October 26, 2021
Dear IB families,
It has been a challenging 19 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I appreciate your support and cooperation as we continue to navigate this unprecedented event. As we conclude the first quarter, I want to provide you with some updates.
Voluntary Testing Program for Symptomatic Students
Our school nurse is now prepared to offer a voluntary, rapid COVID-19 test for students who develop symptoms at school at no cost to families. This program aims to help keep kids in school and prevent the spread of COVID-19. We hope this program will reduce the burden and stress on parents who have had to seek external testing. For your child to participate in the program, you must fill out the Student COVID-19 Voluntary Testing Consent Form, which can be downloaded from the link below, and submit it to your child’s school office. If you have any questions, please contact Erica West at 309.389.5025 or via email at ewest@ib327.com.
Link to student voluntary testing consent form - https://5il.co/1110p
Upcoming Vaccine Clinic
We are hosting another vaccination clinic on November 11, with the 2nd dose date set for December 2. These clinics will take place from 3pm to 7pm and will offer all 3 vaccines and available boosters. The Illinois Department of Public Health is hoping the approval for children ages 5 to 11 will be finalized by then, as well. Walk-ins are welcome; however, if you would like to schedule an appointment, here is the link: https://tinyurl.com/2y6u5h9f
Monthly TikTok Challenges
We are concerned about the monthly TikTok Challenges that have been in the news lately, and we encourage you to speak to your children about them. Please reinforce to them that there are consequences for participating in the challenges. During September, we experienced a rash of vandalism in some of our restrooms due to a TikTok challenge. There are other school-related challenges in the coming months, as well, that involve disruption to the school, vandalism, skipping school, etc. Please research these challenges and have appropriate discussions with your children. Here is a helpful link: https://parentingteensandtweens.com/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-the-new-monthly-viral-tiktok-challenges/
Snow Days
As you know, winter weather is just around the corner, and I wanted to notify you that my plan, as of now, is to cancel school on bad weather days and afford our children with traditional snow days. Although we could provide remote instruction on those days, I prefer to make up those days in-person at the end of the school year. Instruction is much more effective when it is in person. Making up snow days later in the year, in person, will provide our students with a much more beneficial experience.
Respect, Admiration, and Gratitude
I want to thank our employees, our students, and our parents for your grit, determination, and cooperation in continuing to deal with everything COVID. We are all experiencing COVID fatigue, but we cannot give up. We have to continue to be vigilant, and we have to continue to work together for the betterment of our children. I am incredibly proud of all of our stakeholders in how we have approached this pandemic. There continues to be hope, and numbers continue to show improvement. With vaccinations and testing, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Providing a safe and healthy learning environment for our students and staff is our top priority. I want to sincerely thank you for your efforts at home and in your communication and interaction with the school to keep in-person learning a longstanding reality.
Sincerely,
Dr. Roger Alvey
Superintendent