By all means, enjoy your summer! You’ve earned it. We’re not trying to rush you back into school mode; rather, the beginning of the upcoming school year will look quite different from how the last one started, and we’re here to let you know what you can expect. 

The majority of the North Shore is vaccinated, including school staff and personnel. While COVID should still be taken very seriously (children under 12 are not vaccinated), we’re moving much closer to pre-pandemic conditions. 

Everyone is craving a return to normal and safety, and in this blog post, we provide you with the information you need to know to prepare your children for their first day back to school. 

We’ve finally hit the milestone we’ve been waiting for: Phase 5: Illinois Restored. This means the economy fully reopened with schools, businesses, recreation, conventions, festivals, and large events resuming normal operations with some new safety guidelines. 

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has weighed in, declaring, “Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, all schools must resume fully in-person learning for all student attendance days.”

Unlike last academic year, there will not be an ongoing hybrid or remote learning option. However, remote instruction will be available for students who aren’t eligible for the vaccine and are under a quarantine order by a local public health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The good news is that the state now provides free access to Abbott’s BinaxNOW rapid test and is offering all middle and high schools covidSHIELD tests at reduced or no cost at all. 

The state and governor’s office are proceeding with caution, requiring masks to be worn indoors in schools regardless of an individual’s vaccinated status. In most situations, masks do not need to be worn outside, but social distancing between 3 to 6 feet must be maintained. 

Schools on the North Shore are creating their own plans in accordance with ISBE. For example, Northbrook School District 27--which comprises of Hickory Point Elementary School, Shabonee Elementary School, and Wood Oaks Junior High School--will continue with daily student health certifications and provide a combination of Zoom live streaming, remote learning, and other learning experiences determined by teachers based on overall feasibility of activities. 

In its recent update to parents, the district noted: 

“We will strive to ‘return to normal’ as much as possible with more hands-on and optimal in-person instruction. At the same time we still need to plan for the possibility of quarantined students due to a positive COVID-19 case or close contact.”

Of course, this is a fluid situation with plans and guidelines subject to change. But all indications are that schools will open their doors for full in-person instruction. In the meantime, make it a great summer! 

It’s never too early to prepare your child for the start of a successful school year, so be sure to check out our summer tutoring program. Club Z! Tutoring of Chicago North Shore specializes in providing individualized, in-home and virtual tutoring for students k - 12 in Northbrook, Glenview, Wilmette, Winnetka, Northfield, Kenilworth, and surrounding cities. If you want your child to work on developing skills that will translate to improved grades and self-esteem, contact us today at: bbalatsos@clubztutoring.com. You can also reach us at 847-440-3440 and by visiting clubztutoringnorthshore.com.