March 10, 2023

SD 308’s Employee Newsletter 

To Submit Content to Friday Update: www.sd308.org/FridayUpdateSubmission

 

See Something, Say Something!

#SD308BetterTogether

 

Make-up Date for Kindergarten Registration - Another opportunity to register incoming kindergarten students will be held on April 12 from 9:30 - 11:30am and 3:30 - 6:00pm. Information on registering can be found here .

 

A Quick Message from Superintendent Dr. Sparlin

Hello SD 308 Family,

It’s almost the official start of Spring! This is a great time of year as nature awakens, and we are filled with hope and excitement, we will soon have more sunlight, and warmer temperatures.

We have just two more weeks of school prior to Spring Break. To celebrate the countdown to this opportunity to pause and rest, we will share staff videos over the next two Fridays. The videos will include many great gifts and prizes for staff from area businesses, so be sure to watch for that beginning next week! 

 

It's national school social worker week. Join me in acknowledging and recognizing the impactful work social workers do to support our SD 308 students, families, and communities. 

 

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible accomplishment of three of our Oswego East students who were named as Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Competition. Congratulations to Arjun Ramesh, Nicholas Rondon, and Aanya Roy on this prestigious achievement. 

 

Please remember how much we appreciate you, and all the incredible work you do for our students, and our entire district family. 

 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

 

 

Recent District News

March 8  - Students Named as Finalists in the 2022-2023 National Merit Scholarship Competition 

March 7 - Students in the DHH (Dear and Hard and Hearing) programs visited by Jamal Garner. 

March 6 - It’s National School Social Worker Week! 

March 6 - …and then there were 8! (facebook)

March 3 - Oswego East & Oswego High School Students Attend 41st Annual USHLI Student Leadership Series 

 

• Do you have a News Story you would like to share with the Community? Exciting Wins? Interesting Stories? Fun Photos?......simply email stories@sd308.org. We will be happy to prepare the article and share it! 

 

Staff Info

 

Spring Shoppe - Creations by Pathways will be hosting their 3rd Annual Spring Shoppe on Thursday, March 23rd. All Staff are invited to stop by the Pathways/Transition Program (located inside DAC - Door 2) anytime between 3-6:00pm. CLICK HERE for flyer. This is a student-led micro-business of the Pathways Transition Program. The students are 18 to 22 year olds transitioning between high school and adult life.  At Creations by Pathways, dog treats, crafts, and bath products are made and created by the students to sell at craft shows and online.  The money is used for special activities, outings, and items needed for the program. 

 

SD 308 Empowering Students Tshirts - If you have new employees in your building (or employees who never received a navy blue Empowering Students tshirt) at the beginning of the year, please email communications@sd308.org. Please let us know the following information: 1) Name of Person Requesting Shirt, 2) Size of Shirt, and 3) Building to Send Shirt. Thank you.

 

OFEE (Oswego Foundation for Educational Excellence) - Grant Application - OFEE is a community-based group of volunteers committed to the goal of enriching and enhancing educational opportunities for SD 308 students and classrooms since 1995. Funds are generated through events and donations and then dispersed via grants. In 2021-2022, OFEE awarded 13 grants totaling nearly $9,000! CLICK HERE for links to learn more about the grant guidelines as well as to apply for a grant. Grant requests are due to OFEE by April 30, 2023.

 

NOMINATE a teacher or employee for the District’s PRIDE program by completing the online nomination form at: www.sd308.org/PRIDENomination.

 

Retirement and Multi-Year Honorees Announced: For complete listing of individuals, CLICK HERE, to RSVP to attend the April 27th celebration dinner, CLICK HERE.

 

Superintendent Search: As a reminder, you can follow along with the search process and ask questions on the Superintendent Search page. 

 

Pass It On / Share A Smile Programs

 

• PassItOn! ….. SD 308’s internal program for staff to send other staff “shout outs” and recognize each other!

  • Share A Smile ….. SD 308’s program for non-staff members (i.e., students, parents, community members) to send “shout out” emails to SD 308 staff members.

• Last week, the following individuals received Pass It Ons and/or ShareASmiles:

  • Joan Allison, Melissa Anderson, Kay Ariano, Jen Aughenbaugh, Mae-Ning Baker, Jacqueline Banfi, Stephanie Beger, Pam Bitner, Kris Burzlaff, Meghan Cafarella, Sue Carmody, Esmeralda Cordova-Vargas, Andrea Daleiden, Liz Duncan, Kaeleigh Edwards, Kristin Epstein, Laura Fu, Agata Furmanski, Megan Gentzler, Lauretta King, Megan Giacomino, Brett Griffin, Rachel Harms, Qiana Harrell, Beth Hartsock, Eva Herrera, Sydney Hughes, Erin Jenkins, Sharada Joshi, Sarah Ketterhagen, Angela Klintworth, Colleen Knoll, Kelley Kroll, Kurt Laakso, Erica Linowski, Crystal Mahoney, Jen Malmstrom, Malita Martinez, Christina Massat, Kathy Mayyou, Brianna McKinley, Susan Mcmahon, Joanne Meeder, Joslin Morquecho, Jessica Mueller, Sabrina Murray, Mamta Ngariyambam, Sarah Noll, Casey O’Connell, Jill Ochoa, Kay Oppe, Brandon Paige, Lisa Perreault, Bridget Piekarczyk, Megan Pitterle, Phyllis Polk, Candace Popp, Casey Praught, Julie Rainaldi, Jeff Rainaldi, Karen Rejmenczak, Tracy Riskus, Teresa Robertson, Tania Sharp, Jill Snell, Leann Sondgeroth, Julia Stoeckel, Elisabeth Stoffers, Antoinette Struck, Darcy Tellone, Katis Thompson, Sarah Turner, Kris VanLoon, Joy Varney, Renee Welch, Anthony Wiaduch, Kristina Williams, Joyce Williams, Jodi Wojcik, Ali Wooden, Lori Zielke

    • Please consider sending a PassItOn! to a fellow staff member today!

