A reminder that tomorrow, October 21, and Wednesday, October 22, all WPS schools will host virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences for the 2020-21 school year. Conferences will be held from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. both evenings.

The survey will allow us to record whether a parent plans to send their child back to in-person instruction if Stages 2 or 3 begins during the first semester, or if parents prefer to keep their child remote through the end of the calendar year. Each child’s school will keep a record of this information, and it will help us as we prepare schools, classrooms and buses for the return of students.

The Board of Education will host its regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services committee meetings on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, beginning at 6:00 p.m. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the community, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093.

Several months ago we made a promise to our families that we would keep you updated on our reopening plans. After carefully reviewing local COVID-19 metrics, we have made a decision to again extend Stage 1 of our reopening plan. Our schools will remain in a remote learning structure until at least the end of November.

With parent/guardian permission, Seniors will register using the link: Senior SAT Registration Form. Students must be logged in their WHS school account to access the registration form. SAT® registration will close by end-of-day October 19, 2020. This is the final registration for the SAT test in October - no registration extensions will be provided.

Welcome to a new and exciting school year for parent engagement! We spent several months summer reading over emails, feedback, and survey responses from our parents attending the BPAC meetings and events. As a result, we have worked hard to bring parents a meaningful parent program. In past years, the STEPS program brought ESL parents educational opportunities, and this year we will be significantly expanding our offerings.

This week the Illinois State Board of Education announced that students who are not in compliance with the State’s mandatory child-health related requirements for school attendance may continue to participate in remote instruction.

Waukegan Public Schools is working to develop a College and Career Readiness Strategic Plan. As part of this plan we are creating a picture of the key skills and attributes that all Waukegan graduates need for success. This "Portrait of a Graduate" will be developed with input from all stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers/staff, and community members.

Special Recognition and Presentation -The Board of Education recognized McCall Elementary School on its recent designation as a 2020 Blue Ribbon School. Staff from McCall gave a presentation about the designation and some of its programs.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the community, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling (571) 317-3129. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

As we wind down our first quarter of Remote Learning, our District is continuing to ramp up its preparations for students’ gradual transition back into in-person instruction. As we stated last week, our District is committed to remaining in a 100 percent Remote Learning environment through at least the end of this month. We must continue to plan for the future, however.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 was recently recognized with eight communication awards in the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association's annual communications contest.

Waukegan Public Schools’ Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on October 21 and 22. Conferences will be held from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each evening. This year’s conferences will be hosted virtually.

District 60 staff will present information on important Remote Learning topics during an October 5 livestream. The English broadcast will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the Spanish broadcast will follow at 5 p.m. Topics covered will include the extension of Remote Learning, planning for in-person instruction, distribution of technology, and more. Parents can tune in on the District's Facebook or YouTube channels.

As the calendar changes into October, and with the end of our first grading quarter approaching, we would like to provide an important update regarding our reopening plans. Last month, we announced our decision to remain in Stage 1 with a 100 percent Remote Learning structure, through at least October 16. As that date approaches, we have made the decision to extend Stage 1 through the end of this month.

All State assessments, including the SAT®, were suspended last spring due to COVID 19. Waukegan Public Schools is providing Seniors with the opportunity to fulfill their graduation requirement by taking the State-sponsored SAT® on October 14 or October 27, 2020. The SAT® registration deadline has been extended to October 4, 2020. Students will be excused from their regularly scheduled remote learning classes on test dates to take advantage of this important opportunity.

As part our District's monthlong celebration of Hispanic culture, we will be hosting a Hispanic Heritage Month Virtual Celebration on Thursday, October 15 at 6 p.m.

The Board of Education voted to approve the use of the emergency purchasing authority exception to the competitive bidding requirements [105 ILCS 5/10-20.21(a)(xiv)] in connection with Cristo Rey’s proposed use of ESSER grant funds under the CARES Act. Private schools are entitled to a proportionate share of funds provided to local educational authorities (LEAs) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Act (ESSER). Cristo Rey, 3106 Belvidere Road, is entitled to such funds, which are managed by Waukegan Public Schools, as the LEA. In turn, ISBE requires that the local LEA use public purchasing procedures to secure the supplies identified by the private school grant recipient. The District's Purchasing, Grant and Construction Managers will continue to work with Cristo Rey representatives to support the project utilizing the purchasing methodology authorized by the Board.

Join in on this year's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by showing us how you and your family celebrate. From now until October 7, our District is asking families to submit photos and videos of any traditional celebrations, food, attire and more to be included in this year's Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration tribute video. Submissions can be sent to cfabian@wps60.org along with the family and/or student name, school, and the country you are representing. Video submissions must be 30 seconds or less.

Waukegan Public Schools will host a drive-thru book giveaway for elementary and middle school students on Saturday, October 3. The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln Center, 1201 N. Sheridan Road.

During the closed session portion of the September 28 Special Board Meeting, a power outage caused some members of the Board to disconnect. Due to technical difficulties, the Board is in recess and will reconvene at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29. No formal action will be taken during the meeting. The Board will complete its Closed Session discussion regarding the Superintendent's Goals on September 29.

