Staunton Community Unit School District No. 6

Dear Staunton Families, As I walk through our hallways it is great to see our students in their classrooms learning. Once again, I thank all staff for their efforts to stay healthy and report to work on a daily basis. We are treading on the most difficult time we have experienced yet this year as far as the number of COVID cases and quarantines throughout Macoupin County. On a typical day in August our county was seeing anywhere between 2-20 new cases per day. Now in November, we are seeing 50-75 new cases reported daily. In Staunton School district we are doing well at the moment which allows us to continue to be in person whereas some districts that surround us have gone to remote learning, and many districts are considering moving in this direction if the COVID numbers continue to rise. On one hand this information should serve as notice that preparations need to be made in case we have to go remote. On the other hand it should signal the importance of making sure everyone who attends school is socially distancing between each other within the school environment. Most of us agree we need to be in school. To ensure this to happen we have to be extra cautious in the weeks ahead. Please help me by protecting our students and staff by socially distancing and wearing face masks when you are around other people. Thank you for your continuous support. I am proud of what we have accomplished here in Staunton up to this point this school year, and I am confident we will continue to see great things. Take care, Cynthia Tolbert, Superintendent

Dear Staunton Families, Moments ago I was contacted by the Macoupin County Department of Health that the two individuals at Staunton High School that were reported to us earlier today as testing positive for COVID-19 were reported in error to the school district by the health department. The two high school tests were negative. With this being said, individuals that were sent home today to quarantine will be allowed to return to school on Friday, November 13th. Take care and be safe, Cynthia Tolbert, Superintendent

Staunton Families: There is NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. Thank you to all of our past and present service members! #BulldogPride #TerrierPride #LeadChallengeAchieve

Dear Staunton Families, This communication is to inform you one individual at Staunton Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19. We are coordinating our efforts with the Macoupin County Health Department to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 positive individual to prevent further spread within our school and community. At this time, any students and staff who have had close contact with the COVID-19 individual have been contacted separately and informed that they are restricted from all district activities for the quarantine period. This message is intended to inform parents of students who attend Staunton Elementary School and explain that they are at low risk of transmission due to our school mitigation strategies and procedures. Those persons who exhibit symptoms should contact their health care provider to determine if testing is needed. District 6 administration has contacted the Macoupin County Health Department to inform them of this positive test. In any situation where there is a positive test, we will strictly follow all guidelines and orders from the Macoupin County Health Department for isolation/quarantine before allowing the COVID-19 positive individual to return to the school. We are committed to providing our students and staff with a safe and healthy environment. We appreciate your ongoing cooperation with our COVID-19 procedures as we work to help protect all our students and staff at Staunton Elementary School. Have a good evening. Cynthia Tolbert, Superintendent

Please see the attached Job Posting for a Long Term Substitute Teacher vacancy at 1st grade this spring. Job Posting Link: https://5il.co/ms9h #StauntonPride #TerrierPride #LeadChallengeAchieve

Dear Staunton Families, This communication is to inform you one individual at Staunton High School has tested positive for COVID-19. We are coordinating our efforts with the Macoupin County Health Department to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 positive individual to prevent further spread within our school and community. At this time, any students and staff who have had close contact with the COVID-19 individual have been contacted separately and informed that they are restricted from all district activities for the quarantine period. This message is intended to inform parents of students who attend Staunton High School and explain that they are at low risk of transmission due to our school mitigation strategies and procedures. Those persons who exhibit symptoms should contact their health care provider to determine if testing is needed. District 6 administration has contacted the Macoupin County Health Department to inform them of this positive test. In any situation where there is a positive test, we will strictly follow all guidelines and orders from the Macoupin County Health Department for isolation/quarantine before allowing the COVID-19 positive individual to return to the school. We are committed to providing our students and staff with a safe and healthy environment. We appreciate your ongoing cooperation with our COVID-19 procedures as we work to help protect all our students and staff at Staunton High School. Have a good evening. Cynthia Tolbert, Superintendent

This is a friendly reminder to you that there is no school on Monday, November 2nd and Tuesday, November 3rd.

Staunton Families: The School District will be offering FREE 'grab and go' pre-packaged breakfast and lunch to students in the district October 21st - October 23rd for non student attendance days. This survey will help the district in planning for the distribution of the pre-packaged meals. Meals can be picked at the Staunton School bus garage from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM on Oct. 21st. Pick up will only take place on Wednesday, October 21st from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM. Students will receive meals for all 3 days. ONLY COMPLETE THE FORM LINKED BELOW IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO PICK UP MEALS. Form Link: https://bit.ly/3ohvQc7

The 1st quarter ends today! Please click on the link below to read a message from Cynthia Tolbert, Superintendent. https://5il.co/m7m7 Have a great weekend!

