Glencoe District 35

Safe Routes to Schools

We are pleased to see so many students biking or walking to school. Please view the Safe Routes to Schools information here to be aware of crossing guard locations, stop signs, and recommended routes for our students. Please also be mindful of the helmet law in Glencoe - all children under the age of 16 must wear a helmet while on a bicycle, scooter, or skateboard. Thank you for your support of this critical safety measure.

Medical Forms Due October 1st

All students in Kindergarten, 6th grade, and new to District 35 must be in compliance with the state’s minimum requirements. Proof of immunizations must be submitted to the school nurse with the physician and parent signed State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination Form by October 1, 2020. In accordance with state law, a student that is not in compliance with these mandates on October 15th must be EXCLUDED from school until proof is obtained.

If you have any questions regarding Illinois health requirements, please reach out to your building nurse:
Central School - Susan Ross 847.835.7640
West School - Marlene Balling 847.835.6640
South School - Bridget Joyce 847.835.6440

Mask Reminders

We are so proud of our staff and students for the successful opening week of our school year. We reimagined, planned thoughtfully, and you have supported us to make the return to learning happen for our students. You have also been diligent in helping with our daily symptom checks and sending your child in face coverings. To ensure the health and safety of all, please note the updated reminders below for masks.

Bandana masks do not provide a snug fit around the face. Recent research on gaiters has shown that some are worse than no mask (the CDC has also said the effectiveness of gaiters is unknown at this time). Within District 35 we have also seen that gaiters more easily slip down and therefore we have observed more touching of the gaiter to keep it over the mouth/nose. If your child needs additional cloth masks, we have plenty to share as your child arrives at school.

Frequently Asked Questions

We appreciate the many questions which have been shared regarding our plans for the opening of the 2020-2021 school year. In order to more thoroughly address these, we have prepared a Frequently Asked Questions document. This reflects the latest information from CDC and the Illinois State Board of Education as of July 26, 2020. We will continue to update this as additional information is shared to guide our planning.

Board of Education Meeting - October 1, 2020

Board of Education Regular Meeting – 7:00 p.m.
Misner Auditorium, Central School
All in-person visitors must enter via the main entrance of Central School at 620 Greenwood Avenue.

MEETING AGENDA
Remote Access Dial-In Number: 605-472-5423
Access Code: 937073

For those who wish to make a public comment, please join us in person or communicate with the Board via the Board of Education comment form and request that your statement be read for the public record. Please ensure the comment is shared by 2:00 pm on 10/1/20.

Two Stellar Events from Family Action Network

Tuesday, October 6th from 7:00-8:00pm, Family Action Network presents On Making: Exploring the Creative Process, a FAN Webinar feat. Cozbi A Cabrera and Jason Reynolds. Where do creative ideas come from? How does an artist or author follow a path from concept to creation? Join us for a fascinating conversation between two acclaimed, prolific creatives as they explore making, the art of craft, and how the spark of inspiration evolves over time. Click here for more information and to register for this free event.

Thursday, October 8th from 7:00-8:00pm, FAN presents When the World Feels Like a Scary Place: Essential Conversations for Anxious Parents and Worried Kids. In a complicated world, big issues make both parents and children anxious. Abigail Gewirtz, Ph.D., an award-winning child psychologist and leading expert on families under stress, offers parents a clear and practical guide to discussing sensitive topics in a calm, reassuring, and productive way that will help kids comprehend and process the world around them. Click here to learn more and to register.

Can I Recycle This?

On Monday, October 5th from 7:00-8:00pm, the Glencoe Public Library will be hosting a free virtual event: It’s Not Easy Being Green in a Pandemic. Bust some myths about what can really go into your recycling bin, where it goes, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected recycling collection. To learn more and to register for this event, click here.

Early Childhood Screenings

Glencoe School District 35 is offering early childhood screenings for Glencoe children birth through 5 years of age. The screenings are open to Glencoe residents who have concerns about their child’s development in the areas of: speech-language, fine motor skills, concept development, and/or social/emotional growth.

Screenings will be held at Central School on Monday, October 26, 2020, and Tuesday, October 27, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., by appointment only.

Children and accompanying adult will be required to wear a face mask. All staff members conducting the screening will be wearing face masks. Temperatures will be taken upon arrival; and families are asked to self-certify that they are symptom-free.

Children will participate in all components of the screening. These screenings are being conducted in an effort to identify children who may qualify for special education services and/or consultation during early development. To make an appointment, please contact Kim Badie in the Pupil Services Office at (847) 835-7838. Please call by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2020.

Mark Your Calendar…

Please be mindful that Friday, October 9th is a School Improvement Half Day in District 35. Students will engage in their AM schedule; students will not attend any learning sessions in the PM on this date. All District 35 staff members will participate in an afternoon of intentional professional development to support student learning and engage with the new Illinois Priority Learning Standards.

Technology in our Schools

This year all our Kindergarten through 8th-grade students have been issued District 35 iPads and our teachers will be using several tools to streamline information and resources for students and families. Watch this short video for an overview of Clever and Schoology information on parent access to Schoology. Additional information on Schoology can be found in A Parent’s Guide to Schoology.

If you need assistance accessing your parent Schoology account, please email edenk@glencoeschools.org.

Tech Help While at Home

Be sure to visit the District 35 2020-2021 Planning Page for all support information and useful links.

Please send any tech or support needs to eHelp@glencoeschools.org. Please share as much detail as possible to allow our team to support your needs (student name, app, website, etc.). If your child is fully remote, please note that in the subject line of your email.

• APP Status Page to check on the status of our most commonly used APPs.
• Guides and Tips Page for commonly asked TECH questions.

Thank you for your partnership and patience as we travel this path forward.

Exclusion Guidance from IDPH

On September 10, 2020, the school guidance for responding to COVID-19 cases or symptoms was updated by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Our schools work with the Cook County Department of Public Health to respond using the following criteria:

- IDPH Decision Tree for Symptomatic Individuals (updated on 9/10/20)
- IDPH FAQs (updated on 9/9/20)

If a student is sent home sick with suspected COVID-19 symptoms during a school day the IDPH guidelines also require that all siblings must also be sent home and quarantine until an alternative diagnosis is made or a negative COVID test result is received. Our school nurse will provide all information when a child is sent home. Our nurse will also remain in contact with the family to ensure appropriate next steps are followed to return to school.

Green Bay Trail Photo Contest

Enjoy some time outdoors and help the Friends of the Green Bay Trail celebrate our native habitat by sharing the wonders you have discovered on the Green Bay Trail. Be one of 12 winners. Click here for more information on how to enter the photo contest any time before September 30th, 2020.

2020-2021 Calendar

The Board of Education has approved the 2020-2021 school year calendar. Winter break and spring break are common across New Trier Township. Click here to view a one page listing of major events for the upcoming school year. Please note, this calendar reflects the November 3, 2020 federal holiday for election day.

Playground Reminders for Phase 4

Based on our shift to Phase 4, the State of Illinois has allowed the Park District to open playgrounds. You will notice the new signage at each of our playgrounds. Please take care to use the spaces responsibly and ensure you are mindful of the safety procedures.