SENECA HIGH SCHOOL NEWS UPDATE
We will continue to update this site with our newest article at the top (each article is dated). Please check back for any new postings.
IMPORTANT UPDATES:
Dated April 3, 2020
e-Learning Update
Schools in Illinois are now closed through April 30. Governor Pritzker stated that he’d make a decision about what will happen with schools in the month of May later in April.
Thus far, we have had solid participation by students – thank you teachers, staff, students and parents. E-Learning is mandatory. There are lessons and assignments to complete in each class every day. All assignments are graded. To avoid any issues or delays with having credit awarded for the courses, students should compete the lessons in a timely manner. Remember, quality work is very important and impacts the grade as well. It is not just about completion.
We have created an e-Learning tab on our website as a repository of e-Learning resources. Resources include the SHS e-Learning plan, teachers’ office hours, zoom protocols, breakfast and lunch information, and a calendar for e-Learning.
There will be no e-Learning activities on Good Friday, April 10 or on the Monday after Easter, April 13. E-Learning will resume on Tuesday, April 14 a B Day.
While we will not have e-Learning on Monday, April 13, we will still offer breakfast and lunch on Monday, April 13, for M-W for those students who have signed up. Remember breakfast and lunch pickup is from 11 AM- 12:30 PM. Please be prompt.
Guidance Counselors, the Student Success Support Counselor, and the School Psychologist are available for students and parents by appointment. Virtual office hours and email addresses for the Guidance Counselors are posted under the e-Learning tab. Guidance Counselors will also be available at SHS for students to turn in scholarships and to answer questions once each week. Please keep your social distance. That information is emailed out to students.
Anyone experiencing technology issues, please email helpdesk@senecahs.org.
Finally, please remember that if you are having any problems or concerns, that impact e-Learning please contact us for assistance. We are here to help.
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Dated: March 30, 2020 @ 3pm
Seneca High School’s E-learning Plan
On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, students of Seneca High School will participate in an E-learning Orientation to prepare for e-Learning days. E-Learning days are simply student attendance days where students participate in educational experiences in an online format rather than in person. During the orientation, students will become acquainted with the Seneca High School E-learning plan and expectations.
Seneca High School’s e-Learning plan will utilize PowerSchool Unified Classroom, district technology, district email accounts and telephone service, and a new online video conferencing and communication platform called Zoom.
We’ve set up a schedule to help provide structure and consistency. Mondays and Wednesdays will be used as A Days. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be used as B Days. Fridays will be used as days for students to get real-time help from their teachers through an online program called Zoom. We are calling Fridays teachers’ office hours.
Teachers will create daily lessons in PowerSchool Unified Classroom. For maximum flexibility, students are not required to be online at any certain hour of the day to complete the daily assignments. We expect that the total amount of time spent in each class to take about 30 minutes per class, however, it may occasionally run longer.
Our plan expects that student assignments be aligned to the learning standards and reasonable in nature given the novelty of online learning for most of our students. It is, however, very important that students complete work in a timely manner. Grades will be taken for the assignments.
Students will be able to ask questions of their teachers and request extra help in a variety of ways. First, teachers are always available via email, however, teachers will not be monitoring their emails 24 hours per day. Second, teachers will be available for a Zoom video conference session each day for 30 minutes. Third, on Fridays, each teacher will hold office hours for one hour in a Zoom conference for students to meet electronically to ask questions and receive extra help. A Zoom schedule will be developed and shared tomorrow. Finally, if significant help is required, teachers will be able to schedule additional assistance as needed.
As always, your health and safety are our primary concern. If at any time during e-Learning days students and their families experience difficult circumstances, please contact the school immediately.
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Dated: March 29, 2020 @ 2:00pm
Late Friday evening, Illinois public schools received notice from the Illinois State Board of Education that during the school closure period beginning March 31 all school days will be e-learning days or remote learning days. The State Board also provided written guidance to schools.
Seneca High School is developing its own plan for e-learning based on this guidance. Students and parents will be notified on Monday, March 30 of the details on how SHS will conduct e-learning.
E-learning days are not optional. Students are required to do the work, but SHS staff will work to assist all students be successful during this difficult time.
Students should expect that on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 they will be required to do some sort of e-learning obligation. You can also expect to engage in e-learning for all of the days that school is closed.
We hope you and your family are well. This is certainly a confusing time. Please stay tuned for additional updates on e-learning from Seneca High School and please take care of yourselves.
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Dated: March 20, 2020 5:00pm
Parents and Students of Seneca High School,
Today, March 20, 2020, Governor Pritzker announced a statewide “stay at home order” for all residents until April 8, 2020. By this order, he extended the current school closure through April 7. In the Governor’s message, he stated that schools would be able to continue to provide school meals. During the school closure this week, Seneca High School provided lunches to approximately 30 students. Next week, our designated Spring Break, we will work on a plan to continue to provide lunches beginning Monday, March 30, 2020 to ANY student that requests one. These meals will be provided at no cost. To request a meal be prepared for your student, please help us plan by emailing the name of the student to lunch@senecahs.org.
You should anticipate additional communication coming from the school regarding school meal details next week. Additionally, we are awaiting direction from the Illinois State Board of Education regarding e-learning requirements. Teachers have posted assignments on PowerSchool that all students should be working to complete.
