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NSSEO Governing Board Brief

August 2024

NSSEO Governing Board Brief August 2024
NSSEO GoverningBoard BriefAugust 2024

Upcoming Events & Dates

August 15th

First Day of School for Students at Kirk, Miner, and Timber Ridge


August 16th - 3:30 pm

Julie Hollamby Mural @ Kirk Campus


September 2nd
Labor Day - All Buildings Closed


September 4th - 7:00 - 9:00 pm

NSSEO Board Meeting


September 5th - 6:00 pm

Timber Ridge Open House


September 10th - 6:30 pm

Kirk Campus Open House


September 13th

School Improvement Day - Students Not in Attendance


September 27th - 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Fall Dance @ Kirk Campus

NSSEO Strategic Plan

Dear NSSEO Family,


It is hard to believe that we are near the end of our summer break and on the horizon of a brand-new school year. I am excited to have my first year as your superintendent under my belt and am happy to, along with everyone here at NSSEO, to be re-energized and ready to greet students on the first day of school August 14th!


We are thrilled to announce that a top priority for NSSEO this school year will be gathering input from all stakeholders to develop a Strategic Plan- a plan that will guide our efforts in providing the very best for students for the next several years.


NSSEO has long been an educational leader committed to continuous improvement to ensure our students receive the highest quality education. To chart our course for the future, developing a new Strategic Plan is among our top priorities for the 24-25 school year. We anticipate that we will be presenting our finished plan in late winter/early spring of 2025.


Our Strategic Planning process relies heavily on input from our stakeholders, including teachers, staff, administrators, students, parents, and community members. It will result in a shared vision for our ideal future and priorities for the next several years. The comprehensive process will take approximately six months. It will include data gathering and analysis, using the data to develop mission, vision, values, and priorities, and the development of strategies and measures of progress.


Additional information will be posted in the coming weeks, both on our website and directly to your email in box via the Superintendent’s Update Newsletter, regarding opportunities for stakeholder participation in focus groups and an online survey. We look forward to active involvement and a plan that results in continuous improvement of NSSEO schools and programs/services. We hope that you will consider partnering with us by giving your time and your thoughts via these opportunities that will help us all learn and grow.


As we work to continue to improve communication, please know that we will continue to send monthly newsletters from our schools/programs, as well as a monthly newsletter from my office, to ensure that you are aware of all of the amazing opportunities we offer. We would love to see you at our events.


Through our communications, you will see that our theme for this school year is, in the spirit of the Olympic Games, “Light the Torch, Every Day!” The Olympic Torch Relay symbolizes the passing of goodwill from one country to another, as well as continuity between the ancient and modern Olympic games. Like the tradition of the Olympic Games, we will be working to spread light, knowledge, and most importantly, goodwill and kindness to our students, their families, and staff members. And like the torch symbolizes bringing the past forward to the present, we will continue to stoke and honor the NSSEO flame of the past, as we work together to build the future of our organization with our Strategic Plan efforts.


Looking forward to a wonderful 24-25 school year!


Sincerely,


Dr. Meg Schnoor

Superintendent


NSSEO

NSSEO's Theme of 2024-2025

Light the Torch, Every Day

NSSEO's theme for this school year is, in the spirit of the Olympic Games, “Light the Torch, Every Day!” The Olympic Torch Relay symbolizes the passing of goodwill from one country to another, as well as the continuity between the ancient and modern Olympic games. Like the tradition of the Olympic Games, we will be working to spread light, knowledge, and, most importantly, goodwill and kindness to our students, their families, and our staff. And like the torch symbolizes bringing the past forward to the present, we will continue to stoke and honor the NSSEO flame of the past as we work together to build the future of our organization.

Beginning of the Year - Continuous Improvement Plan

The start of a school year is another comprehensive set of goals and priorities for the 2024-2025 school year. Our Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) is a detailed list of objectives and dashboard indicators across the following areas:


  • Student Outcomes

  • Social Emotional Learning

  • Supportive, Collaborative, and Person-Centered Learning Environment

  • Transition Services

  • Collaborative Partnerships

Our Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) is an ongoing process that is characterized by reflection, revision, and growth. At this past board meeting, Molly Dunne, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, presented a detailed report on the actions our leadership aims to take this school year and which goals and objectives our entire organization sets to achieve or improve.


