Superintendent message re: extending fully remote for all students

Dear Glenbard families,

I trust each of your families will enjoy the Thanksgiving break and have a chance to rest and recharge. I know the pandemic has been challenging and quality time with your loved ones will look different this year.  Many of us have experienced the devastating impact of COVID-19 in our lives. As the numbers sharply rise, the realities and dangers are very real.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that we will need to extend our safety pause and continue with fully remote learning through the end of the first semester on Dec. 18.  As reflected by the increased cases noted below, it simply is not safe to return to our hybrid learning model.  Note that since my correspondence on Nov. 6, the number of cases per 100,000 has increased 74% (312 to 543) and the positivity rate has increased 37% (from 10.6 to 14.6). 

Additional Important Information

• All students will continue to experience quality instruction though our talented teachers’ livestream instruction.
• Per the DuPage County Health Department COVID-19 School Metrics, the other health metrics continue to be at the Substantial (red) community transmission level.
• The IHSA, for now, has postponed all indoor sporting activities, including any training and competitions.
• Because of the state-wide shift to Tier 3 Mitigations on November 20, we are instituting a safety pause on indoor clubs and activities. Virtual activities and meetings are encouraged and may continue during this pause.
• We will inform families by December 18 if we will be able return to our hybrid schedule in January 2021, the start of our second semester.

Final Exams
The end of the semester is usually reserved for final exam days; however, the instructional adjustments teachers made this semester have resulted in the need to adapt these assessments as well. As a result, Glenbard will not have a traditional final exam schedule. Instead, we will follow the regular weekly schedule and your student may encounter a variety of assessment experiences ranging from a final exam, a unit summative assessment, culminating project or no final. Teachers will communicate how first semester grades will be finalized.

Resources and Supports

• Community Resources – a variety of resources for families to utilze
• Free breakfasts and lunches are available for pickup at the main entrance to our four schools and the Glendale Heights Sports Hub. Meal pickup will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Students do not need to be present to receive meals. A parent/guardian may pick up the meals. No identification is necessary.

We recognize that this shift is challenging to many and that it has an impact on students and families. Please tap into the many academic and social-emotional resources that we offer. Please review your school’s document linked below for a list of support opportunities:

• Glenbard East resources
• Glenbard North resources
• Glenbard South resources
• Glenbard West resources
• Directions program resources

We also list a variety of resources in Glenbard News each week.

Fall 2020 Calendar
We will continue to follow the fall 2020 calendar. Please bookmark the calendar for your convenience.

Working Together to Reduce COVID-19 Spread
Our ability to return to our hybrid model in January depends on the status of COVID-19 in our community and the data we receive from health department officials. Please plan carefully and be cautious during the Thanksgiving weekend and the coming holidays.  Each of us plays a key role in turning around the COVID-19 numbers by following these key recommendations:

1. Wear a mask whenever outside your home or around people not from your household;
2. Watch your distance, staying at least 6 feet from people outside of your immediate household;
3. Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer often;
4. Avoid large gatherings, especially indoors;
5. Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19; consult with your healthcare provider for medical evaluation and testing, as needed; and
6. Get your flu shot, to prevent illness from influenza and to prevent possible co-infection from influenza and COVID-19. Information about free flu shots is here.

Review our COVID-19 dashboard for weekly updates. We will keep families appraised about the prospect of returning to our hybrid model. Our schedule, which allows both on-site and streaming access, is designed so that we can pivot between remote and hybrid learning models.

As always, many thanks for your patience, understanding, flexibility and commitment to safety.

Sincerely,
David F. Larson, Ed.D.
Superintendent