Tuesday, January 12, 2021

 

Dear District 57 Families,

 

Next Tuesday, January 19, our hybrid learning model will begin in District 57. Although Cook County and Mt. Prospect COVID rates are still higher than any one of us would like, the District’s internal metrics are all strong which suggests that it is a reasonable risk to run an in-person learning model for those families who select this option. We are all also aware that what is a reasonable risk for some is not acceptable for all and will continue to offer a full remote learning model, which approximately 43% of our D57 have selected for their children. We maintain our commitment to every child and family within our care.

 

Please click here to access the District 57 COVID-19 Dashboard, which features updated COVID-19 cases within our district and the external and internal metrics used by the Board of Education to evaluate which learning models will be offered.

 

Please take a moment to read this brief overview of the important communication you will receive from District 57 this week. 

It is important to emphasize the critical role we all play in our hybrid learning model’s safety and success. We can help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 spreading by practicing social distancing, wearing masks, frequently washing our hands, increasing the cleaning and sanitization of our learning spaces, and staying home if we have any exposure to or symptoms of COVID-19. We cannot eliminate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, but employing these with fidelity reduces the risk of spreading this illness.

 

The following resources are available to help support your child with these mitigation expectations. 

 

Our shared responsibility makes a difference. Gatherings outside of school generate risk and disruption inside of school. Please follow mitigation strategies when you are in public or when gathering with individuals outside your immediate household.

To promote a safe and healthy environment in our buildings, all D57 schools will use an online COVID-19 Symptom Screening tracker through a company called Raptor. All D57 Parents/Guardians whose children attend school in-person will be required to submit answers to five short questions thirty minutes before the school arrival time. Although all D57 Families will receive the daily email, only families who intend to send their child/ren to school that day should submit their answers. If it is a non-attendance day for your child, you do not need to complete the survey for that day. If your child is enrolled in a remote learning option, you can unsubscribe in the email. More detailed information about this topic will be shared in an email from D57 later this week. 

 

Many changes were necessary to offer a hybrid option that will impact even students continuing with full-remote learning. From new teacher assignments to changes to their daily schedule, our students will be experiencing transitions next week. Tomorrow, elementary families will receive an email from D57 confirming their child’s new teacher assignment/s. Lincoln families received student schedules in the mail, and they are also available on PowerSchool. Elementary and middle school teachers will be sending welcome emails to their new students and parents and providing updated Zoom links by Monday, January 18.

First Student Transportation Company will provide transportation to and from school during hybrid learning. Parents must be sure that a registration form has been submitted along with payment. Parents can sign up for transportation at any point during the year. However, there is an approximate five-day waiting period for the student to be routed. If a parent wants to sign up for transportation services now, please email [email protected].   Students will be spread out on the bus, and there will be at least one empty row between them. A seating chart will be created, and students will sit in the same seats every day. Students must wear a mask for the entire bus ride. The buses will be cleaned and sanitized daily. By Friday, January 15, an email will be sent to the parents who have registered for busing, identifying their child’s pick-up and drop-off bus stop. 

Thank you for your partnership and continued support.

 

Kind regards,

Dr. Elaine Aumiller