District 86 will continue bringing approximately 25% of our students back on campus Nov. 2-6 in conjunction with our phased-in approach for resuming in-person instruction. Below is information about the schedule and activities for this week.

During the board of education meeting on Oct. 29, Superintendent Prentiss announced that we will be changing the rotation of our A, B, C and D groups for the rest of first semester starting the week of Nov. 9 so that students who are in the hybrid model will be on campus for in-person instruction every other week instead of one week per month. Below is a table showing the days the different groups will be in school from the week of Nov. 9 through the start of winter break. Please note that we will be maintaining the condensed block and Wednesday remote schedules for the rest of first semester.

She also shared that the district will not be giving final exams for first semester. This decision was based on the alterations that were made to the pace, structure and focus of instruction in the remote and hybrid models, as well as the challenges associated with administering what have traditionally been in-person exams to students who are learning remotely on a part- or full-time basis. Below are the primary outcomes of the decision.

You can access the update we sent on Friday, Oct. 30 about our plans for the rest of first semester by visiting https://conta.cc/35Vofrk. You can also access a detailed summary of the presentation Superintendent Prentiss gave to the board by visiting https://bit.ly/37ZGf6i.

Below is the updated COVID-19 data for the district as of Friday, Oct. 30.

The dashboard where this data is being stored can be accessed by visiting https://bit.ly/3d93aws.

We have had some inquiries about the difference between being in isolation and being quarantined. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, isolation occurs when individuals experience symptoms related to COVID-19, while quarantine occurs when individuals may have been exposed to the virus by being in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. You can access additional information about the difference between isolation and quarantine by visiting https://bit.ly/36Xm9sU.

Also, during the board meeting on Oct. 29, Superintendent Prentiss shared that we would begin providing a weekly update on the combined seven-day and 14-day rolling average positivity rates for the communities we serve that are featured on the dashboard that was created by the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. As of Friday, Oct. 30, the seven-day rolling average positivity rate for these communities was 7% and the 14-day rolling average positivity rate was 5.72%.

Junior Suzan Nofal from Hinsdale Central is among the 22 students from across the country who have been selected as members of the inaugural Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship. She and the other fellows will take part in a year-long program that will give them the chance to hone their leadership skills and explore how to make civics more inclusive and relevant to Americans of all backgrounds.

As part of the selection process, Suzan was asked to draft an announcement about her achievement. You can access the announcement by visiting https://bit.ly/35SezgY.

We congratulate Suzan on this tremendous honor, and look forward to updates about the work she is doing in conjunction with the fellowship.

Last week, Hinsdale South recognized and celebrated the following nine seniors who were selected for the school's Wall of Fame because they consistently made the dean's list, exceeded all standards on state assessments and demonstrated high levels of achievement on Advanced Placement exams.

We congratulate these students on being honored for their impressive academic accomplishments.

Sophomore Fatima Khan from Hinsdale Central was invited to participate in the recent Youth Voice Unconference that was sponsored by the Susan Crown Exchange, which is an organization that supports nonprofits that help prepare youth to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Teenagers from across the country took part in the event, which featured activities and discussions that were focused on the co-creation of digital spaces.

Fatima shared that she appreciated having the chance to exchange thoughts and ideas with her peers, and enjoyed collaborating with them on potential solutions for the issues they discussed.

You can access additional information about the Susan Crown Exchange by visiting https://scefdn.org/.

Each month, the world language teachers from Hinsdale South nominate individuals for recognition as the World Language Students of the Month. These students have a strong interest in a world or classical language, demonstrate the traits of being accountable, respectful and engaged, and perform actions and exhibit an attitude that exemplify what it means to have South Pride.

Below are the students from South who earned this honor for the month of October.

The boys and girls cross country teams from Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South wrapped up their seasons with phenomenal performances at Sectionals on Saturday, Oct. 31. Below are some of the highlights from their tournaments.

You can access the results from the Sectional tournaments for the teams from South by visiting https://bit.ly/2JqsWSi and for the teams from Central by visiting https://bit.ly/3eeeSXa.

We congratulate all of our cross country teams on their tremendous success this season.

Three District 86 world language teachers were selected to present at the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ICTFL) 2020 Fall Conference. Christina Brodell and Sally Belter gave a presentation titled “Creating Courageous Classrooms” that was focused on the value of creating meaningful relationships with students in the classroom, and facilitating an environment that invites students to use their voice and be their authentic selves. They also shared successful strategies and techniques for connecting with students that lead to higher academic engagement, improved

attendance and behavior, and increased job satisfaction for teachers.

During a presentation titled “Reflection Strategies to Promote Student Growth,” Brodell and Courtney Mikulcik highlighted how integrating student reflection tools and cooperative learning into curriculum and instruction on a regular basis helps encourage student ownership and participation. They also shared how these strategies can help students develop a growth mindset and improve/enhance their proficiency in world language classrooms.

You can access additional information about the conference by visiting http://www.ictfl.org/2020-conference.html.

If you missed the edition of Board Briefs for the District 86 Board of Education meeting that was held on Oct. 29, please visit https://conta.cc/3oSiROi.

New York Times best-selling author and science writer David Epstein will be the first featured presenter for the 2020-21 Community Speaker Series. During a special webinar being held on Nov. 17 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., Epstein will discuss the keys to achieving high performance in any domain. He will also talk about how generalists triumph as the world around them becomes increasingly specialized.

The webinar is free and open to the public. However, registration is required if you want to take part in the livestream of the event, or watch the recording of it afterward.

Please visit www.d181foundation.org to register for or learn more about the webinar.