Parent Teacher Conferences Pick A Time

District 7 will again use Pick-A-Time to schedule PreK-12 parent-teacher conferences to be held on October 31, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and November 1, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pick-A-Time allows parents to schedule conferences through the internet using the account from last year or by creating a new account. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. on October 21, 2022, and will end at 10:00 p.m. on October 30, 2022.  

We will continue to hold parent-teacher conferences virtually in District 7. Participation in conferences across levels increased with the inception of virtual conferences. Virtual conferences offer parents the opportunity to engage without the need to drive to the building, take off work if applicable, or find childcare. In addition, our teachers are more likely to remain on time and may attend their own children’s conferences without significantly limiting their availability to parents. Ultimately, it is our goal to ensure that our parent/teacher conferences are productive in opening lines of communication and fostering the home/school partnership. In the event you need to schedule an in-person conference, or you do not have internet access, please contact your child’s building or teachers directly to make an appointment. 

Scheduling Conferences using Pick-a-Time 

  1. Navigate to www.pickatime.com/ecusd7 and login 
  1. Returning users – enter email address and password  
  1. New users click “Login/Create Account”  
  1. Fill in required information 
  1. Enter your child’s first and last name (together with no space) 

Ex: BenjaminFranklin 

  1. Enter your child’s birthdate (mm/dd/yyyy) and click “add”  
  1. Select a date to schedule the conference 
  1. Add additional children if necessary 
  1. Click on the colored box of your preferred time slot. Each color represents a different teacher/course. 
  1. Click “Create Appointment” 
  1. A confirmation email will be sent with the date, time, teacher, and Teams link.  
  1. A reminder email will also be sent 24 hours prior to the date of the conference. 

PreK-5 Students 

  • Elementary students with two teachers will schedule their parent teacher conferences with both teachers at the same time.  
  • Elementary conferences are scheduled in 15-minute blocks. 

Middle School Students 

  • Middle school conferences are based on a student’s 2nd quarter class. 
  • 6th grade conferences are scheduled in 15-minute blocks with all five core teachers (Content Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts) 
  • 7th and 8th grade conferences are scheduled in 10-minute blocks. 

High School Students  

  • High school conferences are based on the student’s 2nd quarter classes. 
  • High school conferences are scheduled in 10-minute blocks.  

Once you have registered for a virtual conference, the teacher’s Teams link will be listed with your email confirmation. This will give you access to the Teams waiting room until your scheduled appointment time.  

Please feel free to contact your building secretary or principal if you have any questions. 

District Facility Analysis Report Detailed at Board of Education Meeting

Watch the video version of this communication here

October 11, 2022

Dear District #7 community,  

As part of the District’s new strategic plan, we have been working closely with Ittner Architects to conduct a comprehensive analysis of our buildings and have also brought on consultants from Creative Entourage to conduct community engagement sessions called Engage District #7. The goal of these sessions is to provide an opportunity for meaningful conversations and to gather input from a broad base of the community in order to develop long-range goals and priorities that: 

  • Improve the learning experiences and learning environments for students in a fiscally responsible manner; 
  • Determine how best to address long-term facility and enrollment changes; and 
  • Identify what steps should be taken now and in the future. 

Earlier this evening at the Board of Education meeting, Ittner provided an overview of their analysis of District #7 schools and provided recommendations regarding the needs identified. District #7 schools range in age from 140 years to 14 years, which also is indicative of the needs identified.  

As part of their analysis, Ittner has recommended that District #7 take the following steps: 

  • Identify a location and develop a plan for the replacement of Lincoln Middle School. This historic building has several needs which cannot be addressed while occupied by students.  
  • Expand the Commons at Edwardsville High School to provide seating for additional students. 
  • Determine how to address significant foundation issues at Midway Elementary School. This could include consolidating Midway Elementary and Hamel Elementary into a new elementary school on the Hamel campus. 
  • Identify areas of inequity among our schools and develop a plan to address those inequities over the next several years. 
  • Develop a plan to improve safety and security as it relates to all District #7 schools. This includes a plan for double entry into each of our schools and addressing any site concerns related to student safety, which may include playgrounds. 

