Updated numbers: Currently, there are still two positive cases that are affiliated with Monroe. About 93% of students and staff are able to attend. School staff continue to diligently monitor any adverse situations when they occur and are immediately able to mitigate risk. Pro status! According to our data and the data from other area districts, we are seeing virtually no transmission within our schools. This is great news!
Junior High and high school students and parents: due to the current climate, students will attend tomorrow and prepare for full remote learning beginning Wed., Nov 18. The current return date to full in-person learning is the Monday after Thanksgiving break. Mr. Sullivan will be emailing parents and students with more details within the next day.
Dear parents, staff, and students,
As you may be aware, the COVID situation has been trending in a direction that is not desirable. However, with flu season upon us, we shouldn't be too surprised. As we enter the colder months, it's more important now than ever to take precautions to stay healthy. Making sure your students are eating well, getting enough rest, and creating positivity for them at home will benefit them in their mental health, along with their physical health. Being healthy will set them up to succeed in the classroom. Be sure to continue with diligence in checking symptoms daily and if your student doesn't feel well, please keep them at home.
This week, we are experiencing our largest number of active cases (3) and quarantines (77). The board of education and I still feel that it is important to offer in-person learning and we will continue to do so as long as it is sustainable. We still have about 91% of our students and staff able to attend. Please keep in mind that online learning is immediately available at any time you feel the school buildings are not safe enough for your student to attend. Any student that is remote learning has the ability to come back to in-person at the end of each quarter and at each of the mid-term points in the quarter. Ultimately, we want to see as many students as we can everyday. However, we respect any decision made to remote learn as well.
The school staff, in coordination with the Clark County Health Department, continues to be diligent in quarantining appropriate people in our school buildings in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID to others. These efforts, while likely annoying and inconvenient to those quarantined, have effectively mitigated the spread in our schools and community, and have allowed us great success in keeping our doors open to students. This cannot be overlooked and I applaud the community for the patience and understanding they have afforded us throughout the year. Please know that our students and staff have done a tremendous job following suggested health guidelines, which has also contributed to our success thus far. I urge everyone to do their part to continue this trend. There has been little to no evidence of any spread happening in the schools. There have also been studies published showing that children are less susceptible to catching and spreading the virus. Through our experience and the research available, I am confident in saying that school is one of the safest places for our children. I hope this information eases any anxiety you may be experiencing regarding this situation.
Many of you may also be interested in the district's stance on athletics. We have seen a lot of success in following the guidelines set by the Illinois Department of Public Health thus far. There is no indication for us to assume that by not following their guideline to delay the winter sports season, we will continue with this success. Therefore, as much as I hate to share this bad news, it is highly likely that the winter seasons will be delayed at a minimum. There would be a tremendous amount of liability involved and it is probable that we would be uninsured if we were to proceed with the seasons. Obviously this is a huge disappointment and a travesty for our athletes but it is a decision that preserves the district's long term success, and ultimately, its athletic programs.
It's been our motto to take one day at a time and keep striving for excellence as much as the situation allows us to. Be patient and kind. Look for, and celebrate, positivity. This isn't easy for anyone but we are building our endurance for greater things to come. Hang in there and please know we are doing our very best to provide a quality education for our students, despite these troubling times.
Jon Julius, PhD
Superintendent of Schools
Casey-Westfield CUSD #4
Monroe Parents,
On September 2, 2020, we shared a request for assistance from you. We asked your help when dropping off your student(s), in the mornings at Monroe, that you do not block any driveways while you are waiting your turn to move forward and let your child(ren) out.
It appears that we are still having issues with driveways being blocked while you wait to drop students off in the morning.
Please help us by making sure that you allow for all driveways along the south side of Monroe street between Rt 49 and the school to remain open and clear.
We also have been informed there is quite a line that builds on Rt 49 waiting to turn onto Monroe in the mornings. We ask that instead of stopping on a highway, please come one road east and wait on 1st street until it is your time to move toward the school.
We know the line moves pretty quickly once we open our doors but we are still blocking traffic on Rt. 49 and driveways along Monroe. We just want to make sure that all vehicles can easily access all residences and facilities along those routes, at all times.
We appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Reminder: No school Monday, Nov. 2 due to school improvement planning and no school Tuesday, Nov. 3 due to the Election Day state holiday this year. Enjoy the big Halloween weekend and be safe!
Just a reminder: no school tomorrow, Oct. 16 as it is a remote planning day for staff.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced waiver extensions that will allow schools to operate Summer Meals programs through the end of School Year 2020-21. This means all meals (breakfast and lunch) are free for all students for the rest of the school year, excluding extra items.
