Weekly Communique
February 26, 2021
Thoughts from Dr. Pacatte
Federal Government Reaffirms Testing Requirements
Despite receiving requests from individual state Departments of Education (including Illinois) and petitions from superintendents across the country, the United States Department of Education has upheld the mandate to conduct standardized testing this spring. This will include ACCESS testing for our second language learning students, the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) for grades 3-8, and Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) for grades 5 & 8 only. All of these tests are slated to take place during the 4th quarter of the school year.
The ACCESS test is administered in small groups and will require parents to bring their student to the school, by appointment, if they are not participating in the hybrid program. We await direction from the State for implementation of the IAR and ISA. If at all possible, we will administer the IAR/ISA exams simultaneously to students in school and at home through their iPad. Depending upon the grade level, the student may be required to take as many as 9 individual exams in Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. It is possible, however, that the State will not allow the exams to be given outside of the school setting. Should that be the case, the District will need to design testing and instructional schedules that could alter our existing programming and schedules in order to create testing time for students in Remote Learning to come to school and test.
I remain hopeful that the State agency will condense the number of exams being required and still meet the federal guidelines, while minimizing the amount of instructional time lost due to testing. More information regarding any changes and our testing dates will be forthcoming.
Returning to Hybrid Program
Please remember the next opportunity to have your children participate in the Hybrid Program begins with the start of the 4th Quarter, Monday, April 5. Parents need to contact their child’s school to notify them of your intent to return by Friday, March 19, 2021. If you have questions, please reach out to your school.
D56 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
At the start of the new calendar year (January), our school district will begin to formalize the work surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. A focus on this area began three years ago and it is now time to create opportunities to dig deeper into specific components of our work in these areas. A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is being developed to support this work by identifying needs, goals and opportunities for growth and development.
An overview of the proposed DEI Committee’s work is found below.
Tier I: Identify needs, goals, and opportunities for growth and development
Education & Research
Assessing Current Climate and Culture of the District
Tier 2: Develop sub-committees to narrow the focus of committed participants
Community, Students, and Staff
Curriculum & Instruction
Policy Guidance and Operations
Tier 3: Create timelines and action plans for this work
Tweet of the Week
#d56achieves
Kindergarten Crew 2021-2022
Update Schedule for the Viking Bookmobile
River Trail School NJHS Fundraising
Lunch Pickup Schedule for March 2021
Chicken Dance at Spaulding School
Mrs. Oakley's Kindergarten Students
Building Numbers
Warren-Newport Public Library is Preparing to Welcome You Back!
Gurnee Demons Girls Basketball
Warren Township Youth & Family Services
Get Help Paying Rent and Utilities
If you're a Lake County resident and need help paying rent or utility bills because you've lost income due to COVID-19, you are encouraged to apply for the Lake County COVID Housing Relief Program (CHRP).
Applying is easy—simply dial 211 from your phone or text your zip code to 898211, and you will be connected with someone who can help.
ComEd assistance: ComEd offers several different programs for individuals and small businesses experiencing financial hardship to receive assistance with their electric bill payments. To learn more, visit ComEd.com/Support.
Food for Families in Need
Information from CDC
Gurnee School District 56
Email: returningstudent@d56.org
Website: www.d56.org
Location: 3706 West Florida Avenue, Gurnee, IL, USA
Phone: 847-336-0800
Twitter: @GurneeD56