to the teacher, and for students to take their school photo. Come anytime during that time frame.

Pictures will taken place in both of our gyms. You child's last name will dictate which gym they will take their photo. Tables with student ID stickers will be out with your child's name on it. Find your child name and then stand in line at any photographer station. Last Names A-L will be in the East Gym. M-Z will be in the West Gym.

**Early Childhood and students who attend a SEDOL classroom will take their picture during the school day on September 5.

Picture proofs will then be sent home about four weeks later for you to order pictures. Ordering is through the picture company online.

In order to maintain a safe transfer of students to families who pick up their child at the end of the school day, adults must be listed on our Parent Pick-Up list. As parents pull up to pick up their child, we first validate the adult picking up is on the list. Once that is confirmed, we send the child outside for pick up.

If you plan to pick-up your child this year at dismissal, please complete the Parent Pick Up Form below.

Attention All 5th Graders and Parents/Guardians

- this upcoming fall presents an opportunity to join the Millburn Cross Country Team. Each year we have a group of 15-20 5th graders that participate in cross country. If you enjoy running, would like to learn to enjoy running, and/or would like to be part of a great family/team experience, please consider joining. We plan to have some workouts in August before the school year starts. More information will be sent in early August. If interested, please email Coach Perusich (dperusich@millburn24.net) and/or Coach Browning (jbrowning@millburn24.net). Please provide us with your son's/daughter's name, grade level, and parent email contact information.

Hello :) My name is Evie Crowell, and I am excited to start as the teacher in the K-2 RISE Program! I received my degree in Special Education from Eastern Illinois University and have spent the last ten years teaching in the special needs kindergarten program in Des Plaines District 62. I am really looking forward to being a part of the new program and getting to know everyone!

In my free time I love spending time with family. We love being outdoors and soaking up the sunshine when we can! I also love to read and listen to country music.

My husband Joey and I have 2 children- Haven 5 and Bowen (Bowie)

Over the past year, I worked as a substitute teacher, gaining valuable experience in various classroom settings and strengthening my ability to adapt and support students' diverse needs. Additionally, I have been part of Echo Day Camp for the past 8 years, where I enjoyed contributing to a vibrant and fun-filled environment. I also have experience as an MBAC counselor, which further honed my skills in guiding and mentoring young individuals. My educational journey has equipped me with strong communication and problem-solving skills, essential for supporting both students and teachers. On a personal note, I enjoy spending time with my family, attending concerts, and hanging out with my dog. I have a passion for helping others and making a difference in the lives of students.

Hi! My name is Jen Haley. I am excited to be teaching fourth grade at Millburn this year. I have always felt a connection to this school as I attended kindergarten and first grade here. I have grown up in the area and have raised two children with my husband. My son, Aidan, will be a junior at the University of Missouri and my daughter, Delaney, will be a freshman at the University of Mississippi this fall. As a family we love to travel, go to concerts, and enjoy the outdoors.

This will be my nineteenth year teaching and my seventh year in frouth grade. I have taught in both private and public education, and I have enjoyed the students and families I have met along the way. I graduated with a certification in special and elementary education and later completed a masters degree in leadership and curriculum, and a middle school endorsement in Social Studies and English Language Arts. I look forward to this new adventure and meeting the families of Millburn School District.

My name is Heather Johnson and I am excited to be the Instructional Coach for Grades 3 - 5 beginning this school year! I have been in education for over 18 years in various positions. I have substitute taught grades pre-K through 8th grade, taught 6th grade for 8 years, and have 10 years experience in Instructional Coaching. I have a Bachelors in Communication, Media, and Theatre as well as 2 Masters degrees; one in Curriculum and Instruction and the other in Educational Technology. Outside of school, I enjoy playing golf with my husband and 2 children. I am an avid reader and enjoy running. I look forward to working with the staff and students at Millburn Elementary this school year!

I am looking forward to a new adventure jumping back into school social worker after a hiatus for other adventures. I have 17 years' experience as a school social worker. While a large part of my work experience is with K-5 ED/BD self-contained, I have worked with the general population and various other programs EC- gr. 8. In my time away from schools, I have worked in hospitals (case management and as a behaviorist), and as a personal trainer.

My main job lately is Mom to my two kids, aged 10 and 13. I live with my husband and kids in Grayslake where I have learned the parent side of schools! We spend lots of time at football, horseback riding, and the other ever evolving interests of our kids. Personally, I love my early morning runs with friends.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Hi! I'm Ally Kline, the new music teacher at Millburn Elementary! I graduated from Carthage College in 2023 with a BA in Music Education with a Vocal Emphasis and a minor in Theater. My fun fact is that I am a twin! I have a twin brother and a younger sister who are also currently pursuing education degrees. When I'm not playing music, watching cooking shows, or eating sushi, you can usually find me hanging out with my two cats, Mac and Cheese.

Hi there! I’m a mom of four amazing kids: Tyler, Hayley, Colin, and Colette. I’m also a proud dog mom to our sweet Aurora Belle. I absolutely adore Disney, and my hobbies include working out, traveling, playing card games, and enjoying a good cup of coffee. After taking some time off to raise my children, I’m thrilled to be entering the workforce again. Looking forward to connecting with you all!

Hi! My name is Robert McNeil. I am an Army Veteran, a graduate of Hanau American High School in Hanau Germany. I am married with 4 boys. Between them I also have 4 grandchildren. I worked at National Gypsum on the lakefront in Waukegan for 30 years before retiring. I am an avid bowler and camper. I love traveling and spending time with my family out camping. I am looking forward to this new adventure working with the Millburn family.

