Pleasant Hill Weekly Newsletter
November 12, 2021
Have A Great Weekend!
Happy Friday Everyone!
I hope everyone had a great week!
We were very excited to have our Veteran's Day ceremony on Wednesday! A tradition at PH is our veterans day ceremony but due to Covid we were unable last year to have it. We were excited to be able to bring some of that back this year as we followed safety protocols and held the ceremony outdoors on the blacktop. The ceremony consisted of different student groups participating to say thank you, raising of our flag, veterans speaking and an all school song. Thank you to all of the veteran's who came to participate and all of the students and staff for welcoming them. Here is a video clip that highlights the event. https://youtu.be/anLVKOsBaUs
As I mentioned in the last newsletter we are getting closer to conference time. Please make sure to remember to sign up for an in person or virtual conference with your child's teacher.
Thank you again for all your support this school year!
Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe weekend!
Warm Regards,
Dr. Morris
GO COUGARS!
Pleasant Hill Annual Cyber Safety Night December 1st!! Mark Your Calendars!
This is an opportunity for parents to get the latest information on what our children are being exposed to while using their electronic devices. Keeping our children safe is our priority and as parents and educators that continues to extend into the cyber world.
Parents are highly encouraged no matter the age of your child to attend. The Palatine Police department will also be joining the presentation to help answer any questions and give their perspective on what they are seeing in our community.
5th Grade Astronomy Night!
Vaccination Clinic
Our Health Services Team is working with our partners from Jewel/Osco to bring an optional vaccination clinic for our 5-11 year old students in November. An email with more information (dates, time, how to sign up) will be shared with our families soon.
If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment now, you can visit vaccine.cookcountyil.gov.
6th Grade Video Production Club Is Up and Running!! Our Morning Announcements Are Awesome!!
From The PTA!
Hi all,
As Fall Break is approaching I want to tell you about a few of our events coming up in December.
Please join us on Wednesday, December 1st at 6:00 pm for a cyber safety parent seminar given by Dr. Morris and a guest speaker from the Palatine Police. This is a must see presentation for parents to help keep their children safe in the digital age. They will cover current issues and trends they see here at our school and the Palatine community. The zoom link will be sent out closer to the event.
We will be having a virtual gingerbread house decorating contest again this year. Entries will be due on Monday, December 13th. Start brainstorming your ideas!
If anyone missed the Pleasant Hill mask sale this week and would still like to purchase one, please reach out to us at phpta15@gmail.com.
Warm regards,
Ashley Gebhardt and Julie Boldt
PTA Presidents
Close Contacts
According to the CDC definition of close contacts in the K-12 indoor classroom setting, students who were 3 feet or more from an infected student are not treated as close contacts if both students were engaged in consistent and correct use of well-fitting masks.
Phone calls to parents of students who are identified as close contacts are called prior to the classroom letter being sent home. If you receive the classroom notice letter and you have not been called by a contact tracer, you can be assured your child was following the CDC guidelines for K-12 indoor classroom settings.
Students who ride a bus will be identified as a close contact if they sit next to, behind or in front of the student who was positive for more than 15 minutes.
Test To Stay Now Available!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
District 15 began the Test To Stay (T2S) program on Monday, October 25. This is an additional, optional testing regimen that will allow us to keep qualifying identified close contacts learning in person. Thank you for your patience as we worked to follow the guidance/requirements needed to safely implement T2S. Here are the nuts and bolts of T2S:
- Students must be registered and participating in weekly SHIELD testing (more information below).
- Students test on school days 1, 3, 5, and 7. If a testing day falls on a non-school day, we will work with you to accommodate testing at the earliest possible opportunity.
Participation Qualifications (Per ISBE & IDPH Guidance):
- The positive COVID-19 case and the close contact must have been engaged in consistent and correct use of well-fitting masks, regardless of vaccination status.
- Parents/guardians will need to transport their child to the District office for testing on test days and from school during the entire testing time frame.
- Students must be opted into weekly SHIELD screening to participate in T2S. We realize this is new information and have worked with IDPH and CCDPH, hopeful for some flexibility. Guidance is firm about this requirement.
Here’s How to Opt In:
- If you are currently opted IN for SHIELD and your child qualifies to participate in Test To Stay (T2S): There will be an additional consent form for Test To Stay. T2S will use a BinaxNOW test, different from the weekly SHIELD test. Results of the test take only 15-20 minutes. If your child qualifies for the T2S process, you will be sent the consent form to complete.
- If you opted out of SHIELD and your child qualifies to participate in T2S OR If you have not filled out anything regarding SHIELD and your child qualifies to participate in T2S: Please fill out this SHIELD consent form and email it to SHIELD@ccsd15.net to be opted in to SHIELD weekly testing OR you can fill out the SHIELD consent on-site on their first day of T2S. There will be an additional consent form for Test To Stay. T2S will use a BinaxNOW test, different from the weekly SHIELD test. Results of the test take only 15-20 minutes. If your child qualifies for the T2S process, you will be sent the consent form to complete.
How T2S Works:
Test To Stay testing will take place on school days from 7:00 am - 9:00 am at the District Office located at 580 North 1st Bank Drive, Palatine. Everyone entering the District Office for T2S must be fully masked at all times.
If your child is identified as a close contact and qualifies for T2S, parents/guardians will receive a close contact email from a District nurse or contact tracer with an invitation and instructions about how to participate in T2S. Following receipt of the email, parents/guardians must:
- Complete the Google form in the invitation email;
- Complete the Binax consent form in the invitation email;
- Complete the SHIELD consent form, if they have not already Opted-In to weekly SHIELD testing;
- Download the Navica Mobile App to their smartphone (directions will be in the invitation email) before coming to the District office to test - parents/guardians will receive the T2S results through this app;
- Transport their child to testing and home from school, as students cannot ride the bus at any time until the T2S regimen is complete.
