Letter to Families and Staff 8.28.2020

Letter to Families and Staff 8.28.2020

Dear Butler D53 Families and Staff,

It’s Friday. This was the first week of school for the record books. Were there bumps in the process? Yes. Did we learn from them, correct them, and continue to move forward? YES! Were there triumphs and vibes of excitement to return to school from both staff and students? YES! Whether your student is in-person, a parallel remote learner, or you are a staff member - feel accomplished. This way of schooling is uncharted territory for all stakeholders involved. But again, we continue to move forward in educating our students in the most efficient, effective and safe way possible; beyond all limits.

Let’s talk tech: It will be further communicated on the building level, but I would also like to make special mention and communicate an emergency phone number for technical issues. Please use this direct line to the tech department in the event of a technical emergency: 312-857-5617. Furthermore, for staff and in-person learners, we have tech personnel on-site at both buildings from 8:00AM through the end of school day. 

As a closing comment, please read below an excerpt from the correspondence that I received from the DuPage Regional Office of Education (ROE). It echoes my sentiments and I could not have written it better:

As we get on our marks and start this new school year, remember that it's a marathon, not a sprint. And because the race course is a new one, you'll need to rely on your training, your experience, and your instincts.

After her first day of remote learning, one teacher had these wise words to share: "This year is an opportunity to press the reset button in education. We have an opportunity to improve transparency between school and home and build stronger partnerships with parents and the community. Teachers are working so-so hard right now to do what is best for their students, and in my experience today, our dedication is paying off. Yes, I’m exhausted. Yes, I’m sad I don’t get to see my kids face to face. Yes, I’ve still got a lot to learn. Yes, I’m anxious about what tomorrow brings. But I’m hopeful for what the future holds." [D53 in-person - we are seeing our students face to face!]

In a time when divisiveness rules our country, let's stick together. Let's encourage one another and champion each other. Together, we can do this!

Enjoy a well-deserved break this weekend. I look forward to Monday as we continue our cadence in providing our students with the strong academic foundation they deserve.

Sincerely,

Dr. Paul O’Malley
Superintendent of Schools