A Special Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, September 28, 2020, at 5:45 p.m. for Open and Closed sessions. The Board will begin with an Open session at 5:45 p.m., before going into the Closed session at 6 p.m. to discuss the Superintendent's goals for the upcoming year. No action will be taken in the closed session.

Waukegan’s H.R. McCall Elementary School was named today as a 2020 recipient of the National Blue Ribbon Schools award. McCall is one of just 367 schools across the United States to be awarded the prestigious award from the U.S. Department of Education.

As a result of all regular State assessments, including the SAT, being suspended last spring due to COVID 19, Waukegan Public Schools will provide Seniors the opportunity to fulfill their graduation requirement by taking the State-sponsored SAT® on October 14 or October 27. Students will be excused from their regularly scheduled remote learning classes on test dates to take advantage of this important opportunity.

Special Recognitions and Presentations -The Board of Education read a resolution of honor in recognition of the life and service of Mr. Wayne Machnich. Mr. Machnich -Representatives from Bravo Waukegan detailed some of the organization’s recent projects including a new online music library.

Following public discussions about the future of School Resource Officers in Waukegan Public Schools, a survey was created to gather feedback from Waukegan High School parents, students and staff. Surveys were conducted between August 31 and September 14, and more than 1,300 individuals responded to the surveys. You can find survey results in English and Spanish here.

Nominating petition packets for the April 6, 2021, consolidated election for the Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 Board of Education are available through the Office of the County Clerk.

Waukegan Public Schools is one of several hundred school districts across the state to be awarded additional funds to help close the digital divide among students through the State's Digital Equity Formula Grant.

The Board of Education will host a Special Meeting to discuss the Superintendent's goals for the upcoming year on Monday, September 21, at 6:00 p.m. primarily in Closed Session. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the community, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting. No action will be taken during open session. A regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session.

All Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 schools are again participating in Professional Learning Days this school year. These days will allow for additional professional development opportunities for staff members, and will result in altered bell schedules on these days. See schedule below.

The Board of Education will host a Special Meeting to discuss the Superintendent's goals for the upcoming year on Monday, September 14, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the community, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting. No action will be taken during open session.

Students across the District will have an opportunity to experience new fruit and vegetable options, thanks to the Illinois State Board of Education’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).

The Board of Education held a public hearing concerning the 2020/21 budget. Following the hearing, the Board voted to approve the $278,335,193 Budget.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session.

As we wrap up our third week of Remote Learning, and prepare to head into the Labor Day weekend, we would like to provide the community with an update on our reopening plan in hopes that it will provide some clarity for the upcoming weeks.

Our District’s Birth-to-Three program is currently accepting children under 3-years-old to participate in its Baby Talk Virtual Home Visits.

In an effort to maximize accessibility for families, Waukegan Public School is altering its free food distribution schedule. Beginning September 3, Thursday meal distribution will now take place between 3:30 p.m. and 5:40 p.m. Tuesday distribution will continue to be hosted in the morning between 8:30 a.m. and 10:40 a.m.

Our IT department has added additional technical support sessions to assist students with their District issued Chromebooks. For the next two weeks, the Washington Campus Tech Depot is now scheduling tech support appointments for students on Saturdays, as well as expanding its hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tech support hours may shift again at the conclusion of the two weeks, depending on the needs of our students.

Action Items -The Board of Education voted to approve the amendments to Board Policy 1204, Naming of School Facilities.

As we continue through our second week of our new Remote Learning structure, we have important information for families regarding physical learning materials. This week Waukegan Schools will host learning material pick up events for PreK-8 students on Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28.

A special SRO Workshop with the Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. in Open Session. The Workshop is an opportunity for the Board and the Waukegan Police Department to have a facilitated discussion about the function of School Resource Officers.

Fall sports' competitions begin this week, and will unfortunately look a little different than previous years. To help ensure the safety of our student athletes and their supporters, the decision has been made to not allow spectators to attend District athletic events until further notice. We realize this news is disappointing for our families and athletes, and thank everyone for their understanding during this time.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the community, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling (571) 317-3129. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

Registration for new students to attend Waukegan Public Schools can be done remotely on the district's Student Registration page.

With the first week of school no underway, we'd like to remind everyone of our drive-up WiFi service available at several of our school parking lots. We understand many individuals may lack reliable high speed internet at home, and this service will allow all students and staff to visit any of the schools listed below to connect to the WiFi from your vehicles.

As we wind down our first day of instruction for the 2020-2021 school year, I want to thank all of our parents and staff for your commitment to educating yourselves on this new Remote Learning structure, as well as ensuring your children and students are prepared to participate in online lessons.

The Board of Education will host its regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services committee meetings on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, beginning at 6:00 p.m. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the community, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling (571) 317-3129. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

In three days we will officially begin the 2020-2021 school year. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were wrapping up an unprecedented academic year, and now we’re preparing to begin what is sure to be another extraordinary year of teaching and learning.

With classes beginning on August 17, we are excited to present additional details about our Remote Learning plan for Fall 2020. Below are links to the English and Spanish versions of our Remote Learning handbook.

