Central Intermediate School
February 2021 Newsletter
Principal Update
Assistant Principal Update
Our coaches and sponsors have been busy the last few weeks as we were finally given the go ahead to start up extracurricular activities! Due to Illinois' recent transition to Phase 4, both our volleyball and basketball teams will be able to move forward with competitions against other teams!
It's going to be a busy February, and we are so ready for it!
Live Streamed Games
Due to Phase 4 guidelines, spectators will not be allowed at basketball games and volleyball matches at this time. All home games will be live streamed HERE! Check out the Upcoming Events section for game times!
Upcoming Events
Thursday, February 4
- PTO Meeting @ CIS Library - 7:00 p.m.
- Boys Basketball vs. Dee Mack @ Home - 4:30 a.m. (Live Stream HERE)
Saturday, February 6
- Boys Basketball vs. Morton @ Home - 10:00 a.m. (Live Stream HERE)
Monday, February 8
- Boys Basketball vs. Tremont @ Home - 4:30 p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
- Girls Volleyball @ Tremont - 4:15 p.m. (6th grade to follow)
Tuesday, February 9
- Boys Baskeball @ Metamora - 4:30 p.m.
- Girls Volleyball @ Chiddix - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 10
- Girls Volleyball vs. Metamora @ Home - 4:15 p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
Thursday, February 11
- Boys Basketball vs. Germantown Hills @ Home - 4:30 p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
- Girls Volleyball @ Germantown Hills - 4:15 p.m. (6th grade to follow)
- Board of Education Meeting @ CIS Library - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 13
- Boys Basketball @ Fieldcrest - 10:00 a.m.
Monday, February 15
- Boys Basketball @ Eureka - 5:30 p.m.
- Volleyball vs. Eureka @ Home - 4:15 p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
Tuesday, February 16
- Boys Basketball @ Washington Middle - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 17
- Boys Basketball @ Dunlap Middle - 4:15 p.m.
- 6th Grade Boys Basketball @ Dunlap Middle - After 7/8 game
- Girls Volleyball vs. Pekin Rankin @ Home - 4:15 p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
Thursday, February 18
- Boys Basketball vs. Beverly Manor @ Home - 4:30p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
- Girls Volleyball @ Beverly Manor - 4:15 p.m.
Saturday, February 20
- Boys Basketball vs. Dunlap Valley @ Home - 10:00 a.m. (Live Stream HERE)
- 6th Grade Boys Basketball vs. Dunlap Valley @ Home - 12:15 p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
Monday, February 22
- Boys Basketball vs. East Peoria Central @ Home - 4:30 p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
Tuesday, February 23
- Girls Volleyball vs. Morton @ Home - 4:15 p.m. (Live Stream HERE)
Wednesday, February 24
- Girls Volleyball @ Dee Mack - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 25
- Girls Volleyball @ Dunlap Middle - 4:30 p.m. (6th grade to follow)
Saturday, February 27
- Boys Basketball @ Pekin Broadmoor - 10:00 a.m.
Remote Learning Information
With the return to learning five days a week on February 16th, a few changes will need to be made to the current remote learning plan. These changes are made to mirror a traditional in person learning environment for your remote student. Below you will find a bulleted list of how remote learning will look beginning February 16th. Our primary goal in this process was to keep students in their current homerooms with the teachers they have built relationships with.
Remote learning will function in a traditional classroom environment.
An electronic device will be set up in the classroom broadcasting live instruction.
Students will follow the classroom schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., five days a week.
Students are expected to be on-line at 8:00 a.m. Those that are not will be counted tardy/absent.
Students will be expected to be on-line with their class for the duration of the school day.
Exceptions may include, lunch, recess, specials, Advisory and Activity periods
Classroom teachers will communicate specific daily expectations.
The Friday accordion file pick up and drop off will continue for 4th Grade.
At teacher discretion, the electronic device broadcasting live instruction may be muted or closed to respect classroom privacy.
We understand these are significant changes being made to the remote learning plan. Our intent is to create an atmosphere where the remote learning students receive the same amount of instructional time as face to face learners. If at any time you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. We will again offer the opportunity to make the transition back to face to face learning for the 4th nine weeks.
PTO Update
The Teacher Appreciation Committee has some fun ideas for more surprises for our staff in the coming months, please stay tuned!
The PTO will also be offering a way to support a local business during these crazy times with a fundraiser night. You will have an opportunity to purchase a delicious meal from Countryside, which will also help raise funds for the PTO for the 2021-2022 school year. Thank you in advance for your support of Countryside and the PTO! Thank you to Jessica Harvey for setting this up! See more information below!
Our current Secretary, Gwen Trusz, needs to step down from her position, so the PTO is looking for someone to fill this position. If you are interested, please contact Stephanie Redlingshafer at lilred2@comcast.net
Central 51 PTO Fundraiser Information
Take the night off cooking and come out and support your Central 51 PTO and a local Washington business.
