District 158 is hard at work preparing our buildings for a safe start to school, as shown here at Memorial. These plexiglass shields are being installed at all sites. We are hoping to have our school and district offices open again to the public on Monday, July 27. Personal protective equipment like the mask being worn by Dr. Ross will be required. Stay tuned for more information in the near future! #158Strong #MightyMustangs
District 158 is honored to have the continued support of Illinois Rep Will Davis, who attended and spoke at our Coolidge Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, as we pursue a $5 million Rebuild Illinois Grant to support the renovation and expansion of Lester Crawl!
Lester Crawl was happy to reschedule our reverse car parade last week and say goodbye to our #LittleLearners and their families. We hope everyone stays safe and has a good summer!
On Wednesday, June 10 our #158Strong Music Team attended a Virtual Town Hall with the NAMM Foundation in which Dr. Schilling was a panelist! This session featured 13 speakers from school district selected for the national Best Communities in Music Education award this year. District 158 was honored to be represented and received great information about how to best teach music in a virtual environment.
Congratulations to Ed Howard, Memorial Junior High School Class of 2016, for being drafted to play professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs right out of high school! #158Strong #MightyMustangs #Cubs
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29294879/cubs-draft-local-prep-star-ss-ed-howard-first-round-pick
The Reavis staff and Director of Student Services Dr. Carter enjoyed seeing our students and families at our end-of-year reverse car parade. Thank you to all of the families for everything you do for your children! We miss everyone and are looking forward to the fall. The entire Reavis staff wishes you a safe and happy summer! #RoadrunnerPride
June 8, 2020
Attention Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
Lansing School District 158 will be starting summer food service tomorrow 9:00-11:00 AM at Coolidge Elementary School. Procedures will be the same as grab-and-go meals during the school closure - please drop by for your breakfast and lunch! We will also safety be rescheduling a few activities that were planned for last week, including reverse car parades and diploma pickup at Memorial Junior High. Be on the lookout for communication from your child's school with more information.
We wish all of our families an enjoyable start to the summer.
Take care and be safe,
Lansing School District 158
On Wednesday, June 3, District 158 held a live virtual recognition event for all of our staff in partnership with Horace Mann. Congratulations to all of our Crystal Apple Award and Crystal Owl Award winners, as well as this year's five retirees: Mr. Rick Berglund (Reavis Custodian), Mr. Dave Fortin (Director of Buildings & Grounds), Mrs. Mary Ann Gagnon (Memorial Nurse), Mrs. Lisa Thomas (Coolidge 3rd Grade Teacher) and Mrs. Linda Wolgamott (Oak Glen Special Education Teacher). You are #158Strong!
Mrs. Garcia’s PreK class concluded the school year with a “Fancy Zoom”. They celebrated the end of the year by dressing in their finest clothes and Mrs. Garcia read the book, “I Wish You More”. #LittleLearners
As we conclude the 2019-2020 school year, District 158 is proud to share this picture of the new diploma covers that are being provided to Memorial's Class of 2020. We look forward to awarding these to every child who graduates from our district. During the school closure, District 158 donated 750 computers, served over 32,000 meals, received two national awards, hosted a Virtual Graduation with 767 live viewers, and facilitated 11 weeks of remote learning. Pandemic or not, we are here to ensure the success of Lansing's students. Have a great summer, be safe, and stay #158Strong! #MightyMustangs
June 1, 2020
Attention Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that all activities at District 158's five schools - including grab-and-go-meals at Coolidge, diploma pickup at Memorial, and car parades at our elementary buildings - are being cancelled on June 2-3, 2020 due to ongoing safety concerns. The start of summer meals is also being postponed until further notice. We will inform you when these activities will resume and again appreciate your flexibility during these difficult and unprecedented times. This may not be how we were planning to end the 2019-2020 school year but the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and families are of the utmost importance.
District 158's staff will continue to be available remotely and parents who would like to setup individual, reserved registration appointments starting this Thursday, June 4 may still do so. Remember that all appropriate safety precautions will be observed. We wish all of our families well with the end of the school year and start of Summer Break. Please keep calm, be safe, and stay #158Strong!
Sincerely,
Lansing School District 158
May 31, 2020
Attention Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
Please be aware that all onsite activities at District 158's five schools, including grab-and-go-meals at Coolidge, are cancelled tomorrow due to safety concerns communicated by the Village of Lansing. We deeply regret any issues this may present for our families and appreciate your flexibility during these challenging times. Staff will continue to be available remotely tomorrow. We will inform you if any additional closures are needed the rest of the week.
Sincerely,
Lansing School District 158
Attention District 158 Community: last night our Board of Education made a public comment at the Board Meeting of our neighboring Thornton Fractional High School District 215, which you can read below. We are exploring the possibility of purchasing a small portion of their land in order to renovate and expand Lester Crawl Primary Center. Our ongoing partnership with the high school is very important and we strive to keep our taxpayers informed of our strategic initiatives. #LittleLearners #158Strong #TeamPhenomenal215
District 158 is proud to honor Memorial Day today with the reveal of this new logo for Memorial Junior High, our school named for the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country. We look forward to recognizing our #MightyMustangs with two live streamed events here on Facebook this week: National Junior Honor Society Induction tomorrow at 7:00 PM and Graduation on Thursday at 7:00 PM. #158Strong
Mrs. Wiora’s fifth grade class was serenaded by the violin as the class had a small talent show during a recent Zoom meeting. #CoolidgeCares
Memorial Junior High is proud to announce that we will be holding a virtual induction ceremony for our 2020 National Junior Honor Society students! Please join us next Tuesday, May 26, 7:00 PM for a live broadcast here on our Facebook page. #MightyMustangs
Mrs. Yanke, Mrs. Salazar, Ms. Lundgren, and Mrs. Houston bought shirts to represent the current 8th grade graduation situation. We each took a picture wearing them and are hoping this might bring a little smile to our 8th graders. Congratulations #MightyMustangs! We look forward to celebrating your graduation next week Thursday, May 28, 7:00 PM here on our Facebook page.
At our May 20 Board of Education Meeting, District 158 made several important announcements. First, we recognized our retiring #158Strong Director of Buildings & Grounds, Mr. Dave Fortin (pictured center left), for his 18 years of service! Mr. Fortin has had a major impact on the renovation and expansion of our of our schools. Second, the Board approved another donation of 500 refurbished laptop computers! Families, please contact the principal of your child's school for an application. Finally, we introduced two new administrative hires: our new Director of Human Resources, Ms. Candace Cavalier (center second-from-right) and our new Director of Buildings & Grounds, Mr. Ryan Fortin (bottom center). Congratulations and welcome aboard!
Social Worker Ms. Toppmeyer taught a zones lesson to Mrs. Fry's and Mrs. Joria's #OakGlenGrizzlies. We talked about how we were feeling about different parts of the stay-at-home. Remember to take care of your emotional health!
During this time of uncertainty, the Coolidge staff wishes our community Happy times. We hope we make you smile! Stand up and dance with us! #CoolidgeCares
https://www.facebook.com/LansingSD158/videos/265336747919990/
Mrs. Hersom made a guest appearance on Mrs. Stablein’s zoom meeting. #CoolidgeCares
Attention Memorial Parents/Families: you've still got some personal items to pickup! Most of these belong to sixth and seventh graders. If you haven't done so yet, please contact Dr. Ross or your grade-level assistant principal to arrange a pickup by the last day of school on Wednesday, June 3. Thanks for your flexibility and support with this! #MightyMustangs
Reavis students display their #RoadrunnerPride as they complete their Home Learning Activities!
Mr. Faughn hosted his second Virtual Workout this week on Zoom! The first week over 50 students signed on and completed the workout with him. This week over 40 students participated. Thanks for staying active #MightyMustangs!
Our #158Strong families have been dropping by this week to pickup their students' belongings. Please join us today (Wednesday, May 13) at Coolidge, Oak Glen, and Reavis 9:00-11:00 AM or Memorial 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (sixth grade) if you haven't had a chance to do so. Memorial's graduates have also been taking pictures in their caps and gowns, which are being provided free this year because of the pandemic. Look for an announcement soon about our #MightyMustangs Graduation - we are incredibly proud of our eighth graders! This may not be how any of us pictured ending the year but we're having fun, staying safe, and celebrating the end of the year together. Parents, thank you for your partnership during this unprecedented time. #CoolidgeCares #OakGlenGrizzlies #RoadrunnerPride
Attention Elementary Parents: Come to Coolidge, Oak Glen and Reavis before 4:15 today to pick up your child’s materials.