My name is Rebecca Miekczynski, and I am thrilled to be joining the 5th-grade team this year! My 17 years in education have taken me to many places, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Lake County. I have taught many grade levels, but I have to say somewhat biasedly that 5th grade is definitely the best! As a lifelong lover of learning, I received an undergraduate degree in Theatre with a minor in Education from the University of Notre Dame. I then received a M.Ed in Elementary Education from Loyola Marymount University and recently completed a second Master's in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. My second love, traveling, has taken me across the globe, most recently to my husband's homeland of Poland with our two daughters who are also enthusiastic Millburn Mustangs. Having grown up in the mountains of upstate New York, I also enjoy nature-related adventures with my family such as camping, hiking, and boating. I look forward to meeting you all and fostering meaningful relationships this school year!

Hello, my name is Evan Nelson, and I am very excited to be joining the Millburn team to teach 3rd-5th special education. This will be my second year teaching, as I graduated from Southern Illinois University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in science for special education teaching. While I have lived in Lake County my whole life, I currently live with myself and my cat, Gus. We spend a lot of time watching the Cubs ‘play’ baseball and Tennessee Titans play football. I also enjoy being outside, spending a lot of time in the summer on the Des Plaines River trail. While I am on the trail or during my free time, I am always listening to music. I love exploring through artists, so it is hard for me to pick a favorite. I also spend a lot of time volunteering with special needs teens and adults through my church and through Young Life Capernaum. I am very eager and excited to start this next school year, and I cannot wait to meet everyone.

Stacey Russo returns to 5th grade after completing a long term substitute position to close out the 23-24 school year. She graduated from Carmel Catholic High School and the University of West Alabama. At UWA, Stacey was a Student-Athlete on the volleyball team and earned her degree in Elementary Education. She is a fan of Harry Potter and the Chicago Cubs. Mrs. Russo lives in Lindenhurst with her husband, 4 children and 2 dogs.

Hello everybody! I am so excited to be a part of the Millburn staff this year! I have been working with kids ages 4-11 for a couple of years now, and that is what made me realize I want to become a teacher in the future. I am currently taking my second year at CLC and I’m majoring in Physical Education. My main interest right now is working out, but I’ve been trying to add on some new hobbies. I can’t wait to meet you all!

Hello! My name is Amber Silva and I am the new Paraprofessional that will be working in the Behavior Resource classroom. I received my B.S. in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and my B.A. majoring in English from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. I live in Lake Villa with my husband (Justin), our two kids (Benji, 6, and Emily, 2), and our rescue cat (Bentley). We currently love to spend most of our time outdoors – going to the beach, the pool, going on walks, going to the local parks for picnics, or going to the zoo are just a few of our favorite things to do. I am very excited to be here and am really looking forward to the upcoming school year!

My name is Vivian Straka. I am a previous employee of Millburn SD #24. I worked as a bus driver from 2011-2021. I will be returning as a recess/lunch room supervisor. I moved to Lindenhurst from Antioch almost 2 years ago with my fur baby 9 year old Gidget. I enjoy doing activities outside whenever possible. Gardening,flea markets/rummage sales,concerts,decorating and riding horses are a few of the things I like to do. I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces..past co-workers and the EC students I use to drive....if I recognize them

Hi, my name is Jamie Weber and I am so excited to join the Millburn Elementary Kindergarten team this year! This will be my 8th year as a classroom teacher. I received my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University. I have a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction and a Masters in Educational Leadership from American College of Education and I recently received an endorsement in special education in May. My husband and I have 2 children, a 2 year old named Rudy with another boy on the way! When I'm not chasing Rudy around, I love to sit on the couch with a good book in one hand and a coffee in the other. I also love spending time with friends and family, being outside at the pool, and eating good food. I am so excited to join the Millburn team!

As we prepare for the coming school year, I wanted to take a moment to emphasize the critical importance of regular school attendance for your child's academic success and overall development.

1. Academic Achievement: Regular attendance is closely linked to higher academic performance. When students attend school consistently, they are better able to keep up with daily lessons, complete assignments, and participate in classroom discussions. Each day of instruction builds upon the previous one, and frequent absences can disrupt this learning process.

2. Social Skills and Peer Relationships: School is not just about academics; it is also a place where children develop essential social skills and form friendships. Regular attendance allows students to engage with their peers, work in teams, and develop communication skills that are vital for their personal growth.

3. Responsibility and Work Ethic: Consistent attendance helps instill a sense of responsibility and a strong work ethic in students. By prioritizing school attendance, you are teaching your child the value of commitment and the importance of showing up, which are traits that will benefit them throughout their lives.

4. Reduced Risk of Falling Behind: Missing school means missing out on important lessons, activities, and assessments. This can make it challenging for students to catch up and can lead to a cycle of falling behind, which can be discouraging and affect their confidence and motivation.

5. Preparation for the Future: Regular attendance sets the foundation for future success. Whether it’s higher education or entering the workforce, consistent attendance is a habit that will serve your child well in any path they choose.

The state of Illinois defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10% of the school year. For us, this is equal to missing 17 or more days of school. As we reviewed last year's attendance, we had 124 students that have been identified as chronically absent. Therefore, 17% of of our student population was chronically absent.

How You Can Help:

• Set a Routine: Establish a regular bedtime and morning routine to ensure your child gets enough rest and is prepared for school each day.
• Stay Informed: Keep track of school events, important dates, and any changes in the schedule.
• Communicate: If your child is facing challenges that affect their attendance, please reach out to us. We are here to support you and your child in any way we can.
• Encourage Attendance: Reinforce the importance of going to school every day and celebrate their efforts and accomplishments.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education. Together, we can ensure that our students have the best opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.

Principal

Email: bwalshire@millburn24.net
Phone: 847-245-2800

Assistant Principal

Email: kgedville@millburn24.net