Eagle Nation News
2nd Quarter Learning Model Update: October 2nd, 2020
Updates and Changes to 2nd QTR Learning Model
Good Morning, Eagle Nation,
We want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the challenges and inconveniences that COVID-19 has presented us with this school year. Our goal, as always, is to keep you updated with changes. The Board of Education voted unanimously last night to move to full in-person learning in grades K-5 beginning October 26th. K-5 students will now attend every day, Monday-Friday, with Fridays being a 1/2 day. Our PreK students will continue with 4 days a week of instruction, Monday-Thursday, due to transportation logistics. In addition, our 6-12 students will attend a 1/2 day on alternating Fridays, based on their hybrid schedule. Due to these changes and our having pushed back the start of the year by one week already, our 1st QTR will now end on October 23rd. Please know that this decision was just made last night and more detailed information will come next week after we have time to plan further with our administration and staff across the district.
The Board's decision does not affect students who are participating in Remote Learning. Students that are participating in Remote Learning will be able to choose, in the coming weeks, whether they want to return after 1st semester. These students will not be able to return prior to the semester.
We are committed to working as a team to welcome our students back in the safest manner possible and keeping the health and welfare of our students and staff the priority. We will be reviewing and updating our Return to Learn Plan for the district, to ensure we have the appropriate precautions in place based on the latest guidance from health officials.
There are some important notes we want to share with you immediately as we work to bring our students back for more in-person learning while also planning for more robust instruction in grades 6-12 on remote learning days. More detailed communication will be provided in the near future.
- Students will be socially distanced, to the greatest extent possible, but we will not always be able to maintain 6 feet of separation.
- Students in some grade levels (K-5) may be moved to different teachers' classrooms to ensure that we have balanced class sizes and as we work to minimize class sizes for safety reasons.
- Parents will be given the opportunity in grades K-5 to move from in-person learning to remote learning but will choose to do so for the remainder of the semester.
- Students currently receiving remote instruction will continue to do so until the end of the semester.
Within our buildings, we will continue to implement the following protocols to protect the health and safety of our students, staff, and families:
All students and staff will continue to complete a health screening before coming to school or work.
Seating charts continue to be utilized to ensure contact tracing can occur if needed in the event of a positive or probable COVID-19 case.
Students and staff will continue to be frequently reminded about the importance of proper handwashing, utilizing hand sanitizer. In addition, the district is looking to purchase handwashing stations at the K-5 level.
Students in grades PreK-12 and all staff members will continue to be required to wear face coverings.
Schools will continue to be cleaned daily, deep cleaned when we are notified of a positive case of COVID-19, and deep cleaned prior to the following week.
As we bring students back in grades K-5, expect that more students may be quarantined due to close contact or other factors mandated by IDPH (see chart below). We are asking our parents to be understanding when these situations occur due to our inability to stay 6 feet apart at all times.
If you prefer that your K-5 child transition to remote learning due to the change to all students attending every day and your comfort level with that decision, please complete this survey by October 9th. https://forms.gle/WRdjKReTaR2UUVAN9
In an attempt to give our building teams time to plan and prepare for these changes, October 9th will be a Planning/PD Day for our staff and students will not be in attendance and will not be expected to work remotely.
Please know that we hear and appreciate everyone's concerns and varied positions regarding our learning model for the District. We remain committed to reaching our vision of "Achievement for All". We also understand that each family has their own unique and personal situations at home to consider and that this change may present new challenges for you as parents and we do not take that lightly. Our amazing teams in each building will work with you, as we have always done, to do what is best for our students.
Let's remember to lift one another up, give each other grace during this time, and work to remain positive in what is a very trying situation for all involved. We thank all of our stakeholders as we work through these difficult decisions and we appreciate your continued patience and flexibility as we work together for the collective good of our students and staff.
Respectfully,
Jill Griffin, Ed.D
Superintendent
Reminder: Updated Health Guidelines
Bethalto Community Unit District #8
Email: return@bethalto.org
Website: https://www.bethalto.org/
Location: 101 School Street, Bethalto, IL, USA
Phone: 6183777200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BethaltoSchools/
Twitter: @BethaltoSchools