2020-21 School Resources
Last updated: December 30, 2020
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is now in a planned remote learning period between the Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas break. A two-week community quarantine will be observed from January 4 through January 18. During the community quarantine, international boarding students will return to the dorms. Teachers and domestic students will learn remotely during this time. In-person learning will likely resume on January 19.
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Health & Safety
Two-Week Community Quarantine
The entire school community will engage in a two-week community quarantine from January 4-January 18 in preparation to return to in-person learning on January 19. During the quarantine we will follow our remote learning schedule with a 10 a.m. start time each day. Please find the Red/White calendar for the next two weeks here.
We ask every community member to complete holiday travel by January 4 and commit to sticking close to home—only leaving for essential business—and eliminating contact outside the immediate household. Should you choose to extend your holiday travel, upon return, we ask that your daughter commit to a 14-day quarantine.
Symptom Screening
To ensure the well-being of the school community, all students and staff must complete a wellness screening prior to departing for school. Each morning parents/guardians/staff must complete a symptom screening to verify they are free of any COVID symptoms. Parents/guardians will complete the screening on behalf of their daughter to verify she is free of any COVID symptoms.Having one or more symptoms requires remaining at home and a parent/guardian calling to report the symptoms.
The School Wellness app (download here use school ID ) is our preferred method of completing the screening, but this form may be printed, completed, and submitted to the health screener at the school entrance. Students and employees will present the form or the QR code found on the app to gain entry to the school building after an additional temperature check.
Anyone presenting with a temperature or symptoms will immediately be sent home and advised to follow the infection protocol.
- Daily and random temperature checks will be conducted. Temperatures of 100.4 or higher, with or without the following symptoms, will be sent home.
- Cough
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle Pain
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
Screening will take place at the front door. All other doors will be inaccessible to enter the building. Upon arrival, symptoms will be rechecked, including a temperature check. Adults and students neglecting to submit to the symptoms check prior to entering the building will be sent home or placed into a quarantined area until health is verified. With the unique challenges that this virus presents, parents/guardians may request a standing late arrival or early dismissal for their student. This must be arranged with the Dean of Students, Emma Hindman.
Face Masks & Physical Distance
Students must be prepared to wear a mask before boarding a school van or prior to exiting a car. Masks must be in place prior to entering the school building. Students must supply their own masks.
While in the building, individuals are required to wear a proper face mask and practice a physical distance of at least 6'. With the exception of the Woodlands logo, masks must be free from logos or slogans. School appropriate artistic patterns are acceptable and masks may be any color.
Students, whether you live in the dorm or at home, please continue to wash your hands and use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available. Wear your mask when on campus and practice physical distancing. These practices not only protect you, but they protect students, faculty, staff, and others from infection. They are essential to minimize the number of people who would need to be quarantined in the case of infection.
Staying Home when Ill
With the modifications the school has made and by following the public health practices by students and all community members, we believe our campus will be as safe as any other environment, and the risk of acquiring the virus on campus should be very low. Nonetheless, we are prepared to care for students if they become infected with COVID-19 and therefore need to be isolated until they can be picked-up by a parent or guardian. We will similarly support students who are considered close contacts of infected individuals and therefore need to be quarantined. Adhering to our health and safety practices, especially regarding mask wearing and physical distancing, is the best way you can minimize the risk that you will become infected or be considered a close contact of an infected individual. We want our students who are sick to stay home. Our robust remote learning program will allow the students to continue their studies and participation in class while being at home.
Accessing Campus
Woodlands' school building will open at 7:15 a.m. for students and employees of our community. Access to the building will be limited to the main entrance and Performing Arts Center (PAC) doors. Boarding students will enter the first floor from the main staircase only after completing the symptom screening process. Required screening must be completed and verified by school staff prior to gaining access to the building or proceeding downstairs from the residence hall.
After school students should depart the school around 3:30 p.m. Students with later pick-ups will remain in PAC area until 6:30 p.m. After 4:30 p.m. the front entrance of the building will be locked, leaving parents to pick up their student at the PAC entrance. Athletes will be picked-up at the gym entrance. This policy allows for our maintenance staff to thoroughly disinfect classrooms and other spaces in the building in preparation for the next school day.
