COUGAR News11-13-2020
11-11-2020 Happy Veterans Day from Smithton School! Veterans Day 2020 Video 11-10-2020 A message from our interim superintendent, Dr. Bill Phillips: "Let me introduce myself, my name is Bill Phillips and I have been appointed as the Interim Superintendent of Smithton. As you know, the previous superintendent was here for a brief period of time and had to resign due to a health issue. I was appointed by the Board of Education on Oct. 22nd and have spent these days getting acquainted with the staff and students of the school. My initial impression is that Smithton is a very special school in which the principal, and staff work harmoniously for the students. The students are currently functioning with a “hybrid system” of educational delivery, which means that students are receiving face to face education two days a week and remote instruction the remaining days. This system keeps the education process functioning and keeps the students and staff safe within the Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines. The building is immaculate and extremely well maintained and the staff are very effective in their educational delivery with enthusiasm for teaching and consistently enabled for a maximum learning atmosphere. The building addition is progressing along and workmen are intently endeavoring to complete the building without affecting the educational atmosphere. I will be overseeing the building along with the Building and Grounds Committee made up of current school board members. On a personal note, my educational experience includes twenty six years as a superintendent in five different districts around the state of Illinois. My educational records include a Bachelor’s, Masters, and Certificate of Advanced Study from Illinois State University and a doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Illinois. Other experience includes serving as an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Illinois-Springfield and a Field Service Director for the Illinois Association of School Administrators in Springfield. It is my privilege to serve this interim period as the superintendent of Smithton CCSD #130 until June 30 whereupon a new superintendent will have been hired for the district. The district is currently engaged in the process of obtaining applications, interviewing candidates and a new superintendent will be selected to begin July 1, 2021." 9-24-2020 Welcome Back to School (Hybrid) This week, we welcomed our Kindergarten through 3rd grade students to in-school learning following our hybrid plan. Next week, our 4th through 8th grade students will return. We are all very excited to have students back in the building! School Reopening Plan Updated 9-10-2020 9-10-2020 Smithton Families, I hope that you are doing well considering all of the trials and difficulties that we have all had to face. I am hoping that this news will lighten your spirits and serve as a glimmer of hope. After consulting with the ST. Clair County Health Dept. and the St. Clair ROE, as well as reviewing the Covid cases in our area, we would like to share our plan of returning our students to in-school learning using the hybrid schedule. We are all very excited to have students back in the building but it will take a bit of time for our teachers to transition from full remote to the hybrid plan. I have included the dates and grade levels for returning to a hybrid plan. *Please note that there is one change to our original hybrid plan. Instead of Wednesday being a full remote day, Fridays will be our full remote day. By moving the remote day from the middle of the week to the end of the week, students will have a more consistent flow of attendance. Our teachers felt very strong that this would work out extremely well for their students. Please pay special attention below to the days that our A and B groups will be in attendance. If this poses a problem in your planning, give us a call and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. September, 21 – Students in grades K-3 will begin the A/B group plan. Students in the A group will attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays, while students in the B group will attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays will be used for a remote learning day for all students. Teachers will push out assignments and be available to meet via Google in the morning. Students will attend a full day of school on their group’s days. September 28 – Students in grades 4-8 will begin their A/B groups plan. The students will follow their schedule for either the A group or B group, attending full days of school. Considerations for Parents When Considering In-Person versus Remote Our teachers will be working very hard with our in-person students throughout each day, Monday-Thursday. They cannot be expected to spend their evenings teaching the remote students. We will have our support staff and RTi teachers checking in with our remote students to provide support, but the level of teacher time spent making videos will be much smaller than in our full remote state. All parents are being offered the in-person learning, so if a parent does choose to keep their child home, we want to make sure that those parents are aware that the intense instruction that they are currently receiving will look different. Teachers will still be sending lessons to their students but the continuous meetings with the students throughout the day is not possible. Our teachers have gone over and above to provide detailed instruction and videos to explain their expectations and lessons. They simply will not have enough time in the day to do two full time teaching positions. We are allowing students to make the switch to in person learning if they had previously opted for remote even when our students return. Please consider having your child attend the in-person instruction if possible so they can get the most out of each day. We all know that there is no replacement for in-person learning. A few reminders: If your child is experiencing any of the Covid symptoms, please keep them at home, even if they are the slightest of symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or runny nose. Students will need to return with their devices, Chromebook or iPad, and some of their school supplies. Lunches will be served but we will continue to deliver to those who are not in attendance that particular day. One hot lunch choice and one cold lunch choice will be offered to those students who attend in person learning. Cold lunches will be delivered to students during their off days. Masks are required to be worn in the building at all times, although students will be taking breaks from wearing masks during the day by going outside for a few minutes throughout the day. We all need a break from masks occasionally. Students will go into the cafeteria for lunch but we will practice social distancing to our best ability. More information and details will be shared next week. We are just so excited to share this incredible news with you at this time. Have a wonderful evening! Mrs. Norton, Principal 8-13-2020
