“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”       ~John F. Kennedy

Happy Veterans Day! Time for us to show our gratitude by reaching out to any military personnel we know who have served the United States and thank them for their bravery and service to our country. Be sure to take a moment to recognize that today is Veterans Day in your classrooms as well.

2020 Open Enrollment

Don’t forget, the 2020 Open Enrollment is open through November 15. As a reminder, if you do not wish to make any changes, your current benefits will remain in effect. Copies of the “2020 Employee Benefit Guide” was not provided to all employees this year; however a copy of the booklet is attached to this email and available to you here: Link to 2020 Open Enrollment Information on Google Drive.

District 54 Takeover Night- Windy City Bulls

On Friday, January 10, 2020, the Windy City Bulls welcome students, staff, families, and friends to their “District 54 Takeover Night” to benefit the District 54 Education Foundation.  Doors open at 6 PM and game time is at 7 PM.  Tickets are now available for $20 for 100 Level center seats by visiting https://fevo.me/d54jan10

IEA Connect

Anytime you have questions regarding your membership or anything involving the IEA, as a member you have access to IEA Connect Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM. You can reach them via phone (844-432-1800), email, or livechat by visiting the IEA Connect Website.

Important Dates in November

November 18: SEA Building Representative Meeting 3:30 – 5 PM, Board Room & Nomination Forms to be a Region 35 Council Member and/or a delegate to the 2020 IEA RA are due to Kelly O’Reilly (RAC)

November 18-22: American Education Week

November 20: SEA Member Outing afterschool at Fox & Hound

Volunteer Opportunities

December 9: Feed My Starving Children (6-7:30 PM) – Join Code NM631G

January 13: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

May 4: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

This Week in History

On November 11, 1919, “Armistice Day” was first observed as the first anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance. On Nov. 11, 1938, this day now known as “Veterans Day” became a national holiday. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans, alive or deceased, especially giving thanks to the living veterans who have served.

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Sometimes the thing your students need most has nothing to do with what’s on your lesson plans.”   ~Unknown

Welcome to November! You have made it to the final week of trimester one and you survived a snowy Halloween and the ‘indoor’ Halloween parades at many of our schools across the district.  It’s nice to start this week off with sunshine and a blue sky!

2020 Open Enrollment

Last week, everyone should have received an email from Nancy Rogers regarding the 2020 Open Enrollment currently open through November 15. This year participation in the Open Enrollment is optional; last year everyone had to login and confirm their benefits. This year if you do not wish to make any changes, your current benefits will remain in effect. However, the exception is with any Flex Spending Accounts you may have which require annual enrollment. Please refer to Nancy’s email for more information and the link to the Benefit Enrollment App. There is the District 54 Benefit Fair taking place this Thursday, November 7, from 2:30 – 5:00 PM at the PLC. You can meet with representatives to answer any of your questions regarding insurance, investments, and retirement.

End of Trimester One

Hard to believe this Friday, November 8, marks the end of Trimester One. The report card window is currently open for you to enter comments and standards. 4^th through 8^th grade teachers can begin posting achievement grades on November 8 as well. Report cards need to be completed by 8 AM on November 18, as parents will have access to the report cards on November 20. If you are in need of any assistance, here is the link to the Infinite Campus and Report Card assistance Google Drive.

NEA Auto and Home Insurance

As a member of the NEA, you are eligible to receive affordable coverage for you and your family with the NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program. On average, NEA members save an average of $423 per year (another way to recoup your dues dollars)! To learn more, visit the NEA Member Benefits Auto and Home Coverage website.

Volunteering at the Community Closet This Weekend

We are looking for at least one more volunteer to serve with us this Saturday, November 9 from 10 AM – 12 PM at the Community Closet at Addams Jr. High. If you are able to join us, please let me know.

Nomination Forms

I am sending out the nomination forms for several upcoming opportunities with the SEA and Region 35 again. The SEA has 11 open delegate positions and one at-large ethnic-minority delegate position to the 2020 IEA Representative Assembly on March 5-7, 2020, in Rosemont.   We also have open positions on the Region 35 Council, the liaison between the individual members of SEA and the IEA. There is one open position for a one year team beginning December 2019-December 2020, four open positions for two-year terms beginning December 2019-December 2021. If you are interested, please fill out the nomination form and submit to Kelly O’Reilly at the RAC by November 18.