Flu Shot & COVID Vaccine
This year, due to the unknown interactions of seasonal influenza and COVID-19, it is strongly encouraged that all community members get the flu vaccine. Furthermore, the upper-respiratory symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 are so similar that those presenting with symptoms will be presumed positive for COVID unless a test shows otherwise, and isolation will be imposed. Most insurance providers cover vaccine costs.
As with much of the nation, the COVID-19 Task Force and the Leadership Team are carefully watching the news of the vaccine distribution across the country. Collectively with Lake Forest Academy and Lake Forest Country Day School, we have reached out to Lake County Health Department for more information regarding the availability of vaccine dosages to our communities. As more information becomes available, we will communicate that out.
As we await the distribution of the vaccine, we must continue to appeal to our collective responsibility as members of a beloved community to care for one another by collectively practicing the mitigation strategies of mask-wearing, social distancing, handwashing, and staying home when feeling ill or when made aware of a possible exposure. These strategies will remain imperative for some time to come.
Visitors to campus
Our primary focus is the health and safety of the students and the staff. Until further notice no guests will be invited to campus and our events will not include guests, which unfortunately includes current parents. This also includes spectators at sporting events. For our beloved traditions, we will reimagine them with remote participation available. One of the silver linings we discovered over the course of the spring was the increased participation from the extended families of our students--we hope you will share the links to our events widely with your family and friends to invite them into the life of the school. The school building will not be rented to any outside groups. As mentioned previously, if we can safely relax some guidelines over time, we will do so joyfully.
ACademics
Guided by extensive research and collaboration with other independent schools, we plan to combine best practices from virtual and in-person instruction to create robust teaching and learning experiences in both environments. Woodlands' size is a blessing. While many area schools cannot welcome their students to campus for live instruction on a daily basis, Woodlands can! We will continue to deliver our exceptional academic program daily along with the attention to each student's social and emotional well-being that you, our families, expect from us.
Class Schedule
Remote Learning Schedule (60 min classes)
10:00-11:00-Period 1/5
11:00-11:10-Break
11:10-12:10-Period 2/6
12:10-12:50-Lunch
12:50-1:50-Period 3/7
1:50-2:00-Break
2:00-3:00 Period 4/8
Regular Red/White Schedule (65 min classes)
7:45-9:00 - Office Hours
8:10-8:50 - Orchestra
9:00-10:05 - Period 1/5
BREAK
10:25-11:30 - Period 2/6
11:30-12:20 - Advisory, Lunch, Clubs/Orgs
12:30-1:35 - Period 3/7
BREAK
1:55-3:00 - Period 4/8
20 minute breaks between classes - will allow adequate cleaning between classroom use and allows everyone to spread out washroom visits and such to better physical distance.
Wednesdays (50 min classes)
7:45-9:00 - Office Hours
8:10-8:50 - Orchestra
9:00-9:50 - Period 1/5
BREAK
10:10-11:00 - Period 2/6
BREAK
11:20 - 12:10-Period 3/7
12:10 - 1:10 - Advisory, Lunch, Clubs/Orgs
1:10 - 2:00 - Period 4/8
Hybrid Learning
We understand that some students will be unable to be on campus in the fall. Woodlands has invested in educational technology to equip classrooms with cameras, microphones, and speakers allowing students learning remotely to participate fully in classes and collaborate with their classmates.
Enroll in Remote Learning
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is committed to meeting the needs of its students. The administration recognizes that not all families will feel comfortable with students returning to in-person learning. Therefore, we are pleased to offer the option for families to opt for at-home learning taking advantage of the newly installed classroom technology.
Sign up for 3rd Marking Period
Classroom Technology
OWL Cameras
Our classrooms are now equipped with OWL, the smart conference camera that captures 360-degree video and audio for an engaging, fully immersive distance learning experience. The OWL automatically shifts the camera to focus on whoever is speaking. The result is an experience that nearly feels like sitting in the classroom.
Sign Classroom Recording Waiver
Microsoft Teams
Online video conferencing will use the Microsoft Teams platform. The Woodlands Academy Faculty & Staff will engage in professional training in August 2020 prior to the start of the school year.