Welcome Back to School (Remote) As we all know, this is not the way that we had expected to begin our school year. Even though we are beginning in a fully remote situation, I can assure you that our teachers have been working diligently to upgrade their virtual programming along with adding new strategies and increased opportunities for students to meet face to face virtually. The work that is taking place highlights the amazing technological minds of our staff. The expansion of high-level technology is sure to please you and your child. Our teachers began reaching out to their students this week and are receiving wonderful feedback. Teachers are equipped with web cams for going live with students and/or video taping lessons in order to provide step by step instruction throughout the lessons. How will my child obtain their school device? Next week, Monday, August 17, a parent of a student in grades 6-8 may come to the school and pick up their textbooks and Chromebook in the gym. Tables will be arranged in the gym by grade level with the student’s name on their device and books. Pick up is from 9:00 – 2:00. If you cannot make it on the designated day, you may come on whatever day is convenient after Monday, August 17. Tuesday, August 18, parent of student in grades 3-5, may come to school to pick up their Chromebook and textbooks in the gym from 9:00 – 2:00. Tables will be labeled with their teacher’s name and grade level. If you do not know your child’s teacher, please check on teacherease. Their teacher’s name will be listed. We cannot guarantee that the 3-5 grade items will be in the gym on Monday, August 17. Their designated day is the 18th. Wednesday, August 19, parents with a 2nd grade student may come to school to pick up your child’s iPad, binder of paper copies of assignments, and books. Any parent who do not attend the K-1 Meet the Teacher Night on August 18, may also come on this day to pick up their device, binder, and books. Meet the Teacher Night - August 18 We are asking that only one parent and the student in grades kindergarten and first grade, as well as any new families to our district attend on this night. Due to the need to maintain a low number of people in the building, we are asking that student’s whose last name begins with A-K arrive at 5:30 and go to your child’s classroom. If you have more than one child, we understand the need to move to other classrooms as well. Students whose last name begins with the letters L-Z will begin at approximately 6:30, please wait in your cars until we have cleared the building of our first group and make an announcement over the outside intercom. We will call the next group as soon as we are ready. Please refrain from entering the building until we have called you and cleared the first group out. Kindergarten and first grade students will receive their iPad, binder of paper assignments and other additional information on this night. Parents will receive step by step instruction as to how to use the Seesaw app. This app will allow you to have direct communication with your child’s teacher as well as serve as a means to deliver instruction and assignments. Your child will be able to share his/her work on this app as well. Teachers will be giving detailed directions on how to take advantage of all the wonderful features of the Seesaw app. You will not want to miss this! If you cannot make the Meet the Teacher Night, your child’s device and materials will be placed in the gym on their teacher’s table. *MASKS ARE REQUIRED WHEN ATTENDING “MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT” AND WHEN DEVICES ARE PICKED UP. How will instruction be delivered to my child? Kindergarten and first grade teachers have created binders that will have all of your child’s work in paper form. The binders will be labeled with your child’s name and stored in crates in the front foyer through the time of remote instruction, which is always unlocked. The kindergarten teachers will be providing paper work for the students on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays each week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, students will be provided work virtually. First grade students will have paper/pencil work on Monday-Thursday, along with digital instruction. The teachers will have a combination of live and recorded instruction. Both kindergarten and first grade students will receive their iPad, binder of paper assignments, and additional materials on Meet the Teacher Night, Tuesday, August 18. Your child is welcome to bring his/her backpack to help transport the materials home. Who doesn’t want to show off their new backpack! Their plans include a rotation of binders for the week. Parents will return the completed work in the binder and place it in the teacher’s crate in the foyer, while picking up the next week’s binder of assignments in paper form. Each teacher will provide you with the schedule of return/pick up days. As we all know, it is impossible to practice letter and number writing without the proper materials. We have you covered! Kindergarten and first grade teachers will be available for questions or concerns via Seesaw or email. They will do their best to respond as soon as possible, but they do have families of their own and will be working to do their best during their off times as well. Second Grade - Teachers will be providing each student with their own iPad, binder of paper assignments, and other additional materials and books. They will be available for pick up in the gym on Wednesday, August 19. The binders that these teachers are providing will NOT be required to be return weekly. Students will complete the work, take a picture of their work and send it to the teacher through the Seesaw app. These binders will provide a paper copy of the activities that will be demonstrated remotely. These teachers will also be providing live and pre-recorded lessons and instruction. As always, our teachers will be available for questions through either Seesaw or email. Third Grade – Teachers will be providing their students with a Chromebook, a binder of supplemental materials such as practice writing sheets, and various books and materials. They will be utilizing Google Classroom for posting all assignments, where lessons and links to videos and materials will be available. Teachers will meet virtually with their students daily. Fourth Grade - Teachers will be providing their students with a Chromebook, a binder of materials, and various materials and books. The fourth-grade teachers have devised a schedule for the student binders to be picked up and returned throughout the remote learning implementation. Crates will be placed in the foyer