Dear Families,
Happy October! If you have not done so already, make sure that you get signed 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 in order for us to have a successful return in a hybrid learning format. We thank you ahead of time for thoroughly reading the information and/or watching the videos. This will answer many of your questions and is a great way to stay up-to-date on the most recent information.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead!
Fondly,
Christine Pfaff
NEW *Learning from Home Pics*
Thanks, everyone for sending in pictures from your home-based classrooms!
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.
- Monday, October 12th, there is no school - Columbus Day.
- Tuesday, October 13th, there is no school due to the recent approval of a Remote Planning Day for all staff.
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 that 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.
UPDATE *School Pictures & Materials Pick-Up ~ Thursday, Oct. 8th*
School Pictures
Picture Day will be Thursday, October 8th from 2pm - 7pm. We will have 3-sided photo booth tents set up outside. Class pictures will be created using composites of individual student photos. The traffic pattern is depicted below. Please remember that Brandywyn Lane is currently a one-way street and you will need to enter the neighborhood from Aptakisic Road.
Students will exit the vehicle at the Student Drop Off Area shown in the map below and proceed to the photo booth line. Staff will be present to help students. Parents will remain in the vehicle and pull all the way up into the circle drive to wait for their child(ren). Social distancing measures will be in place and students must wear a mask. Once in the photo booth, students will remove the mask for the photo.
Below is the last name, alphabetical time frame for your child(ren) to attend the photo session. We ask that you please do your best to come during the designated time frame. We understand that you may need to come outside the assigned time frame due to personal circumstances.
Please sign into the E. D. Clark Photography website to create an account and order photos online. E.D. Clark is offering free personalization of your order if you order BEFORE picture day. Be sure to select personalization when placing your pre-order.
Materials Pick-Up
While your child is getting his/her photo taken, staff members will bring additional school materials to your vehicle. Please have your child's last name displayed in the vehicle's window when you drop off your child for their photo. Staff will then radio the student's last name to runners who will bring the items to your vehicle. Please keep the name sign prominently displayed so that runners know which vehicle to go to.
If you have any questions, please call the office at 847.634.3144.
NEW *Updated Student Schedules and In-Person Learning Protocols*
UPDATED SCHEDULES will take effect for ALL of our students as follows:
- 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 15-minute phone conference with the staff member for another time. Thank you for understanding!
NEW *PTO Book Fair*
As the weather gets cooler, what’s better than snuggling up with a new book?!? The Prairie Online book fair starts October 5th and runs through the 18th. You can also find the link on the Prairie PTO page on Facebook.
Repeat *Fall Conference Sign-Up*
Please click THIS LINK to 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 847.634.3144.
REPEAT *Yearbook/Photography Club*
What a Year! Join Mr. Morris and Ms. Sauer to create our yearbook and take photos to document this unique school year! This club is open to ALL students and all that is needed is an iPad. This club will be held virtually via Zoom, Mondays after school from 4:30-5:15pm. Our first club is Monday, October 5th! See you then! CLICK HERE to sign up.
Repeat *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 the transition to a hybrid model.
Repeat *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 on our Student Services webpage for specific details and health form deadlines. Remember, health form requirements vary by grade level and for new/returning students.