Dear Parents & Students,

I want to begin by thanking you for taking the time to provide us your feedback about remote learning and how you feel about returning to school in the fall. We recognize that we have several challenges to overcome and that we will need to remain flexible in our planning. In the next two weeks, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is expected to provide guidance on the start of the 2020-21 school year. It’s encouraging to know that we are moving forward to our “next normal.” 

Recently, Governor Pritzker signed an executive order which allows schools to open for limited in-person educational purposes in compliance with necessary health and safety requirements during Phase 3: Recovery. We are in the planning phase of providing an opportunity for our students who participate in our Special Education Extended School Year (ESY) program to attend in-person for second semester summer school. We will honor in-person, blended and continue remote learning experiences for the second semester. We surveyed ESY staff and parents to see if there’s an interest in returning for in-person instruction and the response was in favor for returning in-person and remotely. We will put measures in place to ensure that we’re following guidelines to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. 

We continue to have discussions with our Athletic Directors and coaches as IHSA has released guidance on return to play and summer workouts. Our administration has created a plan with the local health department that adheres to the current IHSA guidelines.

Back to School Blueprint

A high quality high school learning experience centered on student engagement remains the focus of our work and planning. We are looking at five possible opening scenarios for the fall:

• Normal in-person opening with no adaptations

• Adapted in-person opening with adaptations of temperature checks, masks, social distancing, etc.

• Hybrid opening with a combination of in-person and remote (Blended)

• Varied in-person opening creating the need for alternating days or split shifts with adaptations of temperature checks, masks, social distancing, etc.

• Remote opening with enhanced aspects to current practices

We have created six planning teams that meet every week to discuss how we would implement these different scenarios this fall. The six planning teams include:

1. General Considerations

2. School Operations

3. Whole Child Supports

4. School Personnel

5. Academics

6. Distance Learning

Our teams have reviewed survey results from feedback we collected from our students, staff, and families, to help guide our work. We received more than 2,200 responses from our families. The survey results are published on the district’s website. We hope to have a tentative plan in place by the first week of July and will seek input and ideas from you at that time. Recognizing the ability to develop a plan that there will be total agreement will prove insurmountable, but decisions will be made in the best interest of our students and staff. 

We will continue to provide updates and share information when we receive it. Thank you for your continued commitment to our planning and your willingness to provide constructive feedback. Stay safe, stay healthy, and enjoy family and friends.

Steve Olson

Superintendent 

Estimados Padres y Estudiantes,

Quiero comenzar agradeciéndoles por tomarse el tiempo para brindarnos sus comentarios sobre el aprendizaje remoto y cómo se siente al regresar a la escuela en el otoño. Reconocemos que tenemos varios desafíos que superar y que tendremos que seguir siendo flexibles en nuestra planificación. En las próximas dos semanas, se espera que la Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois (ISBE) brinde orientación sobre el inicio del año escolar 2020-21. Es alentador saber que estamos avanzando hacia nuestra "próxima normalidad".

Recientemente, el gobernador Pritzker firmó una orden ejecutiva que permite que la escuela abra con propósitos educativos limitados en persona, en cumplimiento con los requisitos de salud y seguridad necesarios durante la Fase 3: Recuperación. Estamos en la fase de planificación de brindar una oportunidad para que nuestros estudiantes que participan en nuestro programa de Educación Especial Extendida del Año Escolar (ESY) asistan en persona a la escuela de verano el segundo semestre. Honraremos las experiencias de aprendizaje en persona, combinadas y también continuaremos con las experiencias del aprendizaje remoto para el segundo semestre. Encuestamos al personal de ESY y a los padres para ver si hay interés en regresar para recibir instrucción en persona y la respuesta fue a favor de regresar en persona y remotamente. Implementaremos medidas para asegurarnos de que seguimos las guías para mantener a nuestros estudiantes y al personal seguros y saludables.

Continuamos teniendo conversaciones con nuestros Directores y entrenadores atléticos, ya que IHSA ha publicado orientación sobre el regreso al juego y los entrenamientos de verano. Nuestra administración ha creado un plan con el departamento de salud local que se adhiere a las guías de IHSA.

Plan de Regreso a la Escuela

Una experiencia de aprendizaje de alta calidad de la escuela secundaria centrada en la participación de los estudiantes sigue siendo el foco de nuestro trabajo y planificación. Estamos viendo cinco posibles escenarios de aperturas para el otoño:

1. Apertura normal en persona sin adaptaciones

2. Apertura en persona adaptada con adaptaciones de controles de temperatura, máscaras, distanciamiento social, etc. 

3. Apertura híbrida con una combinación de en persona y remota (Mezclada)

4. Apertura en persona variada que crea la necesidad de días alternos o turnos divididos con adaptaciones de controles de temperatura, máscaras, distanciamiento social, etc.

5. Apertura remota con aspectos mejorados de las prácticas actuales.

Hemos creado seis equipos de planificación que se reúnen cada semana para discutir cómo implementaríamos estos diferentes escenarios este otoño. Los seis equipos de planificación incluyen: 

1. Consideraciones Generales

2. Operaciones Escolares

3. Apoyo para Todos los Niños

4. Personal Escolar

5. Académicas

6. Aprendizaje en Distancia

Nuestros equipos han revisado los resultados de la encuesta a partir de los comentarios que recopilamos de nuestros estudiantes, personal y familias, para ayudar a guiar nuestro trabajo. Recibimos más de 2,200 respuestas de nuestras familias.  Los resultados de la encuesta están publicados en el website del distrito. Esperamos tener un plan tentativo para la primera semana de julio y solicitaremos su opinión e ideas en ese momento. Reconocer la capacidad de desarrollar un plan para que haya un acuerdo total resultará insuperable, pero las decisiones se tomarán en el mejor interés de nuestros estudiantes y personal.

 Continuaremos proporcionando actualizaciones y compartiendo información cuando la recibamos. Gracias por su compromiso continuo con nuestra planificación y su disponibilidad a proporcionar comentarios constructivos. Manténgase seguro, saludable y disfrute de familiares y amigos. 

Steve Olson

Superintendente

Dear Parents & Students,

We have crossed the finish line of the 2019-20 school year, and we made it together. I have been reflecting on the past nine weeks, and despite what it may feel like, we have accomplished a lot in the face of adversity. We realize now that we may have taken for granted our “normal” routines and school days, and all of us miss seeing each other and taking part in those familiar daily routines. All of us miss seeing our students and teachers. Our world has changed. Education has changed. Perhaps this has been the opportunity we need to explore how we can innovate, digitally engage, and still provide the best education for our students.

I want to again thank you for your flexibility, patience, and perseverance. This hasn’t been easy and would not have been possible without your support. Remote learning wasn’t perfect and we did our best to provide learning opportunities for our students with little warning. Your building will be sending a final survey for you to provide us your feedback so we can improve our remote learning plan for the future. 

As we close the chapter on the 2019-20 school year, I want to again congratulate the class of 2020. You have demonstrated resilience and passion. More than ever, the future of our community rests on the shoulders of young, bright citizens like yourselves. I am proud to know that you will be leaving District 155 with a sense of purpose and an understanding of what perseverance in the face of true challenge looks like. 

