“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
~Anthony Robbins

Feed My Starving Children

I am looking forward to attending this week’s Feed My Starving Children event. There are just a few spots available so check out their website (or email me) if you are still wanting to attend. Superintendent DuRoss and Dr. Knoll will be serving with members of the SEA & SEEO at this event.

If you are signed up, it is this Wednesday, January 16^th, from 6-7:30. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to confirm your attendance. Wear your SEA gear or show your school spirit! Feed My Starving Children has a strict jewelry policy, so be sure to remove all jewelry (earrings, watches, rings, necklaces, pins, etc). Wedding bands are permitted by if your band has a stone, you will be required to wear a glove. Lockers are available for your personal belongings. If you cannot attend, consider making an online donation to Feed My Starving Children.

GPA Mini-Convention

The 2019 GPA Mini-Convention (Feb. 1-2 in Springfield) is an opportunity for GPAs (Grassroot Political Activists) to bring their GO-Teams for a fun, hands-on training.  The convention will also focus on legislative updates and how to engage members and influence legislators. Please email Michelle Mason (michellemason@sd54.org), our GPA for Region 35, for more information or to be included on our GO team and attend this convention. Expenses to attend would be paid for and you would receive a half day of union leave on Friday, February 1^st for travel.

Retirement Workshops

The Palatine Office is hosting a set of retirement workshops taking place February 7th (TRS), and February 19th (IMRF) in the Palatine IEA-NEA Office, 553 N. North Ct., Palatine, IL 60067 – Suite 205, from 4:30 pm until 6:00 pm. Workshops will be conducted by representatives from two Illinois Retirement Systems – TRS (for Teachers/certified faculty) and IMRF (for Education Support Personnel).

Information is geared for all members seeking information about their Illinois Retirement System benefits whether considering retiring soon or desiring to learn about this benefit. Click here to register, but hurry — space is limited!

I am excited to be attending our upcoming SPARKS event this Friday and Saturday, and then getting to enjoy our day off on Monday! Have a great week!

Here are some fun ways to celebrate this week:

January 14^th: National Clean off Your Desk Day

January 15^th: National Hat Day

January 16^th: National Nothing Day (yep, that’s what it is!)

January 17^th: National Kid Inventors Day (perfect for our Maker Spaces!)

January 18^th: National Winnie the Pooh Day

Important Dates in January:

January 14^th: Member Benefits Visit to Muir School (at lunch)

January 15^th: Member Benefits Visit to Mead (at lunch) and MacArthur (afterschool)

January 16^th: Member Benefits Visit to Link (at lunch) & Feed My Starving Children – 6-7:30 PM; Join Code: 76G1ZZ

January 17^th: Member Benefits Visit to Lincoln Prairie (at lunch) & Lakeview (afterschool)

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to make it right!” ~Oprah Winfrey

Welcome Back

Happy New Year 2019! Can’t believe those two weeks flew as fast as they did! What are your resolutions and goals for this year? Hopefully seven days into the year you are still headed in the right direction! And just think, now we have baseball season to look forward to!

Feed My Starving Children

Tonight I will be giving back some of the unreserved spots for Feed My Starving Children. Please register today if you are planning on attending this event next Wednesday, January 16^th. All District 54 employees and their families are welcome to attend. Click here to join, or visit the Feed My Starving Children Website and enter join code: 76G1ZZ.

Jason Eliasek Scholarship

For those of you with children who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in the area of public service, they are eligible to apply for the Jason Eliasek Scholarship. The applications are now available. I have attached a copy for you to this email, but you can also find it on the forms page of our SEA website. Click here for the application. Check with your building representative for a copy or on our SEA website. For any questions, please contact Linda Stolt, Scholarship Chair, at lindast05@hotmail.com.

SPARKS

The SPARKS planning committee met over break to plan our sessions and other activities for the “SPARKIES” who will be attending on January 18-19.  If you have registered to attend, more information will be sent to you soon. Did you know SPARKS has been around a lot longer than the orange frog we know and love with the same name? Just a little coincidence!

I look forward to our first SEA Executive Team meeting of the year today afterschool at 3:30 PM. Have a great first week back and remember, some of your students are really looking forward to your positivity and encouragement as they head back to school today!

