Q. As the District is following the physical distancing guideline of 3 feet and “close contacts” are defined by 6 feet, does this impact the number of individuals who may be quarantined? Updated 4/9/21
Yes. As you may know from earlier communications, Geneva CUSD 304 is adhering to the recently updated “Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools” by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education. These guidelines allow for 3 feet of physical distancing when other mitigation strategies are met. At the same time, these guidelines also require contact tracing protocols which define a “close contact” as anyone (with or without a face covering) who was within 6 feet of a confirmed case of COVID-19 (with or without a face covering) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over each 24-hour period during the infectious period.
This may impact more individuals, as they are determined to be “close contacts” and quarantined for 14 days, and we will work to support students during this transition. While we understand that this may cause frustrations, as a school district we need to follow these guidelines in order to best ensure the safety of our school community. We will continue to follow these guidelines until informed otherwise by IDPH and the Kane County Health Department.
What are the recommendations regarding travel? Updated 3/24/21
Geneva 304 advises that individuals refer to and follow CDC and IDPH directives regarding travel. In order to support community health and in-person learning, the District asks for the school community to continue to act responsibly and follow health department directives. Below are current links to the CDC travel information:
Travel during COVID 19 including Domestic Travel:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html
Testing and International Air Travel:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-air-travel.html
If your child will be out of school after travel while your family is following the CDC’s travel directives, you may call in your child’s absence ahead of time.
Q. What will recess look like at the elementary level and will the playgrounds be used? Updated 3/24/21
Elementary students will participate in recess. Playground equipment and balls will be used by one classroom at a time. Supervised hand cleaning will be required before and after use of equipment. Masks will be required while using the equipment. Playground equipment will be disinfected daily.
Q. Why is there a Transportation opt-out form and who should consider completing it? Updated 3/23/21
Q. If my student is enrolled in the In-Person Learning model and we want to maintain our current bus transportation support, do I still need to fill out this form or take further action? 3/23/21
No, the District will maintain existing transportation for your student if no further action is taken.
Q. Where can I find the most recent information about the district's return to five-day In-Person Learning? 3/22/21
At a Special Meeting on March 22, the Geneva CUSD 304 Board of Education approved updates to the District’s 2020-21 Back Together 304 plan, which reflects the most recent changes in guidance by IDPH and ISBE. The District’s approved plan allows for a safe and effective transition to five-day in-person instruction for all students currently enrolled in the In-Person Learning model.
A new document "Back Together 304 Plan: Updated March 2021" reflects the information shared at tonight’s meeting and includes a comprehensive overview of the learning models and the health & safety procedures. To read this document, please visit the
Back Together 304 page.
Some essential components of this plan include:
- In-Person Learning Model: Beginning April 5, students currently enrolled in the In-Person Learning model will attend school five days a week. Additional information regarding these plans is below.
- Online-Only Learning Model: Students currently enrolled in Online-Only Learning model committed through the remainder of the school year will continue in their learning model. No further action is needed.
A message will be sent to families via 304Connects with additional information. Please stay tuned to your email for additional updates.
Q. Can families with students enrolled in the In-Person Learning model switch learning models? Updated 3/22/21
The District has prepared a fully off-site learning plan as an option for current In-Person Learning students as an alternative to attending school five days a week. That option includes:
- At the elementary level, this would require a student to be assigned to a new class/teacher.
- At the middle school level, this would require a schedule change and reduce offerings to core classes.
- At the high school level, students would remain enrolled in their current classes and join a Concurrent Learning Model with live streaming from the classroom for daily learning.
Q. Where can I find more information about the recently revised public health guidance for schools?
On March 9, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education released “
Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools.” We are reviewing the updated mitigation strategies and believe that this information, combined with the feedback that our District is collecting from families this week, will help us as we continue to work on plans to maximize in-person learning for students in a safe environment. We will keep our school community updated as we move forward in our Back Together 304 plan.
Q. Where can I find more information about the updates to the K-12 Hybrid In-Person schedule communicated on Feb. 9?
According to the Feb. 9 communication, Feb. 25 is now a B day for students enrolled in In-Person Hybrid learning. The updated AB schedule can be found
at this link.
Q. Where can I find more information about the updates to the K-12 Hybrid In-Person schedule and Remote Learning Days that the Board of Education approved on Jan. 11?
