In Preparation for the Upcoming 2 Weeks

3/15/2020

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District Guidance on COVID-19

Hello Bateman Families & Friends,

Wow. We have been through a lot together this school year! We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again...the Bateman community never ceases to amaze us. Over the weekend, we have had several parents reach out with suggestions, words of encouragement, and offers to extend to the families of Bateman who may need assistance over the next two weeks. It may feel as though you are a bit in isolation but please know there is an entire community willing to support you!

As you are probably aware, Governor Pritzker announced that all Illinois schools will be closed from Tuesday, March 17th until Monday, March 30, 2020. Monday, March 16, 2020 will be a regular school day. The goal will be for schools to reopen on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. As always, the local news will have the most updated information regarding the day we will return.

Our teachers have been working hard since the announcement and are planning home learning activities that will be a combination of hard copies of material and/or online learning. These resources will be shared with students on Monday.

We know that there are many questions about sending your child to school tomorrow. We encourage you to do what you feel is best for your family. If you decide to keep your child(ren) home on Monday, their absence will be excused and you can reach out to your child's teacher to have access to assignments. Families will also have an opportunity to pick up hard copy materials outside in front of the main entrance between 2pm - 3pm. Online resources will also be sent out via social media and posted on the school website throughout the two weeks.

The resources to be shared with families in packets and online will include:

Online platforms that are accessible at home, with recommended usage
Daily reading recommendations
Ideas from our Essentials Teachers on ways to encourage the arts, music, language, and physical movement
Social & Emotional Strategies to support your child(ren)
How to stay in communication with the teachers during this time. Teachers will check emails within the regular school hours and we are asking them to respond within 24-48 hours. Many of them have families that they are caring for, too.

We want to stay in close communication with families during this time to provide support, as needed. If you have any questions about educational materials, please email your child's teacher. If you need any other support, please reach out to us at bateman@cps.edu.

A few more logistics:

If your child has medication, please stop by the office anytime after 3:00 p.m. on MONDAY to pick-up.
Bateman is an election site on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Bateman will be a daily food distribution center from 9:00am-1:00pm starting on Tuesday, March 17th. Please come to door number 6, which is off of Sacramento.

Parents, we understand that this is a difficult time for you to navigate, as well. You have to keep your children engaged all day, without allowing them to tear down the house. Setting a schedule or routine can greatly alleviate potential meltdowns, anxiety, or struggles throughout this time. Consider setting structured and consistent daily academic time, creative time, and active play time. This Sample Schedule has been floating around the internet and can serve as a starting point for your daily routine. Please keep in mind that you, too, must take care of yourselves in order to best serve your children - think of this time as a wonderful opportunity for extra family bonding!

Below are resources to review as you have conversations with your child(ren):

Huffpost article - How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus

Video - Coronavirus Brainpop

SAMHSA - Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak

Child Mind Institute - Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus

Share My Lesson - Coronavirus Student Guide: Explanations and News Updates

National Education Association - Schools and Coronavirus

National Association of School Psychologists - Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource

If you need help locating medical care, please reach out to the CPS Office of Student Health & Wellness at oshw@cps.edu or by calling the Healthy CPS Hotline 773-553-KIDS (5437). If you or your child has a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, please contact the CDPH at 312-746-SICK (7425).

If you need support or if you know someone that needs support during the COVID-19 school closure, please let us know and/or reach out to them. The Bateman community is FULL of loving and caring people that want to help. We are One School, One Family!!!

Always remember to...Be Bateman!

Stay safe and healthy Bateman families!

Georgia and Kate

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Do you have news to share?

We are always trying to improve our communication! If you have information to share with the Bateman Community, we would like to know! To submit an item for our twice-monthly Bateman Buzz, please send an email with the event details including date, time, and location. Any photos should be submitted in .JPEG format. Please submit by 5pm on Thursday and you might see it in the Bateman Buzz, Bateman Website, or on social media!