2020 - 2021 Remote Learning

Will County Community Health Centers
IHDA Rental Assistance Program
IHDA Rental Assistance Program Spanish 
United Way of Will County
Housing Assistance
Will Find You Help
An online database that can be searched with key words.  Type in your need and the database of 527 resources in our community will show results that can assist.  Resources include health care, rent, utilities, mental health, food pantries, and more.

Will County State’s Attorney Helpful Resources
Phone numbers for crisis lines, legal services, community health centers, domestic violence prevention, housing, family counseling and more.

Resources for Survivors of Domestic & Sexual Violence During COVID-19
24 hour hotline numbers, DCFS information, domestic violence counseling, automated victim notification system, protective orders, temporary housing and more.

Community Services Counsel
Non-profit agency dedicated to helping people who are experiencing challenges in life by providing counseling and services. Telehealth appointments now available.

Car Ministry
Connects qualified individuals with donated, working vehicles. People can go to the website to determine if they are “qualified.”

United Way COVID-19 Resource Guide
Hotlines, childcare resources, education resources, food services, resources for employees and displaced workers, health resources and more.

United Way Online Volunteer Center
A list of in-kind donations that are needed in the community, and a link to sign up for volunteer work. 

Will County COVID-19 Response Fund
Donations support local organizations that are ensuring the residents of Will County can access basic needs during this time of crisis.

CDC Coronavirus
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Coronavirus
Seasonal Flu vs. Pandemic Flu (Infographic)
COVID-19 Guidance Small Social Gathering Tips 
COVID-19 Guidance Small Social Gathering Tips Graphic Version"

The District takes the following measures to ensure a safe learning environment for all students and staff:

• Continuously educate students, staff, and community members about the importance of frequent hand washing; covering a cough or sneeze; not touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth; staying home when ill; and other measures to prevent the spread of all communicable disease
• Routinely disinfect campuses, which is effective against multiple disease-causing viruses and bacteria
• Monitor students for symptoms and refer students to the school nurse for assessment as appropriate
• Exclude students from school attendance according to policy
• Work with the Will County Health Department regarding any suspected case

Will County Food Assistance & Essential Services
Free school meals, grocery and pharmacy special hours, food pantries and micro food pantries.

Meals for Kids Map
Directs people to local sites where kids can get free meals.

Food Finder
Displays USDA’s Meals for Kids locations on their web and mobile app.

USDA National Hunger Hotline
The hotline, operated by Hunger Free America, can be reached Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) (for Spanish).  

Spanish Community Center Food Pantry

Hands of Hope
The Joliet Hope Center is not a food bank or a food pantry but a private non-profit 501(c)(3) community assistance ministry allowing people both working and not working to obtain food and household items that have been greatly discounted. It offers a long-term self-sufficiency solution to families struggling to fulfill their basic needs.

List of Local Food Pantries

Khan Academy

YouVisit, Campus Tours, YOUniversity and CampusReel 
Virtual tours of college campuses

Little Free Library
Little Free Library locations near you

The Parent's Guide to Google Classrooms

ISBE Continuing Education Resources 

Scholastic Learn from Home

Just Let Them Play: An Alternative Approach to Schooling at Home During the Quarantine
Ideas on how to turn your homeschooling into play.

50 Brain Breaks for Kids
Activities to help kids refocus.

25 Ways Kids Can Read Free eBooks
Resources for free eBooks.

Keep Learning Going 
Free guidance for teachers and tips for parents as they shift to online learning.

New York Times Education Resources 
Free access to Times journalism.

Supporting Families During COVID-19
Child Mind Institute - Coping With the Coronavirus Crisis, Autism and the Coronavirus, Managing Anxiety, Discipline and Behavior, Dealing With Loss and more.