I believe many of us are ready to close this chapter and start fresh in the fall. Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly where we will be in three months. Just last week, I received two different perspectives on returning to school in the fall. One person encouraged us to continue remote learning and the other urged us to return to in-person learning. We know that all of us are in different places and it remains too early for us to make that decision. But please know, our district leadership team, along with our Board of Education, will continue to meet throughout the summer. Decisions will be made in the interest of keeping our students and staff safe and healthy.

We would encourage you to check your email and the website periodically for updates as the situation continues to be fluid. I would also like to remind you to rely only on district communication when it comes to our plans moving forward for next year. When decisions are made, you will receive an email from the district.  

We hope this time offers you a chance to reconnect with what matters most, reflect on the challenges you’ve faced, and celebrate your successes.

Sincerely,
Steve Olson
Superintendent 

Estimados padres y estudiantes:

Hemos cruzado la línea de meta del año escolar 2019-20, y lo hemos logrado juntos. He estado reflexionando sobre las últimas nueve semanas, y a pesar de lo que pueda parecer, hemos logrado mucho frente a la adversidad. Ahora nos damos cuenta de que podemos haber dado por sentadas nuestras rutinas "normales" y los días escolares, y todos extrañamos vernos y participar en esas rutinas diarias familiares. Todos extrañamos ver a nuestros estudiantes y maestros. Nuestro mundo ha cambiado. La educación ha cambiado. Quizás esta haya sido la oportunidad que necesitamos para explorar cómo podemos innovar, participar digitalmente y aún así proporcionar la mejor educación para nuestros estudiantes.

Quiero agradecerles nuevamente por su flexibilidad, paciencia y perseverancia. Esto no ha sido fácil y no hubiera sido posible sin su apoyo. El aprendizaje remoto no fue perfecto e hicimos nuestro mejor esfuerzo para proporcionar oportunidades de aprendizaje para nuestros estudiantes con poca advertencia. Su edificio enviará una encuesta final para que nos proporcione sus comentarios para que podamos mejorar nuestro plan de aprendizaje remoto para el futuro.

A medida que cerramos el capítulo del año escolar 2019-20, quiero felicitar nuevamente a la clase del 2020. Han demostrado resistencia y pasión. Más que nunca, el futuro de nuestra comunidad descansa sobre los hombros de ciudadanos jóvenes y brillantes como ustedes. Me enorgullece saber que saldrás del Distrito 155 con un sentido de propósito y una comprensión de cómo es la perseverancia ante el verdadero desafío.

Creo que muchos de nosotros estamos listos para cerrar este capítulo y comenzar de nuevo en el otoño. Lamentablemente, no sabemos exactamente dónde estaremos en tres meses. La semana pasada, recibí dos perspectivas diferentes sobre el regreso a la escuela en el otoño. Una persona nos alentó a continuar el aprendizaje remoto y la otra nos instó a volver al aprendizaje en persona. Sabemos que todos estamos en lugares diferentes y aún es demasiado pronto para tomar esa decisión. Pero sepa que nuestro equipo de liderazgo del distrito, junto con nuestra Junta de Educación, continuará reuniéndose durante el verano. Se tomarán decisiones con el interés de mantener a nuestros estudiantes y al personal seguros y saludables.

Le recomendamos que consulte periódicamente su correo electrónico y el sitio web para obtener actualizaciones, ya que la situación sigue siendo fluida. También me gustaría recordarle que confíe solo en la comunicación del distrito cuando se trata de nuestros planes para el próximo año. Cuando se toman decisiones, recibirá un correo electrónico del distrito.

Esperamos que este tiempo les brinde la oportunidad de volver a conectarse con lo que más importa, reflexionar sobre los desafíos que ha enfrentado y celebrar sus éxitos.

Sinceramente,
Steve Olson
Superintendente
 

Dear Parents & Students,

In our final three weeks of remote learning, I encourage you to stay the course and finish strong. The last six weeks have been challenging for all of us, and as we near the end of the 2019-20 school year, I don’t want you to give up. Even with our school year ending differently, you have an opportunity to improve.

Please take a moment to review our End of Year plan which includes grading expectations, school calendar and locker clean out and book return information.  We are working on a plan to safely allow students to enter the buildings to clean out their lockers and return school books and materials during the week of May 19-22.  Additional information will be sent out by each school in the coming weeks.

Remote Learning will continue through Friday, May 15 with all assignments, projects, and assessments due on May 18. Staff will then use May 19-20 to finalize grades. As a reminder, AP tests will continue through May 22. Any additional expectations for students pertaining to dual credit classes will be communicated by the teacher. Please click here to see the D155 May calendar that includes all of these dates.

In the attached plan, you will see that students will receive the higher of two grades from March 31 or May 20. All students have the option of taking a “P” pass for the second semester classes.  This grade would not be calculated into the GPA. Students may also request an “I” incomplete to engage with the remote learning material until Monday, June 15. Please see the information below for more details.  

For the next three weeks, we will continue to provide a quality digital educational experience and support for our students and families. Our mission to discover meaningful ways to connect and engage our students to their school, teachers, and each other throughout the remainder of the year continues while navigating this remote learning environment.

Meals will continue to be available for pick-up at Crystal Lake Central High School, located at 45 W. Franklin Ave. in Crystal Lake (field house entrance off Walkup). Food will be provided from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays (May 5, 12, & 19). 

Again, we want to congratulate the Class of 2020 on all of their accomplishments over the past four years. We will continue to monitor state recommendations as we consider summer school, camps, and other gatherings. I also want to thank our staff as they have supported our students and families through this very difficult time.  

Please finish strong and be safe!

Estimados padres y estudiantes,

En nuestras últimas tres semanas de aprendizaje remoto, te animo a que mantengas el curso y termines fuerte. Las últimas seis semanas han sido un desafío para todos nosotros, y a medida que nos acercamos al final del año escolar 2019-20, no quiero que te rindas. Incluso con nuestro año escolar que termina de manera diferente, tienes la oportunidad de mejorar.

Por favor, toma un momento para revisar nuestro Plan de Fin de Año que incluye expectativas de calificaciones, calendario escolar y limpieza de casilleros e información de devolución de libros. Estamos trabajando en un plan para permitir que los estudiantes ingresen de manera segura a los edificios para limpiar sus casilleros y devolver libros y materiales escolares durante la semana del 19 al 22 de mayo. Cada escuela enviará información adicional en las próximas semanas.

El aprendizaje remoto continuará hasta el viernes 15 de mayo con todas las tareas, proyectos y evaluaciones que vencen el 18 de mayo. El personal usará el 19-20 de mayo para finalizar las calificaciones. Como recordatorio, las pruebas AP continuarán hasta el 22 de mayo. El maestro comunicará cualquier expectativa adicional para los estudiantes pertenecientes a clases de crédito doble. Haga clic aquí para ver el calendario del D155 de mayo que incluye todas estas fechas.

En el plan adjunto, verás que los estudiantes recibirán el mayor de dos grados a partir del 31 de marzo o el 20 de mayo. Todos los estudiantes tienen la opción de tomar un pase/aprobado "P" para las clases del segundo semestre. Esta calificación no se calcularía en el GPA. Los estudiantes también pueden solicitar una "I" incompleta para participar con el material de aprendizaje remoto hasta el lunes 15 de junio. Consulte la información a continuación para obtener más detalles.

Durante las próximas tres semanas, continuaremos brindando una experiencia educativa digital de calidad y apoyo para nuestros estudiantes y familias. Nuestra misión de descubrir formas significativas de conectar e involucrar a nuestros estudiantes con su escuela, maestros y entre ellos durante el resto del año continúa mientras navegamos en este ambiente de aprendizaje remoto.