 

District & Community Info

 

SpEd Virtual Information Parent Night - Save The Date! April 12, 2023 from 6:30-7:30 pm.

The SD308 Special Education Department will host a virtual information parent night focusing on summer recreation program opportunities for children with special needs. This one-hour event will highlight community organizations and the events that are open to the public during the summer months as well as opportunities that are available throughout the year. 

 

PROM Dress Giveaway -  Saturday, March 18 (9-4pm) at the Batavia Public Library. Hundreds of FREE Dresses will be available and FREE for any student from any district regardless of need. Donations are needed and can be dropped off at the BPL, 10 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia until March 18. Click Here for more information

 

School Board Candidate Forums: Board of Education elections will be held April 4. Several area organizations have organized forums (online and in person) to meet the candidates and ask questions. CLICK HERE to see the current listing. 

 

ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Parenting Program - ACEs will begin a FREE 5-week Parenting Program starting on April 5th from 5-7:00pm. CLICK HERE FOR FLYER. The ACE’s Parenting Program provides parents with education about the effects of toxic stress, how to be trauma informed and build resiliency, how emotional intelligence, mindfulness and your own personal love language can help you better understand yourself, your child and your relationship, self-regulation and coping strategies, practical solutions to parenting issues, brain science and how it is related to trauma, how adverse experiences may be affecting your child’s life, health and behavior and what to do about it.To register, please call We Care at 815-942.6389. FREE CHILDCARE & MEAL PROVIDED.

 

Kendall County 2-1-1 - 211 is a new, free, confidential information and referral hotline. Get info on help with food, shelter, clothing, counseling, transportation, child care, health care, employment and much more. Help is available in 150+ languages. For Assistance: text (898211), call (888-865-9903), or visit the website: www.findhelp211.org.

 

FROM THE SCHOOLS

 

District Student Coalition Merchandise - During the month of March, you can purchase merchandise being promoted by the SD 308 Student Coalition. Help spread awareness and empower each other by highlighting our purpose and intention through our Coalition logo and Awareness brand! Support the Coalition by purchasing an awareness shirt (or hoodie) that best represents you!  Red: The Courageous One; Purple: The Truth Teller; Blue: The Dreamer; Gold: The Advocate; Orange: The Coconspirator; Green: The Motivator! CLICK HERE to get your merchandise today!

 

First Aid Kit/Care Package Donations For OEHS Key Club - Oswego East High School’s Key Club is asking for donations to prepare first aid kits and care packages which will be donated to local shelters in need. Members of our community service organization will help put together the kits. For a listing of items being requested and more information on this project, please CLICK HERE.

 

Key Club Spring Thrift Day - Spring is the perfect time to clean out your wardrobe and donate gently used clothes to the Oswego East Key Club’s Spring Thrift Day Event. This event will serve SD 308 families across the district. CLICK HERE for donation details. Shopping date is: April 22, 2023 (11-3:00pm)

 

**NEW DATE** Wir machen eine Teilete ~ A Swiss Style Potluck.  All are welcome!!!! Friday April 21st, 5:30-7:30 PM at Oswego East High School (Community Room/above Main Entrance)  All participants MUST register through this form before April 1, 2023.  All participants MUST bring a Swiss, German, or Austrian dish that will serve 30+ to share!  Children 0-5 do NOT need to bring a dish to pass.  Please be economical and environmentally friendly.  There MUST be a recipe card/handout available so that participants can be aware of allergens and follow their religious guidelines. CLICK HERE for flyer.

 

The OE Muslim Student Association will be hosting our annual MSA Dinner: Islamic Misconceptions - Join the Muslim Student Association on Friday, April 30th (5-7:00pm) as they shed light on the truth through food, community and presentations by their members. CLICK HERE for flyer. For more information, contact tgebhardt@sd308.org.

 

OHS Athletics & Alumni Golf Outing - The 30th Annual Oswego Panther Athletic/Alumni golf Outing is scheduled for Friday, June 9, 2023. In the ongoing spirit of “Once a Panther, Always a Panther,” it is the wish to continue the long and storied tradition to shine through and make this outing a celebration to reinvigorate our parents, community members, and allow our alumni to reconnect. CLICK HERE for more information.

 

HELP WANTED

SD 308 is HIRING! We still have a number of openings, we appreciate your help in sharing this link:  www.sd308.org/jobs.

 

Reference Information

• Questions related to HR: Please call ext. 4684.

• 2022-23 Office Staff List/School Directory… click here. Full staff directory, click here.

• Do you have Great News? Exciting Wins? Interesting Stories? Fun Photos?......simply email stories@sd308.org

• Pass It On!… click here to send a shout out or positive message to any SD 308 staff member! 

• Facebook/Instagram... follow us at Community Unit School District 308/@cusd308

• Calling All SD 308 Alumni! Click here to be taken to the SD 308 Alumni page.

• Do you need help creating digital media or websites? Book a meeting with the District Webmaster.

• BOE Public Forum Meeting: Monday, March 20, 2023, at 7:15pm

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Empowering Students: Engaging, Supporting, Succeeding!

Submit Info to the Friday Update: Friday Update 2022-23 Submission Form