Winter Break 2023 News & Notes

This year started with the launch of District 303’s new five-year Strategic Plan. Our commitment statement: Together Building Pathways to Excellence, isn’t just our intention, it is present in our current actions.

We’re building those pathways through our strategic priorities; effective collaboration, instructional coherence and culture of dignity. One example is the work of our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), which focus on instructional strategies that support student learning in specific content areas. PLC meetings are happening each week across our academic departments, including in math, ELA and science.

On Thursday, we shared with staff and families that our finalized start and end times schedule for the 2024-2025 school year will not be available until January. Several considerations are being made as to the impacts of new times. This topic will be brought to the Board’s January 8 meeting for discussion before final start and end times are shared.

These changes are required to accommodate next year’s shorter elementary day and will result in adjustments to start and end times at early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school. While we do anticipate changes to start and end times at each level, the biggest time change is likely to occur for our elementary families and staff. We are also aware that elementary times will be a factor when determining family schedules for childcare needs. This is why we are continuing to partner with an organization to offer fee-for-service before and after-school services to our families. Those details will be shared after the final start and end times are communicated following the Board’s January 8 meeting.

In late November, demographer RSP and Associates unveiled two boundary concepts for the elementary, middle and high schools. A survey was also launched, with over 3,300 people providing feedback on the concepts. A summary of the survey results is now available on our boundary updates webpage.

Additional boundary meetings have been scheduled for January, including a community webinar as well as regular and committee meetings that will include updates on the boundary process. During the January 11 community webinar, RSP will discuss the survey results and share updated scenarios to the Board. The Board will determine what scenarios to move forward at committee meetings later in the month, and is expected to take action on new boundary maps for elementary, middle, and high school on February 12, 2024.

There is a lot of work ahead of us in the New Year, and we are committed to providing you with timely updates on these key initiatives. On behalf of our teachers, support staff, administrators and our Board, thank you for the opportunity to serve the students and community of District 303.

Sincerely,

Dr. Paul Gordon

Superintendent

When winter weather occurs on a school day, it’s important you’re receiving timely alerts on how that may impact District operations. Please take time over the break to verify your contact information, or make updates. We strongly encourage families to enable text notifications. For most people, this is the fastest way to receive and view important messages. Here’s how:

• Login to the Home Access Center (HAC)

• From the HAC main menu, select the “registration” tab to view your contact settings

• Select the “edit” button to change your contact settings

• To enable text message notifications, enter your cell phone number in the Cell/Text field

• Select the “save” button

Users can only update their child(ren) and personal contact information. You will not be able to make changes to another parent/guardian’s contact information. For updates to emergency contact people, please reach out to the school directly.

Click the button below to learn more about our inclement weather procedures, including when the District will determine whether to close school or delay the start of operations and how that message will be communicated.

School Board and Committee Meetings

• January 8 | 6:00 PM: Regular Board
  
• January 16 | 5:30 PM: Learning and Teaching
• January 29 | 4:30 PM: Policy
• January 29 | 5:30 PM: Business Services

District Holidays and Events

• December 22: End of 2nd Quarter/First Semester (Middle, High Schools)
• December 25-January 5: Winter Break
• January 8: Teacher Work Day/Institute Day - No students
• January 9: School Resumes
• January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday
• January 24 & 31: Parent Education: "Race to Be Human" Film Screening & Discussion Series (multiple dates)