This report highlighted how the NSSEO mission, vision, and core values were integral to our daily operations and are the foundation of our Continuous Improvement Plan. The presentation illustrates our commitment to these principles and how they will guide us in creating a nurturing and effective educational environment through this upcoming school year. The attached PDF below this section will provide a thorough write-up of Molly Dunne's presentation.

Special Recognition

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the coaches of Special Olympics and Chicago Area Alternative Education League (CAAEL). Their dedication, support, and commitment to our students exemplify the very essence of service and mentorship. Through our coaches tireless efforts, they empowered our athletes, cultivating a culture of inclusion, teamwork, and triumph that resonates far beyond the playing field. NSSEO would like to thank the following individuals for being extraordinary role models and champions of both sport and spirit.

Special Olympics and CAAEL Coaches

Kirk Campus

Laura Cotter

Brittany Damerjian

Erin Gillespie

Carly McGuiness

Nick Mueller

John Platt

Jane Rhee

Amber Rich

Hannah Zandstra

Katie Zerbach


Miner School

Bridget Anderson

Danielle Gilson

Galilea Lujano

Matt Pike


Timber Ridge School

Matthew Barton

Anthony Bryan

Jeff Glatt

Gina Lozano

Rachel Suarez

Kirk Special Olympic Coaches

Miner Special Olympics

Timber Ridge CAAEL Coaches

Miner Special Olympics

Coach Barton and the Timber Ridge Wolves

Kirk Basketball at The Amy Rudolph Tournament

Coach Damerjian with Kirk Basketball

Big Baskets = Big Emotions

Miner Special Olympics Group Shot

Shooting Star - Jayana Bethel

It is with great honor that we introduce to you Jayana Bethel as NSSEO’s Shooting Star. Jayana graduated high school this year, but we would like to take you back to some of her earlier years as well.


Jayana first attended Timber Ridge School back when she was in second grade. Ms. Kaminsky, her classroom teacher, welcomed her as a new District 59 student. As she entered Timber Ridge, Jayana was primarily challenged by new settings and new people. However, it didn’t take long before she acclimated to her new school, learning and practicing her social skills while building her academic knowledge and stamina.

Jayana persevered, growing in spirit and growing up! She discovered effective and meaningful coping skills to help her learn to self-regulate her emotions during less-than-optimal moments. Jayana was on her way...3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and finally 6th grade with Ms. Laxgang for her final year at Timber Ridge. From there, she moved out of District 59 and attended a therapeutic school in her new district for the remainder of her time in middle school.


High school began with Jayana attending The Academy at Forest View, District 214, for one and a half years. During her sophomore year, she helped freshman students find their footing through the Life Program. By the second half of the same year, she had already begun integrating into Elk Grove High School, District 214, and she had achieved full integration by her junior year. During this time, she also participated in an African American after-school club. Being a goal-oriented student, Jayana also took summer courses each year. She was able to graduate from Elk Grove High School with 21.25 credits out of the 20 credits needed to graduate.


This exceptionalism continues beyond high school, as Jayana has earned a full ride from the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). She will be attending Harper College this coming Fall semester. In two years, she plans to earn her Associate’s Degree as a Surgical Technician. At this point, she is hoping to transfer into a Nursing program.


We will continue to maintain our connection with Jayana and, in the not-so-distant future, encourage Her to apply for the Timber Ridge School Scholarship as she accomplishes her post-secondary goals in fulfilling her newfound career, life path, and, most importantly, her happiness step-by-step.

Years of Service

NSSEO is proud to honor the incredible dedication of our staff who have reached significant milestones in their careers. We are deeply grateful for their contributions and inspired by their continued devotion to our mission.

