Weekly Update - March 19, 2021
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Surveillance Testing - Ongoing Signups
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Thank you to those who signed up for Surveillance Testing! Our goal with this program is to avoid any school closures by identifying asymptomatic individuals, who can still spread the virus to others. We encourage all of our students and staff to participate in this quick and easy reassurance of safety that provides another level of protection as we return to full in-person.
If you did not sign up for surveillance testing — you still can! Testing kits will be distributed on the Wednesday following the week of signup.
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Families sign up by logging in to Skyward and clicking on "Forms" to access the sign-up form. Please fill out the form on a desktop/laptop as opposed to mobile phone/tablet to ensure your form is received and the final checkbox is checked.
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Staff can sign up through the staff signup form.
Getting Results
The District will get the results of the tests within 24 hours from their dropoff date. Only those who need to be referred to get a PCR test will be notified of their results. If a staff member or parent does not hear from the District, they do not need to take any action.
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Reopening Plans - Informational Updates
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Classroom Distancing
As of today, based on architectural drawings, spot-checks of classrooms, and measuring the largest class sizes in each building, we are now able to share that all District 181 classrooms have 4 feet or more of distancing between students (center to center). This upcoming Sunday, March 21, you will receive more detailed information on classroom distancing from your building principal.
Throughout this process, we have reviewed architectural drawings to establish preliminary capacity, unnecessary furniture has been removed, we are using the smallest profile furniture possible as necessary for instruction, we are optimizing room space by strategically spacing student desks, floor decals will be used to remind students and teachers of the maximum distance between desks, and we have been researching various desk arrangement options to minimize close contacts.
Last Day of School and Dismissal Times
The last day of school is Wednesday, June 9, with the following dismissal times:
- Grades 6-7: 10:55 a.m.
- Grades 1-5: 11:40 a.m.
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Prospect Partners with DuPage Children's Museum for Season of Science At-Home Experiments
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Each spring, District 181 schools dedicate a special week to their love of science through student fairs, experimental projects in the classroom, and visits from special speakers. This year, Prospect School formed a unique partnership with the DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) to provide Virtual STEM Labs to students.
The labs, which students completed during their asynchronous time at home the week of March 9, aim to spark curiosity and promote critical thinking through hands-on discovery. Students received materials for the project at school then logged into a Zoom session led by an experienced DCM educator. Each lesson involves building, making, experimenting, or engineering a solution to a problem and are completed independently by students.
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Parent volunteers said that not only were students fully engaged in the sessions but they learned a lot from them, too.
Students engaged in the following activities by grade level: Build a Bridge (Grades 4-5); Sounds All Around (Grades 2-3); Wings & Things: Paper Airplanes and Bird Wings (Grade 1).
Student Feedback:
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"It was fun to do a hands-on experiment and learn more about sound vibrations." Third-grader Will Matricaria
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"It was awesome. It was a well-taught and productive learning experience." Fifth-grader Fiona Duffy Schimpf
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“I really liked making kazoos, it was fun. I learned that sound can travel through water and air.” Second-grader Dev Patel
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The Lane 5th Grader Headed to Scripps National Spelling Bee
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This is the fourth consecutive year a D181 student has qualified for the National Bee.
“We are so proud of Srinidhi’s accomplishments and look forward to seeing her continued success,” said D181 Superintendent Dr. Hector Garcia. “It is fascinating to watch her excel on the stage and we wish her the best of luck at the national competition.”
Srinidhi’s mother, Leelaa Rao, said people are always amazed when they see her daughter’s talent and learn her age.
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Srinidhi Rao and Superintendent Dr. Hector Garcia at the 2019 spelling bee.
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“I am very thankful that one of her teachers took special interest in her in kindergarten,” Leelaa said. “We have nurtured her love for spelling since then while making sure she isn’t just a spelling machine. We want her to understand the definitions as she learns and understands more about how language works.”
Srinidhi studies every day after school and after finishing her homework and about 5-6 hours on weekends. She also has a strong interest in music and performs in classical music concerts with her grandmother and mother. Her dream career is to follow in her father’s footsteps, Dr. Rammohan Rao — she wants to be a pulmonary critical care doctor. Read more of Srinidhi's story at d181.org/news.
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CHMS Blooms with Staff Appreciation
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The CHMS social committee planned a special treat for staff last week — they were all invited to make floral arrangements and enjoy some candy to brighten up their classrooms and day!
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Congratulations Elaine Bennington!
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CHMS music and drama teacher Elaine Bennington will be presenting at the National American Choral Directors Association on March 20, 2021. As the choral co-coordinator for the Institute for Composer Diversity, her presentation explores gender representation in choral music programming across the United States and presents tools to empower choral directors to increase that representation in classrooms and choral programs across the country. Congratulations, Elaine!
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CSCI Reminder - We Want to Hear From You!
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Families have one week left to take their school(s)' climate survey! Please help us reach our 40% participation goal by taking the survey today. For more information and a link to your school(s)' survey, click here.
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Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Contest & Free Writing Workshops
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Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards
Continuing the tradition started by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Illinois Poet Laureate herself in 1970, the Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards celebrates the creative expression of youth throughout Illinois. The selection committee chooses two winning poems per grade level. Winning poets receive a small cash prize along with a book of Gwendolyn Brooks poetry from Library of America, a poetry chapbook containing all the winning poems, and are honored in a virtual awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2021.
Illinois Humanities, in partnership with the Poetry Foundation, Brooks Permissions, and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, is currently accepting submissions from youth in grades K-12 for the Fifth Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards. The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 31. Click here to learn more about submission guidelines.
Poetry Writing Workshops
Illinois Humanities will also be hosting two virtual poetry writing workshops with award-winning poet Tara Betts. On Saturday, April 3, Dr. Betts will lead a workshop on strategies for teaching poetry, geared towards teachers, parents, and guardians (register here for this free workshop). On Saturday, May 1, Tara will lead a poetry writing workshop geared towards youth in grades 7-12 (register here for this free workshop).
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Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel Nominations
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Those Who Excel Awards (Non-Teacher)
Please nominate for any of these categories:
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Student Support Personnel (School nurse, psychologist, social worker, school counselor, or speech/ language therapist, etc.)
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Educational Service Personnel (Aides/paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, custodians, administrative assistants, bus drivers, etc.)
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Administrators (Principals, Asst. Principals, PSAs, District Office, etc.)
- Community Volunteers
- Teams
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Teacher of the Year Award (Teachers)
The 2022 Illinois Teacher of the Year is selected as the top teacher from a group of Regional Teachers of the Year throughout the state.
The 2022 Illinois Teacher of the Year will serve as an ambassador for Illinois teachers and as the representative for Illinois in the Council of Chief State School Officer’s National Teacher of the Year program.
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Reminder: Travel Guidance
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2021-22 Registration Information
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COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT 181
115 West 55th St. Clarendon Hills, IL 60514
© District 181. All rights reserved.
PH:630.861.4900
FAX:630.887.1079
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