Mustang Minute

December

12/19- Theme Day- PJ Day

12/20- Early Release @ 1:00PM

Winter Break- 12/23-1/3

January

1/6- School Resumes

1/8- Early Release @ 1:00

1/13- Lou Malnati's in Gurnee Restaurant Night (EPIC)

1/20- MLK Celebration, No School

• Lake Villa Timberwolves Lacrosse

• Inclement Weather Options (NEW)
• Holiday Toy Drive (NEW)
• Morning Drop Off Reminders (NEW)
• MLK Celebration (NEW)
• Millburn Showcase (NEW)
• Winter/ Outdoor Recess
• Are You Moving Out of District?
• Substitutes Needed
  
• Millburn Parent Universities
• EPIC News (NEW)
  

We have three options for emergency weather days:

1. Late Start:

   • A "Late Start" schedule can be implemented with as much advance notice to families as possible. This will not need to be made up at the end of the year.
   • Morning activities like band, choir, or sports will be canceled.
   • Bus pick-up and the start of school will be delayed by exactly 2 hours. For example, if the normal entry bell rings at 7:50, the new entry bell will be at 9:50.
   • If your child’s normal bus pick-up time is 7:30, the new pick-up time will be 9:30.
   • Dismissal will remain at 2:30. More information will be shared about after-school activities.

2. Remote Learning Day:

   • A remote learning day will not need to be made up at the end of the year.
   • Notification will need to be provided before 1:00 PM the day before to determine if a remote learning day is necessary. See the next section for more information about remote learning days.

3. School Closure:

• If the decision to cancel school is made after 1:00 PM the day before, school will be canceled, and that day will be made up at the end of the year.

What does an emergency remote learning day look like at Millburn Elementary School?

On a remote learning day, the schedule will be condensed compared to last year’s remote learning plan.

The day will be divided into two parts for K-5:

• 9:00 - 11:30 AM: Synchronous (live) instruction

• 11:30 - 12:30 PM: Lunch Break

• 12:30 - 3:00 PM: Asynchronous (independent) work

Early Childhood schedule will be the following:

• 9:00-10:15 AM Early Childhood

• 10:30-11:45 PM Early Childhood

Google Meet links for synchronous instruction will open at 8:55 AM. Attendance will be taken by the teacher.

Learning activities will focus on reading, language arts, and math, with the afternoon consisting of independent activities directed by the teacher. While these activities are not required, we encourage students to participate.

MES Student council will be starting a two-week Holiday Toy drive for A Shining Star Foundation in Gurnee. We will be collecting gently used or new toys to donate to families in need in our area. Please do not donate any broken toys or anything with missing pieces. These toys will be wrapped up, and gifted to kids in the area who are in need of some extra care and support this holiday season. The donation box will be kept in the front office. Students can either give their donations to their teachers, or bring it down to the front office themselves. Teachers, this is also a great chance for you to give back this holiday. Some examples of items we are looking for are: board games, dolls, NEW stuffed animals, lego sets, magnet tiles, and more! This will start Monday December 9th and End Thursday December 19th!

To ensure a smooth and safe morning drop-off process, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Seated and Ready: Make sure your child is seated on the passenger side (right side) and ready to exit the vehicle when you arrive.
• Drivers Stay in the Car: If you need to assist your child, please park in a designated space rather than exiting your vehicle in the drop-off line.
• Independent Exit: Students may exit the vehicle on their own if they are between the two crosswalks and do not need to wait for a staff member to open the door.

Join us on Wednesday, March 5, from 5:00–7:00 PM for our annual Millburn Showcase! This exciting open house family event will feature fun activities for all grade levels, including Art, STEM, PE, Reading, Math, and much more!

Last year, we hosted a couple of food trucks, and they were a big hit. This year, we’d like to offer even more options! If you or someone you know owns a food truck and might be interested in participating, please have them reach out to Mr. Walshire at bwalshire@millburn24.net.

We hope to see you there!

As we move into the winter months, we want to ensure that all families are aware of our outdoor recess practices.

Students will stay indoors if the temperature is 15 degrees or below, or if the wind chill makes it feel like 10 degrees or colder. At all other times, students will go outside for recess, so it is important that they are dressed appropriately for the weather.

Winter Gear Reminders:

• If there is snow on the ground, students must wear boots and snow pants to play in the snow. Otherwise, they will need to stay on the blacktop.
• Hats that cover the ears and gloves or mittens are essential to keep warm.
• Proper coats are a must. Hoodies or light jackets may not provide sufficient warmth, especially during our 30-minute recess when temperatures are in the 20s or 30s.

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe and comfortable during winter recess. If you have any questions or need assistance with winter gear, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

As we conclude our fall extracurricular sessions, we are excited to begin preparations for our spring sessions! A list of all spring activity choices will be shared on December 20, with the registration process starting after Winter Break.

We are thrilled that many of our clubs have been so popular this fall! However, due to limited spaces, we were unable to accommodate all requests for some activities. To ensure fairness, for popular clubs such as Lego Club, Intramurals, and Art Club, students who participated in the fall session will not be eligible to join the spring session for that club. This change allows those who missed out in the fall an opportunity to participate in the spring.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to provide engaging opportunities for all students!

If your family is planning to move out of the school district, we kindly ask that you follow the steps below to ensure a smooth transition for your child(ren) as they move to a new school.

1. Notify the School
Please inform the school as soon as possible about your intent to move. This helps us prepare necessary documentation and ensure proper communication between schools.

2. Request Records
We will need to transfer your child’s academic records to their new school. Once you know which school your child will be attending, please provide us with the name and contact information for their new school, so we can forward their records promptly.

3. Return School Property
If your child has any school-issued items such as textbooks, library books, technology devices, or sports equipment, please make sure to return these items to the school before your departure.

4. Update Your Contact Information
Ensure that we have your most up-to-date contact information. This will allow us to reach you in case there are any follow-up questions or details regarding your child’s transition.

5. Confirm Withdrawal Date
Please provide us with the exact date of your child’s last day of attendance, so we can officially process their withdrawal.

6. Check your PushCoin Account

Please check your student's PushCoin account (pushcoin.com) for any balances owed to the school or refunds you'd like to withdraw from the account. Please contact the main office for the refund form or with help accessing your student's account. You will need to provide an updated mailing address for any refunds.

We understand that moving can be both an exciting and challenging time for families. Our team is here to support your child(ren) and make this transition as seamless as possible. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact the school office.

Millburn School District is actively seeking substitute teachers. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a substitute, please read on. If you know someone who you believe would be interested in becoming a substitute, please feel free to forward this email to them.

Feel free to take a moment to view Educator Licensure Information & Requirements from the Lake County Regional Office of Education CLICK HERE.

• View Substitute and Paraprofessional License Checklist
• Different Types of Substitute Licenses - This page provides the licensure requirements to obtain a substitute or short-term substitute teaching license in Illinois. ​
• How to Become a Substitute Teacher

Now that you know a bit more about the qualifications, Millburn welcomes you to complete the next steps to join our extraordinary team of educators!

Please gather all of the documents needed and complete the online application to begin the hiring process.

For inquiries, please email vcollins@millburn24.net.

PARENT CONNECTIONS through a Parent University Series

We have already had opportunities for parents to connect with staff at the start of the school year, and an opportunity this week for parents to connect with other parents. It is important for our community to connect with each other in various ways to create a support network as we bring up our kids toward adulthood. The PARENT U series is another opportunity to connect throughout the year! Please consider taking part in as many of these opportunities as possible! Save the dates and times in this LINK, and watch for more details as the year progresses.

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

Email: kgedville@millburn24.net