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Distinctive schools blog
school updates, education news, and all things personalized learning

Music In Our [Digital] Schools

3/31/2020

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Music In Our [Digital] Schools: Balance, Creativity, & Joy

Did you know that March is Music In Our Schools month? We reached out to our amazing Distinctive Schools music teachers to celebrate their work, and learn more about their classroom practice. This month brought a new set of challenges to our music teachers – we have experienced an unprecedented shift, flipping the paradigm of school overnight. Innovative, student-centered environments, student-directed learning, and a strong culture prepared Distinctive students and teachers to quickly shift their classrooms to focus on At-Home Learning. 

​As families – and teachers– across the country have adapted to this new reality, Distinctive Schools music teachers are doing their part to continue bringing joy, student-centered curriculum, and artistic opportunities for expression to their students... only, now it's from their living rooms. 


Nicole Chopp, music teacher at CICS West Belden, is making great efforts to support students and teachers during the school closures. In the classroom, Nicole’s approach to teaching music is centered around learning through play, imitation, and experimentation. Since moving to at-home learning, Nicole continues to keep play and experimentation central to her teaching. "While my primary role during at home learning is to support community teachers, I am still providing students with opportunities to have fun with music.” Nicole is engaging students through video, sharing recordings that allow students to continue building skills they’ve started to work on in class, and focusing on independent work for now. “I'm doing my best to provide students with access to content they're familiar with so they can be successful and have fun at home."

Amber Leitsch, Vocal Performance and Piano Teacher at Art In Motion, prioritizes culture in her classroom. Her goal is always to provide a safe and welcoming environment, where her students learn to make music an outlet for creativity, emotion, thought and energy. “Music can be an incredible tool to look into the past, learn about the world inside and outside of one’s own community, communicate with others, make a person’s day and create art," Amber shared.  Now that her classroom has moved to the digital space, she is excited to see the many ways her students are embracing the challenges of e-learning. “My students are so creative, they are coming up with all of these ideas! My biggest goal, outside of using their craft as an outlet for emotions, is to make their voices heard. They are responsible for shaping the world.” Amber’s students are diving deep into music theory, and working on ways to take their practice to the next (digital) level. 

We asked Frank Cademartori, music teacher at CICS Irving Park and Network Enrichment Coordinator, how things have evolved since making the switch to At-Home Learning. “The most exciting and interactive part are the Live Lessons that we host twice daily.” Frank shared, “These are open to all students and we help walk them through a simple activity from origami to a sing-a-long, to paper mache.” The enrichment team at CICS Irving Park is meeting through google hangouts to plan lessons, collaborate, and develop a new schedule for families to join in on every week. They are sharing resources with families, including independent, guided, and scripted activities, through a shared Google Classroom. What does the future hold for CICS Irving Park Enrichment? “We're working on developing smaller, more specialized, "opt-in" classes that students can sign up for. We all think it's more important than ever to give students time and space to be creative and explore!”. 

Historically, during times of crisis, we turn to the arts to lift our spirits, express our feelings, and keep us balanced. We are so grateful to our enrichment teachers for striving to provide balance and a creative outlet for our students (and staff!) during this time of uncertainty. As a strong community, we know that we will get through this together, and we look forward to making music in our schools again soon! ​
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Family Update re: COVID-19 Virus

3/8/2020

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Dear Distinctive Schools Network Families,

This is an update to our last message from February 29th, 2020  regarding the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the network's response and procedures. Because the status of COVID-19 is rapidly changing both here in the U.S. and abroad, we are continually monitoring the situation and will regularly update you with information as it becomes pertinent to what is happening at your school.

We are in close contact with our local school districts and authorizers and have actively engaged with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure that we are following the direction of experts when it comes to safety and preventative measures for our students and staff. We do - and will continue to - follow their guidance. As an update, Chicago Public Schools has announced a confirmed case of COVID-19 and they are working with families and students to ensure tight protocols are in place. If you have a student or family member at Vaughn Occupational High School, we ask that you inform us and follow all IPDH, CDC and CPS guidelines.  As stated before, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan, but as the number of cases in the U.S. grows, we are taking this very seriously. As testing of COVID-19 becomes more widely available, we may begin to see new cases in the coming days and weeks. Local health departments along with state and federal authorities and local school districts will  issue new guidance in the coming days and weeks, and we will keep you updated on changes and its impact on your school. At this time, the local district is not considering closing schools based on the recommendation of local health authorities. We will likely follow local district and authorizer decision making throughout the next few days and weeks. 

