Batavia District 101 Coronavirus Message To Parents

Press release from Batavia Public School District 101:

March 20, 2020

COVID-19 Parent Messengers

Morning Update (Grades k-3rd) Parent Messenger Sent March 24 at 8:45 AM

Today is Tuesday, March 24, day #5 of e-learning. Two more days to go this week then Spring Break starts Friday! Your lessons may begin to look different starting tomorrow. So don’t be surprised if you start to receive messages directly from your teacher. As promised, we are keeping the lessons posted, so if you missed anything in the previous days, you can still work on it today. We are taking this day by day and will make adjustments as we learn through this process.

If you are having difficulty accessing your work, please reach out to your student’s teacher. They are available to assist you. You may also submit questions through our website or by calling (630) 937-8800.

Your lesson for Day 5 has been posted, Day 5 of E-learning.

Morning Update (Grades k-3rd) Parent Messenger Sent March 23 at 8:45 AM

Today is Monday, March 23, day #4 of e-learning. We have heard a lot of stories about fun sidewalk chalk art and paw print scavenger hunts going on in the community. Maybe a snowman contest is in order for today! As promised, we are keeping the lessons posted, so if you missed anything in the previous days, you can still work on it today. We are taking this day by day and will make adjustments as we learn through this process.

If you are having difficulty accessing your work, please reach out to your student’s teacher. They are available to assist you. You may also submit questions through our website or by calling (630) 937-8800.

Your lesson for Day 4 has been posted, Day 4 of E-learning.

Extended Closure Message March 20th

On March 20, 2020, Governor Pritzker announced all schools will remain closed through Tuesday, April 7th. The earliest we will return to school is Wednesday, April 8th. This will require additional flexibility and patience from everyone, and we will continue to serve our community in whatever way we can. We have been working on contingency plans for a variety of scenarios.

We absolutely recognize this may place additional hardship on our families and staff. We are committed to timely communication as well as these priorities:

• Continuing the education of our students
• Food service for qualified students
• Minimizing any social-emotional impact of the closures to the best of our ability and connecting families to district and community resources

Continuing the education of our students

• Today through March 26th: e-learning days
• March 27th through April 3rd: spring break
• April 6th through April 7th: e-learning days
• April 8th: earliest schools will reopen

Food Service

BPS101 will continue to provide food service for all students as previously noted. Please click here for information and how to request breakfast and lunch during regular school days.

Minimizing impact and connecting families to resources

Our Social Workers, School Psychologists, and School Counselors are reaching out to students who are on their caseloads to provide support during this time. These staff members are a tremendous resource and will meet the large majority of our students’ needs. They are also knowledgeable about the community resources that are available, if additional support is needed. Any family can email help@bps101.net with questions or concerns.

Additional resources during extended e-learning days include:

• General questions for BPS101 families: help@bps101.net
• Questions about the e-learning content: communicate with your teacher
• Technical support related to e-learning: (630) 937-8838 or help@bps101.net.
• General assistance: anyone in Kane County can call 2-1-1 and get connected with a live specialist to assist with social services such as food, shelter, and counseling.
• COVID-19 related information: National Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health
• Volunteer opportunities: the list will be updated as new information is shared

As a community, we will work together and support one another throughout these unprecedented times. The District is committed to keeping the lines of communication open. We will continue to post information on our social media platforms, regularly update the District website, and send Messengers with updates and changes.

As a reminder, this school closure is in response to the current public health crisis. The focus should remain on preventing the spread of COVID-19. The Illinois Department of Public Health is recommending everyone take these social distancing measures:

• Staying home as much as possible
• If gatherings are necessary, limiting the number of people to 10
• Calling to check on family, neighbors, and older adults instead of visiting
• Checking with your provider about telehealth options

Morning Update (Grades k-3rd) Parent Messenger Sent March 20 at 8:45 AM

Today is Friday, March 20, day #3 of e-learning. We have seen so many creative ways that teachers and students have been interacting with each other. This new way of learning has had a lot of silver lining moments. As promised, we are keeping the lessons posted, so if you missed anything in the previous days, you can still work on it today. We are taking this day by day and will make adjustments as we learn through this process.

If you are having difficulty accessing your work, please reach out to your student’s teacher. They are available to assist you. You may also submit questions through our website or by calling (630) 937-8800.

Your lesson for Day 3 has been posted, Day 3 of E-learning.

