Second Semester Hybrid Learning Option

Beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 19, Stevenson students will have the option to come to campus for eight half-days over a three-week period.

Second semester Hybrid Learning and Health & Safety Plans were outlined to students, parents and guardians during a webinar on Dec. 15. Answers to frequently asked questions for these plans were shared during a webinar on Jan. 5.

The provision of meaningful education in a safe and compassionate manner is our primary focus and our health and safety protocols depicted in the above graphic include nine mitigations that exceed the CDC and IDPH's recommendation of five prevention strategies.

A COVID-19 Updates webpage has been created to centralize information about second semester return to campus and safety measures. Specifically, this page contains a graphic showing the student schedule for four weeks at a time and also includes the weekly schedule for the entire course of second semester.

Students who plan to come to campus for classes at any point during second semester are asked to complete a Hybrid Learning Opt-in Form at least 24-hours prior to their first visit to campus and students needing bus transportation to or from school are asked to complete a Transportation Sign-up Form at least one week prior to riding the bus. Students coming to campus will be expected to follow a checklist of safety measures and complete weekly population testing.

A second semester material distribution event is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 12, Wednesday, Jan. 13 and Thursday, Jan. 14, from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., as well as on Friday, Jan. 15, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. in parking lot B. Students are asked to review the list of classes that have items which need to be picked up, items that will need to be brought for the event and pick-up procedures that were shared with students and families today.

As a friendly reminder, all students, faculty and staff will be expected to follow our health & safety protocols. If you are feeling ill, even while at home, please contact the COVID-19 Clinic. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 Updates webpage.

Incoming Freshman Family Orientation Night

We are looking forward to welcoming the Class of 2025 along with their parents and guardians at a virtual Incoming Freshman Orientation Night on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. Families will be receiving a letter to a Zoom link which will also be posted on our Incoming Freshman webpage. We encourage incoming families to attend this live virtual event which will include presentations by Stevenson administration members, a video tour and live question and answer sessions.

We also encourage incoming families to review dates for the 2021-22 school year which are posted on our website. To receive updates about these events and other information about Stevenson, we encourage families of incoming parents to subscribe to both this newsletter and the Daily Digest. Directions for subscribing to both publications can be found on our Publications page.

Course Selection for Current Juniors

Beginning Monday, Jan. 11, and continuing through Thursday, Jan. 28, each junior will meet individually with their counselor via Zoom to discuss their course selections. These appointments will be scheduled during English class and specific Zoom links will be shared with students by their English teachers and also posted to the Class of 2022 Canvas page.

Parents play an important role in the course selection process! Please discuss your student’s course selections with them before they meet with their counselor for course selection. Resources including a digital copy of the 2021-22 Coursebook are posted on the D125.org website. If you have further questions, please contact your student’s counselor.

Like many of you, I am still processing the unprecedented events that took place at the United States Capitol Building this past Wednesday. At Stevenson, our colleagues and students are certainly struggling with many emotions, including fear and anger. As with any other major current event, it’s important to consider issues of race and equity and how they are woven into events like this. As you have these conversations with your children, I would like to offer the following guidance:

Start the Conversation

Your family may already be in the practice of having conversations about current events. If you are not, please know that it is possible (depending on age) that your children are already receiving and processing a plethora of information (and misinformation!). Be truthful about your current understanding of the event and communicate that you are still gathering information. Determine what your children already know and assure them that you all will stay informed together.

Call out Bad Behavior

There are issues embedded in events such as Wednesday’s breach of the U.S. Capitol Building that are factual and should be examined and unpacked - such as issues of safety and racial equity. It is appropriate to discuss this using only facts while avoiding speculation. Be prepared for a range of emotional reactions. It is okay to validate those reactions.

Manage Anxiety

As today’s world offers us continuous access to information, news reports, social media conversations, as well as social conversations, this barrage of information can contribute to causing anxiety amongst ourselves and our children. Encourage a limitation on the consumption of news information by regularly checking in and suggesting other activities. Your conversations will be ongoing and supporting your children in filtering the overload of information will help them feel an important sense of normalcy through the madness.

We also encourage families to consider the impact that current events have on our students and families of color. As we continue the important work of providing a more inclusive and equitable learning experience for our students, let us all bear in mind the diverse lived experiences of our Stevenson community and have an open dialogue with one another on how these events impact us in different ways.

As always, we are committed to supporting our students during this unprecedented time. Our faculty and staff have provided spaces for students to reach out to their counselors, friends, parents or any other supports, including me, if needed. I found resources from National Geographic and the National Education Association incredibly helpful, and I hope you do, too.

Upcoming Fine Arts Events

There are a number of Fine Arts events and scheduled auditions that include opportunities for incoming freshman. Links to virtual performances will be posted on our Fine Arts Events webpage.

Consortium 125 Choir Festival: On Jan. 11 at 7 p.m., the Stevenson Choir Department will hold a virtual event for current 8th-grade students interested in learning more about choir at Stevenson.
Strings Winter Concert: At 7 p.m. on Jan. 12, The Strings Department will be showcasing the amazing musical work of each guitar and orchestra class in this one night concert event. Tune in to see the best and brightest of our strings program in the debut of their first semester recording projects.
Strings Consortium Concert: Beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, The Strings Department is hosting a special virtual version of their annual Consortium event. This event is for 8th-grade students and their families who are interested in joining our guitar and orchestra classes in the fall of 2021.
Winter 2020-21: Mélange and Repertory Auditions: The deadline is tonight at 11:59 p.m. for students currently enrolled in a Stevenson Dance class to submit an audition video.
Virtual Auditions for Incoming Freshmen Dance Placements: The deadline for incoming freshmen to apply for placement in Dance 2, 3 or 4 classes has been extended to Jan. 25. Please see the Dance Auditions webpage for further information.

Webinars for Parents and Guardians

Next week, parents and guardians are invited to attend the following virtual programs which are free to attend as part of the Patriot Family Programming series.

Staying Connected to Learning: Canvas, Interactive Report Card and Infinite Campus

Monday, Jan. 11 at 12:00 p.m.

Supporting Hybrid Learning - How Parents Can Help their Child

Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 4:00 p.m.

Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit, and the Making of the College Admissions Scandal

(SHS Sponsored FAN Event)

Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7:00 p.m.

Helping Teens Develop Time Management Skills

Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 12:00 p.m.

Conscious Commitments for Parents

Thursday, Jan. 14 at 4:00 p.m.

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life

(SHS Sponsored FAN Event)

Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Webinar descriptions can be found on the Patriot Family Programming page along with links to prior programs.

Upcoming Events

See the Stevenson Calendar for details for these and other upcoming programs and events:

This Week: Patriot Family Programming: 30-Minute Virtual Sessions for Parents/Guardians
Jan. 10: Virtual Athlete Summit
Jan. 11: Choir Consortium Concert
Jan. 12: Virtual Strings Winter Concert | Band Parents Organization Meeting
Jan. 12-15: Second Semester Material Distribution
Jan: 12: FAN Webinar: Privilege, Deceit and the Making of the College Admissions Scandal
Jan. 13: Incoming Freshman Family Night
Jan. 14: Late Arrival Day | Virtual Strings Consortium Concert
Jan. 14: FAN Webinar: Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved my Life
Jan. 18: No School: Martin Luther King Jr. Day