Superintendent's Message

After a few cold, snowy, and icy days, we are starting to get back into a rhythm. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all families for your flexibility and patience as we navigated a somewhat unusual January. Over my 25+ years in education, very few things remain the same from year to year - but one thing that is a constant every year is how often students (and some staff members) struggle with the period of time between the winter holidays and the sunshine of spring. We are in that doldrum period right now, and I encourage everyone to look for and lean on your personal support system. Please know that District 102 can be a support system for all students and families - please reach out to us. We want to help in any way we can.

As the calendar changed to February, I started thinking about spring, renewal, and of course our Strategic Planning process - forgive the all too obvious transition! In all seriousness, I am very much looking forward to meeting with many of you and sitting down with our Board of Education, administrative, teaching, and support staff to listen to hopes, dreams, and expectations about the direction we should move as a District for the next five years. The overarching goal of a strategic plan is to chart a path that moves us closer to being an ideal lighthouse school district that benefits, grows, and supports all of our students and staff.  

We have planned several ways to listen to your thoughts and needs to ensure that our process is thoughtful and inclusive of all voices.  

• You have recently been asked to take the Illinois 5Essential Survey. The feedback from this survey helps us make instructional, climate, and culture decisions. We ask that all of you take a few minutes to complete that survey this month. Your building principals will be sending reminders.  

• In a few weeks, you will be asked to complete a D102-specific Strategic Planning survey. The feedback from that survey is very specific to our district, our students, and the focused plans associated with our Strategic Planning process.

• I will be attending several school events and PTO/C meetings over the next two months with the goal of collecting feedback and ideas from multiple parent groups. Many of these listening sessions will be in person, but I will also schedule a few virtual opportunities as well. 

• And finally, we will ask parents, staff, and community members if they would like to be part of our formal Strategic Plan Stakeholder committee. This group will meet over two nights in April to draft the components of our five-year plan. I would love it if we could have between 50-75 parents and staff to take part in this process. An invitation will go out in March.

In short, please partner with us to chart a plan for the next five years - this is a very exciting time in District 102.

The schools will be hosting Kindergarten Parent informational meetings for the 2024-2025 school year in February. We encourage all families who are new to the kindergarten process to attend an informational meeting. 

Please check the schedule below to attend your neighborhood school. 

Students living in the , Cossitt, and Ogden boundaries attend Full-Day Kindergarten at Barnsdale. Students in the Congress Park boundary attend Full-Day at Congress Park. Families interested in Dual Language attend Congress Park. If you are unsure of which school is within your neighborhood, please click HERE to view our school boundaries map. 

Registration will be available in early March. 

Barnsdale Road | Full-Day Kindergarten

• Tuesday, February 20th at 7:00 p.m.

Congress Park | Full-Day Kindergarten | Dual Language Program

• Tuesday, February 27th at 6:00 p.m.

Ogden Ave | Half-Day Kindergarten

• Wednesday, February 27th at 6:30 p.m.

*If you are in the Forest Road attendance area and interested in the half-day program, you may attend the meeting at Cossitt School.

Registration opens on Friday, February 23rd at 6 p.m.
Registration closes on Friday, May 10th, at 6 p.m.

Summer Programming Times: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

3 Week Dates: Starts June 10, to July 3.

No Classes on June 19. No Friday Classes. 

Each child will need to be registered in PushCoin. The fee for registration for summer programing is $165. 

Destiny Imagination | Current Grades: K-5

Enriching experiences that build on prior knowledge through thematic units that include hands-on activities.

Dual Language | Current Dual Language Students Only | Current Grades: K-6

Current CP Dual Language Students continue to develop their Spanish communication skills in an interactive, fun, and engaging class.

Summer Bridge | Current Grades: K-6

Reinforcement of grade-level skills to better prepare for next year's grade level through focused instruction, hands-on & project-based activities.  

Classes will be held at Forest Road and Barnsdale Campus. 

Detailed information about programs and transportation is available in PushCoin. Families with children who qualify for ESY based on their IEP will be contacted by their case manager.

Visit your child's PushCoin account for additional information, transportation  options, and registration

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Students, teachers, and parents across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.

On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:

·   Effective Leaders

·   Collaborative Teachers

·   Involved Families

·   Supportive Environments

·   Ambitious Instruction

Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.

All teachers and 4th through 8th grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May and will also be included in the State School Report Card.

Additionally, our district has chosen to provide the optional supplement parent survey. If at least 20 percent of our school’s parents/guardians complete this survey, a parent report will also be generated. The parent data will not be included on the State Report Card.

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted [through February 21st]. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same period. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.

For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.

Updates to the Student Climate Survey - Spring 2024

Dear families,

Twice a year, District 102 gives a student climate survey to grades 3-8. The purpose of the survey is to gather students’ perceptions of their school environment.  Results from the survey help inform our actions at the district, school, and classroom level.  In addition to looking at the school environment as a whole, we also consider whether there may be any groups of students for whom the school environment feels less than positive.  We want all of our students to feel safe, welcome, and included at school.  

