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Dear St. Mary School,
On Friday, November 13th, the DeKalb County Health Department sent a communication to all schools in DeKalb County recommending a pause on in person instruction in schools beginning November 30-January 19th, 2021. The community spread of Corona-19 Virus is the main concern in making this recommendation. I spoke to the Health Department this morning in reviewing our original plan of taking the two weeks after Thanksgiving Break off and conducting e-learning during this time. It is still highly recommended that we do not return to in person during the week of December 14th-December 18th. The benefits do not outweigh the risks during this time because the Health Department is predicting that our community could be hitting a peak at this time. Again, they did state that in person instruction has not been a major concern for any of the outbreaks as we have been proving all along with following all the mitigation rules to protect our school community. This is more for helping to slow the community spread. However, I feel as the school leader that our school needs to do their part in helping to slow the spread so that we are not overwhelming our medical offices and hospitals. Thus, we will be e-learning from November 30th - January 15, 2021 with a plan of return in person on Tuesday, January 19th. Here is the schedule:
The teachers will be working very hard this week to get the students prepped with all the materials that will be sent home for a productive e-learning time period. I know that this is not the most ideal timing as our teachers and students truly love the time after Thanksgiving preparing for Christmas celebrations. However, I want everyone to be healthy and safe for the their holidays and return to in person learning as soon as possible. Ashley Davis, Principal
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After speaking to the DeKalb Health Department and to other Medical Professionals in our DeKalb/Sycamore Community, we have decided to announce that the entire school will be conducting E-Learning from November 30th-December 11th.
We are taking the precaution of no in-person learning during this time due to the Thanksgiving Break. We know that families will be traveling, gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, and participating in traditions that bring people together. As people gather over the holiday break, germs do spread. It has been historical at our school that students become ill in large numbers between Thanksgiving and Christmas Break. The symptoms of Covid-19, Influenza, and other upper respiratory infections are very similar. We are working with RLS Tutoring to provide childcare options for parents that may need to utilize this service in our building during this time period. Students that are using RLS (our providers for Before and Aftercare) during this time would be working on their E-Learning each day they attend. A special rate will be determined to make sure that this is affordable for our families that may need to utilize the service. Teachers will be communicating to their families for preparations and material pick up and drop off during this time period as well. In person will resume Monday, December 14th with the last day before Christmas Break being December 18th. Also, our return to school from Christmas Break will now be on Monday, January 11th, 2021. This will follow the same practice of making sure that there is enough time from Christmas gatherings before the return to school to protect everyone's health and safety. Thank you for understanding this plan for the health and safety of all our St. Mary School Family. Ashley Davis, Principal We're one week away from starting the new academic school year! We've finalized our Return to Learn Plan based with some recent changes. As always, please reach out with any questions to adavis@stmaryschooldekalb.com or call 815-756-7905. 
As you may know, the DeKalb School District has decided to go to Remote Learning for the foreseeable future. Last evening, the St. Mary School Committee and Father Russell met to review the Return to Learn Plan to address some areas of concern that were brought up.
As of right now, we will continue to move forward with our school’s plan for reopening in-person. This can always change if the Diocese, State, or local governmental agencies state otherwise. It is important for our students and staff to be able to meet in person as much as possible at the beginning of school to develop a teacher and student relationship. Plans can always change as the need arises, and then our school will adjust accordingly. This may mean a hybrid schedule or a full remote schedule. Currently, all schools in the Rockford Diocese are still planning on in-person instruction. Below is a list of changes that will take place in the plan:
This year’s changes are only temporary. We have to continue to trust in the Lord at all times; and, be ready to adapt to challenges that will continue to happen due to the pandemic. 2020 has truly been a roller coaster ride for all of us. If you are not going to be sending your child to our school this year due to concerns, please let the office know so that we can plan accordingly. There are a lot of moving parts to the planning for this year. Thank you for understanding. Continue to pray for one another; and, an end to the pandemic. Ashley Davis, Principal Please email me at adavis@stmaryschooldekalb.com with any questions or concerns. Dear St. Mary School, Thank you for your support in the last few weeks as our School and Diocese have been working hard to put together guidance that supports the CDC, ISBE, and IDPH guidelines for schools to be able to reopen in the Fall. Attached you will find our school's plan. This plan is subject to change as necessary to make sure that we are all making sure that our school community is safe. I want to personally thank the school reopening team that has reviewed the plan and given feedback to make sure that all parts of our school day are addressed. I also want to thank the teachers and staff of St. Mary School that have been coming in during the last two weeks to begin getting their rooms ready. Many of our staff members are still taking professional development throughout this summer to become even more knowledgeable on how to best teach in this new "normal". At this time, the Diocese is following the recommendations of the ISBE and IDPH about the use of face coverings. There will be a July Lancer Ledger coming at the end of the month with dates for all back to school events that include supply drop off and Back to School Night. Your teachers will be emailing any adjustments to the school supply list. Please make sure to pay attention to those emails in the next few weeks. Continue to pray for one another and an end to the pandemic. God love you, Ashley Davis Principal Read the full plan here:
The return to learn plan is currently being reviewed by the planning committee this week. This group consists of faculty and staff members, school committee members, Father Russell, and healthcare professionals that deal with Covid-19 on a daily basis in the medical field.
