Quarterly Newsletter, Volume 3 Issue 2
The Special Education
District of Lake County
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FALL 2 0 1 7
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS
A Look inside:
Pictured with Mary Beth L-R, Former SEDOL Teacher Sheryl Bramnik, SEDOL Sector Supervisor Joyce Meuth,
SEDOL Asst. Supt. of Buisness, CSBO Barbara Watson, Asst. Supt. of Instruction, Curriculum and Assessment
Laura Wojcik, Mary Beth’s Husband and Son, Mary Beth, Butterfield School Principal Candice Kehoe , SEDOL
Superintendet Dr. Thomas Moline, Libertyville Dist. #70 Superintendent Dr. Guy Schumacher, and Butterfield Asst.
Principal Steve Feldman.
T
he Certificate of Recognition is the ultimate honor for employees working within SEDOL who continue to dedicate
their professional careers to obtaining the best of results in educating or supporting students with significant
challenges. The distinction is usually provided to a SEDOL professional who has previously been recognized as
Employee of the Year or Employee of the Month and continues on in successive years performing exemplary service to
others. By their example, they generate major positive influence within employee groups to perform in similar fashion.
Mary Beth Reich, a special educator within SEDOL for the past twelve years, was the latest recipient of SEDOL’s ultimate
honor that was bestowed, as usual, in a surprise celebration (November 10, 2017) at her sector classroom located
within Butterfield Elementary School - Libertyville Elementary District 70.
T
he Fall 2017 edition of the SEDOL Newsletter brings to light the abundance of ways in which service to others is
promoted not only within employee ranks, but also within the day-to- day instruction of students. In the pages
that follow you will learn how students who attend SEDOL classroom programs are given regular opportunity to help
those who truly need help - locally, by clothing and feeding the poor or building caring relationships with the elderly
- internationally, by helping those dealing with famine conditions or the sending of school supplies for students
in developing countries. SEDOL’s
growing group of professionals who
have been accorded the Certificate
of Recognition will attest to the fact
that a life of service to others is a
very happy life, indeed! Students who
attend SEDOL classrooms are given
regular opportunity to experience the
joy of serving others. The employees
within SEDOL hope that service will be
a regular part of each student’s life
as they mature into young adults and
move beyond eligibility for special
education services.
Service to Others
Dr. Thomas Moline, Superintendent
Cyd Lash Academy: Service Learning................................................. 2
Transition Program: One Hope United.............................................. 3
Youth Leadership Award Recipients ................................................. 3
Thanksgiving Across SEDOL.................................................................. 4
Community Connection at John Powers Center.............................. 5
SEDOL PADS Involvement ..................................................................... 5
SEDOL Operations Department........................................................... 6
Michelle Rappaport: 2017 IASSW of The Year................................... 6
S.T.A.R.S Award Winners.......................................................................... 7
Employee of the Month ......................................................................... 7
The Carole Brooks Backpack Program............................................... 8
Cyd Lash Academy: Service Learning
Michael O’Brien, Cyd Lash Academy Principal
A
ny given day at CLA holds various challenges as students and staff address the academic and emotional needs of
the student population. The staff at CLA believe that taking time to look beyond ourselves and beyond the walls of
our school will benefit the needs of students in both of these areas. CLA staff have found that service learning helps
others, but in the process, helps ourselves as well.
V
eterans served at The Federal Health Care Center in Lake County have benefitted from numerous interactions with
CLA students over the last two school years. Students in Mr. Swopes classroom have run a monthly bingo game
for older veterans which allows them a chance to get out, socialize, and share their stories with a younger generation.
Captain James A. Lovell stated “I am thankful for the compassionate interest CLA students have in the welfare of
veterans. Their dedication adds to the quality of life for veterans.” One particular student befriended a veteran and
conducted a more formal interview last school year. She shared the results of this interview in her classroom as well
as in a staff meeting. She reported a new understanding of seniors and a more compassionate response to those who
have been through so much.
