Announcement April 20, 2020
 
With the announcement of school closure through the end of the school term last week.   We have determined that our final student attendance day will be May 15, 2020.  Students will have one more homework pickup date on April 29, 2020 and all work must be completed by May 15, 2020.  Teachers will assign work through May 13, 2020, giving students a chance to complete the final days of work and handing that work in by May 15, 2020.  Our staff will collect all work, evaluate that work and assign final grades on May 18-20th with the expectation grade cards will be posted and/or mailed on May 29, 2020. 
 
We cannot impress upon students and families enough that it is vital that students engage in completing the work that has been and will be assigned through this distance learning.  It is our goal to ensure students are not harmed as a result of the distance learning but we do ask that students participate at a high level.  For those students who chose not to engage or participate in the learning opportunities offered we will be developing additional summer learning opportunities.
 
You will have more communication coming your way via your school principal and teachers so please look to your email, remind app, etc for that information.  Additionally, your building administrator will be developing and communicating plans to retrieve your student’s belongings and dropping off any school materials in your possession.   If you have any questions please contact your administrator or teacher at your earliest convenience. 

We are working on plans to proceed with a graduation, which at this point will not be a traditional ceremony but we will do our best to develop a plan that focuses on our graduates and their families. Please be patient as we have many obstacles to overcome before finalizing a graduation plan

​We learned today that our governor has extended the mandated school closure through the end of the school term.  As for our immediate response to this action we will remind students and their families that we will continue our current distance learning plan. At this time all students should have at least a full week of work to complete before a new round of homework is deployed on or around April 28th.  During the upcoming week we will deliver more information in regards to the next homework pick-up and will also remind everyone to please stay engaged and showing effort towards completing the assigned work.  Jr/Sr High students are reminded to check their school email accts throughout the day to updates and instructions. 
 
In the next week it will be our goal to set the final school calendar which will look significantly different as a result of our mandated school closure and subsequent student attendance rule changes by the State Board of Education.  We would expect that student attendance days will cease earlier than the planned May 27, 2020, but until we can confirm with the State Board we will not produce a final calendar. 
 
We realize this unsettled time has been very difficult on all of us and at this point all we can do is work together to help our students, families and staff successfully bring this school year to a close.  We will be developing schedules for Scholarship awards, Class night, Prom and Graduation as we learn how the State of Illinois will deal with mass gatherings.  Some of our solutions will undoubtedly be presented through online or live footage of traditional ceremonies such as our “Class Night” but in the case of other time honored events we prefer to develop a more traditional ceremony to honor our graduates.
 
Our daily meal program will continue with both breakfast and lunch begin available at many locations from 9-11, M-F.  If interested please email lunch@porta202.org
 
As always, if you have questions, concerns or just want to offer solutions please feel free to share with your teachers, administrators and other school personnel.  Working together we can make the best of this situation. Please be safe and healthy, we miss all of you and look forward to a time when we can all meet together to celebrate life.

Good Morning, We hope all are healthy and keeping busy.  As we finish our fourth week of mandated quarantine we have begun to formalize our Homework Processes.  If you are having any issues with technology, grasping concepts, etc, please contact your teacher and/or administrator​ and we will be more than happy to help out.  We are hoping for the best and planning for the worst at this point.  We will begin to focus on alternatives to time honored traditions like Prom and Graduation and experiment with other options to recognize our students during these unprecedented times. 
 Lets all hope and pray (if you are so inclined) that we will be back in school in a few weeks and we can put this stressful event behind us.

Don't forget that we are serving Breakfast/Lunch meals daily M-F from 9-11.

On April 14 the next round of paper pickup will be taking place at the times listed below.

Work Packet pick-up
 
Jr/Sr High—9-11 AM—April 14-- High school Main Entrance—1. If you have the internet access to be able to work online, you will continue to work online. Teachers will continue communicating with you and assigning work electronically. You only need to come to the school on Tuesday if a teacher specifically tells you they have something for you. 
2. IF you do not have access to work online effectively, your teachers are creating paper copies for you. Those copies should be picked up at the Jr-Sr High School on Tuesday, April 14 anytime between 9:00-11:00am.
 
