Insight 67/115 - Summer 2022 Issue

S P R I N G / SU M M E R 2 022

What’s Inside PORTRAIT OF A LEARNER

Inspiring Excellence

Follow us

DISTRICT 67

DISTRICT 115

Celebrating Our Scouts & Graduates

4

DISTRICT 67

Learning, Achieving, and Growing

6

DISTRICT 65

Checking in with District 65

8

DISTRICT 115

Photography: VIP Photography

115 67 65

2

Design: Kym Abrams Design

Lake Forest School Districts 67 and 115 300 South Waukegan Road Lake Forest, IL 60045

Subscribe

OR FIND US ONLINE

lakeforestschools.org/insight

PERMIT NO. 329

PAID LAKE FOREST, IL

ECRWSS

U.S. POSTAGE

PRSRT STD

Your Source for Good News in Districts 67 & 115

The Portrait of a Learner design process considered these questions:

What are the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that our community has for our What are the skills and mindsets our students need students? for success in this rapidly changing, complex world?

What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences that we provide in our Districts?

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS

Portrait of a Learner: Inspiring Excellence To Our Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood Community Members, As District superintendents, we are proud of all that our students, staff, and families have accomplished during the 2021-2022 school year. Student growth, well-being, and whole-child development were at the forefront of every initiative we undertook. We also spent a great deal of time thoughtfully considering how and where our three Districts — District 65, District 67, and District 115 — could work together more closely. While our Districts are unique in many ways, we are all connected by the shared aspiration that every student engages in an educational experience that prepares them to thrive in their future lives.

To explore how to put this into action, we embarked on the Portrait of a Learner visioning process earlier this spring. We invited members of our Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood communities to serve on a Portrait Design Team, which represented a diverse collection of stakeholder groups, including students, families, staff, civic leaders, and community members. The group met four times over the course of several months and, through a series of facilitated conversations and exercises, selected six competencies and helped to develop a graphic image to serve as the North Star for our Districts. Those six key competencies are: critical thinking, communication, empathy, adaptability, confidence, and citizenship.

Our new Portrait is just the beginning of the exciting work ahead for our Districts.

With core competencies defined and prioritized for our learners, we will now embark on strategic planning to ensure that our curriculum is aligned with those competencies and guiding student work in every classroom.

We are grateful to our Portrait Design Team members for their diligence in this process, and to our community for your ongoing support. Together, we will continue our shared tradition of educational excellence while preparing our students for the ever-evolving world that awaits them.

Sincerely,

Dr. Matthew L. Montgomery

Dr. Lisa Leali

3

A

“ We are the class that dances in the rain. We are the class that makes the most of every moment.

We are Lake Forest High School’s Class of 2022, and that is certainly something to be celebrated.”

B

— Charlotte Andress, Senior Class President

E

C D

F G

E

H

“ Excellence is a team sport and I am here to tell you I have never met a better team than the one we all share as members of the Lake Forest High School community.”

—Dr. Matthew L. Montgomery, Superintendent I J A Juniors and Seniors enjoy “A Touch of Class”-themed Prom B LFHS Varsity Girls Soccer players kick off Senior Night C Principal Lenart addresses the Class of 2022 at Graduation D Three LFHS Girls Badminton players pose before a match E Honors Night honors students with a variety of talents and skills F Graduation caps fly high as the Class of 2022 is officially certified G The Latin Club poses for a photo together H The ELS Basketball Game is a beloved tradition I Art students use fabric dye to bring their designs to life J Two Varsity Boys Track and Field athletes set records at a meet K Award winners pose at LFHS Honors Night L A highlight from the Orchestra Concert M Signing Day student athletes declare their chosen colleges N The Board honors the Student Body President and Vice President O Business Incubator students celebrate at Pitch Night P Seniors pose on the front lawn after the Wellness Walk Q Outdoor Ed. students experience climbing at Devils Lake in Wisconsin R LFHS Varsity Boys Lacrosse players smile for the cameras S Band members play during the ELS Basketball Game

4

K

L

FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT

Celebrating our Scouts and Graduates Hello and Happy Summer!

