Dear Palos 118 Families,

This week, our school community showed its support for our outstanding Palos 118 teachers and staff. I'd like to thank the Board of Education for visiting schools and providing grab and go breakfast treats. Our phenomenal PFA sponsored Let's Taco 'Bout Appreciation Fiestas at all three schools, complete with a taco food truck. Various other events were sponsored throughout the week to show our teachers and staff how very fortunate we are to have them supporting our students through what will most likely be the most difficult school year of their careers. Let me officially wrap up the week by saying one last THANK YOU! Our Palos 118 family is simply the best.

Our school nurses deserve some double love this week, as National Nurse Day fell during Appreciation Week. We could not have successfully opened schools during this public health crisis without our truly exceptional school nurses. Every day, our school nurses are on the frontlines assisting students, their families, and our staff navigating the complexities of in-person learning during a pandemic. Because of their many efforts, Palos 118 is a leader in providing instruction in the face of COVID-19. Hats off to our school nurses for keeping us all safe!

Speaking of safety, the number of quarantines is up this week due to an increase in positive cases linked to gatherings outside of school. With vaccinations up and the weather turning warm, it is natural that we all will begin returning to somewhat normal activities outside of school hours. Just yesterday, Governor Pritzker announced he intends to "fully reopen" Illinois on June 11. Please note, however, the school district must continue to follow IDPH guidelines for student quarantines, so we ask parents to be extra vigilant in assessing your child's risk of exposure and keeping them home if you believe they were exposed to COVID-19 at a gathering outside of school. We have 29 days of school left. Let's work together to finish strong.

This week's metrics:

A return to Phase 3 of the Governor's Restore Illinois Plan
Suburban Cook County remains in Phase 4, which allows schools to conduct in-person instruction. The Governor has announced his intent to move to Phase 5 on June 11. Source: Governor's Office
Outbreaks of confirmed COVID-19 cases in schools
We are unaware of any reported outbreaks in area schools. Source: ISC-4 and media reports.
Confirmed Community Spread
Test Positivity is "minimal." New Cases per 100,000 is "substantial." New Cases are "minimal." Youth Case Increase is "minimal." The 7-day rolling positivity rate is <=8%. The 14-day rolling positivity rate is <=8%. Source: IDPH and Northwestern University
Directive from IDPH, CCDPH, ISBE, or the Governor's Office
No additional directives were issued this week.
District 118 Staffing
If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher, visit the employment page of our website to see if you qualify and to fill out an online application.
COVID Dashboard Statistics
You can view our updated COVID Dashboard by visiting www.palos118.org.

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Dr. Anthony M. Scarsella
Superintendent of Schools