Bureau Valley CUSD #340

Dear Bureau Valley Communities, Earlier today, we were notified that a staff member at Bureau Valley High School has tested positive for COVID-19. Upon receiving that information, I immediately contacted the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Bureau County Health Department, and the Illinois State Board of Education for their guidance. After an investigation, health department officials have indicated that the employee likely contracted the virus after last being on school grounds. As a result, we have been advised that employees and students are considered “low risk” for potentially being exposed to the virus from this employee. Due to health privacy laws, the identity of the employee will not be released. COVID-19 shares many symptoms with more common respiratory diseases. According to the Bureau County Health Department, you should monitor yourself for any signs of illness (fever, cough, or shortness of breath). If you are experiencing any symptoms, you should contact your local health care provider. Click here to view further guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health on COVID-19, or click here for more local information from the Bureau County Health Department. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the number of cases can be reduced by adhering to the Governor’s stay at home order, washing hands frequently, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and maintaining space from others when in public. We remind all to follow these measures to protect yourselves, your families, and your fellow community members. As demonstrated through previous communication and actions this school year, the safety of our students, families, and communities is the highest priority. The district administrative team will continue to monitor the situation and be in contact with the employee, health agencies, and the Illinois State Board of Education. We appreciate your vigilance and will provide further updates as needed.

Information on free internet access! https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19 https://mediacomcable.com/about/news/corona-company-initiatives/

Dear Storm Families and Staff, On Friday, March 20th, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a “Stay-at-Home” order for the entire state starting Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. This order essentially commands residents to stay in their homes as the officials take measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Residents can still shop for groceries, put gas in their cars, take walks outside, and collect prescriptions from pharmacies. All local roads, including the interstate highways and tollways, will remain open to traffic, as well. Under the governor’s directive, schools will continue to be closed through Tuesday, April 7th. Schools will tentatively reopen Wednesday, April 8th, unless otherwise mandated by the governor, Illinois State Board of Education, or local health agencies. This mandated closure also extends the cancelling of all school activities and events, including sports, meetings, etc. Next week is our regularly planned spring break, and, therefore, most school functions were already scheduled to be off and district employees were to be given the time off. As a result, food services will not be available from March 21st through March 29th. Additionally, families and staff are strongly encouraged to take time for themselves as they normally would during spring break. If students or parents desire educational opportunities during their break, please check out the parent link on the district website for “Supplemental Educational Resources”. After our scheduled spring break, the district is confident that it will be able to provide meals during the extended school closure. As arrangements are made, we will communicate the hours and distribution process for meals from March 30th through April 7th. We will also communicate further opportunities for students’ learning for March 31st through April 7th after the Illinois Board of Education provides clarity and direction. It is with the guidance and mandates of state officials that we work to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the Bureau Valley family. We strongly encourage our population to follow the advice of officials in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus to get everyone back to school as soon as possible to continue our communities’ drive for Unity, Excellence, and Pride. Thank you for your continued support, flexibility, and patience. Sincerely, The Bureau Valley CUSD #340 Administrative Team

Check out our website for more information on the COVID-19 virus: https://www.bv340.org/o/bv-cusd/page/covid-19--44

Bureau Valley is canceling school on Monday, March 16th due to recent developments related to the COVID-19 Virus and the CDC’s recommendations of canceling gatherings with 50 or more people. Our curbside lunch program will begin tomorrow, Monday, March 16th between 10:30 and noon at the designated sites. If you need any supplies from your student’s locker, learning materials or medications, please call your child’s school to set up a time to pick up these items. We will continue to communicate regularly with updates as this situation remains fluid.