Action Items -The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of two new Duplo Printer machines, Stands, Document Feeders and supplies for the Brookside Printshop. The estimated cost including shipping is $36,504.

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 today surpassed one million meals distributed to students since the initial closing of schools in March. As of Tuesday, August 11, 1,011,627 meals have been distributed to students during these twice-a-week food giveaways.

Students and parents should be receiving information about schedules and teacher assignments for the 2020-2021 school year. Below is information on how parents can access information for their children. ​ Kindergarten- 5th Grade Letters were sent home last week to families with their child’s teacher name/info. Class rosters are being finalized early this week. Parents with questions are asked to contact their child’s school. ​ Grades 6-12 Student schedules are viewable in Infinite Campus through the Parent or Student Portal under the “Documents” section. Counselors can make adjustments if students or parents request changes.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the community, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling (571) 317-3129. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

Returning students registration for the 2020-2021 school year is again open for students who did not pre-register in the Spring. For most students, the registration process entails only confirming or updating contact information. Parents can do so by calling or emailing their child’s school using the contacts below. ​

The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of 500 Hotspots from T-Mobile with a one-year agreement. These hotspots will be assigned to those students that do not have access to a WiFi internet connection. The cost for 500 hotspots is $120,000.00 for one year of service.

Waukegan Community Unit #60 is currently enrolling three- to five-year-old children in its EPIC preschool program. Funded in part by the Illinois Board of Education Preschool For All Early Childhood Block Grant, enrollment into preschool classes are free for all Waukegan families meeting the program’s qualifications. Eligible children must live within District 60 boundaries, be three years old at the time of screening, and turn five after September 1

A Special Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. for Open Session. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the community, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting.

On July 27 Waukegan Public Schools hosted two video information sessions to answer stakeholder questions about its Fall 2020 Plan. During the broadcasts staff gave overviews of the plan, and took questions from viewers. Links to the videos can be found here: ​

Beginning next month we will be instituting a Four Stage plan which gradually resumes in-person instruction based upon health metrics and sensibility. Stage 1 begins on August 17, with all students in grades PreK-12 enrolled in remote instruction.

Special Presentations Staff gave an overview presentation of the District’s Fall 2020 plan. Additional details can be found here.

A Special Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToWebinar. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5387807495607969291

Waukegan High School’s 2020 athletic summer camps will begin next week. Student athletes are asked to report to the first day of camp to sign up.

New student registration for grades K-12 is open for the 2020-2021 school year. The registration is for any families new to Waukegan Public Schools. As a result of the ongoing COVID pandemic, parents are asked to register their children online. Registration forms can be found here.

The United Way of Lake County will distribute materials for its Kindergarten Readiness program beginning this week. The free materials are available for Waukegan children who will be entering kindergarten this fall. Distribution information is below:

The Waukegan Public Schools Foundation is currently accepting donations for its annual Backpack Fundraiser to help purchase school supplies for District 60 students.

As we continue to plan and prepare for the fall, feedback from our stakeholders is very important to us. Last month we received a fantastic response to our surveys about the reopening of schools, and that information has aided us as we formulate a plan.

Summer school learning material distribution events for students in grades PreK-8 are planned for Wednesday, July 1 and Thursday, July 2, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Miguel Juarez Middle School, 201 N Butrick Street.

Waukegan Public Schools will begin a series of live broadcasts this week to discuss the fall planning process. During the broadcasts staff will share information from surveys and focus groups, and will discuss the next steps in our planning process. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions.

A Special Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at 5:45 p.m. for Open Session, 5:00 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of persistent public health concerns in the 60085 zip code area, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling (571) 317-3129. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

The final summer school learning material distribution event for students in grades PreK-8 will be held on Friday, June 26, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Miguel Juarez Middle School, 201 N Butrick Street. Families that can not make the event and need to pick up Summer School materials are asked to fill out a Delivery Request Form and items will be delivered next week.

In recent weeks, our staff has been hard at work making plans for the 2020-2021 school year. With the scheduled start of the year less than two months away, we want to provide an update on our planning, as well as how the school year will be impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.

The Board of Education voted to approve the submission of the Consolidated District Plan (CDP) to the Illinois State Board of Education. The Consolidated District Plan (CDP) is part of the pre-planning process for our other federal grant application submissions and allows districts to answer one set of planning questions to meet requirements for the 12 other Federal formula grants. The purpose of the CDP is to promote meaningful collaboration among district administrators and coordinate efforts across district offices. The CDP also streamlines the federal grant application process.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of the community's COVID-19 positivity rate above the State's Phase III benchmark, persistent public health concerns in the 60085 zip code area, and on the advice of medical personnel, the meeting will be conducted entirely remotely via GoToMeeting.

Waukegan Public Schools will host its summer school learning material distribution for students in grades PreK-8 on Monday, June 22, and Tuesday, June 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Miguel Juarez Middle School.

Congratulations to Waukegan High School 2020 grad Janette Martinez-Tolentino, and incoming senior Angie Ordonez, who recently earned first and second place respectively in Congressman Brad Schneider's annual Congressional Art competition.