Our first round of community engagement sessions begins tomorrow and will continue next week at each of our intermediate schools. We look forward to District #7 stakeholders engaging in dialogue regarding the future of our facilities. We have amazing staff and students, and our desire is to provide them with the best facilities possible as we look to the future of District #7, while preserving our past. You can get the dates for each session in your mailbox and at the dedicated site EngageDistrict7.org. I look forward to seeing you there. 

Sincerely,  

Patrick Shelton, Ed.D.
Superintendent

To watch the Ittner facility presentation from the Board of Education meeting, go to the 47:30 minute mark of this broadcasted meeting: https://www.facebook.com/ECUSD7/videos/776652267105338/ 

Calendar Reminder: No School Oct. 7 or Oct. 10

A reminder that there is no student attendance on Friday, Oct. 7 as that is a Teacher Institute Day.

All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 10 in observance of Columbus Day.

 

 

Community Invited to Help Plan for the Future of District #7

Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 is launching an effort to bring the entire D7 community together to develop goals and priorities to improve its schools. ENGAGE District 7, created as part of the implementation of District 7’s strategic plan, is a team of district employees and stakeholders. Engage District 7 is hosting a series of community engagement meetings for your input on how to meet the facility needs for all District 7 students now and in the future. The program is designed to ensure the district’s work in the future is guided by a facility improvement plan developed “For Our Community By Our Community.”  

Parents, staff and community members are encouraged to participate in ENGAGE District 7. As part of the program, a two-part series of community engagement sessions will kick off on Wednesday, Oct. 12. During these sessions, participants will learn more about planning priorities for D7 facilities and will engage with other stakeholders on what is most important now and what projects can wait until later. Each session will feature an interactive work activity with fellow participants to help identify the priorities to move our schools forward. The results of the community engagement sessions will be included in a series of recommendations that will be presented to the D7 Board of Education. 

Each of the two sessions will have four meeting date options to choose from.  

SESSION 1
Session 1 will focus on facility needs in District #7

October 12 – 6-8 p.m. 
Worden Elementary, 110 Main St., Worden
(meeting: gym | parking and entrance: located off Kell Street)

October 18 – 6-8 p.m. 
Columbus Elementary, 315 N. Kansas St., Edwardsville
(meeting: cafeteria | parking and entrance: located off College Street)

October 19 – 6-8 p.m. 
Woodland Elementary, 59 IL-157, Edwardsville
(meeting: cafeteria | parking and entrance: main entrance)

October 20 – 6-8 p.m. 
Cassens Elementary, 1014 Glen Crossing Rd., Glen Carbon

(meeting: cafeteria | parking and entrance: main entrance)

SESSION 2
Session 2 will focus on facility priorities in District #7
November 9 – 6-8 p.m. 
Worden Elementary, 110 Main St., Worden
(meeting: gym | parking and entrance: located off Kell Street)

November 15 – 6-8 p.m. 
Columbus Elementary, 315 N. Kansas St., Edwardsville
(meeting: cafeteria | parking and entrance: located off College Street)

November 16 – 6-8 p.m.
Woodland Elementary, 59 IL-157, Edwardsville
(meeting: cafeteria | parking and entrance: main entrance)

November 17 – 6-8 p.m.
Cassens Elementary, 1014 Glen Crossing Rd., Glen Carbon

(meeting: cafeteria | parking and entrance: main entrance)

Visit EngageDistrict7.org for more information and to register to participate. 

Three Teachers Awarded Grants from IRTAF

Three Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 teachers have been named recipients of a grant from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation (IRTAF). The IRTAF recently awarded $36,500 in grant money to public school educators (PreK through 12) statewide.  

Laura Brennan and Tyler Slaby of Liberty Middle School and Shanyra Cox of Woodland Elementary School were all awarded an IRTAF grant.   

Below are summarized paragraphs of the project in each of the three’s own words.  

Laura Brennan, Liberty Middle School ($750)
My class would benefit from purchasing a SRA Reading Laboratory Kit. SRA supports a growth mindset within every student. Students are interested in their own learning with self-monitoring progress, which is an integral part of student success. Students are motivated through self-guided, cross-curricular reading selections that connect their reading level with their topics of interests. This instills a love of reading and learning.  

Tyler Slaby, Liberty Middle School ($570)
I am currently needing math supplies for our 6th grade math students to better support them in the classroom when it comes to understanding multiplication and division. I am on the search for base ten blocks that can be used for 330 students in our middle school to support their learning of fractions, multiplication, and division. 