for the parent’s convenience. Students will complete the work assigned both digitally or through paper form. A parent may pick up the device and all materials on their pick-up day, Tuesday, August 18 in the gym. Fourth grade will be utilizing Google Classroom for assignments and instruction. Fifth Grade – Teachers will be providing instruction through Google Classroom or email on the Chromebooks. Any paper copies needed for the next 4 weeks will be provided with Chromebooks during your child’s pickup date. They will meet daily with their students via video chat to answer questions and for further instruction as needed. If students or parents have questions outside of school hours, teachers will respond to the best of their ability that same evening or the following day. There are many fun online activities planned for their students. The Chromebooks and other supplies will be available for pickup on Tuesday, August 18. Sixth Grade - Teachers will utilize Google Classroom to push out lessons and instructional videos. The students will be able to type in their answers and submit it back to the teacher. A digital notebook will be available for math containing notes, assignments, and videos. Each teacher will have a letter explaining how their classroom will function, but all necessary components will be digital. Teachers will be available for questions and online meetings from 8:30 – 12:30. They can also be received through email, which they will check throughout the day and evening. They may not always be readily available at night, but they will do their best to respond in a reasonable amount of time. Seventh and Eighth Grade - The seventh and eighth grade teachers have already sent a letter to their students/parents explaining their procedures and expectations. If a student chooses, he/she can follow their course schedule, which can be found on teacherease, and see a live or pre-recorded video of the teacher providing instruction for the day’s lessons. The lessons will all be available through video, allowing the student to do the assignment at whatever time works for them. Should they have questions or need assistance, the teachers are available through email or the scheduled time during the day. Teachers are happy to meet students on a one to one basis as well, if they would need further help with their assignment. Specialty Teachers – Art, PE and technology will be providing lessons as well. Students in grades K-2 will receive lessons and activities through the Seesaw app. Students in grades 3-8 will receive lessons and activities through Google Classroom. Your child will enjoy these fun and engaging lessons. We will NOT be offering band, chorus, or general music at this time. Assignments, Grades, and Accountability Unlike during the spring months when we had to make a quick transition to remote learning and students were not held accountable for turning in all of their work, students will be expected to participate and complete all assignments. Grades will be given and students will be held accountable for turning in work in a timely manner. Most of our teachers are making the weeks’ worth of lessons available at the beginning of each week, therefore students will have the entire week to complete their work. Grades will be reflective of whether assignments are returned and completed. Thank you once again for your patience and understanding during these unprecedented times. Vicki Norton, Principal Aloha, 8th grade!
Virtual Graduation
Please enjoy this virtual ceremony. Congratulations to all of the Smithton CCSD 130 graduates!!! A huge thanks to Mrs. Gaubatz for creating this video!!! Accessing the Building
We are required to screen visitors needing to access the building. Visitors answering yes to any COVID-19 questions will not be able to access the building. We apologize for any inconvenience. 
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Student of the Month
The Smithton School Student of the Month for November 2020 is Emma Manning. Emma was chosen for this award by the faculty and administration of the school. The award was presented to Emma for displaying a good work ethic, outstanding character, and good behavior. Emma also shows respect, leadership, willingness to help his peers, and kindness to others. Emma will receive a plaque and a gift card from the school. Emma is the daughter of Billy and Brittney Manning. She likes to read, play sports, watch Netflix and write. In the future, she would like to be a nurse practitioner in the field of neurology. Emma's favorite quote is "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Wayne Gretzky-Michael Scott 
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Our SchoolOur Community
The Village of Smithton received the 2013 Governor's Hometown Award. This award recognizes promotion of a healthful & supportive environment & a high quality of life.
Visit the Smithton Chamber of Commerce website by clicking here. 
Bullying Prevention
Join us in supporting a safe environment for students and staff and help us take proactive steps to prevent bullying. Smithton School is committed to a continuous improvement process that helps support both academic success and emotional health. Resources and Smithton's policy on bullying can be found by clicking here.
Featured SchoolWORLD CLASS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
A new "championship" banner was unveiled on during a school-wide assembly. This sign now hangs in the gymnasium to honor the amazing achievements by the entire Smithton Community last school year! Go Cougars!!! 
STATE ASSESSMENT SCORES
After the statewide release of Illinois test scores in ELA, Math, and Science, we are very proud to announce that our students were at the top of all districts in St. Clair County in ELA, Math, and Science!!! Congratulations to our entire Smithton Community! This is truly a team effort! WE ARE A SMALL SCHOOL WITH BIG DREAMS! Click on the image below to watch our video!
WE LOVE OUR SCHOOL!
Smithton School has been honored as the Illinois DO THE RIGHT THING School of the Year three times!!! 
High School
After graduation from Smithton School at the end of eighth grade, students continuing their public school education attend Freeburg High School, an excellent comprehensive 9-12 school offering students rich academics and extensive extracurricular activities.
Inclement WeatherDuring inclement weather, the district administration may elect to cancel school for the safety and security of students and staff. In the event that school is cancelled, parents will be notified using the SCHOOLREACH automated phone system. Additionally, school closure information will be made available on the district's website as well as the following media outlets: KMOX Radio, KTVI FOX Channel 2, KMOV CBS Channel 4, KSDK NBC Channel 5, KDNL ABC Channel 30.
Education Commitment
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