District Digest
Glen Ellyn School District 41
Message from the Superintendent
In-Person Learning Transition Begins Tomorrow
It’s hard to believe the time has finally come to welcome students back into our school buildings. We are on track to transition to our Blended AM/PM Model starting tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, with our kindergarten, first grade and second grade students. The transition back for those who are moving to blended is scheduled to happen over the next several weeks. Here is a reminder of the schedule for returning to in-person learning:
K, 1st, 2nd - October 15
PreK - October 19
6th Grade - November 2
3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th grade - November 4
I look forward to visiting all of the schools on the first days we bring students back to the buildings at all of the grade levels. I am confident that our students are going to do a great job following the new procedures while in person. I know there will be a lot of excitement around coming back to school, but there could also be some anxiety. If you have not done so already, I would encourage each family to watch the principal’s virtual tour videos sent out by the district last week. Click here for the videos. Watching the videos is one way families can help prepare students for coming back to school in this new way.
Covid-19 Data
If you watched the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday evening, you undoubtedly heard about the very concerning trend in the COVID-19 data for DuPage County. Two of the metrics that speak to the level of community transmission have been steadily increasing and we may be moved to Red/Substantial as a county by this weekend. Now more than ever, we need our families and young adults in the community to commit to adhering to safety precautions so that our students can return to our blended model of in-person instruction. I am asking each and every one of you to have the important conversations about what it will take to bring the community transmission rates down. Have those conversations in your home and also outside of your home. This is not a D41 problem this is an everyone problem. Not only do we want to open on schedule, we want to stay open.
I would like to draw your attention to the most recent IDPH Exclusionary Decision Tree. These are the requirements that our nurses are and will be following. As revisions come out, they will be communicated to our families. Our nurses are our direct liaisons with the DuPage County Health Department. They are your best resource in the schools for questions related to COVID19. If they cannot answer your questions, they have direct access to staff at the DCHD and can get your questions answered. Please note that this recent decision tree was released on 10.13.20. The information has changed and will likely continue to change as more is learned about this virus.
Principal Appreciation
I want to take a moment to recognize that this is National Principal Appreciation Month. This year even more than any other school year, we thank our school building principals and assistant principals for their leadership and dedication. They are real-life superheroes who are making it possible for teachers and students to continue teaching and learning through a world-wide pandemic. If that doesn't give them superhero status, I don’t know what does! Thank you, principals!
I am incredibly proud to be your superintendent. It has not been easy, but we have shown that we are stronger together. Thank you for your partnership and for your trust in us.
Dr. K
Dr. Melissa Kaczkowski
Superintendent
Daily Self Certification Required for In-Person Learning
There are some new processes and procedures that go along with the transition back to in-person learning. In addition to wearing masks and keeping 6ft socially distanced, students who will be attending school in person will be required to self certify prior to arriving to school or boarding the bus every day.
AM Session
Login to Skyward (app or desktop)
Answer wellness check questions for each child before 7:45 a.m.
If a child is not self certified upon arrival at school, staff will do the check and call parents.
PM Session
Login to Skyward (app or desktop)
Answer wellness check questions for each child before 12:15 p.m.
If a child is not self certified upon arrival at school, staff will do the check and call parents.
How do I self certify?
Click here for a video tutorial about how to self certify in Skyward. Please self certify for each of your children who attend a District 41 school (click here for the tutorials in multiple languages)
What if we answer yes to any of the self certification questions?
If you answer yes to any of the questions presented in the self-certification wellness check, please do not send your child to school. Call the school office and inform them that your child is experiencing symptoms on the list. They will work with you and the school nurse to determine next steps. We appreciate your partnership in keeping the entire District 41 community safe and in school.
Reminder to Check Your Bus Route
Due to changes that may occur up until the first day of in-person classes, please remember to check Skyward for your bus route the evening before your child starts in-person learning. As much as we try to avoid them, last minute changes do occur. Also, please remember to self certify your child in Skyward prior to him/her getting on the bus each day. Masks are required on the buses at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.
COVID-19 Update from PRAT
Pandemic Response Advisory Team (PRAT) provides the following updates this week:
Return to school status: We are SO excited to welcome students to school on 10/15 K-2nd graders!
Community Transmission: Moderate
Notable DuPage County metric data for Week 40 (9/27-10/3):
In week 40, new cases declined to 79 per 100,000 people, from 84 in week 39. The state’s established target metric is less than 50 cases per 100,000 people per week. DuPage County weekly incidence rates have exceeded the state’s target since the week ending July 18.
Youth cases have decreased the past 3 weeks, with the biggest decrease this week of -16.4%.
Test positivity has been below 5% for the past 3 weeks. The number of tests performed each week were 21,489 (Week 40), 19,210 (Week 39) and 18,830 (Week 38), respectively.
Please Stay Safe D41: Wear a mask, watch your distance, wash your hands, and stay home when you or anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 or been in close contact with anyone who has COVID-19.
For more detailed information, please view PRAT's full State of the Metrics report
IEP and 504 Planning Update
We have been carefully planning for students who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504s as well as students who need additional interventions to meet their unique learning needs at this time of transition to the blended model. Because each plan is individualized, please refer to your student's Individual Remote Learning Plan (IRLP) that was created at the beginning of the school year for the portion that reflects services during blended instruction. If you have any questions, would like to discuss the services for your student during blended or continued remote services (if you have chosen this option), or if you have a question about an evaluation for your student, feel free to contact your student's case manager or the assistant principal at your student's building.
If you would like to access additional resources to help your student understand the new COVID-19 protocols or increase appropriate mask wearing and social distancing, please watch "Wearing Masks at School" (watch with students) and "Working With Your Child on Mask Wearing" (for parents) for tips for students and parents from Jenna Losch our D41 Behavior Specialist. You are also welcome to join CASE Parent Universities at https://www.casedupage.com/parent-university/ or check out their online resources. In addition, the district is working with SSPAC to plan virtual coffees.
For any questions, please contact the Director of Student Services Laurel O’Brien via email at lobrien@d41.org or call 630-534-7234
Thermometer and Hand Sanitizer Drive
Halloween Guidance from the CDC
Creepy Story Contest with the GEPL
Do you love scary stories? Write and submit a creepy story or poem to reference@gepl.org and library staff will choose winners from grades 3-5 and grades 6-8 to receive prizes.
Deadline
Thursday, Oct. 29, 9 pm
Requirements
Entry must be original work. One entry per person.
Entry must be 300 words or less.
No weapons may be used in the story.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged on creativity and originality. Illustrations, punctuation, and grammar will not be included in judging criteria, but are creative and good editing practice!
How to Enter
Email the following to reference@gepl.org with Subject "Creepy Story Entry"
your creepy story (or a photo of a hand-written version)
author's name
author's grade
contact phone number
contact email address
contact mailing address (for prizes)
All entries become the property of the Glen Ellyn Public Library and may be posted on the Library’s website and/or social media.
Prizes
The winners' stories will be posted on GEPL’s social media and website on October 31 and winners will also receive a gift certificate to The Cafe at the Glen Ellyn Public Library.
For More Information
https://gepl.librarycalendar.com/events/creepy-story-writing-contest
Receive Text Messages from District 41
District 41 will use text messaging to share timely information and emergency communications. You can now opt in to receive these important text messages from District 41. Text Y or Yes to 67587.
STAY CONNECTED WITH DISTRICT 41 ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
Email: ekrehbiel@d41.org
Website: www.d41.org
Location: 793 North Main Street, Glen Ellyn, IL, USA
Phone: 630.790.6400
Facebook: facebook.com/glenellynd41
Twitter: @glenellynd41