Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

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 APRIL 30; distance learning plan in place

CCSD21 is implementing a Distance Learning program for students to engage with their teachers while at home. Following Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s “Stay at Home” order on Friday, March 20, 2020 (Frequently Asked Questions) and subsequent disaster declaration extension, all schools in Illinois will be closed through Thursday, April 30, 2020. Our updated schedule is now as follows:

Monday, April 6 – Wednesday, April 8: Distance Learning
Thursday, April 9: Distance Learning Planning Day
Friday, April 10: Non-Attendance Day (previously scheduled)
Monday, April 13: Non-Attendance Day (previously scheduled)
Tuesday, April 14 – Thursday, April 16: Distance Learning
Friday, April 17: Distance Learning Planning Day
Monday, April 20 – Thursday, April 23: Distance Learning
Friday, April 24: Distance Learning Planning Day
Monday, April 27 – Thursday, April 30: Distance Learning

Note: The Illinois State Board of Education allows school districts to utilize up to five Distance Learning Planning Days in order for teachers and staff to plan distance learning activities. Learning activities will still be distributed to students for these days, but teachers will be actively engaged throughout the day in planning activities and other professional meetings and may not respond to students or parents immediately. Distance Learning Planning Day(s) are:

Friday, April 3
Thursday, April 9
Friday, April 17
Friday, April 24

While our current plan is to resume school in person on Friday, May 1, 2020, guidance from federal, state, and local health officials may change and we will respond accordingly.

The “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.

Food Service – Grab and Go

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

Pick-up times at all locations:

Monday through Friday: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM (including Friday, April 10, and Monday, April 13, even though these are previously-scheduled non-attendance days)

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 (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 with or asking questions to better understand learning activities
Parent communication with teacher(s) in support of helping 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.

Kilmer Attendance Form

Longfellow Attendance Form

Poe Attendance Form

Cooper Attendance Form

CCSD21 Distance Learning Day Attendance Form

Frost Attendance Form

Twain Attendance Form

Whitman Attendance Form

Holmes Attendance Form

Hawthorne Attendance Form

Field Attendance Form

Riley Attendance Form

Tarkington Attendance Form

London Attendance Form

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

An important partnership that families and schools have is supporting the mental health needs of all of our students. 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