DuPage County Experiencing Substantial COVID-19 Community Transmission
DuPage County’s COVID-19 community transmission is now at Substantial level per Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The recent rise in cases and hospitalizations is likely attributed to the more contagious Delta variant which has now become the more predominant variant across the country. Still, vaccines continue to be the best form of protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant and help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) strongly endorses the recently updated CDC masking guidance which recommends everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas with substantial and high transmission. This recommendation includes employers, retailers, restaurants/bars, fitness/recreational centers, libraries, governmental entities, healthcare facilities, and other public venues.
Additionally, CDC is also recommending universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors in K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. As a result, DCHD released an updated statement about COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in Schools. School leaders and local school districts hold the ultimate authority to develop plans to return to school and ensure a safe school environment.
“The increase in activity we’re experiencing is concerning given the high efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and our relatively high rates of vaccination in DuPage County. We continue to urge our residents who are 12 years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible to protect themselves and others against COVID-19 and the more dangerous Delta variant,” said Karen Ayala, Executive Director of DuPage County Health Department. “COVID-19 vaccine providers are now widely available and likely within minutes of your home or workplace. Please visit www.vaccines.gov to find a location near you.”
It remains critical that individuals who are not fully vaccinated or are immunocompromised continue practicing preventive measures as they are at greater risk of contracting these more transmissible variants, some of which are more likely to lead to severe outcomes. In addition, to help interrupt and prevent community spread, persons with COVID-19 infection need to selfisolate (e.g., stay home except for medical care) and their close contacts need to get tested after exposure. Close contacts should also self-quarantine unless they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have had COVID-19 infection within three months of exposure. Updated recommendations on masking based on vaccination status and setting are available at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html.
According to the latest CDC COVID-19 vaccination data, more than 82 percent of eligible residents 12 years and older in DuPage County have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 66 percent are fully vaccinated. Of residents 65 years and older, 99 percent have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 82 percent are fully vaccinated.
As vaccination efforts continue, there are numerous options for members of the community to get their COVID-19 vaccine in DuPage County. In addition to visiting www.vaccines.gov to find a nearby vaccine provider, the DCHD Community Vaccination Clinic in Wheaton offers COVID-19 vaccines Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccineclinic. Another vaccination resource is the DCHD Care Van mobile clinic which provides free COVID-19 vaccinations directly to DuPage County communities. To learn more and view this week’s schedule click here. Additionally, any DuPage County residents who are homebound or who cannot safely leave their residence to visit a vaccination clinic are eligible to be vaccinated through our homebound vaccination program and should register at dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccineregistration, or call (630) 682-7400 for assistance.
Additional COVID-19 vaccine information about local efforts, frequently asked questions, vaccination data, and more is available at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine.
For general questions about COVID-19 and Illinois’ response and guidance, call 1-800-889-3931 or email DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Freshman and New Students Chrome Book Distribution & ID Pictures Days
Please join us on Monday, August 16, 2021, or on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the library to pick up your chrome book and your new student ID.
No appointment is necessary.
Due to construction in the building, please come to the Main Entrance only and you will be directed to the library.
|
|
|
|
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. 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.
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.
|
|
|
|
Return to School Update and Proof of Vaccination Record Information
Dear District 86 Community,
During the board of education meeting on July 22, Superintendent Tammy Prentiss provided an update on our return to school plan for the 2021-22 school year. You can access that update by visiting https://bit.ly/3isPobj and a link to the message can also be found on our District 86 Website, under the news section HERE.
In addition to sharing this update, Hinsdale Central wants to strongly encourage you to please provide us with your child’s proof of vaccination as soon as possible. Having access to this information will enable us to:
- Finalize our plans for the fall.
- Adjust or modify our plans should there be updates to the guidance for schools or changes in the transmission level for the community.
- Streamline the contact tracing process and make it easier to identify those who will need to quarantine should we experience a positive case. According to the guidance from the CDC and IDPH, students and staff who are fully vaccinated will not need to quarantine if they are a close contact unless they develop symptoms of COVID-19.
If you took part in the vaccination clinics we hosted during the last several months, you should receive an email from Jewel-Osco about how you can download a free digital vaccine record. You can see what that email looks like by visiting https://bit.ly/3hZdImc. If you received the vaccine elsewhere, you can give us a copy of your vaccination card or any other official vaccination record provided by your healthcare provider.
Below is the email address you can use to send your child’s vaccination record to the nurse.
If you are using an iPhone to send a picture of the vaccination card, please change the image format from HEIC (High Efficiency) to Most Compatible. The HEIC format does not work on a PC and our health office will be unable to view the data.
Please note that if we do not receive information for a student, we will operate under the assumption that they have not been vaccinated.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Fees and Textbooks
Fees and textbooks have been uploaded to PushCoin and MBS Direct. You can now pay fees and order your textbooks.
|
|
|
|
2021-2022 Registration Information
The link to begin the registration process for the upcoming school year can be found HERE
If you have any questions, please contact our Registrars at 630-570-8148 or 630-570-8271.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
