e-Learning: e-Learning Extension Until April 30
Published by Dr. Warke on Mar 31, 2020

Dear Highlands families and staff, 

Earlier today, Governor Pritzker announced that Illinois schools would remain closed through April 30, 2020, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of everyone. Highlands has been implementing our e-Learning plan and will continue to do so until we receive word we can transition back to regular instruction. 

We recognize that you did not sign up to be a teacher, and that parenting is a full-time job. As we look at the sustainability of our e-Learning experiences, we do not want you to feel frustration around instructing your child on daily assignments. We would instead ask you to encourage perseverance in problem-solving, asking your child questions around the task or if they have “phoned a friend,” and finally, reaching out to the teacher. 

With the extension of e-Learning for a longer time, we are working with staff to provide students with cross-curricular project-based learning experiences allowing your child to practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills while engaging in a learning experience that will be motivating, challenging and allow for creativity.

Next week, we will be taking Monday, April 6, and Tuesday, April 7, as planning days to allow the staff to plan for sustained e-Learning instruction. This means that students will not have any lessons posted on either Schoology or See-Saw on Monday or Tuesday of next week. All e-Learning instruction will resume on Wednesday of next week. Additionally, we will keep with the original calendar and continue to have Friday, April 10, as a non-attendance day. 

No one knew at the beginning of this school year that we would be navigating a pandemic, but together we will persevere and do what is necessary to stop the spread and to flatten the curve of COVID19. I will continue to send updates as we receive additional information from the Illinois State Board of Education. Thank you for your partnership. 

Warm regards, 

Dr. Warke