Emergency School Closings

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

District 118 Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

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.

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