|  | | Locust School | MCMS - Marengo Community Middle School
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Welcome Back for the 2008-2009 School Year! |
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Our school year is off to a great start! We thank you for your cooperation. Registration went well, lunch accounts are up-to-date and school supplies are showing up in the lockers. Our staff realizes it takes all of us working together to make these transitions smooth and pleasurable for the students and we thank the parents for their part. Mark your calendar for Academic Night. The Middle school will hold acedemic night next Tuesday, Sept. 2. Please join us in the gym promptly at 6:30 pm. Parents will follow the students schedule and teachers will present an overview of the year in each academic class. Locust will hold academic night on Thursday, Sept. 4 from 6:00 - 8 p.m. You will receive more detailed information via handouts this week. |
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Parents of children of the Marengo Union Elementary District 165 and members of the communities of Marengo and Union:
I hope your summer days are offering you plenty of time to enjoy your children and families. Summertime has a magical quality about it with long days, warm weather, and a relaxed schedule. I remember my childhood summers being filled long days in the hay fields, neighborhood pick-up baseball games, wonderful family vacations, and plenty of projects assigned by my mother to keep her very active five children from being underfoot.
I want to welcome our new families to the Marengo Union Elementary District 165 as well as our returning families. Here at the schools we have been busily preparing the classrooms for the first day of school on August 22, 2008. The summer student workers and our full-time custodial staff have done a great job in getting all the areas of the schools in tip-top condition. Teachers have been working too. Before leaving for the summer, they brainstormed about how to do things better and how to plan for a smooth and organized transition in the light of the many teacher and administrative cuts.
Excellence in education is still foremost in the minds of the educators at the district and knowing the dedicated staff at the schools they will do their best to make ends meet in light of the financial condition of the school district. In keeping with Illinois state statute which requires that all school districts present a balanced budget, the elementary district eliminated nine full-time teaching positions which included the art and music teachers at Locust Elementary School. Additionally, the district eliminated two full-time administrators and other support staff in the library and classroom. Students are directly impacted by these cuts with larger class sizes and elimination of fine arts.
Throughout the school year, the district will be holding town meetings to share information about the financial outlook of the district as well as additional instructional and specific program cuts if a long-term financial solution is not found. We remain optimistic in that the communities of Marengo and Union have always been strong supporters of education and have valued the importance of the children and understand that they are the future! The elementary district has proven itself to be good stewards of tax payer monies by not going to referendum for 10 years while still providing a quality education for the children of our community. Learning is like building a house, without a square and stable foundation the entire structure will be in poor condition. That foundation to learning begins in kindergarten.
Marengo is my hometown and I am honored that I have been chosen to serve as superintendent of the Marengo Union Elementary School District #165. Although this is my first year as superintendent of the district, I have served this district in many capacities --7th grade math and science teacher, dean of students, director of curriculum and instruction, and assistant superintendent of schools. In all of these roles, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to providing the best education for our students and I promise to continue in this capacity as superintendent.
I extend an open door to any member of our community to come and share with me their vision of excellence in our schools.
Yours in Education,
Lea Malaker-Damisch
Superintendent of Schools |
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Please mark your calendars with these important dates: Monday, Sept. 1 - No School - Labor Day Tuesday, Sept. 2 - MCMS Academic Night from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12 - Picture Day at Locust, fundraiser kickoff at MCMS Tuesday, Sept. 16 - Picture Day at MCMS Tuesday, Sept. 16 - MCMS Music Open House. Sixth grade music parents & students from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and 7/8th from 7:30-8:30 p.m. This includes all choir and band students and parents. The Open House is in the Music Room. Wednesday, Sept. 24 - 1st Quarter Mid-term |
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Marengo-Union Elementary School Distrcit 165816 E Grant Highway, Marengo IL 60152 Phone: (815) 568-8323 Fax: (815) 568-8367 We are initiating an intercom monitoring system. The school doors will remain locked throughout the day and visitors need to ring the bell located to the right of the front door. A camera lets the office see who is there and visitors will be buzzed in. Visitors will then sign in at the office, obtain a visitor's sticker then return to the office and sign-out when leaving.
The Mission
District #165 is dedicated to academic excellence through the cooperation and interaction of students, staff, parents, and community. We are committed to providing opportunities for students to achieve their personal best, become responsible and productive citizens, and embrace the value of learning.
Keep Your Students Information Updated
If you are withdrawing your child at anytime during the school year, you must come in, to fill out the necessary paperwork releasing your child from our school district. The school office(s) Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M.-3:50 P.M. MCMS 815-568-5720, Locust 815-568-7632.
Please continue to notify the school(s) of any changes being made to phone numbers and addresses as they occur.
Please help to keep all family lunch accounts current.
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