D20 COMMUNICATION CENTER
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- ParentSquare Communications
- Winter Weather Reminders
- School Menus
- District Calendar 2024-25
- News Around the District
- School Newsletters
- D20 Virtual Backpack - Community Programs & Events
- D20 Safe Schools Week (OCT. 21-25, 2024)
- Board of Education - Board Briefs
ParentSquare Communications
District 20 invites you to join ParentSquare, our communication tool for receiving all district and school messages. Starting in January 2025, ParentSquare will also serve as a two-way communication platform, allowing direct messaging between teachers and parents/guardians!
Activate Your Account Today!
We encourage you to activate your account now and confirm your contact information using the link above. You will still receive important messages from us even if you do not activate your account. However, registering your account unlocks convenient features such as:
- Customizing how you receive messages (text, email, phone, or app notification).
- Choosing when you receive messages (instantly or as a daily digest).
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your school office. HOW TO ACTIVATE YOUR PARENTSQUARE ACCOUNT (ENGLISH/SPANISH)
Additional Communication Tools
Please note that in addition to using posts and direct messaging in ParentSquare, staff will continue using platforms such as Seesaw, Google Classroom, and the Remind App to communicate with parents/guardians. The district will continue using Skyward for scheduling, grades, registration, and more.
Thank you for joining us on ParentSquare! We look forward to enhancing communication with you!
ParentSquare Communications
Winter Weather Reminders
At Keeneyville District 20, we strive to maintain regular school operations throughout the winter. However, if severe weather impacts our schedule, our top priority remains the safety of our students and staff. We will notify families promptly about any changes in school schedules.
For details on how we will communicate winter-related updates, visit our website's Inclement Weather page: https://www.esd20.org/for-parents/inclement-weather-policy. Thank you for staying connected and prepared!
Decision-Making Process for Emergency Closures
District 20's decision to close school due to weather is made carefully, focusing on the safety of our students and staff. We aim to make timely, well-informed decisions and appreciate your understanding as we prioritize everyone’s safety.
Several factors influence our decision-making:
- Weather Conditions: We monitor current and forecasted weather, including snow, ice, temperature, and wind chill, which directly impact students waiting at bus stops or walking to school.
- Collaboration with Local Districts: We collaborate with Lake Park High School and the elementary feeder districts to share information and make decisions.
- School Operations: Our team evaluates building conditions to ensure working heat, electricity, and safe parking lots.
- Transportation Safety: We assess the operability of buses and the safety of roadways using local weather and traffic reports.
School Closure: eLearning Day or Snow Day?
When winter weather strikes, several factors influence whether we will use an eLearning Day or declare a traditional snow day. Key considerations include the timing and type of the weather event and whether staff have sufficient time to prepare materials and distribute technology devices. While the district has the ability to implement eLearning Days, this does not mean they will always be used during severe weather.
The Superintendent may determine that an emergency day (“snow day”) is more appropriate based on the specific circumstances, which may include the day of the week, the time of day the decision is made, the type of emergency, or whether one school is impacted (e.g., a power outage or water main break at an individual school).
If severe weather is forecasted, we may proactively send home devices and materials to prepare for a possible eLearning Day. However, this does not guarantee that eLearning will occur, and we encourage parents to monitor text and email updates for the final decision. In some cases, in-person school may continue as scheduled if conditions improve.
District Notifications: What to Expect
In the event of a weather-related change or emergency closure, Keeneyville District 20 will notify families and staff using ParentSquare. Notifications will be sent via text, email, and phone using the contact information you have provided in Skyward/ParentSquare. Please ensure that your contact details are current to stay informed.
It is important to note that the district does not send notifications for every snow forecast. If you don’t hear from us, school will proceed normally, and your child should attend as usual.
In the case of a closure, updates will also be shared in the following locations:
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District website: www.esd20.org as a pop-up and in the D20 Communication Center
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Social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) @KeeneyvilleD20
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Emergency Closing Center: http://www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/ and as reported on radio and television (WGN Radio 720, WBBM News Radio 780, TV Channels BS, NBC, ABC, WGN, FOX, CLTV).
District 20’e eLearning Plan
The Keeneyville School District eLearning Plan allows us to implement a full remote learning day for our students if needed, including synchronous and asynchronous instruction. D20’s e-Learning Day would look similar to how our “remote days” first looked during the pandemic. There would be morning and closing meetings with attendance check-ins. Teachers will give instructions for learning activities at home, including using online apps such as MobyMax, Seesaw, AMIRA, and Waggle. Students and parents can contact their teachers via email, Seesaw, and Google Classroom throughout the day. Full details and instructions for your child’s specific classroom will be provided if there is an eLearning Day.
Thank you for helping us to stay prepared and informed!
School Menus
Updated 11/15/2024
District 20's food service provider, Arbor Management, is now part of the Whitsons Culinary Group Family of companies. Their commitment to providing high-quality, innovative, and culturally appropriate meals will continue!
Easy to use, interactive menus will now be available online at https://esd20.info/D20FDMealPlanner. This new menu viewing tool will replace the former "MySchoolMenu" web pages starting Monday, November 18, 2024. You can find nutritional and allergen information to help plan your child's school meals here. A username and login are not required to view menus, but if you create an account, you can build your profile or a profile for your entire family and save your account preferences.