PORTA Central—9am-1PM—Tuesday April 14 at PORTA Central main entrance—Again paper only packets will be picked up at this time. 
 
Petersburg Elementary-9-11 AM and 5-7PM on April 14 at the AM/PM parent drop off and pickup doors on the south side of the gym. 
 
Completed work packet drop-off
 
Completed packets can be dropped off during the listed pick-up times or M-F 9-11AM at PORTA Central.

​As the school closure has been extended through the month of April the State of Illinois has given revised guidelines on “Remote Learning” and has especially focused on grading of work and engagement by students.  The State Board of Education has made it clear that no educational harm should exist due to “Remote Learning” days and grading should focus on the continuation of learning and prioritize the connectedness and care for students and staff. All students should have the opportunity to redo, make up, or try again to complete and show progress.  As a district we are tasked to both show some sort of attendance data and to show students are making progress.  As such, you and your children will be notified in the coming days that student work will be collected, evaluated and grades and/or completion grades will be entered into the skyward grade book on a regular basis.  This will serve two purposes, 1st parents you will know if an assignment was not completed and secondly we will have some form of data to show student attendance and engagement.  While this completed work may not reduce a student’s grade regardless of the score, it will be evidence that a student is engaged in learning and will give teachers the opportunity to help students remediate issues they are having with work that is sent home. Teachers and administrators will reach out to students who are having difficulties or are not engaging in the work to help them get on track. 
 
Parents, I want to make one point clear, you might see grades that you are not accustom to being entered into skyward.  Please do not be alarmed, as long as your student is making an effort to complete assigned work their current grade as of the end of the 3rd quarter will not be diminished.  If work that is completed is of a quality that a student’s grades will improve then at the end of the quarter we will calculate those totals and insure your student reaps the benefits of their hard work.  Note, the focus on effort and engagement.  In rare cases, we have students who are not engaging at all and in these cases if individual contacts from teachers and administration do not improve the engagement process the district may open summer educational opportunities for those students who refuse to take part in the everyday lessons being offered. 
 
If in fact, we are not able to return to school by the end of the school term our students will have been out of school for 6 months when they return in August.  If a student has not been engaged in some learning prior to the summer months they will undoubtedly be negatively impacted and as such our only recourse will be to require summer work for those students so that they will have a better opportunity to succeed in the upcoming school year.
 
At this time, we believe that students should have acquired enough remote learning materials to suffice until April 14th.  On April 14, 2020 we will once again have another Homework Pick-up day.  Enough Work will be provided on the 14th to last until the end of the current closure period, April 30, 2020.
 
As always if you have questions contact your teacher, your administrator or the district administration and we will be happy to help in anyway.  We will gather work M-F at PORTA Central from 9-11 and all meal delivery buses will also collect completed work during meal deliver time.  If these options are not helpful contact us and we will make arrangements to collect completed work.
 
Homework Collection and grading information by grade level
 
K-6 Grading Guidelines

• It is our top priority that our students are engaged in the activities provided. 
  • Teachers will monitor students' engagement levels, and contact families if student participation is low.
  • If student participation remains low the districts main concern is students will be lacking necessary skills to succeed at next levels.
  • In these rare cases, students who lacked engagement during this closure could be identified for summer school, or alternative educational opportunities.
• Remote learning for students will be deemed by their classroom teacher as complete or incomplete.

• Any completed work received will not negatively impact students' grades, but can positively impact their overall grade.
• For students not taking advantage of Remote learning.  Their final grade calculations will be an average of quarters 1-3, if we do not return to school this year. 
• Students at risk of retention will be contacted by school representatives.

 
7-12 Grading Guidelines
 
A lot of information (including some conflicting information) has been released regarding expectations for completion of work and how student work will be graded. We'd like to clarify that for you now. 
1. We expect you to complete all work assigned. 
2.  The Governor is requiring that grading during this time will not hurt students' overall grades. So long as you are engaging in the course and regularly completing work, your overall grade will not fall below what it was prior to the closure. You may see it fluctuate throughout the quarter, but we will address final grades at the end of the semester. 
3. If you complete less than 60% of assigned work, summer school or other educational remediation will be the necessary next step required to earn credit for the course. Keep in mind that this is a great opportunity to work at raising your grades beyond where they were at the end of 3rd quarter. Similarly, if you ended 3rd quarter in jeopardy of failing a course, your performance during 4th quarter (including this time of distance learning) will determine your pass/fail status for the course. 
4. If you require paper copies for your work, the next pickup day will be Tuesday, April 14 from 9:00-11:00am. At this time, students requiring paper copies of work will receive work for April 14-30.