Morning Update (Grades k-3rd) Parent Messenger Sent March 19 at 8:45 AM

Today is Thursday, March 19, day #2 of e-learning. We hope that you found the lessons fun and challenging yesterday. As promised, we are keeping the lessons posted, so if you missed anything yesterday, you can still work on it today. We are taking this day by day and will make adjustments as we learn through this process.

Here are a couple of things we heard from other families yesterday:

• It is important to keep up with some of your usual school day routines, like fueling your brain and body with a healthy meal before you begin your schoolwork and dressing for comfort and success.
• If you do not have your Chromebook yet, please call or email your school principal to make arrangements for pickup. Here is the link to the staff directory.
• We know it is hard to be away from your friends, but we ask that you honor the request for social distancing. One of the reasons the Governor asked us to close schools was to avoid close contact with others.

If you are having difficulty accessing your work, please reach out to your student’s teacher. They are available to assist you. You may also submit questions through our website or by calling (630) 937-8800.

Your lesson for Day 2 has been posted, Day 2 of e-learning.

Morning Update (Grades k-3rd) Parent Messenger Sent March 18 at 9:00 AM

Today is your first day of e-learning. Teams of teachers have come together to prepare these lesson plans for you with the goal of continuity of learning during this extended break. We ask for your patience and understanding in this process. We are going to take this day by day and will make adjustments as we learn through this process. If you are having difficulty accessing your work, please reach out to your student’s teacher. They are available to assist you. You may also submit questions through our website or by calling (630) 937-8800.

Here is your lesson for today, e-learning lessons.

Afternoon Update Parent Messenger Sent March 17 at 2:35 PM

Thank you for your patience as we continue to learn and grow through this process. Today was our day to check-and-connect with students prior to our first day of e-learning tomorrow. Your child should have had some contact from staff today, and we hope they are excited to continue their learning in this new way.

Our communications with you from this point may look a little different. We will send periodic District Messengers, especially if anything changes, but most of your contact will be through the teachers over the next few days.

Parent and student questions may be submitted through our website or via phone at (630) 937-8800. You can also email your student’s principal with questions.

Afternoon Update Parent Messenger Sent March 16 at 3:15 PM

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this significant change in how we learn and grow. Our goal is to provide continuity of learning, but we realize that what we can do online cannot replace the classroom experience.

Tomorrow, we have asked all of our staff to check and connect with their students. This is a quick connection to make sure that all students are able to and know how to be engaged in e-learning. Students in grades 4 through 12 should check in to their teacher’s Google Classroom for the check and connect activity. Parents of students in grades PreK through 3 should expect their teacher to reach out through email, a short video in SeeSaw or with a phone call.

On Wednesday we will start with e-learning, and implement this until further notice. This will look different across grade levels and classes. We ask for your patience and understanding in this process. We are going to take this day by day and will make adjustments as we learn through this process.

Grade level
Plan

PreK to Grade 3
General learning activities will be sent via Messenger to parent emails with daily learning activities. Parents can look for an email from the District around 9:00 am each day.

Grades 4-12
Teachers will be posting activities and assignments in their Google Classrooms by 9:00 am each e-learning day. Teachers will be available to students each day.

Below you will find some frequently asked questions about e-learning:

Question
Answer

How long should I expect my child to be working on schoolwork?
Elementary: About one hour per day for school work is appropriate with additional time for free reading.

Middle: Each class should have about 20 minutes of activities prepared per class

High: Each class should have about 30 minutes of activities prepared per class

What if my child has technology issues logging on to IXL, etc?
Tech staff will be available to support staff and students during the e-learning day through the HelpDesk. This can be accessed:

1. By Calling 630-937-8838
2. Emailing helpdesk@bps101.net

Will students receive special education services on e-learning?
Yes, these services may look different for every child. Case Managers and related service providers will reach out to families to connect, discuss ideas, and share a communication plan with all related services.

Can my grade 1 through 3 students get their District Chromebook?
Yes, communication about the pick-up process can be found here.

Left Something at School?: From 9:00 am -12:00 pm on Tuesday, a student, along with a guardian, may pick up items left at school. There is no appointment necessary for these pickups. Items may include a forgotten coat, glasses, etc. If the item is not essential for the next few weeks, please leave it for your child’s eventual return. If this time does not work for you, please contact your building principal.

