The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority. We are working closely with and taking guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Illinois and Cook County Departments of Public Health, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and North Cook Regional Office of Education in response to the global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19.

 

School Cancelled through June 9; distance learning plan in place

As announced by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Friday, April 17, 2020, all schools in Illinois will be closed through the end of the school year. Illinois’ “Stay at Home” order means that individuals should limit their time outside of the home to only those tasks that are critical, like going to buy groceries, going to the doctor, and picking up medicine. As challenging as it is for school to be closed, these short-term provisions are meant to protect the long-term health of everyone in our community so healthcare providers have sufficient capacity to treat those ill with COVID-19 and other illnesses. 

Distance Learning will continue through our last day of school on Tuesday, June 9.

During the months of May and June, Monday through Thursday teachers will continue to lead instruction and support students from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM on school attendance days.

Food Service – Grab and Go

Though all CCSD21 schools are closed, free daily breakfast and lunch are available to all children age 18 and younger. Cold breakfast and sack lunch “Grab and Go” meals are served simultaneously; students leave their distribution site with two meals. Weekday food service will continue throughout the summer.

Pick-up times at all locations:

• Monday through Friday: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
• Food service will *NOT* be provided on Friday, July 3

Locations:

• Frost Elementary School – 1805 Aspen Drive, Mt Prospect
• Kilmer Elementary School – 655 Golfview Terrace, Buffalo Grove
• Poe Elementary School – 2800 N. Highland Avenue, Arlington Heights
• Riley Elementary School – 1209 Burr Oak Drive, Arlington Heights
• Twain Elementary School – 515 E. Merle Ln., Wheeling
• Whitman Elementary School – 133 Wille Ave., Wheeling
• Alcott Center – 530 Bernard Dr., Buffalo Grove
• Chamber Park – 127 N. Wolf Rd., Wheeling
• Childerley Park – 506 McHenry Rd., Wheeling
• Indian Trails Library – 355 Schoenbeck Rd., Wheeling
• Meadowbrook Park – 427 Nancy Ln., Wheeling
• Willow Trails Park – Apple Dr. and Burning Bush Ln., Prospect Heights
• Windsor Ridge Park – 780 Vernon Ln., Buffalo Grove

 

Distance Learning (e-learning) Days

Please see this Parent Guide (Guía para Padres  |  Informacja dla rodziców  |  Информация для родителей) for guidance and answers to frequently asked questions about Distance Learning. The Parent Guide will be updated periodically. Please continue to check back for updated guidance.

Distance Learning Expectations

Language Arts, Math, and Social Emotional Learning are priority learning areas and the district has developed weekly learning targets for each grade level across all of our schools. Students will continue to receive activities for Physical Education. Science, Social Studies, and Specials/Exploratory areas to round out the students’ learning day. Students can expect to receive a outline of the week’s learning targets and teachers will communicate with their students/parents via Google Classroom, Seesaw, Class Dojo, e-mail, or some other appropriate vehicle of electronic communication.

The CCSD21 Online Learning Tools for Students and Families document offers tips for accessing students’ Google account, video guidance on navigating learning tools, and care for Chromebooks. This guide will also be updated periodically. 

Paper options for completing distance learning are also available for pick up from the student’s school.  Parents can request the materials by completing this form or calling their child’s school and leaving a message.

Daily Attendance

We will continue to monitor student attendance and engagement in learning activities. While we’re not gathering in person, “attendance” will continue to be captured in a variety of ways:

• Parent completion of online or PDF attendance form (linked below)
• Student response to a teacher’s roll call
• Student participation in learning activities, as indicated by completion of work and/or seeking help or asking questions to better understand learning activities
• Parent communication with teacher(s) to help their child to engage in learning activities or complete work
• Parent request for a paper learning activity packet

While teachers are available to support students and families from 9 AM – 3:30 PM on school days, we recognize that families’ schedules and engagement in learning activities may vary throughout the days and weeks of school closure. Each of these efforts indicate a student’s engagement in learning. We appreciate families supporting learning at home in whatever way and at whatever time of the day or week works best for their family.

Teacher feedback on student work

Students will continue to receive feedback on their work. Feedback may include suggestions for improvement or indication of a student’s progress toward mastery of a skill or understanding of a concept. The focus is on learning and teachers are assessing work to see how students are doing, and where they may need support or additional challenge.