Waukegan High School is hosting a virtual College Workshop series for students and families to get a jumpstart on the college planning process. The three-part series begins on June 17 and continues weekly through June 30. The series is targeted at incoming seniors at their families, but incoming juniors and sophomores and their families are also encouraged to participate. To register, students and parents can email Ms. Yesim Sonmez at ysonmez@wps60.org.

The Board of Education will host its regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services committee meetings on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. As a result of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order, meetings will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling 1 877 568 4106. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

The Board of education voted to purchase failover hardware and software solutions for the phase II of the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) room located at Brookside Campus. These purchases are required to improve hardware and software availability in the case of an emergency at the primary MDF room located at Lincoln Center. The estimated cost for phase II is $1,273,083, plus a contingency fund of $100,000 for unknown technical issues or services. The Information Technology Department is in the process of building a second Main Distribution Frame (MDF) Room at Brookside Campus to serve as a backup center for critical hardware and software applications. This project consists of hour phases: Phase # 1 - Preparation of network room, electrical, and air conditioning was completed. Phase # 2 - Consist of the installation and configuration of the hardware and software that will do a fail over in case of an emergency/technical issues with the district primary MDF room located at Lincoln Center. Phase # 3 - Consist of the installation of fiber optics from Brookside Campus MDF room to all district buildings. Phase # 4 - Consist of systems non-critical applications.

Thank you for choosing WPS60’s extended learning summer school program! We are excited to provide this opportunity for our students and families. This is the first time in WPS60 history that we will be offering a summer school program completely online. Despite the current challenges we all face, District 60 is dedicated to designing and implementing a new way of teaching and learning. You will find, we are committed to creating a summer remote learning experience that serves all students, which includes diverse learners, English language learners, and those students seeking enrichment.

Make-up Diploma Pickup for May graduates will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays beginning Monday, June 15. Students may come to the main entrance at Washington Campus between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. to pick up their diplomas.

For the second consecutive year, Clearview Elementary School has been recognized as a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Gold Level School by the Midwest PBIS Network. An additional four Waukegan schools were recognized this year as Silver Level schools.

As we plan for 2020-2021, our priority remains the health and safety of our students and staff. We will continue to follow the advice of health experts, and consult the guidance of education authorities such as the Illinois State Board of Education as we develop our plans. But we also want to ensure that our stakeholders have a voice in the planning process.

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 remains committed to supporting its students during the summer months and beyond. In an effort to maintain service to our families, our District was granted permission by the Illinois State Board of Education to continue hosting meal distribution events twice a week.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order, the meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling 1 877 568 4106. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

New student registration for grades K-12 is now open for the 2020-2021 school year. This year, parents of children new to District 60 are asked to register online through Infinite Campus, and registration forms can be accessed here.

The deadline for returning students to register for the 2020-2021 school year has been extended through June 4, 2020. Parents can visit our Returning Student Registration page to begin the process through Parent Portal.

As our final day before heading into summer break comes to a close, I felt now would be a great time to take a moment to reflect on this historic school year, as well as express my pride and appreciation for the students, families and staff of our District.

Waukegan Public Schools will broadcast 8th grade promotion videos for all five middle schools beginning at 5 p.m. today, June 2, Videos for Abbott, Benny, Jefferson, Juarez and Webster will be available on the District’s Panopto Channel by clicking here, or they can be viewed on Facebook by clicking here.

Waukegan School District 60 this week honored nearly 50 employees with combined service of more than 1,000 years, who plan to retire at the end of the school year.

Stakeholders will find two major changes in the revisions. First, the approved policy updates the general dress appearance language as recommended by our Parent Teacher Advisory Committee. Secondly, the revisions eliminate the uniform color combinations, or “uniforms” most elementary and middle school students in Waukegan are required to wear to school. Effective next school year, students in prek- grade 8 will no longer be required to wear specific color combinations to school. Students will still be required to follow standard codes of appearance, which are outlined in the policy.

A meeting of the Board of Education Budget Committee will be held Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM. ​ As a result of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order, the meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling 1 877 568 4106. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

The Waukegan High School 2020 virtual graduation video will premiere today at 5:30 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube. A program for the ceremony can be found here. If you are unable to watch live, the ceremony will be available to view following its initial airing on our District’s social media channels.

Waukegan High School will broadcast its 147th commencement exercise at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29. An expected class of more than 950 students will make up Waukegan High School’s Class of 2020.

The Board of Education voted to approve the amendments to the Student Appearance Policy 6041. The amendments accomplish two things. First, they update the general dress appearance language as recommended by the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee. Second, they also remove from the District's policy the option for individual school buildings to implement a dress color (aka uniform) requirement. The dress color removal was the recommendation of a second parent, teacher, administrator work group which polled the families in the District in reaching its recommendation.

Waukegan High School's Athletic Department announced the recipients of its annual athletics awards this week, including its Athlete of the Year winners, and leadership award winners.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session.

As we wind down our academic year, I want to again thank our families for the support they have provided to our students during our ongoing school closures. Your support has been very important during these times. There are two upcoming events we want to ensure are on everyone's radar concerning Remote Learning.

