Eagle Info

Fri., Aug. 21, 2020

Principal’s Corner

What a blessing it is to be for in-person learning! I love hearing our student’s voices on the playground and in the classrooms and hallways again. I love seeing everyone’s smiling eyes when we greet each other in the morning. I love seeing our outdoor classrooms in use. I very much appreciate all of the words of encouragement and appreciation this week. It is a team effort, so thank you, as well!

Our Bible theme verse for the 2020-2021 school year is Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Throughout the year we will be talking about letting our lights shine to share the love of Jesus with everyone by serving each other in kind and compassionate ways. One way to serve each other is to do our part to keep our church and school community safe and healthy. Everyone has been very, very good about following our additional health and safety procedures. Thank you!! Keep up the good work!

Eagle Athletics

We are happy to begin a modified Cross Country season beginning the week of Aug. 24. Please be sure to fill out the Concussion Information form and Athletic Participation form. Visit ilsbatavia.org/athletics for all the forms, if you have not yet submitted these.

Google Classroom Help

Parents, if you need help navigating Google Classroom, one of our Immanuel alumni has graciously shared a resource that she has created. You can access it here. If you are experiencing difficulty with Google Classroom, feel free to email your child’s teacher or Donna Laughlin at dlaughlin@immanuelbatavia.org.

Chromebook Update

Unfortunately, there is a global shortage of electronics and appliances. As such, the Chromebooks for the 1-to-1 program for Grades 5-8 are on back order. We’ve been told that we should receive them sometime in September. This is beyond our control, and we will be using the Chromebooks already owned by Immanuel in the meantime.

Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures

Many, many thanks to our parents, students, and staff for working together so that our morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up procedures run so smoothly. As a reminder, please pull forward in the car line as much as possible without getting too close to the next car in line. This helps prevent our car line from extending onto Hart Road.

COVID-19 FAQ

Several really good questions have been asked in the past week, and we have also received some additional helpful information from ISBE and the IDHP. We will include an ongoing FAQ in Eagle Info, noting when updates are added. Here is our initial list:

If a student is quarantining, how will school be handled for that student and any affected siblings?

It depends on the severity of the illness. If the student is capable of engaging in learning activities, then he or she may learn remotely. If the student is not capable to engaging in learning activities, then a plan would be created by the teacher and parents for the child to make up the work once he or she was well enough to do so. If necessary, accommodations would be made to manage the work load to help the student keep up when returning to learn.

What if a student or staff member is sent home due to a fever or other COVID-19 symptoms?

Anyone sent home with COVID-like symptoms should be evaluated by their doctor and diagnostically tested. They are to remain home from school until they receive the test results.
Students and staff returning to school after experiencing COVID-like symptoms but being diagnosed with a non-COVID illness must meet the criteria for returning to school for the illness with which they have been diagnosed. At a minimum, the individual must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have had no diarrhea or vomiting in the previous 24 hours. A negative COVID-19 test result and a doctor’s note documenting the alternative diagnosis should accompany a student or staff member returning to school with an alternative diagnosis after experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
Students and staff with COVID-like symptoms who do not get tested for COVID-19 and who do not provide a healthcare provider’s note documenting an alternative diagnosis, must complete 10 calendar days of isolation from the date of first symptom onset and be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved before returning to school.
Students and staff who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 must complete 14 calendar days of isolation from the date of first symptom onset and be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved before returning to school.

If a student is sent home sick with a fever or suspected COVID-19 symptoms, must all their siblings and/or carpool friends be sent home as well?

Yes. If the sick child is required to quarantine, then all who are in close contact would be required to do so, as well. Close contacts would include siblings, carpool friends, and anyone who has been within 6 feet of the sick child for 15 minutes or more.

How many symptoms does a person need to have to be considered suspect COVID-19?

The school will work with parents and staff members to determine if a symptom is new or if it is part of an existing condition. Anyone exhibiting one or more COVID-like symptom that is new or not related to an existing condition will be isolated in the school office and asked to be picked up for evaluation by a doctor and diagnostically tested.

If the sick person has a known condition causing the symptoms [e.g., allergies, migraine, etc…] can this be taken into consideration?

Every symptomatic person should be evaluated by their healthcare provider on a case-by-case basis and decisions to test for COVID-19 should be based on their personal health history. Diagnostic testing is strongly encouraged whenever an individual experiences COVID-like symptoms as it is possible to have COVID-19 and other health conditions at the same time.

What is contact tracing, who does it, and when is it necessary?

Contact tracing is used by health departments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In general, contact tracing involves identifying people who have a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 and people who they came in contact with and working with them to interrupt disease spread. This includes asking people with COVID-19 to isolate and their contacts to quarantine at home voluntarily.
Contact tracing will be performed by the Kane County Public Health Department.
Contact tracing is performed for every confirmed case (determined by a positive test) or probable case [determined when a person has COVID-like symptoms and known exposure to a confirmed case].

Will parents be notified when there is a confirmed case in the school?

Yes. The school has a template provided by ISBE that will be emailed to each class in which there is a student who tested positive or was in close contact with someone who tested positive. [Close contact is being closer than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes, regardless if a mask was worn or not.] Confidentiality will be maintained, and names will not be given.

What is the definition of an outbreak in schools?

Two confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections occurring within 14 calendar days of each other in individuals in the same classroom would meet the case definition for an outbreak. This would prompt an investigation by the Kane County Health Department that may result in recommendations for testing and quarantining of all students/staff in the affected classroom.

Aside from a state mandate, at what point would the school need to close?

Decisions for temporary closure of a school will be made by Immanuel’s administration in consultation with the Kane County Health Department during its investigation of a case or cluster of cases. If the Kane County Health Department determines that there is a risk to the school community, then the school will be closed temporarily for cleaning and disinfection. This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school. This also allows the local health officials to help the school determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19.

Bibles for Third Graders

Each year on the Sunday before the new school year begins, Immanuel gifts each member or school student entering third grade with a copy of the Faith Alive Bible, courtesy of a generous donor family who wishes to remain anonymous.

The Faith Alive Bible is designed for children ages eight and older. Each section begins with

information about the books contained within the section. An introduction on the first page of each book of the Bible gives readers the big picture about the content of that book, including the author, dates, main themes, and significant events.

Worship & Study at Immanuel This Week

Men's Bible Study, Saturdays at 8 AM in the Fellowship Hall--all men are invited!
Immanuel From Home online worship at 8 AM at immanuelbatavia.org/watch.
Outdoor worship at Immanuel this Sunday at 9:30 AM
Bibles distributed to third graders
Service anniversaries recognized

Worship

Outdoor worship will continue on the second and fourth Sundays of the month until we return to indoor worship. Bring your own chairs! Parking attendants will direct traffic. For safety, please:

wear a face mask unless you choose to stay in your vehicle; remain in or near your vehicle;

use Fellowship Hall for restroom use; take worship materials home.

Online services continue Sundays at 8 AM at immanuelbatavia.org/watch.

Supporting Immanuel

Reminder: AmazonSmile Now on Smartphones!

AmazonSmile customers can now support Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.

Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap 'Settings'
Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process

If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app. Click here for instructions. Thank you for supporting our ministries using AmazonSmile. Track your personal impact throughout the year at your My Impact page.

Immanuel School Committee

Please reach out to the School Committee via the school office anytime with suggestions for improving Immanuel Lutheran School. Connect with Chairperson Erin Riddell, or other members Sheryl Dauksha, Andrea Carroll, Larry Fass, Kendall Heetland, and Sarah Murphy.