School Closure and Remote Learning Update - April 17, 2020
April 17, 2020
Dear West Central Family:
I hope this message finds you all safe and healthy. Today, Illinois Governor Pritzker announced that in person instruction is suspended and remote learning in Illinois will continue through the end of the school year.
Although in-person learning has been suspended for the remainder of the year, at West Central, I assure you we have an amazing staff who remains committed to loving, learning and engaging with all of our students. We recently administered a survey to our families about remote learning, and overall, the results were very positive; however, if you are struggling with anything at all during this time, please contact me at (309) 627-2371, and we will do everything we can to assist you. We are here for you, and we want to help you during this time.
Like you, we are saddened by the reality that our school family will not be able to reconvene in person this school year due to this public health crisis. So many of you have worked so hard to learn and grow in both the classroom and in extracurricular activities that today’s announcement may feel like it was all for nothing, but trust me it was not.
Life is tough sometimes, and those times teach us lessons. Struggles, challenges and hard times have the potential to offer you much more value than any other time in your life. You cannot grow without struggle. You cannot get stronger without learning resilience. For our students, I am just sorry that you have to learn this at such a young age, and for seniors during such a milestone year in your life. I challenge you to look for something positive in each day even if some days you have to look a little harder. Let these moments help you to appreciate all that you do have in your life.
With that being said the final chapter of this school year hasn’t been written yet. These past few weeks have proven our school community is resilient, capable and compassionate. I’m confident our collective family strength will shine through during the remainder of the school year, and we will emerge even stronger.
Unfortunately, today’s announcement will result in significant scheduling changes, including prom and graduation. As this announcement about the end of the school year was just made by Governor Pritzker this afternoon, it will take us a few days to sort out the many scheduling details. We are also still waiting for a decision from IHSA regarding high school spring sports. While we won’t be able to reschedule everything in the format it previously was, please know some events may be rescheduled in a virtual format while others will be rescheduled in person. Please know West Central School District is committed to having both prom and graduation for our students.
This is not the school year that any of us imagined or hoped for, but I want to thank you all for your patience and understanding as we have maneuvered through this unprecedented situation together. This period of Remote Learning offers us new ways to learn and grow, and out of this Pandemic, we have grown and will become stronger than ever before. Stay strong West Central! We love you and are here for you! Until we can reunite, please take care West Central!
With love,
Paula Markey, Superintendent
West Central C.U.S.D. #235