Powerschool
Woodlands will continue to use Powerschool as our Learning Management System for the 2020-21 school year to provide continuity for our students. Throughout the year, the school will continue to investigate other LMS platforms.
Connecting with Teachers
Our school day schedule provides dedicated office hours for our remote learners to interact with their teachers virtually. We will also be recording lessons to accommodate those students in different time zones. Those in-person learners will have ample time to connect with teachers as well.
Student Emotional Learning and Well-Being
With the multitude of changes that we have encountered during the pandemic and this time of social upheaval, it is important to consider the needs of our community members and the ongoing support that is offered at Woodlands. Schools are called to be agile in planning, empathetic to equity issues that have been amplified during the pandemic, and to align our practices with the health of our community at the forefront.
Our work on a variety of initiatives to address the needs of our students of color has intensified and our work together will continue in the fall. Understanding systemic racism and the differential impact of the coronavirus on our families is critical to providing appropriate support.
At Woodlands, we have an ongoing commitment to our students' well-being and support is offered through a variety of means. For all students, social and emotional learning (SEL) goals are addressed through seminars, health classes, activities, retreats, and the advisory program. For students in need of more individualized support, counseling is offered (in-person or through video conferencing), referrals for therapy and evaluations are provided, and collaboration with private providers is ongoing. Additionally, academic interventions and individualized recommendations are created to ensure student success. While the format may change according to circumstances, our team approach, collaboration with families, and our support structures will remain intact.
The SEL programming and interventions that are conducted will vary this year according to the assessed needs of our community. The pandemic has created unique challenges for being flexible, adaptive, and empathetic towards the social-emotional and practical concerns of our community members. Woodlands will adjust programs and activities according to the anticipated and expressed needs of our Woodlands family. A survey assessing student well-being, family and community needs as well as teacher and staff requests will be forthcoming.
The wellness of our community not only depends on the outlined guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19, but also on caring for ourselves and one another. As discussed this spring, our three pillars of social and emotional care for our community (adapted from trauma informed practice) will continue to be the following: providing psychological safety, promoting feelings of belonging and connectedness, and fostering a sense of hope. Survey results and these pillars of care will guide our efforts in supporting one another through the transition to the new school year.
Global Education
First Semester Exchanges
In keeping with the recommendation to only participate in essential travel and to be consistent with many of the other Sacred Heart schools, first semester exchanges are postponed. In mid-October we will announce the decision concerning the ability to re-establish a second semester exchange. Thankfully, exchange coordinators around the globe have been working hard over the summer to establish a virtual exchange program and Jessica Campbell, Director of Global Education, will be announcing more details about this as the school year begins.
Global Odyssey 2021
It is currently too early to announce Global Odyssey programming for June 2021. In the fall, families will be surveyed to gather information that will help this programming move forward. Programming will be designed to ensure that students receive creative and stimulating global education in any situation we may face.
Vienna Group Exchange
In order to ensure the safety of our students, the 2020 group exchange trip to Vienna is cancelled. Any student who was invited to attend this trip will have the opportunity to go to Vienna in fall 2021. We hope that virtual exchange opportunities in the fall will continue to maintain and strengthen our relationship with Sacre Coeur Wien.
Sacred Heart Global Academy
We are excited to announce the launch of Sacred Heart Global Academy: A partnership between Forest Ridge School and Woodlands Academy. This program was originally created to provide curricular and advisory support to our international students by offering fully online courses. We are offering four exciting classes in first semester which you can read about and register for here. Please contact Jessica Campbell or Rocco Gargiulo for more information. We are excited about the opportunity for Woodlands students to learn alongside other Sacred Heart students and hope to offer additional classes in semester two.
Global Education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Our mission calls for all members of the Sacred Heart to be active and informed citizens locally, nationally, and globally. The Center for Global Studies will now facilitate efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are excited that Woodlands' new DEI coordinator, Myrtle Castro, will be collaborating with the Center for Global Studies to progress and develop DEI programming for students, faculty, and the greater Woodlands community
School Life, Co-Curricular, Athletics, and Special Events
Co-curricular activities, community programming, and traditions are being re-envisioned to ensure the safety of our community. Clubs and organizations will continue to meet at their scheduled times/days, offering in-person and remote opportunities to be involved. Major community programming and events will abide by state guidelines and recommendations, utilizing technology to stream events across our campus and external members of our community.
