District 88 honors and remembers Sept. 11, 2001

Pictured is District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton.

Today, Sept. 11, is another reminder we are dealing with a challenging and unprecedented situation.

Since 2013, we have hosted an annual event for area first responders, veterans and members of the military to honor those who protect and serve in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001. Those individuals (along with local leaders and dignitaries) are introduced each fall, typically before our Crosstown Classic Football Game between Addison Trail and Willowbrook. It is a tremendous opportunity to thank them for their support of our schools and communities.

While we’re unable to host the event this year because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we want to recognize these individuals for their service, sacrifice and dedication. To show our appreciation, Addison Trail students and teacher/Department Head Rob Schader interviewed first responders today (see the top image below) – be sure to check next week’s newsletter to watch the interview! Administrators and staff members also delivered snacks and school memorabilia to the Addison Police Department and the Addison Fire Protection District (see the middle and bottom images below).

While this is another indication this year is certainly different, it also reminds us of our strength and how we come together to help one another through hardship. We will continue to overcome this adverse situation and care for our students, families and community members.

IMPORTANT UPDATES

  • District 88 2020-21 Return to School Plan: On this webpage (www.dupage88.net/ReturnToSchoolPlan), you can view a frequently asked questions (FAQs) document, details about the schedule, special education information, student behavior expectations, food/meal service, the school calendar, COVID-19 resources, a video segment with the latest information and more.

  • Food service: We are excited to announce we have received the necessary waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reactivate our community food-service program. From 1 to 3 p.m. each Wednesday, we will provide five days’ worth of free meals to all residents up to the age of 18. See details at https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/11979.

  • Assessments: To ensure our pupils have access to a college entrance exam, we will provide District 88 seniors with a free SAT (and essay) on Oct. 14. This assessment is optional, however, taking the SAT is currently a graduation requirement for members of the class of 2021. Students who plan to graduate in December are strongly encouraged to register for this exam. Details are listed below.

    • CLICK HERE to register for the SAT at Addison Trail (sign up by 3 p.m. on Sept. 28)
    • CLICK HERE to see a letter from Addison Trail with important details

    • CLICK HERE to register for the SAT at Willowbrook (sign up by 3 p.m. on Sept. 28)
    • CLICK HERE to see a letter from Willowbrook with important details

  • Illinois Colleges Forward: This website (http://illinoiscf.org) provides centralized access to COVID-19-related changes for more than 120 Illinois colleges and universities, including resources and placement and admissions test information.

  • Tech support: The Learning Technology Center of Illinois will debut a parent/caregiver-focused page called SPARK (Supporting Parents And Remote Kids) this month to help parents and guardians navigate the various platforms and hardware used by schools to educate students. A few SPARK resources are already available at https://ltcillinois.org/services/resources/?_app_audience=parents.

GUIDANCE FROM STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

  • New learning standards: The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recently released new Illinois Priority Learning Standards. According to State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, “(ISBE) collaborated with a diverse and skilled team of educators from across the state to identify the Illinois Priority Learning Standards. The group focused on identifying learning standards that depict the knowledge, skills and dispositions we want all students to have – the standards that are the most foundational competencies, the most critical for success at subsequent grade levels and best suited for interdisciplinary or project-based learning.” CLICK HERE for more information.

  • Return to School Framework: On Aug. 28, the DuPage County Health Department released a “Return to School Framework” with the DuPage Regional Office of Education. As the number of local COVID-19 cases increases, the “Return to School Framework” recommends school officials review and consider the level of disease activity in their communities as they make decisions about shifting between learning models this school year. To view the document, go to www.dupagehealth.org/ReturnToSchool.

    See an important message regarding safely reopening schools from DuPage Regional Office of Education Regional Superintendent Dr. Darlene Ruscitti and DuPage County Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala at https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=5431.

  • Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) FAQs: This health-based Frequently Asked Questions document from the IDPH addresses many health-related questions. See the information at https://www.isbe.net/Documents/IDPH-School-FAQs.pdf.

  • Updates from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE): https://www.isbe.net/Pages/covid19.aspx and https://tinyurl.com/ISBEMessages 

PARENT AND STUDENT MEETINGS

  • We will continue to meet with parents/guardians as part of our Transition/Reopening Committee. The next parent meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 15. If you would like to join the committee, or if you have any questions/concerns, please feel free to contact me at shelton@dupage88.net or 630-530-3980.

  • We will continue to meet with students as part of our Return to School Student Advisory Committee. The next meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 22. Students who would like to attend must register at https://forms.gle/BVqHWcYuHbqoq6Wn8. Be sure to sign up by noon on Sept. 18 to receive a link to access the meeting.

DISTRICT 88 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

The next District 88 Board of Education meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 14. See details below.

OTHER AREAS OF FOCUS

  • Resources: District 88 will continue to support the social and emotional well-being of students, staff, families and community members. See a list of available resources (including resources in Spanish) at www.dupage88.net/Coronavirus.

  • Equity work: We have been committed to creating and sustaining an equitable and inclusive environment for all students through Deep Equity and Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!) series for more than half a decade, and we have put in place many programs to assist with these initiatives. We know equity is a journey and won’t be reached quickly or easily. However, we need to be relentless in our pursuit of equity, inclusion and the elimination of racism in District 88 and our communities. We are maintaining our work with Deep Equity, YES!, Trauma-Informed Practices and Restorative Practices, and we also have implemented the District 88 C.A.R.E. Team (Committed to Academics, Resiliency and Equity) for students and staff to expand and deepen our work in these areas.

Thank you for your support of District 88 and our mission to work for the continuous improvement of student achievement.

Respectfully,
Scott J. Helton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools, DuPage High School District 88