Plan for Opening for 2021-2022 School Year and Updated Vaccination Rates
Dear District 86 Community,
During the board of education meeting on Aug. 12, I presented our plan for the opening of the 2021-22 school year. You can access that presentation by visiting https://bit.ly/2VRVxpy.
- Returning to in-person instruction on a full-time basis for all students (regardless of their vaccination status) when school starts on Aug. 26.
- Resuming our traditional bell schedule for instruction and lunch.
- Maintaining the mitigation protocols from last year regarding hand hygiene, cleaning and sanitizing our buildings, room ventilation and social distancing.
- Continuing to provide students with support based on their academic and social and emotional learning needs.
- Continuing to encourage students and staff to stay home when they are sick.
- Continuing to promote opportunities for students and staff to get vaccinated.
Universal Masking
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Everyone (e.g., students, staff, visitors to our buildings, etc.), regardless of their vaccination status, will be required to wear a face covering when they are indoors. This includes students who are participating in indoor sports and those who ride the bus to and from school.
- Students can remove their face coverings while they are seated and eating lunch. However, they will need to have them on at all other times while they are in that space.
- Students and staff will not be required to wear face coverings while they are outside. However, IDPH and ISBE recommend that individuals who are not fully vaccinated wear face coverings in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people who are not fully vaccinated, particularly in areas where the transmission levels are substantial or high.
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Some members of our community have expressed concern that wearing face coverings will increase the amount of carbon dioxide people are breathing in on a daily basis. This concern is based, in part, on a research letter titled “Experimental Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Content in Inhaled Air With or Without Face Masks in Healthy Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial” that was published by JAMA Pediatrics. The organization retracted this letter on July 16 due to “fundamental concerns about the study methodology, uncertainty regarding the validity of the findings and conclusions, and the potential public health implications.” Furthermore, medical institutions such as the Mayo Clinic have provided information that debunks the research and other myths about face coverings.
SHIELD Illinois
- The board has approved a contract with SHIELD Illinois to provide the district with access to a diagnostic screening and testing system. Our current plan is to roll out this system on Sept. 8.
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Any student or employee may give consent to participate in the SHIELD screening program. However, any unvaccinated student or employee who is involved in or is leading a district-sponsored extracurricular activity or sport must take part in the screening program in order to participate in that activity or sport.
- As stated above, DCHD determines the rules and requirements for quarantine. This includes whether testing can be used to keep students and staff in school who are deemed to be a close contact, but are exhibiting no symptoms of COVID-19 and have not tested positive for the virus.
- The screening and testing system will enable students and staff who are deemed to be part of an outbreak (two or more cases linked epidemiologically that do not share the same household and are not listed as close contacts of each other outside the outbreak setting) to remain in school.
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We are currently awaiting information from IDPH and SHIELD about testing protocols. We are also communicating with DCHD about the quarantine options and whether testing can be used to help keep students and staff in school. We will keep you updated on both these situations. In the meantime, you can access additional information about SHIELD Illinois by visiting https://bit.ly/3iGighz.
Additional Operational Items
- Lunch will feature a selection of pre-packaged options that students can pay for with cash or through their PushCoin account.
- If the community transmission level for the county is high, there will be no districtwide staff gathering for institute day, curriculum nights will be virtual and parent-teacher conferences will be conducted via phone.
- The district used a grant to secure 226 hotspots with unlimited internet service for students whose families are facing financial issues. If you have questions or need more information about this resource, please contact the district's Help Desk at (630) 655-6180.
Each of our schools will be sending their students and families an email on Aug. 24 that will feature building-specific information for the 2021-22 school year.
In addition to sharing the details about our opening plan, I want to provide you with the updated student vaccination rates for our buildings as of Aug. 13. Those rates, which reflect the percentage of students who have provided us with proof that they are fully vaccinated, are as follows:
- 45.04% of students from Hinsdale Central
- 22.96% of students from Hinsdale South
- 13.39% of students from the Transition Center
As a reminder, these calculations assume that the students we do not currently have records for have not been vaccinated.
If you still need to provide us with your child’s vaccination record, you can bring a copy of it to their school or email it to our nurses via the addresses listed below.
If you or your child still want or need to get vaccinated, you can find the location(s) nearest you by visiting https://www.vaccines.gov/.
Lastly, some of you have inquired about the vaccination rates for our staff. Our human resources department is currently in the process of collecting that information, which we will include in future updates.
Thank you very much for your time and attention to this message. I look forward to seeing everyone back in our buildings on Aug. 26.
Sincerely,
Tammy Prentiss
Superintendent
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Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in DuPage
COVID-19 vaccines are free and available to anyone 12 years or older. There are now many locations available to get your COVID-19 vaccine in DuPage County. To find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you, visit www.vaccines.gov.
The Dupage County Health Department also offers COVID-19 vaccinations on a walk-in basis in Wheaton, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccineclinic.
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Freshman and New Students Chrome Book Distribution & ID Pictures Days
If you were unable to this week - please stop at the Greeter on August 23rd from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM to obtain your materials. If you are unable to stop in on Monday, you will have to obtain materials on the first day of school, August 26th, 2021.
