10/16/20
In This Issue
DuPage County Transmission Level Updated
When a Case is Present
Practice Mitigation
Tour Jay Stream STEM Wing
1st Grade Back
Thank a Principal
Schedule Student-Led Conferences Today!
10/15 BOE Recap
Early Release 10/19-10/22 & No School 10/23
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CCSD93 strives to maximize the academic, social & emotional potential of each student.
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Dear Friend of CCSD93,
Messages From
Superintendent Hill:
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I was informed on a conference call this afternoon between DuPage County school superintendents and the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) that the DCHD Community Transmission Level, which will officially be released on Monday, will move the county from “Moderate” into the “Substantial” Community Transmission Level. Specifically, the cases per 100,000 in DuPage County rose from 79 for the week of September 27-October 3 to unofficially 115 for the week of October 4-10, which is above the threshold of 100 required to cause this shift.
I shared with you two weeks ago that if the Community Transmission Level were to move to Substantial, CCSD93 would have direct conversation with DCHD officials regarding whether CCSD93’s schools should remain open.
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With an understanding that cases have been on the rise throughout the state, we have had several discussions with DCHD officials over the past few days to better understand how our schools are impacted. In these conversations, we have reviewed CCSD93’s mitigation strategies with the DCHD. These strategies, designed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, include:
- The requirement that all students and staff members wear masks at all times in our buildings (with the exception of staff members working alone in their assigned closed-door classroom or office)
- Classroom setup and building movement protocols to maintain social distance of at least six feet between individuals
- A/B student groupings to reduce class size and increase social distancing opportunities
- Shortened in-person days for students wherein no student food consumption takes place
- Daily temperature checks for full-day staff
- Required daily self-screener submissions from each in-person student and staff member
- Frequent hand washing and sanitizing
- Increased cleaning protocols at all schools
The outcome of these conversations, the most recent of which occurred this afternoon, is that the DCHD feels that CCSD93 has strong mitigation strategies in place and supports CCSD93’s schools remaining open to in-person learning at this time. In addition, at the October 15 Board of Education meeting, the Board and I reviewed CCSD93’s preliminary discussions with DCHD from this week and the Board agreed with the DCHD’s support of our schools remaining open. For these reasons, CCSD93’s schools will remain open at this time. As health metrics continue to be updated weekly, we will continue to reassess, remain in consistent contact with the DCHD regarding guidance, and keep CCSD93 families and staff members informed as appropriate.
We understand that this updated Community Transmission Level designation may give some families of Hybrid Learning students pause. While we and the DCHD are confident in CCSD93’s mitigation strategies, the choice of parents to send students to school is ultimately up to the parent. If you would prefer your child stay home and learn remotely at any given time, please keep your child home, notify the school, and ensure they connect remotely to be counted as attending school.
As a reminder, CCSD93 has determined the following factors must be at acceptable levels in order to hold in-person learning:
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CCSD93 Process When a Case Becomes Present
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The mitigation strategies listed above are designed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and are based on the most recent findings and recommendations from our public health organizations. While the self-screener helps to reduce the likelihood that a person with a positive case enters a CCSD93 school or building, it is still certainly a possibility that a positive case becomes present. To this point, since students have returned to our buildings, CCSD93 has been informed of one confirmed COVID-19 case of an individual who has entered our buildings.
For that instance and any time in the future the district becomes aware of a positive case of an individual who has entered any of our buildings, the following is completed:
- CCSD93 will make a report to the DCHD
- CCSD93 will work with DCHD to perform contract tracing and notify any individuals who may have experienced prolonged exposure, defined as being less than six feet distance for more than 15 minutes
- CCSD93 will notify the building’s families and staff members of the presence of a case, while also maintaining employee and student confidentiality as required under state and federal law
- CCSD93 will increase disinfecting of location(s) where positive case was present
- CCSD93 will ionize the classroom or office location where the positive case was present
This process is based on the most recent recommendations from the DCHD, and CCSD93 may make adjustments to it if updated guidance becomes available.
While the DCHD works to reach out to CCSD93 if a confirmed student or staff member case becomes present, we also ask that families of students who test positive, even if they are fully remote, reach out to their school nurse to inform them so CCSD93 can take extra care to ensure proper protocols are followed.
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Please Practice Mitigation Strategies in Your Personal Life
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You may be aware that statewide cases are on the rise. While DuPage County is seeing proportionally fewer new cases than the state as a whole at this time, we still are experiencing more new cases locally than weeks ago. It is absolutely critical that we all continue to practice our own personal mitigation strategies for the health and safety of all and to contribute to an atmosphere that enables our students to continue to attend school in person.
Please continue to do your part by wearing a mask whenever interacting with anyone outside of your household unit, watching to ensure you maintain at least six feet of social distance, washing your hands regularly, and avoiding large gatherings.
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Review the articles below for more of the latest from CCSD93, and be sure to check out the Jay Stream STEM Wing video linked below!