Registration for summer school at Waukegan Public Schools is now open. High school students will need to register through their school counselor. Parents of students in grades Kindergarten through 8 can register online at t.ly/itLY or contact your child’s school. A listing of parent support email addresses are listed in the school directory. Please register by Friday, May 29.

See below for information about senior equipment return dates, including details for music students, athletics, JROTC and more.

The Board of Education will host its regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services committee meetings on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. The Student Achievement Committee will be held first, immediately followed by Operation Services.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 has again been recognized with a Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the 2019-2020 budget year, from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO).

The Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 Board of Education appointed Mr. Daniel Hill as the new Co-Principal at Waukegan High School this week. Mr. Hill will serve as co-principal out of the WHS- Washington Campus beginning July 1.

-The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of the partnership with Youth Guidance- BAM in the amount of $661,376 for the 2020-2021 SY. BAM (Becoming a Man) is a school-based counseling program that develops the social emotional competencies of students in grades 7-12, helping to ensure that young men are successful socially, emotionally, and academically and that they are prepared for life after high school.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session.

When the Governor announced last month that schools would not be returning to in-person instruction for this school year, we began the process of closing out many aspects of our school year. This includes evaluating student fees and activity fees to determine and calculate potential refunds for our families.

I want to again thank all of you for your efforts during the last eight weeks. Our staff’s ability to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances has been an important aspect in the continuing education of our students. To assist staff we hosted two Remote Institute Days last month. We hope you found these events to be informative, and helpful.

While we have worked together to navigate the ever-changing instructional landscape in recent weeks, we have spoken a lot about remaining flexible and fluid as best-practices and guidance change. We have seen a lot of changes in how teachers are instructing and how students are learning. Ultimately, this new approach also affects how students are graded. With our school district now more than halfway through its final grading quarter, we wanted to issue clarity to our stakeholders on student grades and grading windows.

We want to start out by saying how proud we are of our students for the maturity and grit they have modeled in recent weeks. We greatly miss seeing our senior students in the halls of Washington Campus and AOEC. We know how hard you have worked to get to your senior year, and how exciting this time of year should typically feel for you. We are sad we are unable to be together, to celebrate all of your accomplishments as you complete your WPS60 educational journey.

Our District will be serving free meals for students at 117 locations throughout the community this week. Distribution days will be on May 5 and May 7.

Registration is now open for students who will be returning to Waukegan Public Schools for 2020-2021. All Returning Students will be registered through the Parent Portal. Please login here to complete the process All parents and guardians must verify and update contact information.

The Illinois State Board of Education is sharing some valuable information for families regarding the State’s new Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program. The program provides families extra money for food. Please see important details from ISBE’s announcement of the program below regarding program eligibility and sign-up. A full copy of the announcement can be found here.

Action Items -The Board of Education voted to approve the amendments to Board Policy 3331, Work Expenditures - Controls as recommended by the Administration and presented for second reading. Policy 3331 was presented to the Board for first reading on April 7, 2020 under its then title Travel Expenditures - Controls. Second reading is presented with the updated and expanded title of Work Related Expenditures - Controls. Minor technical changes are made in the second reading. Costs associated with this policy will vary from year to year and cannot be predicted at this time. The funding source similarly will vary depending on the originating source of the approved work expenditure. However, we anticipate the majority will be funded through the Education Fund.

During the last month and a half, we have been faced with unprecedented circumstances, and each of us has risen up to meet unique challenges, as we navigate this global pandemic. We have seen extraordinary efforts from staff, parents, and students, who are working to better themselves, their families, and their community.

As the Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 Board of Education prepares to vote on potential changes to its Student Appearance Policy, the Board is seeking additional feedback from stakeholders.

Our District will be hosting its second Remote Institute Day on Monday, April 27. Once again, during the day team members will engage in learning activities to enhance and further develop their ability to deliver and facilitate remote instruction and other services for our students.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order, the special meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting.

Waukegan Public Schools is excited to announce that we are launching drive-up WiFi service at several of our school parking lots. We understand many individuals may lack reliable high speed internet at home. This new service will allow all students and staff to visit any of the schools listed below to connect to the WiFi from your vehicles.

As we move into another week of school closures, we have talked a lot about the importance of remaining fluid to adjust to required changes, and the reevaluation of our students' needs. We understand these are unprecedented times,and they require unprecedented efforts. With this in mind, our District has made the decision to expand its food distribution efforts.

The Board of Education will host its regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services committee meetings on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. The Operation Services Committee will be held first, immediately followed by Student Achievement.

This afternoon Gov. Pritzker announced that in-person learning is suspended in all Illinois schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This means that students in Waukegan, and across the state will not be returning to the classroom this school year.

In the fall of 2017, our school district, along with a large contingency of stakeholders, began the process of reviewing promotion practices and creating district-wide promotion policy procedures to ensure that all students are making adequate academic progress at critical benchmark grades throughout their educational career. In addition, the Board also reviewed and updated its policy 5215, now named Promotion and Retention of Students, Grades K-12.