C
loser to home, several CLA classrooms have teamed up with grade school
classrooms on campus. Ms. Furth’s classroom has become buddies with a
classroom at Gages Lake School and Ms. Morreale’s classroom has begun a new
partnership with Laremont School. This partnership grew out of a social work
professional learning community (PLC) at Laremont that sought to connect
Laremont students with positive role models. Ms. Morreale stated, “Students are
able to show their creativity by designing projects for the kids. Student pairings
with a child in need can be transformational for both the CLA and Laremont
student and our kids love that.” We have already seen positive results in just
a few weeks of this partnership.” Ms. Furth’s classroom partnered with Ms.
Labatete’s classroom at Gages Lake School. Young women from Ms. Furth’s class
act as classroom “buddies” to students in the Gages Lake class. Activities and
games are developed and carried out as well.
T
he newly formed middle school program at CLA has also begun to explore
community needs and possible ways they can meet the needs of hurting
community members. They have begun the process of “kicking off” a sock
drive to collect new pairs of socks for the local homeless shelters. They
first identified a need in the community they wanted to address and then
committed to the cause. They are now in phase three of the project, which
involves developing a marketing strategy in part based on appealing to
people’s kinder sides but will also involve a competition between classrooms.
The end goal will be collecting as many socks as possible to help many
homeless people this winter. Teacher Mrs. Johnson reports “It is important
for kids to know that even they can make a difference in the community and
experience themselves in new ways.”
S
ome of the previous projects at CLA have provided school and art supplies for a village in need in Kenya, provided
care to therapy horses at a therapeutic stable, created blankets for local people without homes, provided support
at animal shelters, and provided man hours at a food bank. Other projects are more environmental based like the
school’s Monarch Way Station that is part of the University of Kansas’ Monarch Butterfly restoration program.
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” - Aristotle
A
t Cyd Lash Academy the education of the heart is a daily occurrence in our classrooms, in our therapy offices, and
in our office intervention areas. We believe this education can be transformational for the students served at CLA.
Over the course of any given school year, CLA students provide countless hours of volunteer time for causes that serve
individuals in our school, in our community, and sometimes in other parts of the world.
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youth leadership award recipients
Dr. Thomas Moline, Superintendent
S
EDOL Executive Board President, Joanne Osmond, was honored with the
Scouting Vale la Pena! Service Award at the annual Northeast Illinois
Council Youth Leadership Awards program held on November 9, 2017. Mrs.
Osmond was recognized for 35 years of dedicated service to the Boy Scouts
of America program. Most recently, she helped launch the Adventure Scout
Program, designed to provide character development and values-based
leadership training for boys in Northeast Illinois. The program is especially
tailored to better serve Hispanic and African American youth and their
families.
A
lso receiving recognition during the annual event was SEDOL member
district Superintendent, Dr. John Price of North Chicago Community Unit
District 187. Dr. Price received the Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator
Award from the Northeast Illinois Council for his 22 years of dedicated
service to youth. Dr. Price was especially recognized for creation of strong
school/community partnerships that support student learning.
Pictured; top: Boy scouts of America Scout leaders present Joanne Osmond with her
award. bottom: Dr. John Price with his award.
A group of students from
REACH - Real Life Skills,
Employment, Advocacy,
Counseling, Health Literacy
- are giving back by
beautifying some SEDOL
property. They are creating
a memory garden at the
Transition Center South -
Mundelein, and are weeding
at Gages Lake School
Transition Program: One Hope United
™
Erik Gold, Transition Coach
R
ight before holiday break, students from REACH Transition
Program classroom donated 20 student made blankets to One
Hope United - a private, nonprofit human service organization
dedicated to protecting children and strengthening families. The
students shopped for the fabric and made each blanket over the
course of a month, volunteering their time to help boys in the
area that are in need. The blankets were personally delivered by
the REACH Transition students to One Hope United in Lake Villa
in December 2016. This December will be the fourth year the
REACH Transition students partcipate in making and delivering the
blankets, the first being in 2014.
