Cass63 Connections 5.13.21

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

Earlier today, Governor JB Pritzker announced that we are entering the "bridge phase" of the Illinois reopening plan. Assuming that we avoid a spike in cases, the state could fully reopen as early as June 11. This is wonderful news for many people as more of the population is fully vaccinated. According to IDPH data, more than a third of the state population is fully vaccinated and over 60 percent of the general population and 85 percent of senior citizens have received at least one dose.

The Illinois positivity rate is around three percent, which is consistent with our current data in Darien and Willowbrook. These are the lowest rates in quite some time as the impact of the vaccine takes hold. Obviously, we will continue with our current mitigation efforts for at least the remainder of the current school year not only to do our part to limit the spread of COVID, but also because vaccines are not yet available to children.

The good news is that in the coming days, the FDA is expected to approve the Pfizer vaccine for youth as young as 12 years of age. This will be wonderful for many of our junior high age students and families. Recent news reports also indicate that Pfizer expects to have a vaccine ready for children between the ages 2 and 11 by late summer. Hopefully, other manufacturers will also be in the mix. This is something we will monitor carefully.

In the event there is any specific information I can share from the DuPage County Health Department or other local health providers regarding potential vaccine opportunities for children, you will be the first to know. If feasible and timely, we might even make that happen right here in Cass School District 63 as a convenience to our parents who wish to have their children vaccinated. Obviously, this is something you should discuss with your child's pediatrician in advance, but the vaccine for children is coming. I share all of this good news with our eye on two things: (1) not letting our guard down so that we keep COVID out of our schools, and (2) looking forward to a much more normal 2021-22 school year.

On the first one, please keep up the great work! Our numbers are at the lowest they have been for quite some time and this is because we have kept COVID out of our schools and also because of the effective mitigation efforts we have in place. I have asked local health officials repeatedly and at this time, there is no allowance for reducing the 14-day quarantine period for a close contact. As I have shared, this is not our rule and we have no choice but to enforce it until this particular guidance changes for unvaccinated people. In addition to doing the right thing for public health, keeping our students in our schools is a really good reason to keep household symptoms and close contacts out of our schools.

On the second item, our leadership team and staff is making plans for next year and we will monitor the ever (and quickly) changing health guidance in the coming weeks and months. There is no question that we will probably need to continue some of our mitigation efforts, but that will depend on health guidance at the time and we fully expect and plan to have 100 percent of our students in school. There are no words to describe how much we are looking forward to that and I will keep you posted on this as we move forward.

Until then, thank you for the excellent cooperation with keeping our kids safe and in school. Please reach out with any questions or concerns and have a wonderful weekend!

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

In recent communications, I have shared some of our concerns with being able to staff the Before and After School Experience (B.A.S.E.) program next year. I've discussed this with our Board of Education as well as several parents who have asked questions along the way. I welcome those questions and we are fully aware that before and after school care is important to some of you, which is why I wanted to share additional details at this time.

First and foremost, returning the B.A.S.E. program is a top priority for this fall, if we can offer a safe and properly staffed program. I have been sharing this with you to be transparent with the concerns, but also to see if any of you are able to assist (more on that below). This issue has not arisen from a lack of desire, effort or planning, but a matter of staffing. While we have had some core people run this program in the past, they had indicated over a year in advance that the current year would be their last. We have started planning for the change since last fall, but the vast majority of our employees cannot work the additional hours in a program like this.

Why is this the case? It is for the same reasons most people can't, as our employees also have their own busy lives with their families, child care issues and other schedules and jobs which extend far into the B.A.S.E. schedule. This impacts their ability to start the day at 6:45 a.m. or work after school hours until 6:00 p.m. Do we have staff willing to work? Yes, we do, but not enough and we need people who are able to commit to administering the program on a daily basis. Running this program is far more complicated than rounding up some paid volunteers and keeping our eyes on a few kids.

We are fully aware that our district has offered this program for a number of years and it is our goal to continue to do so. Having said that, times have changed, people are very busy and staffing is always a challenge. We want to offer this program as a service to you as parents and will continue to work toward making that happen, but I cannot make any promises and I would rather tell you that sooner rather than later. So again, we could use your help.

Our weekly messages reach hundreds of households and over a thousand parents, but to date we have had absolutely no interest from the greater school community. I apologize that our link was not accessible to everyone before, so here is the 2021-22 B.A.S.E Employment Interest Form if you are interested or would like to share this with others. We are also extending the deadline for anyone to express interest to next Friday, May 7. Please also feel free to contact either me or Gayle Wilson at 331-481-4000, or email Gayle at gwilson@cassd63.org. Due to the unique nature of the program schedules and work hours, we are not posting this as an employment vacancy but all anyone interested needs to do is complete the simple form above and we will reach out.

In addition to the opportunity given to parents to find community interest in working in the program, I have also been in contact with the Darien Park District to consider a partnership, and they are facing the same staffing issues we are. We are also open to other community partnerships, and I am in the process of researching outsourcing the program to a third-party entity. We will continue to explore options and will communicate with you as we go forward.

I hope this helps address some of the questions, but never hesitate to contact me if you would like to talk. In the meantime, we will continue to seek potential solutions and continue to do whatever we can. Your suggestions are welcome. Take care, have a great weekend and thank you for your support.

