While all information is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heritage will adhere to Illinois State Board of Education Guidelines as summer transpires.

The district plans to mail out registration packets in mid-July to each Heritage family. 

New students and incoming kindergarten students will call the school office to set up an appointment to complete registration paperwork. These appointments can be scheduled beginning on July 13. Kindergarten and new k-8 students should call Stacy at 217-896-2421 ext. 110; new Heritage High School students should contact Julie at 217-834-3393. 

The district will not be able to provide in-school space for registration forms to be completed. All completed forms, payments and fees will be due during the fall registration on August 5 and 6. Forms and payment should be taken to Heritage Elementary /Junior High School, located at 512 W. First St. in Homer.

The first day of school for grades 1-12 is Aug. 18. Kindergarten will begin on Aug. 20.

Please note the additional information needed for the following grades: 

Kindergarten: All students entering kindergarten must have a certified birth certificate; proof of a physical (all immunizations (including proof of two varicella (chicken pox) vaccines) must be up to date), dental exam, and eye exam. 

2nd Grade: All students entering 2nd grade must have proof of a dental exam. 

6th Grade: All students entering 6th grade must have proof of physical (T-dap vaccination, varicella (chicken pox) vaccinations, meningitis vaccine; all immunizations up to date); dental exam. 

9th Grade: All students entering the 9th grade must have proof of a physical exam (T-dap vaccinations). Freshman must also provide a dental exam that has been completed within 18 months of May of 2021. 

12th Grade: All seniors are to show proof of having the MCV4 (Meningitis vaccine). If you had one on or after your 16th birthday, then only one is required. If you had one before your 16th birthday, then a second vaccine is required. 

Athletic Participation: Students participating in athletics must have a completed updated sports physical exam prior to the start of the sport’s practice times. In addition, all athletes must either purchase school insurance or parents may sign a waiver stating that the athlete is covered by a family insurance plan. All fees must be paid in order for a student to be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities. 

Important Dates: 

Aug. 5, 2020: Registration drop off and fee payment: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 6, 2020: Registration drop off and fee payments: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Aug. 17, 2020: Teacher’s Institute
Aug. 18, 2020: First student attendance day 1st -12th grades – 8:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Aug. 19, 2020: First full day student attendance 1st -12th grades
Aug. 20, 2020: First student attendance day for Kindergarten – 8:00 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.

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The Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) 5 Essentials Survey is now available for parents to take in order to provide feedback on school climate and learning conditions.

The questions from the Parent Survey went live on Oct. 24 and will remain available until Feb. 14, 2020.

Students and teachers will be asked to take a 25-minute survey from Dec. 10 through Feb. 14, 2020.

Administered by a third party, the UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago, the 5 Essentials Survey was implemented by ISBE more than eight years ago as a tool to gain confidential feedback about the climate and culture of a school or a school district from parents, students and teachers.

The survey, which ISBE now provides an opportunity for students and teachers to take annually, asks questions about students’ experiences, attitudes, activities in school, instruction, professional development, the school as a workplace and parents’ overall relationship with the school.

Prior to 2018, the districts were required to provide the survey biannually.

Twenty years of research at the University of Chicago in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of the 5Essentials were 10 times more likely to make substantial gains in improving student reading and math than schools that were weak on three or more of the Essentials.

Those differences remained true even after controlling for student and school characteristics, including poverty, race, gender, and neighborhood characteristics. Strength on components within the Essentials also correlated with increased teacher retention, student attendance, college enrollment, and high school graduation.

Parents, teachers and students are not required to complete the survey that collects data on the climate and culture of a school district, but, in order for the survey to be counted, schools must achieve a 50-percent response rate from students and a 50-percent response rate from instructional staff to qualify for a report, respectively.

The data will be categorized into five sections: school leadership, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environment and ambitious instruction. Prior to being released to the public and on the Illinois Report Card, administrators will have a chance to preview the data in early summer.

The 5 Essentials Parent Survey will not be included in the public data, but school administrators will have a chance to see the report.  Each district needs a 20-percent response rate from parents to qualify.

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[pdf-embedder url=”https://sjodaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Heritage-Board-Meeting-Agenda-8.19.2019.pdf” title=”Heritage Board Meeting Agenda 8.19.2019″]

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