The La Grange D102 Community Fund aims to bridge the gap between donated supplies and additional resources needed to meet the diverse needs of our students. Recognizing that some families in our district face economic challenges, we believe in the power of unity and collective support. When you donate, you contribute to a general fund, which would be used to purchase supplies otherwise not donated through Cheri’s Caring Closet. Some examples of how these funds might be used would be to purchase items such as food, clothing, school supplies, beds, etc.
It is the last day of National Teacher Appreciation Week, and here in District 102 we are so incredibly grateful for all the hard work, time and energy our teaching staff commits to our students. I would also like to thank all of our PTO and PTCs for the outpouring of generosity for our staff this week. The celebration of our teachers was truly a community effort. In case you want to add a personal thank you, it’s not too late to send your child’s teacher a short note letting them know how much your child enjoys being in their class. Nothing brightens a teacher's day more than seeing excitement for learning in a child’s eyes and knowing that their work makes a difference.
I have always felt conflicted about the month of May. No matter how carefully I plan (and encourage others to do the same), it feels like something important is happening every day. May is somehow a time of celebrating a school year’s worth of growth and accomplishments, a time to make plans for the summer, a time for spring sports and activities, and a time to solidify plans for the fall. In the next few weeks we will graduate 325 students from Park, matriculate another 2600 students to the next grade and finalize preparations to welcome nearly 300 new students into Kindergarten for next year. It is a busy but great time of the year.
Finally, I am excited to present a recommendation for a five-year Strategic Plan for District 102 at the May 16 Board of Education Meeting. I am calling the plan Vision 2030 as it extends to the end of this decade. Our plan prioritizes student growth and achievement, equity and belonging, investment in staff, community engagement, financial stability and facility improvements. The district owes a debt of gratitude to the 90+ participants in the planning discussions and drafting process. Once approved by our Board of Education, I commit to engaging the community in discussions about how we will live this plan for the next five years. I look forward to meeting with many of you, sharing my vision for the district and hearing more from you.
Restorative Practices - Conferences
When it comes to discipline in D102, the bulk of our time is spent being proactive and intentionally building relationships with and among students. That being said, we recognize that students will misbehave and when they do, our goal is to repair harm resulting from the behavior, whether intentionally or not. We try to keep the small things small and as a result, minor behaviors are responded to with a quick redirection or a brief informal conversation. When the behavior has a larger impact, we may use what is referred to as a restorative conference.
A restorative conference is a structured forum between those who caused harm, those who were harmed and often family members, in which participants discuss the consequences of the wrongdoing and decide how to repair harm. A restorative conference is used when it is clear who caused harm, providing a structured process that assists students in resolving their problems.
Participation in a restorative conference is always voluntary. Prior to the restorative conference, a trained facilitator meets with each potential participant in order to explain the process and prepare for the formal meeting. During the actual restorative conference, the facilitator guides the conversation using a script that gives all participants a designated time to talk and time to listen, as well as keeping the meeting focused.
The goal of a formal restorative conference is to help students understand the impact and take ownership of their actions. Students who have been harmed are given the opportunity to share how they were affected by the behavior. Students who have caused harm to others are given the opportunity to hear how their choices have impacted others. Together participants create a plan for repairing the harm. For example, following the restorative conference, the person who caused harm may choose to begin to repair the harm they have caused by apologizing, making amends and agreeing to restitution or personal or community service work.
TD Identification Timeline:
During the week of May 27, 2024, letters will be sent via USPS mail to students identified for placement in Accelerated Math (grades 3-8) or Accelerated ELA (grades 5-8). Information regarding placement criteria can be found on the district website. Letters will only be sent to those who qualify for placement in the program; if you do not receive a letter, your child will continue learning in the core classroom. If you are still waiting to receive a letter by June 7 and would like to request a placement review, information regarding the process can be found here.
Registration for SY 24-25 is OPEN!
Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. If you haven't completed registration yet, please log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal and click Returning Student Registration. You will need to complete registration for each of your children. If you have additional questions, please visit the Registration page on our website.
If you know your child(ren) will not attend a D102 for the 24-25 school year, please notify your home school.
Calendar for the SY 24-25
New District Food Service Provider - Just a Dash Food Service Group
D102 will be partnering with a new food service company coming in the Fall of 2024. Just a Dash Food Service Group will be providing all meals for students as the result of a recent bid for food management services. The company based out of Indiana has over 20 years of food service experience with a specialty in providing nutritious and tasty meals. They currently work with our neighboring school districts, LaGrange Highlands 106, Pleasantdale 107 and LaGrange 105. We look forward to working with them in the upcoming years and welcome them.
Financial Snapshot
March 2024 Fund Balance Report
(Fund balance is the current amount of money available by fund)
Fund | Amount |
|---|---|
Education | $ 17,518,019 |
Operations and Maintenance | $ 3,968,818 |
Transportation | $ 1,513,569 |
IMRF/Soc Security | $ 1,947,931 |
Working Cash | $ 1,506,270 |
Tort | $ 259,921 |
TOTAL | $ 26,964,695 |
Budget to Actual - March 2024
Revenue (budget) | Revenue (actual) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
$ 53,856,876 | $ 49,436,742 | $ 4,420,134 |
Expense (budget) | Expense (actual) | Difference |
$ 52,405,059 | $(36,595,804) | $ 15,809,255 |
Seeking Special Education Ambassadors!
We are looking for current parents and guardians in our schools to serve as volunteer special education parent ambassadors. This is a new and exciting development in our district that is intended to provide interested families with family-to-family camaraderie and support. Any interested parents/guardians of current special education students can apply.
Around the District
Teacher Appreciation Week - #thankyoud102educators
From sparking curiosity to nurturing growth, our educators go above and beyond every day. Thank you to all the dedicated teachers who make a difference in the lives of our students. Your hard work and passion inspire us all! #thankyoud102educators #teacherappreciationweek
Big shoutout to all our incredible PTC's and PTO's for going above and beyond to make Teacher Appreciation Week truly special! Your dedication in organizing events within the community and showering our amazing teachers is truly commendable. Thank you to all the local businesses for coming out and serving our teachers.
Slider is playing
Spring Band Concert II
Slider is playing
Spring Orchestra Concert I
Slider is playing
Community Page
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.
Community Giving
Donate to the Community Fund
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.
Upcoming Events
District Events
May 11: Run for D102
May 16: Board Meeting
May 27: Memorial Day (No School)
June 4: 8th Grade Graduation
June 5: Student Last Day of School - Elementary
June 5: Student Last Day of School - 7th Grade
June 13: Board Meeting