Pictured above: Mike Vitucci, Tess
Macayeal, Steven Thommes, Cindy
Dombkowski (One Hope United),
Katie Evans (Transition Coach), Dana
Chism (Asst. Transition Supervisor),
James Rix and other students.
Pictured left: Transition students
make the blankets to be donated.
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Thanksgiving across SEDOL
Below, Language & Social
Skill Opportunies 3 (LASSO-3)
and Exploring Learning &
Participating (ELP) students at
Laremont School prepare and
enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.
Below, Students in Deb Thomas’s Educational Life Skills Classroom in District 187
North Chicago High School work to prepare a Thanksgiving feast. The students were
joined by; Dr. Peggy Lynch, Asst. Supt. for Human Resources; Laura Wojcik, Asst. Supt.
of Instruction Curriculum and Assessment; Joyce Meuth, Sector Supervisor; SEDOL
Itinerant Teachers and D.187 Special Education Coordinator Carol DuClos.
Students in Karen Martin’s Educational Life Skills Class at District 128, Vernon Hills High School, enjoy a Thanksgiving
meal with their families, classmates and Best Buddies.
Community Connections at John Powers Center
Judith Ormerod Assmann, Curriculum & Instruction Coordinator
L
anguage development and literacy is the prime focus of John Powers
Center. To emphasize the point that reading is important for everyone,
the students and staff have contributed regularly to Bernie’s Book Bank,
which is located in northeastern Lake County. It is one of the largest
literacy programs in the Chicago area. The school starts collecting books
in November through book drives and individual donations. In the past,
students have taken a field trip to the Bernie’s Book Bank to work at the
different stations dividing, labeling, bagging, and boxing the books to be
brought to at-risk students at schools all over the Chicagoland area. Most
recently, staff brought books to the facility over a weekend and worked
the line with their families. John Powers Center students are learning
that when we work together, we can make a real impact on our local
community.
T
he elementary students in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at John Powers
Center have established a wonderful friendship with the Victory Centre of Vernon
Hills residents. The senior living community is within walking distance of the school.
Every October for the past three years, the students walk over to the Victory Centre
where the seniors have planned a fall party. The students and the seniors play
Halloween games and, of course, the students trick or treat through the building. In
turn, the students present fall decorations that they have made for the seniors to
hang on their apartment doors. Every spring John Powers Center hosts a story time
gathering. The seniors read stories to students who are thrilled to see their friends
again. Over time it has developed into meaningful relationships between the students
and seniors, with many of the seniors learning some sign language to communicate
with the students.
SEDOL PADS involvement
Erin Hook Tidd, Laremont School Teacher
I
f you would like to help provide needed items for any of the lunches, please
contact Erin Hook Tidd ([email protected]) and she will help get you in touch with
one of the date coordinators. Lunches are delivered the second Tuesday of each
month (breakfast is the fifth Tuesday) to the Wildwood Presbyterian Church for
distribution the following day. Kevin Saum, Diretor of Buildings and Grounds, helps
handle the pickup and delivery of meals.
S
EDOL is once again assisting with providing lunches and a few breakfasts for the Lake County Providing Advocacy,
Dignity and Shelter (PADS) program. Several SEDOL staff members have volunteered to assist by signing up to
coordinate one of the meal dates. These coordinators then work with their programs, buildings, classrooms and/or
fellow staff members to collect needed items and assemble the meals. Programs taking part this year include: SEDOL
Administration Building A-wing (October); Transition/ECAT (October); Gages Lake School (November); John Powers
Center (December); North Chicago High School (January); ELP Transition (January); Millburn Middle School (February);
LASSO-3 Transition (March) and Cyd Lash (April).
Pictured above left: Administration Building staff make sandwiches and pack lunches. Pictured above right: Students at Gages Lake
School Pack lunches for PADS, and decorate the lunch bags with art and encouragement.