COVID-19 Dashboard

Our COVID-19 Data Dashboard reflects numbers for the previous two weeks, as well as the cumulative information for the 2020-21 school year. We have had a great week, which is testament to you and your diligence and cooperation in keeping your children at home when they are exhibiting symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. We hope that it is also a trend that we continue to see in keeping our community numbers flat as more of our population is vaccinated.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

We are in that final stretch of the school year with the sun shining brighter and the days getting warmer. Our staff in Cass 63 is working hard to finish the year positive and strong, and I truly appreciate the diligence many of you have shown this past week with keeping kids home when household symptoms arise, or close contacts are potentially in the mix. Thank you for working on this together!

I know there have been questions about the guidance as it pertains to the time a student is out due to a close contact. The DuPage County Health Department has stated that we must maintain a 14-day exclusion period for any close contacts at school and there is still no way to test out of this. Also, school guidance does allow for 3 feet of distance between students while at school, but still defines close contacts as “within 6 feet of a confirmed case of COVID-19… beginning two calendar days before the onset of symptoms (for a symptomatic person) or two calendar days before the positive sample was obtained (for an asymptomatic person).”

As a result, it is still a 14-day exclusion for any close contact to a positive case, with the close contact still defined as within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more over the course of the day. Students with symptoms and no close contacts can return to school after receiving a negative RT-PCR test and remaining symptom free for 24 hours. In the absence of a negative test after the onset of symptoms and assuming no close contacts, it is a 10-day exclusion from school. There is some allowance for a 10-day return to learning if schools are assuring the 6 feet of social distancing, but we are not with the high percentage of students in person in Cass 63. Otherwise, nothing has changed with this guidance since the beginning of the school year.

In addition to the obvious health and safety reasons, this is why I will continue to emphasize the importance of keeping any potential close contacts out of the school setting. It is very disruptive for both students and families when kids have to be out for such a long timeframe. We want our kids at school every day and it is beyond frustrating when we have to exclude anyone, but these are not our rules. As a school district, we need to maintain this policy until such time the guidance is adjusted. When that happens and we can make a change, you will be the first to know!

I hope this helps clarify the exclusion guidance, but never hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all. I’m easy to find and happy to talk to you. Thank you!

Last Call! B.A.S.E. Staff Needed to Offer Program Next Year

To date, interest in working the B.A.S.E. program next year has been very limited and at this time we do not have enough staff to run the program. In order for the district to make a decision about the future of this program, we need to know if you are interested in the possibility of working B.A.S.E. no later than this Friday, April 23. Please complete the 2021-22 B.A.S.E Employment Interest Form if you are interested. If you have any questions, please contact Gayle Wilson at gwilson@cassd63.org.

Save the Date! 8^th Grade Graduation June 3

Please mark your calendars for 8^th grade graduation, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 3. We have been working with our staff and some parents on creating a great experience for our 8^th grade students at the end of the year, including graduation. While there are things we can do and things we can’t during the pandemic, what we are doing is thinking outside of the box and in the end we think it will be more memorable for our kids and our parents, because that is what graduation is about. Things will be different, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be awesome.

What we are not going to do is be dependent on perfect weather and then be forced to change to something that excludes family and friends from being a part of this moment. Also as some people have asked, the Hinsdale South stadium is not an option due to construction and renovation that begins immediately after the high school graduation in mid-May. More information will be shared with 8^th grade parents soon!

CARE Dine to Donate – Every Wednesday at Broosters

For the month of April, Broosters Char-Broiled Chicken is participating in the CARE Dine to Donate by donating 20% of the day’s sales back to our schools! Don’t miss your opportunity to take a night off of cooking and benefiting your child’s school at the same time.

CARE Spring Plant Sale - Ordering ends April 23

This is your last chance to take advantage of the CARE Spring Plant Sale. Ordering closes on April 23. Curbside pick-up is scheduled for Saturday, May 8. This is a wonderful way to support CARE while also taking care of your Spring gardening all at the same time.

COVID-19 Dashboard

Our COVID-19 Data Dashboard reflects numbers for the previous two weeks, as well as the cumulative information for the 2020-21 school year. We have had a great week, which is testament to you and your diligence and cooperation in keeping your children at home when they are exhibiting symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. We hope that it is also a trend that we continue to see in keeping our community numbers flat as more of our population is vaccinated.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

While there are so many things to be proud of this year, one of those things is how hard our teachers, administrators and staff have worked to keep our students safe at school throughout the pandemic. This has always been our greatest priority and we continue to have zero known cases involving the spread of COVID-19 in the school setting.

With a high percentage of students at school, this continued success will require everyone to maintain great vigilance over the remaining seven weeks of the school year. The best way our parents can assist with this is by keeping your children at home if there are any COVID-19 symptoms in your household, or if there is a possibility of any recent close contacts, travel or other risky behaviors. When in doubt, our standard is a negative RT-PCR test result.

Unfortunately, a negative test result does not supersede a close contact to a positive case. People who have been vaccinated or who have been identified as a confirmed positive case in the previous 90 days are the exception to the current exclusion guidance. We know it is frustrating when children have to quarantine as a result of a close contact and we share that frustration here at school, so the best way to avoid this situation is to keep any risk outside of the school setting.

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation with not only keeping people safe and healthy, but also keeping our students in school where they belong. I know you understand that we don’t make the rules when it comes to health protocols, but we will continue to follow the guidance. All we ask is that you do the same and we will finish the year strong!

Thank you and as always, never hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

6th Grade Parents - Advanced English Language Arts Enrollment

As we prepare for the 2021-22 school year, we are considering placement for our incoming seventh grade students in an Advanced English Language Arts Class (ELA). For more information on the Advanced ELA Class and how to submit your interest in having your child be enrolled in this class, please see Advanced English Language Arts Information. 

