Messages from our principle, Mrs. Eckels

Families and Parents,

I can't tell you how nice it was to have our students in the building! To be able to greet smiling faces was a treat this week. Our students are doing a wonderful job of wearing their masks, social distancing, and following all safety protocols. Thank you parents and guardians, it is obvious that you have worked with your children at home.

Just a reminder to our car riders, please do not exit the car until Ms. Gwin has completed a temperature check and you have your self-certification filled out. We are happy to send more home if you need.

It is hard to believe but it is time to start thinking about Kindergarten registration. Flyers will be coming home on Monday inviting our families to our Information Night on February 2 at 5:30. Additional information can be found on the Schools of Choice Office (champaignschools.org/choice).

Thank you for your patience as some of our buses have been running late due to drivers calling in sick. We appreciate your understanding. Car riders are dismissed at 10:20am, and we appreciate your promptness in picking your students up.

If there is anything that we can support you and your families with, please do not hesitate to call and talk with one of the administrators. We are here to help.

Please enjoy your weekend and we look forward to seeing children on Tuesday.

Stephanie Eckels

Schedule :

Monday- Virtual only whole class PM session 11:35-2:05pm

Tuesday- In-person 7:50-10:20am/ Distance Learning 11:35-2:05pm

Wednesday- In-person 7:50-10:20am/ Distance Learning 11:35-2:05pm

Thursday- In-person 7:50-10:20am/ Distance Learning 11:35-2:05pm

Friday- In-person 7:50-10:20am/ Distance Learning 11:35-2:05pm

Operational Safety protocols

Good afternoon Stratton Families,

Welcome back to a new year. The teachers and I look forward to having our students return. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Below you will find information useful as we transition back to in-person learning on a limited basis.

Students that were attending in-person learning in the Fall were notified by the office that we would again be returning to in-person learning starting on January 20, 2021. After calling our returning students, another list of parent and teacher recommendations were also called. Currently we still have open seats available in a few classrooms, so if you were not notified by the office and you wish your child to attend please call 217-373-7330. Our limit is 12 students per classroom.

The schedule will remain the same, Tuesday-Friday we will hold morning in-person classes from 7:50am-10:30am; afternoon virtual learning will occur from 11:35-2:05pm. On Mondays, there will be a whole class afternoon zoom and no in-person learning during the morning.

Safety is a top priority for our District and at Stratton. To ensure students and families understand wheat is expected of them in our new learning environment, the District has prepared an In Person Learning Student & Family Expectations form that must be signed by each student/family who returns in-person. A copy of the these expectations can be found in the Operational/ Safety Protocols.

All students should arrive at school with a Symptom Screen Form (page 15 of Protocols). Forms were also included in the report card mailing for those students who were identified as in-person learners. Car riders must present form before exiting the vehicle each morning. In addition to providing the the Screening form, all students must wear face coverings on all school premises (Policy 418.02) unless a documented medical accommodation has been approved and on file with the District. Exclusion from instruction, transportation, and other school activities may result for students refusing to wear a face covering.

Our building nurse would like to remind all parents, that we must have doctor's orders to administer any medication at school. this would include asthma medication. Please call the office if you have any questions.

I look forward to a safe return to school for our students and staff. If you have any questions or concerns please call the office.

Helpful numbers:

Stratton Office 217-373-7330

Transportation : 217-351-3993

Food Service:217-351-3822 (Food deliveries and pick up will continues as normal)

Parents and Guardians,

I hope this finds everyone healthy and ready for a nice Winter Break. We have only two days of school this week, and both days are Distance Learning from 11:35-2:05pm.

We wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season and Winter break. It is essential that we use this time to let our students be children, enjoy the Winter season, and experience the joy of a sustained break from the monitors and screen time that are now part of our daily school routine.

Please note the following guidance for January of 2021:

• At the December 14 Board of Education meeting, it was announced that Winter Break will be extended by one day. Winter break will begin December 23, 2020 and school will resume on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

• Students will continue to engage in Distance Learning until January 19, 2021 in the exact same place.

• Families will be notified of any instructional delivery changes prior to January 19, 2021. If and when Unit #4 and Champaign Public Health departments allow in-person instruction again, Stratton Elementary and a majority of Unit 4 elementary schools will go back to the same in-person model we had in late October and early November.

• Our goals continue to be limiting the amount of transitions, keep your current classroom teachers, and balance the size of classroom sessions. We will be in contact with the same in-person families (from 2nd quarter) during the week of January 5th to prepare for the possible return to limited in-person instruction.

Please enjoy your break and we will see you in January.

Dear Unit 4 Families and Staff,

At the December 14 Board of Education meeting, it was announced that Winter Break will be extended by one day. Winter break will begin December 23, 2020 and school will resume on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Please note, students will continue to engage in Distance Learning until January 19, 2021. Families will be notified of any instructional delivery changes prior to January 19, 2021.

Please direct any questions to your school principal. You can also visit our site at www.champaignschools.org to stay abreast of updates.

Have a safe and enjoyable Winter Break!

Good morning Stratton Families,

Hope this finds everyone healthy and happy. I just wanted to share a few reminders and updates:

Attendance: Every student is assigned an AM or PM session. Please stay in your session. It is very difficult for staff members when children attend a session for which they are not assigned. Support staff such as intervention, ESL, and special education are unable to support and provide much needed services when children are not in assigned sessions. If you need to change your session, please speak with myself or one of the Assistant Principals to receive approval. Students not in attendance will be marked absent. Thank you for your cooperation.

Holiday Food Orders: Last day to order December 8,

For questions or concerns contact Food Services at (217) 351-3852 or email foodservice@u4sd.org.

Technology Needs: Please continue to reach out if you are experiencing technology difficulties. You can reach IT at:

If you have a Chromebook and are having an issue with it, please contact our help desk at (217) 351-3801 or email: helpdesk@u4sd.org.

We also have a document of frequently asked questions available here: bit.ly/ITParentFAQ21

Chromebook Repairs

The IT department has created a system in which we can repair Chromebooks while providing safety to students and staff. We also have a Google Document which shows some basic troubleshooting issues. That document can be found here: bit.ly/U4ChromebookIssues

The following steps must be followed by the student/parent before coming to get their Chromebook repaired:

• The Student/Parent MUST fill out the following form: bit.ly/U4ChromebookIssueForm

• After filling out the form, a member of the IT staff will review it. If they are able to fix the Chromebook remotely, they will contact the family to do so. If not, an email will be sent with information regarding the repair.

Important Dates:

December 22- End of second quarter

December 23-Winter Break -No school

January 5- First day back from Winter Break

January 18- No School Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday

February 15- No School President's Day

March 55- End of third quarter

As always if we can be of any support please call.

--

Stephanie Eckels