No appointment is necessary.
Due to construction in the building, please come to the Main Entrance only.
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Back to School Save the Dates!
Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! Hinsdale Central is excited to welcome you into the building with renewed energy and renovated spaces. There are a few upcoming dates and events you won't want to miss explained below.
Friday, Aug. 20th join us for the Back to School Bash. From 4-7pm there will be food trucks, music, games and more at our front circle drive. This is an event open to all of our current students and the community. During this time the building will be open to walk student’s class schedules and see some of the renovations that have taken place this summer. At 5:00 the Red and White Swimming Scrimmage will take place after the dedication of the Don Watson Aquatic Center (there will be limited seating). Wrap up the evening with the Red and White Football scrimmage on Dickinson Field.
Wednesday, Aug. 25th the Class of 2024 is invited to attend the Sophomore Social in our Main Gym from 1-3PM. Sophomores can come to the building to see their friends, play some games, listen to music, get a treat and walk the building to find their classrooms and lockers. Teachers will not be available for questions at this time – students will be able to speak with their teachers on the first day of school, Aug. 26th.
Thursday, Aug 26th is Freshmen and New Student Experience as well as the first day of school! Freshmen and transfer students will begin the day at 8:00AM to meet their peer mentors and ambassadors, participate in a scavenger hunt through the building, attend a pep rally and then eat lunch in the cafeteria. All other students will begin their day at 12:00 joined by the freshmen class and new students, following their class schedule for the remainder of the day. More details will be emailed to freshmen and transfer students about where to report at 8:00 AM closer to the date.
Monday, Sept. 13th is the all-school Activities and Athletic fair. ALL students will attend the Activities and Athletic fair during their PE classes/Study Halls to learn how to get involved and connected in all that Hinsdale Central High School has to offer. During this event, students will be able to get information about how to join a club or team, when meetings or the season starts and where they need to go. ALL students should also remember to check their email daily for the Daily Announcements that will have more information about how to get involved at Hinsdale Central High School.
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Physical Education Department Lockers and Uniform Information
Welcome back Red Devil students and families. The Physical Education Department is so excited to get back to our pre-COVID curriculum. We have been approved to use the physical education locker rooms in order for our students to change into proper attire. In the first week of school students will get a PE locker. Students will provide their own lock. We will be selling used locks for $2 and this charge will go to the student's Pushcoin account. Also, new this year, all students in physical education will wear a Hinsdale Central PE uniform t-shirt. This will be a $9 charge that you will see in your child's Pushcoin account. For students/families that are eligible for free - reduced lunch your accounts will not be charged.
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Student Schedules and Home Access Center
Students can now log in to HAC [Home Access Center] to access their schedule, ID number, locker assignment and bus route. Schedules can be found by going to the HOME icon and clicking on the 2021 Student Schedule link.
Parents/guardians of incoming freshmen received a separate email that includes instructions about how their student can access HAC.
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Unable to see your student's Schedule?
Have you logged in to HAC and cannot view your schedule?
1) Have you completed the Registration/Residency process? Register HERE
3) Is your student an incoming senior? All students entering 12th grade must show proof of receiving 2 doses of the Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4/Menactra/Menveo) unless the first dose was given at the age of 16 years or older in which case only one dose will be required. Please provide this information to the Nurse's office ASAP.
Questions for the Nurse's office? Information can be found HERE
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Fees and Textbooks
Fees and textbooks have been uploaded to PushCoin and MBS Direct. You can now pay fees and order your textbooks.
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Senior Portraits Information - Save the Dates
Senior yearbook ONLY photo: Tuesday, September 7th during English classes
Senior mini-sessions - sign up via VIP (more info to come)
Week of October 11 - 15 3-8 pm
Week of October 18 - 22 3-8 pm
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2021-2022 Schedule Change Requests
Students who would like to request a change to a course they requested for the 21-22 academic year when they met with their counselor in January/February may now do so by completing our Schedule Change Request Form. These requests will be processed on a space-available basis by the date of request. We will do our best to accommodate your request, but our schedule is tight and some changes will not be available.
Please note that this is not a level change request. You cannot request to move to a higher-level course than you were originally recommended for. If this is something you are interested in, you must first reach out to the Department Chair and they will notify us if the request is approved before we would look at availability.
The deadline to request a schedule change is Friday, August 20 to allow time for processing prior to the 1st day of school. Please reach out with any questions!
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Women in STEM Mentorship Program |
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COVID -19 Exposure Procedures and Guidance for Parents
The health and well-being of our community remains a top priority. Our District is committed to being as prepared as possible and thus provides the following updates on our health procedures. Access the Health Service COVID-19 web site for more information on the IDPH COVID-19 Exclusion Guidance that is in effect for any student who is:
- EXPERIENCING ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOM
- TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
- EXPOSED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
- EXPOSED TO SOMEONE SUSPECTED OF HAVING COVID-19
- EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
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Technology Help Desk
Students having difficulty with technology, should contact the Hinsdale Central Tech Help Desk at helpdesk@hinsdale86.org or call 630-655-6180. The IT staff can help students reset passwords or repair Chromebooks as well as many other tech issues.
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