Important Third Trimester Information

AM/PM Schedule to Begin February 22

As we began the process of developing a reopening plan for this unprecedented school year, we focused on the following guiding principles:

1. Maintain the health and safety of all students and staff.
2. Provide meaningful and engaging learning experiences for all students.
3. Address the social-emotional needs of all students.
4. Provide clarity, consistency, and stability for all students and staff.
5. Provide ongoing professional development for staff to address the learning needs unique to the time.

As our year has progressed with our Blended A/B schedule and Full Remote options, we have identified areas for improvement utilizing staff and parent feedback. While we have made subtle adjustments throughout the year, we believe at this time we must transition to an AM/PM schedule Monday-Thursday to better meet our students’ educational needs.

The core reasons for making this change are as follows:   

• Students will have daily interaction with teachers.
  • Parent and staff feedback indicated that students’ “off days” are simply not productive. 
• Students will have a more structured daily schedule and routine. 
  • Parents reported in the parent survey that more structure was needed in their child's week.
• Students will have increased weekly instructional time.
  • Our AM/PM schedule will increase instructional time from ­­­530 minutes to 930 minutes per week for Parkside students and from 500 minutes to 840 minutes for Northview students. Given the amount of lost instructional time since the Pandemic began last spring, this increased instructional time is critical. Note: Instructional minutes are based on two days per week (A/B schedule), not the four days per week that some students may currently be attending.
• Students will have daily contact with peers.
  • We are very concerned about the impact that the Pandemic has had on our students socially and emotionally. Creating daily contact and interaction with peers was also identified in our parent survey as a priority. 

We understand the recommended plan will not meet the needs or wishes of all members of our school community, but please know I am confident this change will prove to be beneficial for students.

Below please find the new AM/PM Schedule and important information regarding transportation, meals, and health/safety protocols. In the near future, you will receive a brief Google Survey to select your learning option for Third Trimester, as well as any bus transportation needs. Your prompt response will help us prepare schedules and finalize bus routes.

On behalf of the Peru Elementary staff, thank you for your patience and support as we have worked through this school year. We will continue to do everything we can to make this a safe and productive year for our students. 

In-Person Learning

AM/PM Schedule  

Parkside
AM Students:    8:10 - 11:10 a.m.
PM Students:    12:10-3:10 p.m.
Fridays:             8:30-12:00 (Zoom classes for all students)

Northview
AM Students:     8:20 - 11:20 a.m.
PM Students:    12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
*Unless otherwise noted, Fridays will be reserved for remote activities, enrichment activities, social/emotional learning, remote small group instruction, and the possibility of scheduled in-person learning appointments.

PreK: Monday-Friday - In-person learning only
AM Class:          8:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
PM Class:          11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
Full Day Class:  8:20 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Parkside Life Skills
In-person learning:    Monday-Thursday 8:10 a.m.-11:10 a.m.
Remote learning*:     Monday-Thursday 12:10 p.m.-3:10 p.m.
                                  Friday 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

*Specific remote learning times for your child will be sent in the near future.

Autism Program
In-person learning:    Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Mrs. Landers’ Class
In-person learning:    Monday-Friday 8:20 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

** There will be other unique schedules and programming based on special education services and at-risk students.

AM/PM Assignments
Students who currently attend in-person on Monday/Wednesday will attend the AM schedule Monday-Thursday. Students who currently attend in-person on Tuesday/Thursday will attend the PM schedule Monday-Thursday. Any student who is currently enrolled in our Full Remote schedule but wishes to return to in-person AM/PM learning will be assigned to a group based on student needs, classroom space and availability.

Transportation

Students arriving at school must enter through one of the following doors based on transportation.

Parkside
Bus Riders: Exit bus on east side of the building and enter Door #1 (Church Street entrance) and social distance 6 feet apart until it is time to enter the building. In the event of inclement weather, students will enter Door #1 and maintain social distance inside the building.

Car Riders: Exit cars on west side of the building (Sycamore Lakes subdivision side) and social distance 6 feet apart until it is time to enter the building.  In the event of inclement weather, students will enter Door #8 and maintain social distance inside the building.

Walkers/Bike Riders: Park bikes in the racks and social distance 6 feet apart at the front entrance until it is time to enter the building.

Northview
Bus Riders: Exit bus on east side of the building and enter Door #1 (Plum Street entrance) and social distance in your class lines until it is time to enter the building.

PreK AM Car Riders – students cannot be dropped off any earlier than 8:10 a.m.: Exit cars on east side of school by Door #4. This is a change from current practice.

AM K-1st grade Car Riders – students cannot be dropped off any earlier than 8:05 a.m.: Exit cars on north side of the building and social distance 6 feet apart in class lines until it is time to enter the building. Kindergarten enters through Door #6, 1^st Grade enters through Door #5.

PM K-1st grade Car Riders – students cannot be dropped off any earlier than 12:15 p.m.: Exit cars on north side of the building and social distance 6 feet apart in class lines until it is time to enter the building. Kindergarten enters through Door #6, 1^st Grade enters through Door #5.

AM 2nd-4th grade Car Riders – students cannot be dropped off any earlier than 8:05 a.m.: Exit cars on south side of the building (Shooting Park Road entrance) and proceed to your class lines on the playground on the west side of the building and social distance 6 feet apart until it is time to enter the building. 4^th grade enters through Door #19, 3^rd grade enters through Door #7, 2^nd grade enters through Door #10.

PM 2nd-4th grade Car Riders – students cannot be dropped off any earlier than 12:15 p.m.: Exit cars on south side of the building (Shooting Park Road entrance) and proceed to your class lines on the playground on the west side of the building and social distance 6 feet apart until it is time to enter the building. 4^th grade enters through Door #19, 3^rd grade enters through Door #7, 2^nd grade enters through Door #10.

Walkers/Bike Riders – students cannot arrive at school any earlier than 8:05 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.: Park bikes in the racks, proceed to your class lines on the playgrounds and social distance 6 feet apart at the front entrance until it is time to enter the building.

Meal Information

Breakfast and lunch will be available as grab-and-go meals on Monday-Thursday for in-person students. The students who attend the AM and PM schedules can pick up breakfast and lunch each day at dismissal time. The meals will follow the posted monthly menu. Meals will continue to be free or reduced to those families who qualify through the National School Lunch Program. For all other students, there will be a charge of $1.50 for breakfast and $2.35 for lunch. If you would like your children to receive meals, please share this information with them as they will be responsible for picking up the meals each day. Meals for the week will still be available to remote families for pick-up at the back side of Parkside School on Mondays between 9-11 a.m.

Health & Safety Protocols

All current social distancing, health and cleaning protocol practices will continue to be followed per the LaSalle County Health Department and CDC. We appreciate your efforts and cooperation in making sure students are not attending school when they or household members have COVID symptoms.