April 17, 2020
Dear Dixon Public Schools’ Parents, Students, and Community Members:
I hope this message finds you and your families safe and well. Today, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced that remote learning in Illinois will be extended through the end of the 2019-20 school year.
Although in-person learning has been suspended for the remainder of the year, at Dixon Public School District #170, I assure you our entire staff remains committed to learning and engaging with all students through remote learning.
Like you, we are saddened by the reality that our school community will not be able to reconvene in person this school year due to this public health crisis. So many of you have worked so hard to learn and grow in both the classroom and in extracurricular activities that today’s announcement may feel like a step back.
However, the final chapter of this school year hasn’t been written yet. These past few weeks have proven Dixon Public Schools is more resilient, more capable and more compassionate than ever before! I’m confident our collective strength will shine through during the remainder of the school year, and we will emerge even stronger.
Having said that, today’s announcement will result in significant and multiple scheduling changes in our district. As this announcement about the end of the school year was just made by Governor Pritzker this afternoon, it will take us a few days to sort out the many schedule details. Please be patient as we work as a district to get information to you in the next several weeks.
The next Remote Learning packets will be ready for pick-up and online next Monday, April 20, 2020. Schools will be open next Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. to pick up new Remote Learning packets, and return Remote Learning packets handed out beginning on April 2nd. Online Remote Learning will be posted by 7:30 a.m. next Monday as well. Our Grab and Go food distribution will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I know this is not the school year that any of us imagined, but I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we have dealt with this unprecedented situation together. This period of Remote Learning offers us new ways to learn and grow, and out of this Pandemic, we will emerge stronger. To our seniors, we feel your pain. Please know that we will do everything we can to conduct graduation, Baccalaureate, and prom when it is safe to do so. For now, we must be patient and realize the health and safety of you, your families, and our entire community are paramount.
It’s important we continue to work together and support our students. I can't thank you enough for all that you are doing as we all work through this together.
Sincerely,
Margo D. Empen
Superintendent