Important Dates in November

November 4: SEA Exec Board Meeting 3:30 – 5 PM, Board Room

November 18: SEA Building Representative Meeting 3:30 – 5 PM, Board Room

November 18-22: American Education Week

November 20: SEA Member Outing after school at Fox & Hound

Volunteer Opportunities

November 9: Addams Community Closet (10 AM – 12 PM) – this weekend!

December 9: Feed My Starving Children (6-7:30 PM) – Join Code NM631G

January 13: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

May 4: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

This Week in History

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16^th president of the United States after defeating three other presidential candidates.

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Good things come to those who wait … work really hard, have sleepless nights, don’t give up, are crazy passionate about what they do, and will do anything to make it happen.”   ~Emily Coxhead

We have just about reached the end of October. Hope you have a great time with your students on Halloween. Fingers crossed they don’t come to school too full on candy Friday morning, our first day of November!

SEA & SEEO Gives Back! Community Closet/Food Pantry Donation Drive

We are kicking off a donation drive to support the District 54 Food Pantries and Community Closets. Each month, 5-6 schools will hold a drive at your school collecting any of the following items: diapers (all sizes, including adult), feminine products, toiletries, cleaning products, and new socks or underwear. Your building representatives will place a box in a visible location when the drive will be held at your school. Feel free to include your entire school community if you want in this “SEA & SEEO Gives Back” event. We thank you in advance for your participation in this event.

Here is a calendar of the donation drive at your school:

October/November: Mead, Link, Nerge, Stevenson, ELC

December/January: Eisenhower, MacArthur, Lincoln Prairie, Muir, Armstrong, RAC

February: Frost, Aldrin, Dirksen, Collins, Churchill, Hale

March: Addams, Dooley, Campanelli, Fox, Hanover Highlands, Einstein

April: Keller, Enders-Salk, Hoover, Lakeview, Fairview, Blackwell

Member Benefits – Complimentary Life Insurance

Did you know that as a member of the NEA, you receive complimentary Life Insurance? Yes, NEA members can get trusted life insurance protection for their families at no cost! To name your beneficiary and sign up, visit NEA’s Member Benefits Complimentary Life Insurance Website. Don’t know why it took even me so long to sign-up for this…especially when it’s FREE!

Nomination Forms

Attached to this email are nomination forms for several upcoming opportunities with the SEA and Region 35. The SEA has 11 open delegate positions and one at-large ethnic-minority delegate position to the 2020 IEA Representative Assembly on March 5-7, 2020, in Rosemont.   Additionally we have open position on the Region 35 Council. The Region 35 Council Representative is a liaison between the individual members of SEA and the IEA. Member of both SEA and SEEO make up the Region 35 Council. There is one open position for a one year team beginning December 2019-December 2020, four open positions for two-year terms beginning December 2019-December 2021,

If you are interested, please fill out the nomination form and submit to Kelly O’Reilly at the RAC by November 18. If you have any questions about these open positions, don’t hesitate to contact Kelly or me.

Volunteer Opportunities

We still have a few openings available to volunteer with the SEA at Addams Community Closet on November 9, January 13, or May 4 (times are listed below). If you are able to volunteer with us, please let me know and I’ll add you the sign-up sheet.   A special shout-out to the following members for signing up to volunteer at the Community Closet: Phyllis Ardagh, Chelsea Baker, Cynthia Dressler, Ashley Houston, Dawn Marshall, & Kara Zielinski.

Registration is still open for the Feed My Starving Children serving event on Monday, December 9, from 6 – 7:30 PM at Schaumburg’s NEW FMSC location (740 Wiley Farm Ct.). To sign up to volunteer, click here to visit their website. Scroll down the page and use Join Code NM631G.

Important Dates in November

November 4: SEA Exec Board Meeting 3:30 – 5 PM, Board Room

November 18: SEA Building Representative Meeting 3:30 – 5 PM, Board Room

November 18-22: American Education Week

November 20: SEA Member Outing at Fox & Hound

Volunteer Opportunities

November 9: Addams Community Closet (10 AM – 12 PM)

December 9: Feed My Starving Children (6-7:30 PM) – Join Code NM631G

January 13: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

May 4: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

This Day in History

On October 28, 1965, construction is completed on the Gateway Arch, a 630-foot-high parabola of stainless steel on the waterfront of St. Louis, Missouri.

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.   ~Japanese Proverb

Today’s Building Rep Meeting

Just a reminder to all of our building representatives, we will be having a meeting today after-school from 3:30- 5 PM. Please note, the location has changed for this month’s meeting. We will be meeting in the PLC in Rooms 103/104. Just a reminder, you do not have to be a building representative to attend. All members are welcome. We will be collecting any early career teacher scavenger hunts as well.

