We are bringing back a feature from last year that allows us to get to know some of our students who will be heading off to the next step in their educational journey next year. That’s right, it’s time to Ask an 8th Grader!
First up is Meerna E.
What is your best memory of your time in Maercker District 60?
Being on the volleyball team with all my teammates
Who is a teacher who made an impact on you during your time here?
Ms. Pervan and Ms. Radke
What are you interested in doing for your future?
Becoming a doctor
What advice do you have for students starting at Westview Hills Middle School next year?
Make sure to have fun because middle school will be gone in a blink of an eye.
Students really enjoyed watching some teachers become a “Masked Reader” to celebrate Read Across America week at Holmes! They said it was fun to guess which teacher was reading a story to them each morning. Students in first grade were very excited when they got a turn to make their own “Masked Readers” videos. They practiced reading aloud to peers, and shared their silly stories with their families on Seesaw. #d60learns
“When students have frequent absences, they often might miss special education services, English language services, and social growth opportunities. More importantly, they miss their friends and their friends miss them,” said preschool teacher Elizabeth Jason. “Selfishly, in the early childhood program, we want all of our students with us every day because we objectively get to have the most fun and every child in our classroom community is a part of that!”
This week is National Assistant Principals Week! Maercker D60 has some truly exceptional educators serving our schools in this role and we are excited to be able to celebrate them. Be sure to thank Megan Hansen, Dennis Bolus, and Steve Meehan this week!
We hope everyone has had a great break! We are excited to see students on Monday, April 7 refreshed and ready to learn!
The next D60 Parent Coffee will take place on Wednesday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Maercker School. We will be talking about technology use and hope you will join us!
April is World Autism Month! We are proud to be able to support all learners and be a place where every student can get the support they need to be able to thrive in their learning. #d60learns
Today is National Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day! We know everyone is on break, but we are still so grateful for the hard work of the incredible support staff who support the students of Maercker D60. Thank you to all of the paraprofessionals and instructional assistants!
Looking for a night at the theater?
The Hinsdale South High School Fine Arts Department Presents Six The Musical (Teen Edition) April 11-13 with four different shows.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and are sold at the door one hour before each show.
To all in the Maercker D60 community who celebrate, we wish you a joyous Eid al-Fitr!
Dual Language second grade students finished their project, “Que hacemos para protegir las plantas?” They learned how to create a 3D structure, worked with a friend to design it how it would best protect plants, and were able to print them out with the school’s 3D printer! It was hard work, but they learned a lot and had a lot of fun doing it! #d60learns
Kindergartners read a story called Finding Kindness and wanted to make their own digital ABC book about kindness. Students worked with friends, picked a letter, and wrote sentences about how to show kindness with their letter. They practiced writing, spelling, typing, digital drawing, reading, and recording while they collaborated on this special project. They posted their digital Book Creator books to Seesaw for families to enjoy!#d60learns
There will be no school next week (March 31-April 4) as we have Spring Break in Maercker D60. Enjoy the time!
The Maercker PTA is making some changes to the annual Cultural Festival with two distinct events. Save the date for Wednesday April 23 and Sunday, April 27 and visit their website for more information. You can also sign up to help!
https://www.maerckerpta.org/cultural-festival
“When students are absent from class, it feels like a piece of the community is missing,” said Westview Hills Teacher Erin Rzepka. “Each individual contributes something unique to the classroom and helps to shape the overall energy and dynamic of the group. Frequent absences can create a noticeable gap, making it harder to maintain the sense of connection and cohesion that promotes a strong classroom environment.”
Attendance Matters!
Early childhood students learned about special pets, and read some silly stories about pets including an octopus, a cat, and a fish. They had fun in the Learning Lab with Mrs. Blake making an octopus and a fish tank craft to go along with their stories! #d60learns
There has been some great learning going on in Ms. Laurinec’s Preschool classroom! #d60learns
Spirit Week at Maercker School March 24-28!
D60 Community, have you seen a D60 staff member who has done something amazing lately? Be sure to recognize them with the Gold Standard! https://www.maercker.org/article/1723786
Johanna Ogrodnik is a sixth grade teacher at Westview Hills who was celebrated for embodying our values of being inclusive & welcoming and having high expectations. We continue to hear from students, parents, and colleagues about the joy, acceptance, and sense of community that she brings to Westview Hills.
“I want to express my gratitude for the constant support and guidance you provide my son,” said one parent. “Your patience, encouragement, and dedication have made a tremendous difference in his confidence and growth at school. Knowing he has someone who truly cares and believes in him brings us great comfort. Thank you for always going above and beyond to help him succeed!”
Her ability to engage and inspire students is truly remarkable and she has a way of supporting and encouraging them that makes learning both accessible and enjoyable.
Congratulations on being the Gold Standard!
