Back to school at last?

 Waukegan schools will open for hybrid learning in April!

PPE in the classroom

Lightning has struck! We are finally scheduled to go back to school in April. All staff will report to the school on March 29, after Spring break. The first week for staff, March 29 to April 2, will be devoted to training and professional development. There will be no online or in building classes during this time. Freshman will start on April 19 and sophomores on April 26. At this time, only about 30% of students have signed up to return. In Chicago, many students who signed up to return never actually showed up, so it is very possible that attendance will be less than 30%. Furthermore, if students do return on the 19, it will give freshmen only 6 weeks in school and sophomores only five weeks before summer vacation! This is a very short time and it is quite likely that many students and their parents will not choose to go through the transition back to the school building for such a short time. None the less this hybrid plan is a nice way to ease back into school gradually. 

Students are totally free to continue learning from home through the end of the school year. According to the schedule presented by the district, each grade level would be divided into two cohorts. One cohort will attend on Monday and Wednesday while the other will attend on Tuesday and Thursday. Friday will be online for everyone. In addition, the days will be shorter than a normal school day. Most students will attend from 2nd period, entering the building at 8:15 until 12:14 when they will travel home for lunch. The dates for all grade levels are as follows:

March 29: All staff return for orientation;
April 5: PreK, K, 1, and 2 return;
April 12:  Grades 3 and 4;
April 19:  Grades 5, 6, 9 and 12;
April 26: Grades 7, 8, 10 and 11.

According to the Chicago Tribune:

The look and feel of the buildings will be different. Plascencia said classroom sizes will be smaller to accommodate social distancing measures. Mask wearing will be required, and all rooms will be equipped with necessary personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer.
By the time teachers, administrators and staff return to the buildings, all of them who want to be vaccinated will have had the chance. Mark Pfister, the executive director of the Lake County health department, said Friday he anticipates all educators of preschool through high school seniors in the county, will receive their second shot by the end of March.
While Plascencia said COVID-19 heath metrics are trending in a positive direction, the district is prepared to take action if there is a change. Regardless, she urges everyone to continue to wear masks, socially distance and wash their hands frequently. (Waukegan schools to phase in students’ return to the classroom)

In any case, finally the day we have long been waiting for is near. We will finally return to the school buildings after more than a whole engaged in online learning. As we have already noted, President Biden and Dr Fauci predict a return to normal life by November or December of this year. This move to hybrid learning is an important step towards returning to normal. Hope to see you at school!

Question: Will you attend school this spring or will you wait until the fall to return? (both are okay!)

Waukegan schools to phase in students’ return to the classroom

Waukegan Public Schools Will Start Hybrid Learning in April

Announcing the Start of Hybrid Learning