As we move into the third week of the State Mandated school closure our staff has compiled course work in anticipation of an extended closure period.   Currently we have asked our staff to create work that would be sufficient through April 8th, 2020.  In most cases, teachers are creating that work and sharing it through various websites/apps and other technology and those who have limited or no access to internet at home are provided work packets.  Our early Elementary students are primarily provided work packets and this practice will continue.
 
Beginning Monday March 30th, we will begin distributing new work packets according the following schedule. Additionally, any completed work that students would like to turn in may also be handed in at this time.  Moving forward if students would like to hand in completed work they may do so Monday-Friday at PORTA Central from 9-11am.
 
Work Packet pick-up
 
Jr/Sr High—9-11 AM—Monday March 30 at the High school Main Entrance—Only those who need paper only work packets due to lack of internet access need to pick up at this time. Those students whose teachers have communicated to them that the work for their class is in paper form should come in for pick up Monday morning.
 
PORTA Central—9am-1PM—Monday March 30 at PORTA Central main entrance—Again paper only packets will be picked up at this time. Report cards will be mailed to all grade levels and 3rd grade paper only packets will be mailed with those report cards.  So no pickup will be necessary for third grade students.
 
Petersburg Elementary-9-11 AM and 5-7PM on March 30th at the AM/PM parent drop off and pickup doors on the south side of the gym. 
 
Completed work packet drop-off
 
Completed packets can be dropped off during the listed pick-up times or M-F 9-11AM at PORTA Central.
 
Please remember that the goal in providing these educational opportunities is to create some continuation of education for our students, work will not negatively impact your student’s grade and in fact can only help your grade improve.
 
If you currently have no access to internet the following information may be beneficial while our school closure continues.  We understand that having internet access can be costly and in many of our rural areas we find access is very limited at best regardless of a families desire to have internet access.  We will continue to find ways to help our families through these unusual times.
 

• Information on Free Internet service--
• CASSCOMM-- will be offering their basic speed internet package to residents who are not current customers at a rate of 9.95 a month for 3 full months. For more information please visit CassComm’s website at casscomm.com or call 1-800-252-1799.
• AT&T
  • AT&T is expanding “Access from AT&T,” our low-cost home internet offering to qualifying households AT&T will continue to offer internet access for qualifying limited income households at $10 a month through our Access from AT&T program.
  • They’ve expanded eligibility to Access from AT&T to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start.
  • Additionally, they are offering new Access from AT&T customers two months of free service.
  • All AT&T consumer home internet wireline customers can use unlimited internet data.
  • AT&T is redirecting more resources to provide communication services and tools for first responders, health care professionals, educators and other essential customers. This additional support will help ensure these customers can continue providing critical support to the country and their communities, particularly to first responders using the FirstNet network.
• Spectrum Free Broadband: Spectrum is offering free internet to students in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Starting March 16, 2020 the company will offer free broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription.  Installation fees will be waived for new student households.  To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395.
• Comcast is taking steps to implement the following new policies for the next 60 days, and other important initiatives:
  • Comcast has opened their Home Hotspot network for all non-Comcast customers. If you rent router/WiFi equipment from Comcast, you can enable it to help out those around you in this unprecedented time of need. Comcast promotes it as secure and will not impact your own network experience. Plus, they have removed any network caps for the next two months. Considering all Illinois schools will be closing for the next few weeks, sharing your resources with your neighbors could help students out (regardless if they are our specific students). Please consider turning this option on at the following: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/disable-xfinity-wifi-home-hotspot 
  • Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone: Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots, and then launch a browser.
  • Pausing Our Data Plan: With so many people working and educating from home, we want our customers to access the internet without thinking about data plans. While the vast majority of our customers do not come close to using 1TB of data in a month, we are pausing our data plans for 60 days giving all customers Unlimited data for no additional charge.
  • No Disconnects or Late Fees: We will not disconnect a customer’s internet service or assess late fees if they contact us and let us know that they can’t pay their bills during this period. Our care teams will be available to offer flexible payment options and can help find other solutions.
  • News, Information and Educational Content on X1 and Flex: For those with school-age students at home, we’ve created new educational collections for all grade levels in partnership with Common Sense Media. Just say “education” into your X1 or Flex voice remote. To help keep customers informed, we also have created a collection of the most current news and information on Coronavirus. Just say “Coronavirus” into your X1 or Flex voice remote. 
  • 24x7 Network Monitoring: Underpinning all of these efforts, Comcast’s technology and engineering teams will continue to work tirelessly to support our network operations. We engineer our network capacity to handle spikes and shifts in usage patterns, and continuously test, monitor and enhance our systems and network to ensure they are ready to support customer usage. Our engineers and technicians staff our network operations centers 24/7 to ensure network performance and reliability. We are monitoring network usage and watching the load on the network both nationally and locally, and to date it is performing well.
• Mediacom - In response to the covid-19 virus, Mediacom's "Connect2Compete" plan is free for 60 days and they're increasing speeds. This is available to families with students on free/reduced lunch. Regular price is $10/month and there's no installation fee. Website is https://mediacomc2c.com/​ or 1-855-904-2225 to sign up.