The regular Board of Education meeting previously scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 has been canceled, as permitted under the Governor's Executive Order 2020-07. The Board met remotely on April 7 for a special meeting, during which time they took action on urgent items related to the ongoing COVID-19 school closures. A recap of that meeting can be found here. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 28. The Board will also meet for its monthly Operations and Student Achievement committee meetings on April 21. Those meetings will be conducted remotely, via GoToMeeting. Additional information on accessing those meetings will be made available at a later date.

As we prepare to close out the first week of Remote Learning Days in our district, we want to thank staff, parents and students for all of your hard work and attention during this newest chapter of instruction. All week we’ve seen many positive accounts about Waukegan students learning, and interacting with their teachers. It’s heartwarming to see this level of engagement with our new Remote Learning website.

The Board of Education voted to ratify the actions of the Superintendent and the COVID-19 Executive Team, which were necessary to respond to the public health crisis arising as a result of the unexpected and extraordinary circumstances associated with the COVID 19 pandemic; to preserve the health, safety and welfare of the District's students, staff and their families and to conduct the essential business services and operations of the District consistent with the Governor's Disaster Proclamation and subsequent Executive Orders affecting public schools, guidance and rule changes announced by the Illinois State Board of Education and other local, State or federal laws, such as the CARES Act.

Tomorrow marks the official start of our Remote Learning Days in Waukegan Public Schools. As we prepare to take this next step, there is a lot of information we wish to share with families. In this letter you can find information on how to access our remote learning resources, information on technical support, details of our new meal distribution sites, as well as various other important updates for the coming weeks.

A Special Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order, the special meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting.

During a special announcement today, Governor Pritzker shared his decision to extend the State’s “Stay at Home Order” to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Governor's Executive Order is now in place through April 30, which means the earliest schools can reopen will be Friday, May 1. This opening date is once again subject to change as we await information and guidance from health experts. As a District, we would like to thank all our stakeholders for their patience and understanding as we respond to this fluid situation.

During the last few weeks we have hosted several food distribution events at our schools to feed our children while schools are closed. These events have served thousands of meals, and the need to continue these events is evident.

Waukegan Public Schools has just been advised that a staff member at our Lincoln Center administrative office tested positive for COVID-19 during the ongoing District closure. Our District is communicating and coordinating necessary responses with the appropriate health officials.

On Monday of this week, our District hosted food distribution events at five schools that were met with an unprecedented response from our families. To meet this need, we will again be opening some of our schools this week to distribute much-needed meals to our families.

Following Governor Pritzker announcement today, we wanted to provide a brief update detailing how the State’s “Stay at Home Order” will affect the District in the coming days.

Waukegan Public Schools has prepared the following questions and answers to share with its families, staff members and interested community members drawing from individual inquiries received to date. Please note that any of the answers provided may change at any time based on subsequent public health events and local, state, and federal guidance or orders. We will be updating this document periodically.

It has been a difficult time for everyone these last few days, as we adjust to an unprecedented set of circumstances. While much of our recent focus has been on how to best protect the physical health of ourselves and others, it is just as important that we are all talking about and taking steps to ensure we maintain our mental health, and that of our children. With this message, we hope to share valuable information from our District’s mental health professionals that will help parents guide their children through these unfamiliar circumstances.

It has been a difficult time for everyone these last few days, as we adjust to an unprecedented set of circumstances. While much of our recent focus has been on how to best protect the physical health of ourselves and others, it is just as important that we are all talking about and taking steps to ensure we maintain our mental health. Below we are sharing valuable information from our District’s mental health professionals to assist staff through these unfamiliar circumstances. You will also find information on how to access our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at any time.

In response to the rapidly-shifting COVID-19 pandemic, Waukegan Public Schools is taking additional cautionary measures to help ensure the safety of our students, staff and community at large. There are several important changes that we want to bring to the attention of parents, students and staff members:

Superintendent Plascencia released a special message today regarding the Coronavirus and school closures.

We know our families and staff have a lot of questions about the recent mandated closings. In an effort to answer some of these questions, we are creating a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) link on our website. Use the attached form to submit your questions

On Friday we announced that all Waukegan Public Schools will be closed during the week of March 16 as a precaution to protect against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We will remain closed the week of March 23 as well, which is pre-planned Spring Break. Following our announcement, Governor Pritzker mandated a two week closure of all schools in Illinois. Waukegan schools are currently scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, March 31 per the Governor’s mandate.

After careful consideration, a decision has been made to close all Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 schools beginning Monday, March 16, in order to best protect the health and wellness of all students and staff. All schools will remain closed through our Spring Break, and we plan to reopen on Monday, March 30.

We are writing again today to share our District’s latest updates regarding the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. We know there has been a lot of information to digest during the last 24 hours, and our district has continually been monitoring updates, and guidance from health officials.

Applications are now available for parents wishing to enroll their children in Waukegan’s Andrew Cooke Magnet School for the Fine Arts and Sciences in the fall.

As you may be aware by now, earlier today the Lake County Health Department (LCHD) confirmed the first case of a Lake County resident testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The individual is a male in his 50s, whom the LCHD reports is from the southern portion of our county.