Students have been enjoying some tasty treats from the cafeteria staff in celebration of National School Lunch Week! #TerrierPride #BulldogPride #LeadChallengeAchieve #NationalSchoolLunchWeek

During the time of COVID, elementary Principal Mr. Allen steps up to help clean and sanitize the lunch tables between groups of students during lunch time today. Thank you Mr. Allen for all you do to help keep our students safe! We appreciate you going above and beyond the call of duty.

10/10/20 Dear Staunton Families, This release is to inform you it was confirmed with me today by the Macoupin County Public Health Department that a Staunton Junior High School staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. While this employee has been in contact with other Junior High staff members and students at school earlier this week, the employee notified the district once becoming symptomatic. The school district has been working closely with the Macoupin County Public Health Department this weekend, and the employee has been self-quarantined since taking the COVID test.  In addition to the positive staff member, seven other Junior High staff members will need to quarantine.  Unfortunately, we do not have enough substitutes to cover all the classrooms of the quarantined staff members so I will need to shut down the Junior High School during the quarantine period.  There will be no In-Person learning for Staunton Junior High students beginning on Tuesday, October 13th through Tuesday, October 20th. Starting Tuesday, October 13th, Staunton Junior High School students and staff will be following the Full Remote Learning plan through Tuesday, October 20th. Please visit the Staunton District webpage to access the Full Remote Learning plan, and to view your Junior High student’s daily remote learning schedule beginning on Tuesday, October 13th. There is no school for students on Wednesday, October 21st through October 23rd due to Parent Teacher Conferences and a teacher institute.  Junior High students and staff will return to In-Person learning on Monday, October 26th.   Parent Teacher Conferences will be held beginning on Wednesday, October 21st.  Those Junior High teachers not quarantined will move forward with holding their Parent Teacher Conferences with parents in person as scheduled.  Those teachers on quarantine will hold virtual conferences with parents that are interested on Wednesday, October 21st, and will hold In-Person Conferences with parents on Thursday, October 22nd when their quarantine period has concluded.    I want to inform families of students who attend Staunton Junior High School that the students are at low risk of transmission due to our school mitigation strategies and procedures. It is important that you continue to monitor your child’s health and be aware of any COVID-19 symptoms that may appear in the future. At this time, all students and staff that have had close contact as defined by CDC guidelines have been contacted separately and informed that they are restricted from all district activities for the duration of the quarantine period. Students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5, and students in Grades 9 through 12 will continue with In-Person learning.  These students’ educational environment and schedule will not be interrupted due to the closure of Staunton Junior High School. The school district encourages all community members to maintain safe social distances, wear masks in public when social distancing cannot be maintained and wash your hands so that we may all help our Junior High students and staff return to school safely on Monday, October 26th. If you have questions or concerns, please contact an administrator or myself by phone. Thank you and be safe!  Cynthia Tolbert, Superintendent

Staunton Families: Please click the link attached to this communication to review the UPDATED School District Calendar approved by the Board of Education. Please note that Parent/Teacher Conferences have been adjusted and additional Teacher Institute Days have been added. Calendar Link: https://5il.co/8ndl #BulldogPride #TerrierPride #LeadChallengeAchieve

Staunton Families: This is a reminder that on Friday, October 9th, the Staunton School District will be running an early out schedule. Students in 6th - 12th Grade will be dismissed from school at 11:18 AM. Students in K - 5th Grade will be dismissed at 12:30 PM. #BulldogPride #TerrierPride #LeadChallengeAchieve

Staunton Remote Families, The nationwide Schoology system is down right now. We are anticipating that it should be back up soon. Please continue to try the site throughout the day. Thank you! Staunton CUSD 6

Staunton Families: This is a reminder that on Friday, October 9th, the Staunton School District will be running an early out schedule. The schedule is attached for your review in advance of Friday. Students in 6th - 12th Grade will be dismissed from school at 11:18 AM. Students in K - 5th Grade will be dismissed at 12:30 PM. #BulldogPride #TerrierPride #LeadChallengeAchieve

A message from the Health Office: REMINDER: ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT! All students in Preschool, Kindergarten, Sixth, Ninth and Twelfth grades have medical requirements due by OCTOBER 15TH to remain in school. This applies to BOTH remote and in person learning. Please see this link for the requirement details: https://www.stauntonschools.org/registration-documents--9 If you have any questions please reach out to Nurse Ali at 618.635.3831 x 253 or ahughes@stauntonschools.org #BulldogPride #TerrierPride #LeadChallengeAchieve