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SEDOL Operations Department
Kevin Saum, Director of Buildings and Grounds
T
he SEDOL operations department consists of the following staff: Director of Buildings
and Grounds, 2 full-time maintenance, 1 full time Grounds, 1 full time Purchasing/
Distribution, 1 full time Operation’s Assistant, 9 full time Custodians and 6 part-time
Custodians.
The operations department is responsible for the following SEDOL facilities:
• 5 school buildings (Gages Lake School, Cyd Lash Academy, Laremont School,
Powers Center, and Transition Center South)
• 3 transition storefronts (Atkinson, Seymour A and B),
• Administration building.
T
he structure of the operations department is constantly evolving with changing
building usage and new rules and regulations for educational facilities.
T
he maintenance department is responsible for work orders generated daily from
School Dude. In addition, emergency tasks range from rodding out sewer lines to
repairing critical electrical and HVAC issues. Ninety percent of repairs needed at SEDOL
facilities are performed by our in-house staff. The following are a few of the completed
maintenance tasks:
• The build-out of all the Transition storefront sites
• Installation of many classroom swings
• Sensory room equipment installations and set-ups
• Mobility room equipment installation
• SEDOL Gages Lake Campus snow removal
I
n addition to serving the SEDOL owned facilities, the operations department is also
responsible for ordering and distribution of all staff purchases through SDS, Sam’s Club and
other vendors to both SEDOL owned facilities and sector classrooms throughout the county. In
the summer months some classrooms are often moved from one district to another.
O
ur Custodial staff have many skill sets to keep SEDOL facilities clean and safe for staff and
students. All custodial staff are trained on all the equipment and cleaning chemicals used
in SEDOL facilities. Besides daily cleaning tasks, custodians handle room set-ups, blood borne
pathogen clean-ups and notify maintenance of any unsafe conditions.
T
he entire operations staff strives to keep all SEDOL facilities clean, safe and conducive to a
successful learning and therapeutic environment. Operations work is often very much behind
the scenes; feel free to acknowledge or say hello to our Operations staff.
E
very year the operations department is told that the following summer will
be quiet in terms of new construction and projects: this seldom happens.
Here are a few of the completed task highlights from the past several years:
• Materials moved from the old Laremont School (current Gages Lake
School) to the new Laremont School
• SEDOL Lake Forest School moved from Lake Forest to Gages Lake
School.
• Painting the entire Lake Forest SEDOL School after vacating space.
• Moving out all materials in the Administration building for
renovations, and then back again.
• Moved 3 SEDOL structures into storage to make room for the new
parking and roads on campus.
Michelle Rappaport: 2017 IASSW School Social Worker of the year
O
n Friday October 20, 2017 SEDOL Social Worker Michelle
Rappaport was honored during the IASSW conference in Lisle,
Illinois. Michelle has been a social worker at SEDOL for 11 years
and has spent most of her time at Cyd Lash Academy. Michelle is
known for her creativity, innovation, and dedication to her students.
She started The Bridges Program, an alternative to suspension
program, at CLA and has authored three books on this subject.
Michelle also has successfully written grants to fund additional
programs for SEDOL students. She was nominated for this award by
two colleagues and her daughter who is also a school social worker.
Congratulations to Michelle on this well-deserved honor!
Pictured with Michelle L-R, Social Work Dept. Liaison Amy
Byrne, Cyd Lash Asst. Principal Kristina Bacci, Cyd Lash
Principal Mike O’Brien, Therapeutic Service Coordinator
Linda Amundsen and Cyd Lash Asst. Principal Deanna Gill.
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Employee of the Month
September- Karen Jacobs
October - Nadia Iftekhar
November - Sarah Kraus
Bookkeeper Karen Jacobs was recognized as
September’s Employee of the Month.
Nadia Iftekhar, Teacher of the Deaf/Hard
of Hearing at John Powers Center, was
recognized as October’s employee of the
month.
Sarah Kraus, Paraprofessional in the
Educational Life Skills class at Woodland
Middle School, was recognized as November’s
Employee of the month.
