Arthur CUSD #305

A message from the Fine Arts Boosters With the school closure, we are trying to arrange local drop offs for fundraising envelopes. If you have questions please contact Mary Kirwan Johnson 217-714-004. Please follow the instructions below 1. Please list student Name, School, and grade on the envelope. 2. Please check to make sure order totals match money received. 3. Turn in by Wednesday, March 18. Drop off locations: Arthur: Diane Woodard Lovington: Jenny Moore Atwood: Mary Johnson Hammond: Amy Nichols Garrett: Angie Schable Pierson: still working on it The statewide closures may impact our delivery date. We are trying to work through everything. Thank you.

The Arthur CUSD #305 teachers and staff have been compiling activities for our students to do at home throughout the weeks of our school closure due to COVID-19. Click the link below to view available resources that can be used to engage your students. https://www.cusd305.org/o/arthurcusd/page/school-closure-resources--3

Good afternoon everyone. We hope you have had a peaceful Monday so far. First and foremost, a huge shout out and thank you goes to the kitchen staff at each building in the district and the administrative team. The kitchen staff started early preparing and bagging meals and several staff members volunteered to come in and help distribute the meals to our families. We provided 2,560 meals for our families and we couldn’t be more grateful for all that helped! Again, we have no idea if the mandated shut down of schools will continue but rest assured that we are planning and preparing in order to be ready. Please continue to check your social media accounts as well as email for any updates. We are developing a form that we will distribute tomorrow or Wednesday that will be asking you to sign up if you want to receive meals next Monday. When we send this out, please take the time to fill it out as this will help all of us prepare to serve you more effectively. Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we continue to manage these uncertain times together. So proud of all that have reached out with a willingness to assist, a kind word or a simple thank you. You are appreciated and we are so proud of our communities. Stay tuned for continued updates. Have a great evening. Mr. Cheek

Good afternoon! Thank you to all of our staff that came out and helped distribute meals this morning. We had a great turnout! If you were unable to come pick up food for any reason and you still need some please call your respective building. We will work with you to make arrangements to get you what you need.

This is commitment and love for kids! Up early packing lunches to take care of our kids and community! Thanks so much! It takes us all! #GoKnights #ilschoolsstepup

This group rocks! Love the planning and prep to get through this challenging time! Awesome leaders and grateful to work with them! We will continue to rise up! #GoKnights #community

Dear Arthur CUSD #305 Students, Staff, and Families, In an effort to support all families in the Arthur CUSD #305, we are providing meals at no charge for all students. Listed below are the directions and procedures for picking up the meals that will be provided. Starting tomorrow, March 16th, you may pick up breakfast and lunch at any school building (Lovington Grade School, Atwood-Hammond Grade School, Arthur Grade School and Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School) between 9am and 11am. If you have students at two different schools in the district, for example, a student at AGS and students at ALAH, you do not need to pick up meals at two different schools, you may pick up all the meals at one site. The meals will be available for pick up in the bus lanes at each respective school, except Atwood-Hammond Grade School will be at the parent drop off location (near cafeteria/gym). - March 16th pick up - 5 breakfast/lunch meals for each child - March 23rd pick up - 2 breakfast/lunch meals for each child Additional food for families will be available on site during pick up time. Mr. Cheek

Dear Arthur CUSD #305 Students, Staff, and Families, Good afternoon. Once again, thanks for your flexibility and patience as the situation related to the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve. Due to continued developments Arthur CUSD # 305 schools will not be in attendance on Monday March 16th, 2020. We apologize for any hardships this decision may cause but safety of students and staff is our top priority. Please continue to check the website, your social media accounts and email for continuous updates. We are putting together a plan for providing meals for our students as well as communicating how we will be providing learning opportunities for all of our students. Stay tuned and once again, thanks for your patience and understanding. Thank you, Mr. Cheek

Dear Arthur CUSD #305 Students, Staff, and Families, Good afternoon once again. First, thanks for all your patience and understanding during these trying times. As you may or may not have heard, Governor Pritzker announced the mandate that all schools must close starting Tuesday, March 17th through Monday, March 30th. Monday, March 16th we will hold school but have a 12:00 pm dismissal for the high school and a 12:15 pm dismissal for all three grade schools. This will allow students the opportunity to meet with their teachers, gather their materials as well as have breakfast and lunch. It will also provide the teaching staff and administration time to plan and prepare plans moving forward. Please continue to monitor your social media accounts and check email for additional updates as they become available. Thank you, Mr. Cheek

Couldn't be more proud of the Administrative team today. Gathered early and put so much time, energy and thought into some tough decisions. Certainly uncharted waters for all, but so proud of them and their leadership. Feel lucky to work with such a great group! #GoKnights

