We are so thankful for all of our Henry students and families and we truly wish we can celebrate the holidays with each and everyone of you. This year, Thanksgiving will be very different given that most of us won't be able to gather with our loved ones to celebrate. We want to ensure that everyone stays safe and follows the CDC guidelines during the holidays. Please check out for some holiday ideas in our newsletter this week that you can do with your family near and far during this Thanksgiving.

Remember that remote learning this week will be on Monday and Tuesday.

Wishing our Henry Families a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Principal Gutierrez

Safe Thanksgiving Holiday Activities

Henry Attendance Update

CPS Reopening Plan Update

Summit Learning Parent Workshop Video

Henry Hawk Weekly Update Videos

Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Maggie Garfinkel

Family Remote Learning Support

North River Commission: Housing Assistance & Covid-19 Health and Testing Resources

Henry School Overall Attendance: 94.22%. (Goal is to be above 95%)

Attendance by Grades as of 11/21/20

Kindergarten: 91.77%

1st Grade: 94.39%

2nd Grade: 94.06%

3rd Grade: 95.39%

5th Grade: 91.13%

6th Grade: 95.57%

7th Grade: 93.96%

8th Grade: 93.86%

Congratulations to our 4th Grade Students who have the highest attendance percentage to date!

Please remember to be online everyday during Remote Learning.

We know that the best place for your child to learn is in the classroom, and we have been working tirelessly to prepare our buildings to welcome students and staff back to school. Following the guidance of our public health officials, we are planning to begin opening our school buildings for families who choose to return following winter break. Students enrolled in pre-k and moderate and intensive cluster programs will have the option to return on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, and students in K-8 will be able to return on Monday, Feb. 1. High school students who learn in general education settings will continue learning at home, and we will continue to evaluate options for a return to in-person learning for those students in 2021.

To prepare for the safe return to school buildings, families of children who are eligible to return will be contacted later this month to understand their preferred learning setting following winter break.

For more information please visit https://www.cps.edu/school-reopening-2020/

Letter from District English and Spanish

Hello Henry Families,

It may be challenging at times, especially with Thanksgiving looking different this year, but it’s important to find time to express gratitude and share what you are thankful for this year. Showing gratitude has many benefits too. A few are:

1. Improved sleep

2. Higher energy levels

3. Lower levels of stress or sadness

4. Longer life

Here are some questions you can ask your children, or think about for yourself, to have a conversation about thankfulness and gratitude:

· Who is someone you could say “thank you” to today? And why?

· If you had to give anyone in the world your piggy bank, who would you give it to and why?

· If you had to leave your house for a long time, what three things would you grab on your way out?

· What is something you’d like someone to tell YOU “thank you” for?

· How can you be thankful even when we’re upset?

· When is a good time to tell someone “thank you”?

· How does it make you feel when someone does something really nice for you?

· How does it make you feel when you do something really nice for someone else

As a reminder, I want to make sure this information is meeting your needs, so please complete this survey as soon as you can:

https://forms.gle/prcQxhWfVn8Kojqi6

If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. The best way to reach me is by email: mgarfinkel@cps.edu

Happy Thanksgiving,

Mrs. Garfinkel

Maggie Garfinkel, LPC, NCC

School Counselor

Henry Elementary School

With a new wave of COVID-19 surging across the state of Illinois and the nation, the state is committed to listening to public health experts and following the science to keep people safe. Tier 3 builds on the Resurgence Mitigation Plan first released in July to suppress the spread of the virus and ensure our hospitals do not become overrun. This new tier aims to limit gatherings and encourages people to stay home to the greatest extent possible, while permitting some industries to remain open at significantly reduced capacities with proper safety measures in place. All detailed Phase 4 operational guidance remains in effect. Where Phase 4 guidance and Tier 3 Mitigations imply different standards, the more restrictive Tier 3 Mitigations will apply. School districts and local officials should follow extensive guidance released by IDPH and ISBE in August and make decisions related to in-person and remote learning at the local level, based on the unique needs of their communities. Child care facilities may continue to operate subject to DCFS guidelines.

With COVID-19 spread now exponential in every region of the state, our statewide positivity rate at record highs and hospitalizations already surpassing our Spring peak, all 11 regions moved into Tier 3 effective November 20, 2020 at 12:01am.

For more information please visit https://covid19-illinoisgov.cs32.force.com/coronavirus/s/restore-illinois-mitigation-plan

NHS Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program is OPEN and accepting applications, first come-first serve basis!

Chicago's office of Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) is administering Covid relief applications and support to qualifying owners on a first-come, first-serve basis. This grant program is intended for Chicago residents whose households have been impacted by the economic fallout from COVID-19, including people who have lost their jobs due to being laid-off or furloughed, as well as people who have retained their jobs but have had their hours or wages severely reduced.

Please note:

• The maximum grant assistance amount will be $3,300.
• The level of assistance will be determined by the amount needed to bring your mortgage current.
• If you have a loan from the Veterans Administration (VA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or an FHA-insured mortgage, you are not eligible for this grant.
• If you previously received a housing assistance grant from NHS or the City of Chicago in April of 2020, you are not eligible for this grant

• Swedish Hospital's drive-through testing tent is in the parking lot at Galter LifeCenter.
  • Call: 773-907-7700 or go online for more information.
• Pharmacy One Plus COVID nasal swab test and antibody testing is free for uninsured clients and covered by those with insurance at 4751 N. Kedzie Ave, 2nd Floor.
  • Schedule an appointment via email or their Facebook page.
  • pharmacyone@curishealthcare.org.
• Heartland Health Centers is offering FREE COVID-19 testing for those that are uninsured, regardless of immigration status. Call 773-751-7800 for an appointment. They will then do a TeleHealth appointment (phone or video) to see if they recommend testing and schedule a test at 1300 W. Devon.
  • For the most up-to-date information, please visit: www.heartlandhealthcenters.org/coronavirus/
• Physicians Immediate Care, Six Corners at 4211 N Cicero Ave. Curbside COVID-19 testing for anyone with symptoms. Website.
• Erie Family Health Centers is also offering FREE COVID-19 testing for those that are uninsured. Call 312-666-3494 and let Erie know you want to be tested. You will have to chat with an Erie healthcare provider before scheduling a testing time. More information here.
  • Erie Helping Hands: 4747 North Kedzie Ave.
  • Erie Foster Ave: 5215 N. California, 7th Floor
• Prism Health Lab is providing FREE outdoor COVID-19 testing at 2322 W. Peterson, Monday - Friday, 9am - 1pm and 4pm -7pm. Visit their website for more information and to make an appointment.

• Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy (2850 W. 24th Blvd.) - Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm
• Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy (2231 N Central Ave.) - Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm
• Gately Park (744 E. 103rd St.) - Mon./Wed./Fri., 10am - 4pm
• Check out daily mobile testing sites here.