Pictured with Sarah (l-r) are: her husband; Teacher
Ronnie Carbonara; and Board President Joanne
Osmond.
Pictured with Nadia are Assistant Principal Dan
Houlihan and Board President Joanne Osmond.
Pictured with Karen are Superintendent Dr. Tom
Moline and Assistant Superintendent of Business
Barbara Watson.
S.t.a.r.s award winners
Students Taking Academic Responsibility Seriously
g
september - Angela Thurmond
The Board
recognized
Angela Thurmond,
a student from
North Chicago
District #187, as
September’s
STARS student.
Angela attends
Laremont School.
Pictured (l-r) are: Dr. Carol Du Clos, Co-Director of Special
Education for District #187; Mrs. Lorraine Thurmond, Angela’s great
grandmother; Teacher Ashley Merkel; Angela; and Board President
Joanne Osmond.
October - Angel Martinez
The Board recognized Angel Martinez, a student from
Grant H.S. District #124, as the STARS student for
October. Angel attends Cyd Lash Academy.
Pictured (l-r) are: Assistant Principal Kris Bacci; Assistant
Principal Dede Gill; Angel’s aunt and sister; Teacher Tina Borges;
Social Worker Stacey Gottlieb; Angel; Principal Mike O’Brien;
and Dr. Christy Sefcik, Superintendent of District #124/ Executive
Board member.
November - Austin Cleaver
The Board recognized Austin Cleaver, a student from Gavin
District #37, as November’s STARS student. Austin attends
the Educational Life Skills class at Woodland Middle School.
Pictured with Austin (l-r) are: Austin’s dad and
brother; Austin’s mom, Teacher Ronnie Carbonara; and Board
President Joanne Osmond.
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The Carole Brooks Backpack Program: 5 Years Strong
Cecilia McKenzie, Resource Development Facilitator
T
his holiday season, we celebrate our fifth year of the Carole Brooks Backpack Program. Aptly named for the woman
who started it all in 2012, Dr. Brooks was SEDOL’s Resource Development Facilitator from 2004 to 2015. Her legacy
and efforts in providing resources to students and staff remain woven into SEDOL’s fabric. Since those early days, the
backpack program has grown significantly, from providing 20 food-filled weekly backpacks to students, to providing
more than 150 food-filled backpacks during the regular and extended school year.
W
hile the program’s initial intent was to meet the needs of hungry students, the logistical process of finding ways to
internally support and sustain the program paved the way for its evolution into the relevant vocational program
it is today for SEDOL’s LASSO-3, ELP and SAB students. The students are an integral part of the program’s success and
are actively involved in making sure both cupboards are filled and backpacks distributed weekly. In addition to the
students, we wish to thank the following:
• Thank you Susie Rotman (Mitzvah Meals / Congregation Or Shalom) for your unwavering support of our program.
This year, your organization went above and beyond with a special donation that provided an alternative (sports
duffel and regular backpack) to the rolling backpack for our high school students.
• Thank you St. Dismas for your ongoing support and commitment to our students.
• Thank you Northern Illinois Food Bank for being willing to not only join us in our vision, but being willing to
support the program during both the regular and extended school year;
• Thank you to retired SEDOL staff, Jim Ross and Elaine Gruber for so beautifully passing the baton to Erin Tidd, our
latest Coordinator;
• Thank you to Erin Tidd and staff for embracing the baton, clarifying and communicating expectations to streamline
the incredible logistical processes that keeps the program going;
• Thank you to the Social Work Department and Nursing staff for your unwavering support and distribution efforts
that ensure our students receive their food weekly;
• Thank you SEDOL Foundation for the significant financial support that continues to impact the program;
• Thank you building Principals and SEDOL staff for your ongoing support of the program through your donations of
food, funds and time.
For additional information about the Carole Brooks Backpack Program, please contact Cecilia McKenzie at 847-986-2314.
