Superintendent Update Aug. 13, 2021

from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

SuperintendentUpdate Aug. 13, 2021from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

To view past superintendent updates, please click here. To view weekly updates online, please visit our District Updates archive on our website.

Greetings Urbana Family and Friends,

Next week marks a momentous occasion that should be celebrated yearly by all - - the first day of school! The celebration of the first day of school is filled with excitement, gratitude, and countless occasions for all of us to look forward to together. While I am excited to welcome all of our students back for full in-person instruction, we are also very committed to ensuring our critical health and safety protocols are in place and followed. It will take full cooperation, participation, and adherence to all guidelines to make certain everyone stays healthy as we resume face-to-face instruction. The District will begin the year with the following mitigation measures in place.


  • Face coverings required for students, staff, and visitors to start the year:

    • Universal masking will be implemented for students and staff regardless of vaccination status. Masks are required indoors or on the bus until further notice or such time when the CDC guidance recommendations change.

    • Regardless of vaccination status, all students are required to wear face coverings on the First Student and MTD buses.

  • Physical Distancing of at least 3 feet, 6 feet when possible for unvaccinated

  • Weekly SHIELD testing for grades 6-12; Drive-thru testing for staff and students; Symptom-based rapid testing

  • Increased building cleaning and sanitation, improved air filtration, and handwashing and respiratory etiquette

  • Procedures for contact tracing and quarantine of close contacts will work closely with C-UPHD

  • If you are sick or experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, stay home!


Our back-to-school logistics are included in the full plan HERE, and in the Board of Education presentation linked HERE.


We have been preparing all summer to safely welcome our staff back on Monday, August 16, for Opening Day. This Opening Day will be different than any other but memorable nonetheless because we have an opportunity to see each other in person and learn and grow together again! We have a special guest joining us, award-winning author Mr. Robert Jackson, who will activate our power through his discussion, the “Power of an Educator,” and trust me, you all have the POWER!


On Tuesday, August 17, while our teachers and staff are learning and working in their classrooms to prepare for the new year, we have invited UHS students to join us for our Inaugural Leadership Summit. Students will have an opportunity to spend the day with a powerful motivator, Dr. Tommie Mabry. Dr. Mabry will share his inspiring story and tell our young people, "To Predict Your Future; You Must Create It." If you are interested, you can sign up - HERE! Parents, you are invited to attend a Parent Summit on the same evening. We hope to see you there!


On Wednesday, August 18, and Thursday, August 19, we will welcome all of our returning EC-12 students for the first time since March 2020, along with our new students who we know are excited to be part of the Urbana family. Even though we will be welcoming one another wearing masks, our smiling eyes will be contagious!


I ask that you take a few extra minutes to read through the complete weekly update, which is full of essential information. Please mark your calendars to attend the back-to-school night at your school(s) and share the dates and times for additional upcoming Vaccination Clinics. For the safety and well-being of the District, we strongly encourage all staff members, students, and family members who are eligible for the vaccine to please get vaccinated. We are also sharing our District-wide COVID testing schedule. More information about COVID testing for our elementary students will be available next week. Elementary parents and guardians will receive a letter with more details about the testing process and a consent form for those that are interested. I encourage you to watch the elementary COVID testing video to learn more.


It is a great time to be part of Urbana School District #116. We are looking forward to sharing the Power of the “U” next week with our students, staff, and families.


Be safe and stay well,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum

LATEST NEWS

Building Meet & Greet

All USD #116 Schools are hosting a Meet & Greet Night for Families. CDC and state guidelines will be followed and masks are required inside all USD #116 buildings.

Vaccine Clinics

For students who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine, there are several upcoming opportunities. Any student who has received both doses of the vaccine before Sept. 10 will be entered into a drawing for various prizes, including two laptops!

ELEMENTARY COVID TESTING

- YouTube

Student Leadership Summit and Parent Academy

All USD #116 juniors & seniors are invited to a Student Leadership Summit on Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. as they prepare to begin the school year.


The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Tommie Mabry. His road to becoming Dr. Mabry wasn’t easy. Come hear his story of breaking generational curses.


Students, in order to have an estimate of attendance, please register for this event: https://bit.ly/USDStudentLeadershipSummit


The evening of Aug. 17, parents & guardians are invited to hear from Dr. Ivory-Tatum, Superintendent; Mr. Nance, UHS Principal; Mrs. Webster, Director of Family Engagement; and our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Tommie Mabry, on ways to keep students connected throughout the year. The “Parent Academy” will take place in the UMS Cafetorium from 6-8 p.m. (Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m.) We hope to see you there!


There will be a drawing for a laptop and other prizes at both sessions.


Watch Dr. Mabry’s story on USA Today