DuQuoin CUSD #300

This is a message for District 300 families. Dear Du Quoin Community Unit School District 300 Parents & Guardians: Thank you for supporting Du Quoin public schools and the education of your child. We are proud to be able to serve you and your children and we will continually strive to provide a safe learning environment for them. The safety of your child and all children in our schools as well as the safety of the school staff and support personnel is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for our children to study and learn, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to exercise our procedures. We will be conducting various drills throughout the school year and this year this will once again include an emergency lockdown drill with students present. This message is to help you understand the importance of this as well as to understand each type of drill. The students and staff of each school will be practicing three primary emergency drills this year. They are fire/evacuation drills, lockdown drills, and tornado/severe weather drills. Each type of drill is briefly explained below. FIRE/EVACUATION DRILLS Each school will conduct multiple “fire drills” during the course of the school year. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and be able to exit our students out of the building as efficiently as possible. LOCKDOWN DRILLS Each school will conduct one “Emergency Lockdown Drill” with students present. While we once conducted a drill of this nature with only faculty and staff present, a recent Illinois law requires public schools to conduct a drill of this nature with students present. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. This drill will be conducted in cooperation with our local law enforcement officers and emergency responders. We want everyone to be prepared and informed about this drill being conducted in advance. We are planning on conducting an “Emergency Lockdown Drill” today, November 1, 2022. We will conduct a drill at the elementary/middle school then conduct a drill in the same manner at the high school. All students, faculty, and staff will be aware of the drill as well. In addition to this e-mail notification today, I will also be sending out a reminder to parents and school employees just prior to the drill being initiated. TORNADO/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS This type of drill will be conducted at least once in each building during the school year. The purpose of this drill is to be prepared to move to a safe location within the building in case of severe weather or tornado. Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe place to learn and work. If you have any questions regarding any of these safety drills or other safety concerns, please contact the appropriate school principal or you can call the district office at 542-3856. Sincerely, Matthew Hickam, Supt.

Elementary News for the Week of October 31st. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G2bYDHA43QPsBwrW_V0hrwm0-Zo3SK9Y/view?usp=share_link

We want to join the Illinois Principal Association in celebrating and acknowledging the work of school principals today and especially our principals - Justin Engelmann, Aaron Hill, and Tim McChristian. Thank you for all that you do!

Quick reminder . . . we DO NOT have the 21st Century afterschool program today (Oct. 18) because of the parent-teacher conferences. Please contact your child's school if you need to make alternate arrangements for the regular 3 pm school dismissal.

Elementary News for the Week of October 17th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nhJxW-GiMMRNUvX3G-e-lNT4wUGBXq8T/view?usp=sharing

JOB POSTING: Substitute Aide Position at DMS We are currently seeking a long-term substitute aide at the middle school to supervise the in-school suspension room. Those interested in the position or those with questions regarding the position are asked to contact Principal Aaron Hill at Du Quoin Middle School at 618-542-2646.

The 21st Century program in partnership with Cedarhurst Center for the Arts invites you to join us this Thursday, Oct. 13 from 7-8 pm in the DES-DMS Commons for a fall family art event. Participants will create a clay design in the fall theme guided by Jennifer Sarver, Director of Education, from Cedarhurst. The event is for the whole family. All students must be accompanied by an adult. The event is free for Du Quoin CUSD 300 students and family members enrolled in the 21st Century program. Come out and join the fun!

Elementary News for the week of Oct. 10th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tZaOnMWb-HUgeHheH_YNF36oV_BBMlnB/view?usp=sharing

JOB POSTING: Individual Student Aide Position We are currently seeking applicants for an individual student aide position at Du Quoin Middle School. This position will provide health related services to a student with special needs. Applicants who are certified nursing assistants will be given preference. This is a full-time position and individual health insurance is provided to our full-time employees. Applicants for the aide positions must meet the qualifications to be a school paraprofessional in Illinois. To apply, please complete a Support Staff Application. A District 300 Support Staff Application can be accessed and downloaded from our website at this link: https://www.duquoinschools.org/browse/53919 . Applications may be returned by e-mail to Administrative Assistant Denise Hirsch at dhirsch@duquoinschools.org or turned in at the District Office at 845 E. Jackson St. Applications should be turned in by 3:00 PM on Friday, October 14, 2022. If you have any questions regarding the positions, please call the Du Quoin CUSD 300 office at 542-3856.

Elementary News for the week of Oct. 3rd https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KWmqwJQaepXXn1j985ssbwskDKEg4pVJ/view?usp=sharing

Elementary News for the week of Sept. 26th https://drive.google.com/file/d/153qZCoMxw_UxZOWJTP894l1risL-_I9p/view?usp=sharing

Elementary News for the week of Sept. 19th https://drive.google.com/file/d/190blAbJACw-bkbbWjDZVqrbAuf4-Z_S4/view?usp=sharing

21st Century Program Families, We thank you for your continued support of our afterschool programming. However we do provide this reminder of our attendance policy for the new 21st Century grant. We are not a childcare or latchkey solution, but a program with attendance goals directly tied to our funding. We are proud to offer this program to our community without charges and fees. Therefore, students are expected to stay until the 5:20-5:30 pm dismissal on days in attendance. Special situations will be considered on an individual basis. If you need to discuss your student's participation, contact me at 618.542.2856. Diana Rea, 21st Century Grant Director

Elementary News for the week of Sept. 12th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RnMAJvX2r1eM9hKui6by8FMfDxpLFL_w/view?usp=sharing

21st Century families, As a reminder we do not hold the afterschool program on Fridays. If you need to make transportation arrangements, please contact the school office at 618.542.2646. Diana Rea, 21st Century Grants Director

Elementary News for the week of Sept. 5th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nTpdb_GIYL9HWyiqMC1pNCGI0pJxjVXE/view?usp=sharing

Elementary News for the week of August 22nd https://drive.google.com/file/d/10PMQVWpRsX2cZMKh1w7U8jlj6BZv3xX7/view?usp=sharing

Du Quoin High School students and families, Enrollment forms and an informational flyer will be available during the Back to School Welcome event tonight in the high school gym from 5:45 - 6:30 pm. Look for Diana Rea and Kailah Kelly in the gym!https://duquoinil.sites.thrillshare.com/article/812991

DES/DMS parents and guardians, This is a reminder that our elementary and middle school are hosting an open house this evening from 6:00-7:30 PM. This will be a chance to meet teachers and visit classrooms. We hope to see many of you later this evening!

School is right around the corner starting Mon., Aug. 15! Now is a great time to download the district app so you can stay up-to-date on "all things Du Quoin Schools" and get notifications. Use the app to find out what's for lunch in the Dining section and keep informed on activities, sports, early dismissals and more in Events. Search for DuQuoin CUSD 300 in your app store or scan the QR code in the photo.