There are several proactive measures we are taking right now  as preventative measures in our schools and beyond, and there are things that you - as families and members of the school community - can do that are critically important as well.

What Distinctive Schools is doing: 
  • Reminding students and encouraging frequent hand washing with soap and warm water, as this is the number one way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the flu and many other viruses. Also reminding students not to share food or drink.
  • Ensuring that we have hand sanitizing stations at all schools and in all classrooms.
  • Refocusing and increasing cleaning duties in all of our schools.  Currently, all touch points (light switches, doorknobs, water fountains, etc.) are cleaned daily with an antimicrobial disinfectant on the EPA list of COVID-19 fighting products (VIRAL II/256.). Plans for additional focused deep cleaning of high traffic areas and buildings are in place and being deployed this week.  Shared technology devices will also be cleaned frequently. 
  • Suspending any student awards or incentives for “Perfect Attendance.” It is critical that you do not send sick children to school. 
  • Suspending doctors notes from students for absences due to illnesses.
  • Maintaining visitor logs and protocols as well as sign in procedures at each campus. 
  • Discouraging unnecessary physical contact, including shaking hands, hugging, etc. to limit the spreading of potential viruses. Please do not be offended if your child's teacher does not shake hands and do not feel obligated to offer a hand.
  • Closely watching attendance and daily illness reports at each of our schools. This is common practice during flu season for Distinctive Schools.
  • We are also actively monitoring any school-sponsored field trips  to determine whether those should be postponed or cancelled. No decisions have been made at this time, but we are following alerts from the State Department, World Health Organization, local districts and CDC and will cancel, if necessary, to ensure the safety of our students and staff. 
  • Cancelling all international business related travel for any DS employees. 
  • Recommending DS staff to postpone, limit or cancel domestic business related travel for any DS employees. 
  • Updating all of our emergency-response plans and procedures. If the situation worsens significantly, please know that we do have an Emergency Operations Plan in place. It is far too early to speculate about any school closures, but know that we are exploring various options and planning is ongoing to ensure that student learning will continue. We are ready to put these plans into action if we need to take additional steps in response to the coronavirus and local district decisions. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
  • Keep your children home when they are sick: This simple guide gives good information about when to send students to school and when to keep them home, but if your child has any of the following symptoms, they should not come to school: fever (without medication), vomiting, diarrhea, undiagnosed rash, green or yellow discharge from nose, an inflamed throat, persistent cough, redness or discharge from the eyes, or an elevated temperature. Preventing the spread of any illness is all of our responsibility, and keeping sick children home will keep all kids safer and stop transmission within schools.
    Have a plan in place to pick your children quickly should they become ill at school.
  • Encourage and help your children wash their hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water is not available, use hand sanitizer. Remind them to avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands and to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick and do not bring your children to visit with people who are ill. 
  • If you travel outside the US, adhere to the CDEC Guidelines: This includes self-quarantines, avoiding non-essential travel & processes for re-entry to our schools: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html
  • If your students travel to a level 2 or 3 CDC COVID-19 warning area, please notify your School Director before returning: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html)
  • If anyone in your household has traveled to level 2 or 3 CDC COVID-10 warning areas, please let us know and please follow all CDC guidelines. 
  • If any of our school families are expecting to host students from other countries, as part of exchange programs, with recent international travel, we ask you to let us know. In addition, if anyone in your household has traveled to any level 2 & 3 travel notice locations, we ask you to monitor symptoms and follow all CDC guidelines for communication protocols. 

Here are some helpful links if you would like more information on COVID-19:
  • Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
  • Chicago Government:  www.chicago.gov/coronavirus
  • Wayne County Health Division (including easy to read fact sheets): https://www.waynecounty.com/departments/hhvs/wellness/novel-coronavirus-information.aspx
  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (latest data statewide): https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71550_5104_97675---,00.html 

If you have any additional questions or are showing any signs of a respiratory illness (similar symptoms to the flu: fever, cough, shortness of breath) please consult your health care professional. We will also update you again as the situation changes and more information becomes available.  Finally, COVID-19 does not distinguish between race, nationality, or geographic borders. Stigma and discrimination against the afflicted discourages early reporting of symptoms and further perpetuates community spread.

If there is a concern related to student discrimination, please reach out to your School Director.