Dear Arthur CUSD #305 Students, Staff and Families, The CDC and the Governor of the State of Illinois have provided school districts recommendations encouraging school administrators to make responsible decisions that are in the best interest of the health and safety of their students, staff, and community. Based on these recommendations, Arthur CUSD 305 is cancelling all extracurricular events as well as all other school related events from today, March 13 through Sunday, April 5, 2020. At this time school will remain open and any decision related to potential school closures will immediately be communicated. Practices for athletic teams, fine art programs and other school sponsored organizations will continue as school remains in session. These decisions are and will continue to be made to minimize risk and follow the guidelines and suggestions provided. We will continue to collaborate, keep informed by all sources available, and communicate with information that is received. Sincerely, Mr. Shannon Cheek Superintendent

Congratulations to Mrs. Crother's, Arthur Grade School's Speech and Language Pathologist "Teacher of the Week" in The News-Gazette. Click on the following link: https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/education/teacher-of-the-week-amber-crothers/article_e35b9bfb-ea07-5b37-97c0-5d8db62794c1.html

Thank you students and Mrs. Huffman for inviting me to observe the presentations in English II today. Such great work and I was so happy to be able to see our students showcase their talents. #Goknights

Dear Arthur CUSD #305 Students, Staff and Families, As information continues to become available and updated related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) we continue to monitor the situation keeping the safety of students, staff and community at the forefront. As this is a very unusual situation that all communities are trying to navigate and manage, many stakeholders are trying to come together to help determine the next steps. The collaboration with area Superintendents, Regional Offices of Education, Illinois State Board of Education, Regional Departments of Health as well as the Illinois Department of Health will continue as we are monitoring and gathering as much information as possible in order to make the most informed decisions moving forward. On Monday evening of this week the Illinois State Board of Education sent an email to all Superintendents expressing that it is “imperative” that districts work on an e-learning plan in the event that schools need to close for the Coronavirus. E-learning opportunities and developing that plan create many challenges for many districts in the state including available technology, as well as a multi layered approval process that extends beyond our local board of education. In light of the Coronavirus situation, the Illinois State Board of Education is working to waive those approvals requirements and expedite the process, however there isn’t a timeline for doing that. We will continue to monitor, encourage staff, and students to wash hands more frequently and utilize best practices for assisting in maintaining a clean and sanitized learning environment. We will also continue to implement best practices with our custodial staff to maintain and provide the safest environment possible for our staff and students. Also, please know that any decision moving ahead regarding school and or school closure will be made in coordination and guidance of many experts within the public health departments. As previously stated this is a very unusual and challenging situation that we are trying to navigate and we appreciate your understanding and patience during the process. I am also including the link for the Illinois Department of Public Health for your reference http://www.dph.illinois.gov/ Please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself at 217-543-2511 with any questions or clarity that is needed. Sincerely, Mr. Shannon Cheek Superintendent

Our very own Mrs. Checkley presenting at Rotary this afternoon! Thanks for your time and wealth of knowledge on Restorative Practices! We’re lucky to have you and appreciate what you do for our kids every single day! #GoKnights #allaboutkids

Congrats Mrs. Frye on being awarded the Empowering Education Grant by the Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative.....so deserving. #GoKnights #goingaboveandbeyond

We are celebrating Reading Across America Week at AGS!

Fundraiser for the District #305 Education Foundation. All proceeds benefit the foundation which then goes to our schools, faculty, staff and students. Tickets for reverse raffle are $50 each and include one pork chop dinner. Additional dinners can be purchased for $10 each at the door. Last ticket drawn wins the grand prize of $1500. Serving for meal begins at 5; raffle follows. Raffle tickets also available for 1/4 side of beef for $10 each. Beef has been donated by J.W. Day Farms. Contact a foundation board member for tickets: Rod Randall, Carol Smith, Shannon Cheek, Shelley Martina, Stan Harris, Kristie Mechling, Ryan Nettles, Danny Powell, Marty Yeakel. Need not be present to win!

100 People Who Care is a fundraising initiative of the District #305 Education Foundation. Knightly Reading is made possible from a grant received from the Foundation. We had a wonderful evening last Thursday, Feb. 20 at La Cascada. Renee Brown, district librarian and her team Jann Harris, Lindsey Herring, Amy Tighe and Carla Poorman, gave a fantastic and informative presentation on Knightly Reading "The Chocolate Touch." Watch this page and the local newspapers for updates and more about this. Next meeting will be Thursday, April 16 (tentative) for our first annual dinner when we will share our new grant recipients and their projects. Dinner will be provided by the District #305 Education Foundation at 6:30 at LaCascada for those who are members of 100 People Who Care and have made and fulfilled their pledge.

*Change in School Calendar* Arthur CUSD #305 has added Monday, March 30, 2020 to its Spring Break schedule. Spring Break will now run from Wednesday, March 25 through Monday, March 30. Students will be back in attendance on Tuesday, March 31. We apologize for this late edit to the school calendar. There was a discrepancy found between the official school calendar and the calendar provided to parents and students via the website. To correct this discrepancy, a non-attendance day had to be added. Again, we apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may cause.