Superintendent Blog

Superintendent's Message--December 2017

Dear Families,

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our families the very best this winter break. Whatever holiday you may celebrate, it’s my sincere hope that the break gives you the opportunity to enjoy time together. We are so lucky to have the chance to work with your amazing children each day, and to partner with you in their learning and growth!

I look forward to the next semester of the school year, and we are excited for the opportunities the new year brings. You can look forward to an updated full-community newsletter, the development of a new strategic plan, and even more celebrations of learning for our students because of our truly outstanding staff.

We’ll be back in regular communication when we return in January!

From my family to yours...I wish you the happiest of holidays and all the very best in 2018!

Family Christmas Card

 

Sincerely,

 

Heather Friziellie, Superintendent

Superintendent's Message--November 2017

Dear Families,

In this month’s Superintendent’s Message, I’m excited to share news about our amazing school district!

As you may be aware, each school’s performance is measured on many different variables, including but not limited to:

  • Academic achievement
  • Mobility
  • Teacher/student ratio
  • Expenditures

and much more! This is updated annually, and the data for the 2016-17 school year is now accessible for your view. Please click here to visit the D114 website to view our performance.

I’m happy share that, when considering our student achievement, District 114 showed the third highest growth in Lake County when examining the percentage of students who met or exceeded expectations on last spring’s PARCC assessment!  This is a HUGE accomplishment, and one for which I truly celebrate our students, staff, families, and entire school community. I can’t wait to see how we continue to grow in ALL ways, working together as ONE TEAM...ALL IN!

D114 Teamwork

You may be wondering how you can play an even more active role in helping us set the course for our District. If so, please consider being a part of the Strategic Planning Committee. The 2017-18 school year is the last year captured within the District’s current Strategic Plan (click to access), and I’m thrilled that, in my first year, I have the opportunity to partner with staff, parents, administrators, and community members in this work. We are still planning for specific dates and times, but are looking at four evenings in January and February to engage as a school community in this important work. If you’d like to be a part of this effort, please email or call (contact information below) so I can add you to the list of potential participants. We’ll be working to create a balanced representation of perspectives, so we’ll honor as many participants as we’re able.

As we head into the Thanksgiving season, I’m reminded daily of how grateful I am to get to workin District 114. It’s truly an honor and blessing to serve this community. I wish you and your families all the very best for a wonderful Thanksgiving season, too. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide assistance in any way.

 

With commitment to our students,

 

Heather Friziellie, Superintendent
847-973-4028

Superintendent's Message--October 2017

Dear Families, 

As they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words. I can't express my pride and gratitude for all Day of Service efforts in any way better than the images you'll see linked here. Enjoy, and thanks for all you do to support our schools!

 

With commitment to our students, 

 

Heather Friziellie, Superintendent
847-973-4028

Superintendent's Message--September 2017

Dear Families,

Happy Friday! It’s been such a great start to the school year, and I’d like to take a chance to share updates with you.

I’m so very, very proud of the students and staff at both Lotus and Stanton. So far this year, we have:

  • Had a successful opening to the year,
  • Welcomed over 20 new staff members to D114,
  • Learned together as a teaching staff during Institute Days and Early Release Wednesdays,
  • Partnered with our families at Curriculum Nights,
  • Launched 3 team sports at Stanton and over 20 extracurricular/club offerings across the district,
  • Celebrated positive student behaviors through daily activities as well as mid-quarter PBIS celebrations,
  • Viewed the eclipse,
  • Started the Superintendent “adopt a classroom” with Ms Marker’s 2nd graders and Ms. Wells’ 8th graders,
  • Had a fabulous turnout at our Room Parent meeting and first PTA meeting of the year,
  • Enjoyed two Superintendent's Coffees (more events like this to come!),
  • Appointed Denise Kelley (D114 parent) as  new Board of Education member,
  • Started collections for the D114 Day of Service with a goal of an all time high of $25,000,
  • AND MUCH, MUCH more!

Please see below for pictures to celebrate our accomplishments so far. I’m so honored to be a part of this amazing school district and look forward to continuing to share our successes with you! To see our work along the way, please be sure to read my Friday D114 Facts and follow on on Twitter using #District114 proud!

