Jefferson Elementary School

The Principal of the Matter

Updated Information

10/27/2020

Dear Families and Staff:

This letter is to inform you that an individual at Jefferson Elementary School has tested positive for COVID- 19. We are coordinating our efforts with LaSalle County Health Department to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 positive individual to prevent further spread within our school and community. The health and safety of Jefferson Elementary School students and staff is our highest priority, and we recognize the uncertainty and concern regarding the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We are following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the state and local health departments for best practices and procedures to protect everyone’s health.

To prevent further spread of the disease, Jefferson Elementary School is taking the following steps:

• Identify and notify close contacts (i.e., persons who were within six feet of a COVID-positive individual for 15 minutes or longer).

• Placing staff members and students who are identified as having prolonged close contact to the COVID-19 case(s) in quarantine for 14 days. Close contacts will also receive a separate notification from the LaSalle County Health Department.

• Ongoing monitoring of students and staff for signs and symptoms of illness and evaluation of illness reports to promptly identify possible outbreaks.

• Conducting a deep clean and disinfection of the areas impacted by potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

We will continue to enforce safe practices to prevent, promptly identify, and respond to potential COVID cases, as follows:

• Students and staff who are ill with COVID-like symptoms will promptly be placed in a separate supervised area away from others until they can be sent home.

• Students are required to wear face coverings at all times, as previously directed and per school policy.

• Staff are required to wear face coverings at all times while in contact with children and other staff in the facility.

• We are continuously sanitizing high-touch surfaces including door handles, stair rails, sink faucets, etc.

• We have removed plush toys and other toys that cannot be properly or frequently disinfected.

• We are teaching students the importance of face coverings, social distancing, and proper handwashing:

Students are discouraged from sharing personal items, e.g., water bottles.
Students are learning new ways to greet each other without touching.
Students are reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, and to cover coughs and sneezes.
Students will be taught to wash their hands frequently and properly, following CDC guidelines on handwashing.
As we receive more information from the Department of Public Health and other entities, we will implement additional recommendations and guidelines.

As always, everyone should monitor their health and stay at home if they develop symptoms1. Sick persons should contact their health care provider to determine if testing is needed. Anyone who develops severe symptoms2 should seek medical care immediately. If your child has had close contact with a known case of COVID-19, keep the child at home and notify your primary healthcare provider, school, and your local health department.

We are committed to providing your child and our staff with a safe and healthy environment. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing cooperation with our COVID prevention policies and procedures as we work to help protect your children, your families, and our staff and their families. For any questions or concerns, please contact us at (815) 434-0726.

Sincerely,

Nate Pinter

Principal

Below is the link to the Google form for remote learners to be able to order school meals.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVR3FXKyi3s6hAa31y8jZbsqGTlb_-pAD-kARp6zQ8A64A2A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Jefferson Families,

Please remember to continue to check your child’s temperature and screen for COVID like symptoms prior to sending your child to school or the bus stop. Please check your child for a fever of 100.4 or higher, congestion, runny nose, headache, stomach ache, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, fatigue, muscle or body aches. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, please contact us and keep your child home from school.

Important Dates

October

26-30 -- Red Ribbon Week (Dress Up Days)

26 -- Team Up Against Drugs (Sports Day)

27 -- Lei Off Drugs (Hawaiian Day)

28 -- Read Superheroes Say No (Superhero Day)

29 -- Pawsitively Drug Free (Spirit Day)

30 -- Don't Get Mixed Up in Drugs! (Wacky Day)

30 -- 11:30 Dismissal for all students (No remote learning in afternoon)

November

2 -- No School (Remote Planning Day)

-- Parents can sign up for a time slot for Parent/Teacher Conferences via the link sent to their email, the link posted on Facebook, or the link posted on the Jefferson web page

3 -- No School (Election Day)

9 -- No School (Honoring Veteran's Day)

10 -- 2:00 PTO meeting via Google Meet

13 -- 11:30 Dismissal for all students (No remote learning in afternoon

-- End of 1st Trimester and report cards go home on the 20th

17 -- 6:00 Board Meeting at Jefferson

20 -- Report Cards send home to in person learners and in the mail for remote learners

23 -- 11:30 Dismissal for all students (No remote learning in the afternoon)

-- 2:30-3:45 and 4:40-7:00 Parent/Teacher Conferences via a Google Meet set up by the classroom teacher

24 -- 4:00-6:30 Parent/Teacher Conferences via a Google Meet set up by the classroom teacher

25-27 -- No School (Thanksgiving Break

Jefferson News

Remote Learning

Many families have had questions about Remote Learning. We currently have a team of individuals including teachers and members of the technology department finalizing a plan for the return to school, both full day remote and half day.

Here are some of the highlights of the planning and preparation for Remote Learning:

iPads purchased for all students K-8
iPads available with WIFI capability for families who do not have WIFI
Staff training over the summer
Feedback from parents on remote learning from last spring; address concerns
Full Remote Learning will include daily attendance and grades will be assigned.

Our team is exploring avenues to improve Remote Learning. The final plan will be released in the coming weeks. Areas being reviewed include:

Streamlining the process to make it more user friendly
Families with multiple children
Use of videos to support learning both during the instructional day and after school
Support during the instructional day
Consistent technological formats of instruction
Scheduling

We have added a link to our district webpage that will compile information on our Remote Learning plan. Some information, like Remote Learning Platforms, have been provided and can be easily accessed by clicking on the link. Please check back for information before school begins: http://www.oes141.org/RemoteLearning.aspx

Health and Safety

Dear Ottawa Elementary Families,

Given the increased attention and focus on the coronavirus in the media, we wanted to share some general information with you regarding this virus. Please click on the following link from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to access information related to the coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html#situation-summary.

Here is some of the most recent information concerning coronavirus:

The health risk to the general public from coronavirus remains low.

Currently, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recommends schools hold classes and events as usual and follow their routine cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

Per IDPH guidelines the best way to prevent infection is to take precautions to avoid exposure to the virus, which are similar to the precautions you would take to avoid the flu.

IDPH always recommends everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

We will continue to monitor this situation and follow recommendations made to public schools by the CDC, IDPH, and the LaSalle County Health Department. The District hopes that together we can proactively work to keep all members of the school community safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Ottawa Elementary Administrative Team