Dear District 96 Community:
During last evening's Board of Education meeting, we outlined our plans to begin phasing into in-person learning students whose families chose in-person learning using a safe hybrid model. Our plan, the why behind it, metrics that will guide us, and the protocols that will be in place were summarized. A link to the full presentation is included HERE. Please view the entire presentation in order to have as many questions answered as possible.
As of today, the metrics and circumstances are a “green light” for us to proceed with our plan. On Oct. 5, we will announce whether the metrics and circumstances continue to support implementing this plan. If so, we will proceed as follows:
Willow Grove Early Learning Center Kindergarten
- Students whose parents chose in-person learning will attend either the AM or PM session each day as already assigned.
- October 15: First day of in-person student attendance for kindergartners
Elementary Schools
- Students whose last names begin with the letters A – L will attend for a full day every Monday and Tuesday and participate in full-remote learning Wednesday–Friday.
- Students whose last names begin with the letters M – Z will attend for a full day every Thursday and Friday and participate in full-remote learning Monday–Wednesday.
- Schools will be deeply sanitized on Wednesdays.
- October 19: First day of in-person student attendance for Grades 1 and 2
- October 29: First day of in-person student attendance for Grades 3–5
Middle Schools
- Students whose last names begin with the letters A – L will attend for a full day every Monday and Tuesday and participate in full-remote learning Wednesday–Friday.
- Students whose last names begin with the letters M – Z will attend for a full day every Thursday and Friday and participate in full-remote learning Monday–Wednesday.
- Schools will be deeply sanitized on Wednesdays.
- October 29: First day of in-person student attendance for all middle school students
To accommodate families whose situations have changed or who are experiencing extenuating circumstances, next week we will share the process to request a change from the learning environment choice (full-remote or in-person) that you expressed previously that we have on record for your student. Please do not contact the District to ask the current learning environment choice we have for your student. We will remind you of your choice on record in a communication to come next week.
Lastly, I want to commend and thank our teachers, related services professionals, coaches, support staff, and leaders who have worked tirelessly to provide a quality and personal learning experience for all our students. I ask that we all recommit to partnering in a healthy and productive way, as we know that getting through this pandemic will be a marathon, not a sprint.
Warm regards,
–Julie Schmidt, District 96 Superintendent of Schools