January 14, 2022

Home of the Lions

Norridge School District 80 COVID Information
Updated on Fridays
Norridge School District 80 COVID Stats Time Period 1/3/2022 - 1/16/202 Legend Staff Students Total COVID + Cases 15 48 63 Close Contact with COVID + 0 74 74 Sick / Tested (Awaiting Results) 0 25 25 Sick / Tested Negative 0 45 45

 

Suburban Cook County Travel Order https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/emergency-travel-order.html#cds-tabs-1447250451-6

Rolling Average COVID + Rate for Zip Code 60706 as of 1/13/2022 is 16.67%* *Information provided by: http://covid-dashboard.fsm.northwestern.edu/

Test Positivity 7-Day Rolling Avg. for Cook County (Region 10) as of 1/11/2022 is 16.3** https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/data/region-metrics.html?regionID=10

Dear District 80 familles, 

 

Thank you for your patience over this past week as we awaited updated guidance from IDPH and ISBE. We understand that this has been a frustrating and challenging time for many of our families. Thankfully we did receive the updated guidance that we were awaiting and we will be enacting some changes in accordance with this guidance moving forward. As Mr. Grimm had mentioned in his letter yesterday, the guidance is a little more detailed than it has been previously and requires us to ask some additional questions. If your child is impacted by the guidance, a representative from the school will reach out to you to ask some follow up questions to determine the appropriate next steps for your child. 

 

Beginning January 18th, we will be implementing the following changes; 

 

Students/staff who test positive, or are considered a “close contact” will be excluded from school for isolation or quarantine at home for 5 calendar days. 

1. After 5 days have passed, a student or staff member who has tested positive may return if they have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, 24 hours from diarrhea or vomiting ceasing, and their other symptoms, such as sore throat or cough have improved. 

2. After 5 days have passed, a student or staff member who was a close contact will be able to return to school if they do not have any symptoms. It is recommended that close contacts test between days 3-5 of exposure. 

   1. Students and staff members who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine if they are a close contact. 

3. Students will be provided access to remote learning during the time in which they are excluded from school.

 

Upon returning to school after a 5 day isolation period or quarantine period and until an additional 5 days have passed;

1. The student or staff member will be required to wear a properly fitted mask for the duration of the school day (including outdoor recess). 

2. During lunch, the student or staff member will need to maintain a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing from other students and staff. We will identify a seating arrangement within the cafeteria for students to ensure that this distancing is possible. 

 

What does this mean for students who are currently isolating or quarantining? 

 

If your child is currently following a quarantine or isolation protocol, please use the following table to determine their updated “Return to Learn” date. 

 

If the original “Return to Learn” date was;	The updated “Return to Learn” date is;
January 19, 2022	January 18th, 2022
January 20, 2022	January 18th, 2022
January 21, 2022	January 18th, 2022
January 24, 2022	January 19, 2022
January 25, 2022	January 20th, 2022

 

As mentioned above, if your child is returning after a 5 day isolation or quarantine; 

 

1. They will be required to wear a properly fitted mask for the duration of the school day (including outdoor recess). 

 

2. We will identify a seating arrangement within the cafeteria for them to ensure that they can properly distance a minimum of six feet from others. 

Dear Giles Families:

 

8th Grade Graduation Picture Retake - Wednesday, January 19, 2022

8th Grade picture retakes will take place on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.  Recommendations for what to wear: Boys - Should wear a shirt and tie.  A Sports coat, suit or sweater is optional.  Girls - Please avoid up-dos.  Turtleneck sweaters should not be worn.  All students will be photographed against a green screen.  Please avoid wearing shades of green.  No payment is needed at this time.  A proof will be sent home that will include packages and ordering information.

 

Candor Health 

Next week in P.E. students will receive a handout with information on the Candor Health presentation.  The first week in February, each grade level will complete an online program tailored to navigate the needs and questions of adolescents.  Please review the specifics of this educational opportunity in the handout and sign and return the opt out form if you so desire.  If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kellye Stefanski (kstefanski@norridge80.net) or Mr. Gino Gapastione (ggapastione@norridge80.net).  

 

Student Led Conferences:

Student Led Conferences will take place on Thursday, February 17, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and again on Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  Conferences will be remote this year.  Our goal with these conferences is to showcase the academic talents of our students, provide data to support growth and learning along with goal setting to further improve learning across all curriculums.  Additional information will be available as we get closer to conferences.

 

Recess and Cooler Temperatures:

Now that we have reached the month of January, the temperatures have begun to become much cooler. We will continue to go outside and enjoy the fresh air and open space for recess. Please make sure your child is dressing appropriately so that they are comfortable.

 

Chromebook Reminder:

Parents - Please remind your child to charge their Chromebook nightly and bring it fully charged each day.  We only have a limited number of loaner Chromebooks that we can pass out daily.  Thank you for your assistance.

 

Lost and Found:

Our lost and found is growing.  If you are missing anything, please check out our table near room 50 and 52. 

 

Dental Form Notification

The dental exam form must be turned in to the nurse’s office no later than May 15th, 2022.  Failure to do so will result in your child not receiving their report card at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

Any questions, please feel free to contact the Giles School Nurse: Ms. Angellique Garnett, RN at (708) 453-4847 #3 or at agarnett@norridge80.net.

 

Cell Phone Policy - PLEASE REVIEW WITH YOUR CHILD

During instructional time, which includes class periods and passing periods, electronic devices must be kept powered-off and out-of-sight unless: (a) permission is granted by an administrator, teacher or school staff member; (b) use of the device is provided in a student’s individualized education program (IEP); or (c) it is needed in an emergency that threatens the safety of students, staff, or other individuals. Please remind your child to keep their cell phones off and away during the day! Any student caught in possession of their cell phone will have their phone turned over to the Principal's Office. Parent's will be called and notified for violation of the cell phone policy. We also would like to remind parents that any student using an apple watch to text or communicate with others during the day is strictly prohibited. If you have any questions, please let me know.

 

Boys Basketball and Cheerleading:

The Giles boys basketball team has been hard at work representing Norridge in the Leyden-Norwood Athletic Conference since Thanksgiving. The Varsity and Jr. Varsity each have a current record of 5 wins and 2 losses. Next week they wrap up the regular season with two games; Tuesday being the final home game against the Hawks from Pennoyer and Thursday at Lincoln. Good luck to the teams! - Coach Gapastione

Boys Basketball & Cheerleading Home Dates: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Home vs. Pennoyer School

For additional information, please contact Mr. Gino Gapastione, Ms. Alicia Norgard or Ms. Klaudia Tryba.

 

Physicals:

Any student interested in trying out for a sport must have a physical on file before tryouts.  If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse Ms. Garnett, RN by email at: agarnett@norridge80.net.

 

Bottled Water

We encourage each student to bring a bottle of water to school each day.  Due to COVID protocol the drinking fountains have been turned off.  However, students may use the bottle refillers to fill their water bottles.

 

Lunch:

Gourmet Gorilla will be our food service provider.  Please review the lunch ordering directions in this newsletter for additional information.  You can place your students' lunch order online at www.gourmetgorilla.com.  The Giles School code is GS006.  Lunches will remain free for all students under the COVID Emergency Federal Program.  You must order lunch to receive lunch.

 

 

Thank you and enjoy the weekend,

Mr. Bob Biedke, Principal

Mrs. Christine Ahrens, Assistant Principal