I hope you are all continuing to do well under the "stay-at-home" order. Last week was certainly chaotic in the Garland household as I attempted to primarily work from home, adapt to my college-aged daughter being under my roof full-time again, convince my 8th-grader that his at-home learning was not optional and worry that my firefighter/paramedic husband may expose himself or our family to COVID-19. Among the chaos, we also managed to make some precious family memories. I'm the proud mother of a young man with Down syndrome. He did not let World Down Syndrome Day pass on March 21st without declaring it his day and insisting we eat cake and dance. I enjoyed several walks with my daughter discussing her post-college plans, listened to many private guitar, baritone and trombone performances by my son and introduced my kids to some cinema classics such as Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. I'm still working on convincing them that I'm not technically a Boomer!
Like all of you, we are trying to make the best of a bad situation. I'm working on giving myself and my family grace during this time and finding all the little things to celebrate that we can. Today is National Chip and Dip day and the Garlands will be partaking!
I found this information helpful as I work to figure out my family's new temporary normal. I hope you find it helpful as well. Managing Stress and Anxiety - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
~Mrs. Garland 🧡
Mrs. Kunstman Brightens Our Day
We have seen people under quarantine around the world turn to music and song as a way to manage their stress. Mrs. Kunstman put together this wonderful video of her performing many of the songs your children sing during their Music Exploratory class. We hope that your children enjoy this video and that it brings familiarity and a sense of normalcy to their day. Enjoy!!
Spirit Week
We are fortunate to have 4 wonderful Instructional Coaches that work across our elementary schools. They too are missing their time with staff and students and wanted to have a little fun together. Today starts a district-wide Spirit Week! Join teachers and students across Kaneland in #D302 Spirit Week! We hope that you all take some to participate in these fun and creative spirit days!
From Kaneland CUSD #302Curriculum Department:
Dear Students and Parents,
We know that the continued school closure is frustrating for all and hope you are finding time to complete the at-home learning activities. We want to assure all of you that we are taking every step needed to continue to build content that meets the state recommendations for this unique time in learning as well as provide continued learning for students. Remember that for Kaneland Schools Spring break is still scheduled for March 30 - April 5. Following spring break, the administration and teaching staff will be moving towards teachers being more involved with giving our students remote learning opportunities that more directly connect with the curriculum in our classrooms.
Please remember that every child is in a unique situation with the ability to access, engage, and complete their learning expectations. Our task as educators is to provide experiences that meet all students’ needs. We ask that every family remains supportive and positive during this time. We are working diligently to provide content and experiences for students while managing the guidance that shifts often. Thank you for those that have sent positive words and support - It is truly appreciated.
This week, continue to work on any of the activities that were sent last week and here are a few others that are recommended for your grade span. We hope you will take time to continue reading, learning, and exploring for at least 2 to 3 hours per weekday. We cannot wait to begin school again and hope you are finding ways to continue to connect to learning as well as taking time with family. Please remember the following guidance from the State of Illinois that Kaneland is currently working under:
- Any at-home learning is not required at this time
- Any at-home learning is not to explore new content but rather enhance the learning that had already begun during school face to face sessions
- There will be no penalty for a student not completing the at-home learning tasks
- At home learning cannot impact a student’s current grade negatively
- At home learning is to engage learners not to replace the lessons or experiences they would be having during face to face school
Please know over the course of the past week we have been working hard on future learning options and guidelines. Please see the progress of the learning options below.
At-Home Learning Exploration- Our Current District Focus Through Spring Break (April 5th)
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At-Home Learning to Enhance Your Grade Standing
(Week of April 6th)
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Remote Learning for Grade Enhancement
(TBD based on state guidance)
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-Focuses on activities that are generally linked to grade level or grade span
-The purpose is to keep a learning routine for the child
-The purpose is to engage in learning to stay motivated
-Very general experiences
-Self-paced and self-selected from various resources
-No specific feedback on progress shared with students
-Provided by Educational Service Department
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-Focuses on resources that are linked to grade span specific Common Core Standards
-The purpose is to recall learning in content areas that were directly linked to what was learned during face to face sessions
-Students should select learning options shared based on the content they were learning during the last week of regular school sessions (this may vary per student)
-Resources are shared in general by grade span
-No specific feedback is given to students
-Provided by Educational Service Department
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-Focuses on learning activities that are selected per student or groups of students
-The purpose is to complete and learning from the activities in order to show learning progression to enhance a current grade
-Students will be given specific learning options that they may focus on in order to show evidence of further learning in a content area
-Specific feedback on progress shared within one week to students upon completion
-Provided by Teachers
-Posted hours for support from Teachers on the learning tasks will be posted during this time
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E-Learning for Personalized Learning
(Future plans for Kaneland per the Strategic Plan)
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-Focus is to provide online learning experiences that are tailored to each child
-Learning conferences will be utilized to monitor learning progress through a customized path
-Blended learning options for students to select learning based on their styles, preferences, and organizational abilities
-Specific content co-constructed and selected with the student and the educator
-Specific feedback shared through learning conferences that focus on the next steps in learning
-Provided by the Learning Facilitator
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Early Childhood: (packet of activities to download)
K-2nd:
*Select articles from https://www.