 

Home Internet Access

CCSD21’s WiFi network coverage has been expanded and will extend into CCSD21 properties’ parking lots. While schools will be closed, students’ devices will connect to the Internet from the parking lot where a student can access the day’s learning activities and then return home to complete the activities offline. 

Comcast and AT&T offer low-cost high speed Internet access to families who receive free or reduced-price lunch. Effective March 12, Comcast is offering two months free with their program. Contact Comcast at 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376) to troubleshoot issues with the online application. If families have difficulty submitting the application for Comcast Internet Essentials, contact your principal by email or by calling your school’s main office and leaving a message. Comcast has also opened free access to its public and business hotspots nationwide. If home internet or connecting to WiFi at a CCSD21 property are not an option, find a hotspot near you on this map. When in range of the hotspot, select “xfinitywifi” in your list of available networks.

Please contact your school principal if you believe your child will have difficulty connecting to the Internet.

 

Family health

If a member of your family is not feeling well, call your medical provider before going to the medical office, clinic, or hospital. If you or a member of your family are experiencing symptoms that are similar to those seen in COVID-19, seek a telephone screening of your symptoms or ask questions by:

• Calling your health care provider
• Calling ACCESS at Northwest Community Hospital (847-342-1554)
• Emailing the Illinois Department of Public Health at [email protected]

 

Mental Health Support

Call4Calm is a free, anonymous emotional support text line to serve Illinois residents through the uncertainty of COVID-19.

• To connect with a counselor in English, text “Talk” to 552020.
• To connect with a counselor in Spanish, text “Hablar” to 552020.

Users will remain anonymous, and the state has partnered with mental health organizations to have counselors respond. You will get a call from a licensed counselor within 24 hours. People can also text other terms, like “unemployment” or “food” or “shelter” to the same number to receive information on how to navigate and access supports and services.

During this time out of school, if your child is engaging in risky mental health behavior, which would include thoughts of harm to themselves or others or threatening behavior, please consider the following resources support your children and family. Please remember: If the situation is very serious, call the police at 911 for immediate support.

Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS)
The phone line is open 24 hours a day
1-800-345-9049
SASS is a crisis mental health service program for children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis. This support starts with a phone call and can be accessed regardless of insurance coverage.

AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital Hoffman Estates
Open 24 hours a day
1650 Moon Lake Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
800-432-5005

Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) Behavioral Health Center
Open daily from 7 AM – 11:00 PM
901 W Kirchhoff Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847-432-5464

OMNI Youth Services
Open 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Intake line 847-353-1500 x1664

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Provides 24/7 crisis services.
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Text HOME to 741741
https://www.crisistextline.org/
facebook.com/crisistextline

 

Sharing Information with children

Children, understandably, may ask questions about COVID-19. Resources to support children in their understanding of COVID-19 include:

• National Association of School Psychologists:  English  |  Español
• Brain POP movie and more
• Child Mind Institute: English  |  Español
• NPR.org: A comic exploring Coronavirus

 

Healthy Habits

To limit the spread of any germs and/or viruses, please practice these healthy habits:

• Wash hands frequently in soapy water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover cough or sneeze with a tissue and immediately place the tissue in the trash
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Don’t share food, drinks, utensils, or drinking containers
• Self-isolate from family members when experiencing symptoms and contact health care provider

 

COVID-19 & Distance Learning communication archive

• April 30, 2020 – Parent survey and summary of updates  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• April 28, 2020 – CCSD21 curbside pick-up of student items  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• April 27, 2020 – CCSD21 8th grader information
• April 23, 2020 – Google Meet for classroom conferencing  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• April 17, 2020 – School closed through end of school year, June 9  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• April 5, 2020 – CCSD21 Distance Learning Update – April 5, 2020  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• March 31, 2020 – School closure extended through April 30  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• March 28, 2020 – Distance Learning resumes Monday, March 30  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• March 20, 2020 – Week 1 of Distance Learning complete  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• March 16, 2020 – Reflection on Day 1 of Distance Learning  |  Español
• March 15, 2020 – School closure through March 30; Distance Learning  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• March 13, 2020 – Grab and Go breakfast and lunch during school closure
• March 13, 2020 – Coronavirus Update – 3/13, Distance Learning Week of 3/16  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• March 12, 2020 – Coronavirus Informational Update – March 12  |  Español  |  Polski  |  Русский
• March 8, 2020 – CDC provides COVID-19 updates
• March 2, 2020 – Coronavirus informational update to parents