Eagle Info

Fri., Sep. 25, 2020

Principal’s Corner

By Donna Laughlin, Principal

How do you collaborate during COVID? In one of Immanuel's outdoor classrooms. [Students were physically distanced, and since they were outside, they were allowed to remove their masks, if they wished to do so.]

School Safety

The safety of our students is a top priority for all of us at Immanuel, and the challenges of providing in-person education during the COVID pandemic have required additional protocols during drop-off and pick-up. While everyone has been doing very well with all of our health and safety protocols, including our drop-off and pick-up procedures, we do want to emphasize some important safety reminders. Please follow the guidance below to help keep our students and their families safe.

TRAFFIC CONTROL

We have several staff and volunteers assigned to traffic control to maintain safety and ensure the smooth traffic flow. Please pay attention to directions from team members who wear reflective vests.
Car line spacing is now three to four feet between vehicles, but with inclement weather ahead, these distances will increase. Please pay attention to the traffic controller with the orange parking batons for alignment and spacing guidance.
When moving into the pickup line, follow the directions of the crossing guard as well as the controller with the parking batons at the end of the line.
Please move up in the line, as directed by the controller, if your child/children is/are delayed in coming out the door.

DRIVERS

Drivers are not to use cell phones without hands-free operation while on campus. If you must conduct business from your vehicle while waiting in line, please do so with a hands-free Bluetooth device. If you are on a hands-free call, please ensure you can give your full attention to our traffic control team.
For dismissal, please determine how you will pick up your child before entering the car line.
Students must walk (not run) to their vehicle and should not walk between vehicles that are in the car line.
Preschool families that need to park for pickup should park in the middle section of the parking lot in front of the main school doors. Elementary and middles school families that need to park for pickup should park in the smaller lot at the top of the retention pond. Those who park are to follow the pedestrian guidelines below.
Students are only allowed to enter cars that are aligned with one of the five numbered safety cones in the pick-up line in front of the school. For both student and driver safety, students may not walk beyond the corner of the building to enter a vehicle.
If you have a young child who has difficulty opening car doors, please allow a traffic control team member to assist rather than getting out of your vehicle to do so.

PEDESTRIANS

The crosswalk nearest the school entrance is the only access point from the parking lot. Please do not attempt to use any other crosswalk since the car line will block all other crosswalks.
Please do not walk between vehicles.
Please do not walk behind our crossing guard at the crosswalk until directed to do so. The guards monitor both vehicular and pedestrian traffic but don’t always have the ability to see in all directions, so please don’t assume they see you approaching from the parking lot. Please wait for their signal to proceed across the crosswalk.

CYCLISTS and SKATEBOARDERS

Please walk your bike or skateboard as soon as you arrive on our campus, which extends down to Hart Road. This rule applies especially near the crosswalk!
Cyclists, regardless of age, must control their bikes at all times. We had a near miss last week because a young student was riding his bike from the school and could not brake coming into the crosswalk when directed to do so. We had a tense moment since the car line was moving!
Cyclists and skateboarders must heed the direction of the crossing guard to prevent collisions with motor vehicles in the car line, which is another good reason for walking one’s bike or skateboard while on campus.

EARLY ARRIVALS AND WAITING TIME OVER 5 MINUTES

The car line begins about 2:45 daily with as many as 20 cars lined up within 10 minutes. The first cars will not advance into the pick-up line until about 3:08. When weather and temperatures allow, please turn off your vehicle to reduce vehicle emissions and help the environment.
Please abide by the NO CELL PHONE policy if serving as the driver. Other occupants of the vehicle may use their cell phones if not a distraction to the driver.

Office Updates

Sep. 22 Orchestra lessons begin
Still accepting new students (to begin Oct. 6)
More info here
Calendar changes
Fri., Oct. 16 – school will be in session
Tue., Nov. 3 – NO SCHOOL
Details about Box Tops for Education are available below!

Important Links

COVID-19 FAQ ilsbatavia.org/covid_faq
Google Classroom help ilsbatavia.org/google_classroom_help
Worship online each Sunday at 8 AM at immanuelbatavia.org/watch
MS chapel Wed., 8:15 AM at Zoom.com, Meeting ID: 721 3247 0187, Passcode: 1zu4eA
K-5 Chapel Wed., 8:50 AM at Zoom.com, Meeting ID: 795 2329 5143, Passcode: 0UfvLk

Support the Eagles!

Sat., Sep. 26, 9 AM, West Main Park, 40W101 Main St, Batavia

Our Eagles cross country team has a meet next weekend! Please come and cheer for our Eagles. Our CC teams have previously won State and National titles!

