November 2021 Family Newsletter

November 22, 2021

Topic: Updates

The following message was sent through ParentSquare, CCSD21’s family notification tool. If you did not receive this message, please email [email protected] to ensure your contact information is up to date.

November 22, 2021

Dear CCSD21 families,

We hope your Thanksgiving week is off to a great start. Students return to school next Monday, November 29, for three weeks of school. The last student attendance day before winter break is Friday, December 17.

Students do not have school during the weeks of December 20 and December 27. Students also do not have school on Monday, January 3, an Institute Day. Classes resume for students on Tuesday, January 4.

CCSD21 Family Academy

Are you joining us in December for Family Academy?!A free family meal, free childcare, and free adult learning sessions – pick the event that best fits your family’s schedule!

➡ Friday, Dec. 3 at Holmes Middle School
➡ Saturday, Dec. 4 at Jack London Middle School
➡ Tuesday, Dec. 7 at Cooper Middle School

For more information and to RSVP through ParentSquare visit: https://ccsd21.org/familyacademy/

 

Free COVID-19 screening in Palatine tomorrow

SHIELD Illinois is providing free COVID-19 screenings for any member of the public in advance of Thanksgiving. A number of Chicagoland testing locations are available. The location closest to CCSD21 is Jane Addams Elementary School at 1020 E. Sayles Dr. in Palatine, IL. Testing will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, November 23, from 3:00 – 8:00 PM.

Additional locations, times, and details are noted in the flyer.

This opportunity is free to the public and anyone from the community is welcome to participate. Appointment times are available, but not required. Secure results will be available within 24 hours.

 

Emergency weather day expectations & E-Learning Days

As was shared last week, it is District 21’s intention to have an E-Learning Day in the event of an emergency weather day where travel is deemed hazardous. In this scenario, students will engage in learning from home, virtually, on an inclement weather day to maintain continuity of learning.

An E-Learning Day is a full day of learning and, therefore, the emergency day would not need to be made up at the end of the school year. E-Learning Days may only be used when students have the ability to engage in remote learning. Therefore, emergencies such as large-scale power outages would not qualify for an E-Learning Day.

For more details on emergency weather day expectations and E-Learning Days, please review this message.

 

Notes from the November Board of Education meeting

School Board Member Day

November 15 was School Board Members Day, recognizing the efforts of the nearly 6,000 elected school board members across Illinois. Many thanks to our Board members for their time, energy, and constant dedication to our students and community!

Steckling family grants CCSD21 $21,000

The family of former CCSD21 staff member Donna Rae Steckling announced the Donna Rae Steckling Memorial Educators Grant at the November Board meeting. The grant was established this year in honor of Donna who served CCSD21 for 25 years at London Middle School and the Administration Center. The mission of the grant is to foster learning and invigorate the classrooms of a new generation of educators.

 

Become a substitute in District 21

We’ve added lots of great candidates to our group of substitutes over the past few months, but we’re not done adding! We are continuing to hire subs each month, and many are right from our community! Please let your neighbors and friends know that we are still hiring throughout the school year.

Whether you want to help us out one day a week or every single day, the choice is yours.

We have openings in our sub pool for the following positions:

  • Secretary – $100/day
  • Health Assistant – $100/day
  • Teaching Assistant – $125/day
  • Teacher – $125/day
  • Long term teacher (more than 16 days in the same classroom) – $200/day

Here is information from the Illinois State Board of Education about becoming a teaching assistant or teacher sub: Become a Substitute Teacher

If you have 60 hours of college credit you can become a short term sub through the Spring of 2023.  The Short-Term Substitute (STS) Teacher Training is required for anyone who has or wants to pursue a Short-Term Substitute license. This training will engage participants in conversation and the exploration of topics pertinent in today’s classrooms to support students. Curriculum, classroom management techniques, school safety, and general district/building operations will be covered. Please join us to start your journey toward becoming a short-term substitute teacher!

A zoom training is being offered through the North Cook Intermediate Service Center on January 21, 2022 from Noon-3:30 PM. Registration is open through January 19.