Country Meadows Families,
This week we were so excited to welcome some of our 1st and 2nd-grade students back to Country Meadows for in-person learning! It has been so incredibly joyous to see little faces (or at least their eyes) at school this week! Everyone was wearing big smiles behind their masks, which were visible through “smiling eyes.” Teachers spent Tuesday, January 19th preparing for the return to in-person learning and refamiliarizing themselves with the NEAT Bar technology, which provides a full classroom view to students at home. I was able to get into all of our 1st and 2nd grade classrooms this week, and it was fun to see the students who were learning remotely engaging with the students who were in person. Next week, we look forward to adding the 3rd - 5th-grade students who will return to in-person instruction.
Warm Regards,
Meghan Bird - Principal
NEW: IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR PARENTS OF IN-PERSON LEARNERS
- Parents of in-person students must submit the Annual Self-Certification Form BEFORE their student can attend in-person.
If the Annual Self-Certification Form has not been submitted for an in-person student and the student comes to school, the student’s parent will be called to pick up the student.
- Students in Early Childhood–Grade 2 must bring their saliva samples to school on the designated day it is due.
Parents whose students do not bring their saliva samples will be called to come to the school and bring their student’s sample collection vial, barcode label, and plastic baggie and assist their student in collecting the sample.
The schedule for saliva sample collection for EC–Grade 2 is as follows:
- Monday: Ivy Hall Grades 1-2 (Last names A-L); Prairie Grades 1-2 (Last names A-L)
- Tuesday: Country Meadows Grades 1-2 (Last names A-L); Kildeer Grades 1-2 (Last names A-L); Willow Grove PM Students
- Wednesday: Willow Grove AM Students
- Thursday: Country Meadows Grades 1-2 (Last names M-Z); Ivy Hall Grades 1-2 (Last names M-Z); Prairie Grades 1-2 (Last names M-Z); Kildeer Grades 1-2 (Last names M-Z)
See MORE INFO regarding saliva samples and collecting them.
- Daily Self-Certification is a requirement for in-person attendance.
To access the required Daily Self-Certification Form, you need to log into TeacherEase each day your student will attend in person to submit self-certification.
This VIDEO gives instructions, including how to access the daily self-certification form using your cell phone (iOS or android).
If you will be using your home computer to send daily self-certification, we suggest that you bookmark the TeacherEase website. The link is: https://www.teacherease.com/common/login.aspx
RECORDATORIOS IMPORTANTES PARA PADRES CUYOS ESTUDIANTES ASISTIRÁN A CLASES PRESENCIALES
- Los padres cuyos estudiantes asistirán a clases presenciales deben someter el Formulario de AutoCertificación Diario ANTES de que su estudiante asista en persona ese día.
Si el Formulario Anual de AutoCertificación no ha sido sometido para un estudiante que asista a clases presenciales y el estudiante llega a la escuela, se llamará al padre del estudiante para que lo recoja.
- Aquellos estudiantes de Preescolar a 2º Grado deben traer su muestra de saliva a la escuela en el día indicado.
Se llamarán a aquellos padres cuyos estudiantes no traigan la muestra de saliva para que ayuden a su hijo con la recolección de saliva o para que recojan a su estudiante de la escuela.
El horario para la recolección de saliva para Preescolar a 2º Grado es la siguiente:
- Lunes: Ivy Hall Grados 1-2 (apellidos A-L); Prairie Grades 1-2 (apellidos A-L)
- Martes: Country Meadows Grados 1-2 (apellidos A-L); Kildeer Grados 1-2 (apellidos A-L); Estudiantes de Willow Grove de la tarde
- Miércoles: Estudiantes de Willow Grove de la mañana
- Jueves: Country Meadows Grados 1-2 (apellidos M-Z); Ivy Hall Grados 1-2 (apellidos M-Z); Prairie Grados 1-2 (apellidos M-Z); Kildeer Grados 1-2 (apellidos M-Z)
Ver MÁS INFORMACIÓN sobre la muestra y recolección de saliva.
