ParentSquare:
This year, D21 will be utilizing ParentSquare as our main communication tool to inform our parents, staff, and students about all of the great things happening in our district, provide announcements about upcoming events, and notify everyone about any emergencies or other pertinent information our D21 community needs to know. If you haven’t already set up your account, please do so you don’t miss out on any important information forthcoming from your student’s school and/or the District.
One to One Technology and Chromebook Roll Out:
We recognize that every student needs access to a computer, both at school and at home, to help facilitate new and evolving curriculum and learning strategies that prepare them for the technology-rich environment they will encounter in higher education and the modern workplace. The most equitable, supportable, and cost-efficient way to provide this is through a take-home 1-to-1 Chromebook program.
To that end, this year, students in grades 4-12 will be assigned a chromebook that they will take home and bring to school daily. Students in grades K-3 will be assigned a device in the classroom but will not take home their devices each day.
There is no associated cost for the device to our families. Devices are owned by the school district and will be "checked out" just like a textbook, and "checked in" prior to summer vacation.
Health & Safety in Our Schools
As our schools plan for the 2022/2023 school year, it is important to remember that the COVID-19 virus has not gone away and our communities will continue to be living with the virus. Our goal at D21 continues to be to minimize interruption to our student’s learning day and provide in-person learning to the maximum extent possible.
The great news is, the updated guidance as it relates to positive COVID cases and/or exposures allows us to achieve this goal, maximizing and focusing on our student’s learning each day while continuing to manage and respond to any COVID outbreaks and/or exposures and cases in our schools.
Here is what to expect if your student tests positive for COVID and/or has an exposure to an individual who has tested positive for COVID:
Positive COVID Test
(Regardless of vaccination status)
- Must isolate for 5 days (Day 0 is first day symptoms began or if no symptoms, Day 1 is date of positive test);
- May return to school once symptoms have improved and the student no longer has a fever without the use of fever reducing medication and/or if symptoms improve;
- The individual must wear a face covering for the remainder of the 10 days remaining since the first day symptoms began;
COVID Exposure
(Regardless of vaccination status)
- Does not need to quarantine;
- Wear a face covering while around others for 10 days after exposure and monitor for symptoms;
- Test on day 5 if possible;
- Stay home if symptoms begin;
In addition to the above, D21 will continue to maximize all other available mitigation measures that assist us in keeping our learning environments safe and healthy. These include increased ventilation and airflow, regular hand washing, diagnostic testing, and cleaning/disinfection.
Face coverings are not required (unless returning from a positive case and/or confirmed exposure as described above) but we both welcome and support an individual’s decision to wear a face covering whenever they choose to.
In the event of high community and/or school COVID-19 cases, D21 will work closely with our local public health authority, North Central Public Health Department, to consider any additional mitigation strategies that might be implemented such as closing a classroom/school or a return to face coverings.
Everyone in our community shares in the responsibility to keep our communities safe and healthy. This responsibility asks each person to both maintain their own health as well as respect the individual decisions of others regarding their own health and safety. We ask that you assess your child each day for any COVID like symptoms and if they do not feel well, keep them home.
Over the course of this year, we will begin rolling out D21’s 2027 overall strategic plan that contains our updated mission, vision and equity statement as well as our five focus areas: Student Experience, Teaching and Learning, Facilities, Staffing, and Community Engagement. We have identified our Year 1 priorities from this plan and are excited to get busy on accomplishing many of the action steps that support this work.
We are excited to share this work with our families and our greater community and look forward to working with all of you as we strive high and endeavor to know each student by name, strength and need.
I look forward to continuing to serve our families and the community as your Superintendent.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bernal
Superintendent
NWCSD21