Tonight's Board of Education meeting has been moved to a virtual meeting. Below is the Zoom Meeting link you can use if you are interested in attending.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81199787130?pwd=dG92UjBjaUtHOGRtSk93cDVCU3dpZz09
Meeting ID: 811 9978 7130
Passcode: 1UpEL6
Michael Lindy, Superintendent
AFC CUSD #275
815-453-7461
mlindy@afcschools.net
Good Morning!
With some wintery weather predicted for later tonight and into tomorrow, I wanted to take a minute and share the process and rationale that we will follow for potential school cancellations. I apologize for not doing this earlier in the year, I think the mild weather lulled me into a false sense of security.
Generally speaking, I do not cancel school based on a forecast for snow and ice. As you may have experienced, weather forecasts can significantly vary in accuracy. I monitor weather forecasts and reports as well as actual conditions. Driving conditions are very important given our rural setting. My thoughts are focused on staff and students that travel country roads that are subject to drifting and ice. Mr. Harvey and I will communicate repeatedly during weather events. My goal is to make notification, if a decision is to close is made, as soon as practicable and may come as late as 10pm the night before a closure or by 6:00am the day of a closing.
Temperature-related closings are a bit different. I will defer use the NOAA/National Weather Service Wind Chill Chart (found here: https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-wind-chill-chart) to make those determinations. As a rule of thumb (but not an absolute) when wind chills get to the point where frostbite can occur in less than 30 minutes, that is when consideration for closure begins.
In the event that school is cancelled, all extracurricular activities will also be canceled for the day in keeping with past practice.
If school is cancelled, we will not move to an "e-learning" day. There are several reasons for this approach. First, our lower grades are not yet equipped for e-learning. The grades that are equipped for e-learning face uncertainty on these emergency days that may find older students caring for younger siblings and unable to join synchronous lessons. It is my absolute belief that in-person learning provided by AFC staff is the best instructional modality for AFC students. Remote learning was necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed us to provide instruction where we otherwise could not. Building the capacity to live stream instruction will provide benefits in the long term, but it is still not the same as students in the classroom with great teachers.
The safety of our students and staff are my first priority. I will never regret erring on the side of caution and cancelling school on a borderline day if that means everyone is safe.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Best Regards,
Michael Lindy, Superintendent
AFC CUSD #275
815-453-7461
mlindy@afcschools.net
Sports seasons are in the works of being planned! IHSA is meeting on Wednesday, January 27 to plan dates for each season. Athletes need to have a current physical on file with Mrs. Gittleson to be able to participate in any sport. Freshmen school physicals also count as a sports physical. Please contact Mrs. Gittleson at tgittleson@afcschools.net if you have any questions.
The American Red Cross has cancelled the blood drive that was planned to take place at AFC Jr/Sr High School today. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused!
Please enjoy AFC Jr/Sr High School's weekly newsletter!
https://www.smore.com/thjys
A Title Services Stakeholder meeting will be held on Monday, January 25th at 3:00 via Zoom. Please see attached agenda for meeting link.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nAp5xKetLwwEhuvomYwkFVPwNTvq8_4BeFTUfWg2f6A/edit?usp=sharing
We are loving our new app! Access sports scores, cafeteria menus, news updates, and even emergency notifications. Download the app on Android:
https://bit.ly/35zAeub or iPhone: https://apple.co/3ovtnKX.
Please set up your appointment to donate today!
The Regional Office of Education #47 is hosting an Informational Panel for Parents of School Age Children. See below for more details!
Please join us for this panel presentation to be held via ZOOM:
Tuesday 1/19/21, from 3 PM to 4 PM.
This panel of providers is coming to you to discuss services provided and supports for you and your family during the Remote Learning process and after. We ask your participation and input at the end of the session so that we better support you and your family during the education process of your children.
Click on the link below to enter the discussion via ZOOM:
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/85185643085?pwd=OFhZSURsb0lsWjNIWXhTVFB6dFdoZz09
Meeting ID: 851 8564 3085
Password: 576475
• Panelists will provide information about their agencies and options for further consult.
• A brief Q & A will follow.
• Hosts will offer a three-question poll for immediate feedback and will guide further presentations tailored to respond to your input.
Please enjoy AFC Jr/Sr High School's weekly newsletter!
https://www.smore.com/97zdn
AFC FFA Update: The piglets are a week old! Everyone is healthy and thriving. Check them out on the live pigcam! https://meet.google.com/qjk-btid-hdg #AFCFFA
AFC High School Senior and Artist, Madison Runkle is captured working on her amazing mural outside the high school gym. Great job Madison!
The piglets have finally arrived in the Ag Department! Six piglets were born Friday morning - 4 gilts(females) and 2 boars(males).
Please enjoy our weekly newsletter!
https://www.smore.com/ef6su
Congratulations to the Elementary School's 2nd Quarter student award winners! Please watch the video at the link below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SYYq5cBx2bMybnZIIrYBWLbHhxXxpVw6/view?usp=sharing
Kindergarten Registration for next school year is underway! If you have a child who will be 5 by September 1st and you have not received registration papers yet please contact the Elementary School office at 815-456-2325 to register your child.
Here is the January Newsletter for the Elementary School!
https://5il.co/obzt
We’re thrilled to announce Ashton-Franklin Center School District #275’s new app! Access sports scores, cafeteria menus, news updates, even emergency notifications! Download the app on Android:
https://bit.ly/35zAeub or iPhone: https://apple.co/3ovtnKX.
The Elementary School students and staff were not able to host our annual Veterans Day Assembly this year as we have in the past, so instead we put together a video of our students honoring our Veterans. We hope you enjoy our video and thank you to all of our Veterans for your service to our Country!
https://youtu.be/cJf5DdjMfB4
Mrs. McCannon has a story to share with everyone!
https://fb.watch/1Q4gN0AR61/