We are grateful for your partnership in keeping your children - and all Distinctive Schools students and staff - safe as we navigate through this situation.
Sincerely,

Scott Frauenheim                Mike McCarthy                       
Chief Executive Officer       Executive Director of Student Services     
Distinctive Schools              Distinctive Schools

Actualización familiar sobre el virus COVID-19 ​

Estimadas familias de Distinctive Schools:

Esta es una actualización de nuestro último mensaje del 29 de febrero de 2020 sobre el COVID-19 (coronavirus) y la respuesta y los procedimientos de la red. Debido a que el estado de COVID-19 está cambiando rápidamente tanto en los EE. UU como en el extranjero, estamos monitoreando continuamente la situación y lo actualizaremos regularmente con información a medida que sea pertinente a lo que está sucediendo en su escuela.

Estamos en estrecho contacto con nuestros distritos escolares y autorizadores locales y nos hemos comprometido activamente con los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) para garantizar que seguimos la dirección de los expertos en lo que respecta a medidas de seguridad y prevención para nuestros estudiantes y el personal. Seguimos, y seguiremos, siguiendo su guía. Como actualización, las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago anunciaron un caso confirmado de COVID-19 y están trabajando con familias y estudiantes para garantizar la existencia de protocolos estrictos. Si tiene un estudiante o miembro de la familia en Vaughn Occupational High School, le pedimos que nos informe y siga todas las pautas de IPDH, CDC y CPS. Como se indicó anteriormente, no ha habido casos confirmados de COVID-19 en Michigan, pero a medida que aumenta el número de casos en los EE. UU., nos estamos tomando esto muy en serio. A medida que las pruebas de COVID-19 estén más disponibles, podemos comenzar a ver nuevos casos en los próximos días y semanas. Los departamentos de salud locales junto con las autoridades estatales y federales y los distritos escolares locales emitirán una nueva guía en los próximos días y semanas, y lo mantendremos informado sobre los cambios y su impacto en su escuela. En este momento, el distrito local no está considerando cerrar las escuelas según la recomendación de las autoridades sanitarias locales. Probablemente seguiremos la toma de decisiones del distrito local y del autorizador durante los próximos días y semanas. 

Hay varias medidas proactivas que estamos tomando en este momento como medidas preventivas en nuestras escuelas y más allá, y hay cosas que ustedes, como familias y miembros de la comunidad escolar, pueden hacer que también son críticamente importantes.

Qué hace Distinctive Schools: 
  • Recordar a los estudiantes y alentar el lavado frecuente de manos con agua tibia y jabón, ya que esta es la forma número uno de prevenir la propagación de COVID-19, la gripe y muchos otros virus. También recordando a los estudiantes que no compartan comida o bebida.
  • Asegurarnos de tener estaciones de desinfección de manos en todas las escuelas y en todas las aulas.
  • Reenfocando y aumentando las tareas de limpieza en todas nuestras escuelas. Actualmente, todos los puntos de contacto (interruptores de luz, pomos de las puertas, fuentes de agua, etc.) se limpian diariamente con un desinfectante antimicrobiano en la lista de la EPA de productos de lucha contra COVID-19 (VIRAL II / 256). Los planes para una limpieza profunda focalizada adicional de áreas y edificios de alto tráfico están en su lugar y se implementarán esta semana. Los dispositivos de tecnología compartida también se limpiarán con frecuencia. 
  • Suspender cualquier premio o incentivo estudiantil por "Asistencia perfecta". Es fundamental que no envíe niños enfermos a la escuela. 
  • Suspender las notas de los médicos de los estudiantes por ausencias debido a enfermedades.
  • Mantener registros y protocolos de visitantes, así como procedimientos de inicio de sesión en cada campus. 
  • Desalentar el contacto físico innecesario, como darse la mano, abrazarse, etc. para limitar la propagación de posibles virus. No se ofenda si el maestro de su hijo no se da la mano y no se siente obligado a ofrecer una mano.
  • Observando atentamente los informes de asistencia y enfermedades diarias en cada una de nuestras escuelas. Esta es una práctica común durante la temporada de gripe para Distinctive Schools.
  • También estamos monitoreando activamente cualquier excursión patrocinada por la escuela para determinar si se deben posponer o cancelar. No se han tomado decisiones en este momento, pero estamos siguiendo las alertas del Departamento de Estado, la Organización Mundial de la Salud, los distritos locales y los CDC y cancelaremos si es necesario, para garantizar la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes y personal. 
  • Cancelar todos los viajes internacionales relacionados con negocios para cualquier empleado de DS. 
  • Recomendar al personal de DS que posponga, límite o cancele los viajes domésticos relacionados con negocios para cualquier empleado de DS. 
  • Actualización de todos nuestros planes y procedimientos de respuesta a emergencias. Si la situación empeora significativamente, sepa que tenemos un plan de operaciones de emergencia. Es demasiado pronto para especular sobre el cierre de cualquier escuela, pero sepa que estamos explorando varias opciones y que la planificación continúa para garantizar que el aprendizaje de los estudiantes continuará. Estamos listos para poner en práctica estos planes si necesitamos tomar medidas adicionales en respuesta a las decisiones del coronavirus y del distrito local. 

