March 22, 2021
Dear GHS Students and Parents/Guardians,
Due to the updated guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) we are excited to welcome students back to GHS for five days per week learning starting Monday, April 5
th. Before you read the remainder of this letter, please click
HERE to view a short video about this information.
Included in this document are many important details about our return to school five days per week. But as we prepare for that transition, I would ask for your help. We are looking forward to students returning to GHS every day, but in order for our plan to succeed we need students to be healthy when they arrive at school each day. Please make good, healthy decisions between now and the end of the school year.
Key Points- GHS is able to return to five-day per week learning with very limited changes to student schedules. Those unique situations that require a change will be handled on an individual basis.
- While IDPH and ISBE guidance allows for new social distancing guidelines in classrooms (see below) the guidelines have not changed when students are eating without a mask. A minimum of six feet of separation is required when eating. Therefore, due to space, furniture, supervision, and cleaning constraints, the GHS daily class schedule will not include lunch from April 5th, until the end of the school year. Sodexo, our district food service, will provide a “grab & go” sack lunch to all students free of charge at the end of the school day.
Daily Schedule (This time schedule will be followed by in-person and remote learners from April 5th, until the end of the school year)
Early Bird – 6:53 – 7:35
1st Period – 7:40 – 8:22
2nd Period – 8:27 – 9:09
3rd Period – 9:14 – 10:00
4-5,4-6,5-6 – 10:05 – 10:47
6-7,6-8,7-8 – 10:52 – 11:34
9th Period – 11:39 – 12:21
10th Period – 12:26 – 1:09
Students will have the opportunity to seek assistance from their teachers after school each day. More detailed information about teacher availability and other intervention opportunities will be forthcoming.
Social Distancing, Safety and Cleaning Measures
- The new guidance from IDPH and ISBE states that “schools can operate at no less than 3 feet in order to provide in-person learning.”
- We know the maximum number of students that will be in a classroom each period, we have measured rooms and the desks will safely fit in the rooms using the new guidelines.
- All students, staff, and visitors must continue to properly wear a mask inside GHS. This expectation will continue to be enforced by all staff members. Thank you in advance for your continued cooperation with this very important expectation.
- Protocols will remain in place for cleaning classroom desks between each class. At the end of the class period, teachers will distribute a paper towel to each student in the room, then spray each desk with a sanitizer/virucide cleaner. Each student will then wipe off their own desk. When each student gets up from their desk at the end of the period the teacher will then spray a second, alcohol-based sanitizing spray on the desk that will dry on its own. The cleaning products have been carefully chosen and are safe for use in our classrooms.
- Our hallways are divided with center lines to keep traffic flow moving safely and efficiently during passing periods.
Concurrent Learning
Our hope is that all current in-person hybrid students will return to five days per week in-person learning. However, for a variety of reasons, we recognize this may not be possible for everyone. While the primary focus of our teachers will be on in-person teaching each period, we will be offering a concurrent learning opportunity so students can remain enrolled in their current classes. Students who opt for concurrent learning must remain concurrent for the remainder of the semester.
- At a minimum, teachers will use technology in their classroom that will allow concurrent learners to listen to their teachers during the class period. Some teachers will choose to stream video of their classroom as well.
- The concurrent learning option is only available to students who are unable to return to five days per week in-person learning, students who may have to quarantine (QIP) if they test positive for Covid, have Covid-like symptoms, are determined to be a close contact, or who have some other type of approved long-term absence.
- Daily absences other than those listed above will be treated like a traditional absence and students must communicate with their teacher regarding make-up work.
- There may be a need in some courses for teachers to assign asynchronous work in very limited cases if a course requires lab work, group work, or hands-on projects that cannot be delivered concurrently.
- Daily attendance will be required for all concurrent learners each class period.
- Concurrent students will be required, unless there is a medical reason that prohibits it, to come to the building to take assessments in the GHS Assessment Center (the Assessment Center is open from 7:00 – 4:00 each day). Some teachers may make other arrangements for assessments. We will continue to observe six feet of distancing in the assessment center.
- Concurrent learners that need to come into the building for any reason must bring a self-certification form when they arrive.
Morning Arrival
- For Early Bird students, the building will open at 6:45 a.m.
- For all other students, the building will continue to be open beginning at 7:20 a.m. Thank you for the adjustments you have made to your drop-off or arrival times throughout this school year.
- Bus students will continue to enter the building through the Contest Gym doors.
- Students driving or being dropped off may enter through the Main Entrance, the Mack Olson Gym Entrance, or the Center Street doors.
Afternoon Dismissal
- Students who need to stay at school after 1:09 because they do not have transportation back to school for extra-curricular activities may pick up a “grab & go” lunch, eat in the cafeteria and remain there until their activity begins after 2:45.
Daily Symptom Screening
- Joint guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health requires that every student undergo a daily symptom screening prior to utilizing School District transportation or entering any School District building.
- We ask that you please be diligent about sending your child to school with a signed slip each morning.
Food and Water in the Classroom
- Eating and drinking are not allowed in the classroom unless a student has an accommodation due to a medical diagnosis on file in the Health Office and communicates the need to their teacher.
Physical Education Class (PE)
- Students will continue to have PE each day they are in attendance, but students will not be changing into a PE uniform for the remainder of the year. Thus, we will not be utilizing the PE locker rooms. Weather permitting, PE classes will go outside each day where they will participate in light fitness activities.
- It is highly recommended that students wear comfortable shoes and clothing each day or bring a comfortable pair of shoes to change into during PE.
- Students may bring a water bottle and snack to drink and eat while their PE class is outside.
Hall Lockers
- Lockers have been assigned to each student. However, we will continue to permit students to use backpacks for the remainder of the year for transporting belongings from class to class so the use of lockers will be minimized during passing periods.
- Students should only go to their locker before school to store things if necessary, before PE if necessary, and after school.
I have always appreciated the cooperation and respect from our students and the partnership and support provided by our parent community. Let’s work together to do the best we can to make the remainder of this school year a positive one for everyone.
If you have any questions about any of the information in this message or need assistance, please contact me at (630) 463-3805 or at
[email protected]. You may also contact the GHS main office at (630) 463-3800.
Sincerely,
Tom Rogers, Principal
Geneva Community High School