Willow Parent Bulletin # 5

Thanks for all who came out for open house last night! We love seeing families, grandparents, Board of Education members and former students. Lots of our wildcats were sporting their new bracelets today. If you missed out on caramel apples, we have more available if you'd like to stop by the office. The form for Willow Wear is also below and in the office if you' like one of our PBIS shirts for you or your wildcat! Everyday is a day to be safe, caring and ready!

October is fire prevention month. That includes the Fire Department visiting Willow so the students can hear first hand from our First Responders. You can also visit them at the station on October 8th for more fun!

If you missed the email from Dr. McAlister regarding the changes, I have copied it below. You will need to OPT IN to have a test kit sent home with your child on Wednesday, to be returned on Thursday. Watch for more procedural information early in the week.

Dear parents and guardians,

I am writing to inform you that we will be changing our SHIELD testing procedures beginning next week. As you may be aware, Governor Pritzker recently removed the requirement that unvaccinated staff members be tested weekly. Furthermore, the CDC and IDPH no longer recommend weekly screening tests unless there is a high positivity rate in the community. You can read the CDC school guidance here.

Accordingly, starting next week at Willow, and at all three buildings beginning in October, we will send home SHIELD testing kits only to those families who request one. Families will have their student provide a saliva sample in the test tube and then the student will bring that sample back to school the following day.

Click here to watch a short video explaining the process, (Please note that our students' QR codes will be applied at school, not at home, as shown in the video.)

Here are the specifics:

Next week (Sept. 26-30)

• James Hart and Churchill continue testing as we have been doing. All students who have not opted out will test in PE class.
• Willow will send a kit home on Wednesday, Sept. 28, to families who have requested one. Students will return the sample on Thursday, Sept. 29, to their homeroom teacher. Request for kit must be received by 3 PM on Monday, September 26. (Use link below to request kit.)

Starting the week of October 3

• All buildings will send kits home on Monday night to those who request them. All vials will be collected on Tuesdays.

Use the link below to request that a test kit be sent home. You need to submit only one request (not every week) by THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29.

SHIELD Collection Kit Request Form

We are pleased to be able to continue to offer this valuable service to those who want it while also ensuring a minimal disruption to our learning environment. I hope you have a nice weekend.

Scott McAlister, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Homewood School District #153

September 15th kicked off Hispanic Heritage month. You can click the link below to see many of the LatinX authors and illustrators to which your child has been exposed.

https://www.hsd153.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1135458&type=d&pREC_ID=2251639

If there's a staff member who's going above and beyond, let them know!

https://forms.office.com/r/a7tgKcAjkK

Email: melissa.lawson@hsd153.org
Website: www.hsd153.org
Location: 1804 Willow Road, Homewood, IL, USA
Phone: 708-798-3720
Facebook: facebook.com/hsd153