This year Mrs. Stein and Mrs. Abbatacola are starting Heart and Sole at AJHS. Heart and Sole is a curriculum developed by Girls on the Run that focuses on middle school girls. Through Heart and Sole they hope to provide a safe environment where girls will build connections with others and learn more about themselves, all while having fun training for the Girls on the Run 5K in May. Registration will be limited to the first 15 girls, so act fast! View additional information.

As D102 prepares for the upcoming school year, opportunities avail for staff to strengthen and follow their passion for teaching and leading. Assistant Principal Kelly Morales recently came to such a crossroad. "While I truly enjoy serving the staff and students as assistant principal, at my core I am a teacher and I miss working with students,” shared Mrs. Morales. “I miss all that is teaching.” Mrs. Morales’ decision to teach in Aptakisic’s math department beginning in 2016-2017 is a win-win for District 102. The Board of Education approved her request at the February 8 Board meeting. Mrs. Morales was a member of the math team who aligned the math curriculum to the Common Core State Standards in 2013. She plans to continue on a path in District 102, a place she holds dear to her heart.

**Have you ever heard of GIRLS ON THE RUN?? This year Mrs. Stein and Mrs. Abbatacola are starting Heart and Sole at AJHS. Heart and Sole is a curriculum developed by Girls on the Run that focuses on middle school girls. Through Heart and Sole we hope to provide a safe environment where girls will come to build connections with others and learn more about themselves all while having fun training for the Girls on the Run 5K in May.Registration will be limited to the first 15 girls, so act fast! For additional information please see or e-mail Mrs. Stein (rstein@d102.org) or Mrs. Abbatacola (mabbatacola@d102.org)

**IMPORTANT...IMPORTANT...IMPORTANT...IMPORTANT…ALL AJHS STUDENT AND PARENTS: If you enter the building after 7:40, your parent needs to come into the building and sign you in. If your parent does not come in to the building to sign you in, you will be asked to call your parent to come back to the building and sign you in. This is important for office administration to account for the presence and safety of each and every student. Thank you.

**ALL ANIMAL OWNERS: The AJHS Animal adoption SEL group is seeking photos of adopted dogs to use on our various social media projects. If you have any photos of your adopted animal, please email them to aptakisicadoptionevent@gmail.com Thanks!

**8TH GRADERS GOING TO WASHINGTON D.C.--You must get your medical forms turned into Mrs. Frost by the end of February. These forms can be found in the Schoology group and were not filled out by your parents when they registered you for the trip. Every student traveling must turn in the Parent Permission form in order to go on the trip. Questions - see Mrs. Frost.

**CAST AND CREW OF GOLDILOCKS ON TRIAL: Cast B stays till 6:30 TODAY, THURSDAY. That is EVERYONE!! Crew we need as many of you as possible to be painting, drawing and creating many last minute items. If you can stay later than 5:00 that would be great!! REMEMBER: Please arrange for your ride home BEFORE this afternoon!! 

AJHS is working with Center for Prevention Research and Development at the University of Illinois to conduct a survey of Illinois middle and high school students. The purpose of this survey is to better understand youth risk and protective behaviors as they relate to student problems and academic success. Click here for the flyer sent home in January for more information about the Illinois Youth Survey which also includes the "permission denial form" for those parents who will not allow their child to complete the survey on February 29 during their study hall classes. 

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS: We will meet on Thursday, February 25 at 7:10am in the small gym.

** 8th Grade Students: APTAKISIC BALLROOM DANCE CLUB (A.B.C.D.) will be starting right after spring break! This club is the perfect way to end your week by having a ton of fun with your friends! Year after year, former students come to visit from SHS and talk about how much they miss this club. They even say that they regularly use their moves at high school dances. Mrs. Leibach is so excited to coach A.B.D.C. (even while on her maternity leave!). Practices will be on Fridays from 3:00-3:45 starting after spring break. No dance experience is necessary, and you do not need to come with a partner. If you are interested in joining or learning more about A.B.D.C., please join the Schoology group with the access code 67WJ8-3WWTR. or email Mrs. Leibach at aleibach@d102.org.

