Dieterich Unit 30 -

August 17, 2020 Some final information before we start school. We would highly recommend that all parents complete the symptom screening for their children. This can be accomplished in two ways. TeacherEase has developed a portal for symptom pre-certification. The portal can be found on the menu of options on the home page, once you have logged into your account. You will need to complete the form for each child. This is the fastest/easiest way to pre-certify. The second way is to complete the paper form. The paper form would need to be with the child as they board the bus or enter school. If you child is experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms, please keep them home. We are to exclude any student exhibiting 1 or more symptoms. Detailed requirements are made available by the Illinois Department of Public Health and must be followed. Please contact the school if you have questions regarding symptoms or exclusion. Drop off points are the Elementary entrance and the high school gym lobby entrance. Do not drop off students prior to 7:30am as the doors will be locked and there is no supervision prior to 7:30am. We are encouraging parents to bring your children to school and pick them up, as much as possible. Due to restrictions on transportation and social distancing, it is best to drop off and pick up your children at school. Carpooling with other families is highly discouraged. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed to enter the building. Please know that your child will be safe and cared for once they enter our school. Dismissal will be at 2pm. We value your cooperation and support. This has the potential for an unusual school year. Circumstances and plans could change at any moment. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

We wanted to remind parents that they will not be able to enter the school when dropping off their children. We will have staff inside to help students to their classrooms. We apologize for any inconvenience. Also, parents can self-certify that their children are symptom free with the form Mr. Jackson sent last week or by logging into your Teacherease account and completing the COVID-19 screening. Any student who was not pre-screened will be screened before entering the building. Tomorrow, the doors open at 7:30, elementary students who are parent drop off must come to the elementary office entrance. Please try to drop off your students as close to 8:00 am as possible. First class period will begin at 8:10 am and students will dismiss at 2:00 pm. After school tutoring will not begin until after Labor Day. This will allow teachers time to get an idea of each students academic needs.

Friday, August 14, 2020 School is almost here! We cannot wait to see our students. It’s been too long. There are some requirements we need to address prior to Tuesday. 1. Symptom Pre-Certification. Every person that enters the building is required to pre-screen for COVID-19 symptoms. We have created a quick/easy form that must be completed DAILY. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. Therefore, we are asking that you screen your child for COVID-19 symptoms and complete the pre-certification form. The last thing we want to do is to exclude a student from school for an explainable symptom. Copies will be emailed and made available at the school starting on Monday. You can also find a copy on the school website under the Document section. TeacherEase is finalizing a portal for pre-screening, but we are not confident that it will be accurate by Tuesday. Stay tuned for more information. 2. Face Coverings (masks). Just a reminder that masks are required at school. The only exception is when the students are outside AND socially distanced. The school has masks for those who would like or need one. Please ask the office or your teacher if you would like a mask. Please come prepared by wearing a mask on Tuesday. 3. No Visitors in the Building. Due to restrictions and logistics, visitors are not allowed in the building, unless absolutely necessary. Again, everyone entering the building must be screened for symptoms and must be wearing a mask. We realize that some requirements can be burdensome and inconvenient, but we feel the benefit of having our students back at school outweigh the negatives. We appreciate your cooperation and efforts in helping keep our students safe and our schools open. See you Tuesday!

The start of the Fall Sports season is upon us, this is a friendly reminder that all spectators are required to follow the IESA & IHSA social distancing guidelines when attending both home and away contests. The guidelines are listed below: • All fans must maintain 6 ft. social distancing at all times • Fans must remain at least 30 ft. from the dugouts at all times • Masks must be worn by spectators at all times • Keep groupings in one area to under 50 people Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Dieterich Schools: Return to School Frequently Asked Questions General Questions Q. When do students start school? A. The first day of student attendance will be Tuesday, August 18th. Q. What times are school in session? A. Classes will begin at 8:10am daily. School will dismiss at 2:00pm. Please note that the 8:10am start is earlier than years past. Q. Has the yearly calendar changed due to COVID-19? A. No. The District will follow the board approved calendar. The calendar can be found at https://www.dieterichschools.org/o/dieterich-community-schools/browse/62802 Q. What time should my child be at school in the morning? A. We are asking that students arrive as close to the 8:10am starting time as possible. However, we do realize that some students may need to be dropped off earlier. Therefore, the building will be unlocked starting at 7:30am and staff will be on-hand for supervision. Please DO NOT drop off students prior to 7:30am as the doors will be locked and no staff will be present. Q. Which doors will be open for student entry? A. There will be 3 entrances that students may use. The high school gym lobby, the doors near the junior high (at the bus stop), and the main elementary entrance (door #1). In the past, the cafeteria doors have been available as an entrance. Due to sanitary and screening procedures, entrance will not be allowed through the cafeteria this year. Q. How do I pre-screen my child for COVID-19 symptoms? A. Pre-screening for symptoms must be done on a daily basis and can be accomplished through our TeacherEase software. We feel parents are the best ones to pre-screen their children for symptoms, they simply know their children’s health better than school personnel. Q. How do I access the pre-screening software on TeacherEase? A. Pre-screening can be done through the parent/student portal. https://www.teacherease.com/app/news/article/COVID-Screening-Self-Certification-Employee-Portal Q. What do I do if my child exhibits symptoms? A. As a parent, you are able to determine the health of your child better than school staff. If your child is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, please do not send them to school. Q. What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19? A. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the Effingham County Health Department will be notified immediately. Contact tracing will be performed and further guidance regarding isolation, quarantine or exclusion from school will be determined in conjunction with the health department. Remote Learning Q. Can I choose remote learning for my child? A. Yes. Dieterich Schools will administer both remote and in-person learning starting on August 18th. Q. Do remote learners need to register and pay fees? A. Yes. Remote learners are students of Dieterich CUSD #30 and most fees still apply. Please contact the school office for details on registration fees. Q. If my child is a remote learner, can they return to in-person if they choose to do so? A. A remote learner may return to in-person learning during the first 2 weeks of school. After that point, they must remain a remote learner for the duration of the quarter. Q. Will remote learners have access to Chromebooks? A. Yes. All students at Dieterich CUSD #30, including remote learners, will have access to Chrome Tablets (K-1) or Chromebooks (2-12). Devices in grades K-6 will remain in the classroom, while devices in grades 7-12 will be allowed to go home with the student. See the District’s 1:1 handbook for details. https://www.dieterichschools.org/o/dieterich-community-schools/browse/158561 Q. How will remote learning be delivered? What will it look like? A. The method of delivery and requirements will be based on the individual class/teacher. Your childs’ teacher(s) will be in direct contact with details of remote learning. Q. What about grades and attendance for remote learners? A. Daily attendance is required and coursework will be graded. Think of remote learning as the same as in-person, just in a different location. Q. What are the time requirements for remote learning? A. Time commitments will vary. Generally, remote learning will consist of a 5 clock-hour day, including all coursework and instruction. Q. What happens if the school transitions to full remote learning? A. Those students who are already remote learners will join their class for all remote activities. Q. Are remote students eligible for extra-curricular activities? A. Yes. All Code of Conduct and Eligibility rules apply (see handbook). https://www.dieterichschools.org/o/dieterich-community-schools/browse/13878 Elementary Q. Where should my child report after arriving at school? A. Elementary students who arrive before 8:00 will put their bookbags by their classrooms and proceed to the cafeteria. Students who arrive after 8:00 will proceed to their classroom. Q. Can elementary parents enter the building with their children? A. We are asking that parents do not enter the building with their children in the mornings. Students need to have their masks on as they enter the building. Parents may enter the building only if prior arrangements have been made. Jr-Sr High Q. Where should my child report after arriving at school? A. Jr/Sr High students arriving before 8:00 should first go to their lockers, unpack their belongings, and then report to one of the following areas: a. Jr. High Students - Elementary Gym b. HS Students - HS Gym/Lobby Area c. Students eating breakfast - Cafeteria B. Jr/Sr High students arriving after 8:00 should visit their locker and then report directly to their 1st hour class. Q. What should students do who arrive late to school? A. Students should ring the intercom by the Jr/Sr High entrance and a staff member will come to the door and let the student in the building. Q. What procedures need to be followed when picking students up during the school day? A. Parents will ring the intercom by the Jr/Sr High entrance or call the office stating they have arrived and their student will then be sent outside. Parents will not be allowed in the building unless prior arrangements have been made with administration. Q. Will students have access to their lockers during the day? A. Yes. Students will be able to go to their lockers, however they must grab their items and immediately head to their next class. The bell schedule has been adjusted to maximize instructional time in a shortened school day. Time between classes has been abbreviated to assist in maximizing instructional time. Q. Will students have PE? A. Yes. Students will have PE, but locker rooms will not be used and students will not change into PE clothes. Students will have PE outside weather permitting and will participate in a wide variety of activities. Athletics Q. Will the school offer sports and extracurricular activities? A. All Dieterich sports programs will be following the guidelines set in place by the IESA & IHSA. These guidelines are subject to change based on any new developments concerning COVID-19. AWAITING IDPH CLEARANCE Transportation Q. Will the school provide busing this year? A. Yes. The school will be running the regular routes. Bus schedules will be made available after Wednesday, August 12th. Q. My child has ridden the bus in the past, can I now bring them to school? A. Yes. In fact, due to Illinois Department of Public Health restrictions, parent drop-off/pick-up is preferred. Q. Will there be assigned seats? A. Yes. Families and those who reside in the same household will be placed together in assigned seats. Students will typically sit in the same spot on a daily basis. Q. Will the bus be sanitized? A. Absolutely. The buses will be disinfected and sanitized after every route using eco-friendly disinfectants and cleaners. Q. Does my child have to be screened for symptoms prior to boarding the bus? A. Yes. We are asking that parents pre-screen their children prior to boarding the bus or prior to dropping them off at school. Drivers will be equipped with non-touch thermometers to screen students. However, we feel parental screening is the best/most accurate method. Q. Can my child ride a bus, that is not his/her normal bus, home with a friend? A. No. Due to restrictions on space, contact tracing and sanitary issues, riding home with a friend is not allowed. Food Service Q. Will the cafeteria be serving breakfast and lunch this year? A. Yes. The OPAA staff will be preparing both breakfast and lunch. Q. Will there be as many options available this year? A. No. Due to restrictions, there will be 3 options available. One hot option, one cold option (sandwiches, wraps) and one entree salad. Q. Will the salad bar be open? A. No. Due to strict sanitary requirements, the salad bar and any buffet style serving will not be available. Q. Will the students be using trays and silverware? A. All meals will be pre-packaged and served in individual containers. Much like the to-go clamshell containers you would receive in restaurants. Q. Where will the students eat? Is the cafeteria large enough to social distance? A. Students will be utilizing various spaces, in addition to the cafeteria, for dining. Outside spaces such as the courtyard, pavilion, park, lobbies, gyms and classrooms will be used to achieve separation. Q. Will meals be made available to remote learners? A. Yes. Remote learners can order breakfast and lunch. They would be made available for pickup at the school. Please call the school office to arrange food service.

The Dieterich Class of 2020 Street Banners are in the high school office. Members of the class may pick up their banners starting on Monday, August 10th.

Any incoming Kindergarten parents or parents of families new to our district that would like to visit their child's classroom next week please feel free to email jbenefiel@dieterichschools.org to set up a time. We are available Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 2:30 pm.

Just a reminder that if you have not completed the Learning Option Form, please due so by the Sunday, August 9th deadline. Thanks for your assistance! https://forms.gle/C2FLL4afMfUSGM4e8

If you have not purchased school supplies for the upcoming school year you can find our complete grade level lists by copying and pasting these links into your web browser: https://www.walmart.com/lists/back-to-school https://www.target.com/school-list-assist/onboarding/fulfillment-method For other retailers, copy and paste this link: https://www.teacherlists.com/parents

Registration reminder: Please register online prior to August 7th. Online registration will close after August 7th and you will no longer be able to change your student's information. Fall Athletics: At this time JH Softball, JH Baseball, HS Cross Country and HS Baseball will be played. JH Girls Softball: Girls in grades 6-8 are eligible to play. Practices start Monday 8/3 3:30-5:30. This will be the schedule for 8/3-8/7, you will be given more information at practice. JH Boys Baseball: Boys in grades 7&8 are eligible to play. There will be a parent/player meeting at the park pavilion Monday 8/3 at 5:15. Practice will follow at 6:00. Practices for this week will be 6:00-8:00, you will be given more information at practice. HS Fall Baseball and Cross Country will be starting soon. Please remember to have your sports physicals turned in to office. Physicals: A school physical required for grades 6 & 9 will count as a sports physical but a sports physical will not count as a school physical. Per IESA/IHSA physicals are good for 13 months from the date of the physical. Please make sure physicals are up to date before practice. Students who do not have current physicals are not able to participate in practice. Athletic fees: JH sports are $37/sport and HS sports are $42/sport. You may go online and add the sports fees to your students account and pay through teacher ease BEFORE August 7th or you may pay in the office. We are very happy that it looks as if the students will have the ability to play this fall. Please remember that there will be adjustments to the season and guidelines to follow. With the ever changing rules/guidelines and positive cases in the area we cannot guarantee the seasons will not be shut down.

IESA announced today that they will be allowing the Jr. High Baseball and Softball seasons to be played. Coaches will be contacting parents and players soon with more information regarding practices for next week.

Friday, July 31, 2020 Dear Parents/Guardians, I would first like to thank you for participating in our Back to School Survey. The data we gathered is very helpful in our planning for a return to school in August. At a special meeting of the Dieterich Board of Education, a plan was finalized that includes: • Choice of remote learning or in-person learning. • School will be in session daily, M-F. • Early dismissal of 2:00pm to allow time for our teachers to deliver remote instruction. • Tutoring services from 2:00pm – 3:30pm. Services will be free of charge and available for any student wishing to participate. Teacher availability will vary depending upon remote instruction duties. • After School Program will be available 2:00pm – 6:00pm on days school is in session ($7/day/student). • ALL students will be provided an electronic learning device (Chromebook or Chrome Tablet), including remote students. • Athletics and Extra-curricular activities will be offered in accordance with Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois High School Association and Illinois Elementary School Association regulations. ALL students are eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities, including remote students. • All Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Board of Education regulations apply for in-person students (see Return to School Plan for details). We are now needing a commitment from each student to further assist us in our planning. I have included a link to a Learning Option Commitment Form. You may have to COPY/PASTE the link. We need a response from each student in our district. Please respond by the end of the day on Sunday, August 9th. https://forms.gle/CNFsNwheEpPjNAee7 Please remember that if you select the Remote Learning option, there will be a 2-week grace period, from the beginning of school, to allow the student to return to in-person learning, if they choose to do so. After the 2-week grace period has expired, those remote learners will be committed for the remainder of the quarter. Also be aware that our plans can change at any moment due to the fluid nature of this process and the potential of additional requirements from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education. There are many things that are simply out of our control. Thank you for your patience and understanding through this unprecedented process. Sincerely, Mr. Cary Jackson, Superintendent

Earlier today the IESA announced the cancellation of both the Jr. High Softball and Jr. High Baseball seasons. The full announcement can be viewed by visiting iesa.org. We have not yet received anything regarding fall high school sports, IHSA is expected to release information sometime next week.

Dieterich CUSD #30 is seeking MUSIC TEACHER applicants for the upcoming school year. The successful candidate will join a dynamic staff in a growing rural district. All schools in Dieterich CUSD #30 have rated "Exemplary" by ISBE. Duties would include K-12 music program including band and chorus. Applications should include a letter of application, resume, letters of recommendation, proof of certification, and transcripts to Mr. Cary Jackson, Superintendent, 205 S. Pine St., Dieterich, IL 62424. cjackson@dieterichschools.org Application period will remain open until the position is filled.

June 24, 2020 Dear Staff and Community at Dieterich CUSD #30, I hope this message finds you and your families safe and well. Yesterday, the Illinois State Board of Education released guidance for schools on the 2020-21 school year. This 60-page document has been much anticipated and will go a long way toward answering critical questions all of us share about what the 2020-21 school year will look like in terms of in-person learning, scheduling, transportation, wearing masks, social distancing and other measures intended to keep everyone safe and healthy, while also re-engaging students in the learning process. Right now, we don’t have all the answers to those questions as this document was released to school districts at the same time it was released to the public. Therefore, we kindly ask for your patience as our staff thoroughly reviews this detailed guidance and implements the suggestions into our district’s own transition plan. As always, we will take a common-sense approach to developing our plan. We are pursuing avenues of compliance while keeping the wellbeing of every child, and the whole child, in mind with what is realistically possible for us to accomplish. Dieterich CUSD #30 is keenly aware of the urgent need to communicate to families about what to expect next school year and anticipate releasing our own transition plan in the upcoming days. Our administrative team, along with the Board of Education have already been discussing options. This guidance will accelerate those conversations, and I’m confident our district can put forth a plan that prioritizes the health and safety of our students while maintaining a dynamic learning environment. We are very excited about returning to school on-time August 18th. Thank you again for your patience, understanding, and flexibility as our entire district navigated a situation together that none of us could have imagined. I will be in touch soon. In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy your summer. Sincerely, Mr. Cary Jackson, Superintendent

Dieterich CUSD #30 is seeking Guidance Counselor applicants for the upcoming school year. The successful candidate will join one other counselor in the district. This is a newly created position to meet the increased needs of a growing school district. Dieterich CUSD #30 has a goal of providing additional services to our growing student population. Duties include: general counseling duties, mentoring program management, SIS, IAR testing, career exploration and other duties as assigned. Applications should include a letter of application, resume, letters of recommendation, proof of certification, and transcripts to Mr. Cary Jackson, Superintendent, 205 S. Pine St., Dieterich, IL 62424. cjackson@dieterichschools.org Application deadline is July 3, 2020.

2020-2021 Dieterich Elementary student class lists can now be viewed through your Teacherease Parent Portal. Instructions have been emailed to parents. Have a great summer!

2020-2021 Dieterich Elementary class lists are being finalized and we will notify families through social media and email on when you can see your teacher for next year on Teacherease. We will also have online registration this summer along with the jr/sr high school. Registration packets will be sent to incoming kindergarten students but all other students will register online later this summer. Thank you for all of your support throughout this school year and please feel free too reach out with any questions and concerns! You can email jbenefiel@dieterichschools.org Thanks again and have a great summer!

The last round of meals have been delivered! Our crew prepared, bagged and delivered 10,000 meals during the last 2 months! A huge THANK YOU to our hard-working crew: Emily, Patty, Mary E., Ashley, Beth, Leslie, Chuck, Jay, Jan, Rodney, Mr. & Mrs. Jackson and all of the volunteers that made this happen. Dieterich Proud!

Today is Graduation for the DHS Class of 2020! There will be a parade through town starting at 4:00. Also joining in the parade will be Mrs. Annette Niemerg. Mrs. Niemerg is retiring after teaching many years at Dieterich Elementary. Let's fill the streets of Dieterich and give them the recognition they deserve!