D76 Family Update

Dear District 76 Families, 

I hope you were able to find some time together with your loved ones during this past week of “spring break.”  As we continue to watch this global pandemic develop within our state and community, D76 continues to look for ways to maintain some type of stability, comfort and normalcy for your students and their routines.  

On Friday, March 20th, Governor Pritzker issued an executive order requiring residents to “stay at home” effective Saturday, March 21 at 5:00 pm, through the end of April 7. As part of the Governor’s order, he announced that schools will remain closed, with a new tentative reopening date of April 8.

Each day provides a new set of challenges and it remains our priority to keep students and staff safe, well and healthy. Prior to spring break, we established Distance Learning Opportunities (DLO) until Monday, March 30. Therefore, on Monday, 3.30 students will continue with their DLO as shared by their teachers prior to spring break.  

As we move forward with our new “normal” I would like to inform you of the next Phase of our DLO and other district updates: 

• Monday, March 30: The district leadership team will meet to review and plan for Phase II; communication will be shared Monday evening with all families as to the directions and details of the Phase II DLO
• Tuesday, March 31: Staff Institute Day-all teachers will work to plan and prepare for Phase II of the DLO (April 1-7); students are not expected to work on DLO on 3.31.20
• Wednesday, April 1: Students will be working on Phase II DLO
• Thursday, April 2: Students will be working on Phase II DLO
• Friday, April 3: Students will be working on Phase II DLO
• Monday, April 6: Students will be working on Phase II DLO
• Tuesday, April 7: Students will be working on Phase II DLO
• All Digital Learning Opportunities “DLO” are found on our website
• If the Governor continues with the mandated school closures after this date, Wednesday, April 8, 2020 will be a Staff Institute Day-where all teachers will work to plan and prepare for a potential Phase III of the DLO.  More details will follow should this be the case.

Technology:

• D76 is also working to make technology available to K-2  households.
• Below is the schedule for our technology distribution plan at Diamond Lake School on Tuesday, March 31:
• 8:00-10:00 am- Kindergarten: iPad
• 10:00-12:00 pm- 1st Grade: Chromebook
• 12:00-2:00 pm- 2nd Grade: Chromebook
• Devices will be obtained through curbside pickup. If weather is a factor, pickup will be held at the Diamond Lake School front office.
•  If you cannot make the designated time, please fill out our feedback form.

Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences (PTC):

• We are cancelling the PTC for April 8 and April 9.  We will update you should they be rescheduled for a later date. 

Assessments: 

• The U.S. The Department of Education has cancelled all assessments, summative designations, and reporting on accountability metrics for the 2019-20 school year. All D76 assessments (IAR and STAR) have been cancelled.  

Breakfast Items Added: 

• Starting Monday, March 30 we will be adding breakfast items to the food pick-up menu.
• Pick-up times will be from to 10:00am - 11:00am. 
• All students, 18 years of age or under, will receive one bag for each day that will contain both breakfast and lunch.
• Food pickup will be available ONLY on the following days:
• Monday, March 30: (pick up 2 meals. 1 for Monday, 3.30 AND Tuesday, 3.31)
• Wednesday, April 1: (pick up 3 meals. 1 for Wednesday, 4.1, Thursday, 4.2, AND Friday, 4.3)
• Monday, April 6: (pick up 2 meals. 1 for Monday, 4.6 AND Tuesday, 4.7)
• Should mandated school closures extend past April 7, we will update our plan with additional dates

Thank you for your support and flexibility. I will continue to communicate in a timely and transparent manner.

Embrace = Empower = Excel...Each Child = Each Day,