Talking to Children About COVID-19
National Association of School Psychologists
 
Talking with Children
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
 
Coronavirus Resources for Kids, Parents, and Educators
Whole Child Counseling

Talking with Children About Coronavirus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Resources to Cope with COVID-19
American Psychiatric Association

Additionally, the following websites are helpful for families who have students with autism or other developmental disabilities:

Supporting Families During COVID-19
Child Mind Institute

COVID-19 Information and Resources
Autism Speaks

What is Coronavirus?
The Autism Educator

COVID-19 Resources for Families
National Autism Association

The National Traumatic Stress Network
Services for children, their families and communities to cope with stress.

Social Distancing and Substance Abuse and/or Mental Health Issue with Teens
Resources to help you identify these issues, prevention and early intervention programs and a virtual parent support group

DePaul Counseling Services 
Common issues addressed: depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship/friendship issues, bullying, low self-esteem, adolescent issues, anger, college readiness, and goal planning.

The Crisis Line of Will County
Crisis Line of Will and Grundy Counties provides a 24/7 comprehensive suicide hotline.

NAMI of GREATER CHICAGO
Advocacy, Support Groups, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services, General Mental Health Information/Education, Information and Referral, Library Services, Public Awareness/Education, Newsletters, Speakers/Speakers Bureaus.

DePaul Strengths & Resiliency Program
FREE 8-Week Online Course to help your child identify his/her own inner strengths and increase personal resiliency to better manage life's challenges.  Sessions are one-on-one and facilitated by DePaul graduate counseling students under the direct supervision of faculty.

Self Love Challenge 

Five Ways to Become Closer with Social Distancing

Time Capsule Activity 

Make time for Science at Home - Museum of Science & Industry

35 Must-Watch TED Talks for Kids and Teens
Talks covering a wide range of topics such as the power of handwashing, boredom, science and so much more.

26 Best Podcasts for Kids in Elementary, Middle, and High School
Podcast for your curious kids.

Parent and student choice are the main components of the re-opening plan with two options available:  

1. Attend school remotely with no in-person classroom attendance. 
2. Attend school in a blended learning format with one day of in-school instruction and four days online.  Students with specialized needs or students in need of additional support may have more than one in-person instructional day. 

In Illinois, school districts differ in many aspects such as enrollment, building capacity and resources, which means re-opening plans will vary throughout Illinois.  JTHS is a large high school district with over 3,300 students at each campus.  Unfortunately, this limits us in many aspects.   

We want our students and parents to know that we understand the disappointment you might feel because you are not able to attend school in-person full time.  We share this disappointment with you, but the health and safety of our students and staff comes first. Our decisions were made with the needs of our students, families, staff and community at the forefront, while following the IDPH and ISBE requirements.  

Remote learning for the upcoming school year will not look like it did during the COVID-19 shut down.  When school buildings closed, we shifted to “crisis schooling” on just a few hours’ notice.  While we were fortunate to have a solid foundation for online instruction with students already having computers, wi-fi hotspots (if needed), and 22 blended learning course offerings, we were not fully prepared for what we faced.   

JTHS has been planning for the fall re-opening since the 2019-2020 school year ended to ensure that we can provide a robust model for remote and blended instruction that is pedagogically sound.  Students and parents were surveyed at the end of the school year so that we could gather information about what worked and did not work with our delivery of remote instruction during the school closure.  JTHS is using our online summer school courses and academic camps to improve online instructional delivery, and teachers will participate in robust professional development at the beginning of August and throughout the school year. 

Remote and blended learning for the 2020-2021 school year is structured so that teachers record attendance for each class period.  Teachers will deliver instruction online and will assign engaging assignments and projects to be completed by groups (online) or individually.  JTHS has purchased additional learning platforms and a new student management system that will allow parents to easily access grades, attendance data, assignments details, student schedules and more.  We have been working hard to ensure quality instructional delivery for all students. 

Both the remote and blended learning schedules are designed to provide academic and social/emotional support services at the end of each school day.  Teachers and staff will be available from 1 p.m. to 2:55 p.m. to provide support online and in-person by appointment.  On days when blended learning students stay after school for support, transportation will be provided to students who live within school bus boundaries. 
 