Reading Specialists Mrs. Gaura and Mrs. Balciunas have been doing a weekly reading time with their students. #OakGlenGrizzlies
Author Mary Nhin joined Mrs. Lam’s third grade class for a Zoom call. She read her book, “Positive Ninja” (a mindfulness book about managing negative emotions and feelings), discussed what it takes to become an author, and answered questions. The students really enjoyed learning from her! #CoolidgeCares
Congratulations to #158Strong Oak Glen Principal Mr. Earnshaw for being officially announced as a new author for EduMatch! His book on educational recipes for positive school culture, problem solving, and collaboration will be published in the near future. #OakGlenGrizzlies
April 20th's Virtual Board of Education Meeting was our biggest yet! We were joined by #158Strong music teachers Mr. Becker, Mrs. DiGrispino, Ms. Rumbles, Mrs. Stephens, and Mrs. Yonkers who were recognized for our Best Communities for Music Education award. Congratulations! Board Secretary Mrs. Kelly was also joined by a special guest.
Ms. Dominiak’s kindergarten class had a Zoom meeting and we read the story Grumpy Cat! #OakGlenGrizzlies
Mrs. Belt’s 2nd grade students from Reavis loved coloring their animal fact postcards! #RoadrunnerPride
Mrs. Fry and Ms. Joria have been video conferencing with their kids several times a week to check in, talk to them, let them interact with peers, and offer help on their academics! #OakGlenGrizzlies #158Strong
The students in Mrs. Lam’s third grade Zoom class celebrated Earth Day, as well as studied perimeter and area on Khan Academy! #CoolidgeCares
Happy Administrative Professionals Day! District 158 would like to give a BIG shoutout and thank you to all of our #158Strong secretaries and administrative assistants: Jeanette Austra, Sonia Barbosa, Donna Boylan, Leonette Daisy, Susan Gerstner, Andra Heneghan, Veronica Herrera, Diane Hess, Linda Hess, Celeste Howard, Ana Navarro, Lisa Robinzine, Michelle Snoddy, Nikki Swick, Gail Tengstrand, and Alicia Thiel. All of our offices are better places because of you!
#OakGlenGrizzly Malcom Smith has been reading Charlotte's Web at home. Great job continuing to learn, Malcom - you are #158Strong!
Miss Spangler along with her cat, Mickey, teach her third graders from home using Zoom. #CoolidgeCares
Mrs. Kern's #OakGlenGrizzlies were continuing to learn and work over Spring Break - great job!
Memorial Junior High is celebrating National Poetry Month by introducing you to several poets. Today, listen to some of the heartfelt poetry by American author Emily Dickinson. #MightMustangs
https://youtu.be/YP31K7k5dxI
Reavis students and staff met at the weekly Friday PTA Zoom session sponsored by the Library mascot, "Sparkle" the unicorn. Sparkle's overall message for the meeting was, "When life hands you dirt, plant seeds!" Together the group shared their recent experiences and books they have read while Sparkle planted a radish seed with the hopes of transplanting it to the Reavis garden soon. #RoadrunnerPride
Ms. Nicole Spangler completed a Zoom call with her Coolidge fifth graders over Spring Break! #158Strong #CoolidgeCares
Our #158Strong principals are still dropping by the office, sharing ideas, planning, and finding ways to best serve our students and families during the school closure while practicing safe social distancing! #LittleLearners #CoolidgeCares #OakGlenGrizzlies #RoadrunnerPride #MightyMustangs
Lester Crawl preschool and kindergarten students are learning at home and spreading love in their communities by decorating windows, completing scavenger hunts, and making emojis! #LittleLearners
Music Teacher Mrs. Stephens would love for you to sing along for fun!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyRQG5szedhtTDR9DcTiAGg/?app=desktop&fbclid=IwAR0Ml-nTPE7m9Kn_Yy1E-jZZjdcNWvhQJ58dIXxIeOIwCHL3v4jgMHrROBA
Lester Crawl students are keeping engaged with distance learning. Stay home and stay #158Strong together! #LittleLearners
Lansing School District 158 has been named a 2020 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation! This is a national award that has only been given to 754 school districts across the United States this year. Congratulations to our #158Strong Music Team - Mr. Becker, Mrs. DiGrispino, Ms. Rumbles, Mrs. Stephens, and Mrs. Yonkers - for the excellent work they are doing to educate Lansing's students in the fine and performing arts!
District 158's Board of Education has gone digital for our meetings but we're still here to serve you. Last night, we approved another donation of 100 refurbished laptop computers to distribute at all of our schools! Families must complete an application (available on our website) and demonstrate economic hardship. Please email the principal of your child's school with any questions. #158Strong #ILSchoolsStepUp
Despite the challenges of recent weeks, District 158 is proud to announce that our renovation and expansion of Coolidge Elementary School has been named a 2020 Outstanding Project by LEARNING BY DESIGN! Below is the article from their most recent publication, which highlights the top school architecture projects across the country. Congratulations! #158Strong
Ms. Kubik’s students learning from home! #OakGlenGrizzlies
In response to COVID-19 developments, some internet providers are offering free services to low-income families and households with students.
https://5il.co/eoau
Attention Families: In addition to grab-and-go meals being offered at Coolidge and other local TFEC sites, see the link below for a meal finder that will help you find food services while schools are closed. Keep Calm and Stay #158Strong!
https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
Mrs. Huppert’s students learning from home! #OakGlenGrizzlies
Mrs. Losnedahl’s students continuing their learning from home!
Oak Glen misses all of our Grizzlies and their families!
The Reavis staff would like to let all of our students know how much we miss them. We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone as soon as possible to continue preparing the leaders of tomorrow. #RoadrunnerPride #WeMissYou
Two weeks ago when Illinois schools closed, Glen Ellyn School District 41 was left without food service for several days. District 158 immediately stepped, allowing A'viands to use our new open kitchen to make hundreds of meals that were safely delivered to their students. It's times like this when we need to come together and support others in crisis. Keep Calm and Stay #158Strong! #D41Strong
Reavis Principal Mr. Kostopoulos completed the final preparations for Home Learning Activities Week 3. These new activities can be found on the district website. Paper copies can be picked up from the Coolidge Kitchen (Door 4) from 9:00 am to 11:00 am when our grab-and-go meals are also available. Happy learning!
District 158 has been safely completing our donation of 50 refurbished laptop computers to families in need during the school closure. The picture below is from Reavis last week. This initiative allows more students to remain engaged in learning activities and access educational technology. Computers are being donated at all five schools. Thanks to our #158Strong Board of Education for approving this!
Reavis staff give a warm smile and greeting to all of their students as they collaborate via Zoom on creative ways we can help and reach out during this school closure period. All the staff at Reavis would like to take this opportunity to give their best wishes to the families that we miss ever so much. We can't wait to see all of your smiles when we return to school! #RoadrunnerPride
Throwback Thursday: a few pictures from the outstanding Black History Program our #MustyMustangs delivered back in February! Students presented about the Chicago Renaissance, highlighting the lives of African Americans who helped positively shape Chicago culture and the world. Great job, Memorial - you are #158Strong!
Even though we're practicing safe social distancing because of the shelter-in-place, our #158Strong District Leadership Team is still meeting, planning, and doing everything we can to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and continuity of education for our students. This picture is from our most recent video conference. Email is the best way to get ahold of us right now - we look forward to hearing from you!
Attention #158Strong Families: next week we are going to be holding a Virtual Spirit Week! Let's have fun from home and stay positive during this pandemic. Monday, March 23 is Good Morning Monday! We encourage you to share or comment with pictures working in your pajamas. Happy posting!
Flashback Friday! For all of our Coolidge students, Puff the Bearded Dragon Lizard is doing well. Mrs. Fuller is babysitting him at her house. He’s been eating lots of meal worms and crickets. Feel free to draw a picture of Puff today and post your picture here as a comment!
