Happy 2022!! I hope all of our Corron families had a restful holiday season. While mine was quieter than usual, it was nice to spend some downtime with my family. We played some games, watched movies, and I read some books that have been on my list for a while. It is always nice to have time to reset from our busy schedules!

I know many parents were anxious about sending their children back given the rise in Covid cases in the area. Please be assured that we are continuing to follow all of our safety protocols to ensure that students stay healthy. I have asked teachers to review mask expectations with their classes as well. Our number one priority is to ensure that all students and staff members stay healthy as we head into the second half of our year.

Chris Balaskovits

Christine.Balaskovits@d303.org

We are in need of a crossing guard for Thornwood Way and Thornwood Drive. Our previous guard left for another position. The police department has been able to assist this week but will not be able to help moving forward. Please see the posting on the district website if you are interested in the position.

Winter weather always makes drop off and pick up times a bit more challenging for staff and parents. Here are a few reminders that will help our flow of traffic and keep everyone safe as well.

• If you choose to park in the lot, please walk your child to the sidewalk using the crosswalk only. Please only park in designated spots - do not pull up in the middle of a lane. This blocks other parents from entering and exiting spots.

• Students will be allowed to exit and enter their cars in the designated area (yellow zone) as long as there is no snow piled up. It is a safety hazard to have students climb over snow to get in the car.

• Please do not exit the car if you are using the drop off lane. If your child needs assistance getting in or out of the car, you will need to park and walk them up.

• Please be patient and courteous with staff and other parents. We have 540 students to get in and out each day. We need to work together to make it as safe and seamless as possible!

I have received some questions this week regarding responsibility for snow removal for the sidewalks adjacent to the school. We have worked with the South Elgin Park District, the HOA and the district to determine a plan for clearing all areas that families use to walk to school. The school district will be taking on the responsibility of clearing the sidewalks on Thornwood Way and Thornwood Drive for the remainder of the year. The path and the areas in back of the school will be taken care of by the park district.

Monday, January 10

Board of Education meeting at 7:00 pm

Tuesday, January 11

Picture retakes at school

Monday, January 17

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, January 18

School Improvement Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Wednesday, January 26

Early release day for elementary students at 2:10 pm

(AM kindergarten released at 10:30 am)

The School Board has approved an E-Learning plan that gives the district the option to offer remote learning in place of emergency days. Currently, our last day of school is Tuesday, May 24, which is the week before Memorial Day. As we move into the winter months, we want to update you on the plan for how the district will manage emergency days and e-learning days.

• If we experience inclement weather, the first three days will be “snow days” that will be made up at the end of the school year on May 25, 26, and 27 as needed.

• Subsequent emergency days will be remote days so the last attendance day will still be before Memorial Day.

• If there is a long stretch of inclement weather (blizzard, polar vortex, etc.), we may split the days into “snow days” and e-learning days so as to not have too many non-attendance days in a row.

Do you have a friend, neighbor or relative who has a nursing license

and is looking for work?

A D303 substitute nurse has a flexible schedule, an opportunity use their nursing skills

and work in any of our 18 district school buildings.

Many former D303 substitutes have gone on to become district employees.

Please share the following contact information:

Juanita Gryfinski, Dept Chair, D303 Health Services at 331-228-3834 or juanita.gryfinski@d303.org

Kristen Pozna, District Substitute Coordinator at 331-228-4924 or kristen.pozna@d303.org.