Marseilles Elementary Newsletter
January 18, 2022
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, January 18th- Early Dismissal @ 2:25pm
- Tuesday, January 18th- 8th Boys Basketball @ Sandwich 5:30pm
- Tuesday, January 18th- 7th & 8th Volleyball vs. Tonica 5:00pm
- Thursday, January 20th- Wrestling at Reed-Custer @ 4:30pm
- Thursday, January 20th- 7th and 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Oglesby @ 5:00pm
- Saturday, January 22nd- 7th Grade Boys' Basketball Regional TBA
- Monday, January 24th- 7th Grade Boys' Basketball Regional TBA
- Tuesday, January 25th- Early Dismissal @ 2:25pm
- Tuesday, January 25th- Wrestling vs. Prairie Central and Manteno @5:00pm
- Tuesday, January 25th- 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Volleyball at Waltham @ 5:00pm
- Thursday, January 27th- Scholastic Bowl Meet vs Wallace @ 4:00pm
- Thursday, January 27th- 6th Grade Volleyball vs. Rutland @ 5:00pm
- Thursday, January 27th- 7th & 8th Grade Volleyball at Milton Pope @ 5:00pm
- Monday, January 31st- 6th Grade Volleyball vs. Putnam County @ 5:00pm
Notes from the Office
Just as a reminder to make sure your child is prepared for the winter weather. We will be outside when the feel like temperature (the temperature with the wind chill) is 10 degrees or higher. Coats, hats and gloves/mittens are recommended with the cold weather. When snow falls, students will need snow pants and boots in order to play in the snow. If your child is in need of a coat, please communicate with the school. We will make sure your child has a winter coat.
If your child has received his/her vaccination, please make sure the school has a copy of the card. We use this information for contact tracing as it changes the process for exclusion and/or test to stay.
The CDC has updated guidance regarding COVID at school to align more with the general public as it relates to isolation and quarantine. Please see the flowchart below:
Important Information Regarding COVID, Lunch, Test to Stay and Extracurricular Activities
COVID AND MASKING
Even though guidance has changed and is allowing positive and close contacts to return after 5 days, please make sure masks are being worn appropriately (covering nose and under the chin). IDPH/ISBE has stressed that it is essential for everyone to properly wear their masks-- especially those returning from quarantine. Students not properly wearing their masks during the 10-day period could face being sent home to remote learning, with a return to school on day 11. We are asking parents to help reinforce the importance of wearing masks over the nose and under the chin.
LUNCH
Students returning to school from quarantine but under 10 days from isolation will be required to eat lunch in an alternate location in order to socially distance at least 6 feet from others. They will return to their regular lunch spot on Day 11. While in an alternate location, as soon as they finish eating, they will be able to go back into the lunchroom, fully masked, and sit with their peers until it is time to go to recess. We know this is not ideal, but are looking to keep students appropriately distanced while masks are removed for the safety of others.
TEST TO STAY
MES does offer Test to Stay for exposures in the school setting, pending the identified close contact is wearing his/her mask appropriately. Close contacts will now test two times- when they are identified as a close contact and between days 5 and 7. Per guidance, we will no longer allow students who are identified as a close contact during extracurriculars to test to stay. Please see additional information in the extracurricular activities information below.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Moving forward, any student athlete identified as a close contact during his/her extracurricular activity will not be eligible for Test-to-Stay and will need to be excluded from school for 5 days. After those 5 days, testing is recommended, but not required. Students will be able to practice, but will not be eligible to compete for at least 10 days from date of exposure. They will be fully released on day 11 to resume in normal practice and competition, pending no symptoms.
We have received many questions as it relates to athletics with recent changes. Please note the images below with guidance from IDPH and our local health department regarding Test to Stay Procedures. Here is the link to the entire document: https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/covid19/guidance/school/School%20Guidance%20Rapid%20POC%20Testing%20Update_20220112.pdf
If there are any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Donahue, Superintendent, at bdonahue@mes150.org, Ms. Dvorak, Principal, at cdvorak@mes150.org, Mrs. Mason, Nurse, at kmason@mes150.org or Mrs. Miskell, Health Aide, at cmiskell@mes150.org. You can always call the office at 815-795-2428 to speak to any of us.
Test To Stay Consent Form Now Electronic!
Please click on the link below to complete the form. If you have already returned a signed copy, we do have it on file, but you are welcome to still complete the form.
Illinois Youth Survey- 8th Grade Students Only
Each year, MES gives our 8th grade students a chance to help us better understand what is going on in their world. This anonymous survey covers different topics around school, bullying, drug and alcohol use and nutrition. Please see the flyer below for more information. This survey is completely voluntary, so if you do not want your 8th grader to participate, please click on the link, and get the form. https://iys.cprd.illinois.edu/UserFiles/Servers/Server_178052/File/2022/Parent%20Notification%202022%20English_0817.pdf
5 Essentials Survey is Open!
Beginning January 11th, students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school.
As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
To take the survey please visit Link to survey: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/
Select “Start Here”
County: La Salle (a space is needed between La and Salle)
School: Marseilles Elementary
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
· Effective Leaders
· Collaborative Teachers
· Involved Families
· Supportive Environments
· Ambitious Instruction
All teachers and 4thth through 12th grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for parents, students and teachers will be conducted January 11, 2022 and closes March 11, 2022.Junior Achievement Needs Your Help!
YMCA Still Has Space for Students After School at MES!
Times: Monday-Friday After School-5:30pm
Where Held at: Marseilles Elementary School (library)
Snacks will be provided
Registration Fees: $35 per child
Weekly and Daily rates will apply
Weekly attendance must be done the Friday before attending
For more information out scholarships or the program in general, please reach out to Guylene Strange @ the YMCA 815-433-2395 or guylenestrange@ottawaymca.org.
Calling All Kindergarteners!
Erin's Law Curriculum
Lunch Menu for Next Week- Please note changes below!
COVID Informational Letters
COVID Updates
In order to keep our students and staff safe, we plan to align our protocols and procedures with the most recent guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education, who developed their guidance with the CDC and IDPH.
If your child or anyone in the home is experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, please keep your child (and any siblings) home until you speak with our nurse. If any student(s) are in quarantine and would still like lunches and breakfasts, please email Terrie Spicer by 9:30am at tspicer@mes150.org.
Please call the attendance line to report the absence at 815-795-8795.
Symptoms include:
- Fever (100.4°F or higher),
- New onset of moderate to severe headache
- Shortness of breath
- New cough
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Please see the information below regarding testing locations for COVID. The document indicates where to test if you are symptomatic, asymptomatic or if you need to test for any other reasons. The document can also be found on the district website. If you are having any issues with testing, please reach out to the office at MES.
Marseilles Elementary School
Attendance line: 815-795-8795. Please indicate names of students and why they are out.
Main office: 815-795-2428
Email addresses (with link) can be found on the district website.
Please make sure you visit the MES website (https://mes150.org) for the most up-to-date information. Newsletters will be sent to you through TeacherEase as well as posted on the website. If you have not yet liked our Facebook page, check it out- Marseilles Elementary School District #150. Information is shared here as well as communicated through Class Dojo.
Email: cdvorak@mes150.org
Website: https://mes150.org
Location: 201 Chicago Street, Marseilles, IL, USA
Phone: 815-795-2428