Mokena Junior High School

Congratulations to the 21 students who were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at Mokena Junior High School last night. We are very proud of you! We look forward to seeing the impact you will continue to have as leaders in our school and community.

We're less than ONE WEEK out from our annual pink out basketball games on Tuesday, October 22 at MJHS! We hope to see you there! Games start at 4:00 and 5:00 pm.

Hello Meteor Families! This week's edition of the MJHS Friday Update is now available. Families should be sure to check their email inbox for additional links! YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/oK37JVumj0k

Friendly reminder, Mokena families: no school on Monday! Enjoy the long weekend!

The 8th grade boys volleyball team placed 3rd in the DPVC tournament after winning in two against Homer last night. Way to battle!

Happy Principals Month, Dr. Rolinitis. We thank you for cultivating collaboration and focused growth in our junior high. Your leadership in the school improvement planning process has led to immense success for our students at MJHS. We wish you the best “last year” as you head into retirement at the end of the school year! Let’s learn more about Dr. Rolinitis in today’s principal spotlight: -Dr. Rolinitis is in his 16th year as principal of MJHS and will be retiring at the end of this school year for a total of 33 years in education. When asked about his experience as a principal in Mokena, he stated, “The community is amazing. They care about their students. Character starts in the home and it shows. The staff is the best. The people who work in MJHS and District 159 are some of the best educators I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They are dedicated to their craft and they bring their best to the classroom each and every day. They work tirelessly for the good of the students. The students are special. The students we get to work with come from wonderful families and they have awesome teachers in the elementary school. They are learners and they want to give their maximum effort. They embody good Meteor Character in all that they do. I am so proud to see them become successful high school students and go on to become successful adults.” -He started his career in the early 1990s as a junior high and high school art teacher in Wilmington. He began in school administration as an assistant principal in Wilmington and also became Principal there. Dr. Rolinitis was also Principal and Assistant Superintendent in Kankakee before returning to the principalship, his true passion, in Mokena. -Dr. Rolinitis has a bachelor’s degree in Art Education and a master’s degree in General Administration from Illinois State University as well as a doctoral degree from the University of St. Francis. -Dr. Rolinitis has successfully transitioned three schools to the middle school model in his career. While in Kankakee, he put programming in place to reduce office discipline referrals from over 20,000 a year down to less than 2,000. He also earned the “Those Who Excel” statewide award in 2024 and has led MJHS to two record years of growth in writing and excellent statewide designations. -Outside of school, Dr. Rolinitis likes to spend time with his family and visit his daughter at school in Nashville. He likes to go on walks and bike rides with his wife. He loves cars and taking his Corvette to car shows. Dr. Rolinitis also likes to read and listen to podcasts.

Were you impacted by the storms that hit our community in mid-July? The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open to assist with the disaster assistance application process, answer questions, and help submit information online. See the flyer for more details.

Hello Meteor Families! This week's edition of the MJHS Friday Update is now available. Families, be sure to check out the links that can be found in your email. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/twZcuAu-Nkk

Support the Mokena Educational Foundation with a fall family photo session! MEF has partnered with Lindsay Helene Images for this unique fundraising event that will help fund academic initiatves for our students and staff. Visit: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/36686ec4-1904-4ffe-a761-a91b474d8e75 to book your family's session which will include at least 5 edited digital downloads!

Friendly reminder! The Board of Education would like your input through a community survey that is open until today at noon. Please go to: https://bit.ly/mokena159suptsurvey . More information about the search can be found at: https://www.mokena159.org/article/1775521 .

October is National Princpals Month! Join us in saying "thank you" to our incredible principals who lead with dedication and inspire our school communities every day. As a way to celebrate, we will spotlight each principal throughout the month...stay tuned!

Today is National Custodian Appreciation Day! Let's give a HUGE shoutout to our incredible building and grounds staff! 👏👏

Hello Meteor Families! This week's edition of the MJHS Friday Update is now available. Families should check their email inbox for more details and additional links. YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zj8pL4KJqAg

Our sixth-grade students are diving into the StudySync ELA curriculum!. They're exploring Red Scarf Girl or Hatchet with focused reading and note-taking through the CyberSandwich protocol, followed by lively classroom discussions. The grand finale? A comparative essay to showcase their learning. It's amazing to see our young scholars developing critical thinking and writing skills while enjoying great literature! #MeetThoseStandards

Mokena School District 159 has begun searching for a new Superintendent to start July 1, 2025. The Board of Education would like your input through a community survey that is open until October 4th at Noon. Please go to: https://bit.ly/mokena159suptsurvey . More information about the search can be found at: https://www.mokena159.org/article/1775521 .

The 6th grade girls basketball season has begun! We can't wait to watch them play! 🏀

Dine and Donate tonight at Aurelio's to support MES Student Council!

MJHS students are gettin' their groove on in music! 🎸🎶

Thank you to everyone who attended the bench dedication at MES for Addy. 🦋🦋

Hello Meteor Families! This week's edition of the MJHS Friday Update is now available. Families should check your email for more details and important links. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/RuOUp13jrqQ