Illini Bluffs Middle School

Veterans Day 2020 Illini Bluffs has a longstanding tradition to honor our veterans through an in-person ceremony and a luncheon. Unfortunately, COVID 19 has prevented us from doing that this year as we normally do. However, we still feel it is important to demonstrate our appreciation of the fine men and women that have afforded us the freedoms we enjoy. Our elementary and middle school students have created cards for our veterans. Some of those cards, upon request, were personalized and mailed to veterans from around the area. Hundreds of other cards were given to the American Legion to be distributed. The high school has been working on creating a video that further recognizes and appreciates our veterans. The video will go live tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11, at 10 am. We will publish the link to the video on our website and social media - please be on the lookout for it.

Illini Bluffs High School students are working hard to collect food for IB Christmas Hope, a local nonprofit that provides Christmas food baskets to IB families in need. If you or someone you know is in need this holiday season, visit the IB Christmas Hope website (ibchristmashope.com) by November 21st to sign up to receive a basket. If you would like to donate to the Illini Bluffs High School Canned Food Drive, contact the high school office. #ibtigerpride

Illini Bluffs High School students are working hard to collect food for IB Christmas Hope, a local nonprofit that provides Christmas food baskets to IB families in need. If you or someone you know is in need this holiday season, visit the IB Christmas Hope website by November 21st to sign up to receive a basket. If you would like to donate to the Illini Bluffs High School Canned Food Drive, contact the high school office.

IBMS November's Important Dates

IBES teacher Tracy Herrmann and IBHS sophomore Autumn Gray, are currently featured on the US Department of Education’s Back to School Success Stories website. Check it out https://oese.ed.gov/tracy-herrman/ and https://oese.ed.gov/autumn-gray/ #ibtigerpride

Dear Illini Bluffs Families, I wanted to share with you some exciting news, to once again thank you for your efforts as parents, and to encourage you to remain vigilant in your efforts to keep our children safe. It has been nearly 9 weeks since we commenced school. I am not sure any of us thought it would go as well as it has. It has been a true team effort at both home and school. Last week, I received a call from the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C. They indicated that they wanted to do a “virtual showcase” of our district in regards to our reopening/return to school plan. Essentially, they wanted to learn from our employees and students and what it took to safely reopen our schools. They plan on using lessons learned to educate other schools that are currently engaged in remote learning but plan on opening soon, for in-person instruction. Frank Brogan, the Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, spent time with a group of students, employees, and parents. He learned about our return to school mitigation strategies, and he conducted a question and answer session. Here is a link to a video that we shared with the Department of Education on our mitigation plan. https://youtu.be/ldKe0dmZYkA Although we have been incredibly fortunate to have made it 9 weeks with in-person instruction with few problems, it could all turn upside down in a very short amount of time. We cannot allow ourselves to become complacent both at home and at school. Flu season is approaching, and dealing with the symptoms of the common flu, which are very similar to symptoms of COVID, are going to make things very difficult and frustrating to deal with. We recently provided flu shots to any employee that desired to get them. I would encourage you to get flu shots for yourselves, and I would encourage you to do the same with your children. Doing so may create an opportunity for your children to remain at school by avoiding catching the flu and showing symptoms at school. We need to continue our practices of social distancing, good hand hygiene, and wearing face coverings. None of us can predict the future, but we need to continue to do everything we can to afford us an opportunity to remain in session, in-person, as long as possible. Thank you for your continued support!

IBHS held an official Community Hour Kickoff last Friday (9/18). Check out this video to learn more about how our students are actively engaging in building and strengthening their communities: https://youtu.be/n08De6FZbNU #ibtigerpride #globalgoals

Lunch Program Update: Dear Illini Bluffs Families, Previously, we communicated with you regarding a program being sponsored by the USDA in which free lunches are being provided through December 31, 2020 or whenever the money for the program runs out. Now that the program is up and running, and we have a better understanding of what meal preparation we are capable of, we have made some changes. Namely, we are now offering a hot entree to every student. Previously, the entree was a cold item. This change seems to have sparked interest by more students by making the meals more appealing. Here are some other advantages to the program: Why you should take advantage of the free school meals being offered.... *It extends your food budget and saves you time on meal prepping *It's comforting and familiar to your kids to have meals at school or at home *It's confidential and not just for low income families *No forms to fill out *You're helping the district's food service program **The USDA is covering the cost of school meals through December 31st, 2020 or until the money for the program runs out. It is for all students 18 years of age and younger. We recognize that some families might not want the free meal, and we are providing you the opportunity to opt out of the program. If you want to opt out of the program, please contact Trudy Heitzman, cafeteria manager, via email at theitzman@ib327.com or by calling 309 389-5025 ext. 7.

