🍂 🎵 Please join the MJHS bands , orchestra, and choir for their fall concert this Wednesday! 🎵 🍂
about 9 hours ago, Mokena School District 159
fall concert information
Mokena School District 159 is in its final year of its five year Strategic Plan and is beginning to develop a new Strategic Plan to guide the district into the future.

We are proud to share a Strategic Plan Review Book that provides a detailed collection of outcomes, accomplishments, and final steps of the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. We have so much to celebrate and hope you find pride in all that has been accomplished in our schools and district over the past five years! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KUl4XT3CrhUH6BORCRRzobCKiuAllN75/view?usp=sharing

We are now developing the district’s next strategic plan to establish a shared vision and priorities for the future of our district. The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education has partnered with the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) to guide a comprehensive planning process centered on listening, learning, and community engagement. The process has begun and will continue into 2027.

Students, families, Board members, staff, administrators, and community members will have opportunities to share their perspectives and help shape the district’s future. A survey and a number of listening sessions will be offered over the next several months.

Share your feedback today through our Strategic Planning Survey. Your input is essential to shaping the goals of our next strategic plan and ensuring our goals reflect the needs of our students, staff, families, and community. The survey window is open through November 6th. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQthUMlGFfNHwFFYhp3IR3GfI_jeo5ZqqSSYOWIHJ65u60zg/viewform?usp=dialog

Information will be coming soon about stakeholder listening sessions.
about 11 hours ago, Mokena School District 159
strategic planning symbol
Wow! Our Mokena readers are rocking the PTA Read-a-Thon! We have over 500 readers with over 33,000 minutes read in just 1 week!

Mrs. Mena at MJHS captured many student and staff readers this week at MJHS as they worked hard towards their reading goals! Way to go, Meteors!

Sign-up your student today by visiting https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/tHCBTa/1?utm=email and choosing their homeroom or advisory teacher. The Read-a-Thon ends on November 2nd so there is still plenty of time to participate!
2 days ago, Mokena School District 159
students reading books
students reading books
students reading books
students reading books
students reading books
students reading books
students reading books
6th grade scientists are collecting data to understand how mass affects gravitational potential energy. Very impressive, Meteors!
3 days ago, Mokena School District 159
students measuring gravitational pull
students measuring gravitational pull
students measuring gravitational pull
students measuring gravitational pull
students measuring gravitational pull
students measuring gravitational pull
students measuring gravitational pull

Our Back-to School August Issue of the district's newsletter, "Mokena Moments", has been published!

Unique to this issue is information about district strategic planning. We are proud to share many accomplishments within our current plan and are seeking input through a survey to help shape our next plan!

You can view the new issue in your email inbox or by visiting the following district webpage: https://www.mokena159.org/page/district-newsletter . As a reminder, all district and school newsletters can be accessed on this webpage throughout the school year.

4 days ago, Mokena School District 159
mokena moments newsletter cover
🎵 Congratulations to MJHS musicians Liam and Mila for being selected to the Illinois Music Education Association's (ILMEA) District 1 Festival Band and Orchestra! These two students completed a rigorous audition process and were selected from a very competitive group of applicants from over 60 schools. They will perform with other selected musicians from the area in the District 1 Band and Orchestra at the Junior Concert Festival in November! 🎵
5 days ago, Mokena School District 159
musicians selected for the district band and orchestra

Congratulations to Dr. Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, for receiving the 2026 Illinois Association for Gifted Children's Bonnie Park Leadership Legacy Award!

This annual award is given to one educator throughout the state who has demonstrated service excellence by going above and beyond to make a significant impact to the lives of advanced and gifted students. IAGC cited her work within Mokena's Strategic Plan Goal 1C including leading a district-wide program review, convening and overseeing an Advanced Learner Task Force that enhanced and strengthened the district's programming, coordinating professional development and opportunities for staff to receive their gifted endorsement, as well as contributing to the wider field of gifted education through conference presentations and a journal article.

