Christian's Weekly Communication
Hybrid/Remote Planning- January 25, 2021
Dear Parents,
We are deeply entrenched in finalizing all of our safety and instructional plans for Hybrid learning. On this Monday and Tuesday (January 25th & January 26th) teachers will participate in Remote Learning Planning days in preparation for Hybrid and Remote learning. I’m committed to ensure our students, teachers, and parents have the necessary information in order to make a smooth transition to this “new” era in our learning/teaching experience. In order to provide consistent communication and thought, please join me for my “Conversations with Christian” event where you might get any and all answers to any questions you might have. Ms. Carr, Mr. Green, Mr. Lee and I look forward to seeing you this Wednesday.
Julian Families:
We are excited to be sharing more information with our students and families about the return to the building for the Hybrid Transition (whoop, woop!!). This Wednesday, January 27th, each AP will take the lead in walking their grade level students through a slide show helping students understand their role before school, during the school day, and after the in-person classes to make each day a success.
We look forward to kicking off this unique period of instruction with our staff and students.
· 6th Grade - 10:20 to 11:00am - Mr. Green's Advisory Assembly
· 7th Grade - 11:40 to 12:20pm - Mr. Lee's Advisory Assembly
· 8th Grade - 1:40 to 2:20pm - Ms. Carr's Advisory Assembly
Best wishes for a great weekend !!
Jerome Green, William Lee, and Chemaine Carr
Slight Schedule Change
Schedule Change
As we move toward our new learning experience, we are adjusting the first period of each day (1st & 8th periods). Class will officially begin at 9:15 during those class periods. This is being done to accommodate the following:
- Principal Christian, Assistant Principal’s & students will implement morning announcements via zoom and in person (as our hybrid learning experience begins).
- This time will also be used to ensure hybrid students are settled and prepared for their learning experience with their peers and virtual peers.
- This time will allow us to further build and solidify relationships with our students during these times of uncertainty.
Hybrid Learning Plan
Please see the schedule of the Hybrid Learning Plan below. Grade levels that are not learning via the hybrid model that specific week will keep their regular Remote Learning schedule. Once a grade level has completed their Hybrid Learning Plan weekly rotation, they will reconvene the regular Remote Learning schedule.
Health & Safety Procedures
As we move into the Hybrid Learning experience parents will need to complete a self-certification of their student before the school day. Temperature checks and self-certification will be a requirement before the school day begins. Students will also have their temperature checked at the door upon entering the school. If a parent fails to self-certify their student, their student will be escorted to a holding area of the school until the parent is reached to certify the student. Further explanatory information will be communicated in next weeks CWC.
Student Drop off and Pick up
Parents, students will be dropped off at specific locations during their Hybrid Learning plan week. A video and additional information will be communicated in next weeks CWC.
Notification of Self-Certification Process Per ISBE Return to School Requirement - CrisisGo
Here is a link to the CrisisGo website for the Safety iPass solution, https://safetyipass.crisisgo.com/safetyipass and link to their terms and conditions. We will begin to use this tool when students return on February 1 in compliance with ISBE regarding the self-certification process. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Michael Arensdorff at marensdorff@op97.org and Jim Hackett at jhackett@op97.org.
Remote Learning Requests
Please note that we are unable to accept requests to switch from remote learning to hybrid during Trimester 2. A new enrollment form will be sent to families in February for Trimester 3.
January 2021 Menus and Meal Distributions
January Breakfast/Lunch Menus
Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.
Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.
Mental Health Wellness Appointments for Students
District 97 school psychologists and nurses have collaborated to offer access to virtual mental health wellness checks at each school this fall. Parents may sign up children for 25-minute Telehealth sessions where they can access an open ear for their sources of stress and learn self-care and coping strategies. Students may attend up to three sessions per trimester and may then be referred for other school-based supports if needed.
To sign up or learn more about these services, please visit https://bit.ly/3m3Xece.
If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please do not use this service and instead call the Thrive 24-Hour Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide created by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township.