On behalf of the District 115 Board of Education, I want to thank you for supporting our school community and for being engaged in the many important activities and initiatives at Lake Forest High School during the 2021-2022 school year. It is the Board’s privilege to serve our students, families, and teachers and we are humbled by the drive, dedication, compassion, and excellence that define our school.

We began the year on a high note, celebrating “Schoolapalooza,” welcoming our new Superintendent, Dr. Matthew Montgonery, and our new Principal, Dr. Erin Lenart. We experienced the pride of successful plays, concerts, Career Connections, Senior Night, TEDx talks, Business Incubator Pitch Night, Prom, Honors Night, and numerous club and athletic achievements. We also reengaged the community in our LFHS Facilities Master Planning, taking a fresh look at our learning spaces and redefining our future needs. Most importantly, we watched our students grow and learn… in person. We were indeed ALL IN, EVERY DAY. Amidst all of that, our Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood community — students, staff, parents, guardians, and other leaders — came together to design a new vision for our schools, a Portrait of a Learner. Now, we conclude the year with a bittersweet send-off to the Class of 2022 as they prepare to continue their journey. I could not be more proud of our graduates and what the entire LFHS community has accomplished in a year like none other. As many of you head off to enjoy the sunny months of summer, please know that your administration is already hard at work planning for the 2022-2023 school year.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022 and GO SCOUTS! Sincerely, N

Jenny Zinser President Lake Forest Community High School District 115 Board of Education M

O

Q

R

P

S

5

FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT

Learning, Achieving, and Growing To Our District 67 Community, Summer is here! Hopefully this finds you and your family enjoying all of the joy, connection, and adventure that summer break has to offer. On behalf of the District 67 Board of Education I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for the caring community that has supported our students, teachers, and staff during the 2021-2022 school year.

There have been many highlights. From the first day of school last August when Mayor Pandaleon helped us welcome students, to attending the Spirit of 67 Open Spaces tour, to family events at our schools being back in full swing, and simply having all of our students and staff in our buildings learning and growing together.

As the year progressed, students and staff celebrated World Read Aloud Day with our City leaders, hosted band, orchestra and chorus concerts, participated in a districtwide Culture Fair, and took part in a wide array of academic and athletic competitions. Three APT-led community service drives provided food for neighboring communities, and additional grade and building-level initiatives supported local nonprofits. As the school year came to a close, we hosted award ceremonies, Field Days, music and theater performances, transition events for incoming fifth graders, graduation for eighth graders, and shared the results of the Portrait of a Learner visioning process with our community.

Being all in, every day allowed our staff countless opportunities to work toward our mission of inspiring and empowering all students to maximize their growth as learners and develop a balanced sense of self, steadfast resiliency and deep respect for others. As a result, our students are moving forward - learning, achieving, and growing. We are proud of their progress and deeply grateful for the tireless encouragement, guidance, and support provided to them by teachers, staff, families, and our broader community.

We wish everyone a wonderful summer break filled with opportunities for relaxation, reading, and renewal. Our administrative team is hard at work planning for the 2022-2023 school year and many of our teachers and staff are participating in professional learning opportunities this summer. The Board will continue working on filling the open seat with an anticipated appointment at our August meeting.

Please continue to connect and engage with us!

All the best,

Suzanne Sands District 67 Board of Education President

A

B

A Everett students square off for a Battle of the Books B District retirees celebrate the end of the year C Cherokee students present a “School Spotlight” at a Board meeting D DPM students practice their skills during the Spring Concert E Cherokee fourth-graders combine research and fun in class F DPM eighth-grade graduates celebrate their promotion to high school G Cherokee Cheetahs pose at a Poms performance H Sheridan students tend to their newly planted garden I Cherokee students enjoy a field trip to Lake Forest Open Lands J Sheridan Sharks take a break with friends at Field Day K Sheridan’s Principal Milsk poses with students at a school celebration L DPM music students perform at the Spring Concert M Cherokee students volunteer at Feed my Starving Children N Everett Eagles learn, play, and soar together with friends O First-graders at Cherokee use Rigamajigs to build houses P DPM musicians rehearsing “Rockin’ 67 Blues” with composer Bob Phillips Q Sheridan Sharks enjoy a Friday “Relax and Read” R Everett third-graders raise awareness about vehicle idling during pick-up S Everett’s Principal Fitzsimmons poses with the “Principal for a Day” T Future Cherokee engineers practice with Magna-Tiles

D

C

E

F

D

H

G

I

J K

L

K

“ Magic is what draws people to work in schools. It is not easy.