- Proceso Diario de la Auto Certificación:
Para ingresar al Formulario de AutoCertificación Diario, usted debe entrar a TeacherEase cada día que su estudiante asista a clases presenciales para someter la autocertificación.
Este VIDEO muestra las instrucciones, incluyendo cómo ingresar al formulario de autocertificación diario usando su celular (iOS o android).
Si usted va a estar usando una computadora para someter la autocertificación diaria, sugerimos que agregue la página de TeacherEase en sus favoritos. El enlace es: https://www.teacherease.com/common/login.aspx
*NEW* PREORDERING FREE MEALS FOR IN-PERSON LEARNERS
If your child is participating in in-person learning next week (Jan. 25–29) and you would like your student to receive free meals in the building on those in-person days, please pre-order using the Linq website (onlineordering.linq.com). Find info about how to create your account and order HERE.
Important Notice: The preordering opportunity has been EXTENDED for the week of Jan. 25, 2021, only. Please place your preorders by 6 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 24. Preorder ONLY for the days that your child is learning in-person in the school building. (Do not order for the remote learning days.)
For all subsequent weeks, please place your orders by 6 p.m. on Thursdays for the week ahead. (For example, be sure you have placed your preorder for the week of Feb. 1–5 no later than Thurs., Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.).
These meals are free to all students through the Summer Food Service Program of the USDA. This program is anticipated to be in place through the end of this 2020–2021 school year.
HAGA SU PEDIDO POR ADELANTADO DE LA COMIDA GRATIS PARA ESTUDIANTES QUE ASISTEN A CLASES PRESENCIALES
Si su hijo está participando en las clases presenciales de la próxima semana (Enero 25–29) y quiere que su estudiante reciba comida gratis los días que asistirá a clases presenciales, por favor ordene la comida por adelantado usando la página web Linq (onlineordering.linq.com).
Aviso Importante: Se ha EXTENDIDO la oportunidad de ordenar por adelantado sólo para la semana del 25 de enero, 2021. Por favor haga su pedido por adelantado para las 6 p.m. del domingo, 24 de enero. Ordene por adelantado SOLO para los días que su hijo estará en clases presenciales en la escuela. (No ordene comida para los días que tiene clases virtuales.)
Para todas las semanas posteriores, por favor haga su pedido antes de las 6 p.m. los jueves, para la semana siguiente. (Por ejemplo, haga el pedido por adelantado el 28 de enero antes de las 6 p.m. para la semana del 1-5 de febrero.)
Estas comidas son gratis para todos los estudiantes por medio del Programa de Servicio de Alimentos de Verano del USDA. Se anticipa que este programa continúe hasta el final del ciclo escolar 2020–2021.
NEW *Upcoming Dates & In Person Learning Report Dates*
Monday, January 25th: 1st-5th Grade students with last names beginning with the letters A-L who selected the in person hybrid learning option will begin to report to school
Tuesday, January 26th: Early Release for all students. Dismissal at 2:00pm. If your child will be in person on Tuesday please arrange to pick them up at this time.
Thursday, January 28th: 3rd-5th Grade students with last names beginning with the letters M-Z who selected the in person hybrid learning option will begin to report to school
NEW: Picture Retakes
Were you hoping to get a picture retake? Did you miss school picture day? Have you recently moved to the area? No worries, your student’s portrait can still be included in the 2020-2021 Country Meadows yearbook! You can submit your own portrait directly to the yearbook between now and February 15th using one of the following methods:
Option 1: Download the HJ eShare app, enter the school code: CM2021 select “upload portrait,” follow the instructions and upload your picture
Option 2: Go to www.hjeshare.com, enter the school code: CM2021, select “upload portrait,” follow the instructions and upload your picture
Option 3: Go directly to http://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=CM2021 select “upload portrait,” follow the instructions and upload your picture
If you have any questions regarding your Color Portrait orders or needed refunds, please contact Color Portraits directly for support at (847) 382-7505.
NEW *Specials Materials & Materials for Students Reporting In Person*
For students reporting for in person learning, please look for specific information from your child's classroom teacher regarding materials he or she will need to bring to class on days he/she reports. Here is the updated Specials Materials List. Please reach out to your child's classroom teacher or specific specials teachers with any questions.