10 Years

Bridget Anderson - Miner School

Michelle Brinson - DHH Itinerant

Mayra Castro - DHH Riley Elementary

Agnieszka Hajduk-Shomali - Kirk School

Mary Moran - Timber Ridge School

Lauren Olson - Miner School

Jennifer Reynolds - Central Office

Amber Rich - DHH Itinerant

Jessica Tambeaux - Miner School

Daniel Ujwary - DHH Hersey HS

Stefanie Volk - Kirk School

Enkeleda (Kayla) Laci - Kirk School

30 Years

Carmen Garcia - Kirk School

Jeff Glatt - Timber Ridge School

40 Years

Nancy Milne - Timber Ridge School

Welcome Jaime Lenhart

NSSEO is excited to welcome Jaime Lenhart as the new Assistant Principal at Miner School. Jaime brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students with diverse learning needs. Her academic expertise, passion for inclusive education, and strategic vision will undoubtedly contribute to Miner School's continued success and growth. Before joining NSSEO, Jaime had a successful career as a school social worker and student services coordinator.


We are thrilled to have Jaime as part of the NSSEO community and look forward to the positive impact her leadership will bring.

Extended School Year (ESY) Recap

Kirk Campus


Students this Summer: 165


Activities:

Students who participated in Kirk Campus ESY engaged in activities and focused on continued engagement to prevent learning loss. Students continued to work on their skills in core areas like literacy stations, math, and vocational opportunities. Our students also took advantage of the Olympic themes from Unique Learning Systems to create fun and engaging activities diving into learning more about the world. We had an exciting JG Reptile Road Show and a petting zoo where students were able to see, touch, feel, and explore animals while continuing to practice their SEL and communication skills. We also were able to experience some new and favorite community-based learning locations like a bowling alley, pool, and SLOEC. Students continued to expand their skills and interests, exploring vocational opportunities through the Kirk Cafe, community partners, and the garden.

Vocational Assistant

Debating Over Free Time Fun

Photo Break

Arts & Crafts

Miner School


Students this Summer: 86

Activities:

The 2024 Extended School Year (ESY) program at Miner offered continued work on IEP goals and enrichment opportunities for students to remain engaged during the summer. The 2024 ESY program offered students at Miner the chance to engage in learning opportunities at Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center (SLOEC), where classes engaged in various activities, including swimming, frisbee golf, and even fishing. Miner hosted a mini petting zoo with unique animals such as hedgehogs, a chinchilla, a basket of baby chicks, and a 40-year-old sloth named Sue! We also had a visit from JG's Reptile Road Show, Tie Dye Thursday, and a sweet treat to end ESY from Kona Ice to extend learning outside of the classroom in the building!


ESY afforded the opportunity to continue working on IEP and instructional targets to support work across various domains, including ELA, mathematics, social-emotional learning, and communication. For many students, ELA instruction focuses on fluency/decoding skills, reading comprehension, and functional targets. Mathematics instruction largely encompassed teaching number identification, 1:1 correspondence, sequencing, addition/subtraction, and money math, including coin identification, the dollar over strategy, and budgeting and purchasing items--especially during community-based instruction. Social-emotional and communication learning targets emphasized wants/needs, social skills, replacement behaviors, feeling identification, and continued sensory and coping strategies. As evidenced above, the ESY program at Miner offered a robust three weeks of learning for staff and students alike!

Showing Off New Toys

Quick Photo Shoot

Always Smiling

A Great Friendship

Timber Ridge School


Students this Summer: 56


Activities:
The 2024 ESY program at Timber Ridge aimed to ensure our students continued to improve upon their academic, social and emotional gains from the school year, along with providing opportunities for recreation and exposure to new experiences.

Students enjoyed a variety of experiences and activities, both at Timber Ridge and off-campus. At Timber Ridge, students enjoyed visits with therapy dogs and the annual visit from JG’s Reptile Road Show, where students learned about (and got to hold and touch!) a variety of animals you won’t find in your backyard!


Off-campus, students were able to enjoy Wheeling Aquatic Center, and they also enjoyed our whole school field trip to Rainbow Falls Waterpark! For the first time this year, our students attended a Schaumberg Boomers baseball game where they had amazing seats to take in action, including fun events between innings! Finally, our students were able to participate in a full day at Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center (SLOEC), where they were able to engage in swimming, team-building activities, campfire cookouts, and, of course, fishing off the pier. All of these activities served as an extension of their learning experience and allowed them to enhance their social-emotional skills.