Reminder: Monday, Oct. 12 there is no school due to the Columbus Day holiday. Also, Friday, Oct. 16 there is no school as the staff will have a remote planning day. Enjoy these three day weekends!
We are testing a Self-Screening Module in TeacherEase Parent portal for those students attending In-Person learning. If you receive a Self-Screening Questionnaire when you login to the Parent Portal please feel free to enter the information. This is not a requirement at this time but may be in the future.
A short time ago, C-W Schools were notified of a potential robbery in progress at a nearby bank. The schools were immediately locked down until it was determined to be a false alarm. The safety of our students and staff will always remain our number one priority. There was never a time that anyone was in danger, but it provided for a valuable training opportunity for everyone in our buildings. - Jon Julius, Superintendent
CALENDAR CHANGE: Friday, Oct. 16 will now be a remote planning day for staff to close out the quarter. This is similar to a teacher's in-service day. Neither remote nor in-person learners will be attending and no meals will be served. Please note this in your calendars. Thank you for your understanding regarding these types of changes this year. - Jon Julius, Superintendent
If your child(ren) will be attending After School Care in October, please return calendars and payment tomorrow.
Thank you!
Monroe Parents:
It's the time of year that we need to start thinking about warmer clothes and jackets. The weather is starting to cool off and is especially so first thing in the morning. Please pay close attention to the weather and make sure you send your child in appropriate clothing.
We will continue to take as many breaks outside as possible to help give masks breaks. PE will also continue to be held outside as long as weather permits.
Jackets are required when temp is below 60 degrees.
Thank you so much for helping us out!
It's the time of year that we need to start thinking about warmer clothes and jackets. The weather is starting to cool off and is especially so first thing in the morning. Please pay close attention to the weather and make sure you send your child in appropriate clothing.
We will continue to take as many breaks outside as possible to help give masks breaks. PE will also continue to be held outside as long as weather permits.
Jackets are required when temp is below 60 degrees.
Monroe Parent reminder:
Picture day is tomorrow for in house students. Remote learn students will be able to get school pictures taken in Nov. More info to come on that.
Important changes regarding remote learning are being implemented soon. All fully remote learners that wish to switch to in-person learning must notify the school asap and be prepared to start Monday, Sept. 28. In addition, fully remote learners will have the option to go to in-person learning at the start of each quarter, and also the mid-term points of each quarter from now on. This is a change from our original plan. In-person learners still have the option to go to remote learning at any time. Also, all jr/sr high school students that are in-person learning will start attending every day beginning Oct. 19 (start of 2nd quarter). The block schedule and early dismissal time will still be in effect. Please remember to continue doing your part to help keep our community's infection rate low! Thank you. - Jon Julius, Superintendent
Monroe Parents REMINDER:
It's school picture time again! Monroe picture day is Wednesday, September 23, 2020. Forms went home last week. You can order online this year in addition to the traditional form of payment.
This week, the Casey-Westfield Schools have encountered the first positive cases of COVID-19 of the school year. Each building encountered one person that was infected. In working with the health department, all necessary steps have been taken to mitigate further spread. We have been very blessed with good health throughout the first four weeks of school. Our hope is that by adhering to the precautions and procedures that have been established that this will continue. We ask that our students, parents, and community members continue to do their part by monitoring their health daily, and staying at home if they are experiencing any symptoms of the virus. Minimizing the spread will enable us to have students in our schools as much as possible. We have had a great start to the school year and are continually striving to make things even better. Thank you for your support!
A message for our Monroe Remote Learners...Being away from school means missing out on chances to interact with other students and adults; but you can still learn some important lessons about being a great friend, getting along with others, and how to control your emotions! Students at school are learning about good character and how to be our best. Remote learners can follow this link to find lessons on the School Counselor web pages: https://dianebolin.wixsite.com/counselor/learning-at-home
Dear Casey-Westfield parents:
2020 CENSUS COMPLETION DEADLINE IS APPROACHING!!!!
Parents:
The final day to complete the 2020 Census is September 30, 2020
2020 Census forms should have arrived in your mailbox in mid-March. Completing the Census is important for our school and community!!
Here's why: The census count affects money that states get from the government. Without a fair and accurate census count, many programs that benefit our students and community may be affected. These programs include free lunch programs, community development block grants, education grants, the Children's Health Insurance Program, Medicaid, and Medicare. This year forms can be filled out over the phone, online, and by mail!
Please help your school and community by completing the Census if you haven't done so already! If you completed and submitted your 2020 Census, thank you so much!