As part of our return to the traditional bell schedule, we will be holding Flex Learning Days on April 21 and 28 so that staff will have additional time for planning and collaboration. On these days, in-person learners will report to school and have 25-minute classes with five-minute passing periods (no lunch) from 8 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. Remote learners will participate in these classes via Zoom.

In the afternoon, all students will engage in asynchronous learning at home that will be centered around extension activities. These activities, which will be communicated to students through Canvas or during class time, will connect to the day’s in-class work or serve as an introduction to the following day’s lesson. They are estimated to take approximately 15 and 25 minutes to complete, and should be finished prior to the next class period. Homework (work assigned in addition to Flex Learning Day tasks) will not be assigned on these days.

Below is the COVID-19 data for the district as of Friday, April 16.

You can access the dashboard where this information is being stored by visiting https://bit.ly/3d93aws.

On Monday, April 12, the state updated its eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine to include any Illinois resident over the age of 16. With this in mind, we want to share the link to the online form people can use to sign up for a vaccination appointment through the DuPage County Health Department. You can access that form by visiting https://bit.ly/3a12Q2J.

Superintendent Tammy Prentiss has earned an Award of Merit in the Administrator category as part of the 2021 Distinguished Service Awards Program sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA).

These awards recognize those who make a difference in their school communities by helping to promote public education and enhance its programs and services.

Nominees are evaluated on their ability to support or improve understanding and communication in the school/district; foster cooperative partnerships between the school and community; and strengthen the overall support for education by stakeholders.

We congratulate Superintendent Prentiss on this well-deserved honor.

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 April.

Hinsdale Central named the following students their athletes of the month for March:

We congratulate these students on this recognition. We also thank our coaches for all they do to support the growth, development, and success of our athletes on and off the field.

The College of DuPage (COD) is partnering with local businesses on an apprenticeship program that provides prospective students with an opportunity to earn a certificate, while also making money and getting on-the-job experience in specified work areas. COD offers seven pathways through the program that include:

Four students from the Transition Center are currently enrolled in the program's prerequisite seminar course.

You can access additional information about COD's apprenticeship program by visiting https://bit.ly/3ahmJma.

On April 23, hundreds of thousands of people will participate in the annual Day of Silence. On this day, students and their allies from across the country and around the world will "take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools.”

This year, the Gender Sexuality Alliance from Hinsdale Central, Prism from Hinsdale South and the Transition Center are organizing and hosting the event for District 86 students and staff.

You can learn more about the Day of Silence by visiting https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence.

Last week's edition of The Hinsdalean featured an article about Hinsdale Central's virtual spring musical "The Theory of Relativity," which explores the connection between all of us through a series of songs and monologues. You can access the article by visiting https://bit.ly/3sfs3N6.

Tickets for the show are on sale for $15, and can be purchased through April 30 by visiting www.showtix4u.com/events/hcdrama. Student tickets are free. After purchasing tickets, an email will be sent with a code and a link to view the video of the show. The video and code will be activated at 7 p.m. on April 30 and close at 7 p.m. on May 2.

University of Chicago award-winning psychologist Nicholas Epley will be the next featured presenter for the 2020-21 Community Speaker Series. During a webinar being held on April 20 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., Epley will take the audience on an exploration of one of the great mysteries of the human mind: How good are we at knowing the minds of others?

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 http://conta.cc/2NUlIsc to register for or learn more about the webinar.

The next District 86 Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday, April 22. The agenda and packet of materials for the meeting, as well as instructions for how to participate in the session, will be posted on BoardDocs (https://bit.ly/394u9as) and shared via email tomorrow (April 20).