May 5, 2021
Greetings,
How is it already the month of May?
This month brings many celebrations to our community (graduations, etc.) and the countdown to the end of the school year. Just the thought of some consistently warmer weather is something to look forward to. As we look forward to the end-of-the-school year, it is easy to get wrapped up in celebrations and start "daydreaming" of summer days ahead. The Medinah staff are committed to providing a sound academic focus, while we offer meaningful celebrations to close out the school year.
As mentioned previously, Medinah is planning for a 100% return to buildings starting August 18 for all Preschool – 8th grade students. At this time, the district will continue with mask-wearing and appropriate social distancing. To do this, we will maintain lower class sizes than we have in years past.
Online registration for the 2021-2022 school year has begun. Please be sure to register your child as soon as possible, this helps us with class lists, transportation, and personnel planning.
Be on the lookout for the summer programming opportunities that your child's school will be hosting. Medinah Park District and the Roselle Library will also offer many summer programs.
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2 - 8, 2021. We are saying 'thank you' this week, and throughout the year, to the extraordinary educators who have worked tirelessly with students and families to keep things moving forward, despite such an unparalleled year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Susan Redell
Superintendent
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HEALTH REMINDER
Health and Safety
Updated Information
Regarding Travel & Quarantine
After much discussion, research, and collaboration with neighboring school districts; we are making some amendments to our current COVID-19 procedures related to quarantine and travel. While our highest priority continues to be the safety of our students and staff, our policies were created to evolve as circumstances change and more information becomes available.
Presently, DuPage County case rates are stable and test positivity is down-trending. The State of Illinois is also reporting stable and/or downward trends that place us in the "lower risk" category. Recommendations from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) have been updated to reflect current data. Additionally, the Medinah School District is happy to report that about 90% of our staff have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This, of course, contributes to the safety of our buildings as well as our community at large.
The first change we will be making is enforcing a ten-day quarantine period (instead of 14-day) following close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19. This rule will be for all students. We will continue to counsel families individually regarding exposure and quarantine planning.
Regarding travel:
The school district will NOT be tracking or enforcing quarantine following DOMESTIC travel. The following resources are provided to you: IDPH Travel Guidance and CDC Travel Guidance. We ask that families and staff members use these resources to make informed choices. Specifically, should you choose to travel within the United States, it is advised that you consult the IDPH Travel Advisory Map, and the CDC Know Your Travel Risk page. Again, it is ultimately your responsibility to take the recommended precautions. This will not be monitored by the school.
The school district WILL be tracking and enforcing a 7-day quarantine following INTERNATIONAL travel. This rule will be for all students. There is widespread, ongoing transmission of COVID-19 worldwide and international travel places you at higher risk. The CDC advises that international travel is avoided at this time. Currently there are strict testing protocols in place for entry into most destination countries, as well as into the United States upon your return. You can learn more on the CDC webpage for Testing and International Air Travel. Should you choose to travel out of the country, we ask that you provide us with your planned return date into the United States as soon as possible, so that we can plan your return date for school.
For all travel, we urge you to take prudent precautions during your time away. If the destination you are traveling to has relaxed protocols, we advise that you mirror the rules here in Illinois. Remember that your choices impact the rest of our school community.
Families: If your child will miss school due to travel or quarantine, please email the nurse and your child's teacher by March 15th so that we may plan ahead for their absence and subsequent schoolwork. Our teachers are working incredibly hard to support students when they are absent from school and learning from home. Please respect their time and let them know in advance.
Thank you for continuing to partner with is in making our schools safe places to learn.
Please remember to practice the 3W‘s: Wash your hands! Watch your distance! And Wear a mask!
Reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 by taking these simple steps:
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Wear a face mask.
- Practice social distancing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay at home when you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
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LUNCH PROGRAM
The Illinois State Board of Education has announced that
FREE LUNCH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL STUDENTS
THROUGH THE END OF THE
2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
Directions for REMOTE-Learning Students:
- Lunches should be picked-up at your child's school on Monday's (if no school, pick-up is on Tuesday)
- Pick-up time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
- Please note: In order to accommodate all lunch requests, email [email protected] BEFORE 9:00 a.m. on the pick-up day (Monday or Tuesday, if there is no school) with your child's/children's name(s) and grade(s).
Directions for IN-PERSON students - Teachers will continue to ask every morning if students require a lunch.
MILK ONLY purchases will continue to be CHARGED TO THE STUDENT
Medinah School District 11 is using the convenient service for paying school fees and funding student lunch accounts.
IF YOU HAVE NOT CREATED A PUSHCOIN ACCOUNT YET, follow these steps to create and link your parent account to your student.
Please click here for PushCoin Instructions
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT CLICK HERE
P-EBT Food Benefits Program
Families who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals as part of the the National School Lunch Program may qualify for the "Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program" (P-EBT). This is a temporary food benefit program during the pandemic that may provide benefits for days that children engaged in remote learning lack access to an in-school lunch.
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MEDINAH PARK DISTRICT
CLUB KINDERGARTEN
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PRESCHOOL SCREENING
If you are interested in Medinah School District 11’s Preschool for All program for the 2021-2022 school year, please call Angela at (630) 529-9788 for a developmental screening packet. All families with children ages 3-5 who are interested in preschool must go through the screening process.
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UPCOMING events
Click here for PDF
Facebook Event Link