The Diocese plans on making a final decision on masks within the next few days. They are waiting on more thorough information on this matter. Thus, I will be sharing our school plan once I hear back officially on the use of masks in school and also the feedback from our school planning team. Faculty and Staff have been busy coming into the building to work in their rooms to get set up for students to return in person. They are also planning on creative ways to allow students to feel comfortable in their new learning environment. I do thank all of you for your questions that you submitted to me over the last week. I have incorporated all of your questions into the plan. It is set up as a Q & A document. Our return to learn plan does encompasses all aspects of our school day and learning environment. We ask that you set up a routine throughout the summer so you can talk to your children a elings during these unusual days. This way, you can help your children visualize what is different and hopefully reduce anxiety about all the anticipated changes. This can include the use of cloth face coverings or reminding your child not to touch their face covering as much as possible and wash their hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water. We also recommend that over the summer families try out different kinds of masks on their children to see what styles/fits make the most sense. We just ask that the designs are appropriate for the mission of SMS and that the children will be able to adjust to them. Please understand that conditions are changing daily and guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education has been fluid with changes. We will do our best to keep you informed as we work hard to keep our students and staff safe. We will continue with our weekly communication and include any additional information as we receive it. This plan will continue to be reviewed and updated as guidance is shared from the ISBE, Rockford Diocese, IDPH, and CDC. Thank you for your support and patience during this time. Continue to pray for one another and an end to the pandemic. God love you, Ashley Davis Dear St. Mary School,
Please read the following update in regards to our return to learn plan. I do know as a parent of my own St. Mary students, that I have questions about how next year will look. At this time, I would like to encourage our school families to send me your questions so that I may create a Q&A document to share with all of you to continue the communication on how our school will be returning to school on August 19th. Please email me at: adavis@stmaryschooldekalb.com I am pleased to announce that our ultimate goal for returning to learn in the Fall is becoming real. According to the Governor and ISBE, it is very important to make sure that all students that are in PreK-8th (ages 3-13) do return in person. I am working with all the current documents that the state has provided for guidance. Our plan is to be in person all 5 days each week unless there is a need to return to remote learning during the year. This will look different for all of us with temperature checks upon entering the buildings, wearing a face covering when social distancing can not take place, and how our classrooms will be implementing different strategies to encourage social distancing as much as possible. A face covering is expected to be worn. This is a directive from the health department and from the state. This is why the school has purchased face shields for each child and staff member to wear if they choose to not wear a mask or another type of face covering. I do know that as a parent, I see my own kids struggle to wear a mask for more than an hour at a time. Shields can be worn in lieu of masks. Shields also allow for students and teachers to be able to see each other's facial expressions. If a child or staff member has any symptoms of COVID-19, then, that individual will be sent home. That person will be asked to monitor symptoms at home and will not be able to return until they have been symptom free without fever reducer for 72 hours. If a case of COVID-19 is confirmed at our school, then, the people that were around that person for more than 15 minutes and not at least 6 feet apart, will have to also stay at home to watch for symptoms. This is why we will be doing temperature and symptom checks every day. During this time, this is when the children will do remote learning from home to keep up with their classwork. We will still have lunch and recess; but, it will be scheduled differently to follow the rules of no more than 50 people gathering and for proper cleaning after each group. Students will not have to wear a face covering outside if they maintain more than 6 feet. Passing periods for junior high will be scheduled differently to allow for students to access lockers and move to their next room in a safe and orderly manner. All School Mass and Adoration will be different this year. We will have