Mid-January Edition

 Handy Information

Hybrid Fall Learning Calendar

Kaneland CUSD Phase 4 Full Remote Plan

UPDATED Kaneland Fall 2020 A/B Learning Calendar

District Calendar 2020-2021

No School January 18, 2021

On Monday, January 18th we will not have school - synchronous or asynchronous. With so many days off this past year, I'd like to challenge our families to find a way to serve others - safely, of course. While volunteering at food banks and such might not be something people feel safe doing at this time, check out these child-friendly and socially distant ways you could serve:

• pick up garbage in the neighborhood
• shovel the sidewalk or driveway of a neighbor or someone you know who could use a hand
• write an uplifting note and send it to a distant friend, relative, or nursing home
• Share a picture or note with our local public services - fire, police, and community services are all things we are grateful for and only remember when they don't work
• We have some amazing small businesses that have worked creatively to stay open - patronize them and share with others what a treasure they are for our community.
• Check in with your local place of worship or with local philanthropies like the Elburn Lions - I'm sure they have ways you can get involved and give back to this wonderful community.

My guess is that many of you have read the list and have done or already doing many of these ideas - a big THANK YOU for making our community strong by supporting one another. You'll find your children are watching and learning from the example you set!

Congratulations to ALL of our 4th and 5th Grade Spellers

Top Four Spellers: Winner - Addison

1st Place - Colette, 2nd Place - Maddox, 3rd Place - Braden 

(Please check the John Stewart Elementary Facebook Page for more pictures from today's event)

Hybrid learner Wednesday schedule for January Kindergarten-5th grade

January Wednesdays:

1-20: A Day (due to Monday holiday)

1-27: B Day

February Wednesday Schedule:

2-3: A day

2-10: Asynchronous learning K-5

2-17: A day

2-24: B day

Wear It Wednesday

Think of this as a spirit week throughout the year. Feel free to participate whether you are at home learning or at school learning. We will post a reminder on our school Facebook page each week. Here is a sneak peek of the upcoming Wednesday events.

1/20/21 - Mismatch clothes day - A day

1/27/21 - Western Wear (Cowboy/cowgirl) - B day

2/3/21 - College Day - A day

2/10/21 - Show the Love Day - dress in red, white, hearts (Asynchronous learning K-5)

2/17/21 - Disney and Marvel Day - A day

2/24/21 - Sports Day - B day

Valentine's Day Parties

Our school will celebrate Valentine's day on February 11 for A day students and February 12 for B day students. This will be similar to our Halloween festivities in that the classroom teachers will infuse Valentine Day activities into the curriculum. We WILL NOT be trading Valentine Day cards or passing out other candy and trinkets.

Incoming Kindergarten Registration

February 20th we will be holding Kindergarten registration. It will look very different this year! It will be held at the home school your child is attending and is focusing solely on registration. Packets of information will be shared for enrichment activities that are typically found at the fair. A Sign-Up Genius will be coming out to have assigned times to ensure distance protocols and allow each family the time needed. This is not something your child needs to attend. Be on the lookout for more information.

This date is also a time that people interested in the preschool program can share their interests with us.

Self-Certification

The following has been sent out to families since the beginning of the school year. Our goal is to keep our students IN school to learn - it works when EVERYONE follows these procedures.

Each student attendance day, we will be requiring families to self-certify that their child is healthy and not exhibiting any of the COVID-19 symptoms. It is imperative that if your child is displaying symptoms they stay home and follow the IDPH guidelines. Student (parent) self-certification that will be REQUIRED to complete each school no later than 8am. We would like for parents to login and try it out - some families have shared they will set an alarm to remind them daily on their phone.

1. Please use this Self Certification web site at www.kaneland.org/covid and login using your Tyler Parent Email and Password.
   
   

2. Once you are logged in, for each of your students please read the screening questions to determine if your student meets the criteria and is healthy to come to school each day.

1. You will select No to each of the questions if your student is healthy and ready to come to school.

2. You will select Yes for any of the questions if your student is experiencing any of the symptoms related to COVID-19.

3. Once you make your selection, please click Submit. When you select No, the app will present you with a Green Pass; When you select Yes, a Warning will be displayed indicating that your student should not attend a school that day.

4. If you selected No, you will have the opportunity to print a pass for your student if she/he will not have a device when entering the building (see below)
   
   

2) Students will NOT be required to show the pass (electronic or paper copy) each day. Staff members will have a list of students that need to certify (because they did not complete the certification by 8:00 a.m.) and will use the list to verify that each student is healthy each day.

