March 27, 2020

  • Dear Lancer Families:

    The landscape for Lake Park High School’s Continuity of Instruction has changed vastly since the initial statewide closure began on March 17, 2020. Due to the likelihood of the closure extending well into April, school districts are adapting to the new reality that learning should move forward with online instruction. The Remote Instruction Plan described in this letter provides an overview of the District’s efforts to shift from the review of prior material to the teaching of new content and skills. Read the Remote Instruction Plan FAQs for additional detail. Our efforts to move the curriculum forward reflect the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) guidance that our students need to progress in their education to the greatest extent possible.

    Instructional Calendar
    Following spring break, the Remote Instruction Plan will begin the week of April 6, 2020 and extend throughout the school closure. Please note that Friday, April 10 is designated as a non-attendance day on the academic calendar; therefore, it is not designated as a Remote Instruction day.

    Remote Instruction
    The daily Remote Instruction schedule will take place Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Students are not required to be present “virtually” at any particular time of the day for a lesson, activity, or assignment. Teachers will deliver online lessons, materials, homework, activities, assessments, and supplemental resources to support learning. Students will access these materials through email, Home Access Center (HAC), and Google Classroom. Teachers will monitor their students’ work and level of engagement.

    Attendance
    Students are required to log their attendance by 3:00 p.m. on each Remote Instruction Day. The attendance form can be accessed on the LPHS COVID-19 website or Launchpad homepage. Lancers who fail to log their daily attendance will be contacted by a member of our counseling department to ensure students are doing well and have the resources necessary to be successful during this difficult time. Our outreach efforts reflect an ongoing commitment to supporting educational goals as well as meeting social and emotional needs.  

    Grading
    Per ISBE guidance, student grades cannot be impacted negatively by classwork completed during the school closure. Therefore, it is important for students to complete assignments in order to earn credit for their work. A blank score in HAC means the assignment is missing, and should be completed in order to earn full credit. For work that has been attempted by students, teachers will provide constructive feedback and may return assignments for revision so that students can earn full credit. Assignments that were completed prior to Monday, March 16 will be recorded in HAC in the coming days. Students may see a change in their grades based on work that was done prior to the school closure. 

    Technology
    Students can access their lessons and assignments on a home computer or their Chromebook. If students have any Chromebook-related questions, repair issues or need technical assistance, please send an email to lpchromebase@lphs.org. District technology team members will be ready to assist and respond as quickly as possible.

    Standardized Testing and AP Exams
    ISBE has cancelled the administration of standardized tests for the remainder of the school year. This means that students will not take the PSAT9, PSAT10, or SAT tests as scheduled in April. We await further guidance from ISBE regarding current juniors who were not able to take the SAT, which is commonly used as a college entrance exam.

    The College Board announced that traditional face-to-face administration of Advanced Placement (AP) exams will not take place. Instead, students may choose to take 45-minute online free-response exams at home. The district will provide families with ongoing updates about AP programming on Lake Park’s COVID-19 website. Families are also encouraged to visit the College Board website for information. 

    Social and Emotional Well-Being
    Members of our Student Services and Counseling Services teams are ready to support our students with their social and emotional needs, questions about college and career planning, and other counseling related services. Students and families should contact members of their grade specific teams as needs emerge. Since teaching and learning will continue throughout the school closure, students log their attendance each day of Remote Instruction. They should engage in learning activities and complete their assignments. Teachers and our support professionals will monitor student engagement to ensure students have the resources they need to be productive. 

    To better serve families, and respond to any questions or concerns, call (630) 529-3003. Please leave a detailed message that explains the nature of your call. The information will be forwarded to an administrator for prompt follow-up during this extended school closure. 

    Thank you for your continued support as we strive to do what is best for our students and our school community. The safety and wellness of our students, families and staff remain at the forefront of our decision-making process. 

    Lynn Panega, Ed.D.
    Superintendent