4th Grade Parents - High Math Information and Enrollment

In preparing for the 2021-22 school year, we are considering placement of our incoming 5th grade students in our high math program. More information can be found here, along with an opportunity to let us know if you think your child would qualify for this program.

B.A.S.E. Staff Needed to Offer Program Next Year

Cass School District 63 has offered a before and after school child care program for many years Over the past few years it has become increasingly difficult to staff the program and while we would love to continue to offer this opportunity for our families, we cannot do so without the necessary staff. If you are interested in working the Cass 63 B.A.S.E. program, please complete the 2021-22 B.A.S.E. Employment Interest Form by Friday, April 23. If offered, the B.A.S.E. program will run Monday through Friday every day school is in session from 6:45 a.m. until school starts and after school until 6:00 p.m.

2021-22 Registration Coming Early May

We greatly appreciate your patience as we work to update our registration process. While we had planned to do so sooner, we expect to open online registration for the 2021-22 registration by the first week of May. If you have any questions, please contact the District Office at 331-481-4000.

CARE 2021-22 Supply Kit Orders

CARE is selling School Supply Kits for the 2021-22 school year. Order information and more details are under the link. Thank you to our wonderful CARE organization for offering this opportunity for our parents and families!

CARE Spring Plant Sale

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to plan your garden and help support CARE and the students of Cass School District 63! CARE is holding its annual Spring Plant Sale, but ordering is closing soon on April 23. Curbside pick-up is scheduled for Saturday, May 8. Please see the CARE Spring Plant Sale flyer for more information and the opportunity to order your plants by next Friday!

COVID-19 Dashboard

Our COVID-19 Data Dashboard reflects numbers for the previous two weeks, as well as the cumulative information for the 2020-21 school year. To help ensure that there is no spread of COVID-19 at school, we ask that our parents report any symptoms and positive close contacts immediately and if there is any possibility that your child has been a close contact to someone who has COVID-19, please keep them at home.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

I hope you had a great spring break as a family, and your kids enjoyed a little time away from school! Education is important, but so is time together as a family.

This past Tuesday, local school board elections were held. Congratulations to Board Vice President Kent Absalonsen, who retained his seat on the Board with another four-year term through April 2025. Mr. Absalonsen was originally appointed to the Board in 2015 and has now won subsequent four-year terms in 2017 and 2021. Also congratulations to Dr. Rinku Patel, who was officially elected to fill an unexpired two-year term. He was appointed to the Board in November to replace Brad Carrino, who moved out of state with his family last fall. And finally, congratulations to Steve Wyent and Urszula Tanouye! Both Mr. Wyent and Ms. Tanouye were elected to four-year seats, with terms running through April 2025.

Mr. Wyent and Ms. Tanouye will replace Michael Ockrim and Jeff McCollian, who both decided not to seek re-election. Mr. Ockrim served two full terms after originally being elected to the Board in 2013, but this time decided to pursue election as a Downers Grove Township Trustee. Mr. Ockrim's election was successful, and we wish him the best in his new role! Mr. McCollian was appointed to the Board in 2015 and was elected in 2017. Mr. Ockrim and Mr. McCollian gave 14 years of total service between them and we truly appreciate their effort and time to the Board, school district and community.

The next Board of Education meeting will be held on April 27, at which time the Board of Education will take their Oath of Office and those newly elected will become official members. The meeting is one week later this month to accommodate the legal timelines for swearing in and transitioning with the new Board. At this meeting, we will also recognize Mr. Ockrim and Mr. McCollian for their service, as well as Mr. Carrino who plans to join virtually. The meeting will be held in person in the Cass Junior High School gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.

Thank you to all of our Board members for their outstanding service, both in the past and as we go forward. I have no doubt that we will make a seamless transition for Cass School District 63 as we all work together to maintain the focus on our children and keep this wonderful school district moving forward. Please let me know if you have any questions at all. 

6th Grade Parents - Advanced English Language Arts Enrollment

As we prepare for the 2021-22 school year, we are considering placement for our incoming seventh grade students in an advanced/accelerated English Language Arts (ELA) class.

Here is detailed information and a parent survey for the Advanced ELA class and how to submit your interest in having your child be enrolled in this class.

Thank you!

4th Grade Parents - High Math Information and Enrollment

In preparing for the 2021-22 school year, we are considering placement of our incoming fifth grade students in our high math program. Here is more information and a parent survey, which includes an opportunity to let us know if you think your child would qualify for this program.

Interested in Working the B.A.S.E. Program Next Year?

Cass School District 63 has offered a before and after school childcare program for many years. In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to staff the program and while we would love to continue to offer this opportunity to our families, we cannot do so without the proper number of staff. If you are interested in working the Cass 63 B.A.S.E. program, please complete the 2021-22 B.A.S.E. Employment Interest Form and we will follow up with you. The B.A.S.E. program would normally run Monday-Friday every day school is in session from 6:45 a.m. until school starts and after school until 6:00 p.m.

Help Wanted in Cass 63!

We are currently looking for full-time teachers and teacher assistants for next year, a part-time substitute nurse and either substitute or part-time bus drivers for the remainder of this year. Please visit Career Opportunities in Cass 63 for more information or to apply for any of the positions.

COVID-19 Dashboard

Our COVID-19 Data Dashboard reflects numbers for the previous two weeks, as well as the cumulative information for the 2020-21 school year. With students returning from Spring Break and the potential for exposure elevated from recent trips and activities, it is very important that parents report any symptoms or any close contacts to the school immediately to help avoid an outbreak in the school setting. Your cooperation in reporting has and will continue to have a positive impact on our school community.

