January 2021 Family Newsletter

January 15, 2021

Topic: Updates

The following message was sent to all CCSD21 families through ParentSquare, the district’s notification tool. Parents that did not receive this message should contact their school’s main office to ensure their contact information is up to date.

January 15, 2021

Dear CCSD21 families,

We look forward to welcoming in-person students back to school on Tuesday, January 19. As a reminder to our in-person families:

  • Pack a face covering. All students are required to wear a face covering at school and on the bus.
  • Check wellness. Students showing any signs of illness, or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, may not attend school.
  • Complete daily health certification. Parents will receive a daily email reminder from [email protected]. The health certification form must be completed daily, 30 minutes before school begins.
  • Pack a water bottle. Water fountains are shut off. Water refill stations will remain in operation and additional refill stations have been installed in each school.

Distance Learning Academy students will continue to learn virtually.

There is no school on Monday, January 18, for all students and staff in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.

 

Inclement weather and virtual learning

In the event of inclement weather where conditions are too dangerous to travel to/from school, in-person students will stay home and engage in learning virtually for the day(s) we experience extreme cold weather or other winter-related conditions. Inclement conditions during travel times include:

  • a forecasted sustained wind chill of -30 degrees Fahrenheit or colder,
  • a forecasted sustained actual temperature -15 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, or
  • snow, ice, or other conditions that may make travel unsafe.

If inclement conditions exist, CCSD21 will make the notification by 5:30 AM the day of the closing. If we are able to make the determination the night before – meaning the forecast undoubtedly warrants virtual learning for all students – we will attempt to notify families between 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

Typically, we do not send out a telephone notice after 9:30 PM as the system can sometimes take up to an hour to complete all calls. The District will update its website (ccsd21.org), social media accounts (facebook.com/ccsd21 and @CCSD21), and the Emergency Closing Center website (emergencyclosingcenter.com) as soon as a decision has been made. In the event the decision to close school is made after 9:30 PM, the District will wait and send out the telephone notice by 5:30 AM the following morning.

 

Kindergarten and new student registration will open Monday, Feb. 8

Registration for students new to CCSD21 for the 2021-2022 school year at any grade level, including new incoming kindergarten students, will open on Monday, February 8.

Current CCSD21 pre-K students will also register in February. All other current kindergarten through 8th grade students will register for the 2021-2022 school year later this spring.

Registration information, for new students and returning students, is available at ccsd21.org/registration.

Please spread the word among your family, friends, and neighbors!

 

Free food service continues as in-person instruction resumes

Breakfast and lunch meals will continue to be provided – for free for the duration of the school year – to all children age 18 and younger. Beginning Tuesday, January 19, meals will be served from 11:15 AM to 1:15 PM at the following locations:

  • All CCSD21 schools
  • Bus stop sites
    • Childerley Park – 506 McHenry Rd., Wheeling
    • Meadowbrook Park – 427 Nancy Ln., Wheeling
    • Midwest Bank – 770 W. Dundee Rd., Arlington Heights
    • Walmart parking lot – 1455 E. Lake Cook Rd., Wheeling (far corner near old Sam’s Club building)
    • Whippletree playground by the park – Near 525 N. McHenry Rd., Wheeling
    • Willow Trails Park at Burning Bush Ln. and Apple Dr., Prospect Heights
    • Windsor Ridge Park – 780 Vernon Ln., Buffalo Grove

Please note: With the return of in-person instruction, meals will no longer be provided at our community sites: Alcott Center, Chamber Park, and Indian Trails Library.

Students attending school in person will be sent home with two meals at the end of the day:

  • AM students will be provided with a lunch for that day and a breakfast for the next school day
  • PM students will be provided with a breakfast and a lunch for the next school day

 

Special event presented by Bilingual PAC: Useful Technology

You and your child are invited to join us for the Bilingual PAC event “Tecnología Útil” on February 4 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. This event will be presented in Spanish.

We will explain about different technologies that district parents may use. You can join the meeting on your child’s computer. We will also demonstrate how to use some tools on your cell phone.

Your child can help you explore some of the technologies during this presentation, and you will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters: D21 teachers and bilingual department leaders.

Use this form to register for the event.

 

Family Support Site resources updated

Please continue to reference the CCSD21 Family Support Site for resources on supporting virtual learning, parent networking events, and more.

Most recently, we added information about a free upcoming workshop from the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University – home of Lucy Calkins who publishes our Writing Units of Study. Learn more about ways to support your child’s literacy education at home, what or how they are learning in school, how to best engage in home literacy projects, and more.

The workshop will be held virtually on Thursday, January 28, from noon – 2 PM. Attendees can attend part or all of the workshop. More information and registration details are available here.

Feedback requested
Help us provide additional events and materials that will support you and your family by completing this survey (in Spanish — in Polish — in Russian) if you haven’t already. We appreciate your feedback!