January 25, 2022
CCSD 89 families:
 
January has been a busy month in Community Consolidated School District 89. After winter break, we saw a significant number of new COVID-19 cases. Fortunately, because of our overlapping mitigation strategies, we have not seen signs of spread within our school buildings. Thanks to the flexibility and dedication of our staff, we have been able to keep all of our classrooms open for in-person learning. We appreciate all the work families have done to make sure our schools are healthy places to learn.
 
Also this month, our administrative team presented the academic data from our Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) tests taken by students in December. The MAP tests are given to students in third through eighth grades to measure growth in reading and math. There has been a lot of national conversation about learning loss during the pandemic. Nationally, students were about 9 to 11 percentile points behind their expected growth in math and 3 to 7 percentile points behind their expected growth in reading.
 
Due to the hard work of our students and staff, we do not have the same situation in CCSD 89. Math scores were only slightly below expected growth while reading scores were slightly above expected growth. When you combine this academic data with the feedback from our first-ever Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS), we see a fuller picture of the CCSD 89 student body. As a group, CCSD 89 students are making academic growth and feel secure in their social-emotional health.

Of course, we don’t educate students as a group; we work to meet the needs of every single student. Certainly, there are students who are struggling. Our team is working to meet the individual needs of each student. Please reach out to your student’s teachers if you have concerns or questions.
 
Finally, while we continue to deal with the day-to-day work of teaching during a pandemic, we are also focused on the future needs of this district. This month we are hosting a series of public-engagement sessions designed to gather feedback on the best ways to maintain safe, healthy, and accessible school buildings. The third opportunity will be an online-only meeting, held from 6 to 8 p.m. this Thursday. To join the meeting, go to: https://ccsd89-org.zoom.us/j/87179174525. More information about this meeting is included below.

Thank you for your support of our district. I am so grateful to be part of a community that supports and prioritizes public education.
 
Dr. Emily Tammaru
CCSD 89 Superintendent
Board approves 2022-23 school calendar
On Monday evening, the Board of Education approved the 2022-23 school year calendar. The state of Illinois granted the district's waiver to reduce the number of half-days during the school year into several full days of professional development for staff. The calendar can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/3fVIs5t
Join us for the online public-engagement meeting on January 27
There is a third opportunity to learn more about the district's plan for ensuring CCSD 89 school buildings remain healthy, safe, and accessible. The third public engagement session will be an online-only meeting, held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 27. To join the meeting, go to: https://ccsd89-org.zoom.us/j/87179174525.

The presentation will be the same as the two previous public-engagement sessions. There will be opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback on how the district should prioritize infrastructure needs at all five schools. You can learn more about this work at www.ccsd89.org/Buildings.

Phone survey
On Monday, the district began a phone survey of residents throughout the district. The survey is another way for residents to provide feedback on the best ways to ensure school buildings remain safe, healthy, and accessible.

In order to have your feedback recorded, anyone who receives the call should complete the entire eight-minute survey. The phone call will come from (630) 474-1887.

Any resident that did not receive the call but would still like to provide input can call (630) 474-1887 to take the survey. The number will close on Saturday, January 30.
Video: Morning meetings help teachers, students
At the January Board of Education meeting, the student spotlight focused on how schools are using morning meetings to help students and staff prepare for the day. While there are many different activities that can be used in morning meetings, the goal is to create an opportunity for every single student to connect with their classmates and their teacher. Morning meetings also help teachers identify and address any social-emotional issues that might affect a student's learning. Learn more about how morning meetings work at Park View Elementary in the video below.
All schools expected to be open on Wednesday
Although the forecast calls for cold weather Wednesday morning, all CCSD 89 schools are expected to be open as usual. The district will continue to monitor the weather conditions throughout the night. Families would be contacted via a phone call and email if there is a school closure, but all buildings are expected to be open on Wednesday, January 26.

More information about emergency closings is available here: www.ccsd89.org/domain/16
Pre-registration for new students opens February 9
Pre-registration for families with students who will be starting kindergarten or new to CCSD 89 in the 2022-23 school year will open at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 9. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3544EZ9
 
2022-23 preschool applications will be accepted from January 31 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, February 4. More information about preschool: https://bit.ly/3DR2JCN

In March, the families of returning students will receive a letter in the U.S. mail with the SnapCode they need to register. The SnapCode will be used when registration opens to all students on April 6.
Upcoming events
February 4: HALF DAY for students (morning attendance)
February 5: Board of Education meeting, 8 a.m.
February 21: NO SCHOOL (President’s Day)