Monroe Memo 8/29/2020
Mrs. Reingruber's Weekly Update
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Principal's Post
The entire Monroe School staff is excited to welcome our students back to school on Tuesday, September 8th. Whether you have selected the in-person hybrid or remote model of instruction, our dedicated staff has worked tirelessly in preparation for providing your child with a warm and supportive welcome back to Monroe School! Over the past weeks, we have continued to work hard to apply various recommendations that will allow for a safe and healthy return to school. We are extremely thankful for the support, understanding, and flexibility that our families have shown during this challenging time. As we continue to persevere together, I know we will make this upcoming school year one of positivity, growth, and success!
Monroe’s systematic and collaborative approach to classroom instruction and intervention will continue to provide each child with a learner-centered education that facilitates individual growth. The Monroe staff will continue to work in tandem with families, children, and community members to foster a learning environment in which students’ intellectual, social, and emotional development are interconnected and integrated into activities across the rigorous curriculum. Our team takes great pride in fostering a strong sense of community and teamwork through the relationships that have been developed with all of our stakeholders. We look forward to tackling new challenges and adventures together this school year!
Please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the updated return-to-school procedures listed below to best prepare you and your child for the upcoming school year. While this message is extensive in nature, clear communication and guidance will best prepare all of us for a return to school that will look slightly different than the past. Feel free to take a safe and socially distant walk around our school grounds to help familiarize yourself and your child(ren) with these new procedures prior to the start of school, as establishing a clear routine will only help your child with their transition back to school.
As always, do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have regarding our return to school. We are bursting with anticipation and excitement to see everyone again very soon!
Your partner in education,
Mrs. Kristin Reingruber
Monroe School Principal
Upcoming Events
- REMOTE student supply pickup - see below for details
Friday, September 4th
- REMOTE student supply pickup - see below for details
Tuesday, September 8th
- First day of school for both AM/PM Hybrid AND Parallel Remote learners
Health and Safety Protocols
District 181 has released videos to help remind our families of the health and safety protocols that are being implemented as we embark on a safe return to school. Per the D181 reopening plan, face masks will be required for all students and staff while in attendance at D181 schools. Students will be provided with TWO reusable cloth face masks AND a lanyard that they will be able to clip to their mask and use during mask breaks. Please take a few moments to watch the following videos to learn more about our safe and healthy approach to our return to school.
Class Placement Information
An email will be sent to all families early this coming week with information on how to view your child(ren)’s homeroom teacher information in the Skyward Family Access Portal.
School Day
Hybrid AM Session - 8:30-11:10 a.m.
Hybrid PM Session - 12:30-3:10 p.m.
Student Arrival will begin daily at 8:25 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. Please do not drop your child(ren) off before this time as we do not have adult supervision prior to these times.
Student Dismissal will begin at 11:10 and 3:10 p.m.
We recognize the need for appointments and understand that situations may arise that require you to pick your child up early from school. We ask that you please try your best to schedule appointments OUTSIDE of the school day and not pick your child up early from school, as to not disrupt the learning process.
For the remote portion of the day for our hybrid learners, asynchronous learning opportunities will be provided to students via Seesaw (K-2) and Google Classroom (3-5). More information will be provided by teachers prior to the start of school.
FULLY REMOTE Learners - 8:30-11:10 a.m. and 12:30-3:10 p.m.
- Your child will receive a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities via Seesaw (K-2) and Google Classroom (3-5). More information will be provided by teachers prior to the start of school.
REVISED Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Drop off and pick up is allowed for students on Madison or Monroe Street. We do have a supervised car line along Madison Street.
If you use our Madison Street car line, please stay in your vehicle and keep moving forward in the line. There is no unattended vehicle parking on Madison Street between 8:15-8:45, 11:15-12:30, and 2:45-3:15.
On either Madison or Monroe, please use your blinkers and help us keep traffic moving by dropping off quickly. During pick up, please do not double park and wave your child through parked cars – this is very dangerous and the Hinsdale Police will issue tickets.
If you do walk or park in the surrounding neighborhood, please be respectful of our neighbors and community by following posted traffic laws, not blocking driveways, and staying on the sidewalk while walking to and from school.
If you must drop off in the parking lot, please do so along the curb. Please keep traffic moving. Do not pull into any parking spaces or other lanes of the lot to drop off students. Please mind the directions given by our supervising staff and crossing guards, as their number one priority is the safety of our students and families.
Please observe all posted traffic signage - No Left Turn into the parking lot, Right Turn Only out of the lot, and NO PICKUP IS ALLOWED IN THE PARKING LOT AFTER SCHOOL.
Due to increased safety measures, our arrival and dismissal procedures needed to be slightly altered to keep cohorts of students together and safely distanced both inside and outside. While we realize this will be a change, and might result in families needing to use different entry/dismissal doors, it is the safest way to allow our students to follow 6ft social distancing guidelines while entering and exiting the building.
Signage will be posted near each grade level door and staff will be outside to help guide your child(ren) into the building and find their appropriate classrooms. In addition, grade level lines and social distance markers will mark locations for students to stand while waiting to enter the building. Entry and exit doors were chosen to allow students to enter the doors closest to their assigned classrooms and minimize any exposure to different cohorts of students.