Here are some fun ways to celebrate this week:

January 7^th: National Bobblehead Day

January 8^th: National Bubble Bath Day

January 9^th: National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day – time to thank our District’s SROs

January 10^th: National Cut Your Energy Costs Day

January 11^th: National Step in the Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day

Important Dates in January:

January 7^th: School Resumes; SEA Executive Board Meeting – 3:30-5:00 PM

January 16^th: Feed My Starving Children – 6-7:30 PM – Join Code: 76G1ZZ

January 21^st: No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 26^th: Community Closet (Addams) 10 AM – 12 PM

January 28^th: SEA Building Representative Meeting – 3:30-5:00 PM

January 30^th: Half-Day Teacher In-Service

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness you are able to give.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

SEA Elections

Your building reps will be running an SEA Election this Wednesday, December 12^th. Please be sure to stop by your lounges or wherever your election will be taking place in order to vote for the representatives we will be sending to the IEA-Representative Assembly in April.  We will also be voting for new members to our Region 35 Council.

If you are interested in any of these positions, feel free to be a write-in on the ballots.  For any questions about the election, contact your building reps or our Elections Chair, Kelly O’Reilly at the RAC.

SPARKS

We still have openings for our free SPARKS conference on January 18^th-19^th.  This is an event to any SEA or SEEO member having 10 years or less of work experience.  This conference is a fun, spirited learning experience targeted toward newer emerging voices in our associations.  Included with your registration is a one-night hotel stay at the Wingate by Wyndham in Schaumburg, Friday night dinner and Escape Room event, and Saturday breakfast, lunch, and various sessions and professional development.  For more information or to register, here is a link to the SPARKS flyer.  Please register by December 21^st.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Please join the SEA and SEEO on January 16^th at Feed My Starving Children from 6-7:30 PM. All District 54 employees and their families are welcome to attend. Click here to join, or visit the Feed My Starving Children Website and enter join code: 76G1ZZ.

Have a great week and stay warm. Enjoy these last two weeks before winter break!

Here are some fun ways to celebrate this week:

December 10^th: National Pastry Day

December 11^th: Human Rights Day

December 12^th: National Poinsettia Day

December 13^th: National Cocoa Day

December 14^th: National Salesperson Day…if you go shopping, thank the sales associate!

Important Dates in December:

December 10^th: SEA Executive Board Meeting – 4:30-6:30 PM

December 17^th: SEA Building Representative Meeting – 3:30-5:00 PM

December 24^th – January 4^th: No School – Winter Recess

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

http://www.sea54.org

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” ~Anthony Robbins

Kathi Griffin, IEA President, News

Many of you already know District 54’s own Kathi Griffin is the President of our Illinois Education Association. Last week we received some exciting news that she has been appointed as a co-chair to Governor-Elect Pritzker’s Educational Success Transition Committee. If you don’t already follow Kathi on Facebook or Twitter you can search for her at Kathi Griffin IEA President or @kathigrif. Don’t forget to like the Illinois Education Association’s FB page as well. We are proud of you and thank you for being the voice for all of the educators across the state of Illinois, Kathi! We know you will represent us well on this committee!

Building Rep Shout-out

I just want to thank SEA’s 83 Building Representatives for volunteering for their role in our association. Our building reps wear many hats not only as educators, but as an advisor, advocator, problem solver, contract enforcer, and communicator for you, our members. Please take a moment to recognize your building reps by clicking here and completing this short Google Form.

Volunteer Opportunities

We still have openings available for our January 16^th Volunteer Event at Feed My Starving Children from 6-7:30 PM.   All District 54 employees and their families are welcome to attend. Click here to join. Or visit the Feed My Starving Children Website and enter join code: 76G1ZZ. If you have never had the opportunity to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children, we would love for you to experience the food packing teamwork and excitement with us!

Also, I have saved three dates for the SEA to volunteer at the Community Closet at Addams Jr. High: January 26^th (10 AM -12 PM), April 27^th (10 AM – 12 PM), and May 14^th (6-8 PM). To register for these events, please click here. Thank you to Cynthia Dressler, ELC, for already registering for two of these three days!