This week our Board of Education voted unanimously to promote #158Strong Chief School Business Official Mr. Crotty (pictured left) to Assistant Superintendent for Business & Operations! Mr. Crotty has been instrumental in helping District 158 fund our school construction projects, receive the Property Tax Relief Grant, score perfect facility inspections, and provide meals for our students during this school closure. Note this picture was taken last year when Dr. Schilling recognized him at the Illinois Association of School Business Officials Conference. Please practice safe social distancing right now
During our staff institute today, Superintendent Dr. Schilling addressed the entire school district via a live press conference and encouraged everyone to "Keep Calm and Stay #158Strong." We understand these are difficult times and appreciate the cooperation and flexibility from all of our families. The coronavirus is serious but it's important to stay calm, plan, and keep the health and safety of our students and staff as the highest priority. More information about the mandatory school closure starting tomorrow will be shared tonight. Stay tuned!
Ms. Orlando and Mr. Cieplucha prepare 4th grade student news cast team member Jayden Maxey for his part in the monthly Reavis newscast. #RoadrunnerPride
Memorial's Book Madness is underway! Our #MightyMustangs will be voting for the best book and/or series during the month of March.
During our most recent professional development at Oak Glen, Mr. Earnshaw cooked up a new activity for the staff: Flippin' Flapjacks! This activity has staff stand on one side of the paper and then flip it without ever touching the floor, building teamwork, collaboration, and problem solving! Mr. Earnshaw is planning to write a book that includes this activity and others for educators - stay tuned! #158Strong #OakGlenGrizzlies
Once again Memorial has made history this year. A HUGE #158Strong congratulations to our record five students who qualified for the State Science Fair at Regionals this past weekend: Annika Biegel, Ainsley Grant, Ryleigh Lafferty, Esmeralda Spencer, and Angel Urquizo! This is the most we've ever had in one year. #MightyMustangs Morgan Kleidon, Angel Ruiz, Godiva Torsjo, and Ezra Vitale also represented Lansing at the event. We'd like to give a shoutout to 8th Grade Assistant Principal Mr. Paredes, as well, who came to support our students and helped judge during the day. It's another great day to be a Mustang!
Lansing School District 158 has a new logo! Please let us know what you think. We are planning to update our school logos in the future, as well. #158Strong
Today Oak Glen kicked-off their Inaugural School-Wide Book Study of Charlotte's Web! Mr. Earnshaw read Ch. 1 to the entire school.
Jade Johnson, a fourth grade student in Mr. Peterson’s class, led the Oak Glen morning announcements by sharing one of her favorite motivational quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!
#OakGlenGrizzlies Bedtime Story Night is always a success! Love seeing our #158Strong families, staff, and the Lansing Police Department come together for a night of reading. This is the 13th year we've been running this event!
Attention #158Strong Parents/Guardians: this year, we will be starting early online registration in March! The PowerSchool registration portal will be available online starting March 1, 2020 and remain open through March 31, 2020. Discounted registration fees will only be available during this time. Please register your student(s) online in March to take advantage of this discount and reserve your spot for next school year! You are welcome to contact the office of your child's school with any questions.
Reavis 5th Grade students in Ms. Palermo's and Ms. Kruk's class prepare project boards for their Black History Month presentations. In addition to the classroom presentations, students will be putting on a "Live" Wax Museum presentation for the school and parents during one of the Black History Month school-wide presentation assemblies at Reavis this week. #RoadrunnerPride
Who says students are too old to be read to? Here's Ms. Osman reading Ch. 16 of "Restart" to her fifth graders and facilitating discussion on static and dynamic characters! #OakGlenGrizzlies
Congratulations to the 4th Grade Reavis Newscast Team for getting recognized at our February 19 School Board Meeting and showing their #RoadrunnerPride! Ms. Orlando and Mr. Cieplucha have successfully produced 20 news videos with this group since 2016. You can access the Reavis newscasts by visiting www.d158.net/o/wcres, clicking on Menu, and going to Videos. Happy watching!
In honor of Black History Month, Mrs. DiGrispino's Songs of Peace students from Coolidge and Oak Glen performed in a Parent Night and a school assembly last week. The students sang several songs in addition to reenacting what happened to Rosa Parks and the bus boycott that followed.
TF South students of Mrs. Brown-Brooks and Coolidge parents volunteered to teach all of our students about financial literacy and about what it means to be an entrepreneur. Junior Achievement sponsored this event by supplying training and materials for all of the volunteers!
Nothing but collaboration, encouragement, and risk taking happening while Ms. Bown's 5th graders learn! #OakGlenGrizzlies
Coolidge students enjoyed exchanging Valentine’s Day cards with their classmates and also had fun making crafts and playing games during their class parties. Many thanks to the Coolidge PTA and all of our parent volunteers!
Memorial's 8th Grade Parent Information Night was a big success! Despite the cold, we had over 150 parents attend for a standing room only crowd. A special shoutout to our #158Strong Interpreter Mrs. Boshears, who translated for the families in attendance. #MightyMustangs
The students at Lester Crawl School celebrated Valentine’s Day by taking an all-school field trip to Funflatables. It was an enjoyable way to celebrate friendship and to get some exercise on a cold February day.
Ms. Toppmeyer teaching Ms. Dominiak's kindergarteners about filling others' buckets.
Oak Glen Teachers Katie Larson and Karrie White provide information on researched based mathematical teaching strategies to teachers during the Governor's State University mentor program session at Reavis Elementary School. Teachers from multiple districts across the South Suburban region participated in the professional development sessions.
Mrs. Fry is always ensuring our students are understanding their learning. #OakGlenGrizzlies
Students at Reavis Elementary School demonstrate the skills they learned at using a pottery wheel during Art class. #RoadrunnerPride
Memorial's 8th Grade Parent Information Night has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 6:00 PM. Hope to see you there! #MightyMustangs
Congratulations to Oak Glen for receiving a $4,949 grant from the DART Foundation! This money will be used to purchase advanced robotics kits, the Lego EV3's, to keep our science units fresh and exciting for students as they grow! Great job, Oak Glen - you are #158Strong!
Memorial participated in the Great Kindness Challenge last week. Students were challenged to complete acts of kindness from a checklist. They also earned "Kindness Matters" bracelets for their kind acts, raised $300 to help build a school/ friendship center in Mexico, and participated in spirit wear theme days. Tuesday's theme was "Shine Bright for Kindness". Students were encouraged to wear neon colors. Wednesday was "It's No Sweat Being Kind" Students and staff wore sweatshirts and sweatpants. Thursday was "Tied Together by Kindness" where students and staff wore neckties. #MightyMustangs
Mrs. Forsyth's 2nd graders begin the day reviewing math concepts from the day before and then break into collaborative centers! #OakGlenGrizzlies
On Tuesday, February 4th, the Memorial 8th Grade Boys Basketball team won their championship game against Coolidge Middle School. The #MightyMustangs are Regional Champions for the first time in school history! Next, Memorial will play Prairie Hills Junior High School on Wednesday, February 12th for the Sectional Championship. The game starts at 6:30 pm at Prairie Hills.
Students in Ms. Zentz 4th/5th grade classroom are working on basic division facts. They are using plates and beans to demonstrate sharing items equally into groups.
Attention Memorial Parents: our Eighth Grade Family Information Night scheduled for 6:00 PM today has been cancelled due to inclement weather. We will reschedule in the near future. Coolidge parents, we are also cancelling fifth grade morning practice tomorrow. They will meet again on Tuesday, February 11. Please drive safe and be careful in this snow
Eighth grade #MightyMustangs learn to type blood in order to solve a crime. Students used Anti-A serum, Anti-B serum, and Anti-RH serum to find out if the blood sample found at the crime scene was Type A, B, or O and if it was negative or positive. This lab wrapped up our Human Systems chapter on the circulatory system.
Congratulations to our back-to-back Coolidge boys and undefeated Oak Glen girls for winning this year's fifth grade basketball seasons! The Roundball Classic starts tomorrow. Hope to see you there! #158Strong #CoolidgeCougars #OakGlenGrizzlies
Happy 100th Day of School! Please listen to some of our Lester Crawl students talk about what they want to do before they turn 100.
https://www.facebook.com/LansingSD158/videos/202918027767836/
Congratulations to all of the students that participated in the Lansing Elementary Area Science Fair! Thank you to all of the community and school board members that volunteered as judges to make an event like this happen. It is evident that Science is thriving in Lansing!
