Charleston CUSD 1 -

Fall School Pictures will be taken by Gaines Photography this year. They can be previewed/purchased online with your student's ID#. Parents can also go to the school folder on website and register an email address to be notified once photos are uploaded. http://gainesphoto.com/

Please see the following message from Dr. Vilardo: https://5il.co/wwnn and continue to check our website for more information regarding this topic: https://www.charleston.k12.il.us/page/covid-19-updates

Schedules for elementary students are now accessible in Skyward Family access if your student has been registered and all registration and technology fees have been paid. Jefferson students will receive their password to access their student Skyward accounts when school begins next week.

Governor Pritzker held a press conference today to give a COVID-19 update. His primary talking point was that masks are now required in all schools and day cares regardless of vaccination status. Accordingly, masks will be required in all Charleston schools at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. An update to our Plan (which is currently posted on our website) will be re-posted soon. Thank you for your patience yet again.

Schedules for CMS and CHS Students are now accessible in Skyward Family if you have registered for school and paid your fees for registration and technology. STUDENTS all passwords were reset over the summer. You will get your new password for Skyward when you return to school in August.

Charleston CUSD #1 has posted its Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services to its district website. It can be accessed here: https://www.charleston.k12.il.us/page/covid-19-updates (School level plans will be posted to our school websites.)

REMINDER: Please register your student(s) for school by Friday, July 30, 2021. Registration must be completed through your Skyward Family Access account. If you need assistance, please contact your child’s school directly. More school-specific instructions, information, and forms related to registration are also available on our website: https://www.charleston.k12.il.us/page/registration Schedules will be posted by noon on July 30 for CMS and CHS students who are registered and who have paid all past and present school fees, including registration fees, any negative food service balances, as well as any charges owed for lost/damaged books/technology. Fees can be paid in person at any of our CUSD#1 buildings by cash, check, or credit/debit card, or online using e-Funds. Elementary classes will be posted August 6.

Reminder: Open interviews are today! Charleston Unit #1 is looking to hire full-time paraprofessionals for multiple programs in multiple buildings. We will be conducting open interviews for all positions on Monday, July 26th from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm. The interviews will be held at Charleston High School. Interested candidates will enter the building through the East entrance. Due to our parking lot being re-surfaced, candidates will park in our North drive. All candidates will be interviewed on a first-come-first-served basis. Please contact CHS Principal Aaron Lock with any questions @ 217-639-5000. We look forward to adding outstanding individuals to our team!

Charleston Unit #1 is looking to hire full-time paraprofessionals for multiple positions in multiple buildings. We will be conducting open interviews for all positions on Monday, July 26th from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm. The interviews will be held at Charleston High School. Interested candidates will enter the building through the East entrance. Due to our parking lot being re-surfaced, candidates will park in our North drive. All candidates will be interviewed on a first-come-first-served basis. Please contact CHS Principal Aaron Lock with any questions @ 217-639-5000. We look forward to adding outstanding individuals to our team!

Charleston CUSD#1 is seeking substitute school nurses for the upcoming school year. See the following link for more information: https://5il.co/vk1d

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today that it is fully adopting the updated guidance for schools issued today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All Illinois schools are to use the CDC guidance released today to start the 2021-22 school year. As with our practice last year, school officials will now focus energies on reviewing the guidance and finalizing plans to safely open another school year. This includes collaboration among multiple groups, including our local county health department officials. Aside from specific logistics (e.g., symptom screening, mask wearing on busses, etc.) , the "big picture" protocol includes that masks should be worn indoors by all individuals who are not fully vaccinated. Many will quickly notice a key word, "should," in that guidance. Respectful of differing perspectives and legal issues around masking and personal health records, school officials will gather more input in the coming days in preparation for more detailed information about the beginning of our school year. With cautious optimism, it appears that we are heading in the "back to normal" direction, and we can't wait to see all of our students in school!

Congratulations to Charleston High School, recipient of a $1,000 contribution through the Regional Office of Education #11 toward its future teacher organization! We are working to increase interest in the profession and "grow our own" future teachers! Go, CHS!

Congratulations to Mrs. Anne Shaffer, CUSD #1 teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, for receiving one of this year's Regional Office of Education #11 "Recognition of Excellence Award"! We are proud of you!

REMINDER: Online Registration for the 2021-22 school year is now open to all CUSD1 families in skyward. https://5il.co/uyns

During the 2020-2021 school year, Coles County public schools operated under guidance provided by the IDPH/ISBE and under the Governor’s Executive Orders. Planning to open schools for the 2021-2022 term, we recognize the interest of our school communities in knowing how schools will operate this fall (i.e. social distancing, face coverings, etc.). The most recent information received from State Superintendent Ayala is that the IDPH anticipates that CDC will issue its updated guidance for school in early July. Afterwards, the IDPH will finalize and issue updated guidance for Illinois’ schools, and local school staff can begin the process of reviewing updated guidance, continuing to plan for opening and communicating those plans. Of course, rather than providing clarity about the new school year, this information renews our need for continued patience – that which we have all exercised much. In the meantime, school superintendents across the State, including our superintendents in Coles County, have been writing to State Superintendent Ayala, Governor Pritzker and representatives of the IDPH to advocate for local decision-making based upon local data and coordination with local health officials. After last year’s experiences, public schools are equipped to utilize new tools as local and/or statewide pandemic data demonstrates such a need. While school registration continues or approaches in our districts, please know that our collective focus and intent is on returning to learn safely under traditional, “normal” circumstances, and our school staff will be anxious and prepared to serve students again for a new year. In educational service, Tim Condron, Superintendent, Mattoon CUSD #2 Lance Landeck, Superintendent, Oakland CUSD #5 Todd J. Vilardo, Superintendent, Charleston CUSD #1

CHARLESTON CUSD NUMBER ONE IS NOW HIRING! To view all current job openings: https://www.applitrack.com/charleston/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp To view Charleston CUSD#1's application process: https://www.charleston.k12.il.us/page/application-process

Qualifying families can now get connected to the internet at home with a federal discount on their bill each month! For more information or to apply, please see the following newsletter: https://5il.co/ugux Or go to: https://getemergencybroadband.org/

Good luck to the CHS boys baseball team as they take on Springfield for the Super Sectional Championship! The bus leaves today at 4pm with CPD/Charleston Fire Department escort if anyone wishes to cheer them on as they leave town! See Previous post for ticket info.

https://events.juvare.com/IL-IDPH/cb7f8bcb-7e5d-4115-a51a-daa3625f0a40/ Use this link to register for for the Pfizer Vaccination Clinic being held at Charleston High School cafeteria on 6/28/2021. You must be registered in advance, and Charleston students will have priority throughout the weekend. Those under 18 are required to have a parent or guardian with them. Sending a note, or a close friend/relative will not be sufficient. Parking will only be allowed in the CHS student lot and entry can only be made through cafeteria doors. The other parking lots will be under construction at this time, and all other entrances will be locked.

Work has begun on renovating the CHS Band and Chorus rooms along with tuck pointing at Jefferson Elementary School. The CHS parking lot replacement will start later this month.