
Our MIS students are loving the sunshine and spending time on the new play area! From soccer matches to football games to a game of four square, there are smiles and laughter all around! We look forward to adding a basketball hoop and gaga ball pits in the spring!







🌟 Our schools nurture the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Today, we’re celebrating student success! Whether it’s excelling in the classroom, on the field, or in the arts, share a story or picture of a student or students who inspire you! ✨#PSW25


Our 6th grade ELA Word Hunters are crushing their morphology game! These etymology experts have mastered an impressive 80 word parts in just three weeks - tackling 20 Greek roots, 20 Latin roots, and 40 affixes. By breaking down words to their core elements, they're building the skills to decode any challenging vocabulary they encounter!




The district has worked hard to provide our teachers with high-quality professional development, learning opportunities, and collaboration time that is aligned with school and district improvement goals. Below are several highlights of development and learning that have taken place within Strategic Plan Goal 2B:
-Two year Keys to Literacy training for teachers in Grades K-5 that focused on “The Science of Reading”, evidenced-based instructional practices and routines for teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, word work, comprehension, and writing
-Year-long professional development plans utilizing Early Release Days focused on school improvement goals including responsive teaching, implementation of new instructional materials, and writing across the content areas
-Relaunch of the district’s instructional coach program in which all teachers have access to coaches that enhance student learning through a student centered coaching model as well as provide professional development aligned to district and school goals and job-embedded curriculum implementation support
-Yearly staff surveys regarding professional development topics of need to shape our Teacher Institute Day into a conference-like day in which teachers and staff choose sessions to best meet their individual growth goals
-Program specific professional development opportunities for teachers of English Language Learners, students receiving Special Education services, and Advanced Learners
-Multiple school based book studies aligned to school improvement goals including the topics of phonics, the middle school model, and metacognition


The Annual Book Fair Coin Drive starts Today thru Friday.
The Coin Drive helps us to buy books for low income students.
Collection takes place in advisory.
The advisory that collects the most will win a Pizza Party!
Please help support by sending in your change or cash.


🏫 Public Schools Week starts today! From Feb. 24-28, we’re celebrating the incredible impact of Mokena's public schools. Let’s lift up the stories, people, and programs that make our schools shine. Join us by sharing what makes you #mokenaproud! #PSW25


Mokena School District is proud to be participating in the Special Olympics of Illinois' Respect Week to celebrate inclusion and to highlight themes of disability awareness. MIS and MJHS will participate the week of March 3-7 and MES will participate the week of May 5-9. This year's theme is "In My Respect Era."
You can join in the commitment to inclusion and kindness by purchasing shirts at https://willpromo.com/soill_respect/shop/home !
#ChooseToInclude


⭐ Please consider helping the MES Student Council as they work towards their "Sharing Makes Us Shine" mission by sending in cleaning items for the Frankfort Township Food Panty! Collection is the week of February 24th. ⭐


The Dungeons and Dragons club is underway at MJHS!







Matt Lipman from the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra visited both our MIS and MJHS Orchestras on Friday. He performed and gave our musicians some valuable advice to help improve their own performance. Thank you Ms. Nyder for coordinating this wonderful experience.





Thank you to everyone who came out to meet and greet our newly appointed Superintendent, Mr. Gurney! It was a great way for him to get to know some of our families, students, and staff before starting in July.


The MJHS bowling team got the ball rollin’ to kick off their season this week!





We are Mokena proud of our 3rd graders who shared their "Freaky Frog" writing at our Board of Education meeting last night! These students have become frog experts and their public speaking abilities were "toadally" amazing! Great job to Noah, Owen, Graham, Paisley, and Olivia!


8th Grade Meteor Families,
The Graduation Diploma Form due date is Friday, February 21st.
As of today, we have 72 students whose families have not filled out the form. Please fill out the form and pay your grad fees ASAP
Link: https://forms.gle/5WyYuFZ4b9xAZYoE9


Graduation Picture Retakes are Tomorrow (2/20/25) first thing in the morning. These pictures are only for those who were absent on Grad Picture day or need a Retake.
See this link for more info: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IUSO87AoOoJIksaD0JEobnxbt_wqlyAK/view?usp=sharing


Congratulations to the 6 Mokena staff members that have received the Illinois State Board of Education's "Those Who Excel Award"! Your hard work and support for students, colleagues, and the community have made a lasting impact and we are incredibly proud of your achievements!
You can read more about the award and the recipients at: https://www.mokena159.org/article/2038730 .


The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for parents is open. Visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. For more information, please see the district email sent today.


Technology is an important part of the educational environment. With nearly 3,000 connected devices in our district, here are a few of our accomplishments within Strategic Goal 3C:
-Outdated networking equipment including wireless access points and switches were replaced with new multi-gig switches that allow for faster access for student and staff devices
-Internet bandwidth was upgraded from 1Gb and 2Gb at each respective school to 4Gb at all schools.
-Network management solution was introduced to streamline the management of new equipment
-Upgrades to equipment to allow for the latest security standards to be applied, keeping students and staff safer while utilizing the district network
-Replaced copy machines with newer and faster versions allowing for more efficient use for printing and copying for our staff members


🐧❄️🐧S A V E T H E D A T E 🐧❄️🐧
Join us for MES Family Night on March 5th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM! Enjoy an evening of family fun with activities like reading to therapy dogs, hands-on exploration stations, and more. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and have fun together. We look forward to seeing you there!


Our MIS 4th graders enjoyed their trip to the Museum of Science and Industry this week. Thank you to all of our parent chaperones for helping to make the trip memorable.