IDPH Guidance will be used to assist the School District in guiding students and staff in the event of illness. The flowchart would utilize a Time-Based, Symptom-Based, or physician-based strategy to

allow re-admittance to school/work. CDC, IDPH, ISBE, Local, State, and Federal

guidelines would be followed in the event of illness onset while at school/work. If there

are any questions on Covid-19 Exclusion, please contact Dr. Adkins at 75522@kaneland.org

Coronavirus Updates

Kaneland continually updates the district website as more information is provided about the Coronavirus. Please see the link to read more about this topic: Coronavirus Information

Welcome Back - January Edition

 Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

We are excited to bring students back into the school building for Hybrid Learning!  Remote students will continue their schedule with the minor change on a few Wednesdays. Please see the updated schedule below.  

UPDATED Kaneland A/B Learning Calendar 

District Calendar 2020-2021

Winter Gear: 

Please know that all students will go outside for their daily lunchtime recess when the wind chill is above 5 degrees. It is important to dress your children for the weather. Warm coats, hats, gloves, and boots, labeled with your child's name, are recommended. Boots and snow pants are required if your child wants to play in the snow. 

Self - Certification Pass:

Must be completed daily by 8 am  - Each student attendance day, we will be requiring families to self-certify that your child is healthy and not exhibiting any of the COVID-19 symptoms.  It is imperative that if your child is displaying symptoms they stay home and follow the IDPH guidelines.  Student (parent) self-certification that will be REQUIRED to complete each school no later than 8 am.  We would like for parents to login and try it out - some families have shared they will set an alarm to remind them daily on their phone.

1. Please use this Self Certification website at www.kaneland.org/covid and login using your Tyler Parent Email and Password.

2. Once you are logged in, for each of your students please read the screening questions to determine if your student meets the criteria and is healthy to come to school each day.

   1. You will select No to each of the questions if your student is healthy and ready to come to school. 

   2. You will select Yes for any of the questions if your student is experiencing any of the symptoms related to COVID-19.  

   3. Once you make your selection, please click Submit.  When you select No, the app will present you with a Green Pass; When you select Yes, a Warning will be displayed indicating that your student should not attend school that day.

   4. If you selected No, you will have the opportunity to print a pass for your student if she/he will not have a device when entering the building (see below)

   5. Students will NOT be required to show the pass (electronic or paper copy) each day.  Staff members will have a list of students that need to certify (because they did not complete the certification by 8:00 a.m.) and will use the list to verify that each student is healthy each day.​​​​​​​

IDPH Guidance will be used to assist the School District in guiding students and staff in the event of illness. The flowchart would utilize a Time-Based, Symptom-Based, or physician-based strategy to allow re-admittance to school/work. CDC, IDPH, ISBE, Local, State, and Federal guidelines would be followed in the event of illness onset while at school/work. If there are any questions on Covid-19 Exclusion, please contact Dr. Adkins at 75522@kaneland.org

Attendance/Reporting Absences:  

On application (non-in-person) learning days, attendance will be assessed by the completion of the approximate assigned 5 hours of application work (2.5 hours for half-day kindergarten).  Accountability will be monitored and checked during the next face to face learning session. If your student is unable to complete the assigned application work due to illness or absence, it is then expected that a parent or guardian will call the front office to report an absence. 

Entrance and Exit procedure: 

To limit the number of students entering the building at any one location, grade levels will have separate entrances and exits from the building. There will be staff at each location to monitor students as well as around the building to ensure student safety. Please see your specific school for a building map to show the entrances for your specific grade level. John Stewart Elementary Map 

Parent Zone for Waving:

In the past, parents liked to walk their students to the main entrance of the building to send them off for the day. In order to maintain the safety of our students and staff, we are asking parents not to walk up to the entrance with their children. Please stop at the sidewalk and say your good-byes there. Think of it like the “kiss and ride or fly zones” you would see at train stations and airports. 

