Monday Morning Memo: June 22--Summer Monday Update :)

Thank you to the following staff who participated in our first Equity Core Team meeting on Thursday:
Maria Allen
Erica Barraza
Katie Jalove
Cathy Jawnyj
Rachel Lundberg
Amber Mysliwiec
Lauren Nee
Jeff Sefcik
Becca Strandberg
Amanda Usyak
Gizelle Wells
Lemar Wilson

It was a powerful first meeting, and we all benefited from each others' vulnerability, and appreciate the grace we showed to each other in sharing our stories and learning together. If you'd like to join this powerful effort, please let me know.

A big thanks to Bob Rogge and Tammy Littleton for volunteering their time to help with Grab and Go meals! Your help is much appreciated!

-From Yvette Stauner

UPDATES ON REOPENING PLANS

Attached to this week's Monday Memo email is the latest update we got from Governor Pritzker/ISBE on Thursday. We've been told that more informations with specifics for fall is coming next week...

GRAB AND GO MOVES!
Starting July 1, Grab and Go will shift to LOTUS each Monday and Thursday from 7:30-10:00AM. The roof work at Stanton is pretty messy and, since we will be offering meals as part of Summer School at Lotus, it makes sense to relocate all food service to Lotus for the rest of the summer. Please be on the lookout for a new sign up sheet! Questions---please reach out to Mary Taylor or Georgette Franco!

SUMMER SCHOOL PLANNING

We are planning for Summer School using a “pilot” of our blended fall model

shared with you last week. Here is the working construct:

July 13-August 7

This model would allow us to test systems for having kids back on site with PPE,

and all overage costs would be absorbed by CARES funds.

WE STILL NEED MORE TEACHERS/PARAPROFESSIONALS, so if you are
interested in working Summer School knowing the plan, please let Lynn Smolen or
me know ASAP!

LAPTOPS! :)

If you need your laptop for summer professional development/curriculum work, you can feel free to keep it.

ALSO---all certified staff will be getting new laptops for school use on or after August 10! We have leased new devices that are updated, easier to carry, and allow for needed software updates! YAY!

FLASH BACK...FLASH FORWARD TO SUMMER CURRICULUM WORK!
THANKS to everyone for your work to complete the FLASH BACK reflection to help us know where our students' gaps exist!!!!
The FIRST priority for any summer curriculum work is to use the FLASH BACK information to better understand what kids need. This then should be used to help plan starting the year. The tools you need are linked below:

LINKS:
PreK-8 Flash Back Standards
Exploratories Flash Back Standards
Case Manager Flash Back Reflections

COVID-19 SAFETY PROCEDURES-

If you are concerned that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 and have been or are scheduled to be onsite, please let your principal, Maddie Espinoza, and/or me know immediately so we can partner with you for your safety and for the safety of others. You can trust that we will keep all this information confidential, balancing staff privacy and system safety needs.

All staff MUST wear masks--how is that working so far?

What has been in practice is that, when staff can maintain a 6ft distance from others, they are not required to wear a mask. For example, anyone working in their office, in a classroom, or at a desk/station where 6ft distance can be maintained. When out in the hallways or interacting with others in situations where 6 ft cannot be maintained or when collecting/handing out materials, masks must be worn for the safety of everyone.

When I have been around others and we are sharing a space, I have stated, "I'm comfortable with you not wearing a mask if you are comfortable as well." We have then maintained a 6ft distance. I ask this to make sure others feel safe. If they are not, then we keep masks on.

In addition, the steps below (from the CDC website) MUST be taken if you have been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19:

COMING ONSITE:

If you are sick, STAY HOME.
No one can come to work who is sick and/or has a temperature at or above 100.4.
Staff must take their temperatures at home.
If you don't have a thermometer at home, let the administrator on site know and we'll take your temperature for you.
Wash your hands regularly!
All staff should wear masks when onsite.
All staff should wear gloves when handling materials that others will also use.

We are looking for a Stanton Building Representative! If you are a Stanton staff member and are interested in serving on the EAFL executive board, or would like more information about the position, please let Melissa Jakstas know!

Melissa Jakstas, President

Maureen DeVoss, Vice President for Certified Staff

Chris Brown, Vice President for Non-Certified Staff

Katy Gardner, Treasurer

Betty Cwiak, Secretary

Cathy Jawnyj, Region Representative

Kendra Smeigh, Stanton School Representative

Tiffany Tardio Weber, Lotus School Representative