Las comidas seguirán estando disponibles para recoger en la escuela secundaria Crystal Lake Central, ubicada en 45 W. Franklin Ave. en Crystal Lake (entrada de la casa de campo en Walkup). Las comidas se proporcionarán de 7:30 a.m. a 12:30 p.m. los martes (5, 12 y 19 de mayo).

Nuevamente, queremos felicitar a la Clase del 2020 por todos sus logros en los últimos cuatro años. Continuaremos monitoreando las recomendaciones estatales mientras consideramos la escuela de verano, campamentos y otras reuniones. También quiero agradecer a nuestro personal ya que han apoyado a nuestros estudiantes y familias durante este momento tan difícil.

¡Por favor terminen fuerte y estén seguro!

Dear Class of 2020:

Congratulations on nearing the end of your high school career. It has been a joy to watch you learn, grow, and succeed during your time in District 155. We understand the myriad of emotions you must be feeling, and we share in those sentiments. 

You surely remember the nerves and anticipation that led up to your first day of freshman year as you entered with promise, and we know you have looked forward to the culmination of these last four years with optimism and excitement. Being a senior brings with it a fondness for the past and hope for the future.

Each year, the senior class has an opportunity to leave their mark on the culture and community of a school. Your legacy as a Tiger, Trojan, Gator, and Wolf will not be forgotten. You will be remembered for your positivity in the face of adversity, for your resilience, for your dedication to the safety of your community, and for your ability to come together in a crisis. We could not be more proud of the Class of 2020 and all that you have accomplished--both in our hallways and outside of them. You are leaving with purpose.

In an effort to commemorate the last four years of your hard work, growth and memories, we will be holding a Friday Night Lights parade for seniors and their families to honor the Class of 2020 on Friday evening, May 15.

However, we understand this can not replace the experience of a commencement ceremony. We will reschedule a formal graduation for Saturday, July 25, 2020 to celebrate your success. We are hopeful that by late July we can gather, pending guidelines from the Governor, CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Your principal will send further information about the commencement ceremony later this week and it will include information about cap and gown pick up as well.

No matter where you go in life or how much time passes, we will never forget the impact and accomplishments of the Class of 2020. 

Good luck with wherever your future endeavors may take you, and remember that this chapter of your life is merely the beginning. 

Congratulations,
Steve Olson
Superintendent

Querida Clase del 2020:

Felicitaciones por llegar al final de tu carrera en la escuela secundaria. Ha sido una alegría verte aprender, crecer y tener éxito durante tu tiempo en el Distrito 155. Entendemos la gran cantidad de emociones que debes sentir y compartimos esos sentimientos.

Seguramente recordarás los nervios y la anticipación que te llevaron a tu primer día de primer año cuando entraste con promesa, y sabemos que has esperado la culminación de estos últimos cuatro años con optimismo y entusiasmo. Ser un estudiante de cuarto año (senior) trae consigo una afición por el pasado y una esperanza para el futuro.

Cada año, la clase de cuarto año tiene la oportunidad de dejar su huella en la cultura y la comunidad de una escuela. Tu legado como Tigre (Tiger), Troyano (Trojan), Caimán (Gator) y Lobo (Wolf) no será olvidado. Serás recordado por tu positividad frente a la adversidad, por tu capacidad de recuperación, por tu dedicación a la seguridad de tu comunidad y por tu capacidad para unirte en una crisis. No podríamos estar más orgullosos de la Clase del 2020 y de todo lo que has logrado, tanto en nuestros pasillos como fuera de ellos. Te vas con un propósito. 

En un esfuerzo por conmemorar los últimos cuatro años de tu arduo trabajo, crecimiento y recuerdos, realizaremos un desfile de Las Luces del Viernes por la Noche (Friday Night Lights) para los estudiantes de cuarto año (seniors)  y sus familias para honrar la Clase del 2020 el viernes por la noche, 15 de mayo.

Sin embargo, entendemos que esto no puede reemplazar la experiencia de una ceremonia de graduación. Reprogramaremos una graduación formal para el sábado 25 de julio del 2020. Esperamos que a fines de julio podamos reunirnos, en espera de las pautas del Gobernador, CDC y el Departamento de Salud Pública de Illinois. Tu principal enviará más información sobre la ceremonia de graduación a finales de esta semana e incluirá información sobre la recogida de la toga y birrete.

No importa a dónde vayas en la vida o cuánto tiempo pase, nunca olvidaremos el impacto y los logros de la Clase del 2020.

Buena suerte a donde sea que te lleve tus futuros proyectos y esfuerzos y recuerda que este capítulo de tu vida es solo un comienzo.

Felicidades,

Steve Olson

Superintendente

On Tuesday, April 21 the IHSA Board of Controls released a statement on the cancellation of all state series for all spring sports.  In the statement, Executive Director Craig Anderson said “We support the decision by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education, and given the logistics, we simply felt we could not conduct state tournaments that meet the expectations of our member schools this spring.  As disappointing as it may be for students, it is the right decision for their health and safety, as well as for the health and safety of the general public, as we cope with this unprecedented pandemic.”

The Board of Controls also determined that summer contact days are suspended for this year, unless state government and medical leaders indicate such gatherings are safe.  At that time, the Board indicated a willingness to reconsider how summer contact might be conducted and whether opportunities for schools to conduct some kind of spring athletic events might occur.

“Once it is determined safe to return, we will provide a detailed outline to our schools on the plan for summer contact days and possibly some kind of spring athletic events,” said Anderson. “Including if the number of days and dates that coaches can meet with athletes has been altered.  At this point, though, all that is dependent upon state government and medical leaders giving the go ahead for such.”

D155 will follow the direction of the IHSA and State of Illinois as it pertains to summer camps, summer workouts and competitions.  We hope to have students back utilizing our great facilities and preparing for our 2020-21 sport seasons.  Athletic Directors and coaches will send out additional information as it becomes available.

D155 will refund all spring sport fees in the next 2-4 weeks.  You will receive an email with more detailed information about the refunds in the next week.

We appreciate your support of our student athletes through these unprecedented times.  We want to give special thanks and appreciation to our senior athletes as we know it is very difficult to lose out on your senior seasons.  

Good luck on your future endeavors!
 

IHSA Cancela la Serie Estatal de Deportes de Primavera

El martes 21 de abril, la Junta de Controles de IHSA emitió una declaración sobre la cancelación de todas las series estatales para todos los deportes de primavera. En el comunicado, el Director Ejecutivo Craig Anderson dijo: “Apoyamos la decisión del Gobernador Pritzker y la Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois, y dada la logística, simplemente sentimos que no podríamos realizar torneos estatales que cumplan con las expectativas de nuestras escuelas miembros esta primavera. A pesar de lo decepcionante que puede ser para los estudiantes, es la decisión correcta para su salud y seguridad, así como para la salud y seguridad del público en general, mientras hacemos frente a esta pandemia sin precedentes ".

La Junta de Controles también determinó que los días de contacto de verano están suspendidos para este año, a menos que el gobierno estatal y los líderes médicos indiquen que tales reuniones son seguras. En ese momento, la Junta indicó su disposición a reconsiderar cómo podría llevarse a cabo el contacto de verano y si podrían ocurrir oportunidades para que las escuelas realicen algún tipo de eventos deportivos de primavera.

