• Update on Indian Trail construction and other Phase 2 projects
• A survey about generative artificial intelligence and its use at D112
  
• Board of Education news
• Mental health resources for D112 families
• 112 Education Foundation FUNd Run registration information
• And more!

• 9/10: Board of Education Committee of the Whole Meeting
• 9/17: Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting
• 9/20: Early Release (No Early Childhood)
• 9/24: Regular Board of Education Meeting

Phase 2 of our Long-Term Facilities Plan are projects funded by the successful 2022 referendum.

That's right—this Friday, September 6! Indian Trail was the first of five elementary schools to undergo major renovations, made possible by the community's support in the 2022 referendum. We are thrilled with the results and will immediately begin preparing the building for the return of students and staff after Thanksgiving. Indian Trail is setting a high standard for our other Phase 2 projects at Ravinia, Sherwood, Braeside and Wayne Thomas.

Ravinia’s renovation will continue throughout the 2024-2025 school year, and significant progress is being made. This project is unique due to the building’s age and the district’s commitment to preserving its classic look while upgrading to modern amenities. Construction is expected to be completed by April 2025, with students and staff set to return for the 2025-2026 school year.

The next major project will focus on Sherwood Elementary School. In the coming months, designs will be finalized, and contract bidding will take place. Construction is set to begin in February 2025. Upon returning from Winter Break in January, Sherwood students and staff will temporarily relocate to Elm Place Middle School for the duration of the construction. More details about this move will be shared by Sherwood leadership.

Braeside Elementary School is next on our schedule with construction set to begin in August 2025. To facilitate construction, students and staff will move to 1936 Green Bay Road (the current Ravinia location). This project is expected to continue through the 2025-2026 school year.

Wayne Thomas Elementary will be the fifth and final project in Phase 2. Construction will begin there following the completion of the project at Sherwood.

This year, District 112 is continuing to pilot the use of MagicSchool.ai, an AI-powered platform designed to help educators create engaging, personalized learning experiences, while protecting student data. Help us shape the future of education in District 112 by sharing your thoughts on generative AI through a quick survey about generative AI.

The next board of education meeting is Tuesday, September 24 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).

Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, North Shore School District 112 will be undergoing in a strategic change process. This is to address the evolving needs of our district and ensure we are prepared for future challenges. Our last formal planning occurred in 2010, and now, with your input, we aim to align our goals and create a vision that reflects the priorities of our entire community.

Why is the district undergoing a strategic change agenda?

In partnership with the Schlechty Center, District 112 is looking to establish its strategic change agenda. This will allow us, to tackle today's challenges and prepare for the future. It will provide direction for the district and ensure that everyone stays aligned with our shared objectives. The district's last strategic planning process took place in 2010, with renewals in 2013 and 2016.

How can I participate?

Members of the community still have an opportunity to participate as part of focus groups. To learn more, or to sign up, visit nssd112.org/strategicchange.

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 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.

Upcoming Cartwheel Webinar

"Social Media and Youth Mental Health: What to Know, What to Do"

• English Webinar - September 17, 2024, 6:00 p.m. - Register
• Spanish Webinar - October 16, 2024 p.m. - Register

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in guiding how children and teens use social media. But starting that conversation can be hard. How can we engage young people in useful conversations and help instill healthy habits? What are some roadblocks to avoid?

Join Cartwheel and Dr. Ilan Shapiro in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health for an engaging webinar on one of the most pressing youth mental health topics today. Learn how to engage your child in meaningful discussions, set healthy boundaries, and support their well-being in the digital age.

Beginning on September 4, Cartwheel's program managers will be hosting drop-in office hours weekly on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Stop in for clinical consultation, group supervision, and community building, or to get any of your Cartwheel questions answered.

Join the weekly Wednesday virtual office hours via Zoom.

ParentGuidance.org is a resource available to all District 112 parents and guardians for free. It offers education and therapeutic support for you or your child.

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.

School families may access ReferralGPS in two ways:

• Contact our Student Services (social workers, psychologists, counselors)
• 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

Nominate an Outstanding Middle School Teacher for the 2025 HPCF Golden Apple Award

Do you know a teacher at Northwood or Edgewood Middle Schools who has made a significant impact on your child’s education? Now is your chance to recognize their dedication and excellence! The Highland Park Community Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2025 Golden Apple Award, which honors outstanding teachers in grades 6 through 8.

Parents/guardians, students, colleagues and administrators are invited to nominate a deserving teacher who has completed at least four full years of teaching and plans to continue teaching in our community for at least two more years. The recipient will receive a $2,000 cash award, a $500 Apple gift card, and recognition from the Highland Park Community Foundation.

Nominations are due by Friday, November 15, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. Visit the foundation’s website for more details and to submit a nomination. You can also email nominations to Sara Sher at sarasher606@gmail.com.

Join us for the annual FUNd Run and Family Walk on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Ravinia Festival. The event, organized by the 112 Education Foundation, features a 5K run starting at 8:00 a.m. and a Family Walk at 8:15 a.m. All proceeds support need-based scholarships for District 112 families and other Foundation initiatives. Visit 112foundation.org/fund-run to learn more or register.

Community – The Anti-Drug (CTAD) is a community organization comprised of parents/guardians, local government, school officials, clergy and healthcare providers. The mission of this coalition is to reduce the use of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs among youth in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood, and Riverwoods.

Check out CTAD's Aug/Sept newsletter for tips on what to ask other parents/guardians (and how to ask it) when your child visits their home.

Meet Beacon, our new website chatbot! You can find Beacon in the bottom right corner of the page when you visit nssd112.org. Whether you have questions or need information, Beacon is here to help. As an AI-powered chatbot, Beacon is continuously learning and improving, so don’t forget to share your feedback to help it get even better!

Please note: Beacon only has access to public information available on our website. It cannot access any private student or staff data.

This year, our district has implemented a new standard response protocol. What does that mean for you? This month, we’ll be sharing an informative video from Solvei Jurmu, our director of safety and security, detailing the essential information parents and guardians need to know.

In the meantime, learn more about safety and security at D112 on our website.

This year, we are rolling out new curricular resources for a couple of different grade levels. For kindergarten through 5th grade, we are introducing new English Language Arts (ELA) and Spanish Language Arts (SLA) materials. Middle school students will benefit from new science resources being rolled out. Thank you to our incredible Teaching and Learning department and teachers for their dedicated preparation efforts to ensure a smooth implementation of these new resources.

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!

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!

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.

Address: 445 Sheridan Road, Highwood, IL 60040

Phone: 224-765-3000

Website: nssd112.org

Facebook: facebook.com/nssd112

Instagram: instagram.com/nssd112

Twitter: @nssd112

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