The complete message, which explains the adjustments to the AB schedule beginning Jan. 29, can be found
at this link.
Q. Where can I find more information about the return to on-site learning communicated on Dec. 2?
The complete message, which explains the District's return to on-site learning beginning Monday, Dec. 7, can be found at
this link.
Q. Where can I find more information about the "adaptive pause" communicated on Nov. 16?
On Nov. 17, the Kane County Health Department recommended that all school districts in Kane County take an adaptive pause, due to the continued spread of the virus and its impact on our community. Immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday and starting on Monday, Nov. 30, all Geneva CUSD 304 students will transition to full remote instruction through at least Friday, Dec. 4. At this time, we are planning for a possible return to on-site learning on Monday, Dec. 7, while continuing to evaluate the situation. The complete message sent by 304Connects can be found at this
link.
Q. What are the daily schedules for the Nov. 30-Dec. 4 Adaptive Pause Remote Learning Days?
Each level has a specific schedule that all students will follow throughout the district. Please see below for each schedule.
Q. How will a typical day look for my child during the Nov. 30-Dec. 4 Adaptive Pause ?
• On adaptive pause remote learning days, A/B In-Person Hybrid learners will become one learning group.
• Attendance will be taken daily at the elementary and every period at middle school and high school.
• Grades will be applied.
• Each subject block at the elementary and period at the middle school and high school will have a synchronous period of time, as well as asynchronous periods of time.
• Students are expected to log into Microsoft Teams at the start of each day.
• Each level has a specific schedule that all students will follow throughout the district. The schedules are provided in the answer above.
• Friday, Dec. 4 is a half-day of student attendance as previously scheduled.
Q. Where can I find the updated A/B schedule?
The A/B schedule has been updated on Nov. 17, and can be found
at this link.
Q. Where can I find the updated school calendar?
An updated District calendar was approved by the Board of Education on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2020, and is posted on the District website
at this link. The plan includes these important updates:
•
State-allowed Remote Planning Days (RPDs) will be applied as 6 half-days on the calendar.
•
Any half-days scheduled on the 2020-21 District calendar will be an off-site learning day for all K-12 students (A & B students will learn from home those days). The updated A/B schedule can be found
at this link.
•
Staff will utilize the remainder of those days for planning, collaboration, and professional development.
•
The learning activities provided to K-12 students on those off-site learning days may vary by grade level, and moving forward all schools will be communicating further information to families about the specific learning schedules and expectations.
The District will continue to communicate additional details with families. Please stay tuned to the District website and 304 Connects. Thank you.
Q. What can I expect from my child’s teacher if my student is absent due to COVID-19-related circumstances??
It is important to note that we have always had student absences of varying lengths; during this unprecedented year, our default practice will be to treat student absences as would in any typical year. Teachers will continue to push out assignments, and students who are feeling well may access and complete any work that comes their way. Additionally, teachers can save work for students to complete upon their return, and if students are part of the in-person learning setting, they can continue to access any work provided for off-site learning days via Microsoft Teams. ?
Q. What is a teacher’s availability if we have questions during the school day?
In our hybrid A/B plan, teachers are working hard during the school day supporting both their on-site students and providing learning activities for off-site students. Teachers may not be available to communicate with parents during the regular hours of the school day because their focus will be on supporting students during this time. Our teachers will do their best to follow up with families and students as they have done in a typical year.
In the meantime, if a student or parent needs technical support, we have the following supports in place: First, please check for answers to your questions on the
1:1 Troubleshooting Guide. To request additional help, a student may open a
Web Help Desk Ticket, or a parent may email
Home Access Center Support and describe the issue. An alternative, especially for younger students, is to open a Web Help Desk Ticket by using your child's login information.
Q. Has Geneva 304 considered a shared learning platform that all students will be expected to use?
Yes, Geneva 304 is utilizing Microsoft Teams as the common starting point for all K-12 students and teachers. Teams will be the one-stop shop for students to:
- Start their day
- Access their class resources or school information
- Participate in online meetings with their teachers
- Perform other routine tasks such as ordering lunch or indicating their attendance
Today, a message was emailed to families via 304 Connects with a preview of what that experience will be like for students. Please see a copy of that message at
this link. Next week, all students will be receiving a student checklist from their teachers containing important steps they will need to take to set up their Teams app. Also,
email instructions have been sent to families for conducting 1:1 device updates for grades 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. After you complete this update from home, students' 1:1 devices will automatically launch Microsoft Teams upon startup, for your convenience! (Devices provided to students in grades K-3, 6 and 9 already have this feature installed.)