Good Morning,
With Governor Pritzkers “Stay at Home” order we felt it was important to both support his decision and explain what we will be doing in the days to come.  The purpose of such an order is to enforce social distancing or to keep people away from each other to limit the spread of the virus. There is nothing inherently dangerous about going outside. The danger is in being close to other people who are infected, whether they know it or not. 
Having said that the Governor has listed many things as “essential” and allowable during this time and as such our daily meal service will continue as it has this past week Monday –Friday from 9-11.
Meal Pick-up Information:

Times and locations for pick-up
Central --9am--11:00am
Oakford Town hall--9am-11:00am
Tallula Park/Grade School--9am-11am
NSPOA/Jellystone--9am-10am
Menard Electric--10:15-11:15
 
Early this coming week the Administrative team will develop the next steps in our plan to continue educational opportunities for PORTA families.  We are gathering information from our staff so that we can develop a reasonable and effective delivery of home work during this prolonged time away from school.  Please be patient we are considering several factors including appropriateness of lessons, expected length of time away from school, home technology effectiveness and actual delivering of any hard copies of work packets. 
In closing, I am sure you are aware that the extension of our current school closure to April 7th is not likely going to be the final extension of a school closure.  With that in mind we have to be considering long term approaches to educating your children that will likely focus on retention and practice of current knowledge.
As always if you have questions, concerns or just need help with work sent home please feel free to call your school principal and we will do our best to reassure you and seek answers to your questions. 

Meal Pick-up Information:

ADJUSTED Times beginning March 19, 2020
Central --9am--11:00am
Oakford Town hall--9am-11:00am
Tallula Park/Grade School--9am-11am
NSPOA/Jellystone--9am-10am
Menard Electric--10:15-11:15
 
PORTA has started serving Breakfast and Lunch to those who wish to participate and will continue to offer meals M-F until March 30th.  The Meal program will be offered to all PORTA Families with Children under 18 in the household and those meals will be free.  Meals will be grab and go and will include a breakfast and lunch in each bag.
 
Meals will be prepared at PORTA Central and should be picked up there.  A drive up grab and go method will be used at PORTA Central.  While we prefer that meals are picked up at PORTA Central we also understand that not all families have the ability to travel to the school to gather meals. As such, we will travel to Oakford Town Hall and Tallula Grade School, NSPOA (Jellystone) and Menard Electric and pass out meals according to the schedule above.  In special circumstances we will deliver to households if that household will call their school office and ask for specific deliver instructions.
 
If you would like to participate in the free meal program please email lunch@porta202.org  and give the number of individuals who are under 18 in your household. At any point our families may opt to take the free meal, please feel free to send your info to the lunch email. If you are unable to email please call your Building office and your information will be passed along.