"Una vez que se determine que es seguro regresar, proporcionaremos un esquema detallado a nuestras escuelas sobre el plan para los días de contacto de verano y posiblemente algún tipo de eventos deportivos de primavera", dijo Anderson. “Incluyendo si la cantidad de días y fechas que los entrenadores pueden reunirse con los atletas ha sido alterada. En este punto, sin embargo, todo eso depende de que el gobierno estatal y los líderes médicos den el visto bueno para eso ”.

D155 seguirá la dirección de IHSA y del Estado de Illinois en lo que respecta a campamentos de verano, entrenamientos de verano y competencias. Esperamos que los estudiantes vuelvan a utilizar nuestras excelentes instalaciones y se preparen para nuestras temporadas deportivas 2020-21. Los directores y entrenadores atléticos enviarán información adicional a medida que esté disponible.

D155 reembolsará todas las cuotas deportivas de primavera en las próximas 2-4 semanas. Recibirá un correo electrónico con información más detallada sobre los reembolsos en la próxima semana.

Apreciamos su apoyo a nuestros estudiantes atletas a través de estos tiempos sin precedentes. Queremos agradecer y agradecer especialmente a nuestros atletas de cuarto año escolar (seniors), ya que sabemos que es muy difícil perder sus temporadas de cuarto año escolar.

¡Buena suerte en tus proyectos futuros!
 

Dear Parents & Students,

It’s hard to believe it has been five weeks since we have been together. As you may now know, the Governor announced that school will remain closed for the rest of the school year. In my 35 years in education, this is a first, and like many of you, we are disappointed that our school year will end remotely.

As we continue to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by social distancing, we will continue remote learning days through the end of the school year. Over the past three weeks of remote learning, we recognize there have been challenges for all of us, as this experience has forced us to change the way we teach and learn. It’s important for us as educators to also evaluate how we can improve remote learning instruction to provide you a better learning experience. ISBE allows school districts to use up to five remote learning planning days to review its Remote Learning Plan. On these days, teachers and staff will virtually meet for professional development.  

• Teacher Remote Learning Planning Days

  • April 24 and May 1 will be days of non-attendance for students while teachers and staff engage in professional development. On April 24 and May 1 teachers will not post assignments. 

  • If you have feedback about your Remote Learning experience, please complete this form.

We will provide further updates once we receive guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education about semester grades, final exams and credits.

Meals will continue to be available for pick-up at Crystal Lake Central High School, located at 45 W. Franklin Ave. in Crystal Lake (field house entrance off Walkup). Food will be provided from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays (April 21 and April 28). Once dates have been finalized, we will send more information about meal distribution through the end of the school year.

We understand there are many things to consider as we continue remote learning through the end of the year, and we will be working to answer your questions in a timely manner. We will send more information about graduation to the class of 2020 next week. Further communication about summer school, athletic fee refunds, textbook return and when students can return to the buildings to collect anything they may have left will follow.

In education there is so much anticipation and emphasis for both the first and last day of school. Our school year always marks a beginning and an end. The first day of school gives us an opportunity to start fresh, and set new goals, while the last day of school prepares us for good-byes and provides closure to the end of a chapter. The end of the year also allows us to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going. 

We appreciate your continued flexibility as we navigate this crisis together. One belief that I can not impress upon you enough is to maintain good habits when it comes to your education. Don’t give in to the impulse of creating bad habits, instead maintain the discipline necessary to be prepared for your return to normalcy. We will get through this together, and we are here for you. 

Stay well,

Steve Olson

Superintendent

Estimados padres y estudiantes,

Es difícil creer que hayan pasado cinco semanas desde que estuvimos juntos. Como ya sabrán, el gobernador anunció que la escuela permanecerá cerrada por el resto del año escolar. En mis 35 años de educación, esta es la primera vez, y como muchos de ustedes, estamos decepcionados de que nuestro año escolar termine de forma remota. 

A medida que continuamos haciendo nuestra parte para evitar la propagación de COVID-19 por distanciamiento social, continuaremos los días de aprendizaje remoto hasta el final del año escolar. En las últimas tres semanas de aprendizaje remoto, reconocemos que ha habido desafíos para todos nosotros, ya que esta experiencia nos ha obligado a cambiar la forma en que enseñamos y aprendemos. Es importante para nosotros como educadores evaluar también cómo podemos mejorar la instrucción de aprendizaje remoto para brindarle una mejor experiencia de aprendizaje. ISBE permite a los distritos escolares utilizar hasta cinco días de planificación de aprendizaje remoto para revisar su Plan de Aprendizaje Remoto. En estos días, los maestros y el personal se reunirán virtualmente para el desarrollo profesional.

• Días de Planificación de Aprendizaje Remoto para Maestros

• • El 24 de abril y el 1 de mayo serán días de no asistencia para los estudiantes, mientras que los maestros y el personal participan en el desarrollo profesional. El 24 de abril y el 1 de mayo los maestros no publicarán tareas.

  • Si tiene comentarios sobre su experiencia de Aprendizaje Remoto, complete este formulario .

Proporcionaremos más actualizaciones una vez que recibamos orientación de la Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois sobre las calificaciones del semestre, los exámenes finales y los créditos.

Las comidas seguirán estando disponibles para recoger en la escuela secundaria Crystal Lake Central, ubicada en 45 W. Franklin Ave. en Crystal Lake (entrada de la casa de campo en Walkup). Las comidas se proporcionarán de 6:30 a.m. a 12:30 p.m. los martes (21 de abril y 28 de abril). Una vez que se hayan finalizado las fechas, enviaremos más información sobre la distribución de comidas hasta el final del año escolar.

Entendemos que hay muchas cosas a considerar a medida que continuamos el aprendizaje remoto hasta el final del año, y trabajaremos para responder sus preguntas de manera oportuna. Enviaremos más información sobre la graduación a la clase del 2020 la próxima semana. Seguiremos con más comunicación sobre la escuela de verano, reembolsos de cuotas deportivas, devolución de libros de texto y cuándo los estudiantes pueden regresar a los edificios para recoger cualquier cosa que hayan dejado.

En educación hay mucha anticipación y énfasis tanto para el primer como para el último día de clases. Nuestro año escolar siempre marca un comienzo y un final. El primer día de clases nos da la oportunidad de comenzar de nuevo y establecer nuevas metas, mientras que el último día de clases nos prepara para despedirnos y nos da el cierre al final de un capítulo. El fin de año también nos permite reflexionar sobre dónde hemos estado y hacia dónde vamos.

Apreciamos su continua flexibilidad mientras navegamos juntos por esta crisis. Una creencia de que no puedo impresionarlo lo suficiente es mantener buenos hábitos cuando se trata de su educación. No cedas ante el impulso de crear malos hábitos, en cambio, mantén la disciplina necesaria para estar preparado para tu regreso a la normalidad. Lo superaremos juntos, y estamos aquí para ayudarte.

Manténgase bien,
Steve Olson
Superintendente

Hello Students and Families,

Below is a summary of the email you should have received from the College Board on April 3rd regarding updates to the 2020 AP exams.

For most up to date AP testing information, please visit the following link: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update

• EXAM SCHEDULE: Click HERE for the exam schedule 

• EXAM FEATURES: Click HERE for information on exam features, timing, etc.

• EXAM SUPPORT: College Board is offering free daily classes and reviews on their youtube channel. Click HERE to access that information.