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On January 30th, Memorial Junior High students put on a Talent Showcase for a crowd of 200 people. 26 students were involved, whether they were performing, MCing, or working backstage. We are so proud of our students and the hard work they put into this show! Go #MightyMustangs!
Ms. Bown's 5th graders playing a matching game of Cause and Effect.
Mrs. Garcia's preschool class has been missing the sun in the sky so they took matters into their own hands. They made suns in the art center and compiled them to make a "Missing Sun" bulletin board. Today the sun reappeared in the sky. Thank you Mrs. Garcia's class for bringing the sunshine back to Lansing!
Where can Oak Glen students go when they have some free time? The Book Nook outside Mrs. Osman's 5th grade room! Readers are leaders!
We are excited about the Lansing Area Elementary Science Fair this Saturday, February 1 at Reavis Elementary School! Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Enter at Door #1. We currently have 88 projects registered for the fair. Judging will begin at 9:15 a.m. Public viewing will begin at 12:00 p.m. The awards ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!
For the second year in a row, District 158 has been selected to receive a Property Tax Relief Grant from the Illinois State Board of Education! This is a new two-year grant that will keep $3.3 million in the hands of local taxpayers and businesses for the 2019 and 2020 tax years. You should see a reduction in the District 158 portion of your property tax bills. Feel free to contact our Business Office at (708) 474-6700 with any questions. A total of 39 school districts were selected for the grant this year out of 233 applications. #158Strong
Who doesn't love a great brain break? #OakGlenGrizzlies
Honor Roll students were recognized at Coolidge School last Thursday morning. While the students enjoyed yogurt, Mrs. Hodgson discussed the value of a good education and the importance of continuing their education after high school.
District 158's Support Programs Coordinator, Dr. Morley (pictured second-from-left in the first row; photo courtesy of the Lansing Journal), is a member of Lansing's Census Committee! We are here to help all families complete the 2020 Census when invitations start to go out on Thursday, March 12. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our offices or Dr. Morley for support!
The Coolidge teachers would like to thank Enchanted Backpack for the donated supplies, clothing, toys and games. The teachers loved picking out new supplies for their students!
Mrs. Kmetz's 3rd graders are ecstatic to create poems!
District 158 is proud to display a new perpetual plaque in our Board Room courtesy of Horace Mann. Each year, this will be updated with our new #158Strong staff members who receive the Crystal Apple Award (Staff Member of the Year) and Crystal Owl Award (Perfect Attendance)! Nominations for 2019-2020 will open soon. Stay tuned!
District 158 hosted a Lansing Intergovernmental Meeting at Coolidge on Thursday, January 23 with food provided by our new open kitchen. Chief School Business Official Mr. Crotty and A'viands Food Service Director Mrs. Kula-Szotek shared information about our new student meal offerings, which include homestyle pizza, parfaits, wraps, salads, and smoothies all made fresh at Coolidge!
The Coolidge Cougars did well during their first home game of the fifth grade basketball season! The boys won with a final score of 21-14. The final score of the girls’ game was 14-4. Go Cougars!
Check out Mrs. Kern's 2nd graders taking a movement break, courtesy of our partnership with Teacher Fit!
Coolidge Kindergarten Teacher Mrs. Anderson was recognized by Sky Zone as their December Teacher of the Month for her genuine care and dedication to her students! Many thanks to the parent who nominated her. #158Strong
Band Director Mr. Becker has a student teacher! Mr. Canning - shown here leading a low brass sectional at Oak Glen - joins us for the spring semester from VanderCook College of Music. Dr. Schilling, a former band director himself, also dropped by to give the students a few tips. This is #158Strong music education!
Ms. Vische demonstrates and explains how to use a pottery wheel during art class at Reavis Elementary. Students will have the opportunity to make their own pottery in the upcoming weeks. #RoadrunnerPride
Mrs. Barbaro engages her 4th graders' proximity, uses manipulatives, and fosters an environment where students are supported to take risks!
Reavis's boys took the win over Oak Glen in overtime yesterday, while Oak Glen's girls were victorious in their season opener! #OakGlenGrizzlies #RoadRunnerPride #158Strong
Mr. White's students are engaged and ready to learn with each other due to his dedication to them and their education.
A big #158Strong congratulations to our Buildings & Grounds Team for earning BACK-TO-BACK Perfect Facility Inspections from the South Cook Intermediate Center! For the second year in a row, all five of District 158's schools have been designated perfectly safe, clean, and conducive for learning. We also appreciate all of our excellent custodians who helped with the Enchanted Backpack delivery at Coolidge, which took place at the same time as the inspection. Great job!
January 16, 2020 was a great day to be a Coolidge Cougar. We received over $20,000 in donated books and supplies from Enchanted Backpack! Students sang "One Small Voice" as our great custodial staff unloaded everything and were treated to grade level dances and a flashmob featuring their teachers and Mayor Eidam. A special thanks to Coolidge 2nd Grade Teacher Mrs. Cappizano for completing the application with Enchanted Backpack, whose drivers described our educational climate as "vibrant." Outstanding job, Coolidge - you are #158Strong!
https://www.facebook.com/LansingSD158/videos/218051365876093/
At our Regular Board Meeting on Wednesday, January 15, District 158's Board of Education recognized ECHO Joint Agreement eighth grader Jalen Golden to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Jalen has been one of our students since he was three-years-old at Lester Crawl. He runs his own YouTube channel, reading books to children and addressing cyberbullying. Keep doing great things, Jalen - you are #158Strong!
Throwback Thursday: this was the beautiful sunset over Reavis Elementary School at our annual Trunk or Treat this past October! #RoadrunnerPride
Oak Glen staff went "Speed Dating" at yesterday's faculty meeting to reflect on 2019 and share their goals for 2020.
Congratulations to all 135 of our #MightyMustangs who showcased their Science Fair projects last weekend! We had 57 projected rated Outstanding! A big thanks to Science Department Chair Ms. Schroeder and all of our students, staff, and parents who came out to make this event successful - you are #158Strong!
Students love the familial, collaborative, all-in culture in Mrs. Stephens' music class!
On Tuesday, January 7, the Memorial Administrative Team and school social workers presented anti-bullying assemblies to each grade level. The goal of these presentations was to educate and safeguard our students from acts of bullying. The Memorial staff wants to encourage students to stand up against bullying by telling an adult and understand that these are harmful behaviors. #MightyMustangs
Happy New Year from Lansing School District 158! Our Board of Education and District Leadership Team are here to serve you. We meet every third Wednesday of the month and look forward to a #158Strong year in 2020!
Reavis 5th Grade students participated in the Super Savers Energy Program, which helps teachers, students, and parents learn how to use energy wisely. Students learn about valuable ways to save energy and money and received a take-home kit with energy saving products to install at home with their families. Items in the kit included a high efficiency shower head, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerator, a digital thermometer, three 9 watt LED bulbs, and a shower timer. #RoadrunnerPride
Flexible Seating + Collaboration + Technology = Student Success!
All of our #158Strong staff members engaged in meaningful professional development after returning from break, including a session on RTI with Dr. Mary Howard! Special thanks to the South Cook Intermediate Service Center for working with our great secretaries and Board Member Mrs. Williams for being our guest speaker!
Mrs. Larson's 3rd grade #OakGlenGrizzlies take their math learning outside of the classroom!
As a fundraiser incentive, Coolidge students were able to tape Assistant Principal Mr. Byrne to the wall. He was a brave and courageous Coolidge Cougar! The students were so excited to see the experiment work!
Mrs. Barbaro's 4th graders had a great Flashlight Friday preparing for their camping unit! Thank you to Gus Bock's Ace for the flashlight donation!
Coolidge students enjoyed Kids Night Out. The students experienced a special night with friends while they enjoyed movies, pizza, popcorn, and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. A special thank you to Ms. Lafferty and Ms. Dahlkamp for organizing the event!