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Dated: March 20, 2020
First and foremost, our heartfelt thoughts, concerns, and prayers are with our ill student and the family of that student. Second, we extend those same concerns and prayers to all SHS students and families. Seneca High School is not merely some educational institution where kids come to have knowledge and skills implanted, but rather, an extension of all of our families where we work to provide an environment of care, concern, belonging, and well-being as we pursue our educational mission: Preparing and supporting ALL STUDENTS for success and post-high school opportunities through a challenging, rewarding, and engaging educational program, while developing Irish Pride.
These are very uncertain times. One can feel overwhelmed and helpless. Helplessness may lead to fear. In turn, fear can turn to anger and anger to misguided response. While there is much that may be out of our control, there is still much over which we can control. The most important things we can do is follow the advice of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus. Another important choice we have is to adhere to the recommendations and orders coming from our state government officials https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/coronavirus/Pages/default.aspx.
Finally, below, we offer just some of the guidance taken from the previously mentioned resources for your consideration. We can take control over the situation in the following ways.
- If you begin to develop COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, and potentially respiratory distress), call your health care provider for medical advice.
- While school is out, please discourage children and teens from gathering to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Encourage frequent handwashing and follow other prevention tips.
- Closely follow these tips
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you have not already done so, discuss influenza vaccination with your health care provider to help protect you against seasonal influenza.
- Obey the prohibition by Governor Pritzker of public and private gatherings of 50 or more people through May 1. CDC guidelines actually call for Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people.
- Follow the rules for social distancing by avoiding close contact with people.
- If you go outdoors for fresh air and exercise, remember to wash your hands any time you enter from outdoors and before you eat.
Seneca High School officials continue to work with the LaSalle County Health Department (LCHD) to ensure we are taking and communicating the appropriate actions during this pandemic. The following is a statement from the LCHD on this matter.
Our overall goal is to prevent the spread of illness. We need your assistance in following local, state and federal messaging regarding social distancing. We understand our community is on high alert and we are following guidance from the CDC and our partners at the Illinois Department of Public Health.
We at LaSalle County Health Department are trying to be as transparent as possible with the information we can share. With that being said, in regards to this patient, you are at minimal risk as a member of the district. This patient was not symptomatic when attending school. Per state and federal disease investigation protocols, LCHD has worked with the patient to identify and contact medium to high risk individuals. Those individuals have been given appropriate guidance.
Thank you for taking this situation seriously and helping us to reduce the spread of illness in our communities.
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Dated: 3/19/2020
This afternoon, we received a call from the LaSalle County Health Department informing us that one of our students tested positive for COVID-19, the coronavirus. Public health officials deem that students and staff are at a low risk and are not recommending any additional measures be taken by the district. Additionally, because the student did not exhibit any symptoms while at school, the Health Department is not commencing with contact tracing. In fact, due to privacy laws and the low risk for members of Seneca High School, the name of the student was not shared with district officials. Because of the uncertainty and novelty of this virus, we are urging you to follow the recommendations of the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health regarding ways to protect yourself.
As you know, Governor Pritzker has closed all Illinois schools beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020 through Monday, March 30, 2020. During this time, SHS custodial staff deep cleaned and sanitized the school. Once again, the LaSalle County Health Department is advising us of a low risk; however, following the guidelines of the CDC, if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.
Our deepest concerns are for all of our students and their families and their well-being. Please take care of yourselves.
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School Lunches - March 17th - 20th
Dated 3/16/2020
Seneca High School will continue to offer lunches to our students throughout the school closure time period March 17th-March 20th. Lunches will be “grab and go” and can be picked up at Door “L” in the vestibule at the Student North Parking lot entrance from 11 AM to 12 PM on Tuesday and Thursday of this week. Two days’ worth of lunches will be prepared at a time and handed out to our students. Lunch will be provided free of charge, but students must sign up via email today by 5 PM to receive the lunches for the week. To sign up, please email lunch@senecahs.org indicating the student’s name, number of lunches needed, and any food allergies. Thank you.
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Monday, March 16th School Schedule
Dated 3/15/2020
In the best interest of our students to prepare for e-learning on Monday, March 16th, students will meet with teachers in all of their classes. We will still dismiss at 2 PM. Breakfast is available and Lunch will be served.
The schedule we will follow is listed below:
1A 7:55 - 8:30
2A 8:34 - 9:09
3A 9:13 - 9:48
4A 9:52 - 10:27
1B 10:31 - 11:06
2B 11:10 - 11:45
3B 11:49 - 1:19
1st lunch 11:49 - 12:19
2nd lunch 12:19 - 12:49
3rd lunch 12:49 - 1:19
4B 1:23 - 2:00
We will have 35 minutes each class with a 4-minute passing period. Our lunches will be 30 minutes back to back.
The impact of this issue is new to all of us. Information changes rapidly. We will continue to do our best to communicate as quickly and accurately as we can. Thank you for your understanding.
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Seneca High School Closure
Dated: 3/14/2020
Per the announcement of Governor Pritzker, all Illinois Schools, Seneca High School included, will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17 through Monday, March 30. Seneca High School will be in session Monday, March 16, an A day, to prepare students and staff for e-learning days during the closure. SHS will use a 2:00 PM dismissal schedule on Monday, March 16. We expect school to resume on Tuesday, March 31, also an A day.