Yet, that spark when a child makes a connection, has a new idea, or feels the success of a hard-won accomplishment; that’s the stuff!”

M

— Suzanne Sands, District 67 Board of Education President O

N

P

Q

T R

S

7

C

A

B

“ LBMS was busy toward the close of the 2021-2022 school year. We hosted the last Chorus Concert of the year, our final Band Concert, the LBMS Art Show, and the Academic Awards Assembly where students demonstrated their skills, talent, and creativity. We also honored our eighth graders at Graduation, celebrating them for overcoming many challenges over the last few years.”

D

—Nate Blackmer, Lake Bluff Middle School Principal E

F

I

K G

H

J A LBES students learned about bicycle safety from the LB Police Dept.

B LBMS eighth-graders had fun and celebrated at Boundless Adventures C A second-grader presents her nonfiction research project D LBMS eighth-graders packed 109 boxes of food at Feed My Starving Children E The LBMS Cast of Matilda celebrates a successful performance F Two LBMS students enjoying lunch together G An LBMS eighth-grader braves new heights with his classmates H District 65 wishing its students and families a happy summer I Fifth-grade students teaching their younger peers new skills J Principal Bae and a student share a positive message with matching shirts K LBES students had a blast a their Book Fair L There can only be one Rock, Paper, Scissors champ at LBMS M LBMS Class of 2022 graduates celebrate their big achievement

L

8

FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT

Checking in with District 65 As we consider the pre-K-12 educational journey of our students in Districts 67 and 115, we recognize the importance of collaborating with Lake Bluff District 65. Students from all three Districts will culminate their secondary school education together at Lake Forest High School. With this in mind, we were thrilled to partner with District 65 for the Portrait of a Learner visioning process earlier this spring.

Below, we check in with our friends in District 65 for this special edition of Insight.

To Our Lake Bluff, Knollwood, and Lake Forest Communities: On behalf of the Lake Bluff District 65 Board of Education, thank you for your support of our school community. The culmination of a school year is a good time for reflection and as I reflect on the 2021-2022 school year, I find myself both grateful for what has been, and filled with optimism for what is yet to come.

I am grateful for the collaboration between District 65 Superintendent, Dr. Lisa Leali, and District 67 and 115 Superintendent, Dr. Matthew Montgomery. The relationships that have been formed at all levels of our school districts will no doubt yield positive results for our next generation of students.

I am also grateful for the countless community members who participated in the Portrait of a Learner process, which helped to establish a vision for not just our schools and students, but also for our community.

I am grateful for our community’s teachers and staff! They have weathered the storm of two-plus years marked by a variety of complications and stressors. Despite these challenges, they have succeeded in keeping our students happy, healthy, and learning.

I am grateful for our local families. They have remained a steady source of generosity, forbearance, care, and hard work. Because of this, our community offers a blend of school life and home life that encourages both educational and personal development.

And so, I am optimistic about the future we are constructing for our community and our students. The nature of the world can, at times, make navigating week-to-week life difficult. Yet, time after time, I have witnessed our community rise to the occasion, plotting a course that encourages unconditional belonging for every child.

I feel truly fortunate to be part of a community that actively champions its schools and is committed to the well-being of all children. With our educators, school administrators, and local families living out a shared mission of excellence in education, I am filled with anticipation for the great things ahead in the 2022-2023 school year and beyond!

Sincerely,

Andy Duran, President Lake Bluff 65 Board of Education

“ We had several big events this spring including musical performances by each grade. We also partnered with our PTO on a “Time Travelers” event in downtown Lake Bluff where students experienced what life was like in historic Lake Bluff. We rounded out the year with Field Day, a fifth-grade picnic, and a fifth-grade clap off.”

