October 29, 2020

In this issue.…

• No School Oct. 30 and Nov. 3

• PRAT Update

• Covid Dashboard

• D41 to Consider Covid Saliva-Based Testing

• English Learning Annual Assessment

• Self Certification

• Food Pick Up

• Fall Fun and Feeding Families

• Opt in for Text Messages

• Get the D41 App

Friday, October 30 is a Remote Learning Planning Day (AM) and SIP Day (PM) and there will be no school (blended or remote). D41 schools will also be closed for Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. See the School Calendar HERE

Please Stay Safe D41: Wear a mask, watch your distance, avoid crowds, wash your hands, get your flu shot, and stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone else who has COVID-19.

The District 41 Pandemic Response Advisory Team (PRAT) provides weekly updates to the District 41 community.

Metrics Summary - Week 42 (10/11-10/17)
Return to school status: School is in session for both blended (Pre-K-2) and all remote students the week of 10/26-10/30.
Community Transmission: Substantial*

Notable DuPage County metric data for Week 42 (10/11-10/17):

● We are in the second week of substantial community transmission.

● There were 152 new cases per 100,000 people, up from 119 in Week 41.

● Test positivity increased to 7.6%, up from 6% in Week 41.

● Youth cases increased by 31.4% from Week 41 to 42.

● An increased number of tests were performed in Week 42 due to the admission of rapid antigen tests in the data starting on 10/15.

Notable Region 8 DuPage and Kane County metric data:

● As of 10/25, Region 8 percent positivity for 7-day rolling average is 9.6%

● Tier 1 mitigation for restaurants, bars, and gatherings have been in effect since 10/23. The mitigation measures do not affect schools.

● As of 10/28, the current Region 8 3-day rolling average hospital medical/surgical availability is at 28%. Intensive Care Unit bed availability is at 44%.

*The continued level of Substantial warrants re-evaluation and continued monitoring of community transmission trends. This data, as it affects District metrics, will be reviewed along with public health guidance from DuPage County Health Department on Friday, 10/30 when Week 43 data is released. A key data indicator are metrics that continue to worsen, stabilize, or decline.

For more detailed information, please view PRAT’s full State of the Metrics Report.

Important Covid-Related Resources:

• From IDPH Guidance on how to stay safe this Halloween

• Free Influenza vaccine voucher program for low income and uninsured DuPage County residents

• Community Face Mask Project by the DuPage Health Coalition for those who want to donate or are in need of masks

Click here for an updated D41 Reopening Plan. Please use this document as your main resource for the transition to in-person learning and for staying in the full remote model.

District 41 has created a dashboard as a way for the public to monitor both the number of positive covid cases reported for both students and staff as well as the number of people quarantined in the district due to a close contact with someone who has tested positive. The dashboard will be updated every Friday. Click Here for the dashboard.

At the Board of Education meeting this past Monday evening, the Board again discussed adding saliva-based covid testing as an additional mitigation measure for District 41. Testing experts and medical representatives have attended two Board meetings to answer Board questions and discuss the options. A special Board meeting has been scheduled for Monday, November 2 at 4 p.m. to hear about a third testing option. Tune in to the Board meeting to learn more.

All school districts in Illinois are required to annually assess English language proficiency of students who qualify for English learner (EL) services. The test ACCESS for ELs is normally administered in January and February of each school year. At this time, Illinois has not received permission to cancel ACCESS testing for 2021. Illinois school districts are still expected to test all their EL students with the ACCESS test. District 41 English learners who receive English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction remotely will be scheduled by appointment to come into their school to take the ACCESS test in person this winter. The test must be administered by a teacher in person. There is not a remote or online option for the ACCESS test. All recommended health and safety protocols will be followed during in person testing. More specific information about ACCESS testing and schedules will be shared in the upcoming weeks.

There are some new processes and procedures that go along with the transition back to in-person learning. In addition to wearing masks and keeping 6ft socially distanced, students who will be attending school in person will be required to self certify prior to arriving to school or boarding the bus every day.

AM Session

• Login to Skyward (app or desktop)

• Answer wellness check questions for each child before 7:45 a.m.

• If a child is not self certified upon arrival at school, staff will do the check and call parents.

PM Session

• Login to Skyward (app or desktop)

• Answer wellness check questions for each child before 12:15 p.m.

• If a child is not self certified upon arrival at school, staff will do the check and call parents.

How do I self certify?

Click here for a video tutorial about how to self certify in Skyward. Please self certify for each of your children who attend a District 41 school (click here for the tutorials in multiple languages)

What if we answer yes to any of the self certification questions?

If you answer yes to any of the questions presented in the self-certification wellness check, please do not send your child to school. Call the school office and inform them that your child is experiencing symptoms on the list. They will work with you and the school nurse to determine next steps. We appreciate your partnership in keeping the entire District 41 community safe and in school.

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District 41 continues to provide FREE meal service for all students enrolled at each of our schools as we would normally under the USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast programs.

Distribution of all meals take place EVERY WEDNESDAY at Hadley Junior High. Meals are not distributed at the elementary schools. Parents/guardians have the option of picking up food at one of two designated times, 6:30 - 7:45 am OR 11:30 - 12:30 pm, in a drive thru format in the front of Hadley.

Children do not need to be present for pick up. Children will be provided with 5 days of breakfasts and lunches to take with them wherever they may be learning.

For the latest updates visit www.d41foodandnutrition.org. If you are unable to come to pick up at either of these times, please contact Tess Ngo at tngo@d41.org

The Food and Nutrition Services staff had some fun yesterday at food pick up. Dressed in costume the staff handed out 373 meal packs and delivered 77 meal bags to homes, totaling 450 meal bags (5 breakfast and 5 lunches)! That is a total of 4,500 meals! Families were also provided mini pumpkins for each child.

Coming up for the holidays, frozen take and bake holiday meal boxes will be available. The boxes will contain 7 days worth of meals to cover the days in which the students will not be in over the Thanksgiving week (in addition to the regular meal packs). Food services anticipates doing something similar over the winter holiday break. All these meals are federally funded.

Thank you to our Food and Nutrition Services team!

District 41 will use text messaging to share timely information and emergency communications. You can now opt in to receive these important text messages from District 41. Text Y or Yes to 67587.

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Stay connected with District 41 by downloading our app! Download the app on Android or iPhone. Make sure to enable the notifications feature to receive the most up to date information.