Thank you for the tireless efforts of our amazing staff.  Our Kitchen staff has produced 1000s of meals and will continue to do so as we need, transportation, teachers, aids and custodial staff have been working very hard to make this huge undertaking come to life.  #BecauseWeAreBluejays.

​Breakfast and Lunch Service for PORTA Families—As of March 16, 2020 12:00 PM
 
Free Lunch and Breakfast
Who:                                     PORTA Families with Children under Age 18
When:                                  Monday-Fri starting March 17 through March 30---We will offer through Spring Break
When/Where:                  PORTA Central---Drive thru pickup from 10am to 1 PM
Alternate Pickup points: Oakford Town Hall 10:00 Am-Noon
                                                Tallula Park/Grade school 10:00AM –Noon
                                                NSPOA/Jellystone—10AM-11AM
                                Menard Electric—11:30Am-1pm.             
 
PORTA will begin offering Breakfast and Lunch to those who wish to participate beginning Tuesday March 17, 2020.  The Meal program will be offered to all PORTA Families with Children under 18 in the household and those meals will be free.  Meals will be grab and go and will include a breakfast and lunch in each bag, with the exception of Tuesday March 16, 2020 which will include two breakfast meals for the 17 and morning of the 18th.
 
Meals will be prepared at PORTA Central and should be picked up there between the hours of 10AM-1PM.  A drive up grab and go method will be used at PORTA Central.  While we prefer that meals are picked up at PORTA Central we also understand that not all families have the ability to travel to the school to gather meals. As such, we will travel to Oakford Town Hall and Tallula Grade School, NSPOA (Jellystone) and Menard Electric and pass out meals according to the schedule above.  In special circumstances we will deliver to households if that household will call their school office and ask for specific deliver instructions.
 
If you would like to participate in the free meal program please email lunch@porta202.org before 8 am on Tuesday, March 17th and give the number of individuals who are under 18 in your household. At any point our families may opt to take the free meal, please feel free to send your info to the lunch email. If you are unable to email please call your Building office and your information will be passed along.

School Closure UPDATE!!!
 
Students will not be in Session on Monday, March 16th. 
 
Teachers will be allowed into buildings from 7 AM to 3 PM to finalize homework plans, etc.
 
Students who have not already had the opportunity to take work packets, technology, textbooks etc. may come to the Jr/Sr High to pick those items up between the hours of 10AM and 2 PM on Tuesday March 17th or at another arranged time if a family is unable to arrive at the listed time.  Please work out those details with your school administrator.
 
Continuation of Lunch Service.  It is our goal to institute a grab and go lunch/breakfast program on Tuesday, March 18th, but it may need to be moved back a day depending on several factors in our cafeteria program.  The lunch program will run March 18 (still a question on this date), 19 and March 24-27 and March 30.
We will set up a time to grab and go lunch and breakfast pickup at the High school and determine other delivery methods on Monday and will report out Monday afternoon. 
 
Any family who would like access to the School lunch program may email their students names to lunch@porta202.org.  
Correction: All students and anyone in their household 18 or under may access the Free School Lunch program offered March 18 (still a question on this date), 19 and March 24-27 and March 30.
​

Initially it was reported that students would return on March 30, 2020, after a clarification the return date for all students at this time is March 31, 2020.  School will be in session on Monday March 16, 2020.  Teachers and students will prepare for a home learning scenario and the remaining staff will plan for deep cleaning of schools, lunch production and delivery and homework collection, delivery and assistance.  The district will open a new email account beginning Monday to collect family interest in receiving lunches and breakfasts.  Families who qualify for Free and Reduced lunches may still receive those services for all persons in the household under 18 years old.  Additionally, all activities and practices are cancelled at this juncture and the Prek Screening scheduled for next week will be postponed and rescheduled.  Pre-k Staff will call each candidate and reschedule within the next two weeks.  

