News

January 15, 2021

Zoom photo with special guest

This week, students celebrated Nihon Day.  All students viewed a virtual Rakugo (Japanese comedy) performance. We had a special performance put together by Katsura Sunshine, a Canadian professional Rakugo performer.  We are grateful to our teacher leaders, Ms. Komoda, Mrs. Tufexis, Mrs. Abe, and Ms. Kobari and to our 6th grade dual language students for their time and effort organizing this fun and engaging experience for our school.  

Our highlight for today is Mrs. Sanders’ first grade dual language class. We enjoyed seeing how students incorporated ‘The Year of the Ox’ into their New Year’s greeting cards, wrote about their stuffed animals, and had fun celebrating Nihon Day. Room 111 Highlights

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, January 18th.  We are looking forward to seeing our Hybrid Group B students on the 19th and to seeing the rest of our Dooley Dragons on Zoom!

Dooley’s Got Talent…Virtual Edition

Dooley PTA is excited to offer our annual talent show virtually this year!  Please see the Google Form to sign up!  Dooley’s Got Talent Permission Slip & Sign Up

Winter In-Person MAP Assessment

This winter we will test second through eighth grade students using the MAP assessment tool.  The computer-based assessment will be administered to students in person based on the day/time assigned below because we know that the most reliable administration and data point comes when students are tested in person. The purpose of the assessment is to inform teachers of the immediate instructional needs of students. MAP results equip educators with key data to help personalize instruction and pinpoint individual student needs.  

With the testing being in-person on assigned days/times it will be important for the school to partner with families to help this process be as successful as possible.  

Important Details on the Winter MAP Assessment:

  • Students will test in group sizes that maintain a minimum of 6 feet of social distance.
  • Masks will be required.
  • Hybrid students will test on an in-person day.
  • Parents or caregivers of remote only students will be responsible for transporting students to and from school on their testing day/time.
  • Communication to remote students regarding the date and time of the assessment will be coming from the school and sent in the mail.
  • Students will complete both the literacy and math MAP test on the same day. 
  • MAP testing does require great focus and stamina on the part of the students; therefore, on the days your child is testing there will not be any new instruction.  
Monday, February 1st 2nd Grade Hybrid Group A

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2nd Grade Remote Testing Group A

Tuesday, February 2nd 2nd Grade Hybrid Group B

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2nd Grade Remote Testing Group B

Thursday, February 4th 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Hybrid Group A

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3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Remote Testing Group A

Friday, February 5th 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Hybrid Group B

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3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Remote Testing Group B

Remote only students will receive testing group assignments and times in the mail.

District 54 Open Enrollment Fair – January 27

District 54 offers the opportunity for students to be a part of an additional curricular program to give them a unique learning experience outside of general education. Join District 54 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27, for a virtual informational fair to learn more about the registration, application and acceptance process and timeline, transportation and the assignment of schools. Representatives from each school will also briefly introduce their programs. Open Enrollment Fair Zoom Link

In the weeks following the virtual fair, each school will have at least two additional informational sessions where you can learn more about that specific school, it’s culture and curriculum and also take a virtual tour of the school. You will have the opportunity to talk to the principal and staff members.

  • Dooley Virtual Chat, Session 1: February 10th @ 9:00 a.m.
  • Dooley Virtual Chat, Session 2:  February 17th @ 2:00 p.m.

Students must be registered at their District 54 neighborhood school before they can be accepted into an open enrollment program. Registration opens on February 3, 2021. Open Enrollment applications are available at sd54.org/openenrollment and are due by March 5, 2021.

Schaumburg Oyanokai

SO will be hosting a children’s read aloud in Japanese for Dooley students!  Please join our Zoom at 7:00 on Wednesday, January 20th. Following the story, SO will welcome a Dooley alumni student to share their experiences in the Where are they now? series.  We hope you can join us!  SO will have their monthly meeting at 8:00.  All are welcome!

Kindergarten Registration

District 54 will hold kindergarten registration for the 2021-22 school year by appointment only starting Wednesday, February 3, 2021.

Families must begin the process by completing an online registration (starting January 25th) prior to securing an appointment.

If you have a student currently enrolled in District 54, you can register your incoming kindergartener through your Parent Portal account.  Families new to District 54 can register through the link on our website (http://sd54.org/registration). 

Once your online registration is complete, you will be contacted to schedule your in person appointment to complete your student’s registration. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 847-357-6250.

Return to Hybrid

We are looking forward to welcoming students back to school in person next week. Students enrolled in hybrid learning group A meet on Mondays and Thursdays.  Group B meet on Tuesdays and Fridays.  On the other three days of the week, your child will attend school remotely, Zooming into their classroom. The first day of on-campus attendance group A is Thursday, January 21st. The first day of on-campus attendance for group B is Tuesday, January 19th. 

