Country Meadows Families,
Happy October! It was so great to see so many students at our School Picture/Material Pick Up on Wednesday! If you have not done so already, please make sure that you sign up for a Family Educator Conference for next week. This is a wonderful opportunity to check-in on your child’s progress together and determine next steps for the remainder of the trimester.
Over the next few weeks there will be a lot of information shared in order for us to have a successful return for hybrid learning. We thank you ahead of time for thoroughly reading the information and/or watching the videos that are shared. These resources will will answer many of your questions and serve as a great way to stay up-to-date on the most recent information.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead!
Kindly,
Meghan Bird
NEW *Upcoming Calendar/Schedule Reminders*
Thursday, October 8th is an Early Release. Students will follow this schedule, and remote learning will end at 2:00pm.
Friday, October 9th there is no school as staff will be engaged in Family Educator Conferences. Learning will resume on Monday, October
Monday, October 12th, there is no school.
Tuesday, October 13th, there is no school due to the recent BOE approval of a Remote Planning Day for all staff.
NEW *Commitment to Partnership*
As emphasized in Superintendent Schmidt's message sent on Tues., Sept 29, implementing a hybrid in-person learning model is and must be a partnership.
We know that some surrounding districts or schools who began their in-person learning plan have had to revert to full remote for a period of time. In many situations, this has been due to positive cases about which families were not truthful with the school or with the health department regarding symptoms and the diagnosis or with those conducting the contact tracing process.
We are confident that the District 96 community will rise to the occasion and partner with us to ensure safety and success. Please think carefully about your commitment to our partnership before sending your kids to school.
NEW *Updated Student Schedules and In-Person Learning Protocols*
UPDATED SCHEDULES will take effect for ALL of our students on the following schedule:
Kindergarten – schedule effective beginning Oct. 15
Elementary – schedule effective for Grades 1–5 beginning Oct. 19
(NOTE: Hybrid in-person learning begins for Grades 1 and 2 on Oct. 19. Hybrid in-person learning begins for Grades 3–5 on Oct. 29)
Middle – schedule effective beginning Oct. 29
For those returning to schools in the hybrid model, please review the IN-PERSON LEARNING PROTOCOLS thoroughly, so that you are prepared to complete and submit the required one-time annual self-certification and acknowledgment of protocols via a link in an email communication you will be sent after Oct. 5.
NEW *Updated COVID-19 Metrics*
This UPDATED COVID-19 METRICS is the information “dashboard” that maintains transparent and open communication around COVID-19 metrics. As a user of the dashboard, the District has access to COVID-19 data as recommended by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium. We review this data daily, update the dashboard weekly, and consider this data in making many decisions.
NEW *Wait List for Conference Sign-Up*
At this time, some of our staff members have a fully booked conference schedule. If you continue to be on the waiting list, feel free to reach out and set-up a brief phone conference with the staff member for another time. Thank you for understanding!
NEW *Last Call for Fall Conference Sign-Up*
Next week we will be hosting virtual Family Educator Conferences. If you have not done so already, please sign up for fall family educator conferences with your child's educators. You will sign-in to our new platform "Meet The Teacher" with your name, an email address, your child’s name, and his or her date of birth.
At the elementary level, you will be able to sign up for a conference with your child’s classroom teacher and other educators your child works with on a regular basis. Please complete this for each child who attends District 96. Please know that some of our specials teachers and related services may have booked schedules. If you are interested in meeting with these educators, please sign up for the waitlist.
As a reminder, if you are unable to attend these conferences on these dates, please email the educator you are interested in speaking with to set up a phone conference. Family Educator Conference sign up will close October 5th.
As a reminder, Family Educator Conferences take place virtually via Zoom. Teachers will send specific Zoom Links at a later date.
October 8: 5pm-8:30pm
October 9: 10:00-1:30pm
In addition to individual conferences with educators, we will also be providing parent education opportunities both days. More information will be shared in the near future!
If you are having trouble signing up, please contact the front office at 847.353.8600.
NEW *Family Tradition Survey*
Last year, families filled out a form to share their family traditions with us. We shared those traditions in a daily slideshow for students and the kids absolutely loved reading about themselves and other students in the school. We would love for you to participate again this year!
Read more about how you can share your family traditions this year. It will show you a QR code you can scan to participate.
NEW *Yearbook Photo Upload*
Calling all pictures of your child(ren) learning remotely! Please upload your photos of your child(ren) engaging in Zoom sessions while learning remotely or in their remote learning environment. We would love to add them to our yearbook this year!
Option 1: Download the HJ eShare app, enter the school code: CM2021 tag and upload your pictures
Option 2: Go to www.hjeshare.com, enter the school code: CM2021, tag and upload your pictures
Option 3: Go directly to http://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=CM2021 tag and upload your pictures
NEW: Specials Materials
We are so excited that students have access to the materials our specials teachers ordered for students. With the excitement of using the materials, we also know there is additional stress added for families of students who travel between homes, to the Park District pod program, or to other childcare locations.
This is a document that will be updated each week by our specials teachers to indicate which materials will by used on specific days of the upcoming week. Please reach out to specific specials teachers with any questions.
NEW *PTO Blog*
It's time to purchase your Country Meadows Spirit Wear! Both child and adult sizes are available! Please CLICK HERE for more information!
Please take a moment to read the updated PTO blog this week!
REPEATING *School Exclusion & Health Form Requirements*
Please know that students who do not have the necessary health forms on file will be excluded from school on October 15th. Please see the information below for specific details and health form deadlines.
Health form requirements vary by grade level and for new/returning students. New to District 96 (all grade levels)? See MORE INFO regarding grade-level specific health form requirements.
All students entering Kindergarten must have their CERTIFICATE OF CHILD HEALTH EXAMINATION/IMMUNIZATION FORM (signed by the physician) on file in the school office by October 15, 2020.
All students entering Kindergarten must have their Vision Examination Form by October 15, 2020.
All students entering Kindergarten must have a DENTAL EXAMINATION FORM on file at their school office by May 15, 2021.
All students entering Grade 2 must have a DENTAL EXAMINATION FORM on file at their school office by May 15, 2021.
All students entering Grade 6 must have their CERTIFICATE OF CHILD HEALTH EXAMINATION/IMMUNIZATION FORM (signed by the physician) on file in the school office by October 15, 2020.
Additional Grade 6 health form requirements include the DENTAL EXAMINATION FORM by May 15, 2021.
REPEATING *D96 Calendar Change*
Please note the following addition to the current school year calendar:
NO SCHOOL Tues., Oct. 13 – State-Approved Remote Learning Planning Day
District 96 staff will use this day for professional development related to staff preparing for transition to a hybrid model.