Munhall Bulletin
March 13, 2020
Munhall Elementary School
Email: heather.miller@d303.org
Website: http://munhall.d303.org/
Location: 1400 South 13th Avenue
Phone: 331-228-2600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Munhall-Elementary-1459358344296891/
Twitter: @MunhallD303
Principal Note
Precautionary Measures—COVID-19
Yesterday a district communication was sent to inform parents of new procedures and protocols that are to go into effect immediately to reduce the likelihood of a Coronavirus outbreak in our school district community. Specific impacts on Munhall will be as follows:
· After School Enrichment for next week has been cancelled.
· Chess Club for this afternoon has been postponed. More information will follow regarding future Chess Club dates.
· The 3rd Grade/Band/Orchestra field trip to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra has been cancelled. More information will come regarding refunds.
· PTO Science Night for next Friday has been cancelled.
· At this time we will not be allowing parent volunteers. This includes Mystery Readers.
· Parent meetings will be done via phone, and will not take place inside the building.
· If parents come to pick up students, they will be asked to stay in the vestibule and a staff member will walk the student out.
These are truly unique times, but please know decisions are being made based on the safety and well-being of our students.
Please continue to follow the CDC Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Germs.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick; avoid others.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Lastly, we realize this is a stressful time for families. If you are looking for resources for talking with your children, the National Association of School Psychologists has parent resources online. Our emergency operations team is meeting frequently to monitor this evolving situation and update procedures as needed. We will keep you updated as health officials issue new guidance that impacts our schools.
Munhall Yearbooks
The yearbook committee is looking for photos, please see below for upcoming deadlines:
· March 20th - deadline for parents and teachers to submit photos to munhallyearbook@gmail.com
· April 4th - deadline for parents to order the yearbook and customize their 2 free custom pages.
Illinois Science Assessment
Our 5th grade students will participate in the ISA Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week. Additional information about the Illinois Science Assessment is provided below.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
Each year our 3rd-5th grade students participate in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. Munhall students will begin their testing window on Tuesday, April 7th. Although a testing schedule will be shared with all families once finalized, I want families to be aware of the start date due to the fact it begins the Tuesday after Spring Break. If your child will have a planned absence before or after Spring Break, please submit our district’s pre-arranged absence form to the main office. Being aware of planned absences will allow the school to schedule make-up testing efficiently. Pre-arranged absence forms can be found on the district website, but is also attached to this weeks E-News.
Please see information below from the Department of Assessment and Accountability regarding IAR:
March 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Students in grades 3 through 8 will be taking state tests in English/Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics between April 1 and April 30. This is the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). Information about this year’s test has been posted at: https://district.d303.org/departments/assessment. For sample questions please go to: https://il.digitalitemlibrary.com/home.
Additionally, students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are taking the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) across March and April. The Illinois Science Standards are based on the NGSS standards, and the ISA is designed to measure against those standards. For more information on Illinois’s vision of K12 Science
go to: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Science.aspx.
The specific testing days will be shared with you by your school.
Please encourage your child to give his or her best effort. As always, preparing your child for a good day at school begins with a good night of sleep and a nutritious breakfast.
These state tests are one of several ways student achievement is measured in CUSD 303. Your child’s daily school work, teacher feedback, and report cards are also important when determining overall school achievement. If you have any questions regarding your child’s performance, be sure to talk with your child’s teacher or principal.
You will also receive information about your child’s individual performance on these tests in the fall. School and district results will be reported on the Illinois School Report Card.
Sincerely,
David Chiszar
Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability
Have a great weekend!
Jarrod Buxton, Principal
Nurse Notes
Dear Parents,
The peak of the cold and flu season is upon us! Recently, the Nurses at Munhall Elementary have been caring for a number of students experiencing fevers and other cold like symptoms. We are also aware that some students are absent from school because they have been diagnosed with the flu and other influenza-like symptoms. During the months of October through April, each school in District 303 tracks influenza activity in cooperation with the Kane County Health Department. We consult with their staff to determine whether influenza activity in a school warrants additional follow up, and at this time, there is no additional interventions needed. Preventative measures remain the most effective way to reduce the spread of influenza.
Students who present to the Health Office with a fever or are feeling poorly are sent home. To prevent widespread flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:
Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:
Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough
Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
Headache
Mild stomach ache
Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:
Fever (greater than 100 degrees)
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Chills
General malaise or feelings of fatigue
Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough
Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose
To help prevent the flu and other illnesses, teach your children good hygiene habits:
Wash hands frequently
Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth
Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands
Avoid close contact with people who are ill
Colds are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until "fever free" for a minimum of 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication. A child who has started antibiotics needs to be on the medication for 24 hours before considered non-contagious and able to return to school. Keeping your ill child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.
Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible.