Message to Senior Families 05.01.2020
Dear Mustang Seniors and Parents:
This is an update on plans for recognizing our seniors as we continue to monitor guidance from the Governor’s office and the Illinois State Board of Education.
First, Morton East and Morton West will present virtual celebrations for the Class of 2020 on June 6th. This is NOT being done instead of a live event, it is a way to recognize the Class of 2020 during the spring. Any future event we may hold might not be feasible for all of our graduates, depending on the date. Some may soon be leaving for school, or enlisting in the military, for example. We want to make sure the schools are able to do something now to honor our seniors.
Each school will have its own video ceremony on that date. Each school will provide details on the time and how to engage. We want to encourage all of our graduates and their families to join in, set up online video conferences with family and friends during the event, and more.
One reminder, parents, if you did not submit a senior tribute to include in the virtual celebration, you have until May 8th! Please visit the link, here. All families will receive a copy of the video as a keepsake, and a Commencement program.
As for commencement ceremonies, we are still holding August 3-6 as our “Plan A” dates to hold the ceremonies in person. Of course, we all must wait until government and health officials determine what kinds of gatherings may or may not be allowed, by then. Yesterday, the Illinois State Board of Education declared that no in-person ceremonies may take place during the stay-at-home order. Today, ISBE shared that it is developing guidance on graduation ceremonies in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health. We don’t know what that guidance will say, but as soon as we receive it, we will update our plans, accordingly.
May should be a month filled with excitement and celebration. We will continue to do all we can to honor your children for their hard work and accomplishments. Thank you to those who responded to our survey last week, and thank you to everyone for your continued support.
Go Mustangs.
Dr. Tim Truesdale
Superintendent
Message to Senior Families 4.24.2020
Dear Mustang Seniors and Families,
First, I would like to express how much we all feel for you in what is supposed to be one of the most memorable times of your lives. It certainly is memorable, but not in the ways any of us wanted.
I am writing to provide important updates and to ask for input on some options for Prom and Graduation if we are not able to hold them before the end of summer. This is a long message, but we want to provide as many details as we have, at this point. As you read all this information, remember, in-person events could be forbidden for health reasons for the foreseeable future. Thank you in advance for all the patience and support you have shown us during a challenging time for everyone. We are doing everything we can to provide our seniors the recognition they deserve.
Dr. Tim Truesdale
Superintendent
Prom
The Prom scheduled for May 20, 2020 is postponed. We have two alternate dates scheduled with the Rosemont Convention Center under the assumption that each school will need to have Prom on separate nights. The schedule would be:
· Morton East, July 28
· Morton West, July 29
We will hold the dates as long as possible to wait for state and health department guidance. If we are not allowed to have Prom on those dates, it will have to be cancelled. Please understand that there are many logistics that have to be confirmed well in advance, such as the venue, catering, DJ, photographers, and more, so we won’t have other options for rescheduling. In the meantime, it is not recommended for families to spend money on Prom attire or other related items until we know whether Prom will happen. We expect to make a decision by May 31.
Graduation
We will have a drive through graduation Thursday, July 30th, Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd. Please save the dates. We will send out more information as we have it.
What We Can and Will Do For Sure- Virtual Commencement Celebration
The district is investigating several options for Graduation. The option we have available to us for certain is a Virtual Commencement Celebration. This way, if we are unable to hold a traditional commencement, our seniors will have some form of recognition for their four years of hard work.
The virtual celebration will be live streamed for graduates and families to view at home. It involves no in-person interaction and no awarding of diplomas, in person. The plan is:
· A pre-recorded ceremony that includes as many elements of the real commencement as possible, including:
o Performance of the Star Spangled Banner by a graduate;
o Welcome address by the Principal
o Student remarks by three graduates
o Farewell address by the Superintendent
o Certification of the Class of 2020 by the Board of Education
o A slide show of graduates’ photos in caps and gowns
o Senior tributes from parents scrolling on screen throughout the ceremony
Other notes:
· Graduates who did not take a cap and gown photo earlier this year will be notified of a date in the next two weeks to have a photo taken at the school for inclusion in the video.
· All families will receive a copy of the video as a keepsake, and a Commencement program.
· Forms for families to submit Senior Tributes is in a separate document, found here. The deadline is May 8th. Please submit only one per graduate.
Dependent on Government Permission- Live Commencement Options
Currently the district is investigating three options for an in-person Commencement. We are planning every detail to make each of these special for our graduates and their families, but please keep in mind that it’s possible we may not be allowed to do any of them. Options, below, are in order of the most complete Commencement experience.
Option 1. Full Commencement at UIC: The district has reserved August 3, 4, 5 and 6 at UIC as alternate dates for Commencement. We have reserved four dates in case it would be necessary to split the graduating class for each school in half to get permission to hold the event. Keep in mind, Morton East’s graduating class is over 1,000 students, and Morton West’s is nearly 900. We selected these dates based on availability of the venue, and to give as much time as possible for restrictions on gatherings to be reduced. Details on which date your child would attend, and the time of the ceremony, would be provided at a later date. Please prepare for the possibility that we may be required to limit, or even exclude, guests attending in person. We plan to live stream the ceremonies for family members who would not be able to attend.
Option 2. Alternative Commencement at a Local Venue To Be Determined: The district is investigating a few variations to hold Commencement on a date between August 3-6 if UIC is not an allowable option. For example, we might hold Commencement on campus with smaller groups and/or with limited, or, if necessary to get permission to hold the event, no guests. Other variations are also under consideration. Any variations would make every effort to include all aspects of a full Commencement.
Option 3. Walk-Up or Drive-Through Awarding of Diplomas: If gatherings of any size for Commencement are simply not permitted of us, we would schedule dates and times during the week of June 22nd for students in caps and gowns, and their families, to come to the campuses to receive diplomas, individually. This would include the awarding of diplomas to students on stage, or in their vehicles. If we must implement the drive-through option, we would provide backdrops outside the schools for families to take cap and gown photos.
Other notes:
· Senior fees must be paid to pick up caps and gowns. Details will be provided by the schools.
· Be prepared to be flexible on the number of attendees allowed at any of these options.
· We expect to make a decision by June 6th on which option we will implement, but, like everything else, this could change depending on the circumstances.
Request for Your Input
A survey for seniors can be found here. It asks for your input on some questions regarding Prom and Commencement. Please discuss the questions as a family before responding. Keep in mind that the questions take into consideration restrictions that could be placed upon the district by government or health officials in order to get permission to hold the events, at all.
Estimados estudiantes de último año y familiares:
Primero, me gustaría expresar lo mucho que todos sentimos por ustedes en lo que se supone que es uno de los momentos más memorables de sus vidas. Ciertamente es memorable, pero no de la manera que ninguno de nosotros quería.
Les escribo para proporcionarles actualizaciones importantes y para solicitar información sobre algunas opciones del baile de graduación y graduación si no podemos mantener las fechas antes del final del verano. Este es un mensaje largo, pero queremos proporcionarles todos los detalles que tenemos en este momento. Al leer toda esta información, tomen en cuenta que los eventos en persona podrían estar prohibidos por razones de salud en el futuro previsible. Gracias de antemano por toda la paciencia y el apoyo que nos han brindado durante estos momentos difíciles para todos. Estamos haciendo todo lo posible para ofrecer a nuestros graduados el reconocimiento que se merecen.
Dr. Tim Truesdale
Superintendente
Baile de graduación
El baile de graduación programado para el 20 de mayo se pospone. Tenemos dos fechas alternativas programadas con el Centro de Convenciones de Rosemont bajo la suposición de que cada escuela necesitará un baile de graduación en noches separadas. El horario sería:
Mantendremos las fechas el mayor tiempo posible para esperar la orientación del estado y del departamento de salud. Si no se nos permite tener un baile de graduación en esas fechas, deberá cancelarse. Por favor, comprendan que hay muchas logísticas que deben confirmarse con anticipación, como el lugar, la comida, el DJ, los fotógrafos y más, por lo que no tendremos otras opciones para reprogramar. Mientras tanto, no se recomienda que las familias gasten dinero en ropa de graduación u otros artículos relacionados hasta que sepamos si el baile de graduación sucederá. Esperamos tomar una decisión antes del 31 de mayo.
Graduación
Debido a la extensión de la orden de estadía en el hogar en todo el estado hasta el 23 de mayo de 2020 la graduación se pospone oficialmente.
Lo que podemos y haremos por seguro: una ceremonia de graduación virtual
El distrito está investigando varias opciones para la graduación. La opción que tenemos disponible para nosotros es una celebración virtual. De esta manera, si no podemos celebrar una graduación tradicional, nuestros estudiantes de último año tendrán algún tipo de reconocimiento por sus cuatro años de arduo trabajo.
La celebración virtual se transmitirá en vivo para que los graduados y las familias la vean en casa. No implica interacción en persona ni otorgamiento de diplomas, en persona. El plan es:
Otras notas:
Depende del permiso del gobierno: opciones de inicio en vivo
Actualmente, el distrito está investigando tres opciones para una graduación en persona. Estamos planeando cada detalle para hacer que cada uno de estos sea especial para nuestros graduados y sus familias, pero tenga en cuenta que es posible que no se nos permita hacer ninguno de ellos. Las siguientes opciones están en orden de la experiencia de inicio más completa.
Opción 1. Comienzo completo en UIC: El distrito ha reservado el 3, 4, 5 y 6 de agosto en UIC como fechas alternativas para la graduación. Hemos reservado cuatro fechas en caso de que sea necesario dividir la clase de graduación para cada escuela a la mitad para obtener permiso para celebrar el evento. Tenga en cuenta que la clase de graduados de Morton East tiene más de 1,000 estudiantes, y la de Morton West tiene casi 900. Seleccionamos estas fechas en función de la disponibilidad del lugar y para dar el mayor tiempo posible para reducir las restricciones en las reuniones. Los detalles en qué fecha asistiría su hijo y la hora de la ceremonia se proporcionarán en una fecha posterior. Prepárese para la posibilidad de que podamos estar obligados a limitar, o incluso excluir, a los invitados que asisten en persona. Planeamos transmitir en vivo las ceremonias para los miembros de la familia que no puedan asistir.
Opción 2. Comienzo alternativo en un lugar local que se determinará: El distrito está investigando algunas variaciones para celebrar la graduación en una fecha entre el 3 y el 6 de agosto por si UIC no es una opción. Por ejemplo, podríamos celebrar la graduación en nuestra escuela con grupos más pequeños y/o con grupos limitados o, si es necesario para obtener permiso para celebrar el evento, sin invitados. Otras variaciones también están bajo consideración. Cualquier variación haría todo lo posible para incluir todos los aspectos de una ceremonia de graduación completa.
Opción 3. Otorgamiento de diplomas sin cita previa: si las reuniones de cualquier tamaño para graduación simplemente no están permitidas para nosotros, programaríamos fechas y horarios durante la semana del 22 de junio para los estudiantes con toga y birrete y sus familias. , para venir a los campus a recibir diplomas, individualmente. Esto incluiría la entrega de diplomas a los estudiantes en el escenario o en sus vehículos. Si debemos implementar la opción de conducir, proporcionaremos fondos fuera de las escuelas para que las familias tomen fotos de toga y birrete.
Otras notas:
Solicitud de su aporte
Una encuesta para los estudiantes de último año se puede encontrar aquí. Hay un botón a la arriba de la encuesta para traducirla a Español. Les pedimos su opinión sobre el baile de graduación y la graduación. Por favor discuta las preguntas en familia antes de responder. Tenga en cuenta que las preguntas tienen en cuenta las restricciones que el gobierno o los funcionarios de salud podrían imponer al distrito para obtener permiso para celebrar los eventos.
Important Senior Information
Congratulations seniors on your accomplishments throughout your journey at Morton East High School. In an effort to help communicate the information of upcoming Class of 2020 events, we have created an informational website. Please follow the appropriate links above to answer any of your questions.
Where do I take the senior survey?
Morton District 201 Senior Survey - please take this survey to give us your opinion about options for graduation and prom celebrations.
What about my senior fees?
There is a $60 fee applied to all seniors. Students can access the Rev Track (Online Payment) on the website or on the Morton 201 phone app or pay in person Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 am and 1 pm. Fees are due by May 15th.
Please click here for online payment directions.
What about Summa Cum Laude?
Unfortunately, the Maggiano’s Dinner has been postponed, and there is no rescheduled date. Students can pick up awards and swag with cap and gowns Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th. To adhere to physical distancing protocols, please follow schedule here. Seniors should enter the Field House through the blacktop parking lot entrance closest to the Field House. They must wear a mask and their ID or Skyward to enter. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Rzadzki at jrzadzki@jsmorton.org.
When can I pick up my cap and gown?
The dates for cap and gown are Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th. To adhere to physical distancing protocols, please follow the schedule here. If seniors forgot to order a cap and gown, we have extras so they can still get one. Seniors should enter the Field House through the blacktop parking lot entrance closest to the Field House. They must wear a mask and their ID or Skyward to enter. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Rzadzki at jrzadzki@jsmorton.org.
How do I get my computer re-imaged?
Since seniors can keep their computers, they will have an opportunity to drop it off to have the school filters removed. Drop off is Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th. To follow physical distancing protocols, please follow the schedule here. Laptops must have the student's name, ID, and cell phone number affixed to it. Seniors should enter the Field House through the blacktop parking lot entrance closest to the Field House. They must wear a mask and their ID or Skyward to enter. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Rzadzki at jrzadzki@jsmorton.org.
When can I pick up my senior swag?
The dates to pick up senior awards, senior clothes, etc. are Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th. To adhere to physical distancing protocols, please follow the schedule here. Seniors should enter the Field House through the blacktop parking lot entrance closest to the Field House. They must wear a mask and their ID or Skyward to enter. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Rzadzki at jrzadzki@jsmorton.org.
What if I did not take my senior picture?
The absolute last chance to take your senior picture for the virtual graduation is Wednesday, May 13th between 10 am and 3 pm. Contact Ms. Rzadzki (jrzadzki@jsmorton.org) with any questions.
How will I get my diploma?
Seniors will have diplomas mailed home. Students who need graduation verification can make that request online through the parchment system (www.parchment.com).
Please click here to submit any questions.
Where do I take the senior survey?
Morton District 201 Senior Survey - please take this survey to give us your opinion about options for graduation and prom celebrations.
What about my senior fees?
There is a $60 fee applied to all seniors. Students can access the Rev Track (Online Payment) on the website or on the Morton 201 phone app or pay in person Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 am and 1 pm. Fees are due by May 15th.
Please click here for online payment directions.
What about Summa Cum Laude?
Unfortunately, the Maggiano’s Dinner has been postponed, and there is no rescheduled date. Students can pick up awards and swag with cap and gowns Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th. To adhere to physical distancing protocols, please follow schedule here. Seniors should enter the Field House through the blacktop parking lot entrance closest to the Field House. They must wear a mask and their ID or Skyward to enter. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Rzadzki at jrzadzki@jsmorton.org.
When can I pick up my cap and gown?
The dates for cap and gown are Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th. To adhere to physical distancing protocols, please follow the schedule here. If seniors forgot to order a cap and gown, we have extras so they can still get one. Seniors should enter the Field House through the blacktop parking lot entrance closest to the Field House. They must wear a mask and their ID or Skyward to enter. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Rzadzki at jrzadzki@jsmorton.org.
How do I get my computer re-imaged?
Since seniors can keep their computers, they will have an opportunity to drop it off to have the school filters removed. Drop off is Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th. To follow physical distancing protocols, please follow the schedule here. Laptops must have the student's name, ID, and cell phone number affixed to it. Seniors should enter the Field House through the blacktop parking lot entrance closest to the Field House. They must wear a mask and their ID or Skyward to enter. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Rzadzki at jrzadzki@jsmorton.org.
When can I pick up my senior swag?
The dates to pick up senior awards, senior clothes, etc. are Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th. To adhere to physical distancing protocols, please follow the schedule here. Seniors should enter the Field House through the blacktop parking lot entrance closest to the Field House. They must wear a mask and their ID or Skyward to enter. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Rzadzki at jrzadzki@jsmorton.org.
What if I did not take my senior picture?
The absolute last chance to take your senior picture for the virtual graduation is Wednesday, May 13th between 10 am and 3 pm. Contact Ms. Rzadzki (jrzadzki@jsmorton.org) with any questions.
How will I get my diploma?
Seniors will have diplomas mailed home. Students who need graduation verification can make that request online through the parchment system (www.parchment.com).
Please click here to submit any questions.