Happy New Year from Lansing School District #158Strong! Our district and school offices will be open 9:00-11:00 AM on Monday, January 6 during the staff institute and resume normal business hours 8:00 AM-4:00 PM on Tuesday, January 7 when students return. Please enjoy this short celebratory video on us and enjoy the rest of your winter vacation.
https://www.jibjab.com/view/make/countdown_clip/ce9baa6d-39d7-42fd-83ca-8148bb777167
Members from the Reavis Girls on the Run team sponsored a food drive to collect food and monetary donations for families in need over the holiday season. In addition to collecting enough food items for 12 families, the team raised enough money to provide gift cards to local supermarkets. #RoadrunnerPride
Just before winter break, Lester Crawl received a surprise visit from the Lansing Fire Department with gifts for our families! Thank you #158Strong first responders for your generosity and keeping us safe. Happy Holidays!
Oak Glen kindergartens are the "I" in KIND!
Students in Mrs. Rhodes' fourth grade class created a series circuit of Christmas lights to go along with their Physical Science Unit on electricity. Students labeled their circuit and used a 9 volt battery as their energy source to light their resistors (or Christmas lights). We have some electrical engineers in our future! #RoadrunnerPride
Coolidge teacher, Nichole Harris, hosted the fifth annual Pajama Drive at Coolidge. This event was highlighted with a PJs with the Parents night put on by Coolidge PBIS members on December 4th. This is the second time that this event has been held with community members reading to both students and parents.
On Tuesday, December 17, administrators and teachers from across the district gathered in our Board Room for a workshop titled Dive Deeper with Data: Using the Evidence Statement Analysis. This workshop was facilitated by the South Cook Intermediate Service Center and focused on effectively using data from the Illinois Assessment of Readiness to meet the needs of individual students. District 158 is committed to the college and career readiness of our children!
Memorial's Boys Basketball Team won their third straight Crosstown Classic Championship on Monday, December 16 beating Heritage 61-56! Their record is now 10-2. Keep going #MightyMustangs - you are #158Strong!
Ms. White's 3rd graders are working through their novel study & focusing on text evidence and characterization.
At last night's Board of Education meeting, the Daisies of Girl Scout Troop 60314 led the Pledge of Allegiance and presented on the importance of recycling! The girls attend Lester Crawl and Coolidge and are completing their Take Action Project to make a difference in their community. Thank you for taking action, Daisies - you are #158Strong!
Winter Wonderfest fun at Oak Glen!
Dr. Schilling and Mr. Kostopoulos getting in the holiday spirit and showing their #RoadrunnerPride at Reavis's Cookies with Santa!
Mr. White's class had a great day learning from and then collaborating on a craft with their parents!
During the month of November Mrs. DiGrispino held her Kindness Club for 1st and 2nd graders at Coolidge Elementary. They covered a variety of ways to show kindness to others though stories, activities, and games. The students also had weekly activities to share with their families, friends and peers. What a great way to show our future leaders how important it is to spread kindness throug our day to day encounters.
Oak Glen Grizzlies had an awesome time at our Annual Turkey Shoot! It was great having TFS High School Basketball players come over to connect, ref, and cheer on our students!
The Fall/Winter 2019 Mustang Media Newscast is here! Great job Jasmine Arnold, Jaidyn Carradine, Miles Courtney, Kamya Henderson, and Lily Luchene for writing, producing ,and videotaping this - you are #MightyMustangs!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOcoveyJR4A&feature=youtu.be
Lester Crawl was visited by Santa. All of the children were able to tell him their wishes for Christmas. The staff also was excited to talk to him!
Oak Glen Principal Mr. Earnshaw was honored to present at the Teach Better 2019 Conference in Akron, Ohio on Saturday, November 9 - connecting, networking, and sharing the amazing things Oak Glen is doing for our students and community!
Mrs. Forsyth's 2nd graders know there's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition while learning in centers!
Coolidge School concluded American Education Week with Drop Everything And Read (DEAR). About 650 students and the Coolidge staff lined the hallways and read together. Even Puff the Bearded Dragon wanted to be a part of the excitement! Over 1,200 books were donated during the Book Drive. Students loved getting different books during the Book Exchange.
Mrs. Annick's 1st graders had a great time when Mrs. Steinwig visited and read her children's book!
Congratulations to Reavis 3rd Grade Teacher Mrs. Tovar for receiving the "Teacher of the Month" award from Sky Zone in Schererville, Indiana! In addition to the class picture being hung on the wall at the facility, each student received a free 30 minute jump pass along with a $5 coupon. Great job, Mrs. Tovar - you are #158Strong! #RoadrunnerPride
Coolidge students recently enjoyed time on a huge game truck as a PTA fundraiser prize. Students were all smiles as they played video games with their friends. Thank you to the Lansing community for supporting our PTA fundraiser!
Mr. Becker played along with the Coolidge fifth graders during clarinet sectionals this week. The students learned about tempo and how to avoid making a squeak. Band is so much fun!
Awesome day having Dennis Mathew, author of Bello the Cello, come read, talk with, and sing for Oak Glen!
Look for order forms to purchase Mr. Mathew's books coming home later this week!
Mrs. Kmetz's 3rd graders are having fun while learning their vocabulary!
Mrs. Balciunas's classroom has learning all over it! Here, Oak Glen students are searching for sight words on the door. Once the word is found, they give it a high five!
Last week, the annual Penny War was held at Coolidge School. This is a tradition that has been going on for many years. Classes compete to see who collects the most points counting pennies as positive points and silver money and dollars counting as negative points. Over $2,200 was collected for families in need during to the winter holidays. This is a great way to teach citizenship by helping our community.
#OakGlenGrizzlies are thankful for Mrs. Losnedahl's 1st grader's performing their Thanksgiving Reader's Theater!
Mrs. Hanaway, Mrs. Heim, and Miss Wazny applied for the Meemic Foundation’s Teachers Pay Teachers Classroom Resource Grant and WON! Representatives from the company awards their grants at a recent Coolidge School faculty meeting.
Congratulations to our Maintenance Mechanic, Mr. Ryan Fortin (pictured left), for earning his Certified Professional Supervisor (CPS) license from the Association of Facilities Engineering! Mr. Fortin completed two days of training and a half day of testing to earn this certificate, which covers leadership, planning, finance, safety, hiring, and problem solving. Great job, Mr. Fortin - you are #158Strong!
It’s time to begin your Science Fair Project! All students in grades K-5 are invited to be a part of our annual Area Elementary Science Fair on February 1. Fifth Grade Coolidge Teachers Mrs. Driver, Mrs. Jamrock, Mrs. Stablein and Mrs. Wiora hosted a Science Fair Parent Night at Coolidge to give details about the project, show example projects, and answer any questions from parents.
Oak Glen 3rd graders spent the day as construction workers, earning their way up the ranks through apprentices, journeymen, and foremen by completing activities! Such an inspiring, engaging, and educational day!
Thanks to Board Member and Community Reader Dr. Wallace, who spent time reading Thanksgiving books to Ms. Huppert's kindergarteners and Mrs. Berridge's first grade class at Oak Glen!
At our November 20 Board Meeting, District 158 was proud to recognize three students who earned the highest scores on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness last year at Coolidge! They are (pictured left-to-right): Claire Grant, who earned the highest 4th grade score in English; Macy Taylor, who received the highest 3rd grade scores in both English and Math; and Jacqueline Gonzalez, who achieved the highest 4th grade score in Math. Congratulations girls - you are #158Strong!
Mrs. Mahoney does a great job promoting and encouraging reading when students visit her for LRC time!
Students in second grade at Coolidge School crafted turkeys as a family turkey project for Thanksgiving. They displayed their creations during American Education Week!
Our #158Strong Board of Education and District Leadership Team are downtown for a weekend of professional learning. Here's Board Member Dr. Wallace with Mr. John Dixon, who serves on the Board of our neighboring Brookwood School District 167 and is also one of our bus drivers! #ILjac19
Oak Glen's Social Worker, Ms. Toppmeyer (who is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker!), engaged and taught the faculty about positive behavior interventions and supports for students. #RECOGNIZE
Coolidge has been selected to receive a donation from Enchanted Backpack! This grant is valued at $20,000 and will provide essential classroom supplies, household goods, books, and clothing for our students. The donation will take place on Thursday, January 16 at 10:00 AM. Please share and help publicize this so we may receive more donations in the future! #158Strong
Isabelle, a 1st grader in Mrs. Robins' class, was so good we couldn't ignore! Everyday Isabelle stays behind after lunch to help cleanup! Thanks for being a true #OakGlenGrizzly Isabelle!