**This is just a reminder that all students should check their gmail to see if they received a message from Mrs. Cantagallo about ordering a YEARBOOK. Every student who received this email needs to reply to her by the end of the day TODAY, saying either that you want to order a yearbook or that you don't plan on ordering one. Thank you!

**Have you ever heard of GIRLS ON THE RUN?? This year Mrs. Stein and Mrs. Abbatacola are starting Heart and Sole at AJHS. Heart and Sole is a curriculum developed by Girls on the Run that focuses on middle school girls. Through Heart and Sole we hope to provide a safe environment where girls will come to build connections with others and learn more about themselves all while having fun training for the Girls on the Run 5K in May.Registration will be limited to the first 15 girls, so act fast! For additional information please see or e-mail Mrs. Stein (rstein@d102.org) or Mrs. Abbatacola (mabbatacola@d102.org)

**ALL ANIMAL OWNERS: The AJHS Animal adoption SEL group is seeking photos of adopted dogs to use on our various social media projects. If you have any photos of your adopted animal, please email them to aptakisicadoptionevent@gmail.com Thanks!

On February 20, eleven Aptakisic students were among the 118 students who competed in MathCounts at the College of Lake County. Aptakisic's MathCounts team, Fanny Borukhova, Matthew Li, Arjun Nageswaran, and Ram Potham placed eighth out of 18 Lake County schools. Ram Potham earned the third highest overall score and went to the countdown round. This qualifies him to compete at the MathCounts State competition on March 19 in Lisle, Illinois. Thank you to our MathCounts coaches Amanda Cooper and Hanna Yang.

More than 100 Aptakisic and Meridian band, choral, and orchestra students competed in the Illinois Grade School Solo and Ensemble Contest on February 20. The contest gives our students an opportunity to perfect a piece of music, perform it as a soloist or part of an ensemble, and receive feedback from musical experts. More than half of the the D102 performers received first place ranking and 15 received perfect scores.

On February 16 and 18, D102 hosted an orchestra and band concert for family and friends at the Stevenson High School Performing Arts Center. Prior to the concerts, band and orchestra students spent time rehearsing and learning the nuances of performing a concert for a large audience. "When students' hard work and concert-day excitement fuse, students grow as musicians," reflects Band Director Tom Eifert. Fellow D102 music directors agree. "Wanting to play your best and channeling your emotions to perform a musical piece is an unforgettable experience. It makes practicing worth every minute." Thank you to our band directors, Tom Eifert (AJHS) and Allison Rakickas (MMS) and our orchestra directors, Nicole Vettraino (AJHS) and Paul Jenkin (MMS).

District 102 students presented 38 of the 94 student-led presentations at the February 20th annual Students Involved with Technology (SIT) Conference. This is the 16th year for SIT and the sixth year that Charlene Chausis, Aptakisic Creative Innovative Specialist, and Amy Lamberti, Lake Forest School District 67, have co-chaired the north conference site. View a list of the presentations at http://tinyurl.com/sit2016.  The above photo shows Aptakisic students Sindhu Bommineni, Esha Raut, Khushali Joshi, and Ishita Kataki presenting Sound, EDM, Engineering. Read more about the keynote speaker, conference sponsors, and the volunteers who helped make this event successful. 