To make this data more useful in determining how to better support students within school, we are shifting our administration of the student climate survey from an anonymous survey to a confidential one.

Previously, the survey did not collect a student identifier of any kind.  However, beginning in the spring of 2024, the student climate survey will collect the student’s school email address. The survey itself will not look different to the students and families will continue to be given the survey questions in advance to review and an opportunity to opt out.

While the survey will collect a student’s email address, the results will remain confidential. Confidential means that building administrators and teachers will not be able to see how individual students responded to the survey.  It also means that a student’s responses to the survey will not be used in any academic placement decisions or for any disciplinary purposes.  Student responses to this confidential survey will, however, allow us to get more precise and specific information to help provide support or changes to the school environment. For example, having more specific student information would allow the school to address issues of bullying among specific groups of students who may be targeted or more at-risk. 

We wanted to be sure to inform you of this change before your student completes the spring student climate survey. As always, you may review the questions in the survey at any time and may opt-out simply by letting your elementary homeroom teacher or Park Junior High School advisory teacher. 

For more information see:

• Student Climate Class Meeting - grades K-2

• Student Survey questions - grades 3-5

• Student Survey questions - grades 6-8 

• Survey FAQ

If you have any questions about this shift in the student climate survey administration, please contact Lynn Lawrence, SEL Coordinator at 708-215-7075 or lawrencely@dist102.k12.il.us   

In our continuing effort to ensure a safe and welcoming learning environment, District 102 provides each school with an online Safe School Tip Line found on the District and School websites. The Tip Line can be found on a tab located on the District or School homepage.

Teachers in grades 4-8 will discuss the tip line and appropriate uses of it with their students.  Students are always encouraged to talk to a trusted adult at school if they have a concern about a potentially unsafe situation.  Nonetheless, we recognize the benefits of an anonymous tip line as a means for students to report concerns that might include: bullying, suicide, self-harm, theft, vandalism, the presence of weapons or illegal substances, or a threat to school safety. 

Reports made to the tip line are reviewed and addressed during official school hours, typically within 24 hours of notification.  Information provided in the tip line is kept confidential and handled on a case-by-case basis.       

As always, if a situation arises that requires immediate attention during school hours, please call the school's main office; if a situation arises that requires immediate attention outside of school hours, please dial 911.

In District 102, we view discipline as an opportunity to teach, guide and empower children to develop self-discipline and restore relationships, while keeping their dignity intact.  This year, we have begun our implementation of Restorative Practices (RP), including specific training for teachers, administrators, and para educators.  Staff members are trained in a variety of practices designed “to develop community and to manage conflict and tensions by repairing harm and restoring relationships.” (International Institute for Restorative Practices)  

When it comes to Restorative Practices, most of our time is preventative. Teachers intentionally create a caring and inclusive community of learners, built on a foundation of mutual respect.  We use empathetic language and proactive restorative circles to build relationships with and among students, helping everyone feel like they belong.

Conflict is a natural part of life, and when it inevitably happens in the classroom, we also use restorative practices, such as one-on-one conversations, small group chats, or circles.  During these conversations, we guide students through a reflective process, helping them to consider the impact of their actions, as well as how to make things right.  Restorative Practices seeks to hold students accountable for their behavior and to give them a process for repairing harm.

In March and April, District 102 students in grades 3-8 will participate in the annual, mandated state assessments. The testing window for the IAR and the ISA tests is March 4 through March 22.  The testing schedules will vary by school and will occur over multiple days.

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and the  Illinois Science  Assessment (ISA) are the state accountability measures for Illinois students enrolled in a public school district. IAR assesses the Illinois Learning Standards incorporating the Common Core in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics and is administered to students in grades 3-8.  The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) measures the Illinois Science Standards and is administered in grades 5 and 8 only.

D102 is exploring the College Board PSAT 8/9 assessment for 8th grade students beginning in the fall 2024-2025 as a replacement for the current NWEA MAP assessment. The PSAT 8/9 is an assessment given to 8th and 9th graders that is closely aligned to the SAT and the PSAT 10 that students will take in high school at LTHS. It consists of questions in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math.

To help us understand more about the PSAT 8/9, D102 is offering a free and optional opportunity for families to participate in the PSAT 8/9 during a Saturday administration in April. Students who participate will receive their score report about 6 weeks after the assessment. While none of the data from this pilot will be used for placement decisions at LTHS or for achievement purposes in D102, families will be able to get a preview of what the PSAT 8/9 looks like when taken during their Freshman year at LTHS. This pilot opportunity allows D102 to better understand how the assessment works and prepare for a fall administration to all 8th grade students.