The Full Day Preschool students are dressed as their favorite characters as part of American Education Week events at Lester Crawl.
Our #MightyMustang cheerleaders did an amazing job at their first game yesterday. They cheered on our 7th and 8th grade boys basketball team as they both defeated Brookwood!
Reavis thanks the Junior Achievement Program and Robert Morris University for their #RoadrunnerPride in providing a day filled with lessons on financial literacy and responsibility! The mission of Junior Achievement is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Students learned about topics that ranged from balancing a check book to city planning and development. Over 25 student volunteers from Robert Morris instructed the lessons with the help of the Reavis staff to all classrooms. Reavis students enjoyed how the volunteers were able to relate the content of the lessons to their current field of study as well as real life experiences.
On Tuesday, November 12, Director of Curriculum & Assessment Mrs. Bragg attended the Fatherhood Celebration & Ricky Birdsong Awards Luncheon in Chicago. Our students submitted over 1,000 essays last year about their #158Strong fathers and father figures, making us the top participating district! Pictured are TV Broadcaster Alan Krashesky and William Wilkerson, who was a Tuskegee Airman. Those recognized at the luncheon are considered to be good fathers and make a difference in the lives of youth. Congratulations!
Superintendent Dr. Schilling was in Baltimore this past weekend representing District #158Strong at the 2019 American Educational Studies Association National Conference, attending professional development and presenting with a panel of experts on moral leadership, social justice, educator preparation, and student-centered decision making!
On Tuesday, October 29, two of our #158Strong Board Members - Mrs. Kelly and Dr. Wallace - were designated as new Master Board Members by the Illinois Association of School Boards. Congratulations!
Quarter 2 Safety Reminder
October 29, 2019
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
Please click on the link below for a letter from Superintendent Dr. Schilling with an important safety reminder about picking students up from school. You are welcome to contact the office of your child's school with any questions. Thank you for your help in keeping our children safe.
Sincerely,
Lansing School District 158
Oak Glen Principal Mr. Earnshaw, Superintendent Dr. Schilling, and 3rd Grade Teacher Ms. White presented to a standing room only crowd at the 2019 Illinois Principals Association State Conference in Peoria! Over 110 school administrators attended this session on building a positive school culture, including Coolidge Principal Mrs. Hodgson and former #158Strong assistant principals Mr. Coleman (now principal in Hoover-Schrum Memorial School District 157), Dr. Smith (principal in Holy Family Ministries), and Mr. Gaham (principal in Beecher 200U). Lansing grows great leaders! #OakGlenGrizzlies #RECOGNIZE
This week, Memorial's #MightMustangs Baseball Team and Coaches Mr. Faughn and Mr. Barclay were recognized by our Board of Education for their undefeated regular season and Regional Championship! Great job boys - you are #158Strong!
District 158 partnered with Calumet City School District 155, ECHO Joint Agreement, and Pearle Vision to bring the One Sight Vision Van Clinic to our area and provide free eye exams and glasses for 98 children!
News from the Kitchen: who likes pasta? Fresh food is being prepared daily at Coolidge and transported to all of our schools. Download the Nutrislice app (look for the orange logo) and select Lansing School District to see menus and provide feedback. Bon appétit!
Download from the Apple App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/school-lunch-by-nutrislice/id567183091?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Download from the Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nutrislice.schoollunch&hl=en
In recognition of National Custodial Workers Day, please join us in giving a big District 158 shoutout to our entire custodial, maintenance, and buildings and grounds staff! The work you do on behalf of our school district is invaluable and one of the reasons we have some of the best facilities in the state. Thanks for everything you do - you are #158Strong!
District 158 Enrichment parents gathered at Memorial Junior High School to listen to Mrs. Kooy's introductory presentation on the Enrichment program.
Mr. Becker and the Memorial Junior High Mighty Mustang Band were outstanding during their elementary school tours. The Memorial Band traveled to Reavis, Oak Glen, Lester Crawl, and Coolidge elementary schools spreading cheer. They played various musical selections and talked to students about the different types of instruments played by students in the band. The beautiful tunes brought smiles to all the students.
Lester Crawl kindergartners Victoria Chavez and Arden Wallace, with the help of their teacher Mrs. Myers and principal Dr. Morley, led the Pledge of Allegiance at last night's Board Meeting! Now that Coolidge has been officially completed, District 158 looks forward to moving ahead with the renovation and expansion of Lester Crawl. Stay tuned!
Thanks to all the Coolidge students, parents, staff, elected officials, and community members to came out last night for our Final Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - you are now a part of history! Also much appreciation to State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr. and Rep Will Davis for your visibility and support. According to Rep. Evans, we have "one of the best school districts in the Southland!" #158Strong
Instrumental Music Recruitment is currently being held in District 158 starting with an aptitude survey for all fifth graders. This type of survey has been used in schools throughout the country and has proven to be very successful in pre-assessing and determining accuracy with pitch, harmony, melody, and rhythm. Surveys of this type are designed for children with little or no previous musical experience. This initial introduction day also gives Band Director Mr. Becker a chance to get students excited about the amazing opportunities that are presented in the District 158 music program! Registration for the 2019-20 Beginning Band will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 5:00-8:00 PM.
The E.A.R.T.H. Program’s “migratory monarchs” visited Coolidge School’s Enrichment Program. Students examined chrysalis’s at various stages, male and female monarch butterflies, and then helped to prepare the monarchs by feeding them nectar to ensure they have the energy to migrate to Mexico. The monarchs were released later that day by the Reavis E.A.R.T.H Program students.
Huge thanks to Tim Hannig and The Pro Kids Show for entertaining, teaching, and bringing smiles and laughter to our staff, students, and families! Mr. Hannig presents at all three of our elementary schools each year and we couldn't be happier to continue this partnership.
Welcome to YOUR new Calvin Coolidge Elementary School! Landscaping has been completed by the new front entrance and we are proudly flying the American, Illinois, and Lansing flags! The final Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Coolidge has been set for Monday, September 16 at 7:00 PM and will include special guest speaker State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr. Hope to see you there!
Our Time Travelers under the direction of Mrs. DiGrispino did an outstanding job with their performance "Greatest Americans of the 20th Century" at the Lansing Public Library on Monday, August 26! These 22 students came back weeks after Summer School ended to rehearse and complete this performance. Special thanks to the Lansing Historical Society for continuing to support our program and making a generous donation to the Time Travelers! You can find more pictures of this performance on their Facebook page.
Let's give a big Grizzly Growl for Oak Glen 5th Grade Teacher Mrs. Cialdella, who won the raffle for this fantastic eagle painting by Sam Glen Motivational Speaker! Superintendent Dr. Schilling dropped by yesterday to present this during our afternoon Professional Development Meeting. Congratulations!
Reavis fourth grader Kathryn Wood led the Pledge of Allegiance at our August Board Meeting! Kathryn is in Mr. Cieplucha's class and participates in softball, volleyball, Girls on the Run, and the E.A.R.T.H. program. She is a kind, caring, positive, and insightful member of our community. Great job!
A big District 158 thank you to Sam Glenn Motivational Speaker for presenting to all of our faculty and staff today! Mr. Glenn (pictured top left with Board President Mr. Wood and Memorial RTI Teacher Mrs. Vance) completed a beautiful eagle painting for our district and challenged us to soar outside of our comfort zones. We also recognized newly tenured staff. A great start to a great school year! #158Strong
Friday, August 16: wonderful outdoor performance at Memorial Junior High by our Summer Band! Thanks to all of our parents, families, friends, and staff for coming out and making this concert a success, as well as Band Director Mr. Becker for all of his hard work. These students have passed off on 375 scales - great job!
August 15, 2019
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
Please click on the link below for a welcome letter from Superintendent Dr. Schilling for the 2019-2020 school year. We look forward to seeing your students back on Tuesday, August 20! You are welcome to still complete online registration if needed and/or stop by the offices of our schools for assistance.