• EXAM EQUITY: Students will be able to take the exam with any device (phone, desktop, chromebook) and internet access. If you do not have internet or a device for the AP exams, please let the College Board know by April 24th. Click HERE to communicate that to the College Board (Also, please communicate that to District 155 as well).

• EXAM SCORES AND COLLEGE CREDIT: The College Board has released the following statement in regards to college credit: We're confident that the vast majority of higher ed institutions will award college credit as they have in the past. We've spoken with hundreds of institutions across the country that support our solution for this year's AP Exams.wri

• EXAM SECURITY: The AP exams will be open book/open note this year, as students will be taking all exams from home. The exam and questions are designed specifically for at-home administration. However, students taking the exams may not consult with any other individuals during the testing period. Click HERE to see more about the exam security and the consequences of cheating.

The College Board has also stated that students who wish to cancel their AP exams this year can do so with no cancelation fee. If you no longer want to take your AP exam(s) please login to Total Registration to request a cancelation. If you have any questions, please contact the Student Services Coordinator in your building:

Cary-Grove: Hank Harvey hharvey@d155.org

Crystal Lake Central: Steve Greiner sgreiner@d155.org

Crystal Lake South: Carson Sterchi csterchi@d155.org

Prairie Ridge: Sarah Schwartz sschwartz@d155.org

• Students serviced through an IEP will have daily contact with their case manager and at least weekly contact with their related service providers. This may take form as group emails or sessions or individual one on one connections.

• Students serviced through a Section 504 plan will have weekly contact with their student service case manager.

• Each student has their own 1:1 device at home to assist in work completion. (i.e. Chromebook, iPad, Binder)

• Reference the district website technology support or reach out directly to the assigned case manager for technology concerns.

• IEP and Section 504 meetings will continue during this pandemic in a phone or video conference format. 

• Questions regarding individual services may be directed to the case manager, related service provider, or building special education or student service leader.

We will continue to monitor guidance from our leaders at the state and federal level. As a leadership team, we will continue to update parents and staff with new information as it becomes available. For community resources and district updates, please visit www.d155.org. 

Steve Olson

Superintendent 

Dear Parents & Students,

On Tuesday, March 31, we will implement remote learning in District 155. We believe providing learning opportunities for our students will offer them normalcy and structure in their daily routines. Teachers will send assignments through Canvas, Google Classroom or email. Teachers are asked to post daily assignments/activities for each class by 9:00 a.m. Teachers will post a review assignment, instructional video, or other activities that will connect students to where they left off on Friday, March 13 or the assignment posted on Monday, March 16. Teachers also will post a plan for students through Tuesday, April 7.  

Teachers are expected to have “office hours” between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on remote learning days in which they will respond to email, Canvas and Google Classroom communication to give students feedback and/or answer questions. 

We have asked our teachers to strive for a degree of normalcy. All teachers will check-in with students and document that each student has interacted with the material. Teachers will expect work to be completed and can grade assignments. Until we receive further direction from the Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE), those grades will not have a negative impact on the student's grade that is in the grade book at this current time. Formative and summative assessments can be given and graded with the same expectation that grades cannot have a negative impact on the student’s grade.

We know remote learning will not replace our teacher’s instruction in our classrooms, but we are committed to offering students remote learning opportunities to continue their education. We appreciate our teacher’s hard work to transition quickly to remote learning, and we believe our district will become more agile, stronger and be in a better place in the future.

Over the next two weeks, meals will be available for pick-up at Crystal Lake Central High School, located at 45 W. Franklin Ave. in Crystal Lake (field house entrance off Walkup). Food will be provided from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, March 31, 2020

• Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Thank you for your patience and your willingness to adapt to remote learning. We recognize that we will face challenges as we implement remote learning, but it’s important for us to remember that we are in this together, and we’re learning together to bring our students the best educational experience possible.

D155’s Response Plan is available on the district website, and we continue to update the FAQ, please visit www.d155.org. In the coming days, we will email students and parents a link to provide us with input on remote learning days.

We know there are many questions about prom and graduation. We are paying close attention to recommendations on large gatherings from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will make informed decisions with the safety and well-being of our students, staff, parents, and community in mind. We hope to make a decision about prom in the next two weeks.  It will be our intent to provide a graduation experience for our students and families.  

This is a fluid situation, and we will continue to provide timely updates as we learn new information from the Governor, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Public Health, and the McHenry County Department of Health.

Sincerely,
Steve Olson
Superintendent

Estimados padres y estudiantes,

El martes 31 de marzo, implementaremos el aprendizaje remoto en el Distrito 155. Creemos que proporcionar oportunidades de aprendizaje para nuestros estudiantes les ofrecerá normalidad y estructura en sus rutinas diarias. Los maestros enviarán las tareas a través de Canvas, Google Classroom o correo electrónico. Se les pide a los maestros que publiquen tareas / actividades antes de las 9:00 a.m. diariamente.  Todos los maestros publicarán un video instructivo de revisión, una tarea u otras actividades que conectarán a los estudiantes con el material de la clase donde dejaron el viernes 13 de marzo o la tarea publicada el lunes 16 de marzo. Los maestros también publicarán un plan para los estudiantes hasta el martes 7 de abril.

Una expectativa es que los maestros tengan "horario de oficina" entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. en días de aprendizaje remoto en los que responderían por correo electrónico, Canvas y Google Classroom para dar realimentación a los estudiantes y / o responder preguntas.

Les hemos pedido a nuestros maestros que esfuercen por tratar de ofrecer una experiencia de normalidad. Todos los maestros se pondrán en contacto con los estudiantes y documentarán que cada estudiante ha interactuado con el material. Los maestros esperan que se complete el trabajo y pueden calificar las tareas. Hasta que recibamos más instrucciones de la Junta de Educación Escolar de Illinois (ISBE), esas calificaciones no tendrán un impacto negativo en la calificación del estudiante que está en el libro de calificaciones en este momento actual. Las evaluaciones formativas y sumativas se pueden dar y calificar con la misma expectativa de que las calificaciones no pueden tener un impacto negativo en la calificación del estudiante.

Sabemos que el aprendizaje remoto no reemplazará la instrucción de nuestros maestros en nuestras clases, pero estamos comprometidos a ofrecer a los estudiantes oportunidades de aprendizaje remoto para continuar su educación. Apreciamos el arduo trabajo de nuestros maestros para hacer una transición rápida al aprendizaje remoto, y creemos que nuestro distrito será más ágil, más fuerte y estará en un lugar mejor en el futuro.

Durante las próximas dos semanas, las comidas estarán disponibles para ser recogidas en Crystal Lake Central High School, situada en 45 W. Franklin Ave. en Crystal Lake (entrada del gimnasio en Walkup). Se proporcionarán las comidas desde las 6:30 a.m. hasta  la 1:30 p.m. en las siguientes fechas:

• martes, el 31 de marzo, 2020

• martes, el 7 de abril, 2020

Gracias por su paciencia y su disponibilidad a adaptarse al aprendizaje remoto. Reconocemos que enfrentaremos desafíos a medida que implementemos el aprendizaje remoto, pero es importante para nosotros recordar que estamos juntos en esto, y estamos aprendiendo juntos para brindarles a nuestros estudiantes la mejor experiencia educativa posible.