The district is planning to plant 20 more trees later this fall. Please consider making a donation to adopt a tree!

Remote Learning Families: Through a program made possible by the US Department of Agriculture, we would like to offer you an opportunity to sign your children up for our FREE meal program. -Daily grab-and-go lunch (with breakfast included for the next day) -Must be picked up daily between 12:30pm and 1:00pm at door #1 (main elementary entrance) -The program will continue until federal funding runs out or until December 31, 2020 – whichever comes first. This program starts Monday, September 14th. If you would like to sign your child(ren) up to participate, please email theitzman@ib327.com or call 309.389.5025 extension 7 by the end of the day this Friday.

IB families - please review this important message from Dr. Alvey in regard to breakfast and school lunches.

We had a great first week! Please click this link to view my letter to IB families - https://5il.co/k8t6

Remember to take time to practice wearing a mask. School resumes next week.

Back to School Message For IB Families Dear Illini Bluffs Families, As the Illini Bluffs District plans for the start of the 2020-21 school year, we are committed to keeping you informed. While there are still some uncertainties regarding what the upcoming school year will look like, we are hard at work to ensure our students continue to have access to a high-quality educational experience, either remotely or in-person. As I reflect on bringing students back for in-person learning, I can’t help but to express my thoughts less from the perspective of a superintendent and more from the perspective of a father of three children that attend Illini Bluffs, and the husband of a spouse that teaches here. As a dad and a husband, I want nothing more than to completely eliminate risk. Unfortunately, that is not how life is, and I also know that risk can only be mitigated. As a superintendent, I realize that I have to keep the safety of my students and staff at the forefront. As a fellow parent, I feel I need to relay information that you would want to know. At this time, we plan to reopen our school buildings, but please understand that the situation surrounding COVID-19 is evolving with time. Regardless of the challenges, we have to be prepared to start the year in-person. We also have to be prepared to start the year remotely. We also have to be prepared to go back and forth between the two. We also have to be prepared to have some grade levels do in-person learning while others do remote learning. We need to be working on childcare options, now, in preparation for all of these options. As we approach the start of school, there will be some modifications to our schedule to prevent large groups of individuals from gathering in any one space. We will also implement physical distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols, health and safety measures, modified meal procedures, and other measures to protect the health and well-being of our students, staff, and families. I hope you also know that things change daily, and sometimes hourly. I believe we are up to 165 pages of guidance now, with more coming. The Centers for Disease Control changes things constantly, as does the Illinois Department of Public Health, as does the Illinois State Board of Education. It is frustrating, as well as difficult, to plan as the target constantly moves, and information becomes contradictory to what had previously been disseminated. Our building principals have been communicating and will continue to do so as plans take shape. You need to be asking questions. We might not have an immediate answer to all questions, and sometimes the answer might not be what you want to hear in all cases. We get it. None of us have been through a pandemic, thankfully. Here are some things relative to mitigation efforts that either have been done or are in the works. There is a tremendous cost associated with most of these safety measures. For anyone that knows me, I am extremely tight with money. I would much rather be spending money on things that benefit us academically. I am relaying the cost to you so that you understand the level of commitment we have to safety: *All employees and students will be asked to self certify that they are symptom free and fever free, daily. More information will follow at a later time as to this process. Temperatures will be taken at primary entryways via machines. *A cloth mask, a transparent mask, and a face shield will be provided to employees. *A cloth mask will be provided to students, but we ask that you have multiple masks available. *Gowns have been purchased for use by the nurse, and as needed in each building. *OSF is being contracted for nursing services, and we are also advertising for nurses within our community who might want to work on their days off. The nursing contract with OSF will be increasing by $21,000 due to additional hours and days worked. We don’t really know what our needs are going to be, and we want to make sure we have subs and additional nurses, as needed. *30 sheets of plexiglass have been purchased at a cost of $6,000 and they are being cut and turned into dividers to be used throughout the complex. *N 95 masks have been purchased to be used by the nurse, and 6 more N 95 masks are being delivered by Seapco, our special education cooperative. *2,000 disposable masks have been ordered. *Touchless hand sanitizer stations have been ordered, and our crew has manufactured 25 hand sanitizer stands to mount them on. The cost for a stand, should we order them, is $150-200 a stand--that is why we made our own. *1 gallon of hand sanitizer per classroom has been ordered at a cost of $1,800. *300 small bottles of hand sanitizer have been ordered at a cost of $1,000. *5 Temperature taking machines have been ordered at a cost of $20,000. *3 backpack electrostatic disinfectant sprayers and 3 handheld disinfecting guns have been ordered at a cost of $7,400. *Sanitizing gel refills and individual bottles for classrooms and offices have been purchased at a cost of $3,400. *Paper towels, spray bottles, and chemicals have all been ordered, beyond what we normally order, at a cost of $3,500. *First aid supplies for classrooms have been ordered at a cost of $500. *Rubber and nitrile gloves have been ordered at a cost of $500. *7 Refillable water fountains have been ordered at a cost of $15,000 (labor and material). *Disinfecting wipes have been ordered at a cost of $2,000. *Signage has been placed throughout the complex promoting social distancing, hand hygiene, mask wearing, etc. *Floors are being marked every 6 feet throughout halls and common areas. 54 rolls of painters tape have been ordered. *35 thermometers, at a cost of $2,100, have been ordered *New classroom furniture is being ordered in some classrooms in order to replace tables with more socially distanced desks, at a cost of $15,000. *Self certification software is being investigated to provide a method of communication and accountability in regards to symptoms and temperature logs. *Return to Work training videos have been ordered by job classification at a cost of $1,600. *Some classrooms have been emptied or moved in order to provide isolation rooms in each building. *Other transparent materials have been ordered or purchased for additional dividers on frames. *Custodial hours are being expanded to provide for more frequent disinfecting and cleaning. Additional employees are being hired for the same purpose. *Excess furniture is being removed from classrooms to provide space. *Each classroom is being provided with cleaning supplies for either employee or student use. *Locker use is either being eliminated or reduced in use, depending on the building. *Lunches are being served as prepackaged items or grab and go items. *The capacity on buses is being reduced to 50. Buses are being equipped with cleaning materials and hand sanitizer. *High touch surfaces in all areas will be cleaned and sanitized with more frequency and consistency. *Some desks are being placed outside for use in outdoor education. *Additional installation of paper towel dispensers in restrooms is being done. *Installation of additional occupancy sensors to reduce or eliminate the need to touch switches is being done. *6 cots (2 per school) have been ordered for the isolation rooms, at a cost of $240. *Elementary classrooms that still had carpeting have had new tile flooring installed which is easier to clean and sanitize. This is a small snapshot of just some of what has been occurring. We look forward to providing a quality education for our students in whatever capacity that might be (in-person or remote), as we move forward. In the last month, I would estimate that I have had 50 community members or more make a comment such as “I would not want your job for anything in the world,” recognizing the magnitude of decisions that I am having to make, the complexity of doing so, and the consternation that those decisions create. I make those decisions, because I want what is best for OUR kids. I appreciate the show of support that has been demonstrated by our community. I also appreciate the cooperation you, as parents, have shown. We need to continue to do whatever we can to support our children at home and at school. We will make it through this. We are TIGERS!

