SCHOOL OPENING UPDATES: East Aurora, Central D301 And Geneva Start Aug. 31
LAST UPDATE: AUG. 27
- Editor’s Note: This article is based on searches of Kane County public school district websites and is updated weekly. Information has been changing rapidly, so be sure to click on the links provided below to find the most up-to-date information directly from your student’s school district. As always, if you are aware of updated information not mentioned here, please email kanecountyconnects@gmail.com.
Three Kane County public school districts will start classes on Aug. 31 — East Aurora School District 131, Central School District 301 and Geneva School District 304.
East Aurora is all remote, Central has a hybrid plan and Geneva offers a choice or remote, in-school or a combination.
How is school going so far for the other public school districts?
School District U-46 had some challenges with Zoom on Day 1, and other school districts are making slight adjustments and announcements as they adapt as they go. So far, we have seen no notifications of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Here’s a summary of what’s posted on school district websites — but we emphasize that the situation can change quickly. Please click the links below for updated information directly from your school district:
- East Aurora School District 131 — First day of school Aug. 31. Remote learning through Nov. 3. Click this link to read the reopening plan 2.0. (Updated Aug. 11)
- West Aurora School District 129 — School started Aug. 24. Remote learning through Oct. 30. View the 2020-21 reopening plan.
- Batavia School District 101 — School started Wednesday, Aug. 19. Onsite: Elementary Crimson students and other students in specialized programs. Remote: all other students. Read the Restore BPS101 Plan. Click here to see Plan Updates.
- Central School District 301 — First day of school Aug. 31. Elementary students will attend school for half days five days each week. Middle school and high school students have a hybrid plan that includes in-school and remote learning. Click this link to read the Reopen School plan.
- Geneva School District 304 — First day of school Aug. 31. In-person learning with A-B schedule and online-only learning option. Click this link for the Back Together page.
- Kaneland School District 302 — First day of school Aug. 20. Hybrid model of A-B days, with expanded options for remote learning. Read the Aug. 6 update.
- School District 300 — First day of school Aug. 17. Changed to all remote learning for the first quarter. Click here for the D300 Back To School Update Center.
- School District U-46 — First day of school Aug. 24. Distance Learning through Oct. 9. Click here for an update on the 2020-21 reopening plan.
- St. Charles School District 303 — First day of school Aug. 19. A-B schedule with options for remote learning. Click here for the D303 Reopening plan.
School Opening Information
Below is a list of Kane County public school districts as well as colleges and universities. Click on the link in each school district header to find the most recent information.
East Aurora School District 131
East Starts Aug. 31 — All Remote Through November
East Aurora School District 131 will begin the 2020-21 school year for all students with remote learning on Monday, Aug. 31.
A special 30-minute “Remote Learning PREVIEW Day” will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28. Families will receive PREVIEW Day instructions through email on how students can make a first connection with their teacher, as well as try out their device.
Remote learning schedules for all grade levels, preschool through grade 12, are posted online. Students at all grade levels are expected to log in and make connection with their teachers five (5) days a week, for at least a portion of the day.
Breakfast and lunch meal distribution began on August 24 and will continue at five (5) school sites, as well as at bus stops throughout the district. See the complete school site and bus route locations.
Remote learning for all grade levels comes as District 131 responds to the coronavirus pandemic in a manner that prioritizes health and wellness of students and staff.
Remote learning is scheduled to continue through Nov. 3.
West Aurora School District 129
Virtual Learning Starts Aug. 24
WE CAN DO VIRTUALLY ANYTHING!
Monday, Aug. 24, was the first day of virtual learning for students in School District 129.
As a reminder, a portion of each day will be synchronous while other portions will be asynchronous.
Synchronous learning is learning that happens at the same time for the instructor and the learners, meaning that there’s real-time interaction between them (typically via Zoom). Asynchronous learning applies to tasks that students complete on their own (or in small groups) with limited interaction with the teacher.
At the middle and high school levels, synchronous and asynchronous learning will depend on whether it is a red or a blue day, whereas elementary students will have the same schedule on red days as on blue days.
If you are looking for more information in regards to the start of the 2020-21 school year, please go to the website by clicking on the link below!
Batavia School District 101
Batavia Classes Under Way
Aug. 25, 2020
Now that school has started, you may be wondering about any changes to the plan or the calendar.
The leadership team continues to meet weekly to monitor guidance, assess local conditions, and make changes to the plan as needed. At this time there are no changes.
Any changes to the modes for learning (remote, Crimson/Gold hybrid, everyday) will be determined by the leadership team and communicated to the entire BPS101 community. The Board of Education has approved the 2020-21 calendar for the days that school will be in session.
Secondary families may also be wondering about the plan for allowing additional students to access in-person learning. Both RMS and BHS are working on a process to allow priority groups of students to return. These plans will be communicated directly to the impacted families.
In the meantime, BHS and RMS have item pick up days scheduled for students to access the schools.
Central School District 301
Central Changes To Half Days
Aug. 25, 2020 Update
We are preparing information to go out to our families to better detail what school will look like this year for both remote-only and hybrid students. We expect to have these letters to our families tomorrow.