Special Elections Today

Today there will be Special Elections for Building Representatives at the following buildings: Hanover Highlands, Hoover, Eisenhower, & Keller. Please be sure to check in with your building reps for location of today’s elections. If you are running in the election today, you are welcome to join us at our Building Rep Meeting today after-school.  Building reps at those four buildings, be sure to bring the completed ballots to today’s rep meeting.  

Feed My Starving Children Event

Mark your calendars for Monday, December 9^th for our serving event at Feed My Starving Children, from 6 – 7:30 PM at Schaumburg’s NEW FMSC location (740 Wiley Farm Ct.). To sign up to volunteer, click here to visit their website. Scroll down the page and use Join Code NM631G. Members of the District 54 Cabinet and Board Members have signed up to join us as well!   We have reserved 75 spots that evening. If we fill all 75 spots with SEA, SEEO, & other District 54 employees, supports, & friends, the SEA will make a $5 per participant donation to Feed My Starving Children (and this donation would be enough $ to feed a family for a year!). I have attached the flyer for this event to this email.

Building Resilient Students

As the SEA and SEEO begins to prepare for their partnership with District 54 and their work in the area of trauma informed schools, we continue to encourage our members to attend various trainings offered by the IEA. Coming up on Tuesday, November 5, from 4:30 – 7:00 PM at the Palatine IEA Office, there will be a training called “Building Resilient Students”. You can review the brain science behind ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and explore concepts and frameworks to assist you in building more resilient students. A light dinner and 2.5 professional development clock hours are included.

Click here to register for this training.

If you are looking for a more thorough training on ACE’s and Building Trauma Sensitive Schools, the IEA will be offering a 2 ½ day training on November 19 – 21, 2019. Join us to discover the ACEs research, examine components of trauma informed schools and gather tools to assist students with building their resiliency and strengthening their executive function skills.   This will be held in Aurora, Illinois. Sub coverage will be provided to you from SEA or Region 35.   Please email Victoria Mikos or Cynthia Dressler if you are interested in joining our SEA/SEEO team at this event.

More information about the work we will be doing in District 54 will be coming this winter!

NEA Click & Save – Member Benefits

Did you know that as a member of the NEA, you have access to NEA Click and Save? You can save on brand-name merchandise from top retailers, online stores, movie tickets, and local restaurants and shops. Click here to visit their website and start saving today. I just checked it out and found a favorite restaurant by my house offering a great deal that I couldn’t resist! This is a great way to recoup some of your monthly dues dollars. $$

SEA Dues

You should be receiving an email this week from the payroll department stating union dues deductions will be starting with this week’s paycheck. Please be sure to look over your statement to make sure everything looks correct. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the payroll department or myself.

Important Dates in October

October 21: SEA Building Representative Meeting, 3:30-5 PM, CHANGE OF LOCATION – PLC Rooms 103/104

October 24: My building visit to Lakeview, 10:30 AM

Volunteer Opportunities

November 9: Addams Community Closet (10 AM – 12 PM)

December 9: Feed My Starving Children (6-7:30 PM) – Join Code NM631G

May 4: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

January 13: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

This Day in History

On October 21, 1959, you could find thousands of people lined up on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, outside a bizarrely shaped white concrete building that resembled a giant upside-down cupcake. It was the opening of the Guggenheim Museum, known for being one of the world’s top collections of contemporary art.

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“The most beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it from you.’” ~B.B. King

Round one of this school year’s Parent/Teacher conferences are officially done! My hope is that each of you had a moment of peace over this long 3 ½ day weekend (and that you aren’t reading this until Tuesday!).

SEA Gives Back

Throughout this year, we will be participating in various “SEA GIVES BACK” events. One of our events will be at Feed My Starving Children on Monday, December 9, from 6 – 7:30 PM at Schaumburg’s NEW FMSC location (740 Wiley Farm Ct.). To sign up to volunteer, click here to visit their website. Scroll down the page and use Join Code NM631G. We have reserved 75 spots that evening. If we fill all 75 spots with SEA, SEEO, & other District 54 employees, supports, & friends, the SEA will make a $5 per participant donation to Feed My Starving Children (and this donation would be enough $ to feed a family for a year!).

Additionally, SEA is signed up to volunteer at three different Community Closet Days at Addams Junior High – Saturday, NOVEMBER 9 (10 AM – 12 PM); Monday, January 13 (6 – 8 PM); and Monday, May 4 (6 – 8 PM). Visit the Community Closet Volunteer Sign-Up 2019-2020 or let me know directly and I can mark you down.