High School Cross Country practice starts Tuesday at 2:30. Meet at the track. Students check your email for more information.

Tips for preparing students to wear a mask.

Good Morning, Late yesterday the IESA reversed its decision and will now allow fall sports including Softball and Baseball to happen. That means Illini Bluffs will have both sports and the tryout schedule is as follows: Softball: Tuesday and Wednesday 9-11 at the Illini Bluffs Softball Diamond. Baseball: Tuesday and Wednesday 4-6 at the Illini Buffs MS Baseball diamond. All students will need a physical on file or bring it with you to the tryouts. Students will also need a mask for those times when they cannot social distance from one another. Each student will have a COVID-19 symptom check including a temperature scan. Also all remote learners will be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities as per ISBE guidelines. If you have any questions please contact the appropriate coach: Softball Coach Jenifer Schafer jschafer@ib327.com Baseball Coach Steve Schafer sschafer@ib327.com

‪The IESA Board of Directors has now reversed their decision and will allow fall sports following Governor Pritzker’s guidelines. IB is planning on having MIddle School Softball and Baseball. Tentatively we will be scheduling tryouts starting Tuesday. More to come tomorrow ‬

Friendly reminder - we would like all families of returning students to register online via TeacherEase by tomorrow. If you plan to home school your child, please let your child's school office know. New students can register at a school office starting August 5th. Registration information website: https://www.illinibluffs.com/o/illinibluffsdistrict/page/school-registration--8

The Illini Bluffs Food Pantry will be closing this Friday in preparation for the upcoming school year. We would like to thank the community for their overwhelming support of donations for the pantry since it’s inception several months ago.