NEW *PTO Blog*
Please take a moment to read the updated PTO blog this week.
REPEATING *In Person Learning Protocols*
Parents whose hybrid in-person students will be learning in person, please be sure to review the Revised IN-PERSON LEARNING PROTOCOLS for information about health and safety protocols and expectations for families and their students who will be learning in person in our schools.
REPEATING *Proactive Population Screening Info for Parents of Students Attending In Person*
Students learning in person will need to participate in proactive population screening, providing a saliva sample once per week on a designated schedule.
REPEATING *FREE MEAL PACK PICK-UP*
Free meal pick-up will continue on Mondays and Thursdays at the middle schools, from 11am to 2pm as we begin to transition back to a hybrid learning schedule. However, parents no longer need to pre-order these meals. If you would like to view the menu, you can find it on the district website, labeled as Remote Learning Menu. This menu will no longer appear on the Linq website.
*REPEATING* IN-PERSON LEARNING SCHOOL MEALS
If your child is returning to in-person learning and you would like to take advantage of school meals, which will also be free, please pre-order only for the days that your child is in-person, NOT for remote learning days. Please place your order by 6:00pm on Thursdays.
REPEATING *Approved Snack List*
The District has not revised the APPROVED SNACK LIST from the 19-20 school year. The items the list includes are free of the Top 8 allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.
This list includes the foods that are approved for students' Daily Snacks eaten in the classroom.
IMPORTANT: All items for Daily Snacks– with the exception of fruits and vegetables– MUST be prepackaged to allow staff to easily check that snacks meet the approved requirements.
REPEATING *Specials Transition Times*
As we return to in-person learning next week, please know that our specials teachers will be helping students transition to their next classes at school. This may cause a slight delay in the teacher opening up the Zoom classroom for our remote learners. We thank you for your patience during this brief time frame until the teacher can admit our remote learners to class.
REPEATING *Hybrid Lunch Procedures*
All safety, allergy, and social distancing guidelines will be adhered to while students eat lunch at Country Meadows. Students who are eating in the cafeteria will be assigned a seat and numbere to ensure students remain 6 ft apart at all times.
We have specific cleaning protocols and timeframes until table can be reused which will be adhered to as well. Students will engage in appropriate hand hygeine before eating lunch. Depending on grade level and specific teacher assignments some classes will be eating in their classrooms while others will be eating in the cafeteria to ensure students will allergies are not exposed to food in the classroom. If you have specific questions about where your child's class will be eating lunch please reach out to your child's teacher.
REPEATING *Arrival/Dismissal Procedures*
All students reporting in person will enter through the main school entrance. Once entering the building, students will approach one of our two scanning stations to ensure their self certification has been completed that morning. Our 1st/2nd graders will walk through one hallway to their classrooms while our 3rd/4th/5th graders will walk through another to limit the number of studnets in a hallway at all times. Breakfast is available for students who would like to eat at school in the morning, and socially distanced seating (similar to lunch) will be used. We will have staff outside to help guide students from both the buses and parent pick up into the building. All bus route information will be emailed next week.
REPEATING *Commitment to 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.
REPEATING *Yearbook Photo Submission*
If you have any photos to share of your child(ren) participating in remote learning, please follow the steps below!
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
REPEATING *PTO January Artistic Challenge*
Our incredible PTO is sponsoring another fun challenge this month! Please see this flyer for information regarding our January Artistic Contest! We can't wait to see the creativity our studnets use while creating their igloos/forts!
REPEATING *MAP STUDENT REPORTS FOR GRADES 3-8*
At approximately 3pm today, you will receive a message from Jeanne Spiller, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning with your Winter MAP Reports for your child(ren). Please contact Jeanne at [email protected] if you do not receive a report or if you have any questions
REPEATING *Preregister for 2021–22 Kindergarten Beginning Jan. 11*
Preregister incoming 2021–22 kindergartners beginning January 11 and no later than January 31 to receive a free T-shirt for your incoming student. SEE MORE INFO
REPEATING *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.
REPEATING *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 and a link you can use to participate.