Waukegan Public Schools is monitoring the health advisories related to the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The latest news and advice concerning COVID-19 can change rapidly. We are continuing to take direction from, and rely on the advice of health professionals from various organizations, including the Lake County Health Department (LCHD), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Even after more than 100 years, Waukegan High School’s JROTC program is still setting new program milestones. Following a formal JROTC Program of Accreditation (JPA) inspection last month, Waukegan’s nationally ranked program learned it had been designated as an “Honor Unit with Gold Star Distinction,” which is the highest standing a JROTC Program can receive. The program earned a score of 98.5 out of a possible 100, which is the highest any squad has received in the program’s 103-year history.

Four Waukegan Elementary Schools have been selected to receive Fuel Up to Play 60 breakfast grants. Students and staff at Clark, Hyde Park, Whittier and Cooke Magnet elementary schools learned last month their schools had been selected as recipients of the Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP60) Breakfast Opportunity Grant.

Land owned by Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 may soon be home to one of the largest community solar fields in Illinois, as part of a project that could potentially save residents money on their electric bills, while generating lease revenue for District 60.

The Waukegan High School music department will host its Early Spring Concert Series on March 10 - 13. Below are dates and times for the student shows. Most concerts are free and all are open to the public.

Dear Waukegan Families, This week you likely heard that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued additional warnings regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). As a school district we have been monitoring the spread of the virus, and we remain connected to federal, state, and local agencies to gather critical information about its spread and its potential impact.

Special Presentations -Representatives from Waukegan to College and Lake County United gave a presentation about the need for a school-based health clinic. -Representatives from the United Way of Lake County detailed some of the successes the organization has had with Waukegan Public Schools during the last decade.

Dear Waukegan Community, I am writing today to express my disappointment related to the string of threats made toward our schools on social media in recent days.

Cooke Magnet School fifth grader London Jones will join the top spellers from throughout the county when she competes in the Lake County Final Spelling Bee at the College of Lake County on March 10.

Waukegan families are invited to join in the celebration of African-American history and culture during the District's second annual Black History Celebration. The event will take place on February 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Juarez Middle School, 201 N Butrick Street.

This Friday Waukegan High School's Theatre Department will debut its production of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." This classic comedic play tells the tale of four young Athenian lovers, and a group of six amateur actors, who encounter a group of mischievous fairies traveling through the forest.

Carman-Buckner Elementary School will host a Lake County Sectional Spelling Bee event on Thursday, February 20. Students from Waukegan-area elementary and middle schools will compete for an opportunity to compete at the Lake County Spelling Bee Finals next month.

The Board of Education for Waukegan Public Schools is in the process of evaluating its Student Appearance Policy, 6010. This policy includes language about school dress uniforms and general student appearance. School dress uniforms reference the uniform color combinations most elementary and middle school students in Waukegan are required to wear to school. As the Board reviews its policies, we are asking for input from parents, students and staff about dress uniforms.

The fall registration period for enrollment in Lyon Magnet School has begun. Enrollment is open to all WPS students living within the district's attendance boundaries. Families interested in enrolling in Lyon Magnet are required to submit an application, which can be found at the school, or can be downloaded here.

This week the Board of Education approved calendars for the next three school years. The approved calendars cover years 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. These schedules were created by our calendar committee, which consisted of more than 20 individuals from throughout the District. The calendars were also shared with parents, staff and students in draft form prior to approval, so that we may receive feedback. We want to thank the more than 1,600 individuals who took time to complete our calendar survey.

Mr. Edgar Castellanos has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 Board of Education. Mr. Castellanos was appointed during the February 11 Board Meeting to replace Mr. Michael Rodriguez, who resigned last month.

Special Recognitions -The Board of Education presented a Resolution of Honor in recognition of former Board Member, Mr. Michael Rodriguez, who stepped away from the Board in January after 13 years of service.

The winter session of District 60’s STEPS (English As A Second Language For Parents) Classes will begin February 10. These English classes are free for all Waukegan parents, and will be held every Monday and Wednesday at Washington Elementary School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.. No prior registration is required, and enrollment for these classes will be ongoing.

For the second year in a row, Waukegan High School senior bowler Diego Cortez has earned All-State honors. Diego placed 9th at the IHSA State Bowling Finals on January 31 and February 1.

Waukegan families are invited to join in the celebration of African-American history and culture during the District's second annual Black History Celebration. The event will take place on February 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Juarez Middle School, 201 N Butrick Street.

The Board of Education for Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 will host Special Board Meetings on February 4 and February 5, 2020 for the purpose of interviewing candidates to fill the vacancy on the Board. Interviews will be held in Closed Session. The meeting on February 4 will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting on February 5 will begin at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held in Room 120 at Lincoln Center. No formal action will be taken at these meetings.

The Board of Education for Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 officially swore in Waukegan High School Junior, Van Weddle, as its newest Student Board Member on January 28.

Special Presentations - Waukegan High School Junior, Van Weddle was officially sworn in as the newest Student Board Member. Van will serve as a non-voting member until January 2021. -District staff and representatives of the Sheriff’s Office gave a presentation about a new Youth Mentoring Partnership program launching next month.

The annual Great Waukegan Pink-Out pep rally, basketball games, and related events are back again this year. The 10th annual Pink Out festivities kick off this Saturday, February 1, where the Waukegan High School boys’ and girls' basketball teams will all take on Mundelein High School at the WHS-Washington Campus.

