Superintendent Dr. Brian Wegley's Weekly Update - April 30, 2021

Superintendent Dr. Brian Wegley's Weekly Update - April 30, 2021

Dear District 30 Family,

I hope that you had a great week and found time to enjoy the improving weather. As we wrap up April together, we continue to appreciate your partnership throughout this year. Our primary grade level students are helping to carry us to the end of the year with their “alphabet countdown,” and today is D. We have reasons for optimism and gratitude. We have partnered through this year, successfully educating our kids and demonstrating how to handle adversity. I continue to be incredibly thankful for every member of our family’s commitment, perseverance, and civility. 

Included below are a few notes as we continue this journey together:

Registration: Our 2021-22 School Year will officially begin for students on Thursday, September 2, 2021. Registration has started, as has our planning for next year. Once the Student Learning Status forms have been completed for each student, we will take our next step in planning for next year. To assist us with our sectioning and planning, please be sure to submit at least the first registration form, Student Learning Status for the 2021-22 School Year, for each student by May 7. Thank you to everyone who has already shared this essential information.

Please note that all Northfield Township Schools are seeking student status (in-person or remote) to explore options for supporting any needs that exist. Families that need to select the remote option (Due to medical reasons, my child will be unable to attend school in person next year, and I would like to receive more information about additional options for remote learning) will receive ongoing follow-up communications from our district as plans are being developed. Please feel free to reach out to your building principals with any questions regarding the Student Learning Status for the 2021-22 School Year form or about registration.

Ending this School Year Well: We continue to work on exciting year-end plans for our in-person and remote students that include:

Maple

8th-Grade party on May 19

Virtual Variety Show and live-streamed awards ceremony on May 26

8th-Grade Graduation at Glenbrook North’s Athletic Stadium on May 30 at 6:00 p.m. 

Wescott & Willowbrook

Combined 5th-Grade Celebration at Willowbrook on Thursday, May 27 from 11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. with Zoom event from 2:15 - 3:00 p.m.

Willowbrook: 5th-Grade Promotion Ceremony on Wednesday, June 2

Wescott: 5th-Grade Promotion Ceremonies at Maple on May 25 and 26 during school & a Video Celebration on Wednesday, June 2 (due to WS construction)

Thank you to our staff for their work and our PTOs for their partnership and commitment to these events! Look for more information from your schools.

June 1 & June 2

Students will have a full day of school on June 1 with student release at 9:35 a.m. at Maple and 10:00 a.m. at Wescott and Willowbrook on June 2. This mirrors our usual calendar practice. Early student release on June 2 supports staff in packing up rooms to relocate 5th-grade back to our elementary schools as we also prepare for this summer’s Wescott and Willowbrook construction.

Looking Ahead to 2021-22: As we continue to plan for full in-person learning in the fall, our excitement for next year continues to grow. We anticipate a return to more normal operations. We are optimistic that COVID-19 rates and risk will be dramatically reduced in the fall and expect a return to students rotating through their classes, along with a resumption of athletics and activities accompanied by recommended mitigation measures.

Our Elementary Capacity Project continues to go well. Our community will begin seeing wall construction over the next two weeks at Wescott. This additional classroom capacity will ensure that we will return to daily in-person instruction for all students in the fall, with Willowbrook serving pre-K through 5th-grade, Wescott serving K through 5th-grade, and Maple returning to serving only grades 6 through 8.

Teacher Appreciation Week & Nurse’s Day: Next week, we celebrate all of our educators in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week. Please take a moment to reach out to our educators with an appreciation for all they have done this year. They are most deserving of our gratitude.

Nurse’s Day also falls within next week on Thursday, May 6. All of our nurses have done an exemplary job getting us through this year! Please help me share our appreciation for Katie Weissler, Lisa Mullen, and Kelly Walsh for all of their efforts and guidance!

Board Meeting: Thank you to Ursula Sedlak for her eight years of service to District 30 and her guidance as our Board President over the last two years. Welcome and thank you to Dr. Stephanie Yohannan, who was sworn in with returning Board Members Keith Karchmar and Jeff Zuercher. Thank you and congratulations also to Nancy Artz and Jeff Zuercher, who respectively take over as Board President and Board Vice-President. Please read more about the meeting in the April 29 Board Brief. 

School Support: Please don’t hesitate to reach out for help through our teaching staff if and when the need arises. Remaining connected and accessing the many resources in our community is a strength. 

I look forward to continuing our partnership as we care for our students and each other. Have a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,

Dr. Brian K. Wegley
Superintendent