Updates from 86
Weekly news and information from District 86
Website Featuring COVID-19 Information and Updates
We have created a COVID-19 section on the district's website that features:

  • Links to the emails we have sent since the start of the crisis. 
  • Links to various organizations that are offering assistance and support with important issues such as self-care and food insecurity. 
  • Details about the changes we have made and steps we have taken to ensure that the needs of our students, staff and families continue to be met during the closure. 

You can access the information that is posted on this section of our site by visiting https://bit.ly/3e3rU9p or using the links below. We encourage you to check these pages regularly for updates about the virus and its impact on our schools and community.

Summer School
Given the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, we have extended the registration deadline for summer school until April 30. You can access the link for registration, as well as important information about our summer programming (e.g., location, transportation, course offerings and fees), by visiting https://d86.hinsdale86.org/summer. You can also access the update that our summer school principals sent about potential changes to the program should the stay at home order or limit on mass gatherings still be in effect in June and July by visiting https://conta.cc/2X19Cjm.
Facilities Use During the School Closure
We continue to receive reports about people utilizing our tracks and turf fields despite the fact that our buildings are closed. We are particularly concerned about the larger groups of individuals that are using these spaces, which is a violation of the stay at home order and limit on large gatherings.

We understand and appreciate the desire to stay active, and know that our facilities are community resources. However, similar to local parks and playgrounds, it is imperative that our school grounds remain closed to the public during this time. Doing so will help us preserve and protect the health and well-being of our students, staff, families, friends and neighbors.

Thank you very much for doing your part to keep our community safe during this challenging time.
Update on Construction
During the District 86 Board of Education meeting on April 9, the administration provided an update on the construction timeline associated with the district’s Future Ready Facilities plans. This update included the following information about permits, zoning and insurance.

  • The district received permits for Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South from the Regional Office of Education.
  • The Village of Hinsdale approved the zoning for Hinsdale Central during its meeting on April 7.
  • The engineering/site permits from the Village of Hinsdale and City of Darien are still pending. We anticipate they will be issued in the next seven to 14 days.
  • The issuance of a permit from the Illinois Department of Public Health may be delayed due to the agency's staff being redeployed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The district has builder's risk insurance policies for the projects at Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South that have an effective date of April 1, 2020.  

The update also included news about the work that has already begun or is scheduled to start early (pending permit approvals) since our buildings are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are details about that work.

  • Work on the roofs has already begun at Hinsdale Central and is scheduled to start at Hinsdale South the week of April 20. 
  • Removal of the turf from the practice fields at Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central is scheduled to begin the week of April 20.
  • Selective demolition is beginning in the library at Hinsdale South. 
  • Work on the fence along the east property line at Hinsdale Central is scheduled to begin the week of April 20. A notice about this work was sent to the neighbors who have homes on that property line.
  • Helical test piles have begun for the pool addition at Hinsdale Central. 

You can access additional information about the district's Future Ready Facilities plans by visiting https://d86.hinsdale86.org/domain/425.
Updates from Bridge and Transition
Teachers from Bridge continue to assist students with their College of DuPage (COD) course work and the transition to e-learning. Students are checking in with staff on a daily basis and participating in a virtual meeting every week. During these sessions, students are setting daily goals and discussing their social and emotional status. In addition, the College Stress Management course is still meeting every week via Zoom. Students who are participating in this course are learning how to cope with the current stressors of e-learning.

Meanwhile, teachers from the Transition Center have made video tutorials for students about daily tasks such as washing dishes, cleaning and sweeping. They have created interactive activities that provide students with immediate feedback via Boom Learning Cards. They are also helping students sign up for COD classes and accommodations/supports for next school year.  
 
Some of the competitively employed students are working during the pandemic with the help and support of our staff.
 
Teachers have also created video tutorials and helped students learn how to use Google Hangouts so they can communicate with their friends while our schools are closed.  
2020 Science and Engineering Research Challenge
Amy Dong, who is a sophomore from Hinsdale Central, took second place in the Senior Division of the 2020 Science and Engineering Research Challenge that was hosted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Below is a description of the event from the university's website.

"The SIUE Science and Engineering Research Challenge provides fifth through 12th grade students the opportunity to think like a scientist. The process of doing a project lets students find information concerning new discoveries and test theories beyond the classroom curriculum. Projects also make students aware of the interdisciplinary nature of science and engineering as they apply writing skills, mathematics and art to communicate their research findings."

You can access the results from the research challenge by visiting https://bit.ly/2Rtp0kN.

We congratulate Amy on this tremendous accomplishment. We also thank teacher Mark Wollschlaeger for supporting Amy's work and helping her prepare for the event.
Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival
The Hinsdale South Wind Symphony is among the junior high/middle school and high school bands from across the state that were invited to perform at the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival May 7-8.

Although the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to congratulate the students and band director Kirk Hickman on this incredible honor, which put the group in the top seven of Class 1A bands in the state.

You can access additional information about the festival, including the list of groups that were invited to perform, by visiting https://bit.ly/2Vh1p8a.
D86 Rewind
While the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in postponed events, canceled activities and the premature end to seasons, this has been a school year filled with impressive accomplishments by our students and staff. With this in mind, we are going to spend the next several weeks using these emails and social media to look back on some of the highlights from across the district in a feature we are calling D86 Rewind.

In this week's email, we rewind back to October when we announced that the forensics speech and debate team from Hinsdale Central had been given membership into the National Speech & Debate Association's Societe de 300 after earning 300 or more strength points in conjunction with competitive and service-related activities.

We also announced that month that theatre arts students from Hinsdale South had been selected for induction into the International Thespian Society for completing at least 100 hours of quality work in theatre arts and related disciplines.

These are just two of the many examples we plan to share in the days ahead that reflect the hard work, immense talent, and passionate commitment of our students and staff.
Community Speaker Series Webinar
The Community Speaker Series and D181 Foundation are hosting a special webinar with Dr. Lisa Damour on April 14 at 7 p.m. titled "How to Manage Stress, Anxiety, and Parenting Under COVID-19."

During the webinar, Dr. Damour will explain the psychological science that is key to understanding how stress and anxiety operate, both under everyday conditions and at times of heightened concern and disruption. Participants will also learn how to:

  • Keep pressure and tension from reaching toxic levels.
  • Parent effectively in the current circumstances.
  • Use the most reliable strategies for managing ongoing stress.

After the presentation, Dr. Damour will answer questions that participants submit during the webinar.

You can learn more about or register for the event at https://bit.ly/2wfwaSp.
Board Briefs
If you missed the edition of Board Briefs for the District 86 Board of Education meeting that was held on April 9, please visit https://conta.cc/2wuITRb.