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Preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade students will be the first groups of CCSD 89 students to have the option of returning for in-person learning. Students in these grades will be able to return to classrooms for a hybrid schedule of half-day in-person learning starting Thursday, October 1. Students will also continue to learn remotely with the same teacher.
Current health conditions in DuPage County allow for schools to open on a hybrid schedule. If conditions were to significantly change, the district would contact all families.
Students who return to school will be on a hybrid schedule, attending in-person classes in either the morning session (8:50 to 11:15 a.m.) or afternoon session (1:10 to 3:35 p.m.). There will be no lunch or recess at school. All health and safety protocols will be followed. Students will participate in specials and asynchronous learning activities during the part of the day when they are not in person.
On the afternoon of Friday, September 25, preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade families will be able to log on to their PowerSchool account to learn whether their student is in a morning or afternoon session (siblings will be grouped together) as well as any bus assignment. Instructions for logging on to PowerSchool are available here: https://bit.ly/3cpCYgH
Families have been put in remote or in-person learning based on their responses to the most recent district survey, matching sibling schedules, and accommodations for special services. If families have questions after viewing their child's placement on Friday, they can contact their school principal.
Students who continue to learn remotely will participate in their class through live video where they will be able to see their teacher, ask questions, participate in discussions, and work in small groups with other students. Students participating remotely will continue to learn with the same teacher they have now.
Friday, October 9, which is scheduled as a half day, will be remote learning for all students.
If health conditions allow, the next group of students who would return for in-person learning would be students in second, third, fourth, and fifth grades. Those students could return as soon as Tuesday, October 13, if local health conditions allow.
If health conditions allow, the district plans to bring middle school students to the school for in-person learning before the end of October. More information about how in-person learning would work at the middle school will be sent to families prior to that date.
All students will have the option to remain as remote learners.
What will school be like for in-person learners?
Students who return to school for in-person learning will need to follow all health protocols, including: mandatory masks at all times; touchless temperature checks and self certification forms prior to entering school; and social distancing.
If students take the bus, they will need to put their mask on prior to getting on the bus. They will take the open seat closest to the back. They will sit by themselves or with a sibling. Parents can also drive their students to school.
Each day, students will arrive at a pre-assigned door and present the self-certification ticket, indicating that neither they nor any household members are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
Students will then go to their class where desks will be appropriately spaced. Students should bring their charged Chromebook or iPad to and from school each day.
The students will engage in math and reading instruction during the in-person time with social studies and science embedded into these lessons. They will not eat lunch or have recess at school.
Students will participate in specials and asynchronous academic activities during the time they are not in-person. For example, a teacher might work on identifying parts of non-fiction text while in person, then have students read a non-fiction text at home.
If a student would need to be quarantined, they could continue to participate in the same class via the live video, in the same way that remote learners will be participating.
What will school be like for remote learners?
About 30 percent of CCSD 89 families indicated they would like their student to continue learning remotely. These students will remain with the teacher with whom they have already started building a learning relationship.
Remote learners will log on to school at the same time the in-person students start class. They will also have both live and asynchronous learning.
The student's Zoom video will be visible to the teacher so they can see at-home learners. The remote learners will be watching a live video of the teacher delivering instruction or demonstrating a new skill.
For instance, remote and in-person learners might participate in a math lesson about ones and tens places by watching the teacher move blocks on a live video. Students who are in person and remote would be able to answer or ask questions.
At other times, the remote learners would be watching live video of in-class instruction. For instance, students might listen to the teacher read a story and make predictions based on the text.
At times, in-person learners will also be logging on to their Chromebook or iPad to work in small groups with remote learners.
What is common for both in-person and remote learners?
For both in-person and remote learning, assignments will be graded and homework may be given.
Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504s will continue to receive services.
Free lunches are available to both remote and in-person learners. In-person students can bring lunches home with them. Remote learners can pick up five free lunches and five free breakfasts from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, or 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Meals are available at all CCSD 89 schools and families can go to whichever school is most convenient for them.
Health and cleaning protocols
All students and staff will wear masks and maintain social distancing whenever they are indoors. The district has measured each classroom and removed some classroom furniture to meet social distancing requirements.
Students will not share school supplies. Kid-safe wipes will be available in each classroom, as well as hand sanitizer.
Between groups of in-person students, each classroom will be cleaned. The district has hired additional custodians to provide more cleaning during the school day, with a focus on high-touch surfaces. During the day, classrooms and bathrooms will be cleaned with an electrostatic spray that can sanitize the room in a few minutes while students are out. Air will be circulated through the room at least four times each day in every classroom.
In as many places as practical, the district will provide additional safety measures, above the mandated minimum requirements. For instance, the district will be adding a health aide to each building, separate nursing rooms for those with COVID-19 symptoms, among other precautions.
Anyone who has been in a close contact (within six feet for more than 15 minutes) with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 will receive a written notice.
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