Application Day Expectations:  

• Student schedule for online day is application and practice for 5 clock hours of the day.  Extended Day Kindergarten should follow the same range of 5 clock hours and for half-day Kindergarten this would be 2 hours)

• Students should access their online learning through Canvas, unless materials have been printed and distributed to students on a face-to-face day

  • Teachers may use other tools but expectations and links to any tool must be shared through Canvas

  • Minimum Expectation: Teachers will share any link for the student to access online learning work will be posted in Canvas as an announcement. Students will return their completed application products during their next face-to-face session

  • Maximum Expectation:  All online learning links are posted along with review videos of the content with the Teacher and engaging immediate reflection and application sharing options for students  

• Attendance will be taken every day of the week (face-to-face and online application).  When a student is sick on an online application day,  parents will need to call their child in sick.  The office staff will enter the absence into the system for the sick child on online application days. 

School Hours:

K-5 Student attendance days students may begin to enter the building at 8:40-8:50.  We ask that students not arrive much earlier than 8:40 as there are not staff to supervise our students.  The end of the day students are dismissed between 3:25-3:30.  Half-day Kindergarten concludes at 11:30. 

UPDATED Kaneland Fall 2020 A/B Learning Calendar

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out, the main office will begin their normal operating hours (8 am - 4 pm) beginning on Monday (1/4)!!

​​​​​​​~ Mrs. Aversa 

December News

Dear Kaneland Families, 

Thank you for all of your support and flexibility throughout this school year, especially during our transition to remote learning the past three weeks.  Without your support at home, we couldn't have made it happen. Let's close out this year by putting the computers and schedules away for a while so you can enjoy your time together. Soon enough we will see you all again on January 4, 2021! B-Day students, we will see you in person on January 5th.  We wish you a wonderful holiday season! 

RTI Interventions

The final day for all RtI Interventions, both reading and math, will be Friday, Dec. 18 until we return to school in January.  New schedules will be communicated when we return to school.

 

KST Holiday Sign-Along

Every year on the last day of school before Winter Break, everyone gathers in the gym to sing holiday songs together.  This is a very fun and memorable time for all. However, this year, as you know, we can't gather the same but we can still keep our tradition alive by including our families to join in this year!!  Mrs. Kuntsman has provided a holiday sing-along video to participate in at home with your family and loved ones. ENJOY!! 

Kaneland District Email  

This message was shared by the Kaneland Administration on Wednesday, 12/16. We have highlighted important topics that pertain to the elementary level.  

 

To assist in a successful return to school in January,  please continue to work diligently to practice the W’s - Wear a mask, Watch your distance, and Wash your hands - you are making a difference.

 

Our plan is to return to in-person learning at school on January 4, 2021 (A day), with the hybrid model (A and B days) that we started the school year.  Tuesday, January 5, 2021, will be a B day.  Full Remote Students begin on January 4th. 

 

When we return to school in January, and what was shared with the Board of Education on Monday night, there has been a change made to the learning structure for Wednesdays starting in January.  Please see the attached information outlining those changes by grade span.  

K-5 Wednesday Hybrid and Family/Medical Choice Remote Structure

 

In addition to the new Wednesday Schedule, please also see the Hybrid Exploratory Calendar, as well as the Wednesday Attendance Outline for elementary students.

Hybrid Exploratory Calendar (K-5th Grade)

Wednesday Attendance Outline (K-5th Grade)

Self-Certification Reminder

As Kaneland CUSD #302 transitions back to in-person learning starting Monday, January 4, all staff and students will need to use the Certification Tool for each day they enter our buildings.   Please see the following directions:

1. Students (Parents) Planning to return to Hybrid Learning in January:  Please use the student self-certification tool each day beginning Monday, January 4, 2021.  If a student either tests positive or is identified as a close contact with a person that tests positive for the coronavirus, please keep the student home and send an email to your school nurse.

2. Family Choice/Medical students should continue to sign in for attendance following their current protocols for this school year.

To minimize the spread of the disease, Kaneland Schools are taking the following steps: 

• Continuing self-certification of staff and students

• We recommend that everyone continue to monitor their health and stay at home if they develop symptoms.  Symptomatic persons should contact their health care provider to determine the plan of care and discuss testing.  Anyone who develops severe symptoms should seek medical care immediately

• Kaneland schools continue to follow protocols for disinfection (routine and high-touch cleaning) reinforcing the importance of wearing face masks at all times, encouraging social distancing, and providing an opportunity for hand washing or hand sanitizing multiple times a day.

Kaneland Cares Closet

The Cares Closet will stop taking orders today, Friday 12/18, and will not be available over Winter Break.  We will start accepting orders again after the holidays on January 4th.  Visit Kaneland.org for more information.

