Christian's Weekly Communication
February 16, 2021
Student Highlights & Celebrations
Student Celebrations (Tomorrow Morning)
Tomorrow morning, during our morning announcements, we will share our new Student Celebration & Highlight Video. Our announcements are planned to end no later 9:15 a.m. Please ensure that your student is logged on to this zoom link for our regularly scheduled morning announcements.
But
Because I know that most parents, guardian's and students are currently watching the snow...I decided to include it here as well. See below! Students, enjoy!
IMPORTANT DATES
- Feb 15 - Presidents Day - No Student Attendance
- Feb. 18: Parent Circle Series (Session 1), 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- Feb 18 - Trimester 3 Learning Selection form due by 10pm
- Feb 25 - Half Day Student Attendance (A Day), Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Feb 26 - Half Day Student Attendance (B Day)
8th Grade Hybrid/Remote Learning, this week!
8th Grade Information Night Recording (please enter passcode- x?UD1oB0)
8th Grade Hybrid/Remote Presentation
Conversations with Christian Presentation
Important Reminders:
- All School announcements for all students begin at 9am
- 8th grade schedule begins at 9am and ends at 12:40 p.m.
- SST (Student Support Time, formerly known as "office hours" begin at 1:50-2:20 p.m.)
- Students should complete synchronous and asynchronous assignments
Trimester 3 Learning Selection Form Due by Feb. 18 at 10 p.m.
District 97 will continue to offer hybrid learning during Trimester 3. This means that families must choose to enroll their students in either 1) on-site learning or 2) full-time remote learning. All families must complete the Trimester 3 Learning Selection Form for each student in their household by 10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021.
Your selection will apply to Trimester 3, which begins Monday, March 15, and goes through the last day of school, June 10. Students who select remote learning will not be able to switch to on-site learning once the form closes. If we do not receive a student’s form by the end of the day Feb. 18, they will default to their learning selection for Trimester 2.
Click here to access the form and additional information about Trimester 3 >
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent-to-Parent Circle Series - Feb. 18, March 18, April 29
D97 to Host Virtual Parent-to-Parent Circle Series
District 97 families are invited to join our upcoming Virtual Parent-to-Parent Series, which will be facilitated in partnership with the E-Team of Oak Park. Events will be held:
- Thursday, Feb. 18, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Thursday, March 18, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 29, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The sessions are designed to build community among District 97 parents and guardians and provide support as we navigate hybrid learning. The intention is for parents/guardians to attend all three sessions to help build a consistent community, but if you cannot make the first session you may still attend the others. Please let us know your availability in the registration form so that we can plan accordingly.
The deadline to register is Tuesday, Feb. 16. To sign up, please visit https://bit.ly/D97ParentCircles.
COVID-19 Travel Guidance
Travel increases the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for our students, staff and community. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. The Cook County Department of Public Health recommends that residents avoid all non-essential activities, including school and work, for 14 days upon their return to suburban Cook County. If staff, students or families travel out of state for more than 24 hours, they should not report to school. The district's quarantine requirements are outlined in our Framework for Reopening Schools.
FLYER: COVID-19 and Travel Guidance for District 97 Students and Staff >
February 2021 Menus and Meal Distributions
February 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.
D97 Fact Checker
Oak Park District 97 is committed to providing accurate and timely information. Our new Fact Checker will be updated consistently based upon common questions and concerns to ensure you have access to the key facts that interest you most.
Responding to a Positive COVID-19 Case/When to Stay Home
Responding to a Positive COVID-19 Case
In the event that a District 97 student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they must immediately notify their school nurse so they can initiate our response protocols and begin contact tracing. In an abundance of caution, the school will place the affected classroom in an adaptive pause for 14 calendar days, meaning students will participate in remote learning. We will also notify the school community via email, and information will be updated weekly on the District 97 COVID-19 dashboard. Click here to view our COVID-19 response procedures >
When to Stay Home from School/Work
We ask that our entire District 97 community help keep our schools safe by adhering to our COVID-19 guidelines. This includes students/staff staying home if they:
- Are feeling sick
- Have tested positive for COVID-19
- Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
- Are a close contact of a positive/probable COVID-19 case
- Have traveled for more than 24 hours out of state.
Winter Weather/Emergency Closing Information for 2020-21
Winter Weather - Emergency Closing Information
Winter is here and that means there may be times when District 97 schools close due to weather-related conditions or other emergency situations. We make every effort to keep our schools open, but circumstances beyond our control sometimes make it unsafe for our students or staff to get to school safely.
New this year: Rather than closing school on days when it would be unsafe for students and staff to get to school, we will notify our employees and students’ families that the district will have a Remote Learning Day. Because all of our students are already equipped with iPads or Chromebooks, making the temporary shift to remote learning should be fairly seamless. This also means that there will be no need to extend the school year further into summer to make up for lost days.
Whenever possible, District 97 will seek to make and communicate decisions regarding weather-related closings by approximately 8 p.m. the day before. This will include notifying stakeholders if the forecast or conditions warrant additional monitoring prior to making a final decision. If the forecast changes or conditions deteriorate after 8 p.m., we will let people know about the status of classes and/or afterschool activities no later than 5:30 a.m. the next day. Visit our Emergency School Closing Information webpage for more information.
Cold Weather Reminders
With frigid temperatures expected in the Chicago area over the next week, we also wanted to share a couple of reminders for families:
- In order to preserve our classroom pods and COVID-19 safety protocols, we will not be able to allow students to enter their buildings early in cold weather. Please arrive at the designated time and ensure that students are dressed in warm layers.
- In the event of single-digit temperatures or wind chill, students will remain indoors during the school day. Elementary students will still be provided a snack break of no more than 15 minutes, following the school safety protocols for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Travel Guidance
Travel increases the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for our students, staff and community. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. The Cook County Department of Public Health recommends that residents avoid all non-essential activities, including school and work, for 14 days upon their return to suburban Cook County. If staff, students or families travel out of state for more than 24 hours, they should not report to school. The district's quarantine requirements are outlined in our Framework for Reopening Schools.
FLYER: COVID-19 and Travel Guidance for District 97 Students and Staff >
Alan Gratz
Author visit opportunity
Beloved historical fiction writer Alan Gratz did a CrowdCast virtual author visit on Monday, February 8 at 10AM. He talked about the research and writing of his new book Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11. If you missed the visit or want to rewatch it, you can see it here: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/g8962d0r/register
Book ordering
Anyone can order a copy of his newest book Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 ($17.99) or Refugee ($16.99).
Order at this link: https://www.abcfairs.com/alan-gratz-virtual-author-visit-february-8-2021
Select "pick up" and "school pick up" and books will be delivered to Julian after 2/16. No shipping costs.
CrisisGo Reminder
Starting Monday, February 1, the CrisisGo Safety iPASS will go live. Health certifications must be completed every day before hybrid learners arrive to school. Elementary students must have their certification completed by 7:15 a.m. and middle school students must have their certification completed by 8:15 a.m. Please see the linked PDF for full details. Highlights of what you can expect are included below.