Sincerely,
David Hill, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
CCSD93
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Take a Video Tour of Jay Stream's All New STEM Wing w/Principal Pietroski & Superintendent Hill
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At the October 15 Board of Education meeting, the Board officially toured Jay Stream Middle School's all new STEM Wing! They are pictured above with Jay Stream and CCSD93 staff in its research and design space and interactive hallway.
During construction from last winter through the summer, the four classrooms along the school's east side were renovated, and a 5,000 square foot addition was built off of that, which resulted in:
- Six STEM labs
- A domed virtual reality room
- A dedicated research and design space
- A collaboration area for staff
- An interactive hallway
Embedded technology and walls doubling as writable surfaces will ensure all students have a front row seat and the ability to learn, brainstorm and problem-solve at all times from anywhere in the STEM Wing. Its movable partitions and flexible furniture enable countless configurations for any project or event. Bright and evocative colors and designs make it a space that welcomes students and inspires curiosity.
It will truly serve as an ideal space for students to take on any current or conceivable future STEM concept or lesson. Students will be able to seamlessly work on independent or collaborative projects that require them to design and build, interact with robotics, apply computer coding skills, and more.
View the video below for a tour of Jay Stream STEM Wing led by Jay Stream Principal Chris Pietroski and CCSD93 Superintendent Dr. David Hill. We cannot wait for students to be able to use it to its fullest potential once school returns to normal.
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1st Graders Returned This Week!
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CCSD93 is so thrilled to have welcomed back 1st graders to in-person learning this week! They’re joining kindergarteners in becoming pros at wearing masks, washing hands and watching their distance all while engaging in a relevant educational experience! Visit CCSD93's Facebook Page for more photos, and "like" us while you are there!
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Thank a Principal During
Principals Week 10/19-10/23!
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CCSD93 has exceptional school administrators. Their already complex roles have become infinitely more so since the start of the pandemic. Next week is Principals Week, and CCSD93 invites its parents and staff members to take a moment to thank them next week for everything they do as the leaders of their schools. Dr. Hill will highlight all that they do even further in next week’s Enews.
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Parents Invited to Schedule Student-Led Conferences Through 10/20
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This year, Parent/Teacher Conferences across CCSD93 will continue to take the form of Student-Led Conferences, as students will once again participate in conferences with their parents and teachers.
New for this year:
- Conferences will be held about a month earlier than usual, on October 21 and 22, in order to help our students and families evaluate and make adjustments sooner into the school year than previously.
- The week of Conferences, students will attend class during the typical “Monday schedule” each day from Monday, October 19 through Thursday, October 22, and there will be no school Friday, October 23.
- Conferences will be held virtually.
- Conferences will take the form of a Student-Led Conference Circle. This format facilitates relationship building and allows each participant (student, parent and teacher) an equal voice, creating further opportunities to celebrate successes and collaboratively identify areas for growth.
Parents are once again asked to use PTC Wizard, an online scheduling tool, to set up conferences. You can schedule conferences with PTC Wizard until noon on Tuesday, October 20. If you created a PTC Wizard account for Meet the Teacher this year, you do not need to create a new one. To register and schedule your conferences, visit www.ccsd93.com/conferences. At the time of your scheduled conference, parents and students are asked to connect to their teacher’s recurring Zoom link, unless otherwise notified.
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10/15 Board of Education Meeting Recap
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CCSD93's most recent Board of Education meeting was held Thursday, October 15. The following occurred at the meeting.
- There was a Jay Stream Middle School presentation and tour of the STEM Wing for the Board members.
- The Board reviewed the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Resolutions that CCSD93 will vote on at the IASB Delegate Assembly in November.
- The Board reviewed the following six Board Policies for first reading:
- 500.04 - Physical Examinations
- 500.32 - Use of School Materials & Equipment
- 500.90 - Volunteers
- 500.92 - Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
- 500.94 - Reporting Absences
- 540.03 - Assignment Transfer
- The Board approved the following revised Board Policies for second reading:
- 255 - Board Committees
- 700.01 - Equal Educational Opportunities
- 710.28 - Reciprocal Reporting of Criminal Offenses Committed by Students
- 715.02 - Bullying
- Dr. Hill reviewed the progress CCSD93 is making to achieve the Board Goals.
- Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning & Innovation Jonathan Zimmermann highlighted components of the Annual Assessment Report.
- The Board voted to approve the Truth in Taxation Resolution as part of the tax levy process.
- Dr. Hill reviewed the middle school return to in-person learning plan.
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Early Release 10/19-10/22 & No School 10/23
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Please remember that next week, October 19-22, is unique in that each day Monday through Thursday will follow our typical Monday schedule of 8:45-10:45 a.m. and 12:15-2:15 p.m. daily. Student-Led Conferences will take place virtually after school on Wednesday and Thursday, October 21 and 22. There will be no school Friday, October 23.
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High-quality communication is one of CCSD93's goals. We welcome your feedback. Please call 630.539.3001 or email us with your comments or suggestions. Tell us what kind of news you'd like to read more about.
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