A Dynamic Start for Mokena 159

MOKENA — The 2024-2025 school year at Mokena School District 159 is off to a dynamic start, energized by enthusiastic students, engaging new programs, and important district-wide improvements. With a focus on academic excellence and financial responsibility, students, staff, and administrators have welcomed the new school year with a fresh sense of purpose and excitement.

Michelle Matt, a second-grade teacher, said enthusiastically, “Things are off to a great start in second grade! We are into our second year of our ELA curriculum, and everything is running smoothly. We’re seeing such an improvement in writing skills from the kids who used this same program last year in first grade. We are starting our Reader's Theater project, and we’re about to start a math unit on measurement and comparing lengths." For kindergartners, the excitement is just as palpable. "Kindergarten is such an exciting time!" said Audrey Morrill, a kindergarten teacher. "We are in full swing. Routines and procedures are becoming second nature, and we just ended our Toys and Play unit where students worked hard to become 'Play Experts.' They’re learning responsibility, kindness, and empathy, and we ended the unit with a field trip to the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn."

Physical Education teacher Steve Hipplehauser also introduced a unique initiative this year. "Our PE classes were excited to try out a new Olympic games unit. Students participated in Track and Field events like relays, hurdles, shot put, and discus. The classes who complete the most events in each grade level won the Olympic games and received gold medals. This unit was a big hit with our students!"

Principal Dave McAtee at Mokena Intermediate commented on how all of our students came back ready to roll. “It is always wonderful to see our new class of 5th graders take up the mantle of the students to set the example. They have truly stepped up to the challenge of being a Rocket. Our 4th graders have adjusted to the responsibility of more independence and increased work load. It is not easy, but all of our students have adjusted very quickly and we are proud of each and every one.”

Taylor Martin, an eighth-grade teacher, shared her pride in the students’ growth. "Our students are stepping up in remarkable ways. Whether it’s through group projects or extracurricular activities, they are learning how to lead, collaborate, and solve problems as a team." Seventh-grade history teacher Lauren Bullington added, "It’s been a great start to the school year. We’ve done a lot of 'get to know you' activities to discover students' likes and interests, which helps with our history projects. This month, students selected historical figures to research and present to the class, determining if they were heroes or villains." Other history projects this month include creating posters of historical accuracy about the Boston Tea Party and learning about the first responders on the anniversary of Patriot Day.

Across the district, academic programs are being strengthened, providing new opportunities for student growth.

“Over the past several years, we have collectively focused on reading and writing (ELA) curriculum, instruction, and assessment in all grade levels through district and school improvement goals. We have seen significant gains in our state assessment scores as a result of our staff and students' hard work in this area. As a district we have seen the amount of students meeting or exceeding state standards increase by over 50% in two years. We are in a great place moving into this school year because of our efforts over the past several years. We will continue to refine our practices in ELA and strengthen our use of data to intentionally respond to student strengths and needs in our classrooms in this area,” explained Dr. Kristin Johnson, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

This year also marks the start of a new ELA program for sixth through eighth grades. "The program focuses on reading and writing with a high level of rigor, challenging students to implement close reading strategies and write effectively to task and audience," said Johnson.
The district is also continuing its partnership with Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development after they completed a review and report for the district last spring. A task force of educators from each school is reviewing Northwestern’s report and making recommendations on how the district can strengthen its programming for advanced learners.

In addition to academic advancements, Mokena School District 159 is taking strategic steps to ensure financial and physical resources are well-managed. Dr. Teri Shaw, the district’s Chief School Business Official, proudly announced a completed budget for the fiscal year. "We’ve made strategic decisions to ensure that our budget is both responsible and forward-thinking. By prioritizing key areas, we’re able to invest in our students and staff while maintaining fiscal health." A few of the facilities projects completed over the summer include: a major parking lot expansion on the north side of MES, the installation of a new chiller at MJHS, and the drive between MIS and MES, Willowcrest Lane, was replaced. A new curb and sidewalks were also added to Willowcrest Lane. This fall will see new traffic patterns between the MES and MIS campuses.
Many painting projects were also completed over the summer, to ensure that students have a bright, fresh space to come to every day.

Other completed projects include new ceiling tiles and paint in the kindergarten hallway at MES, the installation of window film at MJHS, and a replacement of the ceiling fan in the main gym at MIS. "These projects are vital to ensuring that our learning environments are safe, comfortable, and conducive to learning," Shaw emphasized. "We’re investing in our facilities for the future, ensuring that Mokena School District 159 remains a top destination for education for generations to come." At MES, the student bathrooms and the columns in the Central Learning Center (CLC) were painted and at MIS, four classrooms, three office spaces, and the library were all painted. The parking lot light poles at MES and MES were also given a new coat of paint. A hard surface play area for MIS students is currently being installed and hopefully will be finalized by the end of the fall. We look forward to inviting the community to a ribbon cutting for this exciting project!

As the school year progresses, Mokena School District 159 continues to build on its successes, with an eye toward academic growth, program enhancements, and responsible resource management.