Bureau Valley CUSD #340 Members, Since previous correspondences from district administration, Governor J.B. Pritzker has provided further clarification and guidance to Illinois schools. On Saturday, March 14th, the governor declared Act of God days during the state-mandated closure of schools through March 30th; no longer will these days need to be made up at the end of the school year, nor will they be counted as emergency days that count against the number of required days for students’ instruction and teachers’ retirement. And, while these days won’t count as attendance days, the Illinois State Board of Education has declared that instruction is still “expected” on these days, which doesn’t include days already planned for spring break. Bureau Valley staff and administration are committed to keeping students engaged in their learning during this statewide school closure. Therefore, Bureau Valley schools will progress forward with a plan that provides supplemental learning opportunities for all students in the district during this extended closure. In this plan, we encourage parents and students to engage in free, online educational activities and/or supplemental materials provided by the school district. The Illinois State Board of Education has compiled a library of resources at www.isbe.net/keeplearning. Additionally, the Bureau Valley school district has printed resources for distribution and created a webpage with online, educational resources for students and families that can be accessed at https://www.bv340.org/o/bv-cusd/page/supplemental-educational-resources. These learning activities and lessons may be completed on a schedule that is controlled and paced by the students and parents. For instance, if 15 minutes of online Khan Academy practice is desired for an English class, the student (and/or parent) may choose to complete the activity during evening hours as opposed to mandating that it be completed between 9:00-10:00 a.m. This educational plan for supplemental learning will provide Bureau Valley students the opportunity to continue academic learning during this unprecedented closure of Illinois schools. The support and implementation of the plan by all members of the learning community will be necessary, as guided by state mandates, to be successful. With that said, the Bureau Valley administrative team is greatly appreciative of all efforts made to progress forward with student learning. At this point, Bureau Valley schools and school-related activities are expected to reopen on Tuesday, March 31st. However, as the situation develops and other guidelines are communicated, the administration of Bureau Valley schools will provide further updates. Sincerely, The Bureau Valley CUSD #340 Administrative Team

Dear Bureau Valley CUSD #340 School Family, To provide additional support to our Bureau Valley CUSD #340 families, we will be providing FREE meals on Tuesday, March 17th through Friday, March 20th, and Monday, March 30th. Meals will be provided for children ages 18 and younger, or others who are currently enrolled at Bureau Valley CUSD #340. Families will be provided with lunch for that day as well as breakfast for the following morning via curbside service. We will not be serving meals on our scheduled Spring Break the week of March 23rd - March 27th; if this were to change due to the fluidity of the situation, district administration will provide notice to all community members. WHERE AND WHEN CAN I PICK UP THESE MEALS? Buda - Bus Stop (Younggren Center) Manlius - High School Front Door Sheffield - Bus Stop (United Church of Christ) Walnut - Elementary School a.m. parent drop off circle Wyanet - Elementary School a.m. parent drop off circle WHEN CAN I PICK UP THESE MEALS? Meals can be picked up at each site from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. We ask that people pick up one bag per child in their care and immediately leave the site. WHAT IF I CAN’T GET TO THE SITE? Call your students' building between the hours of 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. and we will try our best to accommodate you. CAN I COME ONCE AND GET ENOUGH FOOD FOR THE WEEK? Due to our resources, it is best to get food daily. If you have limited transportation, please call your building and make your needs known and we will do our best to accommodate you. CAN I COME HELP PREPARE/DISTRIBUTE MEALS? We appreciate the community's willingness to help! At this time we are trying our best to follow the social distancing guidelines and will be using our staff only. As always, thank you for your continued support of our Bureau Valley Schools, Mr. Jason R. Stabler, Superintendent

The BV Foundation board has decided to reschedule the drawdown to Saturday, May 9. It will still be held at Rediger's Shed in Wyanet. Doors open at 5:30, dinner at 6:00 with drawdown to follow at 7:15 with many great auction items. Tickets are still available. Contact any Foundation board member or Margaret DeVenney at margaret_devenney@yahoo.com for tickets.

March 13, 2020 - 5:30 p.m. Dear Bureau Valley Parents & Community, On Monday, March 16th Bureau Valley Schools will be in session. Students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m. and all evening activities will be canceled. In preparation for the impending closure and the E-Learning program, student attendance is beneficial and needed to ensure Chromebooks, books, papers, and other materials can be distributed. Effective Tuesday, March 17th through Monday, March 30th, schools in Bureau Valley School District #340 will be closed, as ordered by the governor due to the emergency declaration in response to COVID-19. Schools will tentatively reopen Tuesday, March 31st, unless otherwise notified. During school closures, all activities (practices, competitions, clubs/organizations) are postponed or canceled. As we come together in times like this, we appreciate the support and flexibility of the Bureau Valley communities. Go Storm! Sincerely, Mr. Stabler, Superintendent

The Junior High volleyball regional championship game scheduled for tonight (3/12/20) has been cancelled. There will be volleyball practice after school until 5:00pm.