Later this month, I will be sharing with SEA’s building representatives about a year-long donation drive the SEA will be participating in to support the District 54 Food Pantries & Community Closets.

If you are aware of other community groups and organizations in need of volunteers throughout the year, pass along the information to me and we can see how SEA might be able to help out.

Your Digital IEA Membership Card

Most of you received a paper copy of your IEA Membership Card. For those of you that are new or may have had a building change, you will be receiving your cards in the next couple months. However there is a way for your to access your membership cards online. Login to IEA’s Members Online Website. On your “Member Dashboard” under “Your Association Details” you will see a link to the Digital Membership Card and the Printable Membership Card. Click the “Share Pass” button and follow the steps to add your card to your mobile wallets.

Member Benefits

While you are visiting IEA’s website, take a moment to see what kind of discounts and deals are available to you as a member of the IEA. On your Member Dashboard you can select “Discounts & Deals” in the column on the right hand side of the page. From there you can explore the ‘IEA Access to Savings’ page to see various local, online, and travel deals that are offered to you. Looking to plan a vacation over Winter Break? Each of us automatically starts with $500 of Travel Dollars in our accounts!

Maybe this is the week SEA members at the RAC…hopefully it is.   To access all of the past Monday Messages visit the SEA Website for the archived information.

NEA’s Leadership Pathway Project

The National Education Association is continuing its journey to become a more social and racially just organization as well as position itself as a leader in the efforts to dismantle institutional and structural racism. One element of that effort is to be more intentional about creating systems to address the barriers – historically and current – that leaders of color face in aspiring to leadership, including access to opportunities for putting their experience and skill into practice. NEA’s Leadership Pathways Project focuses on members who identify as Hispanic, Latinx, Chicano, Native, Indigenous, American Indian, Black, Asian, Pacific/Islander, Native Alaskan and/or Native Hawaiian. This is a one-year research and development project. The project would initiate with the 2019-2020 fiscal year and conclude with the 2020 Conference on Racial and Social Justice.

Applications are available online electronically by using the following link: nea.org/pathways on October 11, 2019.  Any member can apply to be a Cohort Member or Peer Coach. All applications must be received by FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019. If you would like the full details of the Leadership Pathway Project, let me know and I can send you more information.

Important Dates in October

October 21: SEA Building Representative Meeting, 3:30-5 PM, Board Room

October 24: My building visit to Lakeview, 10:30 AM

This Day in History

On October 14, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice in America. At 35 years of age, MLK Jr. was the youngest person ever to receive the award.

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Children need to be challenged and pushed, not to the point where they give up, but to the point where they think, ‘Wow, look at me go!’” ~Robert John Meehan

A special welcome to the SEA members at the RAC…I believe this may be the first email you are receiving from me this year. Glad it has been finally corrected (fingers crossed) and you will now be receiving our SEA updates. All past Monday Messages are archived on the SEA Website for everyone’s information.

#RedForEd Shirts

Don’t forget to let us know what t-shirt size you would like for the #RedForEd SEA t-shirts we are providing to our members as a special gift for next month’s American Ed Week.   Click here for the link to place your order if you haven’t already done so. In order to get the shirts in on time, we have to close the ordering window by this Friday at 10 AM.

Conference Week is Here

I know I already sent this information out, as well as your administrators, but I want to make sure everyone has the correct information regarding your hours on October 10-11.  On Thursday, October 10, all certified staff works at least 12 hours, but enough to complete conferences. Elementary Fine Arts, PE, and LRTs, work their regular school hours on Thursday and 1.5 hours on Friday. Everyone must get a dinner break. At least one and one-half hours must be worked on Friday, October 11, by all full-time employees, except all instructional assistants and registered nurses.

SEL Surveys

New to the district this year is the completion of the SEL surveys which will accompany student report cards in November. You will be given staff development time to complete them. Some members have not been able to finish them during the allotted time frame. If this is the case, make sure a discussion is had with your building reps or administrators to provide the additional time needed.

MD Live (available to PPO Members) – Open Enrollment Info

If you are a PPO member, did you know you have access to on-demand doctor visits using your smart phone, table, or computer 24 hours a day? I have attached a flyer for you to find out more about MD Live. Speaking of Benefits, information about SD54’s Open Enrollment will be sent out soon from the district. This year’s Open Enrollment will take place November 1-15.