QUÉ PUEDE HACER:
  • Mantenga a sus hijos en casa cuando estén enfermos: esta guía simple brinda buena información sobre cuándo enviar a los estudiantes a la escuela y cuándo mantenerlos en casa, pero si su hijo tiene alguno de los siguientes síntomas, no debe asistir a la escuela: fiebre (sin medicación), vómitos, diarrea, erupción cutánea no diagnosticada, secreción verde o amarilla de la nariz, garganta inflamada, tos persistente, enrojecimiento o secreción de los ojos, o temperatura elevada. Prevenir la propagación de cualquier enfermedad es nuestra responsabilidad y mantener a los niños enfermos en casa los mantendrá más seguros y detendrá la transmisión dentro de las escuelas.
    Tenga un plan para recoger a sus hijos rápidamente si se enferman en la escuela.
  • Anime y ayude a sus hijos a lavarse las manos con frecuencia con jabón y agua tibia durante al menos 20 segundos. Si no hay agua y jabón disponibles, use desinfectante para manos. Recuérdeles que eviten tocarse los ojos, la nariz o la boca con las manos sin lavar y que se cubran la boca y la nariz con un pañuelo o una manga superior al toser o estornudar.
  • Evite el contacto con personas enfermas y no traiga a sus hijos a visitar a personas enfermas. 
  • Si viaja fuera de los EE. UU., Adhiérase a las Pautas del CDEC: esto incluye las cuarentenas, evitando los viajes y procesos no esenciales para el reingreso a nuestras escuelas: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html
  • Si sus estudiantes viajan a un área de advertencia de CDC COVID-19 de nivel 2 o 3, notifiquen al Director de su escuela antes de regresar: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html)
  • Si alguien en su hogar ha viajado a las áreas de advertencia de CDC COVID-10 de nivel 2 o 3, infórmenos y siga todos los CDC pautas 
  • Si alguna de nuestras familias escolares espera recibir estudiantes de otros países, como parte de programas de intercambio, con viajes internacionales recientes, le pedimos que nos lo haga saber. Además, si alguien en su hogar ha viajado a cualquier lugar de notificación de viaje de nivel 2 y 3, le pedimos que controle los síntomas y siga todas las pautas de los CDC para los protocolos de comunicación. 

Aquí hay algunos enlaces útiles si desea obtener más información sobre COVID-19:
  • Centros para el Control de Enfermedades: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
  • Gobierno de Chicago:  www.chicago.gov/coronavirus
  • Wayne County Health Division (incluidas hojas informativas fáciles de leer): https://www.waynecounty.com/departments/hhvs/wellness/novel-coronavirus-information.aspx
  • Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Michigan (datos más recientes en todo el estado): https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71550_5104_97675---,00.html 

Si tiene alguna pregunta adicional o muestra signos de una enfermedad respiratoria (síntomas similares a la gripe: fiebre, tos, falta de aliento), consulte a su profesional de la salud. También lo actualizaremos nuevamente a medida que la situación cambie y haya más información disponible. Finalmente, COVID-19 no distingue entre raza, nacionalidad o fronteras geográficas. El estigma y la discriminación contra los afectados desalientan la notificación temprana de los síntomas y perpetúa aún más la propagación de la comunidad.

Si hay una preocupación relacionada con la discriminación estudiantil, comuníquese con el Director de su escuela.

Agradecemos su colaboración para mantener seguros a sus hijos y a todos los estudiantes y el personal de Distinctive Schools, mientras navegamos por esta situación.
Sinceramente,

Scott Frauenheim                  Mike McCarthy                       
Director Ejecutivo                  Director Ejecutivo de Servicios Estudiantiles     
Distinctive Schools                Distinctive Schools

​​
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Distinctive Schools:
910 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 315, Chicago, IL 60607

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