Northwest ISD's newsletter for families and the community
Nov. 19, 2020
Thanksgiving Break: No School Nov. 23-27
Northwest ISD COVID-19 Protocols for Thanksgiving Break
COVID-19 Reporting
During the break, as well as the weekends before and after, all staff and students who test positive for COVID-19, have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or begin to experience COVID-19 symptoms, will need to continue to use the NISD COVID Reporting Form. All forms submitted that do not require contact with parents/staff members will be processed periodically throughout the break. There will not be a nurse on call over the break. For any health-related questions, please contact a physician.  

If a student or NISD staff member tests positive for COVID-19, has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or is experiencing COVID symptoms during the Thanksgiving break, please do not return to school/work on Monday, Nov. 30. A NISD nurse or staff member will be in contact with you for further information and direction when school reopens. Northwest ISD will be sending notification letters for any staff and student cases from over the break when schools reopen on Monday, Nov. 30. 
Holiday Travel
Northwest ISD follows the travel recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). To learn more about travel requirements following your Thanksgiving break trip, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html. NISD works directly with local health departments and advises, as they do, that families avoid travel and large gatherings.
Learning Enrichment Opportunities
Learning doesn’t have to stop just because school is out! Northwest ISD students will be bringing home their district-issued Chromebooks on Friday, Nov. 20 so they can continue learning during Thanksgiving break.

Enrichment opportunities are available for students through NISD’s Learning That Takes You Places website, which takes students on a journey to a dozen different places around the world. Students are also encouraged to work on Lexia and Imagine Math programs or read digital books through the Epic app. 

And while there won’t be a grade for these enrichment activities, district leaders hope students will take the opportunity to engage and learn at home.
Chromebooks and chargers should be returned to your child’s campus on Monday, Nov. 30.

Please ensure devices are fully-charged and ready to be utilized during school hours.  
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northwest ISD planning to close after Thanksgiving Break?
No. There are no plans to close campuses and transition to Remote Learning after the holiday break.
What would cause campuses to close and transition to Remote Learning?
Northwest ISD will consider closing a campus when the active test-confirmed cases are at or above 3% of the student and staff population at any given campus. Northwest ISD must also follow government mandates for closure, if applicable.
Will campuses close if there are three or more linked cases?
Northwest ISD health and safety protocols list this as an additional consideration in the decision to close a campus, class or program. However, it is very unlikely that a campus will close as a result of this consideration. Three or more linked cases is most likely to close a class or program because the number of individuals required to quarantine would be much higher within that group and likely would not affect the whole school.
Can my student return to school following our travel plans?
Yes, as long as they are not test-confirmed with COVID-19 or have been a close contact with an individual who has tested positive. Northwest ISD follows the travel recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). To learn more about travel requirements following your Thanksgiving break trip, visit:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html
What are the expectations of a student in quarantine?
According to the CDC, people in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health and follow directions from their state or local health department. This includes avoiding gatherings such as birthday parties, sleepovers, sports activities, and church functions while in quarantine.
Will masks still be required after the break?
Yes. All of Northwest ISD's Health and Safety Guidelines remain in effect.
NISD Seeks Voter Opinions In Election Survey
NISD leaders are looking for community input following the Nov. 3, 2020 election. This week, the district released an election feedback survey asking voters to give their input on the bond propositions and tax rate election that failed to pass.

In addition to the survey, the district plans to gather constituents for stakeholder feedback and reconvene the Long-Range Planning Committee.

District leaders will also be holding several Budget Workshops with the NISD Board of Trustees as they consider calling a bond election for May 1, 2021.
Nomination Window Now Open for NISD Exemplar Educators
The window to nominate a Northwest ISD Exemplar Educator is open, now through December 4. Nomination forms can be found on the district website. Campus staff annually select NISD’s Exemplar Educators (Teacher of the Year) for their leadership, motivation, and effectiveness in the classroom.

Two Exemplar Educators will be selected as district Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year and will represent NISD in the Region 11 Teacher of the Year competition.  
Applications Open for NISD Academies
Current eighth grade students interested in enrolling in one of Northwest ISD's eight academy programs may now complete their enrollment requests. The link to complete an academy enrollment request form can be found on the Career and Technical Education website. All enrollment requests are due by Dec. 4.

NISD offers many academies and pathways to empower students to immerse themselves in their field of interest through hands-on learning, field-based experiences, and internships.
Student-Athlete Makes History at Steele Accelerated High School
Northwest ISD’s James M. Steele Accelerated High School’s Chloe Culver became the first student-athlete in her school’s history to sign a NCAA National Letter of Intent, signifying her objective to play collegiate sports and continue her academic pursuits. Culver signed to play beach volleyball with San Jose State University in San Jose, Calif.

Since Steele Accelerated High School is not a traditional comprehensive high school with school sports, the school has never participated in a signing day for prospective college athletes. 
Watch NISD Football Games Live
If you are a Texan or Eagle football fan and will be unable to attend the varsity games this week, you can access the links below to view a live broadcast of this week's games. Byron Nelson has a bye week and will not be competing.
Remote Learning Update for November
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