2021-22 Year

A Message to Our D70 Families

An artistic design of the 70 mascot logos and mission statement.

To all our District 70 families:

Thank you for your continued support of your child’s education throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  District 70 began the 2021-22 school year in full-day in-person school, five days a week. School began Aug. 19 for first through eighth grade, with kindergartners beginning full-day school on Aug. 20.

District 70 is mask optional as of Feb. 8, 2022. Other mitigations, including quarantining, social distancing and hand washing,  will continue to provide the safety we need to operate in person. 

On Feb. 7, 2022, the District 70 Board of Education voted 5-2 to go mask optional in all D70 schools and administrative offices.

Other mitigations include a one-time self-certification that covers each day students are sent to school for the 21-22 school year,  physical distancing, proper cleaning and disinfection, voluntary screening testing to promptly identify cases, clusters and outbreaks, enhanced ventilation, support for hand washing and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, and contact tracing in combination with isolation, quarantine, and post-exposure viral testing, 

It is important to remember how far we've come during a global pandemic. Last year, we began bringing students back into school in September, once school officials were assured full COVID-19 mitigations were in place to keep students and staff safe.  Some special education students were the first to return in the fall because the remote learning in place was difficult for these students to manage. By November, District 70 offered a hybrid learning plan so that families who wanted their children to return to in-school learning had the option to do so, while other families chose to have their children continue to learn remotely. Again, mitigations (masks, social distancing, hand washing, deep cleaning, etc.) were in place to offer a safe return. By April 2021, vaccinations were available to adults and with continued mitigations, District 70 began to phase in in-school learning for all students on a regular full five-day-a-week schedule.  

We spent the summer months preparing for the students and staff to return to school.  Please know that the safety of students and staff is a priority in District 70. 

As always, District 70 will continue to implement strategies to keep students and staff healthy and in school. More details can be found at the following links:

Guidance for Schools (K-12)
My Child Is Sick But School Is Closed, Now What? (FAQ on first steps) 

 

Archived Info for 2021-22 School Year

Protocols, Procedures and Guidance for 2021-22 School Year

COVID-19 References to Help During a Pandemic

COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub- A hub of resources to help you take care of yourself.

A Kids' Guide to Coping with the Pandemic- A guide with a printable zine.

How to Combat Mask Anxiety- An article with tips for coping with wearing a mask.

Parental Resource Kit- Social, emotional, and mental well-being of adolescents during COVID-19.

Helping Children Understand COVID-19- Information to help children understand COVID-19 put out by NorthShore University Health System.

Tips for Quarantined Parents- Information from American Psychological Association.

Helping Your Child Cope with COVID-19- Presentation of tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

Mental Health During COVID-19- An article sharing signs your teenager may need additional support during this time.

D70 In The News