Sincerely,
Lansing School District 158
https://5il.co/9j9d
New teachers engaged in professional learning at Reavis on their first day of mentoring. One week to go until school starts!
On Thursday, August 8, three of our assistant principals - Mrs. Sechowski from Oak Glen (pictured left), Mrs. Booth from Reavis (center), and Mr. Byrne from Coolidge (right) - met with all of our lunch and recess supervisors for a training before students return. D158 makes safety the highest priority and we are fortunate to have great leaders and support staff in all areas of the district. Mrs. Booth is new this year and joins us from Matteson - welcome! #158Strong
Who's ready for the First Day of School? The new Coolidge is! Online registration is open and the offices at all of our schools are available 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to assist any families. Please drop by if you still need to register. School starts on Tuesday, August 20 with a morning half-day for students. See you soon!
At our July Board Meeting, District 158 was honored to recognize recent Memorial Junior High graduate Ana-Leise Torian '19 for winning the 2019 IESA State 100-Meter Hurdles Championship! Ana-Leise was presented with a state ring (top left) and certificate of recognition from the District. We are also excited to announce that yesterday she won the Pentathlon event at the 2019 USA Track & Field Junior Olympic National Championships (bottom left)! Do we have a future Olympian in our midst? Congratulations Ana-Leise - you are #158Strong!
Memorial Junior High School Baseball and Softball Information
Hey Lansing School District 158, who's feeling their Coolidge Pride? Only a month until the new, fully completed building opens for school!
Summer School students were excited to learn about reptiles such as snakes, turtles, lizards, alligators, and crocodiles! The "Reptiles Are Cool" show brought reptiles from Africa, Asia, Australia and North America to Reavis Elementary School. Our students (and Director of Curriculum & Assessment Mrs. Bragg, also pictured) learned about different adaptations that reptiles have to help them survive in their environments. At the end of the assembly, all students were able to touch either a corn or milk snake!
Coolidge Update: the new main entrance (left) and open kitchen (right) are nearing completion! District 158 is incredibly proud of this construction project and we look forward to hosting a final ribbon cutting and public walkthrough in the fall. #158Strong
Summer School students at Reavis are collecting data on plant growth and local rain measurements using rain gauges and tablet computers! Additionally, they are drying lemon balm for culinary purposes and maintaining a worm habitat using moister, food scraps, and paper. The castings and leachate are being used for fertilizer in the garden.
On May 2nd, the combined Songs of Peace Choir students from Oak Glen and Coolidge School performed a concert of songs about peace and kindness for the residents of Saint Anthony of Lansing. Following the concert, the students played Kindness BINGO with the residents and also helped the residents to decorate a door hanger to be used for their rooms. The students and residents alike enjoyed their time together and spreading kindness right here in Lansing.
A HUGE congratulations and thank you to District 158's 2019 retirees - Mrs. Doorn, Mrs. Mirich, and Mrs. Wiak at Coolidge; Mrs. Kuhlmann at Oak Glen; Mrs. Thurston at Reavis; and Ms. Madonia at the District Office - who were recognized at our annual luncheon on Monday, June 10! Superintendent Dr. Schilling also gave out two new awards with Mr. Donley from Horace Mann. Ms. Rising (Lester Crawl), Ms. Spangler (Coolidge), Mrs. Sechowski (Oak Glen), Mrs. White (Reavis), and Mrs. Arseneau (Memorial) were named Staff Member of the Year and received Crystal Apples and Mrs. Kern (Lester Crawl) and Mrs. Berridge (Oak Glen) were given Crystal Owls for Perfect Attendance! Great job! #158Strong
In honor of Memorial Day this weekend, Lansing School District 158 is sharing this picture of the monument in front of Memorial Junior High. The poem reads, "Let none forget they gave their all and faltered not when came the call." Thank you to all our brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country and defense of our freedom. Also notice that District 158 is proud to now be flying Lansing flags at all of our schools! #158Strong
The new open kitchen at Coolidge is nearing the final stages of completion! Four high quality, industrial size hoods are being installed this week and will be used with the ranges, ovens, braising pans, and other equipment to prepare fresh food daily for the whole school district. Improving student health and nutrition is an important initiative of District 158. Look for more construction updates in the near future!
We are happy to announce that Ana-liese Torian is the new State Champion in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.9 seconds. The track and field state competition finals took place on Saturday, May 18th at Corwin Clatt Field in East Peoria. We are so proud of Ana-liese, our fearless Mighty Mustang!
Coolidge (top right), Oak Glen (left), and Reavis (bottom right) first and second graders did a great job at their Spring Music Concerts! #158Strong
Coolidge update: the new front hallway, main office, and classrooms are looking great with floors tiled, furniture assembled, walls painted, arches installed, and spaces created for additional picture tiles! Progress is moving quickly both here and in the new open kitchen, with our Board of Education hiring A'viands to deliver fresh food service for the 2019-2020 school year.
On Tuesday, May 14, District 158 held our annual Spring Music Concert at Memorial Junior High School. Two concert bands, the jazz ensemble, and concert choir performed; Band Director Mr. Becker was given a gift by the eighth grade class; Superintendent Dr. Schilling guest conducted a march; and several students were honored with awards - all in front of a standing room only crowd! Thanks to our outstanding music faculty, students, and parents for supporting performing arts education in Lansing!
At last night's Board Meeting, Memorial students Ainsley Grant, Craig Morrison, and Olamiposi Sulaimon led the Pledge of Allegiance and were recognized for their achievements at the State Science Fair!
On Wednesday, May 8, Memorial Assistant Principals Mr. Nagle and Ms. Washington, Memorial Dean/Activities Director Mr. Herron, and Oak Glen Assistant Principal Ms. Sechowski were recognized at Governors State University! All four administrators recently completed the New Leaders Mentoring Program with Dr. Saundra Mickles (pictured third from left). Congratulations! #158Strong
At last week's Illinois Association of School Business Officials Conference, Chief School Business Official Mr. Crotty was recognized by Superintendent Dr. Schilling for his "financial advice, business management, and operational expertise" in District 158! Mr. Crotty helped secure bonds to support the $23 million renovation and expansion of Coolidge Elementary School! A link to the conference video can be found here: https://vimeo.com/334910366
Great job Lester Crawl, Coolidge, Reavis, and Memorial for representing District 158 in Lansing's Good Neighbor Day Parade. May The Fourth Be With You! #158Strong
On Thursday, May 2, students from the Reavis Kindness Club, Oak Gen and Coolidge Songs of Peace Choirs, and Memorial Concert Choir joined together to perform a family concert entitled "It Just Takes One Voice." Several Lansing community members joined us including Mayor Eidam, who was presented with kindness notes colored by the students to be distributed to community members at the Village Hall.
Congratulations to Director of Curriculum & Assessment Mrs. Bragg for being selected for the James V. & Dorothy B. Moon Scholarship from the Illinois Association of School Administrators! This award was established by a former Illinois superintendent and provides support for administrators completing advanced graduate coursework in school district leadership. The article below was published in the April 2019 edition of Leadership Matters.
April 24, 2019
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
A reminder that Online Registration for the 2019-2020 school year will open next Monday, April 29! Early bird discounts apply through Friday, May 10. Please register your student(s) before school ends on Monday, June 10. You are welcome to contact our school offices with any questions.
Sincerely,
Lansing School District 158
On April 12-13, 2019, our Strategic Planning Committee met to create a new 5-Year Strategic Plan for the school district. Thanks to all of the board members, parents, staff, village officials, and community members who participated! District 158 also unveiled a new vision statement at this time: "Putting the Children First with a Commitment to Continuous Improvement!" The Strategic Plan will be presented at our next Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, April 30. #PTCFVision2024
Lansing School District has started a new tradition! At the April 17 Board Meeting, a student led the Pledge of Allegiance. This is Philip Dickey, a fourth grader in Mrs. Rhodes's class at Reavis. Philip is an Honor Roll student, consistently demonstrates kindness and caring for others, asks a lot of questions and is an active participant in class, and is a member of the PBIS Student Leadership Team. We are hoping to have other students lead the Pledge at future Board Meetings. Great job Philip!