More information about the PSAT 8/9 will be included in the Park Junior High School newsletter along with instructions on how families can sign up to participate in the pilot administration in April. 

Calling all student scientists, engineers, and inventors! STEM EXPO 2024 is coming soon

Saturday, March 2nd, 2024

On March 2nd, STEM EXPO will showcase the talents of District 102 students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and creative Making. STEM EXPO provides an egg-cellent opportunity for students from kindergarten–6th grade to explore a science topic of their choice. We encourage you to use your creative and inventive skills to create a project at home and share what you learned with other students, families, and teachers at EXPO. Projects range in complexity from simple observations to full experiments, inventions or technology projects. 

Who:  All students grades K–6

When:  Saturday, March 2, 2024  9:00 am–Noon
Set-up is Friday, March 1  4:00–5:30 pm

Where: Forest Road School Gym, 901 N Forest Road, LaGrange Park   

For more information, link to our STEM EXPO website

Are you ready to start?  Registration is OPEN,  Register Here

All participants will receive a participation certificate and this year’s STEM EXPO t-shirt. Register on or before Feb 17th to be guaranteed your t-shirt size. Exhibits will not be judged; students/teams will be assigned a 1/2 hour time period when they will be required to be at their table to answer questions and explain their project to an EXPO Official.

Do you have questions?  Call the Science Center 708-215-6405  or email Mrs. Hohl, hohlvi@dist102.k12.il.us  or  Mrs. V,  vaiciuliske@dist102.k12.il.us  We are happy to help!  

The Mighty Patriots played against Lyons Township High School on January 18th and scored another victory! The Mighty had a great time and showed great sportsmanship against their fellow team and former teammates. The Mighty Patriots have had a great season so far and thank everyone for showing their support during the games. The Mighty Patriots have begun live streaming their events, check out the video from the last game on our Youtube page below!

#d102studentspotlight The Barnsdale students celebrated the 100th day of school on February 7th, 2024! Students had a great time reviewing how much they’ve learned, and celebrated with arts, crafts, and dance parties.

We’re thrilled to announce the new app for LaGrange District 102! It’s everything LaGrange 102, in your pocket.

Download the app on Android: https://bit.ly/3zbalhW

or iPhone: https://apple.co/3sHUGnZ.

Referral GPS - Connecting People to Treatment:  We are committed to creating a culture of well-being for students, staff,  parents, and the community. In an effort to continuously support this commitment, the district has entered an agreement with ReferralGPS. 

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 compliments the districts 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: 

1) Visit this link at https://referralgps.com/find-help/dist102 to search for treatment resources or connect with a Care  Navigator anonymously. 

2) Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists,  counselors) to seek out treatment options. 

ReferralGPS takes into account all types of private and public insurance including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, Medicare, and families who are uninsured or underinsured. The platform also filters by age, gender, zip code, and special requests. 

ReferralGPS is available for use by district students, staff, and families at no cost. All information entered on the ReferralGPS tool is completely confidential and securely stored. 

If you are interested in seeking counseling-related services at this time,  please consider visiting https://referralgps.com/find-help/dist102 or reaching out to the Student Services team.

The Loft at Eight Corners is Now Open to 7th and 8th Grade Students!

The Loft at Eight Corners is now offering mental wellness services for 7th and 8th graders ages 12 and up, in addition to high school aged teens.

Click here for the latest news about The Loft at Eight Corners

Click here to sign up for The Loft at Eight Corners newsletter! 

The Loft at Eight Corners services are designed to empower young individuals and equip them with the tools to navigate their mental health journey. We provide guidance, support, and a safe space from screening to mental wellness education. At The Loft, a partnership between NAMI Metro Suburban and Pillars Community Health, we believe that mental wellness should be accessible to everyone. We're dedicated to helping 7th and 8th graders normalize their feelings and find the support they need. Together, we can build a healthier, happier community. Let's create a brighter future for our youth!

VISIT THE LOFT AT EIGHT CORNERS:
9049 Monroe Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513
Mon-Fri: 1pm – 8pm
Sat-Sun: 10am – 6pm

Click here for more information about The Loft at Eight Corners

Looking to get you or your family involved in activities? Check out our community page for activities and programs within the area. Here are some activities currently on our community page.

• After School Program at St. Michael's

• After School Program (Spanish)

• Our Future Reads Tutoring

• CommUNITY Diversity Group Summer Scholarship Program

• Donate to the CommUNITY Diversity Fundraising Campaign for Scholarships

• West40 Spring Educator Job Fair

• IMPACT Basketball Try-Outs

• Brookfield Parks & Recreation Summer Camp

  • Registration

• CommUNITY Diversity Group of La Grange Area::  Unvarnished: Housing Discrimination in the Western Suburbs

• Four Point Play Boys Basketball Tryouts

• Four Point Play Girls Basketball Tryouts

• West End Arts Festival

  • Application