Waukegan High School’s Brookside Campus will reopen tomorrow, January 28, following today’s nearby water main break.

As a result of a large water main break adjacent to the Brookside Campus, the school is dismissing early today. Water flow from the water main break has inundated the rear parking lot at the school, and it threatens to interrupt the school day. As a precaution, all students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

District 60 is preparing to approve school year calendars for the next three years (2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023). Our calendar committee, made up of staff from across the District, created the proposed calendars based on feedback we have heard over the years.

January 23, 2020 Dear Waukegan Community I am writing today to share my feelings and frustration related to an incident that occurred at one of our high school campuses on Wednesday, January 22. Prior to dismissal at the Brookside Campus, there was a classroom altercation between three students, which resulted in two students seeking medical attention -- one for a laceration and another for back pain.

The Special Meeting of the Board of Education scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, for the purpose of reviewing, and possibly taking action on student discipline matters, has been canceled. As a result of a technical issue, the online agenda for the January 21 meeting was not viewable to the public for several hours. Therefore, in compliance with ILCS 120/2.02, the meeting is being canceled. A new Special Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, January 23, also for the purpose of reviewing, and possibly taking action on student discipline matters. The Board of Education will meet in closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. with an open session scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

In conformity with Illinois School Code section 105 ILCS 5/10-10, the Board of Education of Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 hereby gives notice that the application for persons desiring to be considered for appointment by the Board to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of School Board Member Vice President, Mr. Michael Rodriguez on January 14, 2020.

Special Recognition and Presentations -The Board of Education presented a resolution of Honor in recognition of former Carman School Principal, Ms. Isabelle Buckner. - Staff from Clearview Elementary presented on the school’s new Community Time is intended to promote positivity. - Representatives from Mano a Mano discussed the organization’s Census 2020 efforts.

Waukegan Public Schools will be hosting two Lake County exclusive premiere screenings of PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools in observance of Black History Month. The screenings will take place February 6 and 7, and begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Trapp Auditorium. Tickets are free, and can be reserved online here: https://tinyurl.com/uvnyo8p

Open House is an exciting and informative evening for parents and students to begin the transition process to Waukegan High School. During this event we will showcase the many wonderful opportunities our high school has to offer and respond to any questions that you may have. We hope that after participating, you and your son or daughter will have a greater understanding of the high school with regards to: course and program offerings, expectations and extra-curricular opportunities.

Update to yesterdays Water Main Break: Crews working on the break were successfully able to restore water service to Lightfoot and Clearview, and both schools will be open tomorrow, January 9. Bottled drinking water will be provided.

Washington Elementary School teacher, Ms. Erica Jacobo is among the most recently recognized National Board Certified Teachers by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Last month, Ms. Jacobo, a 3rd grade dual language teacher at Washington Elementary School, learned she was among a select number of educators across the country to earn NBPTS certification. Ms. Jacobo has taught in District 60 for six years, spending all of her tenure at Washington.

Waukegan families will have the chance to explore Chicago's Adler Planetarium during the District's upcoming Family Field Trip. The cost of the trip is $5, which covers admission to the Planetarium as well as transportation to and from the event. Families will have to preregister in order to secure a spot.

A water main break was identified today, Tuesday, January 7 under the Lightfoot Early Learning Center parking lot. Crews are on the scene and are working to repair the issue. It is anticipated that the break may be repaired overnight, and water will be restored to the buildings, however, there is a possibility that the work will not be completed in time for classes tomorrow. In the event that main is not repaired, or that adequate water service is not restored in time for classes tomorrow, both buildings will be closed on Wednesday.

Looking to stay better up to date on your child's academics? This Thursday, January 9, the District will be hosting its first Tech Talk, a series of informational seminars designed to familiarize parents with the various online resources available to them.

With first semester nearly over, it’s time to begin the course selection process for the 2020-2021 school year. Over the next several weeks, students will be actively involved in conversations with their teachers and counselors about their required and elective course options. We strongly recommend that parents get involved by talking with their students about their selection of courses and how it supports their post-secondary college and career goals.

With December now upon us, and extreme winter weather soon to follow, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone of cold weather policies governing Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60.

Students at North Elementary got an early dose of holiday cheer this week, when the school was gifted more than $17,000 worth of hands-on educational toys and winter apparel.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 will host a series of community forums over the next several months to seek input from community members about the potential future use of the Lincoln Center building. The Sheridan Road Facility Redesign Committee, which is made up of parents, community members, students and staff is hosting a meeting each month between December and May to discuss space which may be opening up at Lincoln Center.

The Waukegan Community Unit District 60 Board of Education is looking for current WHS sophomores and juniors to apply for its soon-to-be open Student Board Member position for 2020.

Three Waukegan student musicians performed at the Illinois Music Education Association’s (IMEA) District Senior Festival last weekend at Grayslake North High School as part of the IMEA’s District 7 Music Festival. The students performing over the weekend make up three of the four Waukegan High School student musicians selected to participate in either the IMEA Jazz or Senior Festival concerts this month.