$2,500 Academic Award from California Casualty

You may have seen last week’s post on social media, that as a NEA members you can win a $2,500 Academic Award. California Casualty’s $2,500 Academic Award is back. Members can enter to win here. California Casualty has been the provider of the NEA Auto and Home Insurance Program since 2000.

Building Visits

Last week’s I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the principals at the following schools: Campanelli, Link, Hale, Stevenson, & Collins. My building visits with the principals will be wrapping up soon. It was a great opportunity for me to be welcomed into each building and to see what fantastic work you continue to do for our students in D54.

Here is the list of my final three visits:

*Monday, October 7 – Addams 9 AM
*Tuesday, October 8 – Nerge 11 AM

*Thursday, October 24 – Lakeview 10:30 AM (LAST ONE!)

Important Dates in October

October 7: SEA Executive Board Meeting, 3:30-5 PM, Board Room

October 9: SEA Membership Reconciliation Day (rescheduled)

October 10-11: Parent Teacher Conferences

October 14: Columbus Day, No School
October 21: SEA Building Representative Meeting, 3:30-5 PM, Board Room

This Day in History

On October 7, 2003, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected governor of California, the most populous state in the nation with the world’s fifth-largest economy.

Your work matters! You are making a difference! Remember that, even if you don’t feel it day in and day out. Have an amazing LONG weekend and hope you find some ME time!

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“The road to SUCCESS is always under CONSTRUCTION.” ~Author Unknown

Hard to believe we turn the calendars over to a new month tomorrow! Good-bye September and welcome to October.  With that comes not just the thoughts of all that needs to get done to prepare for the upcoming parent/teacher conferences, but also the month in which we can take a moment to enjoy the leaves changing colors and everything pumpkin spice…oh wait, that’s already been around for the past couple months.

SEA Spirit Wear

TODAY is the last day to place your SEA Spirit Wear orders. We will be closing the order tonight at midnight in order to get them to your buildings by the end of October.   To place an order, please visit: http://coachsassistant.gtmsportswear.com/SchaumburgEA

Employee Assistance Program

Just wanted to remind everyone about their access to the Employee Assistance Program that is offered to us through our benefits plan.  EAPs help employees deal with situations that might negatively impact job performance, health and well-being.  Short-term counselling and referral services are available. The 24/7 access phone number is 1-877-215-6614. This is a confidential service that is of no cost to you or your eligible family members.  I have attached a copy of a flyer for more information about the EAP.

Parent-Teacher Conference Hours

With conferences right around the corner, I wanted to send out the information regarding your hours on October 10-11.  On Thursday, October 10, all certified staff works at least 12 hours, but enough to complete conferences. Elementary Fine Arts, PE, and LRTs, work their regular school hours on Thursday and 1.5 hours on Friday.  At least one and one-half hours must be worked on Friday, October 11, by all full-time employees, except all instructional assistants and registered nurses. Everyone must get a dinner break.

This information, including information about SEEO members’ conference requirements was recently sent out to administration from Dr. Myers. The hours we work for Parent-Teacher conferences is not something in our contract, except language for PE and Fine Arts.

SEA Executive Board Appointments Available

There are currently three open positions on our SEA Exec Board available: Historian Chair, Membership Recognition Chair, and Jr. High Instructional Liaison. I have included an attachment which describes these three roles if you would like to find out more information. To apply for these positions, please email me by this Friday, October 4, with your name, your building, and answer the three questions listed in the attachment. I am looking to have a discussion with my Executive Board at our next meeting.

Building Visits

Last week’s building visits included conversations with the principals at Aldrin, Armstrong, Enders-Salk, Blackwell, Hoover, & Frost. I also got to attend Einstein’s 10-minute meeting.  Thanks to all of our members who have taken the time to attend your Building Reps 10-minute meetings and updated your membership information for the IEA.

This week I have appointments at the following schools:

*Monday – Campanelli 2 PM
*Tuesday – Link 9 AM, Hale 10:30 AM, Stevenson 1:30 PM

*Wednesday – Collins 9 AM (rescheduled from last week)

Important Dates in October

October 7: SEA Executive Board Meeting, 3:30-5 PM, Board Room

October 9: SEA Membership Reconciliation Day (rescheduled)

October 10-11: Parent Teacher Conferences

October 14: Columbus Day, No School
October 21: SEA Building Representative Meeting, 3:30-5 PM, Board Room

This Day in History

On September 30, 1868, the first volume of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved children’s book Little Women was published. The novel will become Alcott’s first bestseller and a beloved children’s classic.

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org