Shanyra Cox, Woodland Elementary School ($679.78)
As part of the technology curriculum, I will introduce coding to the 3rd-5th graders. I would like to enrich the coding unit by allowing them to see their coding skills in action with a Dash and Dot coding robot with challenge and enrichment accessories. Students will not only have to understand block coding but will have to problem solve together to code their robot to perform a task. The Dash and Dot robot will teach the kids block coding, provide them with opportunity to problem solve, use critical thinking skills, as well as spark their creativity. 

The IRTA Foundation designed this program based on the idea that educators often do not have additional revenue sources available for unique student projects or classroom materials.   

Applicants were required to meet the proper criteria and to submit their proposals by early June. The IRTAF Board of Directors selected the grant recipients and awards are being presented now. The Illinois Principals Association played a vital role in assisting IRTAF with the promotion of this program. 

 

 

Dr. Duncan Named IPA Southwestern Region Middle School Principal of the Year

Liberty Middle School principal Dr. Allen Duncan has been nominated for and selected as the Illinois Principals Association Southwestern Region Middle School Principal of the Year.   

To be named the Illinois Principals Association Southwestern Region Principal of the Year is an amazing recognition,” said Duncan. “It’s always nice to be appreciated for working hard and giving it your all. But this recognition isn’t just about me. It’s about our Liberty family. This award recognizes the efforts of my staff, students, and all the families that have supported our school over the last couple of years. We truly have something special at Liberty, and I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to work here every day.         

Dr. Duncan was nominated by Dr. Tron Young, principal at Joseph Arthur Middle School in O’Fallon, Ill. 

In his nomination, Dr. Young said, “Dr. Duncan, your commitment to giving your very best each and every day to the students and staff who attend Liberty Middle School is worthy of recognition. You have created an environment that allows students to connect and thrive as part of a house system that brings community and engagement to life. He has developed a school culture that inspires his staff to build meaningful connections to student learning, demonstrating increased student achievement. In addition to the work in his building, he was part of the inaugural steering committee for the I-Grow Summit, which looks to grow, retain, and recruit educational teachers and leaders of color.” 

Dr. Young presented Dr. Duncan with news of his selection on Thursday morning in the Liberty gymnasium surrounded by his students, teachers and staff.  

Dr. Duncan is in his third year as principal at Liberty Middle School and his 18th year overall in District #7.  

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drOkTnkYI0k

 

 

 

 

 

Unified Sports at District #7

Unified sports are one way District #7 promotes inclusion within its District. Unified sports means that students with and without disabilities play together on the same team.
District #7 currently offers unified sports at the middle school and high school level, although some sports do allow students eight years of age or older to participate.
During the 2022-23 school year, District #7 has a goal of increasing participation across the district in the events they host, as well as providing additional sports opportunities for athletes. Unified sports offerings this year will include flag football, soccer, bowling, dance, bocce, esports, basketball, and track and field.
If you are interested in coaching or have a child who wants to be an athlete or a peer, please use the links below to sign up.

Early Release Wednesdays Begin August 24

On Wednesdays during the 2022-23 school year (beginning on August 24), all District 7 schools will be dismissed early to allow for consistent staff collaboration in identifying priority standards, utilizing common formative assessments, and determining instructional needs for students. This time will allow our teachers to collaborate with one another, plan intentionally and grow professionally.

EHS will dismiss at 12:45 p.m., the middle schools at 1:35 p.m., intermediate schools (grades 3-5) at 2:40 p.m. and primary schools (grades K-2) at 2:50 p.m.

Each building should have communicated with families about child care between the early dismissal time and the regular dismissal time.

 

 

Monday, Aug. 15 Office/Building Hours

Due to the District kickoff event for all staff on Monday morning (August 15), district offices will not open until 10 a.m. Additionally, school buildings will be closed until 1 p.m. for their meetings.  

District 7 to Initiate PLCs for Staff in 2022-23

Professional Learning Communities (also referred to as PLCs) are new to District 7 this year and will provide educators with the time to work in collaborative teams to have a positive impact on student learning. Nelson Elementary School reading specialist Cari Wencewicz and Edwardsville High School English teacher Nickie Pontious tell us more about PLCs, their impact and why they will be valuable for District 7.