El Plan de Implementación de D155 está disponible en el sitio web del distrito, y continuamos actualizando las Preguntas Frecuentes, visite www.d155.org.   En los próximos días, enviaremos un correo electrónico a los estudiantes y a los padres con un enlace para que nos brinde información sobre los días de aprendizaje remoto.

Sabemos que hay muchas preguntas sobre prom y la graduación. Estamos prestando mucha atención a las recomendaciones sobre grandes reuniones del Centro para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) y tomaremos decisiones informadas teniendo en cuenta la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros estudiantes, personal, padres y comunidad. Esperamos tomar una decisión sobre prom en las próximas dos semanas. Será nuestra intención proporcionar una experiencia de graduación para nuestros estudiantes y familias.

Esta es una situación fluida, y continuaremos brindando actualizaciones oportunas cuando  obtenemos nueva información del Gobernador, la Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois, el Departamento de Salud Pública de Illinois y el Departamento de Salud del Condado de McHenry.

Sinceramente, 

Steve Olson

Superintendente

Good afternoon,

On Friday, March 20, Governor Pritzker issued an executive order requiring residents to “stay at home” effective Saturday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m., through the end of April 7. As part of the Governor’s order, he announced that school will remain closed, with a new tentative reopening date of April 8. We recognize that this development may raise questions about the impact on students, staff, and families as well as the school’s vital role of providing meals to students and families while schools are closed. We anticipate further guidance and details from the Illinois State Board of Education next week. We will then share District 155’s plan moving forward.

During this stay at home order, essential school personnel may work from home or may still be needed to report to work as long as they are practicing social distancing. We want you to know the governor’s office has assured school districts that school personnel involved in providing meals will not be in violation of the governor’s executive order and that we can, and should, continue with our program, which has had a tremendous impact in making sure our students are not going hungry while school is closed. 

Food distribution over spring break will be held only one day, Monday, March 23 at Crystal Lake Central High School (45 W. Franklin St., Crystal Lake). 

We will offer two pick-up times, one in the morning and one in the evening:

• 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

• 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Distribution is located at the field house entrance off of Walkup Ave. 

Breakfast and lunch grab-and-go bags will be provided for the remainder of the week. We are committed to doing our best to provide meals and deliver continuity of education. 

Please use this opportunity to focus on staying safe and helping to slow the spread of the virus.  As always, thank you for your patience and support as we all work through the COVID-19 Pandemic. As you have seen, this situation is evolving rapidly, and we will continue to communicate in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

Steve Olson

Superintendent

Estimado padre o tutor,

El viernes 20 de marzo, el gobernador Pritzker emitió una orden ejecutiva que requiere que los residentes se "queden en casa" a partir del sábado 21 de marzo a las 5:00 pm hasta el final del 7 de abril. Como parte de la orden del Gobernador, las escuelas permanecerán cerradas, con una nueva fecha tentativa de reapertura del 8 de abril. Reconocemos que este desarrollo puede plantear preguntas sobre los impactos a los estudiantes, el personal y las familias y el papel vital de las escuelas para proporcionar comidas a los estudiantes y familias mientras las escuelas están cerradas. Anticipamos más orientación y detalles de la Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois la próxima semana.  Luego compartiremos el plan del Distrito 155 en el futuro. 

Queremos informales que la oficina del gobernador aseguró que el personal escolar que intervienen para proporcionar comidas no estarán en violación de la orden ejecutiva del gobernador y que podemos, y debemos, continuar con nuestro programa, que ha tenido un enorme impacto en asegurándonos de que nuestros estudiantes no pasen hambre mientras las escuelas estén cerradas. 

La distribución de alimentos durante las vacaciones de la primavera se llevará a cabo sólo un día, lunes, el 23 de marzo en Crystal Lake Central High School (45 W. Franklin St., Crystal Lake).  

Ofreceremos dos horarios de recogida, uno por la mañana y otro por la noche:

• 8:00 a.m. hasta 12:00 p.m. 

• 4:00 p.m. hasta 7:00 p.m. 

La distribución se encuentra en la entrada del gimnasio en la Avenida Walkup.

Se proporcionarán bolsas para llevar para el desayuno y el almuerzo durante el resto de la semana.  Estamos comprometidos a hacer nuestro mejor esfuerzo para proporcionar comidas y brindar continuidad en la educación.  

Aproveche esta oportunidad para concentrarse en mantener su seguridad y ayudar a frenar la propagación del virus. Como siempre, gracias por su paciencia y apoyo mientras todos trabajamos a través de la pandemia COVID-19. Como han visto, esta situación está evolucionando rápidamente. A medida que los eventos desarrollen, continuaremos comunicándonos de manera oportuna y transparente.

Sinceramente,

Steve Olson

Superintendente

Good morning,

A decision has not yet been made about whether students will begin e-Learning or return to school on Tuesday, March 31. Please know when this decision is made you will receive a phone call or text notification and an email from the district with more information. We continue to follow guidance from the Governor, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Illinois Department of Public Health and the McHenry County Department of Health. 

We have published District 155’s Response Plan and an updated FAQ on the district’s website, here. We will continue to provide you with the information we currently have, there are some questions we simply just don’t have answers to as we are waiting to receive further guidance.

During spring break, we will offer meal service on Monday, March 23.

Monday, March 23

To minimize interpersonal contact and adhere to social distancing guidelines, food distribution over spring break will be held only one day, Monday, March 23 at Crystal Lake Central High School (45 W. Franklin St., Crystal Lake). 

We will offer two pick-up times, one in the morning and one in the evening:

• 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

• 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Distribution is located at the field house entrance off of Walkup Ave. 

Breakfast and lunch grab-and-go bags will be provided for the remainder of the week. Families will be able to drive up to the school and receive food without getting out of their cars. For everyone’s safety, we ask that drivers open their trunks so bags can be placed there rather than inside the car. If your child has any food allergies, please check the nutritional labels on food items. 

Stay healthy,

Steve Olson
Superintendent

Good afternoon,

As we continue to watch this global pandemic develop within our state and community, I am reminded of the excellence and perseverance of our educators and staff in District 155. With almost no notice, we’ve asked teachers and students to adapt to e-Learning, reframe their expectations of the remainder of the year, and find ways to connect in a digital way. Their ability to stay positive and flexible through it all does not go unnoticed.

Each day provides a new set of challenges for each of us as we work to provide stability for our students, our staff, and our community. 

We recognize this time may be especially hard on our students, who have missed their opportunity to make memories during their final high school musical performances, advance in the state basketball series, or travel abroad for spring break. For our students who dedicate long hours studying for AP tests, practice tirelessly for spring seasons, and for those who depend on their support network of teachers and staff every day, we will continue to work diligently to provide them with quality resources and support them during this new normal. 

The uncertainty causes various levels of stress and anxiety for each of us. During these turbulent times, we want you to know we care about your student and it’s important for our students to feel supported to cope with what’s happening.

As we move forward, decisions will not be made lightly. The end of the year, which is typically filled with celebrations is unknown. Please know our district leadership team is working and collaborating daily to modify the plan to best fit the needs of our students and teachers.

Unfortunately, there may still be more questions than answers, but we will do our best to provide you with the information we have right now. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as the situation changes and we receive new guidance. We will be sharing a COVID-19 Response Plan and updated FAQ with you tomorrow morning.

While the foundation of our district is to provide our students a quality education, we now truly appreciate that it goes beyond learning in our classrooms. It’s about the relationships our students forge with their teachers and coaches, the memories made as we celebrate the successes of our students, and our lasting commitment to ensure students leave District 155 with a purpose.