D
uring the early years of the program, SEDOL relied heavily on grassroots’ fundraising efforts that included Bingo
and Baggo’s, food drives, staff and student fundraising and donation efforts and support from local businesses.
Especially instrumental in the early success (and continued sustainability of the program today) are donations from
Mitzvah Meals / Congregation Or Shalom and St. Dimas. In 2014, we were fortunate to welcome Northern Illinois Food
Bank as one of our partners. In the fall of 2015, we welcomed SEDOL Foundation, whose major fundraising efforts
continue to play a vital role in our program’s successes.
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For more, Visit; www.sedol.us
G
t
Contributors:
Linda Amundsen, Therapeutic Services Coordinator
Judith Assmann, Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator
Erik Gold, Job Coach, Transition Program
Erin Hook Tidd, Teacher, Laremont School
Cecilia McKenzie, Resource Development Facilitator
Dr. Thomas L. Moline , Superintendent
Michael O’Brien, Principal, Cyd Lash Academy
Kevin Saum, Director of Buildings and Grounds
Caitlin Thompson, Data Specialist
Visit, Sedol.Us/Newsletter for current & past SEDOL Quarterly Newsletters
150+*
2017
2012
2015
2016
2013
2014
20served
68served
140+served
150+served
Numberserved(includesESY):
*Anticipated
(includesESY)
Anatomy of a Food Program
FY15:Northern
ILFoodBankserves
ESYstudents.
FY11:Staff
recognize
growing
numberof
students
impactedby
chronic
hunger.
FY12:Trustmark
ImpactEducator
Grantawarded:66
rollingbackpacks
purchased.
FY13:NorthernILFood
BankjoinsSEDOL'sWeekend
Backpackprogramproviding
backpacks&foodto18
GagesLakeStudents.
FY14:Northern
ILFoodBank
expandssupportto
LaremontSchool.
FY13:CollaboraUvepartnershipsareformed
withCongregaUonOrShalom/Mitzvah
Meals,St.AnastasiaandSt.Dismas.
FY13:Bingo&Baggo'sFundraisers,food
drives,VikingMiddleSchool&TransiUon
studentscollect4000lbs.+offood,donaUon$$$.
FY15:
No.IL
FoodBank
expandsto
40backpacks
perweek.
FY16:Awarded
grantfromWalmartFdn.
topurchasefooditems.
FY16:SEDOL
FoundaUonhostsmajor
fundraisingevent.$$$
FY14:Bingo&
Baggo'sfundraiser&
staff/classroomdonaUons.
FY16:NorthernIL
FoodBankserves
ESYstudents.
FY14:Northern
ILFoodBank
servesESYstudents.
Sector
Classrooms
ESY
Estimated Cost: Donations/fundraising for 150+ students for 40 weeks = $57,000/Annually (Includes ESY)
FY16:On-goingstaff
&communityfundraising.
FY17:SEDOL
Fdn.,No.IL
FoodBank,St.
Dismas&Cong.
OrShalom/
MitzvahMeals
remainacUve
partners.
Students&staff
conUnueto
fundraiseinthe
classroom&
community.
Laremontbecomes
theepicenterof
programcoordinaUon
andfooddistribuUon.
JImRoss,ElaineGruber
(pastcoordinators)and
ErinTidd(current)play
keyrolesinprogram
coordinaUon.
LASSO-3,ELP&SABstudentsassist
withpurchasing,sorUng,packing&
deliveryoffooditems.AvocaUonally
relevantprogramforstudentscomes
tofruiUon.
SocialWorkersandNursingstaff
playkeyrolesinensuringfoodis
distributedweeklytostudents
andtheirfamilies.
Student,parentand
teachersurveysprovide
feedbacktoprogram's
efficacy.
InaddiUontoaddressingchronic
hunger,programimpactincludes
gainsinacademic,social/
emoUonal&vocaUonalgoalsfor
SEDOLstudents.
Schools & Programs served by the Carole Brooks Backpack Program
