Dear LTHS Parents/Guardians and Families -
We hope the LT community is enjoying the first few weeks of summer, the arrival of Phase 5 in Illinois, and the return of a more celebratory summer break! We are in our third week of summer school with approximately 3,000 elementary thru high school-aged students participating in academics, activities, athletics, and/or summer camps on our campuses. As I mentioned prior to the end of the school year, our goal is to send regular updates throughout the summer in order to keep everyone informed of planning efforts for the 2021-22 school year.
Daily Schedule
Lyons Township High School will return to full in-person learning in August by utilizing our traditional 7:45am-3:05pm bell schedule. This decision aligns with a May 19, 2021 resolution from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which declares that all Illinois schools will return to full in-person learning for all student attendance days. Schools must provide remote learning only for students who are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine and who are also under a quarantine order by the local or state health department. Students must meet both criteria to qualify for remote learning. Please note specific guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regarding safety requirements for the upcoming school year, such as mask requirements, social distancing requirements and other mitigation efforts, are still pending.
2021-22 School Year Calendar
- Monday, August 9 thru Friday, August 13 – Book Pick-up (including Chromebook Pick-up)
- Monday, August 16 – Freshman Experience Day
- Thursday, August 19 – First Day of Student Attendance
- Tuesday, August 24 – Co-curricular Night (SC Fieldhouse and Gyms)
- Thursday, August 26 – South Campus Parent Open House
- Thursday, September 2 – North Campus Parent Open House
Please note that, during Book Pick-up (August 9-13), both campuses will be open so that students can find their lockers and classrooms, walk their course schedule, and become familiar with the layout of each campus. In addition, our team is currently planning a modified schedule for Thursday, August 19 (first day of student attendance) which will include a welcome back celebration for all students at both campuses. Additional details will be shared as we get closer to the school year.
Online Registration and Book Pick-up
All families should have received detailed information regarding registration and book pickup. Please make every effort to register and complete online payment in order to ensure your student’s materials will be ready during book pick-up (August 9-13). In addition, all families will be notified of their residency verification by July 10. The deadline for those required to provide additional documentation is July 30. Additional details will be shared in early July.
Student Supports
Please know that LT has a counselor and social worker available for all students from 7:45am – 12:45pm each day during both Summer School terms (June 7th – July 16th with no school on June 25th or July 5th); please call 708-579-6510 for assistance. In addition, for students searching for community-based mental health professional referrals, please visit https://referralgps.com/find-help/LTHS204 to search for local providers. We are now partnering with ReferralGPS, which provides assistance with finding vetted mental health professionals based on a variety of factors including cost/insurance, distance, and area of specialization. Please call the number above if you need any help with navigating the ReferralGPS system.
And, as we continue to prepare for the 2021-22 school year, please know we are committed to supporting all students as they return. We acknowledge the transition back to full-time, in-person learning may be stressful for students, and we also know that the effects of the pandemic will be felt differently by individual students. Our Student Services staff is committed to learning all they can about post-pandemic needs and supports, and ensuring that students who may be feeling scared, nervous, anxious, or hesitant about the return to school know exactly where to find support. A top priority of our planning effort is the social and emotional aspect of our students’ learning and development.
COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts
A component of our return to full in-person learning will be a continued focus on the health and safety of our students and staff. Our Health Services personnel have been working diligently to stay on top of related health and safety guidance, and to include necessary adjustments to our plans.
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Fully vaccinated students are encouraged to share a copy of their vaccine card with the Health Office by emailing a jpeg picture or PDF to studentcovid@lths.net. Students who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine in the case of a close contact; therefore, they will not have to miss school, activities, or athletics, unless they are symptomatic.
- Point of care diagnostic SARS-COV-2 testing (which will be available for students or staff who develop COVID-19 symptoms during the school day) will allow for prompt isolation and contact tracing. It will also expedite return to the classroom, when appropriate, for staff/students whose symptoms are not due to COVID-19 infection. This testing is now available through our Health Offices.
Athletics & Activities
The most recent update (Thursday, June 10) provided by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) communicated an intent to return all athletics to their traditional seasons, starting and ending per IHSA By-laws and culminating with state finals. All co-curricular activities and events will also commence as usual. To that end, the fall athletic and activities season will begin on Monday, August 9. Further details regarding registrations, tryouts, and schedules can be accessed via the LT Athletics Website throughout the summer.
As our planning efforts evolve, we will continue to share updates and information with our school community. In the meantime, we hope everyone is enjoying summer and time spent with family and friends.
Have a great week!
Brian Waterman, Principal
Lyons Township High School
