Dear Highlands Families, I hope you have had a great summer and that you are getting excited about returning to school. While there are definitely things outside our control as we head into this school year, the Highlands staff is going to focus our time and energy on the things we can influence. We can be intentional about building strong relationships with our students and fostering a great sense of community. We can provide our students with world-class instruction and learning opportunities. We can model perseverance and a commitment to stay positive when circumstances are less than ideal. We are committed to making this a wonderful year for our students and are looking forward to partnering with you in this effort. Please carefully review the information below and respond with the necessary information using the linked form. If you have any questions, concerns, or would just like to meet, I would love to find a time to connect. In service to the students and staff of Highlands, John Munch, Superintendent Important Information Included in this Communication
Avoiding Unnecessary Student QuarantinesThrough social distancing and the use of assigned seating, we are going to make every effort to minimize the number of students who are required to quarantine if there is a confirmed case of COVID at school. If your child is a close contact or becomes symptomatic while at school, we currently have the ability to use point of care testing in our health offices. This testing will eliminate or shorten your child's quarantine if s/he tests negative using a rapid COVID test. In order to employ this strategy with your child to reduce unnecessary student quarantines, we need your permission by completing the form provided in the following section. Information Needed for All StudentsPlease use the form linked below to provide us with the required one-time self-certification for each student. You will also be given the option to update your child's vaccination status, provide us with permission to administer a COVID test if needed to avoid a quarantine, and sign your child up for voluntary COVID surveillance testing. When a Student Tests Positive, is Symptomatic, or Was In Close Contact with a Positive Case of COVIDThe flowchart linked below should help you understand our course of action if your child tests positive, exhibits a potential COVID symptom, or was in close contact with a positive case of COVID. In each of these potential instances, communication with your school's office about your child's current health and attendance will be key. School-Specific Information From the PrincipalsPlease use these links to access important school-specific information from Ms. Magruder and Mr. Papierski. FYI- middle school schedules and elementary school teacher assignments will be made available via Schoolology (elementary school) and the D106 website (middle school) on Thursday, August 12th. Masks, Mitigations, & Next StepsMASKS- Per the recent executive order by Governor Pritzker, masks must be worn by all students, staff, and visitors when inside a school, regardless of their vaccination status. A recent letter from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala reinforced the fact that the Governor's executive order has the force of law. In no uncertain terms, Dr. Ayala stated that local boards of education do not have the authority to deny the Governor’s Executive Order requiring universal indoor masking in schools. SOCIAL DISTANCING- Our students will be able to maintain at least 3' of social distancing when seated at their desks and in the lunchroom. There may be times when students are less than 3' apart, such as when they are gathered for small group instruction with the teacher. OTHER MITIGATIONS- Hand washing, optimized ventilation, seating charts, contact tracing, and CDC-aligned cleaning and sanitation routines will all be used to bolster our health and safety efforts. While they are not part of our standard classroom mitigations for this year, plexiglass workspace barriers are available. If you would like one for your child to use in the classroom while seated at his/her desk, please let your building principal know. NEXT STEPS- During this initial phase when all students are required to wear a mask, we will collect data on the prevalence of positive cases and in-school transmissions in Highlands schools. That D106 data, community metrics, and health department guidance will all inform our effort to find the right balance between safety and a return to our students' typical school experience. If you missed last week's communication on the masking and other mitigation efforts, you can access it using the link below.
We are introducing a new food service vendor to LaGrange Highlands for 2021-2022. Just A Dash Catering has been successfully serving the students in a neighboring district for several years and we are very excited to partner with them for this upcoming school year. Ordering is currently available for the first two weeks of school. The links below provide directions on how to order, access to the ordering portal, and additional information on Just A Dash and the nutritional values of their meals. |