Update On Coronavirus Mandated Closure and Remote Learning Days
March 31, 2020
Dear West Central Family,
I hope this message finds you and your families safe and well. Today, in Governor Pritzker’s press conference, he announced that the mandated school closure in Illinois would be extended through Thursday, April 30, 2020, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. While on-site learning will remain suspended, our schools’ commitment to learning and education will remain open, and learning will continue for all students through Remote Learning. West Central will be implementing our Remote Learning Plan beginning tomorrow, April 1, 2020. You may find a copy of this plan on our District website at www.wc235.k12.il.us. Please take a look at this plan, and let your child’s teacher, building administrator, or me know if you have any questions.
During these Remote Learning Days, we will continue to have students check in with either their 1st hour or classroom teacher by 10:00 a.m. each day. ISBE has communicated that work assigned can review and reinforce previously learned material. In addition, new material can be presented. New material will focus on essential content and skills needed. Assignments will be required to be completed, and you can find information with regard to grading on Page 3 of our Remote Learning Plan located on our website. Our staff will continue to be available to our students during these Remote Learning Days via email as well as the platform each individual teacher has chosen as their communication tool. They will respond to questions and concerns within 24 hours.
We will continue using the combination of online learning and engaged learning packets as we have been using the last two weeks. New packets will be available for pickup at the building your child attends on Thursday, April 2 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. and every two weeks after that throughout the mandated closure. Currently, these dates are April 2 and April 16. If the weather cooperates, we plan to have this exchange process in the front of each building, so you will use the bus lane at the elementary and the circle drive at the middle school and high school. We ask that you do not get out of your vehicle unless you are dropping off a packet or unless the weather does not permit us to implement this plan as communicated. If you would like your packet to be sent with your meals, please email your child’s building administrator and let them know that. On this same date, we will have boxes available at the end of each pickup line for packets of completed work to be returned. We ask that you place the packet in the appropriate box. Bus drivers and those helping with meal distribution at locations other than the schools will not take the completed packets. They will need to be dropped off at the school at the designated times or kept until we return.
Easter break will remain the same, so no lessons will be provided on Friday, April 10 or Monday, April 13.
While it is not ideal, we want to assure you that at West Central C.U.S.D. #235, our teachers and staff are fully engaged and willing to take on this new challenge and push forward with remote learning, engaging with students and continuing with our food distribution program.
I know this is not the school year that any of us imagined, but I want to thank you for your patience, support, and understanding as we have worked through this unprecedented situation together.
As a recap, here are West Central’s three priorities during this time:
Priority 1 - Feed and care for the extended safety, health, and well-being of our students, staff, families, and community.
Priority 2 - Communicate clearly and share coherent, organized and controlled messages with students, staff, families, and community.
Priority 3 - Provide for the continuity of learning in Illinois.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive so we can reunite soon!
Blessings,
Paula Markey, Superintendent
West Central C.U.S.D. #235
