Leaders Innovating for Tomorrow

The Information Technology Pathway recently took a field trip to Cisco in Chicago. Students met with engineers and other representatives from Cisco for presentations and a career panel. 💻 Cisco is a fortune 100 company (nearly $200 Billion USD). We appreciate them for allowing us to visit and for their wonderful partnership! 🤝 If any upcoming Juniors or Seniors in our region are interested in I.T., enrollment is open for the Fall semester! If you are a returning student, apply online at mcusd2.org/enroll-LIFT. If you are new to LIFT, please start the application process by speaking to your high school guidance counselor. 📝

Don't miss out! We have teamed up with Rural King Supply to raffle off some pretty amazing prizes! Help us raise money to support students throughout our region! Tickets are just $50 each and we will draw for winners on Saturday, May 25th at Riddle Elementary School during the First Annual LIFT Race. You do not need to be present to win. Call 217-238-8900 or stop by LIFT to purchase your tickets! 🎫

📣 🎉 Student Success Story: 🎉📣 Meet Ean Gardner from Charleston CUSD 1. Ean is a senior and has been a HVAC & Green Energy Student since the opening of LIFT. Taking 3 semesters of Robotics, and 1 semester of Electric Vehicle Technology, Ean has made the most of his time here! Over the course of his studies, Ean has earned two factory certifications in robotics from FANUC, a world leader in industrial robotics systems. He has participated in the assembly of a full scale electric vehicle, assembling battery packs, provisioning battery management systems, and programming drivetrain control software. Ean has also been taking part in our workplace experience program. He has been working with the production engineering department at a local manufacturer to put his robotic system programming knowledge to the test in real world scenarios. Two days a week he has been on site at the plant working with their engineers, and the remaining 3 days he has been working at LIFT accomplishing programming using robotic provisioning software and data assigned by the sponsoring business partner. 💼 This is just one of so many student success stories at LIFT! Join us to EXPLORE where LIFT could LEAD you! 😁 Enroll now for the Fall semester! If you are a returning student, apply online at mcusd2.org/enroll-LIFT. If you are new to LIFT, please start the application process by speaking to your high school guidance counselor. 📝

Get the LIFT Race T-Shirt when you sign up to participate by Friday! 🏃🚴‍♀️ 5K, Duathlon, Duathlon Team, and 1 Mile Fun Run 🏃‍♀️🚴‍♂️ 🗓️ May 25, 2024 at 8:00 AM 📍 Riddle Elementary School ✍️ Register online: mcusd2.org/LIFTRace 📖 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐓 𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬! 📖

Exciting News! Join us for the LIFT Student Capstone & Showcase🌟 🎓 Save the date: Thursday, May 9th, from 6-7:30 PM at LIFT 📅 Don't miss out on hearing from our amazing student leaders, exploring their projects, meeting our facilitators, and celebrating the hard work of our students. See you there!🤝🎉

LIFT students recently had the opportunity to represent LIFT at CTE Showcase Day at the State Capitol in March. This was an amazing experience for our students and staff! 💼🤝

30 Days away from our First Annual LIFT Race!🏃🚴‍♀️ 5K, Duathlon, Duathlon Team, and 1 Mile Fun Run 🏃‍♀️🚴‍♂️ 🗓️ May 25, 2024 at 8:00 AM 📍 Riddle Elementary School ✍️ Register online: mcusd2.org/LIFTRace 📖 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐓 𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬! 📖

We have been made aware that buildings throughout the district are experiencing phone issues calling to and from cell phones. We are working with the phone company to resolve this as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

📣 🎉 Student Success Story: 🎉📣 Meet LIFT Childcare Student Rye Roberts from Kansas CUSD3 Schools. Rye was recently hired at Stepping Stones in Charleston! At LIFT, she was able to prepare for that job by earning her ECE Level One training (48 hours), SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) training, Shaken Baby training, training for Mandated Reporter, and CPR & First Aid. These are all requirements through DCFS to be able to work in a daycare. 👶 Rye has also been job shadowing Mrs. Blackwell at Riddle Elementary in her 2/3 classroom two days a week in order to gain experience working with older children. 👧👦 Aside from her Childcare education, she has also gained experience and confidence with our Leadership curriculum. She has had the opportunity to present at several places around the community. 🎤📊 This is just one of so many student success stories at LIFT! Join us to EXPLORE where LIFT could LEAD you! 😁 Enroll now for the Fall semester! If you are a returning student, apply online at mcusd2.org/enroll-LIFT. If you are new to LIFT, please start the application process by speaking to your high school guidance counselor. 📝

LIFT Communication students Ro Brazzell & Kim Sanabria have recently been working on a social media ad project for CCAR Industries that required them to work on location for 3 afternoons. During the project, they got to know those involved in the programs that CCAR offers and recorded testimonials of consumers who work there, along with the staff members that supervise and assist them. 🎥🎬 The final project will include multiple videos spotlighting their services for CCAR to use on their website and social media outlets. LIFT IT student and owner of Momentum Webgraphics Michael Smith was also brought onboard to do a total redesign of their website. 💻 We are thankful to CCAR Industries for allowing our students this opportunity to work hand in hand with them. 🤝

📣 Friendly reminder! 📣 Just a quick reminder to our families that there will be no school for students on Monday due to a Teacher Institute.