** 8th Grade Students: APTAKISIC BALLROOM DANCE CLUB (A.B.D.C.) will be starting right after spring break! This club is the perfect way to end your week by having a ton of fun with your friends! Year after year, former students come to visit from SHS and talk about how much they miss this club. They even say that they regularly use their moves at high school dances. Mrs. Leibach is so excited to coach A.B.D.C. (even while on her maternity leave!). Practices will be on Fridays from 3:00-3:45 starting after spring break. No dance experience is necessary, and you do not need to come with a partner. If you are interested in joining or learning more about A.B.D.C., please join the Schoology group with the access code 67WJ8-3WWTR. or email Mrs. Leibach at aleibach@d102.org. **The PTO is looking for VOLUNTEERS to help during BINGO NIGHT at Meridian Middle School on March 20th . You can sign up for more than one shift if they are not in parallel. This sign up sheet is located outside the AJHS school office. Please call Jeannette Boecker 630-550-7773 for questions (email jboecker.pto@gmail.com). **IMPORTANT...IMPORTANT...IMPORTANT...IMPORTANT--ALL AJHS STUDENTS AND PARENTS: If you enter the building after 7:40, your parent needs to come into the building and sign you in. If your parent does not come in to the building to sign you in, you will be asked to call your parent to come back to the building and sign you in. This is important for office administration to account for the presence and safety of each and every student. Thank you. **A part of the Food Insecurity group needs aluminum cans. They need the cans to be empty and CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. Anyone who can send in cans, do it ASAP. You can send in cans from now till the end of the school year. Again, make sure the cans are empty and CLEAN. You can turn in your cans to the office or room 218, Mrs. Lewis' room. REMEMBER, WE NEED EMPTY CANNED FOOD ITEM CANS, NOT EMPTY SODA CANS. (See the image below.) Thanks. **Today is the absolute last day to let Mrs. Cantagallo know if you want to ORDER a YEARBOOK. She will be submitting the order to Jostens tomorrow. If you did not receive an email from her, then you have already pre-ordered your yearbook. No need to worry! **GOLDILOCKS ON TRIAL: We need as many of you as possible to be at crew today after school to try and finish ALL the painting and building. If you can be there, PLEASE COME AND HELP!!

**All students in MATH COUNTS AND those who have contributed to the SCHOOL NEWSPAPER, the Aptakisic Insider! You be called downstairs today at the end of your last class to take your group picture for yearbook. The picture will be taken right before going to SEL. Please do not stop at your locker. Go directly to the hallway at the bottom of the elevator, and Mrs. Cantagallo will meet you there to take the picture.

**ABC MEMBERS: We will be taking Yearbook pictures next Wednesday, March 2, right after school. Make sure to have your ABC t-shirt on that day. Also please read schoology for more information on meeting. Thanks Mrs. Friman

**Have you ever heard of GIRLS ON THE RUN?? This year Mrs. Stein and Mrs. Abbatacola are starting Heart and Sole at AJHS. Heart and Sole is a curriculum developed by Girls on the Run that focuses on middle school girls. Through Heart and Sole we hope to provide a safe environment where girls will come to build connections with others and learn more about themselves all while having fun training for the Girls on the Run 5K in May.Registration will be limited to the first 15 girls, so act fast! For additional information please see or e-mail Mrs. Stein (rstein@d102.org) or Mrs. Abbatacola (mabbatacola@d102.org)

**ALL ANIMAL OWNERS: The AJHS Animal adoption SEL group is seeking photos of adopted dogs to use on our various social media projects. If you have any photos of your adopted animal, please email them to
aptakisicadoptionevent@gmail.com Thanks!

** 8th Grade Students: APTAKISIC BALLROOM DANCE CLUB (A.B.D.C.) will be starting right after spring break! This club is the perfect way to end your week by having a ton of fun with your friends! Year after year, former students come to visit from SHS and talk about how much they miss this club. They even say that they regularly use their moves at high school dances. Mrs. Leibach is so excited to coach A.B.D.C. (even while on her maternity leave!). Practices will be on Fridays from 3:00-3:45 starting after spring break. No dance experience is necessary, and you do not need to come with a partner. If you are interested in joining or learning more about A.B.D.C., please join the Schoology group with the access code 67WJ8-3WWTR. or email Mrs. Leibach at aleibach@d102.org.