Sincerely,

Steve Olson
Superintendent

Dear District 155 Families,

I want to thank you in advance for your level of patience and support as we navigate our way through this unprecedented time in our nation's history. As we continue to make the appropriate adjustments to new information as it becomes available our ability to come together as a community has never been more important for our success.

At approximately 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) developed new state-wide mandatory updates pertaining to E-Learning days. This rapidly evolving situation saw the ISBE create rules that essentially prohibited the at home utilization of E-Learning days during the coming week of Monday, March 16 - Friday, March 20. In addition, the Governor has currently closed all schools from Tuesday, March 17 - Monday, March 30.  As there will likely be another pronounced shift in state expectations during the coming days, we are requesting your continued flexibility with any new mandates as they become known. Rest assured we will initiate our full-fledged E-Learning program upon ISBE allowance.

Based on the uncertainty of the educational environment found in Illinois we are altering our expectations for tomorrow and the coming two weeks.

• Monday, March 16 

  • Monday will continue to be a student day of non-attendance.

  • Teachers will develop an educational enrichment activity for your student to focus and work on during the week. This assignment will be released before 3:00 p.m. on Monday. The assignment will be designed to provide a degree of continuity of learning during the week.

  • School buildings will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Come to the school only if absolutely necessary and report to the principal’s office upon arrival.

• Tuesday, March 17 - Friday, March 20

  • Governor Pritzker has designated these as “Act of God Days” as recognized by the State School Calendar.

    • These days will NOT have to be made up at the end of the year.

    • School will be open by appointment only from 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Please call or email in advance to hopefully be able to answer your issue over the phone.

    • Staff will no longer be expected to work from Tuesday, March 17 - Friday, March 20.

• Monday, March 23 - Monday, March 30 (“Act of God Day” - No student attendance)

  • District 155 Spring break and the Continuation of “Act of God” designation by Governor Pritzker as it pertains to school attendance.

    • Monday, March 30 would not be made up at the end of the school year.

As previously stated, our staff is committed to providing your students with a quality educational experience under the new circumstances that have arisen. We will continue to look to the Illinois State Board of Education, Governor's Office as well as the McHenry County Health Department and CDC for future directions. We will return to normal school days or initiate the utilization of E-Learning Days as soon as we are allowed as well as keep you apprised of any new educational adjustments as they become known. 

Sincerely,

Steve Olson

D155 Moves to E-Learning March 16-20

Dear Parents & Guardians,

As we continue to live in unprecedented times, my message today is designed to provide each of you an indication of what education in District 155 will look like in the immediate future. The COVID-19 virus has caused us to analyze our educational delivery system as we are not immune to what is taking place both locally and statewide. With that in mind, starting Monday, March 16 our staff will provide your student’s education by implementing an E-Learning platform utilizing both Canvas and Google Classroom for the 5 days (March 16 - March 20) leading into spring break. We believe this measure will help ensure a continuity of education and maintain a high degree of safety and security for all concerned.

Over spring break we will assess how our communities, county, state and nation are responding to determine the breath at which this decision will be enacted moving forward. As a decision of this magnitude isn’t taken lightly and the absence of our quality teachers guiding and assisting learning will not be occurring, we have high hopes this will be a short term solution.

Your cooperation and understanding are greatly appreciated as well as your assistance in assuring your student takes full advantage of the lessons being provided. I have sincere faith in our staff to deliver an at home educational experience in the short term. But, ultimately the intellectual, social and emotional bond that occurs each day in our schools can not be replaced. We will continue to provide you with updates as we navigate the uncharted waters and discover new innovative ways to both engage as well as promote curiosity within our students.

We will continue to monitor the outbreak and make a decision about resuming classes or extending E-Learning days by Friday, March 27. The district will provide an FAQ regarding E-Learning by the end of today, March 13.

Yours in education,

Steve Olson
Superintendent

Dear Parents & Guardians,

D155 recognizes our responsibility to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). We continue to closely monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and we are following guidance from the Governor’s Office, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the McHenry County Department of Health as we make decisions.

As you are aware it’s a fluid situation, and we will provide timely communication to staff, students, parents, and our community as we receive updates. In an effort to prevent rumors, we have not received notification from the McHenry County Department of Health that a student or staff member has a confirmed case. It is important for students to have their Chromebooks and chargers at home each night. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remains our top priority. We have developed an FAQ to provide you with more information below. 

What are we doing to keep our students and staff healthy?
We are asking students and staff members to stay home if they are sick.

The CDC recommends the following:

• Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after your fever* (temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher) is gone. 

• Temperature should be measured without the use of fever-reducing medicines (medicines that contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

We are continuing to take necessary precautions to ensure our facilities are properly disinfected and cleaned with the same cleaner used in hospitals, and food service operations to prevent the spread of illnesses, and; nurses have been trained by the McHenry County Department of Health.

Extracurricular Activities
The McHenry County Department of Health has recommended organizations consider postponing nonessential public events and meetings. As a precaution, District 155 has canceled the Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake Central musicals and will only allow a limited number of spectators for performances on March 12 & March 13.

IHSA is limiting the number of spectators to 60 for each school for the remaining games in the 2020 IHSA Boys Basketball State Series.

Effective Friday, March 13, district athletic and extracurricular activities will be canceled through the weekend (March, 15, 2020), unless a team is currently participating in a state series.

School Visitors/Field Trips/Facility Rentals
Effective Friday March 13, District 155 will not allow visitors in all buildings and will cancel field trips until further notice. District 155 also will cancel facility rentals until further notice.

What if I keep my child home, will my student's absences be excused?
As a parent or guardian, you ultimately make the decision to keep your child home. If you choose not to send your child to school, please call the attendance line to have your child’s absence recorded as excused. 

How will I find out about a school closure?
District 155 will use its mass notification system to inform parents and students via phone call or text message and email. It will also be posted on District 155’s website. You can also receive updates via our social channels on Facebook and Twitter. You and your student can follow our pages @CHSD155 on Facebook and Twitter.

How is District 155 preparing in the event that classes need to shift online?
D155 has developed an approved e-learning plan. We are working with teachers and staff to prepare for the possibility of e-learning (online instruction) should that become necessary. We intend to minimize the disruption in our students’ academic experience and continue to deliver quality instruction through digital platforms. Teachers would then send out assignments through Canvas, Google Classroom or email to their classes. 

Specific class expectations will be posted for each e-learning day by individual teachers.  Teachers are asked to give approximately 45 minutes of assignments/activities for each class posted by 9:00 a.m. daily. Students are expected to complete assignments within 2 days of normal school days resuming. Teachers will work with students when they return if they need additional time and support.

What if my student does not have access to wifi?
If a student does not have access to the internet at home, we will have wifi available for our students in each of the faculty school parking lots. This would allow a parent to bring their student to the faculty parking lot and access the school wifi in order to download any materials necessary to complete lessons for e-learning days without needing to go to an alternative public place. 

Will we need to make up e-learning days if school is closed?
At this time, it is our understanding that e-learning days would not be made up since students are engaged with their teachers during those days. The Illinois State Board of Education will make a final judgment on this issue.

What do students and staff need to know in regard to spring break travel?
Please be aware of the precautionary federal guidelines the district is following regarding student/staff travel due to the global spread of the coronavirus. 

