Dear District 99 Community:
Thank you for your patience as we determined our schedule and procedures as we follow the state’s stay-at-home orders through April. Although our physical buildings are closed, learning will continue. In addition, we will continue to support our students’ emotional needs and offer meals to any student in need.
We have created this “D99 Remote Learning Days Guidance for Students and Families” document to guide you through our new learning environment. This Remote Learning Plan is based on the Illinois State Board of Education guidelines, teacher feedback from our two weeks before break, student feedback that was collected and analyzed, and parent feedback that we have received.
Highlights of Remote Learning Days
- District 99 will continue with Remote Learning Days throughout the month of April and will follow a “block schedule.” To prepare for this new schedule, Monday, April 6 and Tuesday, April 7 have been designated as Teacher Planning Days. There will be no student instruction or responsibilities on these days. On Wednesday, April 8, our Remote Learning schedule will begin. See the schedule.
- Teachers will use Google classroom to post all lessons, assignments and reminders by 9 a.m. the day the class is scheduled to meet.
- Students should check their email regularly. Classes may or may not meet virtually (synchronously) during the assigned block time. If teachers do hold a class virtually, they will do so at their regularly assigned time.
- Every Friday is reserved as a wrap-up of the week and for students to seek additional help from and connections with their teachers, if needed. Teachers will be communicating their Office Hours to students; these times are when they are available in “real time” to help.
- For attendance, students must check in once each day, Monday through Thursday, by 6 p.m. on this Google form. If students do not check in or call in absent, they will be marked as absent. If a student does not engage in learning during the week, they will be marked absent by the teacher on Friday. We ask that you please fill out this form to report positive confirmations of a student or a family member in a student’s household.
- Teachers will continue to use the electronic gradebook (Home Access Center) to track assignments and record grades. Although semester grades cannot go down during Remote Learning, a student may receive an incomplete if they do not participate in remote learning.
- Remote Learning Days are school days. Students are expected to keep up with their assignments and engage in learning activities as they would during the regular calendar year. This is the best way to ensure that learning progresses during this time. We also want to make sure that we are helping to care for students.
I ask that students and families all keep in mind that everyone is new to Remote Learning. It is ok to make mistakes - it is absolutely expected that we all will. I ask that everyone only worry about what they can control and be patient. Please do your best. Your best is enough.
Continuation of Meals
In partnership with our affiliated school districts, District 99 will continue to provide food for those in need. See the process for next week, starting Monday, April 6.
A reminder that the Village of Woodridge is hosting a Woodridge Drive-Up Food Pantry on Friday, April 3 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., at Cypress Cove, 8301 S. Janes Avenue for those who need help.
Thank You
This is not an ideal situation. We are asking for patience, flexibility and most of all, grace, during these challenging times. We are asking everyone to do their best. We will learn and adjust as we move forward, and welcome your feedback along the way. You can find all of the information related to these changes at csd99.org/updates. Our Positively North and Mustang Way programs help us to foster a positive school climate, where we are all “respectful, responsible and engaged.” Now more than ever before we should be inspired by these ideals.
Although our society is full of uncertainty right now, I’m confident that keeping our teachers and learning in your child’s life will help provide some degree of normalcy and stability.
Thank you again for your patience and support. Together, we will do our best for our students.
Thank you,
Dr. Hank Thiele
District 99 Superintendent