Food Service: Beginning tomorrow, the District is providing breakfast and lunch meal boxes to families who regularly receive free or reduced-cost meals in school. Eligible families have been sent details on this program, but if your family needs assistance with food at any time during the school closure, please contact us.

Volunteers: We live in a generous community. Many people and organizations have reached out to offer support; we sincerely appreciate your offers. Thank you for the amazing Bulldog spirit. For now, we have the staff capacity to manage our immediate needs. If you are looking for ways to assist, here are some options in our community at this time.

If you know of someone who needs any extra assistance, please have them call 2-1-1.

We are trying to answer all of your questions as quickly as possible. Visit bps101.net/covid-19 for the most timely updates. Parent and student questions may be submitted through our website or via phone at (630) 937-8800.

Mid-day Update Parent Messenger Sent March 16 at 12:05 PM

Thank you again for your patience as we iron out the details on how our District continues to educate our families.

As you know, schools are closed from now until after Spring Break, with the possibility of returning on April 6. That is what we are basing our decisions on at this time. This is a brief update, with more details coming later today. This is what we have determined.

Today, Monday, March 16: An emergency closing date, like a snow day, that will be made up on April 17 (was initially scheduled as an Institute Day). Please adjust your schedules to reflect a normal school day on April 17.

Tuesday, March 17: An Institute Day, replacing the originally scheduled Institute Day on April 17. For students, this will look like an emergency closing day. Please encourage your students to check their emails during the day so that teachers can connect with them.

Wednesday, March 18: District-wide e-learning for all students. Lesson plans and expectations will start to be communicated to families on Tuesday, March 17, with more updates coming throughout the delayed time off.

Thursday, May 21: Last Day of School for Students (No Change)

More details to come, including access to food and school buildings. We are trying to answer all of your questions as quickly as possible. Visit bps101.net/covid-19 for the most timely updates about our status and e-learning. Parent and student questions may be submitted through our website or call (630) 937-8800.

Contact Us Parent Messenger Sent March 15 at 8:30 PM

We are thankful for the patience and understanding the community has had while we have been navigating this uncharted territory. One element of the equation is the challenge of continuing to provide the critical services our community needs, while protecting the health of the general public and the health of our employees. For this reason, we are taking steps to reduce the number of face-to-face interactions. We are asking that you reach out to the District via phone at (630) 937-8800 or electronic communications here prior to visiting a District building. Questions and requests will then be filtered to the appropriate staff person to respond. We regret that this request may be an inconvenience to you, but trust that you see the necessity in it. Please continue to check our website for updates here. For health related updates and guidance, look to the CDC.

Additional communications will be coming rapidly over the next few days as we continue to finalize and react to direction from Kane County and State officials. Please read all messages thoroughly for instructions on next steps to help keep our community moving forward as efficiently as possible.

School Closing Update Parent Messenger Sent March 14 at 2:45pm

Good afternoon BPS101 Community,

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their flexibility and patience during these unprecedented times. We appreciate those of you who have reached out to help the District and help families in our community during the upcoming weeks.

As everyone is aware, schools are closed for the next 3 weeks. There are many questions that need to be answered, and we will keep you informed as soon as decisions are made. You can expect regular email messages and updates to the website.

• Families: Messengers are all archived, and you can visit www.bps101.net/COVID-19 for updates and relevant links. Submit any questions here.
• Staff: All of the information related to this closure, including the FAQ document for staff, is organized for you on the homepage of the staff intranet. Submit any questions to your principal or supervisor.
• Students: You will receive communications from your school and your teachers on e-learning days.

The most frequently asked question at this time is about the different classifications of the days because student and staff engagement will change depending on how we classify the day. We made the decision in BPS101 that Monday, March 16th is an emergency closing day; think of it like a snow day. Under current regulations, any day that is classified as an emergency closing day must be made up. The status of the rest of the days and our requirements to make them up is fluid at this time because the State Board of Education will be providing further guidance. We will communicate with you on Monday and share all of the decisions that have been made.

I would also like to advocate for everyone to play their part in reducing the spread of illness and reducing the anxiety this may be causing. Some recommended steps are included below.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lisa Hichens

Superintendent

Steps you can take:

• Avoid gathering in public places – especially in close proximity to others.
• Avoid close contact with those that are sick.
• Try to keep 6-10 feet between yourself and others – give yourself space.
• Be at home as much as possible.
• Try to limit who you and your children interact with to the same people you typically are around.
• Kids and families should not:
  • Be gathering in large groups.
  • Be visiting each other’s homes or having sleepovers.
  • Sharing food or drink.
  • Competing in team sporting activities
• Kids and families should:
  • Avoid excessive media coverage of COVID-19
  • Take care of their body. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
  • Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your normal life.
  • Connect with others. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with friends or family members. Maintain healthy relationships.
  • Use your technology and social media for good purposes – support one another and show that you care for one another.
  • Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking.