Academic instruction focused on several key areas this summer. For English and Language Arts (ELA), instruction focused on the power of novels to improve comprehension, enhance the joy of reading and to build connection from what they read to their own personal experiences. Students learned to express their own thoughts and build off the ideas in collaborative projects. Math instruction worked to close learning gaps, in fact, fluency along with pushing higher-level skills so that students are ready to hit the ground running in the Fall. Physical education focuses on sports and activities that can be enjoyed throughout the summer, both indoors and outdoors, so that students can remain active no matter the weather!


Overall, the 3-week ESY Program felt like it flew by as students experienced success inside and outside of the classroom and look ready to keep growing into the next school year!

Timber Ridge enjoyed three weeks of an engaging ESY program that closed learning gaps, built social-emotional skills, and provided connections that will last into the upcoming school year!

Screen Time Games

Screen Time Learning

Therapy Dog Visit

Peace Dude

Deaf and Hard of Hearing


Students this Summer: 45


Activities:

The Deaf/Hard of Hearing Extended School Year focus was to extend student learning during the summer in order to promote maintenance and retention of skills taught during the 2023-24 school year. Classrooms selected age-appropriate themes that supported the application and practice of academics, language, and communication skills, including vocabulary and oral and written communication through activities that reinforced academic skills related to reading, math, and STEM.

The Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle School ESY program engaged in learning extension experiences in the school and community. The program as a whole celebrated the 2024 Olympics, holding a mock Opening Ceremony parade and engaging in various sports competitions during their visit to Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center. In the classrooms, students learned facts about the various countries’ cultures, flags, and locations. Students enjoyed the annual traditions of swimming at a local park district pool and a visit from the Reptile Roadshow. A particular highlight of the summer was the DHH student performance of the National Anthem at the Schaumburg Boomers baseball game on June 24th.

Students at the DHH High School ESY program focused on improving their literacy skills, through reading comprehension, written expression and class discussions. Students engaged in reading and responding to a variety of literature through discussion and written responses, with opportunities to enhance and apply their vocabulary, oral and written communication skills. The High School Program enjoyed community outings to explore leisure activities such as pottery painting and mini golf.

"I Love You" ASL

Making the Greek Flag

Playground Fun

Best Friends!

Facility Updates

During the summer of 2024, NSSEO completed many facility updates throughout our programs. These updates included LED light conversions, outdoor learning upgrades, and painting throughout the buildings. District 25 is also in the process of completing a window replacement and bathroom remodel at Miner School. Check out the full list below, and stay tuned, as we have plenty more updates and upgrades coming.


Kirk

LED Light Conversion

Concrete/Parking Lot Repairs

PERC Upgrades


Miner

Windows on the west side of the building

1st-floor bathroom upgrade


Timber Ridge

LED Light Conversion

Painting

Outdoor learning area upgrade


Central Office

Boardroom update

Recruitment and Hiring

NSSEO is looking to grow our teams with talent people, just like you! If you or know others looking for a wonderful job opportunity for the 2024-25 school year, click the link below to search our openings.

Making a Difference

NSSEO continually seeks ways to expand partnerships with parents, districts, community leaders, and legislators to join as a community committed to deepening understanding and positively impacting NSSEO students and families. To learn more about how to make a difference, visit us at Make A Difference as well as on our social media platforms:

Important Dates

August 15th

First Day of School for Students at Kirk, Miner, and Timber Ridge


August 16th - 3:30 pm

Julie Hollamby Mural @ Kirk Campus


September 2nd
Labor Day - All Buildings Closed


September 4th - 7:00 - 9:00 pm

NSSEO Board Meeting


September 5th - 6:00 pm

Timber Ridge Open House


September 10th - 6:30 pm

Kirk Campus Open House


September 13th

School Improvement Day - Students Not in Attendance


September 27th - 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Fall Dance @ Kirk Campus

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Facebook @NSSEO

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