Lake County Gazette

**Article: Mid-February Updates on School Activities and Initiatives**

Date: Feb 14, 2025

The girls' basketball team is enjoying a successful season, with strong support reflected in packed gymnasiums. Other groups such as drama, chess, energy, and science olympiad are also diligently working and learning.

Emphasizing the importance of punctuality, it was noted that "A smooth start to the morning helps students feel prepared, engaged, and ready to learn. " School begins at 8:20 a.m., with doors opening at 8:15 a.m. On particularly cold days when temperatures feel below ten degrees, early entry is permitted from 8:05 a.m. to ensure student warmth and safety.

"Arriving on time not only helps students academically but also sets them up for success in developing responsibility and good habits," the statement said. Parents are thanked for their partnership in reinforcing these routines at home.

Midway through February, there is an anticipation of blue skies returning soon.

A Staff Soup and Salad Lunch is scheduled for Monday, February 24th. The PTO requests donations of soup, salad, bread, and cookies to provide teachers with a no-pack-lunch day.

A Family Fun Outing to a Chicago Wolves game is planned for Sunday, March 16th at 3:00 p.m. . Tickets are priced at $25 each; additional hot dog/soda vouchers can be purchased for $6.75. All orders must be submitted by February 28th. For further details or inquiries about ticket purchases contact Angie Adams at Ang1404@yahoo.com.

Primary classes have been actively reading books nominated for the \```2025\``` Monarch Award sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA). This award encourages critical reading among Illinois students while familiarizing them with children's literature authors and illustrators. Various educators including Ms. Cooper have read these books during library checkout times as well as instructional periods; special guests like Mr. Meech have also participated in reading sessions.

Soon\, primary students will vote on their favorite book which will then be \'''submitted''\'' to a statewide poll.

In academics:

- Third graders started learning division strategies in math.

- Social studies classes held a "book tasting" event exploring biographies.

- Students in class \```3/4 Brach\``` worked on vocabulary building through word analogies\, continued their novel study of "Lemonade Crime," analyzed character traits/motivations\, read poetry examining structure/point of view/theme.

- Fifth graders created timelines highlighting major events/inventions from the industrial revolution based on texts they read; they also learned how to simplify fractions/add fractions with unlike denominators.