Dress Code
Woodlands students will wear casual dress for the first semester. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with casual dress expectations outlined below, and dress appropriately for Physical Education classes and after school athletics on days they are scheduled to do so (athletic pants or shorts, a t-shirt, and gym shoes.)
Casual Dress Expectations:
- Shorts and skirts must be of appropriate/modest length. Pants should not have any holes in them.
- Shirts must cover the shoulders. No low cut (front or back), strapless, spaghetti straps, or crop tops/bare midriffs.
- Any images and words displayed must be appropriate (absolutely no reference to drugs, alcohol, violence, or any form of hate speech/inappropriate language).
- With the exception of the Woodlands logo, masks must be free from logos or slogans. School appropriate artistic patterns are acceptable and masks may be any color.
- No facial piercings or unnatural hair colors are permitted.
- Shoes are required at all times.
- Students may wear the uniform on days they do not have Physical Education or sports practices/games if they desire, but this is not a requirement.
Lunch Period & Advisory
Students will be grouped by grade level during the lunch hour. Four of our largest spaces have been identified to ensure that social distancing can happen. Weather permitting, students will be encouraged to eat outside.
Advisors will check-in with students for the first ten minutes of the scheduled lunch hour to address concerns, go through announcements, and take attendance. All students are expected to report to their grade-level's designated room for the full ten minute period at the beginning of the lunch hour. Following advisory check-ins, students are free to eat their meals, attend meetings, and socialize outside or in designated areas.
Students are expected to maintain consistent communication with their advisor, seeking out additional support when necessary. Advisors will continue to reach out to students to schedule individual check-in meetings with each student throughout the academic year. Families and students are encouraged to be in frequent contact with their advisor.Students that are opting to learn remotely are expected to stay engaged with their advisor and respond to outreach in a timely manner.
On Fridays, students will spend the whole lunch hour with their grade-level. This will be a time to build community with important announcements, activities and updates. Details and dates will be communicated via advisors and in the daily announcements.
No food delivery to campus will be permitted until further notice. This includes delivery directly from restaurants, UberEats, Door Dash, Grubhub, etc. Students should pack their lunch or order from Handcut Foods.
Clubs & Organizations
Club Meetings
The second half of lunch will be dedicated to club and organization meetings. Students should check the daily announcements for important club and organization updates and information.
Should the school move to remote learning, all clubs and organizations will move to an online format. Faculty/Staff moderators and elected student leaders will determine how their individual club/org will need to be adapted to this format and communicate changes via the daily announcements and email.
No club/organization, choir, theater, or athletic meetings will be held on Fridays. Important announcements, activities, and updates will be scheduled during this time and students may be asked to remain with their grade-level for the full lunch hour. Details and dates will be communicated via advisors and in the daily announcements.
Fine Arts & Theatre
We are still developing our plans for student activities that scientists believe hold significant risk for transmission, whether due to the nature of the activity, the proximity of individuals at those events, or the inevitable contact between individuals. As of this writing, we are reviewing the recommendations for vocal activities, and theatre performances. Our approach will continue to evolve with updated guidelines. We are working hard to research safe ways to enable choir rehearsals or performances, musical instrument rehearsals and performances, and dance and theater performances, though they will likely require significant restrictions. We are consulting ISBE, and relevant CDC guidelines, and relevant professional association guidelines regularly.
Our theater program and choirs are an essential part of many of our students' experiences. Please enjoy the radio plays our students put together for their fall production and the beautiful Performing Arts pieces shared prior to Christmas Break.
Athletics
Our plans for student activities that scientists believe hold significant risk for transmission, whether due to the nature of the activity, the proximity of individuals at those events, or the inevitable contact between individuals are continually evolving. We plan to offer as many athletic opportunities as is safe to do so. Currently there is no basketball due to the high-risk of virus transmission. There is a possibility of a later season. We will update on spring sports as the information becomes available.
Traditions & Building Community
An essential part of Sacred Heart Goal IV in the building of community is our ability to come together as a community. Even though our size provides us with such an advantage over other schools, the current guidelines restrict us from gathering the full student body together in one space. We are reimagining our school events so that we can continue to be a strong Christ-centered community where we are able to celebrate our shared values and accomplishments.
