Emergency School Closings, Severe Cold & Disaster Management
Emergency School Closings
The following agencies broadcast school closings in the event of severe ice or snow (or other emergencies) and when it is deemed advisable to close the schools:
Radio: WGN 720 AM | WBBM 780 AM
TV: CBS-2, CLTV, NBC-5, ABC-7
Social Media: D118 Twitter Account
Online: Emergency Closing Center
Information Concerning Severe Cold
Wind-Chill Warning - Take Action!
Schools will be closed under the condition of a wind-chill warning. The National Weather Service issues a wind chill warning when dangerously cold wind chill values are expected or occurring. If you are in an area with a wind chill warning, avoid going outside during the coldest parts of the day. If you do go outside, dress in layers, cover exposed skin, and make sure at least one other person knows your whereabouts. Update them when you arrive safely at your destination.
Wind-Chill Watch - Be Prepared
Schools may be closed under the condition of a wind-chill watch. The National Weather Service issues a wind chill watch when dangerously cold wind chill values are possible. As with a warning, adjust your plans to avoid being outside during the coldest parts of the day. Be sure you dress appropriately and cover exposed skin when venturing outdoors. If school is in session, school administrators may determine to cancel any off-campus activities (i.e. field trips), extracurricular activities and outside recess or physical education classes. They may also determine to allow students to keep outerwear with them while in the building.
Wind-Chill Advisory - Be Aware
Schools will be in session under the condition of a wind-chill advisory. The National Weather Service issues a wind chill advisory when seasonably cold wind chill values, but not extremely cold values are expected or occurring. Be sure you dress appropriately and cover exposed skin when venturing outdoors. School administrators may determine to cancel any off-campus activities (i.e. field trips), extracurricular activities and outside recess or physical education classes. They may also determine to allow students to keep outerwear with them while in the building.
For additional information on responding to severe cold temperatures, please visit the National Weather Service website.
Información Concerniente al Frío Severo
Advertencia de Viento Helado - ¡Tome Acción!
Las escuelas serán cerradas bajo una condición de advertencia de viento helado. El Servicio Nacional del Clima expide una advertencia de viento helado cuando ocurren o se espera que ocurran niveles peligrosos de viento helado. Si usted está en un área con una advertencia de de viento helado, evite ir afuera durante las partes más frías del día. Si usted va afuera, vístase con capas de ropa, cubra su piel expuesta, y asegúrese que al menos una persona sepa su ubicación fuera. Actualice a esta persona cuando usted esté a salvo en su destino. Alerta de Viento Helado- Esté Preparado
Las escuelas podrían ser cerradas bajo la condición de la alerta de viento helado. El Servicio Nacional del Clima expide una alerta de viento helado cuando es posible que ocurran niveles peligrosos de viento helado. De acuerdo con esta alerta, ajuste sus planes para evitar estar afuera en la parte más fría del día. Asegúrese de vestir apropiadamente y de cubrir su piel expuesta cuando ande afuera. Si es que la escuela está en sesión, los administradores escolares podrán determinar el cancelar cualquier actividad fuera del campus. (p.e. paseos), actividades extracurriculares y receso o clases de educación física que sean afuera. También podrían determinar el permitir a los estudiantes usar ropa que es de exteriores mientras se encuentren dentro del edificio. Aviso de Viento Helado- Esté Consciente
Las escuelas estarán en sesión bajo la condición de Esté Consciente de un viento helado. El Servicio Nacional del Clima expide un aviso de viento helado cuando niveles de viento helado de temporada pero no extremadamente fríos ocurren o se espera que ocurran. Asegúrese de vestir apropiadamente y de cubrir su piel expuesta cuando ande afuera. Los administradores escolares podrán determinar el cancelar cualquier actividad fuera del campus. (p.e. paseos), actividades extracurriculares y receso o clases de educación física que sean afuera. También podrían determinar el permitir a los estudiantes usar ropa de exteriores mientras se encuentren dentro del edificio. Para información adicional en cómo responder a temperaturas de frío severo, por favor visite el sitio de internet National Weather Service website.
Emergency Early Dismissal Procedures Due to Severe Winter Weather
Dear Parents:
In the event of severe winter weather occurring during the school day, it may be necessary to dismiss the students enrolled at Wauconda Middle School, Matthews Middle School, and Wauconda High School earlier than usual.