FaceTime Fun Time Event

This week I had four amazing young ladies reach out to me regarding an idea they had from a  Design Your Own App assignment that originated in Mr. Rutter's class.  The girls would like to take this assignment one step further. They would like to hold an event, FaceTime Fun Time, where all KST students are invited to sign-up and play fun games through Zoom.  If you think your student(s) would be interested, please click on this invite for more information.  

May Your Holiday Be Happy and Bright 

- From the Staff at KST

Transition To Remote

THANK YOU!! 

Thank you to all teachers, staff, parents, grandparents, and caregivers that have supported the hybrid students' transition to remote learning.  Without all your support, we couldn't have made it happen.  As we continue to travel down this journey together we need to take deep breaths, reach out when we need support, and remain flexible as we are all trying to find the "right fit" for remote learning to best support our students and create an environment that maximizes learning.  If you have any questions, again please do not hesitate to reach out! Here are a few helpful reminders that I wanted to reshare.

Please Self-Certify Your Student(s) Each Day 

As Kaneland CUSD #302 transitions to full remote learning starting Monday, November 30, we will monitor internal metrics, as well as local and State metrics, in addition to the guidance and mandates from local and State agencies. 

We need your help to monitor our local positivity rates and close contacts to make decisions for a safe and timely transition back to the Hybrid A/B model.  Please see the following directions:

1. Students (Parents) Planning to return to Hybrid Learning in January:  Please use the student self-certification tool each day beginning November 30, 2020.  If a student either tests positive or is identified as a close contact with a person that tests positive for the coronavirus, please send an email to your school nurse letting them know.
2. All Staff:  Please continue to use the staff self-certification tool each day.  Also, be sure to notify the Director of Human Resources if you test positive or if you are identified as a close contact with a person that tests positive for the coronavirus.
3. Family Choice/Medical students should continue to sign in for attendance following their current protocols for this school year.

Exploratory Classes for Hybrid Students

If you were an A Day student your student(s) will attend LIVE Zoom sessions during their exploratory time on Mondays and Thursdays PLUS on Wednesday, December 9th.

If you are a B Day student your student(s) will attend LIVE Zoom sessions during their exploratory time on Tuesday and Fridays PLUS on Wednesday, December 2nd and 16th.

When it is NOT their LIVE Zoom day for exploratories, students should check their exploratories Canvas Page for application work.  

This information has been shared by the classroom teacher noting what exploratory they see on specific days.  If you are unable to locate your child's exploratory tile on their Canvas page, please refer to this document. 

KST Exploratory Canvas and Zoom Link Information

Technology Issues

Starting Monday, Nov. 30th there will be a help desk for students and parents in the KHMS Community room. 

Please enter door 20 to access the help desk.

It will be open Monday, Wednesday, Fridays 12-4pm and Tuesday, Thursday 7-11am.  

You can also use the Student Helpdesk for support or make an appointment at https://www.kaneland.org/r/student-helpdesk

Checking Out Library Books 

Please check out the Library tile on your child's Canvas page to check out books. Books can be picked up on Wednesdays between 9am-2pm that have been checked out. Students will check out books from the Destiny Program (that can be found on the Library Canvas page). It does not allow books to be put on hold that are currently available in the library.  A hold can only be put on a book that is currently checked out.

To work around this, I ask that the student or parent (not both) email me with the title(s) they would like to check out.  I do look at my email throughout the day and I will be as diligent as possible to get the title(s) pulled in a timely manner on a first come, first serve basis.

Please include:

• Title

• Author

• Student first and last name

• Student ID number

Students may have 2 books checked out at a time and on a weekly basis. If you have other library questions, please email Mrs. Kerry - 50107@Kaneland.org

Kaneland Cares Closet

Dear Kaneland Staff and Families,

Thank you to all who have donated to our Kaneland Care Closet. We have already begun to help out some families in our community due to your generosity!

Today is Giving Tuesday and it would be amazing if we could stock the closet even more to get us through this challenging winter and be able to help as many families as possible.

Items can be purchased through the Amazon Wishlist:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2GCUF6LFHPBIV?ref_=wl_share   

OR you may purchase them on your own and drop off at any one of the schools and we'll get them to the closet at KST. (Even though the closet is at KST, families from ALL schools may use it and items will be brought to them.)

Items needed most right now are Hygiene: Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, maxi pads, tampons, baby wipes, diapers, pull-ups

Pantry: macaroni and cheese, Hamburger Helper, canned tuna and chicken, canned ravioli/spaghettios, Capri Sun, tortillas, applesauce, peanut butter, jelly, Goldfish, oatmeal, mini cereal boxes, granola bars, Nutrigrain Bars, pasta, tomato sauce, tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, dish soap

Thank you!

