At the September 23rd Board of Education meeting, the Bunker Hill CUSD #8 School Board voted to move forward in the timeline of implementing the Bunker Hill #8 Re-Start Plan originally developed by a large and diverse committee of parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, health department officials, and board members during the early summer months. Although the plan has been delayed due to a late summer surge in downstate Illinois and a couple of local outbreaks, the goal had never changed: in-person learning 5 days/week. The next two phases (and possible third) are as follows:
• Beginning on Monday, September 28 = All students in grades K-5 will return 5 days/week. Pre-K, Jr High and High School will remain on the hybrid/blended model. Instructional IEP students in all grades K-12 have the option to return 5 days week as well.
• Beginning on Monday, October 5 = All students in grades 6-8 will return 5 days/week.
• High School (grades 9-12) has a TENTATIVE return date of October 13. However, this is not guaranteed, and will be decided on October 7th after studying the impact of more students returning in the K-8 setting.
We are thrilled to soon see all our students in person, and thus far, our students have done an amazing job with social distancing, masks, and hand washing. Please encourage students to continue these habits for the foreseeable future, as our behavior both inside and outside of school is what will enable this model to continue safely.
Thank you to all parents and family members for your support, patience, and continued partnership during this difficult time. We are still in this together and will be for the duration of this situation.
We are excited to announce that Wolf Ridge will be participating in Start with Hello Week next week, September 21st-25th. Students will learn about the importance of staying positive, reaching out to help others, and the power of a simple, "Hello!" We will have special activities, lessons, and even fun dress-up days next week. Please read the flyer above for more information about each day. Whether you are learning from home or at school on specific days, please join in!
The new floor at BHHS is now officially finished! #BHill8 Inspire...Empower...Innovate
A hot and humid day for #BHill8 Jr High Baseball and Softball. Great games with social connections but still socially distant!
Welcome Back! It has been 164 days since our students have walked the halls of #BHill8 schools. We look forward to welcoming the rest of our students back soon!
Our buildings, although they may appear different this year, are READY to welcome back our #BHill8 students tomorrow for the first time since March 13!
First home game of the season for our Wolf Ridge Patriots Girls' Softball team! A little different looking, but so important to see our kids participating in an activity safely!
BHCUSD#8 NUTRITION NEWS
Welcome to the new school year! Providing breakfast and lunch to students is an integral part of a student’s educational experience. Good Nutrition is critical to a student’s health and wellbeing, and ensures that students have the nutrition they need throughout the day to learn. Breakfast and Lunch will be available to BHCUSD students during Remote Learning. Please make sure to use the link below to access the order form that must be completed the night before the meal is requested. All applicable charges will apply.
Starting on the first day of school (August 24th) from 12:00 pm until 12:30 pm at the Wolf Ridge Elementary and Junior High building under the canopy (700 West Orange Street). Meals ordered will be available for pick up for remote learners. Meals served during remote learning will be charged to the students account in the same manner as in the past. Student National School Lunch Program pricing applies ( free students are free, reduced students are $0.30 breakfast and $0.40 for lunch and paid students are $1.75 for breakfast and $2.80 for lunch). Pick up meals will be served curbside, drive-thru style.
Students receiving meals MUST BE an enrolled BHCUSD student. Students do not have to be in the vehicle for meal pick-up. When picking up meals please tell the cashier the students name and grade level.
To apply for free and reduced meals; Paper applications can be obtained from your student’s school OR the district website www.bhcusd.org . Contact Ms. Bethany Spickerman at bspickerman@bhcusd.org or (618) 585-3116 with any questions on applications.
To order your student(s) meals for each day, click on the link below and fill out the form. This order will be for the entire week, there will be no day-by-day meals. We will take into consideration that your student may be on either M-T or TH-F in-school attendance, or total remote learning.
To order meals, please click here: https://bit.ly/3aIURGK
Your form will go directly to me, Rachelle (Shelly) Wuellner. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly at rwuellner@bhcusd.org or (618) 585-3116 ext. 226
#BHill8 is hiring for the following support staff positions:
-- Part-time/temporary custodian
-- Part-time recess/lunch monitor
To apply, visit https://bit.ly/2FFHJGZ
Help #BHill8 schools re-open! Let's all do our part to stop the spread.
Here are some tips from the health department to help control the spread of the outbreak in our community.
• If you’ve been exposed to anyone who has tested positive or were at the site of the outbreak at the times laid out by the health department, get tested so you know your status. The virus impacts people in different ways and while one person may not show any symptoms, another may become seriously ill.
• If you test positive, it is important that you and everyone in your home abide by the quarantine guidelines laid out by the public health department as well as cooperate with their contact tracing efforts in order to contain it efficiently.
• If you’re out in the community wear a mask to protect others in the community and yourself.
• If you have a cough, fever, lose sense of taste or smell or notice any other symptoms stay home and arrange to be tested at the local health department.
We are in this together, BH community and BH schools. We are stronger together!
Today for #BHill8 families:
Class of 2020 Graduates & Families –
After the disappointment and understandable frustration following Friday’s decision to cancel the BHHS Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremony, I feel an explanation (as best as I can provide) is owed.
