Butler SD 53 News
As the weather is becoming more stable, the cadence within our family and home is also stabilizing. School end-of-year activities are beginning to take shape. You see it within our district and on news reports from across the country. These events and rites of passage are different than what we could ever have imagined.
Research shows that movement provides physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral benefits to our bodies. Movement helps us to reset and recharge when our bodies have been sitting and focusing for too long. It not only helps children get the “wiggles out” but energizes them and increases their ability to focus for the next activity.
Dear Butler School District 53 families and staff, My topic of this week's communication is our appreciation for “you”. You wear many hats as you balance your new routine, your job, parenting, as a caregiver, and teacher. As we all navigate and adjust, remember to take care of “you”.
While we all may have suspected it was coming, the recent extension of the stay-at-home order can make it challenging to maintain a positive mindset for the coming weeks. In addition, not having an end in sight for when we can “return to normal” can make us feel overwhelmed and uncertain about the future.
Dear Butler School District 53 families and staff, As we are still digesting last week's order of suspending in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic school year, yesterday there was a new gubernatorial direction extending the stay-at-home order through May 30.
As we all try to adjust to this new normal, week to week, it is so important to remember to live in the key of BALANCE. This school year has not ended, although we must adjust our daily expectations. No, we do not get to go to school and see our teachers and friends, but it is not a lost school year. We have much to learn and discover during this time.
Dear Butler School District 53 families and staff, As you’ve likely seen in the news, today Governor Pritzker has ordered all public and private K-12 schools to remain closed for the remainder of this academic year. The Governor’s decision is in the best interest of our students, families, and staff. My heart aches for students and staff who will not be together to finish out the school year.
One of the most helpful things you can do to support your child at home during this uncertain time is to Establish Healthy Routines. While so much in our lives is unpredictable at this time, we can try to make some things predictable for our children. Setting up a daily schedule that outlines predictable routines can help to reduce stress and conflict at home.
The Butler School District 53 Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the proposal for an e-Learning program recommended in lieu of emergency days, for implementation district-wide commencing school year 2020-2021.
Dear Butler School District 53 families and staff, I hope that as parents/guardians and students, you were able to use this last week as a much needed “family break”. Our teachers were grateful, able to recharge while devoting time to their families, and are now ready to take the remainder of the year full-steam ahead.
In light of the unprecedented closing of schools across Illinois and the move to digital learning as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Butler District 53 Board of Education reviewed and approved a plan for e-Learning at its March 16 meeting. e-Learning for District 53 students officially began March 17, 2020 and will continue over the next two weeks. Spring break is scheduled the third week, March 30-April 3.
Dear Butler School District 53 families and staff, As Spring Break is here and we come to a close on our second week of e-Learning, I want to express how proud I am of our students and families. Along with keeping a continuity of learning traditional subjects, our students are learning a vital life skill: Resilience.
The Board approved the 2020-21 school calendar at its meeting on March 16. The first day of student attendance during the next school year will be Aug. 24, 2020 and the last day will be June 4, 2021. Emergency days are scheduled from June 8-14, 2021.
Dear Butler School District 53 families and staff, As Governor JB Pritzker announced today, the state of Illinois is on a mandated “Stay-At-Home” order commencing Saturday, March 20, at 5:00PM. Furthermore, the statewide closure of schools has been extended to April 8th.
Dear Butler School District 53 families and staff, The recent decision to close schools, first across the county and then across the state is an unprecedented measure. With the absence of confirmed COVID-19 cases in DuPage County, we have been responding to this crisis as if our community already has a substantial outbreak.
Dear Parent or Guardian, We would like to inform you that an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for controlling insects, rodents, and weeds will be used at Brook Forest Elementary School and Butler Junior High School. We have contracted Orkin, a reputable national provider of IPM services to schools, to provide this service at our schools. Weather permitting work is scheduled to proceed at both schools on March 16, 2020.
Dear Butler School District 53 families, In addition to the suspension of non-essential District gatherings of 250 people or more, the following mitigation efforts go into effect tomorrow, Friday, March 13th until further notice:
Dear Butler School District 53 families, We have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among students or staff in Butler School District 53 at this time. We are aware of local area school districts deciding to cancel after-school activities and to close school altogether.
Do you know what Genius Hour is? Would you like to be a fly on the wall during student competitions? Do you wonder how teachers keep up with all that technology? Learn these answers and more by reading the District newsletter, mailed to each homeowner this week.
Dear Butler School District 53 families, As the global outbreak of COVID-19 evolves, the most important thing for schools to do now is plan and prepare. I want to keep you updated and reassured that Butler School District 53 continues to be diligent in what needs to be done to keep our students and staff safe.
Dear Butler School District 53 families, Butler School District 53 understands heightened concerns from the community regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and its potential impact on the health of our students, staff, and families.
Registration for students entering kindergarten next fall will be held in January on the following dates. Registration for students new to first grade will also be held at the same time.
It was billed as the “Largest, ‘Small” Art Show” where students could create any artwork they wanted, in any medium but with one guideline. It could not be bigger than 4-inches by 5-inches.
The Fall District 53 newsletter to the community has been mailed to our constituents. Check out stories on test scores and how Butler students rank No. 1 in math and reading together compared to schools in 18 comparable school districts.
The window for the 2019-20 parent/guardian version of the Illinois 5Essential Survey is open.