The following video from Lunchtime Live on January 13, 2021 addresses the return to school for hybrid students on January 19, 2021
The following was a letter sent to all District 123 families and staff from Superintendent Dr. Paul Enderle.
On November 17, 2020 we informed our community that District 123 had decided to temporarily shift to remote learning for all students after the Thanksgiving holiday. Although our in-person environment was and remains safe, the COVID-19 conditions within our community and the State of Illinois called us to temporarily pause our in-person instructional model to ensure the health and wellbeing of our students and staff. While this shift was necessary at the time, we understand it was not easy on our families. Thank you for embracing this change alongside us, and making the sometimes difficult adjustments to your schedules and childcare arrangements. Together, we have been able to maintain the high-quality education that our community has come to expect.
Moving forward, it is important to note that over the past 6-weeks we have been closely monitoring various health and safety conditions within our community and remain in regular collaboration with our local public health authorities. During this brief period of time the conditions around the pandemic and our school attendance rates have gradually improved. With COVID-19 cases, quarantines and isolations stabilizing, we will return to our in-person alternating day Hybrid Instructional Model on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 as previously planned.
Listed below are a few key details regarding this return to in-person instruction in School District 123.
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In-person instruction will begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 with Hybrid Group A, and follow the Trimester 2 Hybrid A/B Calendar throughout the 2nd Trimester.
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Hybrid Group B students will receive an email from their teachers with school work to complete at home on Tuesday, January 19th. Hybrid Group B students will return to in-person instruction on Wednesday, January 20th.
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Families who have opted into full remote instruction for Trimester 2, will remain in that program with their current remote teacher.
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All COVID-19 procedures and protocols established by the IDPH will remain the same.
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Transportation will not change. All bus routes, pick-up, and drop-off times will remain the same beginning on January 19, 2021.
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Meal distribution for students in-person will continue at each of our schools every day. There will also be 2 opportunities each week for families to pick up a multi-day meal package at OLHMS from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM. More information about specific pickup days/times will be provided next week.
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As a reminder, ALL District 123 students (Hybrid or Remote) have access to free breakfast and lunch for the remainder of the school year.
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At this time, it is too soon to determine plans for the 3rd trimester and the remainder of the school year. With the integration of the vaccine and future resurgences of the virus unknown, it would be impossible to predict the conditions surrounding the pandemic as we approach the spring. As always, we will keep our community informed as future decisions are made.
We are incredibly proud to have provided all of our students a safe and meaningful instructional program during the course of this pandemic and we are looking forward to having our Hybrid students back in-person again next week.
As a community there is nothing that we cannot overcome together, let us continue to work in support and service to our students and each other. Please continue to follow all mitigation strategies of washing hands, watching distance, and wearing a mask. Thank you for your continued partnership in the education of our community’s children.
Sincerely,
Paul J. Enderle
Superintendent