CARE Dine to Donate at Broosters

Every Wednesday during the month of April, Broosters Char-Broiled Chicken in Darien is offering 20% of your order back to CARE. Please remember to mention this fundraiser or provide this Dine to Donate flyer in person when ordering.

CARE Spring Plant Sale

Spring is here and it is the perfect time to start planning your garden. CARE is holding its annual Spring Plant Sale. Ordering is open now through April 23 with curbside pick-up on Saturday, May 8. Please make sure to see their Spring Plant Sale flyer for more information and the opportunity to order your spring plants.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

Spring Break Travel Recommendations

Travel increases the chances of spreading and contracting COVID-19, particularly for unvaccinated people when travel takes place in higher risk locations. The CDC currently requires testing of all international travelers before they enter the United States.

Utilizing CDC Travel Guidance, the school district strongly encourages parents to have all family members tested three to five days after travel AND stay home for seven days after travel. If no test is pursued, CDC guidance states that it is safest to stay home for 10 days after travel. The remote option will remain available using these timelines after travel to provide seamless instruction while the child is at home and while parents watch for symptoms and obtain testing results.

These are not requirements, but recommendations for parents to seriously consider as you look at how and where you are travelling as a family. As a reminder, the school district does require that parents self-report any COVID-19 symptoms, exposures, and positive test results to the school district staff immediately. Thank you!

Spring Break Schedule Reminders

As a reminder, there is no live instruction on Friday, March 26. Spring Break is Monday, March 29 through Monday, April 5 with students returning on Tuesday, April 6. Please note that students will be in person the week of April 6, Tuesday through Thursday and remote on Friday. Here is the current school year calendar in case that is helpful.

Last Chance - Eighth Grade Diploma Information Needed

Eighth grade parents, diploma information is needed for your student if you have not already submitted the information. Please email Ginny Hirhager at vhirhager@cassd63.org and let her know the name you would like printed on your child’s diploma (i.e. Jonathan Smith). We only ask that no nicknames be used and the deadline to submit the name for your child’s diploma is Friday, March 26.

Junior High Track & Field Registration

Parents who have not already done so, please complete the Track & Field Survey prior to the first day of participation. Also, your child must have a current IESA Pre-Participation Physical Examination completed and on file in the Cass Junior High School office prior to the first date of participation.

Cass 63 is a Nut Free District

With more students back in the buildings this week, we have noticed some of our students have been bringing lunch items that include nuts. Please help us to keep all of our students safe and avoid sending food items that include nuts of any kind, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. For the health and safety of all, we appreciate your cooperation!

COVID-19 Dashboard

Our COVID-19 Data Dashboard reflects numbers for the previous two weeks, as well as the cumulative information for the 2020-21 school year. With more of our students back in school, it is critically important that students in households with symptoms or potential close contacts remain at home to prevent any potential spread of COVID-19 at school. We will help our parents navigate this, and when in doubt with symptoms, we highly recommend PCR testing to not only identify COVID cases, but also to safely bring our students back to school when the test results are negative.

Help Wanted in Cass 63!

We are currently looking for full-time teachers and teacher assistants for next year, a part-time substitute nurse and either substitute or part-time bus drivers for the remainder of this year. Please visit Career Opportunities in Cass 63 for more information or to apply for any of the positions.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

School Reimagined 3.0 Approved

Earlier this week, the School Reimagined 3.0 Return to Learn Framework was approved by the Board of Education. The content is unchanged from what was provided to parents previously.

Board Briefs

The Board of Education held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 16. For those interested, the Board Briefs include a summary of what takes place at each meeting.

Daily Parent COVID Certification Required

Parents, please be sure to check your children for symptoms each morning and follow through via our parent certification process. There will be some adjustments to the electronic certification form to make it easier to complete and if possible, we appreciate you doing so by 7:15 a.m.

Bus riders must have the completed paper symptom certification form upon boarding the bus each morning. This takes only a couple of minutes at home and you know your child’s health situation better than anyone. Thank you for keeping our kids safe and supporting our office staff by getting this done each day!

Bus Routes and Stops

As previously communicated, at this time we are no longer able to make bus route additions or changes. If parents wish to decline the bus after learning of your child's pick up and/or drop off location and time, please contact the school office. Otherwise, no further action is needed on your part.

As a school district, we are not obligated to provide transportation unless it is over 1.5 miles from your child’s school, or if a child would have to cross what is approved as a serious safety hazard by the Illinois Department of Transportation when a crossing guard is not available. Many districts do take care of this with a crossing guard on busy roads and still do not provide a bus for those students.

In Cass 63, we provide a transportation opportunity for all parents who prefer this for what amounts to a nominal daily fee. Our changes are minor and our routes are still far more inclusive than what most school districts are able to provide. We truly appreciate everyone’s understanding for this final change of this unusual year.

With spring sports coming back to Cass after Spring Break, we also wanted families to be aware that we will no longer be able to provide an activity bus. If your child will be participating in an after school activity, please be sure to make arrangements for your child to be picked up on practice days at 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise communicated. Thank you!

Cass Junior High School Soccer and Track & Field Registration

We are asking for parents to register their children and complete a short survey to participate in Soccer or in Track & Field. Please complete the appropriate form prior to tryouts or the first day of participation. 

Track & Field Registration 2020-21

Girls & Boys Soccer Tryout Registration 2020-21

Please remember that in order for your child to participate, your child must have a current IESA Pre-participation Examination Form. The form must be turned into the Cass Junior High School Office prior to tryouts or first date of participation.