Students attend school, online or in person, five days a week, unless there is a holiday.  Blended learning students are separated in to three cohorts (A, B, and C).  Students in each cohort attend school on different days of the week to limit the number of students in the school building.  Remote learning students attend school completely online.  

All students, including freshmen, have a six period day.  The reduction is class periods does not result in a loss of an elective class.  The advisory and lunch periods have been eliminated.  Freshman students will take physical education online and will be provided with technology to assess physical activity.

View Blended Learning Schedules At-a-Glance
View Blended Learning Cohort A Schedule
View Blended Learning Cohort B Schedule
View Blended Learning Cohort C Schedule
View Remote Learning Schedule 

For IEP Students  

During Remote and Blended Learning, our special education staff (which includes special education teachers, speech and language pathologists, social workers, school psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and paraprofessionals) will provide special education services using a variety of different strategies and online platforms based on an individual student’s needs. 

Remote Learning will include tools such as instructional videos, online access to educational programs, virtual live sessions, parent consultation, and additional resources, which will be on district platforms and sites.  Special education staff (case managers) will collaborate with families to determine what services are needed during Remote Learning. In addition, special education staff will collaborate regularly with general education teachers in order for students to access the general education curriculum with the modifications and accommodations in their Individual Education Plan (IEP). 

All students that receive special services within the district will have a Remote Learning Plan.  The Remote Learning Plan will provide students, families, and staff with a general understanding of the variety of services the Special Education Department will be offering during this period.  

The Remote Learning Plan is not an IEP or an amendment to an IEP and does not constitute a change of the educational placement as set forth in the student’s current IEP.  When regular school attendance resumes and in-person instruction may be provided, the student’s most recent IEP will govern the student’s special education program and services.    

In determining the supports and services to be provided to the student during Remote Learning Days, case managers will review and consider information and data such as:

• Student’s current IEP, including review of student’s progress towards IEP goals and benchmarks  
• Student’s most recent evaluation and eligibility report
• Current educational data
• Grade Level Remote Learning Plans/Activities/Resources

JTHS has also taken into consideration the recommendations and guidance issued by the United States Department of Education and the Illinois State Board of Education regarding remote learning and delivery of special education and related services during the exceptional COVID-19 circumstances in identifying the following components of the student’s special education services and provision of FAPE during remote learning:

• Grade Level Remote Learning Plan/Activities/Resources
• Type of Special Education and/or Related Service
• Frequency of Special Education and/or Related Service
• Service Delivery Model
• Content of Special Education and/or Related Services Provided, including Targeted IEP Goals

JTHS is following Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requirements for Phase 4 in-person instruction to keep students and staff safe while they are in the building.  Key safety measures are below. 

• Require the appropriate use of PPE, including face masks for all students and staff. 
• Prohibit more than 50 individuals gathering in one space. 
• Conduct symptom screening and temperature checks as directed to ensure that individuals are entering the buildings free of symptoms. 
• Practice social distancing at six feet apart within the school building.
• Students will not be assigned a locker for the 2020-2021 school year unless there is a specific need that is approved through building administration.  
• P.E. uniforms are not a requirement for the 2020-2021 school year.
• Increase schoolwide cleaning and disinfecting.  
• Serve lunch and breakfast in a grab and go fashion.  Student will not eat inside the school building. 

JTHS will continue to provide transportation to students participating in the blended learning structure.  Students and transportation staff will be required to wear masks and there will be a restriction of one student to a seat unless students reside in the same household. 

It is very important that we have your email address on file so that you are receiving our communication. If you are not receiving emails, please contact info@jths.org.  To sign up for text messages text Y to 67587. 

Communication Contact Update Form 

JTHS has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).  Answers will continue to be added to this document as questions arise.  As JTHS receives updated guidance from Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), answers may be revised.  
 
View FAQ

JTHS will continue to provide updates and additional communication as it is available. 

We want to thank our students and families for their understanding and patience as we return to school during a time that none of us could have ever imagined.  These are trying times for everyone, but we are doing everything in our power to meet the needs of our families and community while keeping everyone healthy.