1. What are 2 key points you learned from the article?
2. How might this article impact the choices you make?
3. What would you want to learn more about?
*Read at least 3 books per day from this website: https://www.digitallibrary.io/
For each book answer the following:
1. Describe the main character
2. Describe the setting
3. What was the main conflict or event that happened in the story
4. Create a different ending for the book.
*Take a moment to consider one place you would like to visit. Take time to research online (with older sibling or parents support) the location you want to visit. Create a travel poster sharing the best things about that place. Be sure to use descriptive words.
*Log onto https://www.brainpop.com/math/ and explore learning games in all content areas
*Select your reading based on your level: https://classroommagazines.
For each text you read answer the following: 1. What was the overall lesson or message? 2. Who were the main characters or facts? 3. What further questions do you have?
*Continue to practice math facts using: https://www.ixl.com/math/
*Listen to the Dot: https://vimeo.com/315352814 Create your own story based on what you heard in the shared reading.
*One Pager Book Analysis: Please see this link
3rd-5th:
*Select articles from https://www.
* Select articles from this website: https://www.nytimes.com/
* Read at least one of the longer passages at your grade level from this website: https://www.digitallibrary.io/
1. What was the conflict in the text?
2. What actions did the main character do to resolve any conflict?
3. What was the overall lesson learned?
*Take a moment to consider one place you would like to visit. Take time to research online (with older sibling or parents support) the location you want to visit. Create a travel brochure sharing the best things about that place, the facts that describe that place, a picture of the location, and the top activities you can do at the location. Be sure to use descriptive words.
*Log onto I-Ready and continue lessons in your math and reading content area. https://login.i-ready.com/ (be sure to log on from your child’s computer using the KAL)
*Explore some creative learning options at https://www.elementari.io/
*Explore lessons through this website: https://www.katemessner.com/
*Select your reading based on your level: https://classroommagazines.
For each text, you read answer the following: 1. What was the overall lesson or message? 2. Who were the main characters or facts? 3. What further questions do you have? 4. Consider how it may have ended differently. Rewrite the ending or create an extension.
*Continue to practice math facts using: https://www.ixl.com/math/
*Conduct these fun at-home Science experiments: https://www.mkewithkids.com/
* 3rd-grade Typing Quest: https://online3.typingmaster.
Use your school username and password to log in
* 4th-grade Typing Agent: https://app.typingagent.com/
Use the Google login button to log in when using your Chromebooks
* 5th-grade Typing Club: https://kaneland.typingclub.
Use the Google login button to log in when using your Chromebooks
*One Pager Choose your Own Adventure: See this link
*One Pager Picture Book Analysis: See link
Kaneland Lunch Distribution
School Lunch Update
As the Governor stated in the press conference, school lunches will continue to be available based on the Stay at Home Order. Our NEW schedule is below - this plan will maximize lunch opportunities while also supporting social distancing. We will provide lunches as long as we have the supplies and materials and the Governor’s guidance allows. Thank you for the generous offer of donations, but we cannot take any at this time due to Federal Guidelines.
As the Governor stated in the press conference, school lunches will continue to be available based on the Stay at Home Order. Our NEW schedule is below - this plan will maximize lunch opportunities while also supporting social distancing. We will provide lunches as long as we have the supplies and materials and the Governor’s guidance allows. Thank you for the generous offer of donations, but we cannot take any at this time due to Federal Guidelines.
Mondays - Fridays - 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the following locations - NEW!!!
Please use the main entrance for each school.
Kaneland John Stewart Elementary School, 817 Prairie Valley Street, Elburn, IL
*Kaneland John Shields Elementary School, 85 S. Main Street, Sugar Grove, IL
Kaneland McDole Elementary School, 2901 Foxmoor Drive, Montgomery, IL
*Maple Park Fire Department, 305 S. County Line Rd., Maple Park, IL (north door)
*Kaneland John Shields Elementary School, 85 S. Main Street, Sugar Grove, IL
Kaneland McDole Elementary School, 2901 Foxmoor Drive, Montgomery, IL
*Maple Park Fire Department, 305 S. County Line Rd., Maple Park, IL (north door)
NOTE: There will not be a pickup available at Harter Middle School any longer. * New locations for school lunch distribution.
School Playgrounds
Play Grounds
Per Illinois Executive Order 2020-10, all district playgrounds are closed to public use until further notice. The same applies to school-related playgrounds and the KHS and KHMS tracks.
Per Illinois Executive Order 2020-10, all district playgrounds are closed to public use until further notice. The same applies to school-related playgrounds and the KHS and KHMS tracks.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
State Testing and Advanced Placement Testing
Per President Trump, the United States Department of Education will not enforce standardized testing requirements this year. When Kaneland students return to school, teachers will utilize the remaining days for instruction and not for standardized testing for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Per President Trump, the United States Department of Education will not enforce standardized testing requirements this year. When Kaneland students return to school, teachers will utilize the remaining days for instruction and not for standardized testing for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