Given the increased attention and focus on the coronavirus in the media, Bureau Valley is sharing some general information regarding the virus. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kvbOv0nVQcNKZEQnyb471JYVL7ukPuIs/view?usp=sharing

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Musical shows at Bureau Valley High School at 6:00 pm on March 13th and 14th. The young actors of our school have devoted themselves to producing a challenging musical that presents important questions of judgement and morality. These 15th century characters of Paris portray issues important to consider now in our 21st century homes. Through song, dance, and sword fights, we wonder what it means to be a friend, have a home, and differentiate between right and wrong. We ask: “What would we change from our past?” “What change can we make for some day in the future?” “Why not make some day come right now?” During the intermission of our show, we invite our audience to enjoy a snack bar in support of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Memory is so important to what we do on the stage, we think it natural to support its preservation. All free-will donations will go to support the organization. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the door. We hope to have you in the audience as we ring the bells of Notre Dame!

The annual BV Foundation Drawdown will be Saturday, March 21st at Rediger's Shed in Wyanet. Tickets are $40 for a chance to win $750. It also includes 2 meals. There will also be live, silent, and pie auctions. All of the money goes towards classroom grants for BV Pre-K through 12 grades. Come and support the education of all of our children in the BV district! Contact Margaret DeVenney at 815-866-1146 for tickets.

Tonight's BVHS Boys Basketball game (2/20/20) is in Prophetstown. Sophomores begin at 5:30pm followed by the Varsity.

The BVHS Renaissance Program wants to honor BVHS alumni who have served our country by featuring their names on banners to be displayed in the Commons. The BVHS NHS is also looking to update their photo display of those who have served our country. If you are a BVHS graduate or you know a BVHS graduate who is serving or has served in the military, please send the graduate's name, branch of the military in which they served and a photograph. Contact Heather Foster at hfoster@bureauvalley.net or Bureau Valley High School, PO Box 329, Manlius, IL 61338. Call 815-445-4004 with questions.

The BVHS Drama Department will present "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" at 6:00 pm on March 13th and 14th at the high school auditorium in Manlius. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the door. We hope you choose to come to the show!

Varsity players Adam Johnson, Carter Salisbury, and Dalton Dean helping with Biddy Basketball in Walnut on Saturday mornin! #teachthemyoung #littlebolts

BVHS Student Council is collecting items for Care Packages to be sent to our soldiers! https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Ql3BL-YPsOt7sZJpZ1YjVE-f5g_RLwXKxAg3GfPTHI/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A-rZoFZP5MdMzE_zzvjPxZ6EwZQYL3d8j9gEMMWddio/edit?usp=sharing

ARTSPOWER BRINGS THE MUSICAL JUDY MOODY & STINK TO BUREAU VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL! ArtsPower National Touring Theatre returns to the Bureau Valley High School auditorium, February 5th at 9 AM, with a performance of Judy Moody & Stink. BVHS graduate Frank Monier stars as Stink Moody. The Bureau Valley auditorium has seating for community members to attend. To reserve your seat please call the Walnut Building: 815-379-2900. Bureau Valley High School is located at 9154 2125 North Ave., Manilus, IL 61338.

Bureau Valley CUSD #340 has set the week of February 10 - February 14, 2020 for Kindergarten Registration at Bureau Valley Elementary buildings in Walnut and Wyanet. Parents may register their child in the attendance center their child will attend between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on those dates. Children who will be five years old on or before September 1st will be eligible to attend kindergarten in the fall. Children are not required to attend the registration process. Parents will be required to present proof of age (certified copy of birth certificate) at the time of registration. School phone numbers are: BV- Walnut Elementary (815) 379-2900 and BV-Wyanet Elementary (815) 699-2251.