**CAST AND CREW OF GOLDILOCKS ON TRIAL: VERY IMPORTANT!! Please be sure to read our schoology group posts made on Sunday. **ABC MEMBERS: We will be taking Yearbook pictures this Wednesday, March 2, right after school. Make sure to have your ABC T-shirt on that day. Also please read schoology for more information on meeting. Thanks Mrs. Friman ** 8th Grade Students: APTAKISIC BALLROOM DANCE CLUB (A.B.D.C.) will be starting right after spring break! This club is the perfect way to end your week by having a ton of fun with your friends! Year after year, former students come to visit from SHS and talk about how much they miss this club. They even say that they regularly use their moves at high school dances. Mrs. Leibach is so excited to coach A.B.D.C. (even while on her maternity leave!). Practices will be on Fridays from 3:00-3:45 starting after spring break. No dance experience is necessary, and you do not need to come with a partner. If you are interested in joining or learning more about A.B.D.C., please join the Schoology group with the access code 67WJ8-3WWTR. or email Mrs. Leibach at aleibach@d102.org. MOSAIC will be rehearsing tomorrow, Tuesday, after school from 3pm-5pm in the library. If you have not already turned in your conflict calendar and student activity fee, this will be your final opportunity unless you have made arrangements with Mrs. Lewis or Ms. Choi. Please come to rehearsal prepared to perform! TRACK AND FIELD STARTS ON 3/21/16. There is a General Information sheet attached to this message. A current physical is required to participate in this sport. There is NO TRYOUT NECESSARY. If you have questions on physicals, please see Mrs. Frost. If you have track questions, please contact a coach or Mr. Livingston.

To: ALL PARENTS: Please click here to complete the parent portion of the 5-Essentials Survey. Your feedback is valued and extremely important for continuous improvement and long range planning for your child's education. YOU CAN ALSO HELP YOUR CHILD EARN A CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE BY COMPLETING THIS SURVEY! Download, print, complete the prize drawing certificate and return it to the AJHS school office! Thanks in advance for your help.

**TRACK AND FIELD starts on March 21st. Please see the message posted on February 29th on Schoology for more information. This sport requires a current physical to participate. There is no tryout necessary. If you have questions on physicals, please see Mrs. Frost, if you have questions on track, please contact a coach or Mr. Livingston. **ABC MEMBERS: We will be taking Yearbook pictures this Wednesday, March 2, right after school. Make sure to have your ABC T-shirt on that day. Also please read schoology for more information on meeting. Thanks Mrs. Friman ** 8th Grade Students: APTAKISIC BALLROOM DANCE CLUB (A.B.D.C.) will be starting right after spring break! This club is the perfect way to end your week by having a ton of fun with your friends! Year after year, former students come to visit from SHS and talk about how much they miss this club. They even say that they regularly use their moves at high school dances. Mrs. Leibach is so excited to coach A.B.D.C. (even while on her maternity leave!). Practices will be on Fridays from 3:00-3:45 starting after spring break. No dance experience is necessary, and you do not need to come with a partner. If you are interested in joining or learning more about A.B.D.C., please join the Schoology group with the access code 67WJ8-3WWTR. or email Mrs. Leibach at aleibach@d102.org. **A part of the Food Insecurity group needs aluminum cans. They need the cans to be empty and CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. Anyone who can send in cans, do it ASAP. You can send in cans from now till the end of the school year. Again, make sure the cans are empty and CLEAN. You can turn in your cans to the office or room 218, Mrs. Lewis' room. REMEMBER, WE NEED EMPTY CANNED FOOD ITEM CANS, NOT EMPTY SODA CANS. Thanks. **THE AJHS WRESTLING TEAM had a successful performance at the IESA Regional Wrestling Tournament. Four wrestlers have qualified to wrestle at the IESA Sectional Tournament in an attempt to qualify for the IESA State Wrestling Championships in DeKalb. Congratulations to Brandon C. (3rd at 65lbs.), Tristan S. (2nd at 119lbs.), Alex S. (3rd at 155lbs.) and Andy C. (3rd at 185lbs.). The IESA Sectional Tournament will be held on March 4th at Hawthorn North Middle School in Vernon Hills, IL. MOSAIC will be rehearsing TODAY, Tuesday, after school from 3pm-5pm in the library. If you have not already turned in your conflict calendar and student activity fee, this will be your final opportunity unless you have made arrangements with Mrs. Lewis or Ms. Choi. Please come to rehearsal prepared to perform! **Come have a fun night out with friends and see many of your classmates perform in GOLDILOCKS ON TRIAL. Shows are this Thursday, March 3rd and Friday, March 4th at 7:00pm in the small gym. Tickets are available at the door for $5.00.