Lansing School District 158's Annual Elementary Science Far was held at Oak Glen on Saturday, April 6. Congratulations to all students who participated and thanks to our junior high scientists for showcasing their own projects before heading to State!
Board Secretary Mr. Wood and Superintendent Dr. Schilling on the roof of First United Methodist Church with Pastor Price (center right) and Pastor Young of Increasing Faith Ministries (far right) for the T. F. South baseball game on April 1, 2019. Memorial Junior High's baseball and softball teams were bused over to watch the Rebels win 11-1!
Coolidge construction update! The new main entrance and front office are taking shape with arches and windows installed, furniture delivered, and walls painted in school colors. Our architects continue to respect the history of Coolidge by restoring original stonework inside the new building. District 158 will be hosting a Business After Hours with the Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, April 10, 5:00-7:00 PM to showcase this progress. We hope to see you there!
Congratulations to District 158's Director of Student Services Dr. Carter, who is being inducted into Sandburg High School's Legacy Hall! This organization awards alumni who have realized their life-long potential and established a positive example for future students.
On Wednesday, March 20, District 158's Buildings & Grounds Team was recognized by Dr. Vanessa Kinder, Executive Director of the South Cook Intermediate Service Center (pictured far right), for their work in helping District 158 secure a perfect score on our 2018-2019 facility inspection! South Cook noted that all five of our schools are very clean, well maintained, and conducive for learning. Great job!
Board of Education members and District 158 administrators collaborating with Strategic Plan Facilitator Dr. Madonia during a training session on Monday, March 11. The group reviewed, discussed, and practiced ways to engage community stakeholders when the full committee assembles in a few weeks. #Vision2024
Congratulations to our Coolidge Cougars for winning the 10th Annual Lansing Roundball Classic - finishing the tournament and their overall season undefeated - and Oak Glen fifth grader Jessica Campuzano for winning the Hot Shot Competition! Recognition was provided during the Village of Lansing's Board Meeting on March 5, 2019.
On Wednesday, February 20, our Board of Education recognized Memorial's 8th Grade Girls Basketball Team for their achievements this season. They finished the year with a record of 18-3, averaged 52 points per game, won Regionals and Sectionals, and qualified for State two years in a row. Ana-Liese Torian and Brianna Hill were selected for All-Conference and Javaiya Baker was named the team's MVP. Congratulations girls!
On Friday, February 1, Lansing School District 158 started the process of developing a new five-year strategic plan. The Board of Education and district administration spent two evenings with our plan facilitator - Dr. Bob Madonia (pictured), a retired superintendent, consultant, professor, and staff development provider - to create focus areas and a vision that will guide this process. Stay tuned for a strategic planning survey that will be sent out to the community in the near future. #Vision2024
Todas las escuelas del Distrito Escolar Lansing 158 regresarán a la sesión el viernes 1 de febrero.
All Lansing School District 158 schools will be back in session on Friday, February 1.
On Monday, January 28, Superintendent Mr. Schilling and District Attorney Mr. Boyle completed a presentation and training with all of the Lansing Police Department supervisors. Topics included legal requirements, student discipline, reciprocal reporting, and parent communication. District 158 prides itself on maintaining excellent working relationships with our local first responders!
Por causas de las bajas temperaturas, todas las escuelas del Distrito 158 de Lansing estarán cerradas el martes 29 de enero, el miércoles 30 de enero y el jueves 31 de enero. Todas las actividades después de la escuela estarán canceladas.
Due to inclement weather, all Lansing School District 158 schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 29, Wednesday, January 30 and Thursday, January 31. All after school and evening events and activities will be cancelled during this time.
Superintendent Mr. Schilling is remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today with these pictures from North Central College, which were taken on November 21, 1960 and include his great uncle Dr. Arlo Schilling who was President at the time. Dr. King gave a speech titled "Stride Toward Freedom" in Pfeiffer Hall and asked that Black Americans be treated as full citizens of the United States. How do you remember Dr. King?
Happy New Year from Lansing School District 158! Our Board of Education and Leadership Team are here to serve you. Pictured sitting (left-to-right): Board Secretary Mr. Wood, Board President Mr. Bonifazi, and Board Vice President Mrs. Long. Pictured standing (left-to-right): Chief School Business Official Mr. Crotty; Superintendent Mr. Schilling; Board Members Mrs. Kelly, Dr. Wallace, Mr. Durán, and Mr. Taylor; and Director of Curriculum & Assessment Mrs. Bragg.
On Wednesday, December 19, Memorial Junior High School's Speech Team was recognized before the Board of Education for their recent success at the IESA Speech Competition. Three students placed first, four placed second, and two placed third in events ranging from acting to storytelling and poetry. Seventh grader Alexis Dixon read an excerpt of her poem for the Board. Congratulations!
Lansing School District 158 recently completed a presentation on MAP at the South Cook Intermediate Service Center in Chicago Heights. Director of Curriculum & Assessment Mrs. Bragg, Coolidge Principal Mrs. Hodgson, and Reavis Principal Mr. Kostopoulos spoke to other education professionals for 60 minutes on how to use MAP data for Professional Learning Communities, student and team goal setting, differentiated instruction, and teacher evaluation. District 158 implemented MAP assessments last year and has been designated a model district in the South Cook region!
On November 14, 2018, Board President Mr. Bonifazi administered the oath of office to our newest board member: Mr. Abi Durán (left). The Board of Education, Superintendent Mr. Schilling, and Coolidge Principal Mrs. Hodgson also recognized fourth grader Will Rosenberg (right) for his assistance to military veterans and first responders during Lansing's Autumn Fest. Congratulations!
Congratulations to our outstanding volunteers - (left-to-right) Coolidge PTA Treasurer Mrs. Modjeski, Reavis Paraprofessional Ms. Waites, Memorial PTA President Mrs. Enright-Taylor, and Oak Glen PTA Vice President Ms. Stubbs - who were recognized at the Lansing Evening of Thanks on November 9!
Happy Halloween from Lansing School District 158! Students at all three elementary schools participated in outdoor parades and shared their great costumes with neighborhood residents. Thanks to all our parents who volunteered their time to help run activities in the afternoon.
On Thursday, October 18, Lansing School District 158 held Family Math Night at Memorial Junior High School. A variety of engaging, relevant activities were hosted for students and parents - including shapes, puzzles, play-dough, 3D design, board games, manipulatables, geoboards, and a live game show in the gym that students participated in. Over 600 people attended the event and families left with suggestions on how they could further their students' mathematical learning outside of school.
On Wednesday, October 10, Lansing School District 158 participated in Walk to School Day! Thanks for the great turnout from our students, parents, school board members, teachers, administrators, mayor, police officers, fire department, and others in the community who helped make this event a huge success!
Lansing School District 158 received the following letter from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources regarding our efforts to support the chimney swift birds at Coolidge Elementary School. Thank you to Regional Wildlife Biologist Mr. Domazlicky for his visibility, advice, collaboration, and positive feedback regarding this situation.
On Monday, August 27, Lansing School District 158's Time Travelers performed "The Incredible Westward Movement" at the Lansing Public Library. This piece - "Getting Lost In America" by Ron Fink and John Heath - featured a solo by Memorial 6th Grader Esmeralda Spencer as Sacagawea, who helped the Corps of Discovery (played by Oak Glen 3rd Grader Sultan Bellow, Reavis 3rd Grader Andrew Herrera, Reavis 3rd Grader Ian Stubbs). Thanks to Mrs. DiGrispino for directing and the Lansing Historical Society for hosting the event!
During yesterday's Opening Teacher Institute, Superintendent Mr. Schilling (far left) and Horace Mann Representative Mr. Donley (far right) recognized seven Lansing School District 158 faculty members who received tenure this year: (left-to-right) Memorial PE Teacher Mrs. Bersell, Coolidge 5th Grade Teacher Mrs. Wiora, Coolidge 2nd Grade Teacher Mrs. Sannito, Memorial 7th Grade ELA Teacher Mrs. Flaherty, Reavis 4th Grade Teacher Mrs. Martinez, Oak Glen Social Worker Ms. Toppmeyer, and Oak Glen 4th & 5th Grade Co-Teacher Mrs. Joria. Congratulations to our educators on achieving this career milestone!