​By now you have likely heard that all schools in Illinois will be closed starting March 17 and students are set to return on March 31st.  While we are still determining the expectations of this closure we are currently planning on using two emergency days on the 17th and 18th leading into our schedule spring break.  Those two emergency days will extend our current school calendar until June 1, with the last day of student attendance occurring on May 29th.  Graduation for HS will remain on the 29th of May and we anticipate 8th grade commencement will remain on May 28th.
Following Spring Break students will have work that will be completed at home starting on the 24th of March thru the 27th with an expected return to school on the 31st.  We are unsure if school closures will be extended at this time but please be prepared for such a case.  We will continue to offer information in regards to homework plans, school closure and other important services the district provides as we move through the week next week.
Thank you and please stay healthy.

PORTA Families and Community,
As a School District who has no indication of a Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in our community, it would be simple to only focus on our immediate issues and wait for what looks to be an inevitable case of coronavirus in the future.  Unfortunately, we are forced to have a much broader perspective in these unprecedented times.  During a meeting today Menard/Sangamon County School leaders met and discussed options available to help curtail the inevitable spread of the Coronavirus.  It became evident that a rapid increase of cases would very quickly overwhelm our medical facilities, as it has in Italy, if we are not willing to take action that limits the spread of the virus.  As such the rapidly developing circumstances of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) may require changes to our usual practices, even if there are no known cases in our area.  Being prepared is of utmost importance for all of our families at this juncture.  If schools close for an extended period of time families need to have a plan for their children’s daycare.  Please plan and prepare for such an eventuality.
 
But if COVID-19 isn’t here, why should we change our usual practices?
 
Our greatest concern is not just about the threat/risk to individual students, but also about doing all that we can as a community to minimize the impact as a whole. This is best accomplished through something known as “social distancing.” Public health authorities advise that practicing social distancing is the best way to slow the spread of infection and prevent the challenges of providing care for many people being infected at once and overwhelming our healthcare system. More on this here:
https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation
 
We need to be prepared:
 
With the rapid spread of the virus and its proximity to Springfield, we know from public health authorities, epidemiologists, and our own advisors that it is best to assume that the virus will eventually reach Petersburg and surrounding areas. Based on recommendations from health authorities, our district may enact temporary procedural changes, which could include restrictions on visitors to school buildings, possible cancellation or rescheduling of large gatherings or events, and even closing school buildings. Social distancing is an important component of pandemic planning, reducing the potential for exposure of the virus if found in our community. The decision to close schools is made with guidance from IDPH, ISBE, and our local health department. Even though, at this time, IDPH is not recommending closing schools, we need to be prepared.
If schools were to close due to circumstances related to COVID-19, we would first use the remaining two (of five) emergency days allocated to us. If closures were to continue beyond these days, they would be considered Act of God Days, and would not be made up at the end of the year if approved by the regional superintendent and the State Superintendent of Education.
If schools are closed for extended periods of time, the district would encourage continued learning activities as promoted by district and/or building leadership, including but not limited to e-Learning.
 
 
One last thing as spring break approaches
 
Any student or staff member traveling to a country rated under awww.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation level 2 or 3 travel advisory by the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html)  will be subject to a 14 day quarantine before returning to school. Please find more information on travel and a PORTA travel survey at https://www.portasuptsblog.org/superintendents-blog/traveling-for-spring-break-please-read-and-complete-the-enclosed-survey
 
We will continue to provide you with any new information we receive regarding this situation, or any changes made to our normal operations. We will contact staff and parents via phone and email, social media and website postings, and local media notification to report any important information regarding closures or cancellations.
We have heard from families who are seeking guidance on precautions, and we have heard from those who are expressing concerns. We all have a social responsibility to each other in situations like this insure the safety of others by being prudent in our decision making processes.
 
Wishing you good health,
 
Matt Brue
Superintendent.

