It did not take long but we already experienced our first inclement weather event of 2025! As you know, we ended up taking two emergency days. Students will be required to attend school on Monday, May 5 and May 12 to make up for the two days we missed. On our 24-25 school district calendar, our other three emergency days fall after Memorial Day. Several years ago, our district approved an option called an e-learning day. On an e-learning day, the students are provided assignments and activities for the day, which will be completed at home and turned back in once we are back in school. Unlike using an emergency day, e-learning days do NOT need to be made up and added on to the end of the school year. We have sent information home the previous two school years about this option, but fortunately, we have never had to use it.
When we have a challenging weather situation, the school will still consider the option of cancelling school and making it up on an emergency day later in the year. We may implement a “late start” option where school will begin two hours later than normal. Or, we may choose to implement an e-learning day.
The Arcola School Board will be conducting a public hearing at the regularly scheduled board meeting on February 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the Arcola High School Media Center to determine whether or not the option of having an E-Learning Day should be extended another three years.
We will not be introducing brand new concepts and skills on those e-learning days but rather providing activities that support and reinforce what has already been taught in class. Students will not be penalized if the assignments are not completed upon return and students will be given additional time to get the assignments/activities done. The procedures will vary some by grade level. In addition, teachers will be working with the students on exactly what they need to do during an e-learning day. The following is what to expect at the elementary school when an e-learning day is called:
Kindergarten – Grade 3 - Classroom teachers will provide a hard copy packet of activities for students to complete at home during the e-learning day. These packets will be sent home the day prior in anticipation of the severe weather and/or school cancellation. Some teachers may send the e-learning packets home earlier than the day before and ask they be held in case we end up using an e-learning day.
Grades 4 - 6: Teachers will post the daily assignments, instructional videos, etc. by 9 am each day on Google Classroom.
· If applicable, students with IEPs will receive written packets from their case manager that will include any specialized instruction/assignments identified in the IEP that is required above and beyond the regular classroom assignments.
All teachers will have office hours from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm on remote learning days. “Office Hours” mean that teachers will be available to communicate with students through the appropriate platforms such as google classroom, class dojo, seesaw, etc. or be available for email communication from students and/or parents as well.
Grades 7 - 12
1. Students will need to check in daily for attendance through TeacherEase on their iPad. Check-in time will be open from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day. This is required for attendance.
2. Teachers will post the daily assignments, instructional videos, etc. by 9 am each day on Google Classroom. If applicable, students with IEPs will receive separate communications from their case manager that will include any specialized instruction/assignments identified in the IEP that is required above and beyond the regular classroom assignments.
3. All teachers will have office hours from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm on remote learning days. “Office Hours” mean that teachers will be available to communicate with students through google classroom or be available for email communication from students and/or parents as well.
4. Any student/family that does not have internet access during the school day, can contract jhohlbauch@arcolaschools.com to discuss ways the district can assist.
Click on this link to access the current copy of the current E-Learning Plan - E-Learning Plan