Sum-sum summertime!!

I hope you are fully enjoying the slower pace that summer provides. As we start off July, let’s hope for less rain and more sunny days ahead.

Despite the summer calendar, we continue to be busy in and around the District. Here’s a few updates:

• Summer Construction - Summer construction projects are underway with new HVAC systems at Gray M. Sanborn, Kimball Hill, and Lake Louise. Conyers Learning Academy will gain six new classrooms for the 2021-2022 school year to support Early Childhood enrollment. Winston Campus is currently receiving new tile and carpet in their hallways and common spaces and their lockers are getting a fresh coat of paint.

• Learning continues for staff and students - Both students and staff have continued learning during the summer months. Some students with IEPs have participated in summer programs including Extended School Year, Summer Blast, and Community School. Our multilingual students are enjoying Campamento D15.

• We are excited to welcome our new administrators and/or administrators in new roles for the 2021-22 school year today! For a list of assignments, please see the table below:

District 15 transports roughly 10,000 students on 150 school buses every day. To reduce the number of students on our school buses to the greatest extent possible, we need your help again this year to opt-out of bus transportation if you don’t absolutely need the service.

If your child is eligible for free bus service and you are able to drive him or her to and/or from school, please consider opting-out of bus transportation this year. In doing so, you will help us reduce the number of students we must transport each day, which will allow us to provide greater levels of physical distancing on all of our buses.

Additionally, please know that if not enough families opt-out of transportation, we may have to revisit school start times and bus routes. We will not know if this needs to be considered until transportation opt-outs are received and reviewed. Please respond to the opt-out request using your current school start and end times. If revisions are made to start/end times, we will communicate with families again.

As we did this past school year, we again ask families who do not truly need transportation to please consider declining it. If you have already done so, thank you so very much.

Please fill out this survey no later than Friday, July 2 by 5:00 pm to share your preference with us as the Transportation department will begin routing students on Tuesday.

Paid Ridership “on hold”

Again, due to ongoing capacity limitations as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, we do not anticipate being able to offer paid transportation as an option for families. I know this presents a hardship for some of our families, but until we are able to return to full capacity on our buses -- we simply do not have the space.

If a student needs to remain in remote learning due to a medical condition or if the child lives with an individual who is medically fragile, a CCSD15 Remote Learning Accommodation Form (Spanish) will need to be signed by a healthcare provider and returned to your child’s school immediately.

If you are unable to complete the form because your child or someone in your household does not have a medical condition as defined by the CDC, your child will automatically be enrolled for in-person learning at their home school when school starts on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 for students in grades 1 - 8 and Thursday, August 19 for preK and kindergarten students.

As the school year progresses and ISBE and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) update their guidance and recommendations for schools, we will continue to notify parents and make adjustments as necessary. We truly appreciate your support and understanding as we continue to be impacted by COVID-19 within Illinois schools.

To help ensure schools can more safely resume in-person learning, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has expanded access to COVID-19 testing to Districts across Illinois.

SHIELD Illinois is a screening and diagnostic testing program that deploys the University of Illinois’ innovative PCR covidSHIELD screening process at the school level.

The covidSHIELD test is an optional, non-invasive, saliva-based test that provides results through a HIPAA compliant health records portal within 12-24 hours of samples reaching a local partner lab. This test is used to assist with early identification of pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals to aid in combating the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

Please watch for more information regarding optional SHIELD testing in the next few weeks.

Summer Reading at our Local Libraries

To help students continue to enjoy books all summer, please consider participating, if you have not already done so, in one (or all) of the library reading programs listed below:

• Palatine Public Library- Reading Colors Your World Summer Reading Program

• Arlington Heights Memorial Library- 2021 Summer Reading Challenge

• Rolling Meadows Library- Reading Colors Your World Summer Reading Program

• Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates- Reading Colors Your World Summer Reading Program
  
  

Students Heading into Fifth - Eighth Grade Access to ALEKS

ALEKS is a dynamic and individualized online math program that is provided to support students so they are able to master math skills and/or access enrichment during the summer. Participation and use of ALEKS is optional but beneficial in minimizing “summer learning slide.”