—Kellie Bae, Lake Bluff Elementary School Principal M

9

L AKE FOREST COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 115

Developing Compassionate, Confident, and Accomplished Students

^20 258 One of the Top 20 Illinois High Schools

26.4 8 ACT Composite Score

National Merit Scholarship Award Finalists

131

College and Universities Attended

84

1,454 58

130

76% 124

%

Score 3+ on AP Exams

Full-Time Teachers

10

Student Enrollment

Teachers with Master’s Degrees or Higher

Club Offerings

Illinois State Scholars

AP Scholars

9:1

Student-to-Certified Staff Ratio

Aaa

Moody’s Bond Rating

95% Students Attending College

*As reported by the Illinois State Board of Education, Fall 2021

L AKE FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 67

Educating Without Boundaries Learning Without Limits

10

39

100

1:1

7:1

1,587 100

33

Aaa 67

Full-Time Teachers

23

67

173

Average Class Size

%

Students 5-8 in Instrumental or Vocal Performing Arts

86

%

Students 5-8 Studying French, Latin, Mandarin, or Spanish

100

%

Students K-4 Participating in Music and Art

Athletic Opportunities

%

Students K-8 Meeting Computer Literacy Standards

Student-to-Certified Staff Ratio

Clubs and Activities

*As reported by the Illinois State Board of Education, Fall 2021

District-Wide iPad Use

24k

$

Expenditure Per Student

%

Student Enrollment

Students 5-8 Participating in STEM, Music, Art, Drama, and Home Arts

%

Standard + Poors Bond Rating

Teachers with Master’s Degree or Higher

11

ROADMAP 115

Facilities Master Plan For Lake Forest High School District 115 has shown a historical commitment to safety, function, preservation, and innovation in its East and West campuses. In November 2006, a $54M referendum was passed and between 2007 and 2008, the LFHS East and West Campuses saw renovations, improvements, repairs, and major infrastructure investments. In 2018, the District 115 Board of Education approved a Facilities Master Plan Proposal. Over the course of two years and much community engagement, facility, educational, and financial assessments were conducted and analyzed to create a long-term facilities strategy for future planning.

In December 2021, the Board approved a bond issuance of $15M to be dispersed over the course of three years to address a variety of required and recommended updates to maintain compliance with health, safety, and accessibility standards.

In light of our new Portrait of a Learner and insights gained from the pandemic, the District will revisit the educational assessment to determine how future learning spaces can best

support evolving student needs. As we reimagine what LFHS students need to be successful in their future lives, we will continue to prioritize our commitment to our community and responsible fiscal management. We look forward to updating you as we continue this planning process.

LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

WEBSITE

New School Year, New Look!

Our newly revamped website is live and we are excited to share updated, modern, and searchable content with you.

COME VISIT US

lakeforestschools.org

LFHS ALUMNI

Welcome Home, Scouts!

Help us build our Lake Forest High School alumni community. Please scan the QR code and enter your contact information to be placed on a distribution list for all communications related to alumni relations and events for LFHS.

67

SCAN TO STAY UPDATED

K E Y BAC K-TO- S C H O O L DAT E S

District 67

8/15

Get to Know Our New District Website: Online Information Session

8/24

First Day of Student Attendance (Full Day, Grades 1-8)

District 115 Schedule Release Date

8/29

First Day of Student Attendance Sheridan Early Childhood Program

7/28 8/8 8/11 8/12

8/30

First Day of Kindergarten Student Attendance (Full Day, Staggered Start)

8/15

New Family Orientation (for families who just moved to the community)

8/31

First Day of Kindergarten Student Attendance (Full Day, Staggered Start)

8/16 8/17 8/20 9/8 9/10 9/16 9/17

9/1

9/1 9/15 9/29

First Day Kindergarten Student Attendance (Full Day, All Students) Parent Information Night - Cherokee, Everett, and Sheridan Parent Information Night - Deer Path Middle School Spirit of 67 Home Tour | Outdoor Spaces

Get to Know Our New District Website: Online Information Session Book Pick Up (Last Names A-L) and Activities Fair Book Pick Up (Last Names M-Z) and Activities Fair

Freshman Orientation First Day of Student Attendance (Full Day, Grades 9-12) Senior Directed One Acts Performance Open House Scout All Out 5K Homecoming Game Homecoming Dance