If I can ever be of assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out via email (heather.friziellie@foxlake114.org) or phone (847-493-4028). 

Thanks for all you do!

 

With commitment to our students, 

 

Heather Friziellie, Superintendent of Schools

D114 Teamwork

 

conversation between teacher and student  a student wearing 3d glassesteachers and students looking at the sky

students working on a project student being guidedstudents at the start of a race

Monthly Raffle Prizes

teacher instructing students    teacher and students

Denise Kelley, new D114 Board of Education Member     teacher and students in a hall

Superintendent's Message--August 2017

Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! The District 114 family is thrilled to partner with you to provide outstanding learning experiences for all of our students.

As your new superintendent of schools, I am proud and honored to serve the students, staff, families and community of District 114. As a parent of 3 school-aged children myself, I am living and breathing the excitement...and busy pace...of a new school both at home and at work!

Throughout the year, I’ll share opportunities for us to connect face to face, and you’ll see me out and about at both Lotus and Stanton regularly. To start this off with a bang, I’d like to invite you to attend a Family Coffee where we can get to know each other and I can learn from you about the wonderful things about our school district, as well as gain your insights on ways we can continue to improve. Please plan to join me at either event:

  • August 28 at Stanton from 9:00-10:00 AM
  • August 29 at Lotus from 8:30-9:30 AM

Please email me at heather.friziellie@foxlake114.org to let me know if you can attend and so I can plan for treats!

Communication between school and home is essential for student success, so you can expect two new systems in place to provide you information about our school District:

  • 114 Friday Facts--quick email updates each Friday to share key information as well as a peek at the next week’s events
  • Superintendent’s Message--monthly updates from me to our families and community to share stories and celebrations of learning

Both will come directly to the email address you indicated at registration.

Key Beginning of the Year Information

  • Wednesday, August 9--Class assignments and bus mailed out for all families
  • Thursday, August 10 from 9:00-11:00 AM--Stanton 5th grade Meet and Greet (students only)
  • Tuesday, August 15--Meet and Greet from 1:00-3:00 PM (both Lotus and Stanton)
  • Wednesday, August 16--FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! This is an early release day. Lotus will dismiss at 12:45 PM, and Stanton will dismiss at 1:30 PM.
  • Week of August 21--Stanton tryouts for girls volleyball, cross country, and soccer; all students who are trying out must have a current physical on file in the office
  • Monday, August 21--Lotus Curriculum Night for Grades K and 3
  • Tuesday, August 22--Lotus Curriculum Night for Grades 1 and 4
  • Thursday, August 24--Stanton Curriculum Night
  • Tuesday, August 29--Lotus Curriculum Night for Grades PK and 2

School Hours

Grade

Regular School Day

Wednesdays

Lotus Preschool AM

7:45 AM-10:35 AM

7:45 AM-9:45 AM

Lotus Preschool PM

11:30 AM-2:20 AM

10:45 AM-12:45 PM

Lotus Kindergarten-4th

7:45 AM-2:20 PM

7:45 AM-12:45 PM

Stanton 5th-8th

8:30 AM-3:05 PM

8:30 AM-1:30 PM

Bus Reminders

If your student rides a bus to/from school, please keep the following in mind:

  • Please be patient with routes at the beginning of the year. As we work out the logistics, it may take a bit longer to get from place to place.
  • All Preschool and Kindergarten students MUST be met at their end of day stop by an adult. This is strictly for student safety. Drivers will wait 2 minutes at a stop for an adult to greet these little ones. If an adult does not come to meet the child, he/she will be taken back to Lotus for family/emergency contact pick up.
  • Students will be brought back to their home school if, at the end of the route, they are still on the bus. Family members/emergency contacts will be called for pick up.

If you have questions about, issues with, or suggestions regarding transportation, please contact either:

Andrea DeMatteo, Operations Manager
847-973-4037

Maureen Koenig, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
847-973-4028

Again, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the 2017-18 school year. I am thrilled to partner with you and am excited to be a part of the District 114 team!

 

With commitment to our students,

 

Heather Friziellie
Superintendent of Schools