We have mailed student pre-certification slips, lanyards, and clear pouches to students participating in hybrid learning. Watch your mail for these important items. As a reminder, all students attending school in-person must have a signed pre-certification slip in order to enter a school bus or building.
We have put together another parent resource to support our families going into this school year. This Parent Resources page is linked here. Included on this page are building tours, tips for supporting your students and more.
2020-21 School Year Details
At the Board meeting on Aug. 17, 2020, the board approved a change to the elementary alternating schedule for the 2020-2021 school year. Instead of attending school in person two full days a week with the other three days remote, students will instead attend school for half days five days each week.
Students with last names beginning with A-K will attend school from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and students with last names beginning with L-Z will attend school from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. When not participating in face-to-face instruction, students will participate in remote learning at home.
With this change, lunches will not be served. All specials (art, physical education, music, health) will be completed during remote learning, in addition to students working on homework to reinforce skills taught during the day, activities to reinforce their learning or projects to show mastery of understanding.
The district is moving forward with the hybrid plan for middle school and high school schedules. Students with last names beginning with A-K will attend school full day on Mondays and Thursdays, and will be remote learning on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Students with last names beginning with L-Z will attend school full day on Tuesdays and Fridays, and will be remote learning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Geneva School District 304
Geneva Starts Aug. 31
Learning Plan Overview
- The first day of school for K-12 is now Monday, Aug. 31.
- The first day for Geneva Early Learning Students is Wednesday, Sept. 2.
- The updated 2020-21 School District Calendar is on this page.
- The A/B In-Person Learning Schedule can be found on this page.
Click this link for the Back Together page.
Kaneland School District 302
Kaneland Doing OK With A Day, B Day, Since Aug. 20 Start
Aug. 23, 2020
Dear Kaneland Families and Staff:
Congratulations to everyone that has helped to make the first two days of this school year a success for our Kaneland students including our A Day, B Day, and Remote!
The administration and staff have been reviewing and adjusting all processes and procedures along the way. When adjustments can be made, they are. We will continue to make necessary modifications to ensure that our students have the opportunity to learn in the most effective manner possible.
The purpose of our message today is to provide families with some important reminders:
Self-Certification – Thank you for meeting the daily self-certification requirement, it is very helpful to reduce the number of students that are screened on-site. When a student is pre-certified each day, our staff is able to more quickly ensure that students are on their way to their classrooms. The self-certification procedures may be found here.
School Lunch Information – When you send your student with a lunch for school, please pack as many disposable items as possible. Hopefully, this is only temporary, as we are aware of the environmental impact of garbage. Also, if you are eligible for a free lunch, please encourage your student to pickup a lunch for their application days. All students at the MS and HS may also purchase lunch for application days on the days they are at school. 100% remote students that are eligible for a free lunch may pick up their lunch on Mondays and Thursdays between 9 and 11 a.m. at Kaneland HS or Kaneland Harter MS.
Application and Remote Learning Days – We are asking all parents to refrain from engaging in classroom activities and discussions during an on-line session. We do appreciate parents helping their students with any technical challenges. By refraining from helping students while they are on-line, the teachers will be able to better assess the knowledge and skills of each student, as well as build independence with our learners. As always, we appreciate your continued support of your student with any and all assignments while off-line.
We are asking that parents be mindful of the home environment when students are participating online. For example, families should make every effort to dedicate a quiet space with appropriate lighting in the home to be used as their learning area.
Also, younger siblings (non-school age) should be encouraged to allow their older sibling (student) to engage in school work during the school day. Elementary parents may find these parent support videos helpful.
Lastly, we are asking that each student complete their application work on the application day that it is assigned for them to complete. In order for the Hybrid model to work, students must be able to complete work when they are not at school on their application day.
There is no need to complete an attendance form for the hybrid application day. Attendance is taken through the work completion. If your child is ill on an application day and unable to complete the work, please call your child into the school office on that application day.
Thank you for your support with these three requests!
School District 300
Remote Learning Is Under Way
School District U-46
Distance Learning Began Aug. 24
St. Charles CUSD 303
District 303 Learning In Person And Remotely
Parents and students now have to fill out a self-certification form to attend classes.
In-Person Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic is a modified school day with a modifiedschedule where face masks and social distancing in classrooms and throughout school buildings are required by ISBE and IDPH.
When asked if their child would attend in-personlearning, with their understanding of pandemic circumstances at the time of the survey, 74% of parents indicated that their children will attend or are likely to attend in-person learning.
Full Remote Learning
Full remote learning is taught by a district certificated teacher through a district provided technology device. Students will receive all instruction online and will not attend school in person.
It is a comprehensive learning model with a focus on core academic areas. Lessons may be delivered in real-time or recorded to provide opportunities for review and asynchronouslearning.
As part of the return to school survey, 12% of parents indicated that they would not send their children to in-person school in the fall. In order to accommodate families who believe that an online option is best for their child, full remote learning will be offered to families who wish to option on a semester-by-semester basis.
Common to both in-person and remote learning are regular attendance, assignments, grading and feedback. Students in both settings will receive a meaningful educational experience focused on their academic knowledge, skills, and competencies.
Families who wish to change from in-person to remote learning can fill out this form.