Community Service
Many things are being adjusted to better suit our community this year and our community service requirement and expectations are shifting as well. During the 2020-2021 academic year all students are expected to complete 10 service hours. This expectation has been reduced from our usual 20 hour requirement for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, but remains the same for freshmen. We hope that by decreasing the required number of service hours students can safely engage communities in need of support without taking unnecessary risks. The graduation requirement for each class will be adjusted to reflect the decreased service hour expectations.
Students will be able to earn service hours throughout the year with on campus opportunities, various virtual service projects, as well as Service Day. With an emphasis on these activities, students can receive all of their service hours without physically going into the community in which they are serving. However, students are encouraged to explore other opportunities as well.
If there is a service opportunity you would like to share, an organization that you are passionate about, or are interested in recommending an organization to work with Woodlands during Service Day please email Ms. Brynna Sherony, Community Service Coordinator, at WAService@woodlandsacademy.org.
Parking, Transportation & Food Service
Student Pick Up & Drop Off
Woodlands' school building will open at 7:15 a.m. for students and employees of our community. Access to the building will be limited to the main entrance and Performing Arts Center (PAC) doors.
After school students should depart the school around 3:30 p.m. Students with later pick-ups may remain in the PAC area until 6:30 p.m. at the latest. At 4:30 p.m. the front entrance of the building will be locked, and students must exit and be picked up from the PAC entrance. Athletes should be picked up at their corresponding practice fields. This policy allows for our maintenance staff to thoroughly disinfect classrooms and other spaces in the building in preparation for the next school day.
Student Parking
All students who wish to park on campus must reserve a parking spot with Chris Grasenick via the Required Student Information Form (completed via MyBackPack).
After school hours, students are allowed to move their cars to the Gym parking area for Tennis or to the GDC parking near the west field.
During the school day, please do not park anywhere on the side of the driveways per fire code requirements.
Shuttle Service from Train
Due to social distancing requirements, Woodlands Academy has contracted with Olson Transportation to provide our shuttle services for this school year. Shuttle seats are issued on a first come first served basis upon completion of the Required Student Information Form (completed via MyBackPack). Spots are filling up quickly!
Train riders should keep an eye out for a yellow school bus with "Olson Transportation" on the side.
For normal Red/White school days (beginning August 28) the following shuttles will be available:
Fort Sheridan Station (UPN)
A 7:35 a.m. and 8:35 a.m. shuttle to Woodlands from Fort Sheridan Station servicing the UPN Metra line will be available every school day. The after school shuttle to Fort Sheridan are as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 3:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
Wednesday: 2:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
West Lake Forest (MDN)
A 7:35 a.m. or 8:05 a.m. shuttle to Woodlands from the West Lake Forest Station on 911 Telegraph Road serving the MDN Metra line will be available for those who reserve a seat.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 3:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
Wednesdays 3:15 p.m.
Please be sure to check the alternate Metra schedules at the Metra Rail website.
Questions? Please contact Mrs.Chris Grasenick.
Food Service
In order to respond to the safety protocols necessary to keep our community safe and still offer healthy, delicious meals to our community, Woodlands Academy is partnering with Handcut Foods to provide meal service this school year. After extensive research, we are confident that Handcut will be an excellent partner in providing healthy, delicious food to our students, faculty, and staff. All meals will be pre-portioned and pre-packaged. This also means that meals will need to be ordered ahead of time.
Families of day students, please be on the lookout for an email directly from Handcut Foods which will detail pricing information and account setup.
Families of our boarding students, our residence life staff will work directly with our residents to coordinate food ordering.
Curious about the offerings? Click here!
No food delivery to campus will be permitted until further notice. This includes delivery directly from restaurants, UberEats, Door Dash, Grubhub, etc. Students should either pack a lunch or order from Handcut foods.
Communications & Taskforce
COVID-19 Taskforce
Woodlands COVID-19 Taskforce assists the school in nimbly responding in the best interests of our community to the challenges and opportunities that the global pandemic presents.
If you would like to contact the taskforce, you can do so by emailing covid@woodlandsacademy.org
If you would like to contact the taskforce, you can do so by emailing covid@woodlandsacademy.org
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