November / December News

Due to the District's Closure, there will be limited access to the Main Office and will be open by appointment only.  Please email the following individual with building/office specific questions:

Samantha Aversa, Principal - 10017@Kaneland.org

Courtney Ward, Assistant Principal - 11515@Kaneland.org

Karen Gage, Principal Secretary - 38763@Kaneland.org

Debbie Johnson, Building Secretary - 10242@Kaneland.org

Kaneland CUSD Phase 4 Full Remote Plan

Remote Schedule for “Hybrid” and Fully Remote Students-

Students will have live zoom sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Wednesdays will be used for personalizing learning for students.  Students may engage in: 

• Virtual one on one feedback sessions

• Virtual small group sessions for reteaching

• Virtual small group sessions for enhancement

• Office hours with the teacher

• Independent learning application time 

Students with specific needs K-12 will be invited by their teacher or support staff member to attend small group virtual sessions on Wednesdays 

Student Schedules-

Student schedules will be sent by their teachers and will mirror the in-person days for their class schedules for the most part. There will be live instruction via Zoom that will be in a variety of formats. On Wednesdays students will be learning asynchronously, meaning they will have work to do through Canvas and may not have a live Zoom session with a teacher. Our teachers are using this day to personalize learning for students and will contact specific students for small group Zoom meetings among a variety of other learning options. If you have specific questions about your child's schedule, please reach out to their classroom teacher.

Exploratory Expectations-

During our remote learning classroom, teachers will be following a schedule much like the students had during their in-person school day, this schedule includes a specific exploratory class each day. Exploratory groups will continue to follow the rotating schedule and students will have interactions via Canvas or Zoom lessons for the day. The exploratory teachers will be in regular communication with classroom teachers and with the classes that they are seeing each day. On Wednesday students may be encouraged by their exploratory teacher to attend a small group Zoom session or could have work to do asynchronously through Canvas.

Attendance Procedures-

Attendance will be taken daily by teachers. Please call the attendance line if your student will be absent from remote learning. 

Student Announcements -

More information to come as we work out a schedule. I will reach out to families of students who have already expressed interest.

Lunch Pick up-

Free school lunches are available to all students. Students and/or parents may pick up school lunches on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Kaneland John Stewart Elementary School, Kaneland John Shields Elementary School, or Kaneland McDole Elementary School. Students will pick up lunches for multiple days on Mondays and Thursdays. Lunches will not be available the week of Thanksgiving or during winter break.

Dates Lunches are Available

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Monday, November 30, 2020

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Monday, December 7, 2020

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Material Pick-Up Dates-

If teachers have supplies for your learning at home they will be bringing them to the office and we will have a pick-up time frame on Wednesdays from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. Please look for communication from your teacher to know if you have materials to be picked up from the building. This will be our pick up date for all learners, even if you have been in the remote setting prior to our announcement of full remote. This would begin on December 2nd.

Internet Service Providers -

Our Technology Department has put together a comprehensive list of Internet Service Providers that are available in the Kaneland School District.  Please use these resources as needed, so that all students are able to successfully participate in remote learning.  Thank you!

 

Did Your Student Have COVID or was Quarantined Prior to Full Remote Learning -

If your student had COVID or was quarantined prior to full remote learning, and has since been released, please email the student’s release letter from the Kane County Health Department to your student’s school nurse.  A list of school nurses with their email addresses are below:

Kaneland John Stewart Elementary School - Ms. Modaff - 11600@kaneland.org

Kaneland Elementary Schools - Ms. Meuer - 10338@kaneland.org

Technology Issues -

Starting Monday, Nov. 30th there will be a help desk for students and parents in the KHMS Community room.  Please enter door 20 to access the help desk.

• It will be open Monday, Wednesday, Fridays 12-4pm and Tuesday, Thursday 7-11am.  

You can also use the Student Helpdesk for support or make an appointment at https://www.kaneland.org/r/student-helpdesk

Cares Closet -

We are starting a care closet for our community and looking for donations to get it up and running.  Please see the document for more information and how to donate.  What to learn more about the Cares Closet, Click HERE.

Amazon Wish List

Important Dates 

November 30th - All students begin remote learning

December 21st - January 3rd - Christmas Break / No School

Wishing families a safe and healthy holiday season from the staff at KST!