Chrisman High School recently visited LIFT. They were able to go on a student-led tour and enjoy lunch prepared by culinary arts students! We appreciate their visit and hope to see some faces here in the future! 😃🤝

We are excited to announce that students throughout the district will have the opportunity to view the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse at their schools. 🌑🌞 Mattoon will experience a partial eclipse of 99.37% beginning at approximately 12:46 p.m. with the time of maximum coverage at approximately 2:04 p.m. 🕑 To help students better understand the science behind a solar eclipse, many teachers will incorporate this into their teaching this week prior to the eclipse. 👩‍🏫 We will be reviewing expectations and safety precautions with students to ensure a fun and memorable experience. Students and staff will be supplied with the ISO 12312-2 International Standard eclipse safe glasses that they will be required to wear during the viewing. 😎 School specific information regarding the event timeline has been emailed to families. Please communicate with your child’s teacher if you wish for your student to opt out of this event. Due to their age, students at Franklin Preschool will not be participating in the viewing, but will instead be participating in mini lessons and activities surrounding the eclipse. ✉️ (Eclipse timing information retrieved from: https://www.wcia.com/eclipse-2024/illinois-eclipse-map-which-cities-will-have-the-best-view/) 🌐

Parent participation in this statewide parent survey with ISBE, helps guide improvements in your child's school. Your identity and individual survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. The survey takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Click the link below and enter your child’s school. We appreciate your time and responses. 📝 https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/login/

🎉 Big congratulations to Robert Matthews from our IT Pathway! 🌟 He recently completed his JSE Course and earned the Entry Level Javascript Programmer Certification! 📜💻 This took a lot of hard work and dedication, with countless hours of studying. Robert now has the certifications to work as an entry level programmer or he can continue his journey towards higher education with a degree or associate level certification! 🎓💼 Way to go, Robert! 💪👏

*IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR OUR MCUSD2 FAMILIES* A text meant just for our Franklin Preschool families mistakenly went out to all of district families around 7:30 a.m. this morning stating there was no school today or tomorrow due to parent teacher conference. This is NOT accurate. This is ONLY true for Franklin Preschool. The following information is accurate: 3/7: School resumes as normal for WES,RES, MMS, MHS, LIFT 3/7: No Franklin Preschool 3/8: 2.5 Hour Early-Dismissal for WES, RES, MMS, MHS, LIFT 3/8: No Franklin Preschool We apologize for the miscommunication.

Little Leaders at LIFT was recently awarded the Quality Improvement Grant that will assist in applying for silver rating quality status through ExceleRate Illinois Circle of Quality. Pictured is Director of Early Childhood Katrina Farris. 🎉 Illinois is committed to assisting child care providers in providing quality education and care for young children (birth through 12 years). Quality Improvement Funds are available to support continued quality improvement for child care programs. These funds are designed to assist child care programs in improving program quality and achieve or advance an ExceleRate Illinois Circle of Quality. The Quality Improvement Funds program is administered by the EIU Child Care Resource and Referral/Child Care Assistance Program-CCAP. Funds are provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services. 👶👧

Reminder: No school on Monday, February 19, 2024 in observance of Presidents Day.🇺🇸📆

🍽️ Pathway Spotlight: Culinary Arts & Hospitality 🍳 Are you looking to kickstart your future in the hospitality industry? Explore our Culinary Arts & Hospitality pathway, developing skills in culinary occupations, nutrition, marketing in the hospitality & tourism industry, and more. Plus, earn certifications along the way!🍲 Available Certifications/Dual Credit Opportunities in Culinary: ✅ Food Handlers Certification ✅ CPR / First-Aid ✅ Certified Professional Food Manager (CFPM) Fall enrollment is now open! For more details on the Childcare program, visit mcusd2.org/LIFTculinary.

Students enrolled in the Manufacturing, Architecture, Construction, and Electrical Pathway went on a Manufacturing Field Trip on Tuesday, January 23. They were able to visit Curry Construction, North American Lighting, Inc., Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative, Elevate, Lester Building Systems, and Mattoon Precision Manufacturing, Inc.. We are thankful to our local businesses for the opportunity to explore and network! 🤝