To watch the sneak preview video for Middle School Students,
click here.
To watch the sneak preview video for High School Students,
click here.
Q. Where can I find a copy of the A/B In-Person schedule?
Please see the most recent version of this schedule
at this link.
Q. Where can I find the updated school calendar?
The District calendar that was approved by the Board of Education on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, is posted on the District website
at this link. Please note the new first day of school for students K-12 is now Monday, Aug. 31. The first day of school for the Geneva Early Learning Program is Wednesday, Sept. 2. The District will continue to communicate additional details with families. Please stay tuned to the District website and 304 Connects. Thank you.
Q. Where can I find the joint statement regarding updates to the Back Together 304 plan?
The communication that was sent today can be found
at this link. It also has been emailed via 304 Connects, posted on the home page of the District website, and on its Facebook and Twitter pages.
Q. Will middle school Accelerated & Enrichment classes be offered in the Online-Only Learning model?
Yes, online accelerated Language Arts and Math classes will be offered at the middle school level.
Q. Will elementary Accelerated & Enrichment classes be offered in the Online-Only Learning model?
Yes, elementary A/E students who are enrolled in the Online-Only Learning model will have the opportunity for enrichment in reading and acceleration in math. Such opportunities may include differentiation, small-group enrichment, and some self-paced work and may not be provided by an A/E teacher. Additional details regarding online-only A/E programming at the elementary level will be determined once final enrollment in Online-Only Learning has been established.
Q. In addition to the information provided on this page, where can I get more details about the In-Person Learning and the Online-Only Learning options?The Back Together 304 Learning Plan for 2020-21 has been posted to the website
at this link. This document provides a framework for the overall plan, organized by each option. We also encourage families to review the
Back Together 304 webpage, which includes all recent District 304 communications, family resources, and state guidance.
Q. Will GHS students who select Online-Only Learning have the opportunity to take courses beyond the standard list of core academics and graduation requirements?
The district is exploring ways to provide Online-Only Learning students with additional courses beyond the core classes that have previously been shared. Some additional elective and accelerated offerings will be available to Online-Only students. Once families have selected their learning option, the district will evaluate the master schedule and notify online-only families what additional courses will be available.
Q. How will fees be affected for families who select In-Person Learning?
Families of students who select In-Person Learning will be responsible for all fees for the 2020-21 school year as previously shared with families during the registration process. While a discounted fee structure was evaluated, the resources needed to provide quality instructional experiences and safe learning environments during this unique experience outweigh the consideration.
Q. What will elementary recess look like?
Students will participate in recess during their In-Person Learning days. Masks will not be required when students are outside if appropriate distancing can be maintained. Playground equipment will not be used due to cleaning/disinfecting requirements. Students will have to wash their hands upon returning to the building.
Q. If my child participates in In-Person Learning and receives special education services, what is the number of in-person attendance days?
If you choose the In-Person Learning Option for your special education student who receives special education services through a Learning Behavior Specialist/Special Education Teacher, Vision Teacher or Hearing Teacher, this child will attend school in-person daily (5 days per week). This will ensure that s/he receives the services that are listed on her/his Individualized Education Plan.
The District is encouraging parents/guardians to elect the In-Person Learning Option for their special education student so that students can work on all IEP goals, make progress in the general education curriculum, and receive services listed in their IEP. Additionally, guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education strongly encourages daily in-person learning occurs for students who receive special education services.
If you have further questions regarding the In-Person or Online Only Learning Options for students who receive special education services, please contact the following staff:
- Elementary: Please contact Jamie Benavides, Assistant Director of Student Services for Resource Services, at jbenavides@geneva304.org; or Melissa Groot, Student Services Coordinator for FAST and SLC, at mgroot@geneva304.org; or your building principal.
- Middle School: Please contact Melissa Groot, Student Services Coordinator, at mgroot@geneva304.org or your building principal.
- High School: Please contact Shannon DelRe, GHS Student Service Coordinator, at sdelre@geneva304.org