February 4, 2022
Kahok Families,
Winter weather has arrived! Only in the Midwest can we hit fifty-degree temperatures one day and see ice and snow accumulation less than twenty-four hours later. Please be safe in the days ahead as we endure February weather.
The health of our staff and students has improved drastically following three weeks of ½ hour early dismissal to accommodate the post-holiday COVID-19 surge. As a result, the district plans to return to our normal school day schedule on Monday, February 7th. Recent weeks have not been easy for our families, students and staff. We are grateful for the flexibility shown by everyone to adapt.
Beginning Monday, February 7th, following current public health guidelines, the district will resume optional Test to Stay for students who are close contacts to a positive case at school. Updated guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regarding Test to Stay protocols says:
ISBE and IDPH now allow a strategy for close contacts to remain in school following exposure to COVID-19 through a Test to Stay protocol. Following an exposure occurring in the school setting that occurs during the school day (excludes extracurricular activities), close contacts are permitted to remain in the classroom as long as close contacts are tested twice during the period between close contact notification and day 7 after exposure. The last test occurring 5-7 days after last close contact from the date of exposure and all results are negative.
Families whose children are determined to be close contacts will be notified by their child’s school and may choose to participate in the Test to Stay program by scheduling an appointment using THIS LINK. (Please note: the calendar uses Google. If you do not have or want to create a Google account, please call 618-343-2740 x3006 to make an appointment).
February is Black History Month. The CHS Black Student Union created this slide presentation to be shared across the district for all of our schools to use. The interactive presentation includes the “why” behind Black History Month. This year the students focused the month-long celebration around prominent figures in history, including royalty, inventors, pioneers, cowboys, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Negro Leagues, Hollywood celebrities and the Civil Rights Movement. The BSU’s leadership of our Black History Month celebration is an example of the outstanding work our student body produces throughout the school year.
In another example of Kahoks working together to benefit our schools, the CHS Band’s “Stuffed Shells” fundraiser is underway. You can place an order through any CHS band member or by using the email address and payment option listed on the flyer included with this letter. Orders are being taken through Monday, February 7. Don’t miss a great opportunity to purchase stuffed shells, red and/or white sauce – all made with the Vivano family recipes that are famous in our community. The food is amazing and will benefit our tremendous band program district wide.
Don’t let the often gloomy February weather get you down. Activities are plentiful throughout the district right now. Basketball, cheer, dance, bowling, wrestling and pep band are in full swing each week. A great way to break up the winter months is to come out and watch our students compete and perform. Don’t forget to wear your purple and show your Kahok Pride!
Sincerely,
Mark B. Skertich Ed.D.
Superintendent