Reminder - Eighth Grade Diploma Information Needed

Attention all eighth grade families! Diploma information is needed for your student. Please email Ginny Hirhager at vhirhager@cassd63.org and let her know the name you would like printed on your child’s diploma (i.e. Jonathan Smith). We only ask that no nicknames be used please. The deadline to submit the name for your child’s diploma is March 25, 2021.

COVID-19 Dashboard

Our community numbers continue to remain low. As we gear up to welcome students back into buildings, we count on the continued parental support with the self-reporting of any symptoms, potential close contacts or travel, social or other activities to help these numbers remain low. Our COVID-19 Data Dashboard reflects our numbers for the previous two weeks, as well as the cumulative information for the 2020-21 school year.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

Included in tonight’s Cass63 Connections is the final draft of the Return to Learn 3.0 Framework. Any significant changes are highlighted in red, and I hope what is included answers most if not all of your questions. We remain on track to implement 3.0 on Monday, March 22. As I shared before, most of this is straightforward, but you know that your questions are always welcome.

Reach out anytime to your children’s teachers, principals or me if you need anything at all. Thank you and have a great weekend!

Return to Learn 3.0 Starts March 22

The Return to Learn 3.0 Framework is available here and explains everything parents should need to know. Please contact us with any questions at all!

Accessing Your Child's Report Cards

As you know, the 2^nd trimester ended last Friday. Hard copies of report cards are no longer being sent home. In order to check your child’s progress and see their report cards, follow these instructions and let us know if you have any questions!

Eighth Grade Diploma Information Needed

Attention all eighth grade families! Diploma information is needed for your child. Please email Ginny Hirhager at vhirhager@cassd63.org and let her know the name you would like printed on your child’s diploma (i.e. Jonathan Smith). We only ask that no nicknames be used and the deadline to submit the name for your child’s diploma is March 25, 2021.

Cass Junior High School Spring Athletics

Cass Junior High School will be offering Boys & Girls Soccer and Track & Field this spring. In order for your child to participate, please make sure your child has a current IESA Pre-participation Examination Form. The form must be turned into the Cass Junior High School Office no later than April 6 to be eligible to participate and the form must be dated no more than 395 days prior to April 6, 2021. Please contact that Cass School Office at 331-481-4020 with questions.

Cass 63 is Hiring!

Long-Term Substitute Part-Time Nurse – Cass School District 63 is seeking a part-time substitute school nurse through the close of the 2020-21 school year. The hours and work schedule are flexible and will be negotiated with the final candidate. The qualified candidate must be a Licensed Registered Nurse with a Bachelor's Degree or above. Qualified individuals should complete an online application for consideration.

Teacher Assistants – Cass School District 63 is multiple Teacher Assistants for the 2021-22 school year. The qualified candidate must hold, or be willing to obtain, a Professional Educator License to serve as a Teacher Assistant.

Bus Driver – Cass School District 63 is seeking a part-time Bus Driver. The qualified candidate must possess a current passenger CDL/Bus Driver license with no moving violations.

Please see the career opportunities page on the District’s website to apply for any of these positions.

Daylight Savings Time

Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour this Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 2:00 a.m.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

Not only are we finalizing our planning for Return to Learn 3.0, but we are also developing new bus routes both for this spring and next year, planning spring activities, reviewing student assessment data, getting ready for fall registration, determining 2021-22 school year staffing needs as well as a host of other things. While this year has brought forth many challenges, we couldn't be any more excited about the opportunities before us and the bright future that lies ahead in Cass School District 63.

As explained below, no later than Tuesday, March 9, I will be providing parents with the details of our 3.0 plan that will go into effect on March 22. While I wanted to provide this to you this week as planned, we need to give our staff and Board of Education a chance to review this in more final form behind the scenes before it is shared publicly. Having said that, most of it will be pretty straightforward and any changes will be highlighted so that it is clear to you.

As far as we are concerned, March 22 can't come soon enough! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all. Have a wonderful weekend!

Reminder - Second Trimester Ends March 5

The second trimester ends tomorrow. In next week’s Cass63 Connections there will be information on how to view your child’s report cards, so please watch for that information.

Staff Vaccination Schedule

It's a great day in Cass 63! We are very excited that all of our staff who wanted the vaccine will be receiving their second doses today, tomorrow or Saturday. While we have made every effort to plan for this with the timing of the doses, we ask for reasonable parent flexibility in the event we have some staff out with the number of people being vaccinated and potential side effects. We have tough people in Cass 63 but it certainly impacts people in different ways! Hang with us and we will do whatever we can to make it all work.

Four Day In-Person Schedule Begins March 22

Plans are being finalized for moving our students to four full days of in-person learning starting on Monday, March 22. Superintendent Mark Cross will provide district parents with the updated School Reimagined 3.0 Framework no later than Tuesday, March 9. The updated document will show any changes from the current plan. While feedback will be welcome, everything remains on track for the new schedule to begin in just over two weeks.

Part-Time School Nurse Needed

Cass School District 63 is seeking a part-time substitute school nurse through the close of the 2020-21 school year. The hours and work schedule are flexible and will be negotiated with the final candidate.

The qualified candidate must be a Licensed Registered Nurse with a Bachelor's Degree or above. Qualified individuals should complete an online application on the Career Opportunities section of the District’s website to apply.

2021-22 Registration Coming Soon

Prior to spring break at the end of March, the school district will be providing online registration information for the 2021-22 school year. As most school districts already do, Cass School District 63 will now require annual proof of residency for each child at the time of registration. This will be explained to parents in detail when registration information is provided.