First and foremost, I would like to CONGRATULATE the class of 2020 not only for their academic accomplishments throughout their K-12 career, but also in demonstrating resilience, compassion and grace in the face of these very difficult times. Please know that if there was any way that this ceremony could have been conducted safely, it would have. It broke my heart to do this, and for that, I am truly sorry.
As many of you know, we were able to flawlessly celebrate the 8th Grade Class Promotion ceremony the evening before. All of the decorations were up, speeches were ready, the weather forecast was perfect and we were set to celebrate the Class of 2020!
At approximately 3:00 PM, I received notification that the Macoupin Co Public Health Dept, who had approved our graduation plans, was either unable to 1) confirm notification of an order to quarantine or 2) unable to confirm quarantine status regarding multiple potential guests at our ceremony. Between the hours of 3:00 and 4:00, multiple alternatives were investigated, and ultimately the recommendation came from the MCPHD to cancel.
At this point, a couple of key factors come into play. First, the district could endanger the public’s health by continuing the ceremony. Secondly, in these highly litigious times, the district could potentially be at risk for liability. Our insurance provider has communicated, as all providers covering schools throughout the state have said, to disregard public health officials’ recommendations would basically warrant our coverage null and void.
So whether we feel the Coronavirus is a potentially deadly virus, or that it is overblown by the media, nothing changes the district’s obligation to 1) protect the health of our community and 2) preserve taxpayers’ interest.
At the end of the day, it was a difficult decision to make, but unfortunately was the right one. We all have good reason to be upset, frustrated and angry. Hopefully not with each other, but with the situation. After all, we are in this together, and we all want to return to the “old normal” as soon as possible. As is true in all trials, silver linings can be found. Take a look at the social media accounts of these new graduates and you will see hurt and disappointment, yet they are still modeling class and understanding. We at Bunker Hill CUSD #8 love all our students, but this Class of 2020 especially should make all of us proud.
Together, we will get through this, and after each day, even tough ones like Friday, we are one day closer to brighter times.
Thank you again for the support, patience and partnership during this time, and the days to come.
Respectfully yours,
Todd
Todd Dugan - Superintendent
Unfortunately the District must cancel the scheduled BHHS Senior Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremony scheduled for tonight (Friday, 8/7/2020). Our district, in consultation with the Macoupin County Public Health Department, has made the decision to cancel this ceremony out of an abundance of caution after learning of a confirmed outbreak within the community that could potentially lead to an increased risk by holding the ceremony. This is an extremely difficult decision to make; however the health and safety of our students, staff and community is currently our top priority. #BHill8 is saddened at this announcement, and we thank you in advance for your understanding.
Maple Street Clinic will be doing physicals and immunizations at Wolf Ridge on August 10, 2020 from 3-7 PM.
In-person Registration will be held at Wolf Ridge August 5, 2020 from 12:00pm -7:00pm. Due to COVID-19 we are requesting that all new families to the district or returning students that want to register in person please call 618-585-3116 to schedule an appointment.
Tonight: Regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting at 7:00 PM at Wolf Ridge. As in recent months, public comments may be emailed to bspickerman@bhcusd.org prior to 6:30 PM. If attendance is requested, please contact Central Office for details regarding Phase 4 requirements. https://bit.ly/30cV6ot
Below is a message emailed to all students in grades 3rd-12th at Bunker Hill CUSD #8 this afternoon from Superintendent Dugan:
Good afternoon, #BHill8 students!
Your voices matter! I want to hear from you and I am creating a space for this at a “town hall webinar” on Thursday, July 16, 2020 starting at 4:00 PM. Any student who wishes to speak can speak, any student who has a question can ask a question, and any student with input to me about school starting during COVID-19 will have a chance to share ideas and thoughts with me. Here is the Zoom link details:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77540325247?pwd=TUM0L1pBdUw4cFk2Ylljd1NaOEZDdz09
Meeting ID: 775 4032 5247
Passcode: 2Sf1CG
This is a chance for student voice, and I hope you can join! If you cannot join, but you have questions or ideas, please share them with me via email at tdugan@bhcusd.org
Best wishes to you and your families!
Mr. Dugan, your superintendent
PS – Parents, you are invited to ask questions either on the Google form sent out last week, or on the Facebook Live event beginning at 6:00 PM. While you are of course more than welcome to attend with your child, this event is for student voice only. Thank you for your understanding! 😊
#BHill8 parents and students-- Our district's Re-Opening Committee is preparing a plan to reopen #BHill8 schools in the Fall. In order to assist families, our district is preparing a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document. If you have one (or two) critical questions, please submit them with this link: https://forms.gle/evptNtaakuGaEbYP7
Tomorrow: #BHill8 Superintendent Todd Dugan will host a "virtual" Coffee with the Superintendent on Wednesday, July 1 at 6:30 PM on Zoom. An update will be shared on the district's current progress on its Re-Opening Plan. Questions, compliments and comments welcome! Invite here:
Todd Dugan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Virtual Coffee with Superintendent
Time: Jul 1, 2020 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79540472065?pwd=T21jaFBUNmJCSlZJckN5UGpzMEpMdz09
Meeting ID: 795 4047 2065
Password: 4EeeVA