In preparation for that day, we encourage you to review the updated District 54 Reopening Plan, check out our website at sd54.org/reopeningd54 and watch the Back to School video with your children. 

Also, please take a moment to review the important information below. Thank you for your support in keeping our students and staff healthy.

Temperature, Screener, and Face mask graphic with information

When Someone is Sick

Any individual who shows any signs or symptoms of illness must stay home. Anyone who begins to exhibit a fever or COVID-19 like symptoms while at school will be sent to the school nurse. Students will wait in quarantine rooms until they can be picked up from school. Students in quarantine at home who feel well may transition to remote learning.

Individuals may not return to school until they have met the criteria outlined in the District 54 Exclusion Chart.

List of Covid symptoms

Positive COVID-19 Cases

Any individual who tests positive for COVID-19 or who shows any signs or symptoms of illness must stay home. Please report possible cases of COVID-19 to your school so that we can initiate contact tracing and notify others who have had close contact.

Before returning to school the student must

  • Complete the minimum quarantine time period of 10 days after their first test date if asymptomatic or 10 days since the onset of their symptoms;
  • Be symptom free and fever free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication; and
  • Provide a Release from Isolation letter or other form of communication from the local health department releasing them from quarantine. If unable to obtain a letter, your child may return if they have been excluded from the minimum required quarantine period and they are symptom free. 

Arrival/Dismissal Procedures:  Parent Information_ Hybrid Arrival_Dismissal.pdf 

Please have your child(ren) line up in the classroom location assigned. As a reminder, students must maintain a distance of 6 feet apart and be wearing a mask.  There are painted yellow lines already spaced out for distancing. We ask that you please do not stand with/next to your child so that we can adhere to safe social distancing protocols while waiting to come into the building. Parents should not proceed past the red perimeter in the attached map.  Students will be welcomed in at 8:30, with a staggered entrance procedure. Students should not be on school property prior to 8:25.  At the end of the day, students will exit the same door they entered.  If there is inclement weather, we will begin opening the doors at 8:25.

Each day of hybrid learning students must:

  • Wear a mask when on school property.  Please attach to  the orange lanyard that was provided
  • Bring an additional clean mask in their backpack each day.
  • Charge devices each night
  • Bring devices and chargers
  • Students in grades 3-6 should bring their headsets
  • Complete the emailed screener prior to boarding the bus or coming to school (MANDATORY)
  • Have the green screener card attached to their backpack
  • Bring a lunch and labeled water bottle (please note, we ask that parents do not drop lunch off at school but rather send it with your child in the morning
  • Have your child dress for the weather…hats, gloves, coats, snow pants and snow boots!

Library Books

Students returning to hybrid learning should plan to return any school library books.

PTA Yearbook Help

Our Dooley PTA would like to start working on options for a yearbook for the 20-21 school year.  We are looking for some volunteers to help with this committee.  If you are interested, please respond to this email.

Reporting Student Absences

Parents, please call the office at 847-357-6250 or email Mrs. Lancaster ([email protected]) and Mrs. Mitsuno ([email protected]) to report your child’s absences.

Wednesday, January 27th

As we take off into a brand new year, we’d like to invite you all to join us on D54 Airways as we embark on yet another asynchronous day for our students!  Come Fly With Us! We are excited to share The Great D54 Paper Airplane Challenge with all of you!   Your boarding pass will allow you access on the morning of January 27th to the site and the activities created for our students.  Our school will also have a padlet where students can share a picture, post or video of their work from the day. The interactive link for activities will be sent by your child’s teacher on the morning of Wednesday, January 27th.

The Great Paper Airplane Challenge Graphic

Upcoming Reproductive System Unit for Intermediate Students

Our fourth, fifth, and sixth grade families will be receiving a pre-recorded link to the Reproductive System webinar on Friday, January 29th. This link will be available through Friday, February 5th for your viewing.  This webinar will provide you information around the Reproductive System Unit that includes sexual education material. This webinar will be accompanied by a Frequently Asked Question page to support the materials our intermediate students will be receiving soon.  If your child did not receive this unit last year due to the pandemic, an in depth review of last year’s information will also be provided.  

Important Dates

January 18th:  Non-Attendance Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 19th: Hybrid Group B on Campus

January 20th:  Schaumburg Oyanokai Children’s Read Aloud and Where are They Now @ 7:00 Zoom ;  Meeting @ 8:00  Zoom

January 21st:  Hybrid Group A on Campus

January 27th:  Student Asynchronous Half Day: Come Fly With Us!; Virtual Open Enrollment Fair @ 7:00 p.m.

February 6th – 19th: PTA Virtual Book Fair

February 11th: Half-Day, No School in Afternoon, Student Led Conferences

February 12th:  Non-Attendance Day, Student Led Conferences

February 15th: Non-Attendance Day, Presidents Day