PARENTS: We are about to begin the process of building classes for the 2016-2017 school year. If you are interested in providing information about your child for the purpose of placement, you may fill out the on-line “Aptakisic Junior High School Principal Information Form” by visiting: http://tinyurl.com/AJHSPrincipalForm

Due by: April 1, 2016 *This is the only form that can be submitted for this year. Please complete the form and submit online using the link provided. Please refer to the online form for the guidelines regarding student placement requests. *If the form is submitted AFTER April 1, we will take your comments into consideration, but cannot guarantee any requests made. Thank you for your interest and care to ensure your child’s educational success.

ANNOUNCEMENTS—WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2ND

**The PTO is looking for volunteers to help during BINGO NIGHT at Meridian Middle School on March 20th. You can sign up for more than one shift if they are not in parallel. This sign up sheet is located outside the AJHS school office. Please call Jeannette Boecker 630-550-7773 for questions (email jboecker.pto@gmail.com). **STUDENT COUNCIL will be meeting on Thursday, March 10 at 7:10 in the small gym. At this meeting we will finalize who will be going to what school for reading to the little kiddo's. This is ALSO the day we will SIGN all National Jr. Honor Society forms. **ALL ANIMAL OWNERS: The AJHS Animal adoption SEL group is seeking photos of adopted dogs to use on our various social media projects. If you have any photos of your adopted animal, please email them to aptakisicadoptionevent@gmail.com Thanks! **Come have a fun night out with friends and see many of your classmates perform in GOLDILOCKS ON TRIAL. Shows are this Thursday, March 3rd and Friday, March 4th at 7:00pm in the small gym. Tickets are available at the door for $5.00.

The Aptakisic wrestling team had a successful performance at the February 27 Illinois Elementary School Association Regional Wrestling Tournament. Four D102 wrestlers qualified to complete in the IESA Sectional Tournament on March 4. The top two places in each weight class at Sectionals will then advance to the IESA State Wrestling Championship in DeKalb. Congratulations to Brandon Cohen (3rd place at 65lbs.), Tristan Scott (2nd place at 119lbs.), Alex Scott (3rd place at 155lbs.) and Andy Choe (3rd place at 185lbs.). The IESA Sectional Tournament will be held on Friday, March 4 at Hawthorn North Middle School in Vernon Hills.  

On March 3 and March 4, Aptakisic students will present four performances of Goldilocks on Trial for D102's elementary schools in the morning and for family and friends at 7:00pm on both evenings. This year's play is packed with humor and drama as Goldilocks is put on trial for breaking and entering. Will she be found guilty and sent to prison, or will the truth come out? Theater is one of many activities offered to meet the varied interests and talents of D102 students. Theater provides experiences for those who like to act, design scenery, or work stage crew. 

On February 24, seventh grader Aarthi Balaji clinched the Sectional Spelling Bee title at South Park Elementary School. This is the third year in a row an Aptakisic student has won Sectionals. The previous two years were won by Aniket Nuthalapati who also went to Nationals in 2015. Aarthi advances to the Regional Spelling Bee competition in mid-March.

BINGO Night is March 18. Please complete the Dinner Order form by March 11. PTO is in need of BINGO prizes such as new toys, games, DVDs, and more, which can be dropped off in a BINGO bin located at each school. Please call 312-519-7824 to arrange a pick up if needed. Thank you for all your support!