Keep following the practice of washing your hands regularly and covering your cough or sneeze.

*The advice has been adapted, with permission, from Community High School District 99.

School Closing Parent Messenger Sent March 13 at 3:45pm

In accordance with Governor Pritzker’s directive to close all schools in Illinois, Batavia Public School District 101 will be closed Monday, March 16th through spring break, tentatively returning on April 6th. All trips, contests, practices, activities, and events are also canceled during that period.

During a prolonged closure, up to five days will be considered emergency days and will be made up at a date to be determined later. The remaining days will be e-learning days; we will communicate with all students and families when we are prepared to begin e-learning.

Communications from the District:

• Regular updates will be sent by email through Messenger
• Visit bps101.net/covid-19 for the most timely updates about our status and e-learning
• All parent and student questions may be submitted through our website.

As you know, our schools are highly complex organizations that provide a wide range of services to over 5,800 students and their families every day. Additional information will be coming regarding the impact of closures upon:

• Students who receive special education services
• English Language Learners
• Meals for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch

For all other needs that you may have, please call 211, the Kane County Human Services Hotline. Calls to 211 are free and confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For COVID-19 related questions, use the resource on the Kane County Health Department website.

Event Updates Parent Messenger Sent March 12 at 2:45pm

With the number of COVID-19 cases across the state and region increasing, the Kane County School District Superintendents have determined that we will take proactive measures to help to reduce the spread of illness throughout our community.

Although individual schools or districts may close as COVID-19 impacts their buildings, we are not closing all schools at this time. Rather, Kane County School Districts are implementing some additional steps to prevent the spread of illness.

For now, the Kane County School Districts have determined that limiting large gatherings and outside guests in our schools are prudent. BPS101 has decided:

• Any gatherings that include visitors from outside the school, or non-students, are canceled until further notice. Events will be rescheduled, if possible.

• After-school activities and athletics can proceed as long as they do not include spectators.

• *Check the website for current list of canceled events*

Should there be a confirmed case of COVID-19 in one of our schools, the KCHD would help us assess the situation and make decisions about school closings. Until then, schools will remain open and we will continue our cleaning and disinfection practices to prevent the spread of any illness.

We will update you frequently; this situation and the recommendations are changing rapidly. Thank you for your patience and know that we are committed to being as responsive as we can to new information that is shared with us. All decisions are being made with the safety and well-being of our students in mind.

COVID-19 Parent Messenger sent March 12 at 10:30am

As questions continue to arise about the potential spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Illinois, we want to share information with you about how BPS101 is responding.

Staff members are participating in meetings and briefings with the Kane County Health Department in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kane County Regional Office of Education. They are providing frequent updates to our school nurses, school leadership, and others across the District.

We have shared resources with school staff, our food service company, and our cleaning company regarding steps to preventing illness. As with any illness, it is vitally important that students and staff stay home when they are sick. For preventative tips and resources, please visit the CDC website.

Under the recommendation of the State Board of Education, the District is working on an e-learning plan which is nearing completion. If we are required to close all school buildings for more than a week, we would utilize a combination of emergency days and e-learning days to minimize the impact of school closings and maximize learning for all of our students.

In the event that the decision is made to close school buildings, you will be notified using the same channels that we use for notice of other emergency closures (i.e., closures due to inclement weather). We will inform our community immediately via School Messenger, our District website, and our official social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

We encourage everyone to be mindful of accurate sources of information. The CDC and the Kane County Health Department continue to be the most accurate sources of information in our region. They are providing timely updates on their websites.

We are deeply appreciative of our families and staff and of their efforts to support our students every day, and we appreciate your continued patience and flexibility during this time. The health and safety of our students and staff are of utmost importance to all of us at BPS101. We will continue to work at the District to ensure we are planning appropriate precautionary steps while we work through this rapidly changing health and safety challenge.

You can expect frequent updates. In the meantime, questions can be submitted here.

This press release was produced by Batavia Public School District 101. The views expressed here are the author’s own.