separate weeks for scheduled groups to attend All School Mass and Adoration to follow social distancing. However, Father Russell and I would like to have All School Masses scheduled through out the school year at the parish on a Saturday or Sunday to allow our families to attend Masses in a different way this year. Also, many of our back to school events will be scheduled differently. Supply drop off will be scheduled over the course of two evenings in August. Back to School Night will be a virtual event. Grandparents Day, Trunk or Treat, Christmas Program, Christmas Bingo, Catholic Schools Week, Spring Musical, etc.. will all still go on; but, in new and creative ways to still celebrate our wonderful traditions. My goal is to have the plan outlined with even more procedures that will go into place to help in our return to learn plan in the Fall. I pray that will be available to you all by early next week on July 7th. I will not be available beginning Friday, July 3rd-Monday, July 6th. I will check email and messages periodically during that time. Please continue to pray for one another and an end to the pandemic. God love you, Ashley Davis On Tuesday, Governor Pritzker announced guidelines for Illinois schools to follow in planning for in-person learning this Fall. We wanted to share the general nature of these guidelines with you so that you can also plan with confidence for the reopening of our school building on August 19, 2020.
In general, the guidelines state that appropriate social distancing, face coverings, enhanced sanitation measures, and other accommodations will be necessary to ensure the safety of students, staff, and their families in schools this Fall. According to the Governor’s communication, IDPH guidelines for schools will:
It is important to note that all public and nonpublic schools in Illinois serving Prekindergarten through 12th-grade students must follow these guidelines. The St. Mary school staff have been hard at work making plans to resume in-person learning in our building in August. We are grateful to receive these guidelines so that we can continue making plans with certainty. We will be providing more details on specific steps that St. Mary School will be taking to ensure that we adhere to the requirements outlined above, while also maintaining a commitment to the mission and spirit of St. Mary School. We will be sending those on to you in the coming days. Since the start of this pandemic, our approach has been to accept every challenge laid before us with grace and trust in God and to persevere with optimism and joy. We ask for your continued prayers and support as we work to bring our St. Mary School family back together under one roof in August. May God bless you and your families with a happy and healthy summer! St. Mary School is busy preparing for in-person classes, starting August 19th! We are committed to keeping our students and staff safe throughout the pandemic and are excited to share with you what we are planning!
St. Mary School educates approximately 200 students each year, from preschool through 8th grade. We have small class sizes, averaging about 18 kids per classroom. We will be able to comply with any state and local regulations limiting the number of people that can gather at one time. Principal Ashley Davis is preparing several initiatives to keep all students and staff safe during the upcoming school year:
In addition to physical plant updates, we are also planning technology changes! Each student from third grade to eighth grade will now have access to their own chromebook for learning. This will give students more opportunities to stay safe and not share devices. Families without internet access at home will be able to borrow a mobile hotpot to support elearning at home, as needed. Throughout the summer, our teachers have been participating in training and professional development related to the new virtual processes and technologies allowing them to remain flexible and prepared for future decisions. The DeKalb School District received $1.6 million from the CARES Act-ESSR Fund and St. Mary School DeKalb will receive $20K from this funding helping us cover the cost of these new initiatives. If there are no changes to the CARES Act in congress, St. Mary School DeKalb will receive an additional installment later in the school year to continue to provide the necessary safety equipment for our students and staff. A final decision on our school’s operating plan for the fall will be made in late June / early July. Stay tuned for additional updates and information via email. If you are looking to tour the school or meet with the principal, please contact Mrs. Ashley Davis at adavis@stmaryschooldekalb.com. Office hours will resume July 6, Tuesday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Learn more about St. Mary School at www.stmaryschooldekalb.org |
AuthorSt. Mary School DeKalb Archives
November 2020
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