2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR RE-OPENING MODELS
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Dear Families,
Throughout the summer, Lyons Township High School staff has worked to develop preliminary plans to open the 2020-2021 school year. The details of these plans - a
Hybrid Model
and
Remote Learning Model
- were recently shared with the Board of Education. Each plan has its benefits and challenges.
Please carefully review both plans outlined below. We are continuing to monitor recent increases in local COVID-19 cases, and a decision about which instructional model to begin the year with will be made by the end of July.
Both plans focus on three objectives: 1) prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff, 2) support the social-emotional needs of students and basic wellness needs of families, and 3) maximize in-person learning as much as possible.
- The use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including face coverings, is required.
- More than 50 individuals gathering in one space is prohibited.
- Social distancing must be observed, as much as possible. Schools must conduct symptom screenings and temperature checks, or have individuals self-certify that they are free of symptoms before entering school buildings.
- Districts must increase cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Thank you for your flexibility as we work through these challenging issues. Our measured, patient approach will help ensure a safe and effective re-opening.
Sincerely,
Timothy Kilrea
Superintendent
Calendar Revisions
At the July 21, 2020 Board meeting, the 2020-2021 school year calendar was revised to include three additional Teacher Institute Days prior to the start of school so that teachers can continue to collaborate on the following plans. As a result, the first day of student attendance will be Thursday, August 20, 2020. For complete details, click
2020-2021 Calendar
.
Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities
With approximately three-quarters of students taking part in a co-curricular activity during the course of the school year, we recognize how important this aspect is for our students’ high school experience. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the fall season, all athletic and extra-curricular activities programs and events have been suspended at LT until further notice. As we make progress toward the development of procedures and protocols related to student and staff safety, we will communicate updates as they become available. Ultimately, we will follow guidance from the IDPH, Illinois High School Association, and other appropriate agencies when determining what co-curricular activities may take place this year.
Hybrid Model
Highlights include
- 4 days of attendance per week.
- Morning or afternoon sessions based on alpha slice.
- No lunch for students (Grab & Go lunches for students in need).
- Students in the Transition Program & LIFE Program attend school in-person four days per week.
- Students may choose the full remote plan and will remain in their scheduled classes with their teacher of record, and will not come to the building at all during the quarter they elect to remain at home.
Daily Schedule & Student Expectations
- Students are expected to engage in a minimum of 5 hours of learning daily.
- Students will attend ½ of their classes in-person.
- Students will complete assignments at-home for the ½ of their classes that do not meet in person.
- Between the morning and afternoon sessions, there are 65 minutes for the building to be cleared, cleaned, and prepared for afternoon arrival.
- Wednesdays include a morning of teacher collaboration and an afternoon of office hours.
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Health and Safety
- Students and staff members will be required to wear masks. The district has purchased a cloth mask for all students, which will be distributed at Book Pick-Up.
- Proper hand-washing and use of hand sanitizer is expected.
- Staff and students must comply with all Health Office directives.
- Prior to entering school buildings, individuals will complete a daily symptom screener to self-certify they are free of symptoms.
- There is a robust cleaning and disinfecting schedule for both campuses, including mid-day on Wednesdays, every evening and on the weekends.
- Hallways will be marked with directional arrows and staircases will be one-way traffic only.
- There will be full transportation services daily for AM and PM schedules for those eligible, with bus capacity for all routes not to exceed 50 students. All riders must wear a mask.
- Health Services will coordinate with local and state public health officials, following all COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including hand and respiratory hygiene, cleaning/disinfecting protocols, screening, isolation and tracing and tracking. Comprehensive protocols for Health Services are being developed.
Other
- Students will not have access to lockers. Books will be left at home and brought to school daily.
- Students will not change for Physical Education and will not use PE locker rooms.
- Requests to rent LT facilities have been reduced to local, state or federal government use.
- Requests to visit the schools will be evaluated. Visitors will be encouraged to come to the campus between morning and afternoon class schedules and must adhere to health and safety protocols.
Remote Learning Model
Highlights include
- Minimally, a weekly synchronous session with each class.
- Mirror of Hybrid Model to allow for seamless transition between the two, should conditions require.
Schedule and Student Expectations
- Students are expected to engage in a minimum of 5 hours of learning daily.
- Students are expected to attend their synchronous learning sessions.
- A/B remote schedule will begin at 9am and conclude at 2:30pm with a half-hour between each class.
- The minimum expectation is that all teachers will conduct a synchronous learning session on Monday for periods 4th-1st and on Tuesdays for 5th-8th.
- Given that each class is limited to one hour, students may be expected to complete additional work.
- Students will need to obtain information if they are absent from synchronous sessions (as they would in a traditional model).
- Office hours are available periodically on Wednesday afternoons. In addition to Wednesdays, students are encouraged to contact their teacher via email at any time.
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100 S. Brainard Ave.,
LaGrange, IL 60525
(708) 579-6300
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