October 2020 Family Newsletter

October 4, 2020

Topic: Updates

The following message was sent to all CCSD21 families through ParentSquare, the district’s notification tool. Parents that did not receive this message should contact their school’s main office to ensure their contact information is up to date.

October 4, 2020

Dear CCSD21 families,

We are kicking off an exciting week as some of our students will return to school! We are thrilled to welcome back many pre-k, kindergarten, 1st, and 6th grade students this week! In-person students will continue to return next week, too:

  • Tuesday, October 13 – Grades 2, 3, 7, 8
  • Thursday, October 15 – Grades 4, 5

Students will continue learning virtually, or remotely, until their grade level returns in person. Though your child may return to school in person at a later date, all students’ daily schedules will change to accommodate in-person instruction, specials/exploratories, etc. Your child’s teacher has or will communicate relevant details about the new schedule. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make these adjustments.

Students in the Distance Learning Academy will continue to learn from home, or virtually.

Health certification & school environment

In-person student reminder: Daily health certification

Families must submit a certification of health for every child every school day, regardless of if the child will be physically present in school that day. An email reminder to complete the certification will be sent to the parent/guardian email address(es) on file every morning at 4:00 AM and the certification MUST be completed 30 minutes before school begins. Students showing any signs of illness, or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, may not attend school. A student will not be allowed to enter a CCSD21 building until their health can be verified.

Find additional details and steps to complete the daily certification here.

HVAC system & ventilation

Some parents have submitted questions about ventilation within the schools. The District has invested heavily in its HVAC system over the last few years. Our systems include features that measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Based upon those counts, the systems circulate new outside air through the classrooms multiple times throughout the hour as recommended by the CDC and other organizations. Our engineers have assured us that the systems we have, and filtration which is part of those systems, are appropriate for proper ventilation of our classrooms.

COVID-19 Dashboard

CCSD21 has identified key metrics that must be met and sustained in order to return to in-person learning in a hybrid capacity (CCSD21 Phase 3). CCSD21 will also be guided by regional infection trends, like COVID-19 test positivity and hospitalization rates, as well as factors and conditions that may not be easily quantified.

Quantifiable information will be updated regularly on the CCSD21 Phase 3: Hybrid In-Person Learning COVID-19 Data Dashboard. In addition to the link here, the Dashboard will also be linked at ccsd21.org/together.

ParentSquare: Tips, App, and more

This summer, CCSD21 adopted ParentSquare as its mass notification tool. Parents do NOT need to create an account in order to continue receiving class, school, and district communication.

However, parents who do activate their account have access to more tools, like secure messaging (text or email) with their student’s teacher, adjusting language and notification settings, and more. Parents’ accounts must be activated using the contact information on record with School District 21. To activate your account, go to parentsquare.com/signin. Enter your email address or cell phone number on the right side, under “Sign Up.”

For more information:

Erin’s Law

On January 24, 2013, Governor Quinn signed Public Act 097-1147 into effect, also known as Erin’s Law. This law requires child sexual abuse prevention education for children in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades.

In the coming weeks, classes will be discussing personal body safety as a part of our Erin’s Law Curriculum. The goal of the lesson is for students to understand the Always Ask First Rule and Safe, Unsafe and Unwanted Touches. Specifically, students will learn how to follow the Always Ask First Rule, identify the person they should ask first, identify safe, unsafe and unwanted touches, and assertively refuse unsafe and unwanted touches.  The lessons will be taught by a district social worker or a licensed clinical social worker from the Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault.

Grade level presentations have been scheduled to occur on the same days across the district:

  • Pre-Kindergarten: Information will come from your school
  • Kindergarten: October 19 and 20
  • Grade 1: Completed
  • Grade 2: October 7, 13, 15
  • Grade 3: Information will come from your school
  • Grade 4: October 14 and 16
  • Grade 5: Information will come from your school
  • Grade 6: October 28 and 30
  • Grade 7: Information will come from your school
  • Grade 8: Information will come from your school

If you do NOT wish your child to participate in the Erin’s Law lessons, please contact your building principal or your child’s teacher via email or phone. If we do not hear from you, your child will be included in the lessons. If you have any questions about the lesson or curriculum, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s principal or the school social worker.

Calendar reminders

Please make note of the following dates:

  • Friday, October 9 – Previously-scheduled School Improvement Day. This is a half-day. Students in Grades K-8 will engage virtually, from home, in the morning only on October 9. No students will attend in person. There is no school for pre-kindergarten students.
  • Monday, October 12 – Previously-scheduled Remote Learning Plan Day. No school for all students.

Food service will NOT be provided on either date.

Now hiring

Support School District 21 and its students by applying to work for CCSD21 or one of its partners:

  • CCSD21 Student Supervisors. Apply online.
  • OrganicLife Food Service staff. Contact Allison Brown at 847-520-6039 to apply.
  • First Student bus monitors and bus drivers. Apply online.