Spring Break March 29 - April 5

As a reminder, students will be on spring break beginning Monday, March 29 and continuing through Monday, April 5. The last day prior to spring break on Friday, March 26 will be an independent learning day for students with no live instruction due to a planned school improvement day. School will resume on Tuesday, April 6. Please refer to the updated 2020-21 district calendar for any clarification of attendance days for the remainder of the school year.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, 

It is wonderful to have the snow melting and the sun shining! With the hope of spring just around the corner, we are also very excited about having our students at school for more in-person instruction. Several updates on our Return to Learn 3.0 planning follow, but much more information will be shared later next week.

In the meantime, never hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns at all. Have a great weekend!

No School February 26

As a reminder, there is no school on Friday, February 26 due to a planned teacher institute day. This is our last school holiday until spring break. We hope our students enjoy the nice day and weekend and we will see everyone again on March 1!

Second Trimester Ends March 5

Next Friday we will be completing the second trimester. Look for an email from your child’s school in the week or so following the close of the trimester informing parents when report cards are available for viewing.

Return to Learn 3.0 Begins March 22

We are on track with our planning to commence with our Return to Learn 3.0 Framework on Monday, March 22. The key change in the schedule is combining our in-person students into one group who will now be in-person full days Monday through Thursday, while continuing to maintain each Friday as a remote learning day. Full remote learning remains available for any families who prefer this option.

In terms of overall numbers, around 14 to 15 percent of our students are planning to be fully remote for the remainder of the school year. This does not include students who are absent on a given day, or any students who may be self-quarantined or isolated at a particular time.

As we speak, we are working on changes with the bus routes as well as planning for layered mitigation measures at school. Our leadership team and staff will continue to work through these details and keep you updated as we go forward. This will include highlighted and clear changes to our 3.0 Return to Learn Framework.

Important - IDPH Travel Guidance

CARE Dine to Donate at Dell Rhea's

Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket is supporting CARE for their Dine to Donate March event. Anytime during the month of March, Dell Rhea’s is giving 10% back to CARE. Please be sure to read the Dine to Donate flyer for information on how to make sure that 10% of your order gets donated back to CARE.

CARE Fannie May Fundraiser - March 1-15, 2021

Spring and Easter celebrations are right around the corner and here is a perfect opportunity to fulfill your candy needs and support CARE at the same time. The Fannie May Spring Fundraiser runs from March 1-15 so please make sure you get your orders in before time runs out.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,

Board Briefs

The Cass School District 63 Board of Education meeting was held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Please review the Board Briefs to get updates on what was discussed at the meeting.

Updated 2020-21 School Year Calendar

With the plan to bring students back to school four days a week starting March 22, please review the updated 2020-21 School Year Calendar. This reflects the new in-person attendance schedule, as well as several changes with in-person attendance days on certain Fridays.

Prekindergarten Screening - March 5

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,

First of all, thank you for the great responses so far to the School Reimagined 3.0 Parent Survey. We have about 55 percent of our kids accounted for which is wonderful, but it also means we have 45 percent to go by noon on Monday. There is no problem if you are taking more time to think through your decisions as a family, but the first story below contains the link to the survey should you need it. It is very important that we get full participation, so we will send out a couple of reminders whether you need them or not!

The questions and comments are also very helpful in our planning. Please know that we are unable to respond to all of the inquiries in the survey individually but will follow up as needed at the appropriate time. There are also bigger themes within the questions that are helpful for areas where I can communicate better. As much as we try to be totally transparent and provide all of the necessary details, with something of this nature there will always be questions we did not foresee, or details that need to be better explained.

As a result, I am planning to send out a Supplemental School Reimagined 3.0 Communication on Friday, February 12. In this communication I will answer additional questions and items that have come up including, but not limited to, the preschool and kindergarten schedule, the current blended versus proposed four-day schedule, remote Fridays and spring sports and activities.

I hope you will find this helpful as we do whatever it takes to communicate openly and honestly with you, as well as take your feedback and constructive comments to heart and do the very best that we can for your children. One of many things I have learned in all of this is that there are as many opinions as there are people. Our choice has been to embrace those opinions, be open and transparent with you, and continue to focus on what is best for our students while keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Please watch for the supplemental 3.0 communication tomorrow, have a great weekend and most importantly, don’t forget your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day!

Thank you!

Mark R. Cross, Superintendent

Reminder! School Reimagined 3.0 Survey Due Monday

Community Corner

Please see links below for information regarding three upcoming virtual seminars: 

Indian Prairie Library presents Race and Restorative Justice

Glenbard Parent Series presents Shaun Derik - Being T.H.E.R.E. Five Ways to Engage Young People

Glenbard Parent Series presents Tara Westover – Educated: A Memoir 

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,

Tonight I am excited to share with you that we have been working nonstop on plans for increasing the amount of time our in-person students will be here at school. Of course this is something we have wanted since day one, along with doing our part to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and local community. This has included a robust plan that has never once compromised the health and safety of our students, staff and families.

No plan is perfect, but I will stand our teachers and staff up to any district anywhere. They have not only kept everyone safe but have done so while providing the full curriculum for our students in personas well as for our remote learners at home. As a school district we also wanted to push for the full academic growth of our students, and of course we can never put a price on the importance of the social and emotional growth of our children. This is why we have never stopped planning, and the latest part of that effort has led to a wonderful next step in helping bring our students back for more time.