Date: Thursday February 25th, 2021
Pick up: 4:30pm-6:30pm at Countryside Banquet – drive up in your car, give your name, and food will be brought out to your car
Meal:
- Mostaccioli
- Side salad with ranch dressing
- Green beans
- Roll
Price: $12.00 a meal
Sign Up: Sign up using the Google form provided before February 20th, 2021. Make sure to indicate number of meals and payment method.
Payment: Cash or checks can be sent to school with students. Checks can be made out to Central 51 PTO. You can also take advantage of our new Central PTO Venmo (please indicate the name used on the Google form): @Central51PTO
**Payment must be received before February 24th**
Click HERE to sign up
How does your fundraising efforts help support Central 51 PTO?
-Support each Central teacher and principal for needed supplies
-Fund unexpected needs throughout the year
-Money raised will also be used for programs for the following year
Please contact Jess Harvey with any questions:
Email: jharvey@central51.net
Phone: (309) 338-9102
CIS Library
World Read Aloud Day - Wednesday, February 3, 2021
We want to celebrate World Read Aloud Day, February 3, 2021. Share pictures of your family reading aloud to sheffta@central51.net so we can post them. CIS is also having a contest! The first week of February read to your parents, siblings, classmates, or pet and fill out the Google Form. The homeroom with the most entries will have Mrs. Bush read aloud to them. We are also going to feature the books we LOVE in the library.
Social Emotional Learning
Over the past few weeks, I was able to meet with all grade levels for social emotional lessons. For the 4th and 5th graders, my focus was relational aggression. The 6th, 7th, and 8th graders focused on mindfulness. Mindfulness is a strategy anyone can use for stress and anxiety. All grade levels were able to familiarize themselves with my website. There are many resources that will be beneficial to them if they are struggling.
Here are a few resources for mindfulness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsUEOUaWpY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKnRKy5Wu7c
If your child is total remote, I feel that the resources above will be beneficial for them to watch. As always, please reach out if your child is struggling.
Student Learning
Reading
STAR reading and math scores were sent home this week for the Winter Benchmark testing session. Over the next month, as your child reads, make sure to have them summarize what they read for you. In regards to nonfiction texts, ask them what the main idea is of a news article, news story, non-fiction book, and have them explain evidence to support that main idea. Here is a link to some one-page nonfiction articles for you to read and discuss with your student for some extra practice.
Math
Your student is enrolled in a computer based program at school called Edgenuity. All students have spent time using the program at school, and we encourage them to spend more time practicing their math skills at home. In grades 4-5, the results from the winter STAR tests were imported into the program and a “path” was created specifically for each student to guide him/her through practicing the skills that they missed on that test. Ask your child to log in and show you what he/she is working on.
Tech Tips with Mrs. Haight
With students soon transporting their Chromebooks back and forth to school more frequently, now more than ever it is important to keep the device safe and secure.
These simple tips will help ensure that your student limits the possibility of breakage:
- Do not stack heavy objects on or against the Chromebook.
- Don’t forget that your Chromebook is in your bookbag so take extra care.
- Having a backpack with a device sleeve or putting the device in a sleeve will help protect it.
- Carrying your Chromebook with two hands is always better than one. :)
We understand that accidents happen! Please contact Mrs. Haight if there's an issue with your Chromebook!
Health and Wellness
We are excited to have our Central students back full time!
To ensure the health and safety of our school community, IDPH COVID Exclusion Guidance is still in effect. If one of your students is experiencing one or more COVID-like symptoms:
Keep ALL your Central students home
Students may participate in remote learning until they are able to safely return to school. Email your students’ teachers for instructions.
Report your students absent via:
CPS attendance hotline at 444-3580 option 8
CIS attendance hotline at 444-3943 option 3
Skyward Absence Request
After 10:00, check your email for Return-to-School options:
Per IDPH COVID-19 Exclusion Guidance, sick students and their sibling(s) will not be able to attend in-person learning until the ill student meets return to school criteria.
Option 1: Keep all your student homes for a 10 day isolation. No doctor’s visits. No testing. Your student will participate in remote learning during this time. All students may return to school on Day 11 if they are symptom-free.
Option 2: Doctor’s note
Option 3: Negative COVID test (provide proof of results)
Asymptomatic siblings may return to school once the ill student has a negative COVID test or a doctor’s note.
Ill students may return to school once: (in addition to one of the options above)
They are fever-free (WITHOUT the use of fever reducing medication), vomit-free, and diarrhea-free for 24 hours AND
ALL symptoms must be improved and well controlled
Please contact your school nurse for COVID exposure or confirmed COVID positive case.
CPS (PreK-3): Carrie Bright RN 309-444-3580 ext 3303 / cbright@central51.net
CIS (4-8): Kim Martin RN 309-444-3943 ext 2404 / kmartin@central51.net
Central District 51
Email: bhoelscher@Central51.net
Website: central51.net
Location: 1301 Eagle Avenue, Washington, IL, USA
Phone: (309)444-3943
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralschooldistrict51/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARBDjuI_cf7U3m-0xRlT4OLCm6SwRu0qqpj9tl6SStMs6f4LrrttbDvfYM3VtYNssuS2-mrvsoEel3Jv
Twitter: @ourschool