• Any student/staff returning from a location with sustained widespread transmission (Travel  Warning of Level 3) should not attend school for 14 days after the return date.

• Absences for this purpose will be excused.

For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) COVID-19 information for travel website.

What if my student was scheduled to go on a school sponsored trip? 

• International Travel

In alignment with CDC recommendations, District 155 has canceled all school sponsored international travel as of March 4, 2020. This decision was made in collaboration with our dedicated teachers/sponsors and the travel companies with which we partner. The tour companies are working on alternative options with families affected by this cancelation. 

• Domestic Travel

Out of an abundance of caution, District 155 has canceled all non-essential school sponsored travel for students, coaches and staff including trips to Disney World and southern Illinois.

Where can I find more information?
For more information about District 155’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as national and international public health updates, please visit our website.

D155 recognizes our responsibility to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). We continue to closely monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and we are following guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the McHenry County Department of Health as we make decisions. We understand it’s a fluid situation and we will provide timely communication to staff, students, parents, and our community as we receive updates.

The safety and well-being of our students and staff remains our top priority. We are working to develop an FAQ and provide you more information about the district’s plan moving forward.

The CDC recommends the following:

• Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after your fever* (temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher) is gone. 

• Temperature should be measured without the use of fever-reducing medicines (medicines that contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

As a parent or guardian, you ultimately make the decision to keep your child home. If you choose not to send your child to school, please call the attendance line to have your child’s absence recorded as excused.

Dear Parents & Guardians: 

With increasing awareness of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S., District 155 administration and health officials continue to monitor reports and follow guidance from the McHenry County Department of Health, the Illinois Department of Health and the Illinois State Board of Education. 

As families prepare for traveling over spring break, please be aware of the following precautionary federal guidelines the district is following regarding student travel due to the global spread of the coronavirus. 

• Any student returning from a location with sustained widespread transmission (Travel  Warning of Level 3) should not attend school for 14 days after the return date.

• Absences for this purpose will be excused.

For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) COVID-19 information for travel website.

The best way to prevent the spread of this illness both at school and at home is to wash your hands, monitor symptoms, and keep children at home if they are feeling ill. We continue to closely monitor student absences and take necessary precautions to ensure our facilities are properly disinfected and cleaned.

We are committed to keeping you informed about the coronavirus and working together to prevent the spread of this virus in our homes, schools and community. For additional information about the coronavirus (COVID-19), please see the resources below. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources

• Illinois Department of Public Health; Hotline: 800-889-3931; Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov 

• McHenry County Department of Health

Sincerely,

Steve Olson
Superintendent

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Estimado padres y tutores:

Con una creciente conciencia de la propagación del coronavirus COVID-19 en los Estados Unidos, la administración del Distrito 155 y los funcionarios de salud continúan monitoreando los informes y siguen las instrucciones del Departamento de Salud del Condado de McHenry, el Departamento de Salud de Illinois y Junta Estatal de Educación de Illinois.

Mientras las familias se preparan para viajar durante las vacaciones de primavera, tenga en cuenta las siguientes pautas federales de precaución que el distrito está siguiendo con respecto a los viajes de los estudiantes debido a la propagación global del coronavirus.

• Cualquier estudiante que regrese de un lugar con transmisión generalizada y sostenida (Advertencia de viaje de nivel 3) no debe asistir a la escuela durante 14 días después de la fecha de regreso.

• Ausencias por este motivo serán disculpadas.

Para obtener más información, visite la información COVID-19 de los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) para viajar.

La mejor manera de prevenir la propagación de esta enfermedad tanto en la escuela como en el hogar es practicar una buena higiene, controlar los síntomas y mantener a los niños en casa si se sienten enfermos. Continuamos monitoreando de cerca las ausencias de los estudiantes y tomamos las precauciones necesarias para garantizar que nuestras instalaciones se desinfecten y se limpien adecuadamente.

Nosotros estamos comprometidos a mantenerles informados sobre el coronavirus COVID-19 y a trabajar juntos para prevenir la propagación de este virus en nuestros hogares, las escuelas y la comunidad. Para información adicional sobre el coronavirus COVID-19, consulte los recursos a continuación.    

Recursos de Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Illinois Department of Public Health; Línea directa: 800-889-3931; Correo Electrónico: dph.sick@illinois.gov 

• McHenry County Department of Health

Gracias,
Steve Olson
Superintendente

Dear Parents,

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently notified the public about the potential spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. District administration is monitoring the international coronavirus outbreak and has been in contact with the local Public Health Department to identify preventative measures we can put in place to protect our students and staff. Currently, there are no cases of coronavirus in McHenry County. 

• In District 155, we are continuing to take necessary precautions to ensure our facilities are properly disinfected and cleaned with the same cleaner used in hospitals, and food service operations to prevent the spread of illnesses, and; 

• Nurses have been trained by the McHenry County Department of Health.

We want to remind parents that it is important to keep children who are sick at home in the event they are too sick to learn and there is a risk of making others ill. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health does not currently have additional preventative recommendations for coronavirus beyond the measures we have in place to prevent the spread of influenza, but we will continue to work closely with them as they learn more about the virus. 

For more information, we have attached the McHenry County Department of Health’s FAQ on the coronavirus.

https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=96857

Thank you,
Steve Olson 
Superintendent
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Estimado padres:

El Centro para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) notificó recientemente al público sobre la posible propagación del coronavirus en los Estado Unidos. La administración del distrito está monitoreando el brote internacional de coronavirus y se ha puesto en contacto con los Departamentos Locales de Salud Pública para identificar medidas preventivas que podamos implementar para proteger a nuestros estudiantes y al personal. Actualmente, no hay casos de coronavirus en el condado de McHenry.

• En el Distrito 155, continuamos tomando precauciones para garantizar que nuestras instalaciones estén adecuadamente desinfectadas y limpiadas con el mismo limpiador que se usa en los hospitales y en las operaciones de servicio de alimentos para prevenir la propagación de enfermedades, y

• Las enfermeras han sido entrenadas por el Departamento de Salud del Condado de McHenry.

 Queremos recordarles a los padres que es importante mantener a los niños enfermos en casa en caso de que estén demasiado enfermos para aprender y que exista el riesgo de enfermar a otros.

 El Departamento de Salud Pública de Illinois actualmente no tiene recomendaciones preventivas adicionales para el coronavirus más allá de las medidas que tenemos para prevenir la propagación de la influenza, pero continuaremos trabajando estrechamente con ellos a medida que aprendan más sobre el virus.

 Para obtener más información, adjuntamos las preguntas frecuentes del Departamento de Salud del Condado de McHenry sobre el coronavirus. 

 https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=96857

Gracias,
Steve Olson
Superintendente

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Letter to School Districts - Travel

District 155 administration has been monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The safety and security of our students and staff is always a top priority here at home and when students travel abroad. We recognize you have been planning and looking forward to this trip and have made a considerable financial commitment to provide a memorable opportunity for your student. Unfortunately, due to the current risk associated with international travel and our concern for the safety and well being of our students and staff, we will not be allowing school sponsored international travel to take place over spring break.

In response to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), we recognize our responsibility to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus.

Five trips were scheduled over spring break to Italy, France, Spain and Greece. Approximately 150 students were scheduled to travel. We recognize families have been planning and looking forward to this trip and have made a considerable financial commitment to provide a memorable opportunity for their students. The tour companies are currently working on alternative options with families.