Outdoor Worship Every Sunday!

Beginning this weekend, outdoor worship will be offered EVERY Sunday at 9:30 AM through October! Holy Communion will be offered during outdoor services on the first and third Sundays, and privately on the first and third Sundays, 4-5 PM. Online services will continue to be available each Sunday at 9 AM at immanuelbatavia.org/watch.

Coffee Talk

Sep. 28, 29, 9 AM, Big Woods Park Pavilion

Bring your favorite coffee and gather at Big Woods Park [1063 Raddant Rd., Batavia]

for a light devotion, conversation, and closing prayer. Sign up at immanuelbatavia.org/coffee_talk to be physically distant and socially engaged.

Substitute Teachers Needed

Position Teach students in preschool, elementary, or middle school at Immanuel when regular classroom teacher is absent.

Qualifications Kane County Substitute Teaching Certificate or Illinois Teacher Certificate

Wage and Hours $100 per full school day; school days as requested and agreed upon

Applicants will be required to successfully complete the background check process. Applications available at bit.ly/2RfwhUJ and in the church and school offices. Submit completed forms to Donna Laughlin by Sep. 30. [Immanuel Lutheran School, 950 Hart Road, Batavia IL 60510 or school@immanuelbatavia.org].

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School is an equal employment opportunity employer; however, because we are a church body, we retain the right to give preference in hiring to persons who are members in good standing of a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation.

Click image, then click link in online form to order!

Seeking ShopWithScrip Helper

One of our best Third Source Funding providers is ShopWithScrip®. This program benefits families while purchasing items such as gas, groceries, and clothing and Immanuel, as each will receive rebates on purchases. Help is needed managing this program. to learn more, contact the school office. Thanks!

Band for Today

This fall Band for Today is keeping it virtual. In order to keep our students, schools, and teachers safe they have exciting, interactive, remote group lessons planned with classes available in the afternoon and evening. More information is available here. See more about their virtual program at bandfortoday.com/fall-virtual-learning/.

We Have an for App for That!

At this point, every parent should have received an email invitation to enroll and install the GatherSmart self-certification app. This app allows us to streamline our morning drop-off procedures. Many families have already begun using the GatherSmart app successfully. There have been a couple of questions that we’d like to clarify.

Emails were sent to parents’ email addresses that are on file in the school office. An introductory email came from the school office email, and a set-up email was sent directly from GatherSmart. If you have not received the email, check your spam folder first. If you have determined that you have not received the email invite, please contact Bill McLane at wpmclane@gmail.com.
If one parent has downloaded the app on his or her phone, there is no need to install it on another family member’s phone. We will have a report each day to verify who has completed self-certification on the app. However, if parents would like the app on multiple phones (i.e., spouse, carpool driver, grandparent, or nanny) please contact Bill McLane at wpmclane@gmail.com.
Please have the green passport screen on your phone when you pull up in the car line so that our staff can verify that your family has self-certified for the day. Temperatures will still be taken in the car line.
For those who do not use the app, we will continue to ask the self-certification questions at the car.
If you have any questions about the app, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Supporting Immanuel

Box Tops for Education

Scholastic Books are Back!

Orders Due: Thu., Oct. 8

Order reasonably priced books through Scholastic books online earn free library and classroom books for Immanuel! Visit clubs.scholastic.com/home and be sure to use Immanuel's code: 2KI7W. Book orders are due online on the second Thursday of each month. Questions? Contact the school office at school@immanuelbatavia.org.

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.

Community News

The Center for Gifted Fall Programming

Since 1983, The Center for Gifted has offered enrichment programs for preschool through high school students. Our in-person Fall 2020 Wonders and fall weekend programs in Elmhurst and Glenview are for for first through twelfth grades.

Grade levels served vary by program and location. Classes include The World of Science, Deconstruction Zone, Historic Games of Strategy, and more! We are also offering "Remote Learning with Personal Enrichment".

Students are supervised while they join their remote classes and assignments are completed. We can also offer assistance with homework, if needed. Extended care is available from 3-6 PM for an additional fee.

Applicants need not be tested or identified as gifted, just bright, motivated, and hungry for new challenges! Expert teachers are available at our all our locations. All COVID requirements are followed and masks are required. Hand sanitizer is available. Ten students per class.

Please visit www.thecenterforgifted.org to register and for class information, locations and other details.

The Center for Gifted is a Northern Illinois University partner. We look forward to a fun, inspiring, and educating fall with your children!

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, and Kendall Heetland.