Here are some fun ways to celebrate this week:

December 3^rd: National Disability Day

December 4^th: National Sock Day…find a fun pair to wear today!

December 5^th: National Sacher Torte Day

December 6^th: National Gazpacho Day

December 7^th: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Important Dates in December:

December 10 ^th (Revised Date) SEA Executive Board Meeting – 4:30-6:30 PM

December 17^th: SEA Building Representative Meeting – 3:30-5:00 PM

December 24^th – January 4^th: No School – Winter Recess

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
~Winnie the Pooh

Snow Day Monday!

Hope everyone enjoyed the past five days and are re-energized especially after today’s snow day for the next four weeks before our winter recess.  Just think, report cards are done.  CHECK!  Hard to believe we are ready for our second round of MAP testing this year as well.  With today’s Snow Day, please be sure to change the last day of school in your calendars to Friday, May 31st, with Monday, June 3rd as our Student Non-Attendance Day (formerly known as Record’s Day).

SPARKS

You are going to hear me remind you about our SPARKS conference put on by members of our Region 35 council for our SEA and SEEO early career teachers (10 years or less).  The goal is to create an energy of honesty and openness by our attendees and is a springboard for emerging voices to connect with other voices as you explore and make your own discoveries about our associations.  The event will be held on January 18-19, 2019.  For more information or to register, the flyer is attached or here is a link to the SPARKS flyer.  Register by December 21^st.  First person to register wins a prize!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

January 16^th: Feed My Starving Children 6-7:30 PM – All District 54 employees and their families are welcome to attend. Click here to join. Or visit the Feed My Starving Children Website and enter join code: 76G1ZZ

What can you do to celebrate this week?

November 26^th: Cyber Monday & National Cookie Day

November 27^th: National Day of Giving – Giving Tuesday

November 28^th: National French Toast Day

November 29^th: National Electronic Greetings Day

November 30^th: National Mason Jar Day…got any fun crafting ideas?

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~Oprah Winfrey

Being Thankful

It’s nice to know we have only today and tomorrow, and then we have the rest of the week off to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family and friends. Do take the time for your own personal self-care, especially since report cards are now just about officially done. Take time to express to those most important to you why you are thankful they are a part of your life!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

On January 16^th, 2019, we have reserved spots to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children from 6-7:30 PM. All District 54 employees and their families are welcome to attend. Click here to join. Or visit the Feed My Starving Children Website and enter join code: 76G1ZZ.

Nomination forms

All election forms for our December 12th election are due at the Building Rep Meeting today.  We have open positions on the Region 35 Council and for representatives to the IEA-Representative Assembly this April 11-13, 2019, in Rosemont.  If you have never attended the IEA Representative Assembly, you should really consider going.  Yes, I know it will be two days worth of sub plans, but it is something everyone should experience at least once.  Want to find out more, contact me or Kelly O’Reilly, our Elections Chair, TODAY!

SPARKS

What is “SPARKS” you wonder? SPARKS is a fun, spirited learning experience targeted toward newer emerging voices (10 years of experience or less) in our Associations (SEA and SEEO).  Attendees will gain a better understanding of our Associations while learning skills and making connections that will help increase your success on the job. Come with a teammate…come with a friend! The event will be held on January 18-19, 2019. For more information or to register, here is a link to the SPARKS flyer. Register by December 21^st. First person to register wins a prize!

Presentation at the Partnership Breakfast

At last week’s District 54 Partnership Breakfast, I presented our $1 per member donation to Lakeview School, Eisenhower Jr. High, and the Muir Literacy Academy. Each school received $500 towards the kick-off of their Food Pantries and Community Closets. Thank you to our building reps who brought your canned food donations to last month’s Building Rep Meeting. I was able to deliver these donations to those three schools last month.

Sick Days and Personal Business Days

As we have a few holidays and breaks approaching, I just wanted to remind people to check their contracts for the language of inappropriate use of sick leave and business leave. We did recently have a large number of teachers call in on the morning of Friday, November 9^th which flagged a concern for the district especially since it was the day after the first snowfall of the season. We do each have five business leave days and we cannot use more than three days consecutively without a written request; however your business leave may not be granted on days immediately preceding or following holidays/school breaks. It is your right to take up to 14 days of sick leave and of course, we don’t want you coming to school when you are sick. Just be sure to look at your contract or talk with your building rep at any time you are unsure of the language in the leave section of our contract.