While we are not seeking any recognition, you should be proud to know that Cass School District 63 has led the charge in bringing COVID-19 vaccines to the vast majority of the employees in several local school districts. We appreciate Hinsdale High School District 86 acting as the host site and the collaboration and effort among local superintendents along with our partner provider Osco has been outstanding. As a result, 1,800 local public school educators are getting their first dose of the Moderna vaccine over the course of the next three days!

I share this wonderful news because it has been part of our deep work behind the scenes, and we believe this is going to help us get to the next step. In the introductory letter of our original School Reimagined Return to Learn Framework, I said that the overarching and uncompromising theme is the health and safety of our students and staff, along with the flexibility to change and adapt quickly and safely to any situation. I also said that the framework would continue to be updated as needed based on health guidance and things we learn along the way.

We have indeed learned a great deal and are at a point in which we can continue to maintain this high level of health and safety, while also adapting to what is before us. We are working collaboratively with our teachers and staff to take the next step to School Reimagined 3.0. The original 1.0 was the remote framework to open the first month of the school year, 2.0 is the blended and remote option where we have been since the middle of the fall, and 3.0 will potentially offer a significant amount of additional time for in-person learning.

We have to work through many details with our wonderful staff and more information will be provided in a separate message to parents next week, including potential schedules and timelines. To help us get there, we will be conducting a very important parent survey in which we will need your participation. This will be similar to the surveys we conducted last summer. The potential details of School Reimagined 3.0, along with the parent survey, will be provided to you via email no later than Tuesday, February 9.

As a result of this effort, we are not going to issue the third trimester survey at this time. In last week's Cass63 Connections, I referenced bringing our students back with more time and this next week I will be able to provide the details and timelines that will provide clarity and direction as we move toward School Reimagined 3.0. Please watch for the details and survey, and I will continue to communicate with you as we go forward.

We truly look forward to working with all of you on these next steps toward a very bright future. As always, thank you for your support of our students, staff and schools.

Mark R. Cross, Superintendent

Coming Soon! Important Parent Communication and Survey

Help Wanted! Full-Time Custodian

Cass School District 63 has a vacancy for a full-time custodian at Cass Junior High School. The normal work hours will be Monday-Friday from 1:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. and the expected salary is $15.00 per hour, plus competitive benefits and insurance. Qualified individuals should complete an online application for consideration. The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, February 12.

Prekindergarten Screening March 5

Concord Elementary School will be conducting Prekindergarten Screening for children aged 3, 4 and 5 on March 5, 2021. If you are interested in having your child participate in this screening, please go to Prekindergarten Screening for more information and learn how to registration.

Kindergarten Registration

If you have a child (or know of another child living within District boundaries) that will reach the age of five (5) before September 1, 2021, please go to Kindergarten Registration for more information on how to register for Kindergarten.

Concord Elementary School Yearbook Order Reminder

Time is running out to get your child’s copy of the 2020-21 School Year Yearbook. If you have not already done so, please visit here for more information and the order form. The final deadline for orders is Thursday, February 25.

CARE Dine to Donate at Cozzi Corner

CARE is hosting a Dine to Donate event at Cozzi Corner Hot Dogs February 3-7, 2021. Please make sure to bring a copy of the Cozzi Corner Dine to Donate flyer with you when you go. We hope to see you there! 

Hinsdale South High School Boosters Drive-Thru Barbeque

If you are looking for a great way to support your child’s future school, the Hinsdale South High School Boosters will be hosting a Drive-Thru Barbeque on February 23. For more information on the event and how to order, please visit Drive-Thru Barbeque.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,

The month of January has quickly flown by, and we continue to be very pleased with the effort and success of our students and staff here at school, as well as our students working hard at home with their supportive parents. The constant challenges of the world in which we live has been particularly difficult for so many families, just as it has presented so many challenges here at school and at home. I have said a thousand times how proud I am of the cooperation and effort SO MANY people have put into making this year so successful in Cass 63, despite the endless challenges we face.

Having said that, we know it is far from perfect and until all of our kids are back in school all day every day, it's not going to be. We are fully aware of both the academic and social emotional impact of all of these decisions as we work through this. This is why getting our students back for more time is something we deem as essential, and of course we must do so safely and responsibly. Can I provide any specific timelines yet? No, and I don't think it would be responsible to speculate yet on dates, but there are several reasons I am so optimistic.

First of all, there is nothing that all of us in Cass 63 want more than to have all of our kids here at school. Whatever we do, we must do it right and continue to achieve total success in limiting the spread of COVID in our community, as we have all year long. Also, the move into vaccination Phase 1b combined with the cooperative effort of local school district leaders with the vaccine rollout for our staff, however long it takes, will be a huge step forward in this regard. Finally, in Cass 63 we know how to set goals, put together a thorough and responsible plan and work together cooperatively to make it successful.

The bottom line is I want you to know that we are always planning ahead on how best to get there without compromising the health and safety of our students and staff. Right now, our focus is on getting the vaccine lined up for our employees as soon as possible, and this is already moving forward. I will continue to communicate with you on all of this, but today I simply wanted to reiterate how important it is to have our kids in school.

Your support, kindness and willingness to work cooperatively with us is probably the biggest part of our success. Let's keep this positive momentum going as we look forward to a very bright future.

Mark R. Cross, Superintendent

COVID-19 Data Dashboard

The COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated to reflect the current numbers within the school district. Once again, we continue to have great success with the outstanding effort with self-reporting and keeping symptoms and potential cases outside of our schools. To see the most up to date COVID-19 data ...  