​To our PORTA Family and Community,
 
PORTA Travel Survey

​Like so many of you, we have spent the last several days and weeks learning about the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), which has spread throughout China and to 71 other countries and territories, including the United States.
While there are no reports of COVID-19 in Sangamon/Menard/Cass Counties, our school district is preparing for the possibility that the disease could make its way to our area. The district already has many protocols in place due to the cold and flu season, which we will continue to follow, including periodic deep cleaning of high-touch areas of our building and playgrounds.
With spring break coming up, many of our families may have travel plans. If this applies to you, we strongly encourage you to follow these guidelines:
●Consult the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information for travelers who currently recommends avoiding all nonessential travel to China and South Korea. The CDC has recommended enhanced precautions for travel to Italy, Iran, and Japan.
●Closely monitor Travel.state.gov to review current travel restrictions from the U.S. Department of
State during this public health emergency. Anyone returning to the U.S. from mainland China is required to self-isolate for 14 days; this includes people with or without symptoms. These recommendations may be extended to travel from other countries with ongoing transmission of
COVID-19.
●Regularly check with your commercial airline carrier for changes to outbound and inbound flights.
●Consult with your health care provider or your school nurse before and upon return from travel outside of the U.S., particularly if you plan to visit an area with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
 
Please know that traveling into areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases could pose a risk of potentially being quarantined for a minimum of 14 days.  AS Such, we would ask that you complete our travel survey https://forms.gle/noJW19Cg1yYXxFwH9 so that we can be share information with local health departments in the rare instance one of our students or staff have come into contact with a COVID-19 virus carrier.
Updated information can be found at following links:
● CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19)
● IDPH Coronavirus (COVID-19)
● WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19)
● Sangamon County Department of Public Health
● Sangamon County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Phone Line (217) 321-2606 (Monday
–Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm)
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call your healthcare provider or our school nurses, Brie and Stephanie at (217) 632-3803.  As we receive updates, we will continue to communicate and post information on the PORTA Social Media sites.
 
Stay safe and healthy,
 
Matt Brue
Superintendent

PORTA Students, Staff and Families,
Over the next few weeks all of our community will be affected in some way by the coronavirus that has entered the State of Illinois and the United States.  Currently, we have no active cases in Menard County and to our knowledge no staff, student or member of our school community has been in the presence of a known carrier of the Covid-19 virus.  As a school district, our goals for the next few weeks are:

1. To make sure our students and families are informed.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact your child’s school office, school principal, or superintendent.  
2. To spend extra time daily using disinfectant on student desks, door knob, bathrooms and other flat surfaces.
3. To implement an emergency plan involving E-Learning to handle any situations should the virus impact the State of Illinois and create a State-wide shutdown or specifically our district.  
4. To educate and remind students the proper way to wash hands, sanitize, and protect themselves   

The health and safety of our students is our top priority, so we want to share with you information that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has published for schools throughout the state. 
The good news at this time is that the health risk to the general public from coronavirus remains low. Currently, the IDPH recommends schools hold classes and events as usual, and follow routine cleaning and disinfecting procedures; no special measures are necessary.
The IDPH also recommends the best way to protect against coronavirus is by taking the same everyday precautions against getting sick in general. These include:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

We will continue to closely monitor recommendations regarding coronavirus and will update you as soon as there are any significant changes in recommendations for schools. If you would like more information in regards to the COVID-19 virus the following link is a great resource https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.  Thank you for your support in helping to keep our school community healthy.
Sincerely,
Matthew W. Brue
Superintendent

As a preventative measure we will be sharing updates on the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and any advice that can be shared with our public to keep everyone informed and quell any rumors.

Know the facts about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and help stop the spread of rumors.For up-to-date information, visit CDC’s coronavirus disease 2019 situation summary page.

Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity.People of Asian descent, including Chinese Americans, are not more likely to get COVID-19 than any other American. Help stop fear by letting people know that being of Asian descent does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19.

The risk of getting COVID-19 in the U.S. is currently low.Some people who have traveled to places where many people have gotten sick with COVID-19 may be monitored by health officials to protect their health and the health of other people in the community.

Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.For up-to-date information, visit CDC’s coronavirus disease situation summary page.

You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

Seek medical advice if you

• Develop symptoms

AND

• Have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy.

• 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.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

We are acutely aware of the impending weather projected for Wednesday Evening into Thursday Morning along with cold temperatures to follow.  If the weather projections come to fruition and we feel the need to cancel Parent/Teacher conferences we will plan on moving those conferences to Wednesday February 19th and Thursday February 20th.  In this case we will have 2 PM dismissals on those days and conferences will be held from 4-7 each evening.  If you have a scheduled conference time, that time will transfer to the alternate Parent/Teacher nights on the 19th and 20th.  We appreciate your flexibility and realize the importance of maintaining our conference meetings so our parents are well informed on student progress.  We will make a final decision in regards to moving the conferences early in the day on Wednesday February 12, 2020.  As always, we will monitor the weather conditions and make decisions about potential school closings as we always do and will report that information via social media, and our direct call system.