The reason this action would be taken is to allow the buses an opportunity to drop off these older students in order to return to take the younger elementary students at Wauconda Grade School, Cotton Creek School, and Robert Crown School home according to their regular dismissal time.
If this early dismissal was not done, we would run the risk of buses being unable to return the Wauconda Grade School, Robert Crown and Cotton Creek students to their homes, or very late drop off for these same students. In addition, we hope to avoid buses driving in a snowstorm when it is dark.
Parents of students in grades six through twelve need to be aware of the possibility that this situation could occur due to inclement winter weather. If it does, we would enact the school district's mass notification system in an attempt to notify you that your sixth through twelfth grade student was coming home early. As a result, we ask that you make appropriate arrangements with your sixth through twelfth grade student in order for them to gain access to shelter after being dismissed early due to weather conditions. This type of situation does not occur often, but if it does we wanted you to be informed of our actions so that you and your students can be prepared.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Wilm
Superintendent of Schools
Procedimientos de Emergencia de Despido Temprano Debido a Severo Clima de Invierno
Estimados Padres:
En la eventualidad de un clima severo de invierno durante el día escolar, puede ser necesario despedir a los estudiantes atendiendo en la escuelas Wauconda Middle School, Matthews Middle School y Wauconda High School más temprano de lo usual.
La razón para que esta acción sea tomada es el permitir a los autobuses la oportunidad de llevar a estos estudiantes mayores a tiempo para volver y llevar a la casa a los estudiantes más jóvenes que están en las escuelas primarias Wauconda Grade School, Cotton Creek y Robert Crown según su horario de despido regular.
Si este despido temprano no se hiciera, estaríamos corriendo el riesgo de que los autobuses no puedan regresar a sus casas a los estudiantes de Wauconda Grade School, Cotton Creek y Robert Crown, o que estos estudiantes lleguen sumamente tarde. Además, queremos evitar que haya autobuses manejando en una tormenta de nieve cuando ya ha oscurecido.
Los padres de los estudiantes de sexto al doceavo grado tienen que estar al tanto de la posibilidad de que esta situación pueda ocurrir debido a las condiciones del clima de invierno. Si ocurre, nosotros haríamos uso del Sistema de notificación masiva del Distrito Escolar para intentar notificarles que su estudiante de sexto al doceavo grado va a llegar temprano a la casa. Como resultado, les solicito que hagan los arreglos apropiados con su estudiante de sexto al doceavo grado de manera que estos tengan acceso a un lugar de resguardo donde estar después que hayan sido despedidos temprano debido a las condiciones del clima. Este tipo de situación no ocurre muy seguido, pero si ocurre, nosotros queremos que ustedes estén informados de nuestras acciones de modo que ustedes y sus estudiantes estén preparados.
Gracias por su cooperación.
Sinceramente,
Dr. David Wilm
Superintendente de Escuelas
District #118 Emergency & Disaster Management
The following notification shall be distributed to parents on an annual basis:
Student safety is our District’s top priority. In addition to physical safety, the District is concerned with students’ emotional well-being and will help students cope with an emergency or disaster and its aftermath. The following outlines our emergency and disaster response plans.
Safety Plans
The District has plans for all four phases of emergency and disaster management: 1. Preparedness – planning for an emergency or disaster event; 2. Response – planned response to an emergency or disaster event; 3. Recovery – the process of returning to normal operations; and 4. Mitigation – steps taken to minimize the effects of an emergency or disaster. These phases are covered in the District’s Emergency Situation Guidebook and Crisis Management Plan.
Communications
The District monitors the Homeland Security Office and other emergency preparedness resources, such as local police and fire departments. The District will disseminate emergency information via individual schools and/or through the media.
Emergency Responses
Emergency responses will depend on the circumstances and may include evacuation or lockdown. For evacuation purposes, each school has at least one off-campus site where students and staff assemble to be accounted for and temporarily housed. During a lock down, no one may enter or leave the building until it is safe to do so.
In the event your child’s school is evacuated, the school will attempt to notify you as soon as possible at the home and/or emergency telephone numbers on your child’s registration card.The school may also notify news media and place the information on the individual school’s voicemail or answering machines.