Sch ls

Three Woodstock residents were named distinguished scholars at Rockford University for the spring 2020 semester.

They are Suset Cruz, Gabriela Davila, and Agnes Kalinowski, who earned at least a 3.75 GPA with no grades below “C” and completed all requirements for the semester.

Morgan Radcliffe and Blake Shallenbarger of Woodstock were among students named to the dean’s list at Rockford University for the spring 2020 semester, earning at least a 3.5 GPA.

Five local students are among 1,359 undergraduates who were named to the 2020 spring dean’s list at at Western Illinois University.

They are:

Wonder Lake: junior Emma C. Holtz and senior Luke Reuss

Woodstock: seniors Emily Rose Haynes and Kacper Krzysztof Scheibe and sophomore Alejandro D. Ortiz

Kathryn Rowe of Woodstock received a Bachelor of Science in computer science this past May from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Andrew Alsot of Wonder Lake received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and international business at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He was among 820 summer graduates.

Justin Kucharski, Woodstock, was awarded academic honors for superior achievement as a member of the junior class of Southern Illilnois University, Carbondale.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

After three students at Marian Central Catholic High School tested positive for COVID-19, Superintendent Mike Shukis last week stopped inclass instruction in favor of remote learning until Sept. 14 – “unless otherwise directed from the Catholic Education Office and/or the McHenry County Board of Health.”

Marian had started the school year Aug. 17 with five days of in-school instruction, while Woodstock School District 200 began that same day with remote learning because of coronavirus concerns. Marian classes were called off Tuesday last week, and the remote learning plan started Wednesday morning.

“Due to contact tracing, we had 25 to 30 percent of our students out of building to quarantine for 14 days,” Shukis explained. “That left some classes with only five or six students learning in-person, which made teaching very difficult.”

While students learn remotely, teachers have the option of teaching from home or from the school. Shukis observed that a little more than half of the teachers had chosen to work inside the building.

“We know that it is better for students to be in the building learning,” Shukis said. “We tried to do that, but we also want to be as safe as possible. We care about all of our students, all our families, and all our teachers.”

In a two-page letter emailed to parents on Monday last week, Shukis told parents the school has contacted the county health department “for more direction and contact tracing.”

The building also was being cleaned and disinfected “beyond our usual sanitation for COVID prevention,” Shukis wrote.

All office and staff were instructed to remain home for a day during disinfection.

Shukis also sent a two-page email to teachers and staff about the situation.

“Out of an abundance of caution, please monitor yourself and any members of your family who were present at Marian Central for 14 days from the day that you were present,” the letter said. “In the unlikely event you become symptomatic and receive COVID-positive test results, please contact me ... so we may maintain vigilance for the health of all others present at Marian Central that day. Your identity will not be revealed to anyone and we will keep you in our prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

“If you do begin to display any of the above symptoms, out of care for others, please do not return to Marian Central until 14 days have passed. We also encourage you to contact your physician, and we look forward to seeing you again in person when you return to good health.”

Noting that school had been in session for two weeks, Shulkis said he was proud of the way teachers and students had handled the new protocols.

“We want to be as safe as humanly possible,” he said. “We are responsible, and we understand that [this virus] is awful, real, and extremely painful. We know that people are fearful. We understand and are responsive to that.”

Shukis said that while the school had expected COVID-19-positive cases, they did not anticipate the numbers of students who would have contact with those infected. Continued on NEXT page

By Kevin Lyons DISTRICT 200

Woodstock School District 200 is now serving free breakfast and lunch to students within D-200 boundaries, following a decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture this week to bring the program back until as late as Dec. 31.

D-200 served more than 51,000 meals to students in the spring after school buildings were closed and more than 32,000 over the summer. Free breakfasts and lunches were distributed at select school buildings and delivered to key areas around the district boundaries, including some larger apartment complexes.

With children remote learning at home this fall, D-200 has continued using school buses to deliver meals to various stops in the greater Woodstock area. Meals have also been available for pickup at all schools from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. At the start of the school year, meals were offered for purchase or for free or reduced prices for families who qualified.

The number of meals distributed

DISTRICT 200 PHOTO

and the USDA decision will cause district officials to re-examine routes and put optimum resources in place in the coming weeks.

“We know there’s still a big need out there,” said Sue Malley, director of food services for D-200. “Illinois unemployment still stands at 20 percent, and the economic situation is very fluid for many of our families.

“While we have a system in place for families to qualify for free- and reduced-price lunches, temporarily removing these barriers should help us to get more meals to kids who need them.”

For District 200 delivery routes, times, and other details, visit woodstockschools.org/covid19 and click the food distribution tab. For menu information, see woodstockschools. org/food.

One student tested positive the week of Aug. 23, with two more diagnosed over the Aug. 29-30 weekend. Shukis said contract tracing had indicated that transmission among those students did not occur at the school.

Because of the length of time it takes to receive test results, two faculty members who had tested positive already have quarantined for 14 days and now have tested negative and been cleared by a doctor to return to work.

Shukis said the administration was creating a return-to-school plan that would help to eliminate the amount of contact among students. He hopes to be able to release that plan to parents this week.

In light of the positive cases, parents have been encouraged to “trust their gut,” he said, and to remain home for 14 days if symptoms arise. Students must also be fever-free for 72 hours and be markedly, or 75 percent, better, according to the CDC guidelines.

Meanwhile, despite finances being difficult, Shukis said he was proud of the many steps the school took to stay open as long as it did. The cost of signage and remote learning plans and platforms were high.

STUDENT WEEK OF THE TEAGAN DEVAUL Teagan DeVaul is a sophomore at Woodstock North High School. She is the daughter of Shannon and Bryan DeVaul, Woodstock. “Teagan is one of the most conscientious and mature students I have met. Teagan is optimistic, diligent, and focused. She has taken advanced courses over the summer to help achieve her academic goals. She is always looking at all opportunities available to her and considers her choices thoroughly. She does not discourage easily. Her positive energy and grateful attitude are refreshing. She is a great joy to work with,” said one of her teachers. Teagan achieved high honor roll her freshman year, and worked extra hard to earn straight A’s. She earned a solo in her first high school orchestra concert. Teagan had the honor to be one of the first students to take part in the Dual Degree Program at McHenry County College. She was in varsity cheer for the fall and winter seasons last year, and she is a member of the math team and orchestra. When asked who inspires her, Teagan said, “Having to pick only one person who has inspired me is truly a challenging task. I would not have gotten this far in my student career if it was not for the profound, amazing teachers and staff that I have been lucky enough to cross paths with such as Mrs. Healless, Mrs. Savittieri, Mrs. Telander, and Coach McAdow. My tumbling coach, Coach Amanda, was also an enormous motivator for me. Because of her I was finally able to attain my back handspring that I had been struggling with for years. She made me realize that with hard work and dedication anything is possible.” When asked what makes her feel successful, Teagan said, “Throughout my childhood and entire academic experience, I have always strived to be the best version of myself I could be. Because of that, I feel successful for multiple reasons. I can physically see how far I have come, from my advancements in sports to how I am excelling in my classes. Mentally, I know how much effort I give to receive results I am happy with. All in all, even if I had nothing to show for it, everything I have achieved has strengthened my work ethic and made me grow into who I am today. From that alone I feel very successful.”