Drumroll, please! today MES announced the next One Book, One School selection! After weeks of clues, we revealed that Mr. Popper's Penguins is our next book! The oldest student in each family at MES will bring home a copy of the book for the family to read. Inside is a bookmark with the suggested reading schedule. Please enjoy this story with your family!
MES Stars kicked off Read Across America Week with a visit from New York Times best-selling Author Alan Katz! Mr. Katz signed books and encouraged every student to write every single day. Thank you to Mrs. Janes, Mrs. Esgar and MES Student Council for this opportunity.
The Human Resources Coordinator in conjunction with the Superintendent and the Administrative Team have developed a set of resources and processes for the onboarding of new employees. Highlights of Goal 4C’s work include:
-A new hire onboarding process for all new staff members led by the HR Coordinator that includes completion of paperwork, review of policy and procedures, and an explanation of all benefits
-Substitute teacher onboarding process including the review and receipt of a newly designed district substitute teacher handbook
-Yearly substitute teacher orientation that provides substitutes with information regarding the district, policies, and procedures
-Three day New Staff Orientation in August that includes learning about district department supports, meeting mentor teachers, curriculum and instruction training, time with building principals, and our infamous district bus tour
-Two year mentoring program for new certified staff members
Happy School Social Workers Week! Join us in celebrating our district's dedicated social workers who play a pivotal role in enhancing the well-being and success of our students!
Strengthening the district’s website as a means of communication and information has been a continued goal over the past several years. Accomplishments within this goal include:
-Launch of brand new, modernized website
-Regular review and update of website contents including school sites and department specific pages
-Survey sent to families seeking input on website and adjustments made based on the trends in survey data
-Sought feedback from Parent Advisory Committee on how to make the website more user friendly and efficient for parents
-Addition of transparency page to include a one stop place for information on contracts, financial reports, tax levy, budgets, audits, bids, and grants.
-Linked district and school calendars with important dates and events
1st graders were busy this week writing about how a bird's beak or feathers help it survive. They have grown so much as writers this year! Go Stars!
📣 Thank you for celebrating National Public Schools Week with us! Our schools shape the future! With your continued support, we will prepare our students for success! Drop a 💚to show your support for Mokena SD 159! #PSW25
MES students are loving the sunshine and the playground at recess! Recess is an important time of the day for not only physical activity, but the benefits also extend to growing skills such as relationship builiding, creativity, leadership, cooperation, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
Kindergarten enrollment is open now! If your child will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2025, they are eligible for Kindergarten enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year. For more information, go to the Mokena School District 159 Kindergarten Enrollment page of our website: http://bit.ly/4hXYESc
🌍 Public schools are more than classrooms! From family events to partnerships with local organizations, public schools bring people together. Share a story of how your school has made a difference in the community! #PSW25#PSW25
Mokena School District 159 has made substantial efforts to improve the appearance and cleanliness of all three schools. We are proud to share a few highlights of this work:
-Ongoing painting projects in each building to modernize the look of the schools’ interiors using a dedicated color palette
-Exterior soffit and lintel work at each school
-Painting and repair work to the exterior doors and windows of each school
-Annual landscaping and exterior maintenance beautification projects
-Cleanliness report cards completed by building principals to provide feedback on school custodial services and cleaning
-Improved flooring at all three schools including repair and replacement of broken tile, replacement of carpet, and updated flooring
👩🏫 Teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff—public school educators shape our future. Today, let’s recognize their dedication. Share a thank-you note to a Mokena educator who made an impact on your life! #PSW25 #ThankAPublicSchoolTeacher
🌟 Our schools nurture the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Today, we’re celebrating student success! Whether it’s excelling in the classroom, on the field, or in the arts, share a story or picture of a student or students who inspire you! ✨#PSW25
The district has worked hard to provide our teachers with high-quality professional development, learning opportunities, and collaboration time that is aligned with school and district improvement goals. Below are several highlights of development and learning that have taken place within Strategic Plan Goal 2B:
-Two year Keys to Literacy training for teachers in Grades K-5 that focused on “The Science of Reading”, evidenced-based instructional practices and routines for teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, word work, comprehension, and writing
-Year-long professional development plans utilizing Early Release Days focused on school improvement goals including responsive teaching, implementation of new instructional materials, and writing across the content areas
-Relaunch of the district’s instructional coach program in which all teachers have access to coaches that enhance student learning through a student centered coaching model as well as provide professional development aligned to district and school goals and job-embedded curriculum implementation support
-Yearly staff surveys regarding professional development topics of need to shape our Teacher Institute Day into a conference-like day in which teachers and staff choose sessions to best meet their individual growth goals
-Program specific professional development opportunities for teachers of English Language Learners, students receiving Special Education services, and Advanced Learners
-Multiple school based book studies aligned to school improvement goals including the topics of phonics, the middle school model, and metacognition
🏫 Public Schools Week starts today! From Feb. 24-28, we’re celebrating the incredible impact of Mokena's public schools. Let’s lift up the stories, people, and programs that make our schools shine. Join us by sharing what makes you #mokenaproud! #PSW25
Mokena School District is proud to be participating in the Special Olympics of Illinois' Respect Week to celebrate inclusion and to highlight themes of disability awareness. MIS and MJHS will participate the week of March 3-7 and MES will participate the week of May 5-9. This year's theme is "In My Respect Era."
You can join in the commitment to inclusion and kindness by purchasing shirts at https://willpromo.com/soill_respect/shop/home !
#ChooseToInclude
⭐ Please consider helping the MES Student Council as they work towards their "Sharing Makes Us Shine" mission by sending in cleaning items for the Frankfort Township Food Panty! Collection is the week of February 24th. ⭐
Thank you to everyone who came out to meet and greet our newly appointed Superintendent, Mr. Gurney! It was a great way for him to get to know some of our families, students, and staff before starting in July.
We are Mokena proud of our 3rd graders who shared their "Freaky Frog" writing at our Board of Education meeting last night! These students have become frog experts and their public speaking abilities were "toadally" amazing! Great job to Noah, Owen, Graham, Paisley, and Olivia!
Congratulations to the 6 Mokena staff members that have received the Illinois State Board of Education's "Those Who Excel Award"! Your hard work and support for students, colleagues, and the community have made a lasting impact and we are incredibly proud of your achievements!
You can read more about the award and the recipients at: https://www.mokena159.org/article/2038730 .
