October 2021 Family Newsletter

October 30, 2021

Topic: Updates

The following message was sent through ParentSquare, CCSD21’s family notification tool. If you did not receive this message, please email [email protected] to ensure your contact information is up to date.

October 30, 2021

Dear CCSD21 families,

We hope this message finds you well and we hope you enjoy a safe, fun Halloween weekend!

As we look ahead to November, parent-teacher conferences are quickly approaching. Students do not have school on conference days. Please look for information from your school regarding conference scheduling:

  • Monday, November 22
  • Tuesday, November 23

 

Report cards and ParentPortal

The first trimester ends on Friday, November 12. Report cards will be issued electronically on Friday, November 19, through Parent Portal. The Parent Portal provides families of CCSD21 K-8 students with the opportunity to see updated grades, assignments, and learner qualities for their child throughout the trimester, in addition to end-of-trimester report cards.Please contact your child’s school if you have not yet activated your Parent Portal account.

Portal guidance for kindergarten families
In Kindergarten, teachers use standards to report out student progress.  This means that teachers will continually provide feedback on individual standards for students.  Instead of one overall grade for each subject, parents will be able to see how their child is progressing towards mastery of all of the year-long standards.

Follow this guidance document to access kindergarten student progress.

 

March 15, 2022 is now a student attendance day

At its October meeting, the Board of Education adjusted the first possible last day of school to Thursday, May 26, 2022.

This change was made because Tuesday, March 15, 2022, is now a student attendance day. March 15 was previously a non-student attendance day because of Election Day. However, Election Day has been moved from March to June 2022. The first possible last day of school is moved up to Thursday, May 26, from Friday, May 27, accordingly.

A revised 2021-2022 school year calendar is available here.

 

E-Learning Public Hearing Notice

Under state law, school districts may utilize “e-learning days” in lieu of emergency days. Before adopting an e-learning plan, a school board must hold a public hearing to review the program and receive comments.

School District 21 will hold a public hearing on its e-learning program plan during the regular Board of Education meeting on Thursday, November 11. Board meetings are held at the Gill Administration Center (999 W. Dundee Rd., Wheeling) and begin at 7:00 PM.

 

Notes from the October Board of Education meeting

MAP Data
Dr. Beatrice Reyes Childress, Assistant Superintendent for Equity & Learning, is sharing an update now on the Fall administration of the MAP assessment. MAP is a nationally-normed test and in CCSD21 it is given three times a year. The full presentation can be accessed here.

Strategic Plan status report
Dr. Connolly gave a status report on the District’s Strategic Plan. The plan was adopted by the Board in January 2020. While delivery of instruction and the mechanics of school shifted significantly in March 2020, the Strategic Plan was and remains a guidepost for the District’s work. In fact, Dr. Connolly said, its existence made it easier (not easy, but easier!) to navigate the pandemic. View the full report.

Delegate assembly
Board members discussed the upcoming Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Delegate Assembly in November. The annual Delegate Assembly is an opportunity for one Board member from each of the state’s 848 school districts to represent their home school district’s opinion on IASB belief statements and resolutions. Votes taken at the Delegate Assembly will direct IASB’s advocacy efforts moving forward.

Submitted resolutions from member school districts, and recommendations on those items from the IASB resolutions committee, were discussed by our Board. Board Vice President Debbi McAtee tabulated our Board’s feedback and will vote on behalf of our Board at the Delegate Assembly next month.

 

Seeking volunteers to support vaccine clinic!

In partnership with Osco, CCSD21 expects to administer about 2,300 COVID-19 vaccines during our upcoming vaccination clinic at London Middle School. An effort like this will only be possible with the support of our community. Volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated in advance of the first clinic date. Volunteer tasks may include handing out information about the vaccine, placing stickers on vaccine cards, or helping direct participants between stations. Volunteers will not complete any medical tasks.

If you are able to VOLUNTEER on Wednesday, November 17, and/or Wednesday, December 8, please follow this link to sign up.

A link to sign up for a vaccine appointment is not yet available. As soon as authorization is granted by the CDC and appointments are generated by Osco, CCSD21 will share the appointment sign up link with families via ParentSquare.