Appraisal Tips

If you are a non-tenured teacher, you are in amidst of appraisal season and have already had one observation (prior to November 1) and will be having a second observation by January 1 (or prior to Winter Break). Be sure to advocate for yourself. If there is any concerns, you may be asked to bring a building rep to your meetings. If you do receive a needs improvement form, take time to reflect and make sure you are looking at the supports being provided to you especially in the particular components which have been challenging.

All members being appraised should take time to put your own evidence into all four domains and make sure you are aware before leaving any meetings whether or not your administrator has any concerns. Fill out the Charlotte Danielson Framework before your meeting so that you can have a collaborative conversation with your evaluator.

Don’t forget:

The Village Tavern will be recognizing our District 54 employees throughout the entire month of November. Show your school ID and get 20% off your food order.

Important Dates in November:

November 19^th: Report Card Comments/Grades Completed – 8 AM

November 19^th: SEA Building Representatives Meeting – 3:30-5:00 PM

November 20^th: Report Card Website Closed – 11:59 PM

November 21^st: Report Cards Posted Online

November 21^st-23^rd: No School – Thanksgiving Break

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

January 16^th: Feed My Starving Children 6-7:30 PM – All District 54 employees and their families are welcome to attend. Click here to join. Or visit the Feed My Starving Children Website and enter join code: 76G1ZZ

Here are some fun national days this week:

November 19^th : National Play Monopoly Day

November 20^th: National Absurdity Day…make smart choices!

November 21^st: National Stuffing Day (one day too early)

November 22^nd: Thanksgiving Day & National Cranberry Relish Day

November 23^rd: Black Friday & National Buy Nothing Day (I can’t make this stuff up…)

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“One book, one pen, one child, and one TEACHER can change the world.”
~Malala Yousafzai

American Education Week

Today is the kick-off of American Education Week, which celebrates and honors the team of people who work with our students-everyone from the classroom teacher and the paraprofessional to the nurses and our secretaries…and countless others. This week we want to honor and thank everyone involved in the education of our students. YOU make sure our schools are a place of discovery. YOU ensure our students are safe, ready, and free to learn. YOU are amazing!

Our SEA and our SEEO members will be receiving a small token of thanks from the SEA this week. I can’t even begin to explain how grateful I am to work in a district of such caring educators who go above and beyond each day to foster a love of learning in our students!

The Village Tavern will be recognizing our District 54 employees throughout the entire month of November. Show your school ID and get 20% off your food order.

Riccardo’s will also be providing 30% discount during this American Education Week. Show your school ID here as well.

Mandatory Open Enrollment

Don’t forget, all employees must participate in the mandatory Open Enrollment process by this Thursday, November 15^th. All information was sent to you via an email from Nancy Rogers on November 1^st.

Important Dates in November:

November 15^th: Last day of Mandatory Open Enrollment (check your email from Nancy Rogers)

November 19^th: Report Card Comments/Grades Completed – 8 AM

November 19^th: SEA Building Representatives Meeting – 3:30-5:00 PM

November 20^th: Report Card Website Closed – 11:59 PM

November 21^st: Report Cards Posted Online

November 21^st-23^rd: No School – Thanksgiving Break

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

January 16^th: Feed My Starving Children 6-7:30 PM – All District 54 employees and their families are welcome to attend. Click here to join. Or visit the Feed My Starving Children Website and enter join code: 76G1ZZ (flyer is attached for more information)

Save the Date:

January 18^th -19^th: SPARKS – An overnight retreat for any of our early career teachers put on my members of the SEA/SEEO…more info coming soon!

What fun national days are happening this week?

November 12^th: National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day (that’s a mouthful) & Kickoff to American Education Week

November 13^th: World Kindness Day…what can and your students do today to show a little extra kindness?

November 14^th: National Education Support Professionals Day…thank one of our SEEO members for all they do to support your students and your schools!

November 15^th: National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

November 16^th: Substitute Educators Day…be sure to thank a sub in your building today!