January, 2019
Fine Arts at PES
​


January, 2019:  Students are learning the history of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and how his legacy affects them today.  This unit of cultural, social studies based learning provides incredible opportunities to enhance student understanding through the fine arts standards.

Music Students listen to the words of Dr. King’s recorded speeches and then observe a performance of a choir that performs the song “We Shall Overcome”...putting the words of Martin Luther King into music.  Students identify thematic elements of music (as well as tempo, pitch, volume, etc.) and learn to perform this piece of music.
Music And Dance Students recall learned rhythm and use their bodies to create a steady beat to accompany the chanting and singing of some of MLK, Jr.’s speeches and music.
Drama Students watch a live actor reenactment of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.  Students discuss the passion with which speeches are given that are meant to inspire.  Students brainstorm dreams...particularly dreams that young people can have to change the world.  Students then stand together to perform a “beat poetry” rendition of “I Have A Dream” using choral speaking and individual performing to speak their dreams as part of a poem.
Visual Arts Students use learned art elements of line and space to use filter paper to trace an outline of Martin Luther King.  The students work quietly, thinking of using their art as a statement.  Once they complete the outline silhouette they are free to use choice and expression to add detail with color, and encouraged to recall words from Dr. King’s speeches to add detail and meaning to their work.
 
*because this particular unit is related to a holiday and all grade levels are incorporating it into study - each class lesson was modified for age level to varying degrees of independence and student/teacher engagement.
​

​Latest Outbreak Information 
 

• As of October 15, 2019, 1,479* lung injury cases associated with-cigarette use, or vaping, have been reported to CDC from the District of Columbia, 1 U.S. territory (USVI), and 49 states (all except Alaska).
• Thirty-three deaths have been confirmed in 24 states: Alabama, California (3), Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia (2), Illinois, Indiana (3), Kansas (2), Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota (3), Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. More deaths are under investigation.
  • The median age of deceased patients was 44 years and ranged from 17 to 75 years.
• Among 1,358 patients with data on age and sex:
  • 70% of patients are male.
  • The median age of patients is 23 years and ages range from 13 to 75 years.

o 79% of patients are under 35 years old.

• By age group category:
  • 15% of patients are under 18 years old;
  • 21% of patients are 18 to 20 years old;

• 18% of patients are 21 to 24 years old;
  • 25% of patients are 25 to 34 years old; and
  • 21% of patients are 35 years or older.

• To date, national and state data suggest that products containing THC, particularly those obtained off the street or from other informal sources (e.g., friends, family members, or illicit dealers), are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak.
• All patients have a reported history of e-cigarette product use, or vaping, and no consistent evidence of an infectious cause has been discovered. Therefore, the suspected cause is exposure to a chemical or chemicals.
• The specific chemical exposure(s} causing lung injuries associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping, remains unknown at this time.
• Among 849 patients with information on substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products in the 3 months prior to symptom onset**:

o About 78% reported using THC-containing products; 31% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products.
0 About 58% reported using nicotine-containing products; 10% reported exclusive use of nicotine-containing products.

• This complex investigation spans almost all states, involves over a thousand patients, and involves a wide variety of brands and substances and e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Case counts continue to increase and new cases are being reported, which makes it more difficult to determine the cause or causes of this outbreak.

 
 
What CDC is Doing? 

• CDC is working 24/7 to identify the cause or causes of this outbreak through partnerships with states and other federal agencies.
• CDC has activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate activities and provide assistance to states, public health partners and clinicians around the nation.
• CDC's Lung Injury response efforts are committed to:

• Identify and define the risk factors and the source for lung disease associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping.
• Detect and track confirmed and probable cases in the US.
• Communicate actionable recommendations to state, local, and clinical audiences.
• Establish lab procedures that can assist with the public heath investigation and patient care.