At this time, our students will report directly to their assigned doors on the first day of school. Due to social distancing guidelines, we WILL NOT be meeting as a school on the playground on the first day of school. Please do not congregate with your child(ren) or groups of adults on the school grounds during arrival and dismissal, as we are working diligently to ensure safe social distancing guidelines are adhered to at all times.
Please refer to the labeled map and outline below for assigned arrival and dismissal locations:
Arrival Guidelines - Red dots have been spray painted to represent six-foot social distancing at each entrance point. Please reiterate the importance of social distancing with your child(ren), as there may not be enough dots for each child and they may need to estimate this distance while standing in line.
Kindergarten - students will line up on the blacktop outside of their kindergarten classroom door.
First Grade - students will line up outside the main entrance off of the parking lot.
Second Grade - students will line up outside the breezeway door on the WEST side of the building.
Third Grade - students will line up outside the central entrance doors of the building along Madison Street. Students SHOULD NOT stand on the stairs while awaiting entrance to the building.
Fourth Grade - students will line up outside the SOUTH tower of the building along Madison Street. Students SHOULD NOT stand on the stairs while awaiting entrance to the building.
Fifth Grade- students will line up outside the NORTH tower of the building along Madison Street. Students SHOULD NOT stand on the stairs while awaiting entrance to the building.
Dismissal Guidelines
Bus Riders - Dismissed FIRST
Students will be dismissed by grade level to allow for a socially distanced dismissal in the hallways.
Students will line up in the gym and be dismissed to the bus as a small group.
Walkers/Car Riders - Dismissed SECOND
All walkers/car riders will be dismissed from their assigned grade level door (see above)
If your child is walking home with a sibling, please work with your family to determine an appropriate meeting spot PRIOR to the first day of school.
Staff will be at each location to monitor students and ensure students are appropriately socially distantanced.
Please talk to your child(ren) about expectations for walking both to and from school. Students will be supervised on school grounds - no group gatherings will be allowed. However, it is important to discuss maintaining a safe and appropriate social distance as they walk to and from school.
Car riders will be directed to stand socially distanced on a space along the front sidewalk on Madison to wait for their ride.
In the case of inclement weather, students will wait socially distanced indoors.
EACH family will be provided with a display card on the first day of school. Please make sure to CLEARLY display your family display card in your windshield on the CURBSIDE so that we can effectively and efficiently dismiss your child(ren).
Supervisory staff will be calling to dismiss your child(ren) once you are in the car line and your family display card is visible.
On the first day of school, dismissal supervisors will ask for your last name and child’s grade level and will dismiss in the same manner. Thank you for your patience, as this process may take a few extra minutes on the first day.
Health Information
For the specific groups listed below, please either email or deliver your health forms to the Monroe School office prior to the start of school. Forms should be directed to the attention of the Monroe School nurse, Laura Byrne lbyrne@d181.org
Kindergarten Students
Physical Exam form (parents please complete the yes/no questions on the back and sign and date)
Dental Exam form (completed on or after Nov 15th, 2019 is acceptable)
Eye Exam form (dated within one year of the first day of school)
Second Grade Students
Dental Exam form (completed on or after Nov 15th, 2019 is acceptable)
Students new to D181
REVISED Visitors Procedure
There is a camera and a speaker at our front entrance. You will need to state your name and your business when entering the vestibule. Due to health concerns, we are not granting access to visitors to our building at this time. The secretary will speak with you through the speaker and provide you with additional information.
Monroe School Communication
Monroe School and District 181 utilize email as a main source of communication. One major mode of communication that we use at Monroe School is our weekly Monroe Memo. We are also thankful for our AMAZING PTO and their weekly NEWSBYTES emails as well. Please look for our Monroe Memo each week, as the PTO will continue to embed this update in their weekly Newsbytes email.
To ensure you receive all of our communications, please make sure your phone numbers and email addresses are up to date with the Monroe School office.
Additionally, we utilize Twitter (@monroelearns) to celebrate the learning taking place at Monroe School. Please check these sources regularly for up-to-date information and to learn more about the exciting things going on at Monroe School!
School Supplies
Thank you to the Monroe PTO for hosting a supply box pickup at Monroe School this past week! If you are still in need of school supplies, you can find our supply lists on our website.
Additionally, our teachers will be providing further detailed communications about what specific supplies they would like returned to school for students participating in our hybrid model. Grade levels are working out specific procedures that will work for their students and families, so please be on the lookout for communication from your child’s homeroom teacher soon!
FULLY REMOTE STUDENTS - Materials Pickup
We are in the process of assembling materials for our students who have chosen the full remote learning option and will be hosting a socially distant and contact-free pickup on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD from 5:00pm-6:00pm and FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH from 9:00am-11:00am.
Remote learning families should enter the Monroe School parking lot during one of the available times listed above. Please display your child(ren)’s first and last name and grade(s) in your passenger side vehicle window. As you arrive, remain in your car and open your trunk or side door so that our volunteers may place the remote learning kits safely inside your vehicle. This pickup is only for our students who have selected the FULL REMOTE LEARNING option for this school year.
Monroe PTO
Check out the Monroe School PTO’s website for more information about the upcoming year and for a link to join the PTO!
2020-2021 SELAS Theme
Our staff is in the process of creating a video to share with our families to launch this year's theme - stay tuned!
Monroe School Mustangs
Email: kreingruber@d181.org
Website: https://www.d181.org/monroe
Location: 210 North Madison, Hinsdale, IL
Phone: (630) 861-4200
Twitter: @monroelearns