Wright-ings E-Notice
Daniel Wright Junior High School E-Notice October 1, 2020
Welcome In-Person Learners! (A Letter from Principal Blackley)
We are all excited to see the smiling faces of our students in-person at DW! The staff has been busy planning for what in-person learning will look like for students. We stay focused on balancing our need for safety and ensuring a positive learning environment where students flourish academically, emotionally and socially.
COVID-19 Checklist & 3~W’s
We ask for parents' partnership during this unprecedented time. For the safety of our students and staff, we request that parents review the COVID-19 symptom checklist prior to coming to school. If your child has any of the following symptoms, your child must be kept home.
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
When students arrive at school, they will have their temperature taken. Any student with a fever of 100.4 or higher, or demonstrating COVID-19 symptoms, will be sent home from school. The school nurse will advise parents of exclusion steps based on the Illinois Department of Public Health Interim Exclusion Guidance.
We ask that parents begin having children practice wearing masks, socially distancing, and developing hand washing routines to prepare for these same expectations when in-person at Daniel Wright. All students will be expected to adhere to the 3~W’s; wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance. Please send your child to school with enough masks since they might need to change masks as they become moist.
DW bathrooms will have social distance guidelines. We ask that students social distance when using the bathroom, wash hands and always leave their masks on. Our custodial staff will be cleaning restrooms hourly to help them stay clean. The bathrooms will also have stalls and urinals blocked off so that students are able to socially distance.
In-Person Learning Pods & School Supplies
Students have been placed in learning pods. A pod is a cohort of students who stay together throughout the day. Each pod of students is assigned to a physical classroom and teachers will rotate in for each content area. Students will move to Creative Arts, Health and PE classes, however they will remain with their cohort for these courses. Although students will not be changing for PE, we will be maximizing our outdoor spaces and encourage students to bring hoodies and coats as the weather changes.
All students will have their own individual desks and will not sit at tables with multiple children. Students are spaced 6 feet from other students. Non-essential furniture and supplies have been removed from the classrooms. Students will not be assigned lockers and they can use their own individual materials that can be kept in personal backpacks in the classroom. Please be sure to have your child bring their own personal school supplies with them to school. Students will not share supplies.
Mask Breaks, Lunch & Water Bottles: Students will have a midday break that include a 30 minute lunch and flex time. Most pods will eat lunch in the classroom; some may eat in the cafeteria. Regardless of location, students will be able to remove their masks and utilize the plexiglass divider that can be placed on their desk while eating. Microwaves will NOT be available to students to warm up lunch items from home; please be sure to provide items that do not require heating. The district will be implementing a free hot lunch program for all of our interested students. However, there will be no Quest food service the first couple days of school and students should bring a packed lunch from home. Beginning, Wednesday, Oct. 7, students are encouraged to take advantage of the Quest free lunch program offered to everyone.
Students will have opportunities throughout the day to take supervised masks breaks. Students might be taking walks, engaging in the curriculum outside, or participating in an active staff-led activity. Such activities are necessary to help students adjust to wearing masks for an extended period of time, every day. If you have not started to practice wearing a mask, social distancing, and developing a hand washing routine, please do this as soon as possible.
We also ask that students bring a filled water bottle to school with them daily. Students will be able to keep their water bottles near their desks in the classroom space and they will also be able to use our bottle filling stations located throughout the school. Having a filled water bottle will eliminate the need to use the hallways as we are trying to limit multiple students in the hallways at a time. Additionally, drinking modules on fountains have been disabled and only water bottle filling stations can be used.
DW Front Office Accessibility:
Daniel Wright’s office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, however only staff is permitted inside the building. If a parent needs to speak with the office, they can be reached at 847- 295-1560. Parents can drop-off and pick up materials in our new front vestibule. If you are leaving materials for your children, please make sure to label the students name, grade, and teacher.
Late Arrival or Early Dismissal of In-Person Students: Although parents are always welcome to come into the DW vestibule to sign students in or out of school, we are providing a “no contact” procedure. Parents may use this link to access a google form or parents can use their smartphone to scan the QR attendance code that will be posted on the front doors of the building.
Student Drop Off and Pick Up:
Traffic flow for drop off and pickup will be different than it has been in the past. Please review this diagram to understand the flow of cars and buses. DW Drop Off & Pick Up Diagram.
When students arrive at school, either by bus or personal vehicle, we ask that students enter the building at the door closest to their pod. Tomorrow, an email from the DW Administration will be sent to students and parents indicating which door they should enter and exit the school. Students will not be allowed in the building before 8:15AM. Students should not be dropped off prior to 8:15 a.m.
School Start and Bell Schedule: The first day for our 6th grade students who chose in-person learning is Monday, October 5, 2020. The first day for our 7th and 8th grade students who chose in-person learning is Wednesday, October 7, 2020. The school day for all grades, all learners, will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. Both remote and in-person students will follow a similar bell schedule. Use this link to access the schedule, DW Remote & In-Person Bell Schedules.
Events from the PTO
Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt Competition
Get creative and have fun by creating a scary or silly scarecrow to enter into the D103 PTO competition. Use items you already have around the home to create something truly unique. Show your D103 pride with spirit wear and school colors! Please register on the PTO MembershipToolkit site.
Each family who registers an entry will receive a fall craft for their student(s). The top three scarecrows from each school receiving the most votes, will receive a $20.00 gift card to Liquid Fusion, Culvers, or Einstien Bagles.
Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive and Survive in a COVID World
In a virtual presentation, Devorah Heitner will discuss with parents at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 how to navigate the world of technology during the COVID19 pandemic. Register now for this free PTO Parent Education event.
Understand how to find a healthy balance with technology during this time:
• How to coach your child's technology use rather than to control it
• How parents and caregivers can support their children’s uses of technology to
connect, create and learn
• What digital platforms and apps are appropriate (or not) for elementary and middle
school kids
• Navigating the news cycle
Community Events
5K Race
Join in the Lincolnshire Community 5K Run and Walk
Stevenson Move-A-Thon
Join in the fun with the Stevenson Move-A-Thon.
Upcoming Events
Daniel Wright Junior High School
Assistant Principal Nina Nusbaum
Assistant Principal Melody Littlefair
Email: ask103@d103.org
Website: www.d103.org/danielwright
Location: 1370 N. Riverwoods Road Lincolnshire, IL 60089
Phone: 847-295-1560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielWrightJHS/
Twitter: @district103