October 3, 2020 Dear Staunton CUSD #6 Families, This letter is to inform you there is a positive case of COVID-19 at Staunton High School. We are coordinating our efforts with Macoupin County Public Health Department to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the positive individual to prevent further spread within our school and community. If your high school student has had recent contact with the positive individual they will be contacted by Macoupin County Public Health Department. The health and safety of all students and staff is our highest priority, and we recognize the uncertainty and concern regarding the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. We are following guidance from the MCPHD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the state health department for best practices and procedures to protect everyone’s health moving forward. We will continue to enforce safe practices to prevent, promptly identify, communicate with MCPHD and respond to potential COVID cases. Stay safe! Sincerely, Mrs. Cynthia Tolbert Superintendent of Schools

Dear Staunton CUSD #6 Families, This letter is to inform you one Kindergarten classroom at Staunton Elementary School will be quarantined effective immediately due to a student who tested positive for COVID-19. We are coordinating our efforts with Macoupin County Public Health Department to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 positive student to prevent further spread within our school and community. The health and safety of all students and staff is our highest priority, and we recognize the uncertainty and concern regarding the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. We are following guidance from the MCPHD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the state health department for best practices and procedures to protect everyone’s health moving forward. We will continue to enforce safe practices to prevent, promptly identify, communicate with MCPHD and respond to potential COVID cases. I am committed to providing your child and our staff with a safe and healthy environment. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing cooperation with our COVID-19 prevention policies and procedures as we work to help protect your children, your families, and our staff and their families. I understand that you will have questions and concerns about this situation; however, please understand information on any individual student is private and confidential. Thank you for your continuous support and cooperation during these unpresented times. I will continue to work diligently at providing the safest learning environment for our students and staff while providing them a quality education. Sincerely, Mrs. Cynthia Tolbert Superintendent of Schools

Dear Staunton CUSD #6 Families, I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and well. We are seven weeks into the school year and the seasons are changing. It will be interesting to see how things go in the coming months when flu and COVID collide. Many of the same symptoms between the two will make it very difficult to know whether to treat kids per COVID or the flu. I hope the flu takes it easy on us as we maneuver the challenges. Please be cautious and not send your student to school if they are not feeling well. It’s hard to believe the end of the 1st quarter is near. The first two months of school has brought many emotions. The balance of determining the safest environment with measured risks and providing a quality education program is wearing on everyone. I have had the luxury of talking with parents of students who have not been affected due to absences related to COVID as well as those who have. The story is very similar from a large majority of them. Our kids need to be in school! I agree with our parents and that is why I have been taking the road much less traveled over the last seven weeks. A person who has not seen the benefit of students attending school cannot understand the impact it has on every aspect of their lives. It continues to be challenging and will be so for in the foreseeable future. That said, I have been committed to providing a full In-Person learning environment because I know it is what is best for our students. Our staff’s ability to stay healthy will be a driving force if students can attend school in person. This brings me to another point. We need substitutes who can report to work during times that staff cannot. The last couple of weeks were the first really difficult days we experienced with the shortage of substitutes. It is not that we have had an enormous number of staff absent, we simply do not have enough substitutes. If you are interested in being a substitute please contact Trish Steelman at 618-635-2962 to express your interest. The qualifications needed to be a substitute teacher in our district is located on our school website. Many districts across the state of Illinois have begun to return to school this month. Remote learning continue to be a challenge for all districts including Staunton CUSD #6. We have just under 200 students currently remote learning district wide. Many of these students are not engaging during the expected times and this presents a major problem. Students who are in remote learning are expected to engage at the times established by their teachers. When this does not occur, many absences and missed work result. Because of the these ongoing concerns I am going to open up school to any Elective Remote learner to return to In-Person learning for the second quarter beginning on October 19th. The administration team and I will minimally impact class sizes, especially at the primary and elementary levels. Our protocols will remain the same as this shift occurs. I ask that only parents wishing to change their child’s educational environment to do so in the form linked below. Please understand this selection will go into effect beginning on Monday, October 19 and will go through Tuesday, December 22. This form must be completed by a parent or guardian by Friday, October 9th at 4:00 PM for each student requesting a change in their learning. For families wishing to CHANGE their current learning environment, please click the following link: https://bit.ly/30iT2MI Lastly, as the year continues to unfold there is a strong need to amend the existing school calendar. The current school calendar in place was designed without COVID in mind. Due to the staggered schedule put in place this school year, and the need for teacher remote learning planning and professional development, the school calendar has been revised. Please review the revised school calendar closely as there are several dates that have been modified and/or changed. Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on October 21st through October 23rd. More information on Parent Teacher Conferences will be coming to you soon from your child's school. You can find the revised school calendar for the 20-21 school year here: https://5il.co/8ndl Thank you for your continuous patience and support. Together we can continue to lead, challenge and achieve. Be careful and stay safe! Sincerely, Cynthia Tolbert, Superintendent