Additional Information:
- Students participating in T2S may participate in extracurricular activities (as long as they remain consistently masked and physically distanced). Students on sports teams may participate in practice, but not games or competitions until the 15th day.
- Students may resume using District transportation and participating in sports/extracurricular competitions after they have completed the testing regimen.
- If at any point during the testing regimen, the student begins having symptoms, they must isolate right away.
- T2S participants should avoid social gatherings and remain home when not at school functions for the full testing regimen.
- OUTSIDE tests cannot be accepted for Test To Stay - it must be a District administered test.
We look forward to adding this screening measure to our mitigation efforts. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or your school nurse.
Parent/Guardian Contact Information
Please make sure you have all of your contact information updated in Infinite Campus (email address, phone number, and cell phone number) for absence calls, school, District, and Board newsletters, emergency notifications, etc.
To check your contact information, you can login in Infinite Campus to review and update.
Mobile App
The District 15 mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play! To download the free app, search for "CCSD15."
This communication tool allows parents and students to quick access to important school and district information, including Campus Parent, the D15 Bullying Tip Line, a quick link to MyStop (bus stop location and pick-up times), lunch menus, schedules, parent/student handbook, directory information, school news, and more.
To see integrated student information on the app, click the "student information" button and log-in using your email address and your Campus Parent password. If you are unsure of your password, please visit Infinite Campus and click "forgot password." If you are still having trouble, please contact your school's main office for assistance.
To make sure you aren’t missing any notices, make sure you turn notifications ON for the mobile app.
Construction at Birchwood Still Underway
Cars should head North down Bennett and drop their children off on the east side of the street near the walking path behind the school. This is also acceptable closer to Illinois as well. It will also be important for parents not to park/stop in the “No Parking” area on Bennett closest to Illinois.
PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF CLOSE TO THE CROSSWALK AT THE TOP OF BENNET BY THE PATH THAT LEADS TO THE BACK OF PH. THIS CREATES A DIFFICULT LINE OF SIGHT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING TO CROSS.
If you have any questions please call the main office.
We Need Your Help During Pick-up and Drop-off
-During the posted time on the sign by the back lot entrance. No left turn is allowed during drop-off between 8am and 9am heading north on Ceder.
-During the posted time on the sign located on the corner of Ceder and Michigan, no left turn is allowed heading south onto Cedar from Michigan.
-Drop off allows for one SINGLE file line in the circle drive in the morning. Please be patient as cars are stopping frequently to drop off students.
-Pick up allows for cars to park (not left unattended and running) along the curb. Double parking is not allowed.
-Students should not be crossing Cedar or Illinois to get to a vehicle without using he designated crosswalks. (A crossing guard is at Illinois and Birchwood, A crosswalk is at the corner of Michigan and Cedar)
-Students should ALWAYS exit a car on the passenger side while in the circle drive.
-If you are dropping off or picking up and decide to park in the parking lot, students must be escorted by an adult to the schools entrance. Students should not be going through the parking lot without an adult. This is extremely important.
Please think of the safety of all of our students and families during these times of the day.
Privacy And Student Data Protection
Privacy and student data protection is a key priority for the District. Our three main technology departments (instructional technology, technology, and data services) work to make sure our systems and vendors comply with the requirements of the Student Online Personal Protection Act or SOPPA, which regulates how student information is protected by school districts and education technology vendors they use. Our student privacy web page outlines our privacy related actions and protective measures.
We also employ a number of measures like on-site filtering, student device monitoring, and security tools which protect our network from outside threats. Students participate in digital citizenship curriculum, and staff can employ tools to support students in making good digital choices. Lastly, our district participates in several state and national consortiums, collaborating with other districts to keep informed on best practices and new resources that may support our data privacy policies.
Parent Nights 2021-2022
District 15 is excited to be partnering with local agencies to present information on the following topics for parents, guardians, families and community members. Mark your calendars and join us for these free, virtual workshops!
Trauma Awareness
December 6, 2021
7-8 pm
Self-Care
February 16, 2022
7-8 pm
Motivation to Finish Strong
April 12, 2022
7-8 pm
Pre-Registration would be greatly appreciated
so please fill out this form!
We are also taking questions from our audience that will be answered during the workshops so please pre-register.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Keli Swierczek at swierczk@ccsd15.net.
Spanish translation services will be offered during workshops.
Student Entrances and Exits
Doors Will Open at 8:38 each morning.
Thank you for your support!
Grades 1&2 - Door #3
Grade 3- Door #7
Grades 4&5 - Door #10
Grade 6- Door #11
Kindergarten - Door #4 (Mrs. Hickey) Door #5 (Mrs. Kehm)
Students Riding The Bus Will Enter and Exit The Front Doors
Reminder To Self Certify Students Before School
Please help us in keeping our students safe by using the symptoms below to screen your student before they enter school each day.
Thank you!
Symptoms:
Fever (100.4°F or higher),
New onset of moderate to severe headache,
Shortness of breath,
New cough,
Sore throat,
Vomiting or diarrhea,
New loss of sense of taste or smell,
Fatigue from unknown cause,
Muscle or body aches from unknown cause
Dr. David Morris Ed.D
Email: morrisd@ccsd15.net
Website: ccsd15.net/PH
Phone: 847-963-5900