6 days ago, Mokena School District 159
Dr. Johnson with the IAGC award
6th grade Advanced ELA students took center stage as they delivered their very own TED Talks, showcasing their learning, sharing their ideas, and speaking with confidence! As the capstone to their unit, students brought everything together to demonstrate their growth, creativity, and ability to communicate their thinking in meaningful ways. We are so proud of the hard work and courage they put into sharing their voices!
6 days ago, Mokena School District 159
student giving a ted talk to classmates
student giving a ted talk to classmates
student giving a ted talk to classmates
student giving a ted talk to classmates
student giving a ted talk to classmates
🪚 8th grade students have been busy working collaboratively to design and build their model sheds as part of their Architecture Unit in Tech and Design Class! 🪚
7 days ago, Mokena School District 159
students building and designing a model house
students building and designing a model house
students building and designing a model house
students building and designing a model house
students building and designing a model house
students building and designing a model house
students building and designing a model house
students building and designing a model house
students building and designing a model house
It was a great day for our Meteor Runners at the IESA State Cross Country Meet! We are very proud to share the race results:
🥇Stella C.- State Champion with a time of 11:22.3 (personal best)
🏅 Owen M- 4th Place with a time of 10:41.6 (personal best)
🏅 Cole N.- 44th place with a time of 12:45.6 (personal best)

Congratulations to our runners and coaches for these amazing accomplishments!
9 days ago, Mokena School District 159
cross country runners
cross country runners
cross country runners
October Kinderbuddies was spooky fun today as buddies created a witch craft together!
10 days ago, Mokena School District 159
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
october kinderbuddies working together
🏀 Tryouts for MJHS boys basketball start next week! As a reminder, the registration link can be found at https://mjhs.mokena159.org/o/mjhs/page/mokena-athletics . 🏀

Please note that your child MUST be registered and have an updated sports physical on file in order to participate. No exceptions will be made. (If your child is an incoming 6th grader, their school physical will suffice as their sports physical. )

GO METEORS! ☄️
10 days ago, Mokena School District 159
boys basketball tryout information
🎥 Our junior high is fortunate to have its very own Meteors Broadcasting Club in which students get the experience of putting together the school announcements through writing, producing, anchoring, recording, and production! Thank you to Dr. Albon and Ms. Horsch for sponsoring this awesome club for our students! 🎥
10 days ago, Mokena School District 159
Meteor broadcasting club working on the announcements
Meteor broadcasting club working on the announcements
Meteor broadcasting club working on the announcements
Meteor broadcasting club working on the announcements
7th grade scientists are learning about cell organelles by investigating live Paramecium!
11 days ago, Mokena School District 159
7th graders investigating with the microscope
7th graders investigating with the microscope
7th graders investigating with the microscope
7th graders investigating with the microscope
7th graders investigating with the microscope
7th graders investigating in the microscope
Our district-wide Teachers Institute Day took place last Friday. We appreciate the time to learn and grow together as a district staff!
12 days ago, Mokena School District 159
Teachers Institute Day
Teachers Institute Day
Teachers Institute Day
Teachers Institute Day
Teachers Institute Day
Teachers Institute Day
Teachers Institute Day
Last week, our 8th grade students had the opportunity to hear from Kylie Goodman and Mandy Chaviers who work at Xylem, a company that focuses on water sustainability and technology. This virtual presentation and Q&A provided real world application of their Weather Unit in science as well as concepts within their Industrial Revolution unit in history! In addition, students also learned about careers in this industry.
13 days ago, Mokena School District 159
virtual presentation and students

📖 A day off school is the perfect time to register for the Mokena PTA's Read-a-Thon which officially kicks off on October 19th! Sign your preschool through 8th grade Mokena student up for the Read-a-Thon by visiting https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/tHCBTa/1?utm=email and choosing their homeroom or advisory teacher. Students can win prizes from the PTA and earn Read-a-Thon bucks to be used in the online prize store.

Help the PTA reach their goal of 500 readers, 150,000 minutes read, and $25,000 raised to support PTA activities including field trips, assemblies, ELA projects for each grade, teacher grants, dances, Color Run & MORE! 📖

14 days ago, Mokena School District 159
pta read a thon
Don't forget about these important October district dates!
15 days ago, Mokena School District 159
october dates
Our Cross Country Team participated in the IESA Sectional Tournament this morning and three runners will be heading to the State Meet next weekend! Congratulations to:
👟Stella C.- 1st place with a time of 11:32.5 (season best)
👟Cole N. - 11th place with a time of 12:59.6 (personal best)
👟Owen M.- 4th place with a time of 10:53.9 (personal best)
16 days ago, Mokena School District 159
state qualifiers
7th grade scientists are learning about the skeletal system through self-guided, collaborative stations. Perfect topic for October!
18 days ago, Mokena School District 159
students in stations
students in stations
students in stations
students in stations
students in stations
students in stations