Dear Parents and Families,
I hope this note finds you and your family well, and that your summer is off to a wonderful start. So many of our summer plans have been altered; yet, we hope you are finding time to rejuvenate from the hectic school year and enjoy quality time with family.
Here within the Wilmette Public Schools, our summer is looking different as well, and yet is exceptionally busy! We are eager to proceed with our planning for a return to school in the fall, and wanted to provide you with a few updates.
Fall 2020 Planning
As of this email, we still have not received specific guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) or the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on reopening parameters for schools in August. However, our Fall 2020 Planning Committee and Advisory Task Force teams have launched their summer work, and our school principals are completing a careful review of school facilities with an eye on returning to in-person instruction through a variety of scenarios and attention to the health, safety and social distancing guidelines available to us thus far.
Our Fall 2020 Planning Committee and Advisory Task Force summer planning work officially launched this past Monday. Our teams, comprising teachers, staff, administrators, parents and students, are working to develop a continuum of scenarios under which Illinois schools may be allowed to reopen this fall, including scenarios for in-person instruction, hybrid models, and remote learning. Our planning teams are organized into the areas of consideration which inform our work, including Health and Safety, School Operations and Logistics, and Teaching and Learning. We aim to build in-person student learning and connections as often as possible while abiding by state health and safety guidelines. Our teams are guided by our four commitments for return to learning and our plans will focus on solutions that are flexible and adaptable for different scenarios, ensuring that learning is targeted, connected, meaningful and manageable while thoughtfully addressing the health and safety needs of students and staff in sustainable ways. We will be designing plans with these commitments in mind as we work to maximize student learning.
Communication Over The Summer
We expect that the ISBE will provide additional guidance to schools regarding conditions and restrictions for reopening within the next few weeks, with more details being provided as the summer progresses. Our administrative teams as well as our Planning Committee and Advisory Task Force eagerly await the opportunity to analyze the guidance and how it relates to our D39 schools. As more is learned and planning progresses, we will share ongoing updates with you. Please know that we will work with the best available information while remaining flexible and ready to adjust our plans if State and health guidance dictates.
Here is an estimated timeline of communications you can expect from the Wilmette Public Schools this summer:
July 17: Update on state guidance and our Wilmette Public Schools D39’s planning for reopening
July 31: More detailed update on returning to school with reopening plans and procedures and a survey to families
August 7: Additional back-to-school information
August 20: Final details and reminders about the opening of the 2020-2021 school year; digital School Handbook sent to families; and students’ class schedules/placement are available
To learn more about our early consideration and planning, please review the information shared within our D39 Fall 2020 Planning and Insights webinar and presentation slides. We are also creating a website that will provide staff and families with access to information regarding our planning progress and updates throughout the summer. A direct link to this information will be available from our Wilmette Public Schools D39 website.
Summer Enrichment Programming
We are proud to offer a variety of options for students to remain engaged and learning over the summer and in preparation for a return to school in fall. For those who have registered for Summer School, programming will be provided July 6 - August 7. In addition, a new two-week “Jump Start to Fall Learning” option is being offered July 27 - August 7. Registration for the Jump Start to Fall Learning program is open through this weekend. Additional information is available on our 2020 Summer Enrichment Program website. Follow these direct registration links to register.
Additional Summer Learning Resources
District 39 is partnering with ScootPad to provide additional dynamic learning resources to our students this summer and next school year. ScootPad is a personalized mastery learning platform built on proven learning science research and data-driven intelligence in collaboration with Stanford University researchers. It delivers continuously adaptive enrichment, automatic remediation and personalized mastery for every student. Information regarding access and login credentials for your student was provided to families via email last week. Additionally, our D39 Virtual Library will be available throughout the summer and provides many resources for additional learning and enrichment, such as eBooks, STEAM activities, Virtual Field Trips, options for Learning Something New, and Summer Resources!
Financial Assistance
For families experiencing financial hardship, the District 39 Angel Fund can provide fee waivers, assistance for school supplies and food stability, and access to the Free/Reduced Lunch Program. Approval is based on household income and/or extenuating circumstances. Please visit our D39 Giving and Support Page for more information about our D39 Angel Fund as well as other community resources for those in need or able to give. To access support through our D39 Angel Fund, please contact our Angel Fund Coordinator.
We look forward to a summer of important work ahead, and will continue to keep you apprised of our progress as we plan to provide the very best school year possible for all of our students while keeping health and safety at the forefront of our work.
Until then, we wish you all a wonderful summer. Be well, and continue to spread joy and kindness wherever your paths may take you.
Your partner in education,
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Kari Cremascoli, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Wilmette Public Schools District 39
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