Students will access their account by clicking on the following link https://www.aleks.com. Students will Self-Register with the appropriate 10-character class code for their grade level during the 2020-2021 school year.

The POC is located on Rand Road in Palatine and is a wonderful resource for many D15 families. The POC supports immigrant and low-income residents in the northeast Palatine Township through multilingual direct services, referrals, and programs.

In case you have not already done so, please mark your calendar for the following key August dates:

• Aug. 11 - Board of Education Meeting

• Aug. 16 & 17 - Teacher Institute Days

• Aug. 18 - First Day of School for Grades 1-8

• Aug. 19 - First Day of School for Preschool & Kindergarten

• Former Stuart R. Paddock student, Gage B., was recently recognized for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout and was celebrated during a Court of Honor ceremony. Eagle Scout, also former SRP student, Ken T. served as master of ceremonies. Congrats!

• Walter R. Sundling student, Patrick S., won the local Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) competition for his business pitch. Patrick’s company idea, Streamy LLC, helps viewers of an online platform simplify their decision regarding what to watch on different streaming services. Congratulations, Patrick! We are very proud of you and your innovative idea.

• Gray M. Sanborn students, Ashwin P. and Vignesh P., each raised $3,215.30 for The American Heart Association, making them some of the top fundraisers for the state. Great work Ashwin and Vignesh!

• Former D15 student, Pavan P., was one of the distinguished graduates in the nation to receive the Presidential Scholar Award. Congratulations Pavan and good luck at Harvard!

The Advocate Children’s Hospital Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is scheduled for July 8, 2021, at Jane Addams (1020 E. Sayles Drive Palatine, IL). All services are provided at no cost for students covered by Medicaid or without insurance. They are unable to accept students with private insurance.

The federal Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary program that provides discounts of up to $50 a month for internet service at home. Participants also get a one-time discount of up to $100 for a device (purchased through a participating provider). A household can qualify if at least one member:

• Participates in a federal assistance programs like SNAP or Medicaid;

• Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school meal program;

• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or

• Lost a job or experienced a substantial loss of income during the pandemic
  
  

To apply for the EBB Program, fill out the required sections of this form. (Here is the application for EBB in English and in Spanish.)

District 15 is looking to fill support staff positions such as teacher aides, bus drivers, substitute teachers, and nutrition services workers. Full time teacher aides and bus drivers are offered comprehensive medical insurance coverage. Please reach out to either Chanell Lopez (lopezc@ccsd15.net) or Lisa Kreiss (kreissl@ccsd15.net) in Human Resources for more information and to join the D15 Team!

The Warrior Way Learning Center has continued into the summer. The program is funded through the 21st Century Grant in order to provide a safe place for students to access support with their academics as well as interact and socialize with other peers. Enrichment offerings are for the 7th and 8th graders at WCJH and are supported by community partners and the POC.

Campamento D15 just wrapped up a month of math, literacy, and STEM fun for bilingual students in grades K-7! Students learned about the science behind bubbles, built robots, made models of the earth, practiced key math skills, and did lots of summer reading. A good time was had by all and special thanks goes out to our D15 teachers who volunteered their time to make this month of learning possible for our students.

Families of all incoming Kindergarten, incoming fourth, and incoming seventh grade students are required to prove that they reside within District 15’s boundaries. Please review our residency webpage for information about how to prove residency. Proof of residency must be provided prior to the first day of school in August.

CCSD15 continues to offer meals to any child in the community 18 years and under at no cost all summer long. Each meal bag includes breakfast, lunch, fresh fruit, and milk for 5 days.

Pick up is available every TUESDAY through August 10th from 10:30 am-12:30 pm. Check out the district website for specific locations and times: www.ccsd15.net/menu.

• Aug. 11 - Board of Education Meeting
• Aug. 16 & 17 - Teacher Institute Days
• Aug. 18 - First Day of School for Grades 1-8
• Aug. 19 - First Day of School for Preschool & Kindergarten