Third Trimester In-Person Election Survey Coming Soon

Very soon, the school district will be providing parents of students who are fully remote the opportunity to opt in to in-person blended instruction for the third trimester which begins March 8th. This will take place through an important survey, which will have a deadline of noon on Friday, February 12th. This will allow time for us to plan for any changes to class assignments, schedules, bus routes and also to help ensure that we are able to continue to provide a healthy and safe environment here at school. As a reminder, parents may opt in to full remote instruction at any time, but fully remote families who wish to switch to in-person instruction must do so at the trimester. Also, due to current social distancing requirements, we cannot promise preferences for which cohort days (Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday) or mornings or afternoon for prekindergarten and kindergarten. More information and details will be provided soon!

Help Wanted! Full-Time Custodian

Cass School District 63 has a vacancy for a full-time custodian at Cass Junior High School. The normal work hours will be Monday-Friday from 1:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. and the expected salary is $15.00 per hour, plus competitive benefits and insurance. Qualified individuals should complete an online application for consideration. The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, February 5.

Cass Junior High School Picture Retake Days

Picture Retakes will take place for all students on Wednesday, February 24 and Thursday, February 25. Please see the picture retake schedule to find your child’s specific date, time and instructions.

CARE Winter 2021 Snowman Challenge

Do you wanna build a snowman? At a time when it is difficult to find new and unique family time, CARE has come to the rescue with a fun Winter 2021 Challenge! Check it out, and we can't wait to see what your families create together!

Spirit Wear Sale Sponsored by CARE

With kids back in school, now is the perfect time to update your children’s spirit wear. If you are interested in purchased spirit wear for your children, now is your chance. CARE is currently sponsoring a Spirit Wear sale and you can order here.

Indian Prairie Public Library Presents Ignite Change Programs

Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien is hosting three upcoming programs: (1) Virtual Screening: The Long Shadow; (2) Conversation with Frances Causey, Director of the Long Shadow; and (3) Race & Restorative Justice: A Conversational Approach to a Challenging Topic. For more information, please go to Ignite Change Programs.

4H Youth Development

Serving DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties, 4H has lots to choose from for your children to help keep them engaged and involved. From Robotics to Bee Keeping, there may be something here for your children to enjoy.

Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,

We are very excited to be moving into Phase 1b of the vaccination distribution process. This includes people 65 and older as well as those who qualify as “frontline essential workers”. Among many others, this includes the dedicated teachers and staff that work in our schools.

School district superintendents have been tasked to work together in securing a vaccine provider and making this happen locally as vaccines become available. I am excited to share that local school district leaders have made incredible progress already in this regard. It is too early to share details and much work remains locally with our own staff as well as our neighboring school districts, but I wanted to share this good news with you.

While the vaccine supply is still very limited relative to the population that needs access, we remain positive of the progress as we start to see a light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel as it relates to the pandemic. As always, I will share more information with you as this progresses, as well as any longer-term impact this could have on the educational setting.

Otherwise, we have a number of other updates for you this week. There are no words to describe the joy in having our children here at school, and we ask that you please continue to follow the health and safety guidelines that remain in place at this time. Thank you for your cooperation, and please reach out if you have any questions or need anything at all!

Mark R. Cross, Superintendent

Reminder - Daily COVID Certification Required

To ensure the safety of our students, staff and families, one of our strict requirements is making certain that everyone at school is free of COVID-19 symptoms, and has not been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or is suspected of having COVID-19, starting from two days prior to the onset of their symptoms or, if they are asymptomatic, from two days prior to their positive test date until they are isolated.

Parents of children riding the bus to school must complete the COVID-19 Symptom Paper Certification Form. Assuming your child is free of symptoms, the form should be completed and turned in upon boarding the bus each morning. For children walking or riding to school with parents, parent certification should be completed through the Electronic COVID-19 Symptom Parent Certification Form, which will be provided in an email link to parents at 4:00 a.m. the morning of each in school attendance day for their children.​

COVID-19 Data Dashboard

The COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated to reflect the current numbers which have not changed significantly since the last update before winter break. To see the most up to date COVID-19 data ...  

Board Briefs - January 19, 2021

The Board Briefs are highlights from the most recent Board of Education meeting. This is provided as a quick and timely summary to keep our staff, parents and public informed of the key items that were discussed or acted upon. Here is more information from the January 19, 2021 meeting.

Congratulations Mr. Sniegowski!

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Robert Sniegowski, who has served faithfully as the Cass Junior High School for generations! After more than 40 years of dedicated service...

Concord Elementary School Pictures January 26 - 28

Concord Elementary School will be holding Picture Days for the 2020-21 school year next week beginning on Monday. Here are the additional details, schedules and ordering information.

Concord Elementary School Yearbook Order Reminder

Despite the pandemic, we are excited to still be offering yearbooks at both schools this year. If you are interested in purchasing a Concord Elementary School Yearbook but have not already done so, please visit here for more information and the order form. The final deadline for orders is Thursday, February 25. 

Last Chance...Dine to Donate at Chuck's!

CARE is hosting a "Dine to Donate" event at Chuck’s in Darien each Wednesday during the month of January! Simply order from Chucks on any Wednesday this month, and be sure to show them the Dine to Donate flyer either on your phone or printed copy when you pick up and Chuck's will give up to 20 percent of the sales back to our schools through CARE! #caresupportslocal

Parenting in the New Age of Anxiety

Cass School District 63 is fortunate to have a thriving community with many opportunities for additional growth and education for our students and families. Parenting in the New Age of Anxiety from the Glenbard Parent Series Presents is one of those opportunities in case you are interested.