You can also download the free FD MEALPLANNER app by visiting the App Store (iOS devices) or Google Play Store (Android devices).
To learn more:
- ABOUT WHITSONS (ENGLISH / SPANISH)
- FD MEAL PLANNER ANNOUNCEMENT (ENGLISH / SPANISH)
- FD MEAL PLANNER USER GUIDE (ENGLISH / SPANISH)
- FD MEAL PLANNER VIDEO
- FD MEAL PLANNER FAQS
District Calendar 2024-25
News Around the District
School Newsletters
D20 Virtual Backpack - Community Programs & Events
D20 Safe Schools Week (OCT. 21-25, 2024)
The safety of our students, staff, and visitors is always a top priority for District 20. From October 21-25, 2024, we will observe Safe Schools Week to raise awareness about the importance of school safety. We will highlight the district’s multi-tiered approach to ensuring safety, emergency preparedness, and student wellness each day.
- DAY 1: D20 Emergency Response Protocols & Parent Guidance
- DAY 2: School Bus & Transportation Safety
- DAY 3: D20 United Against Bullying
- DAY 4: Student Wellness & Supports
- DAY 5: Safety is a Shared Responsibility
DAY 1: D20 Emergency Response Protocols & Parent Guidance
DAY 2: School Bus & Transportation Safety
DAY 3: D20 United Against Bullying
DAY 4: Student Wellness & Supports
District 20 takes a proactive approach to our students' and staff's social-emotional well-being and mental health needs. We have various programs and resources to create and maintain a healthy and safe teaching and learning environment.
Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) in all D20 schools teach students to be responsible for their behaviors with the expectation to Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. Staff members consistently teach, model, and reinforce appropriate behaviors for students.
Social-Emotional Wellness and Mental Health are a priority for District 20 as we recognize that students cannot engage in learning if they are struggling socially, emotionally, or mentally. The District 20 Student Services Staff includes social workers and psychologists who help screen and assess student risk for emotional and behavioral problems and support student needs in our buildings.
Online Safety Platform: D20 partners with an online safety platform called Gaggle to help support student mental health and safeguard students against violence, predators, and various other issues affecting today's students. Gaggle helps our district see the early warning signs of potential danger so that our schools can take action quickly to protect students from harming themselves or others. Machine learning technology flags concerning content in students' school-issued accounts for review and blocks potentially harmful content.
In high-risk situations concerning student mental health or safety, district-appointed administrators are immediately notified by phone, text, and email, even after standard business hours. If severe concerns about student behavior are identified on student-issued accounts, Gaggle will contact 9-1-1 to perform an at-home well check with an abundance of caution.
Relationship Building: D20 Staff focus on forming relationships with our students so that we are prepared to provide support if they need it, and so they feel comfortable reporting to us when they hear or see unsafe or concerning behaviors in themselves or others. We ask our families to reinforce this message at home by letting them know they can also come to you whenever they feel unsafe and remind them to report any suspicions and concerns about school safety.
Additional Resources: District 20 also encourages students, parents, and staff to See Something, Say Something by submitting an online report of bullying or other safety concerns and to utilize the resources highlighted below.
Safe2Help Illinois
Safe2Help Illinois
Safe2Help Illinois is a confidential way to share any information that threatens your safety or the safety of others.
What is Safe2Help IL?
Safe2Help Illinois provides a safe, confidential way to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. The goal is to get students to "Seek Help Before Harm."
This program provides a 24/7 confidential helpline via phone/email/text/mobile app/web form, student resources (including self-help resources, videos and tips & tools), educational resources, and community outreach.
What happens after the call?
Students can use Safe2Help IL to share concerns about themselves or others. Once vetted, the information will be immediately shared with local school officials, mental health professionals, and/or local law enforcement, depending on the nature of the tip.
What is the goal of Safe2Help IL?
It is important to note that this program is not intended to punish, suspend of expel students. Rather, the intent is to encourage students to "seek help before harm" with the goal of intervening and helping students before they harm themselves or others. Long-term goals are to remove the stigma associated with mental health issues, promote a culture of kindness, and instill important lessons such as the difference between telling and tattling, internet safety, and suicide prevention.
- Abuse
- Anxiety
- Bullying
- Coping Skills
- Depression
- Healthy Relationships
- Self-Esteem
- Self-Injury
- Stress
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Violence
Additional Information
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Built on a concept of connecting with those who are experiencing suicidal or mental health crises, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline primarily seeks to offer a sense of hope. We want that hope to encourage people to call, chat or text 988 if they or a loved one are in a suicidal or mental health-related crisis.
What is 988?
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Mental health or substance use crisis
- Any other kind of emotion distress
You can call for yourself or on behalf of someone else you are worried about who may need crisis support.
988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline was formerly called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number still works, 988 is just easier to remember. Using either number will get you to the same services.
Additional Information
- What happens when I call 988?
- What happens when I chat 988?
- What happens when I text 988?
- Does calling/texting/chatting the 988 Lifeline really help?
- How is 988 different than 911?
What happens when I call 988?
When calling 988, callers will hear a greeting message while your call is routed to the local Lifeline network crisis center (based on your area code). A trained crisis counselor will answer the phone, listen to the caller, works to understand how the problem is affecting them, provide support, and share resources if needed.
If the local crisis center is unable to take the call, the caller is automatically routed back to the national backup crisis center.
The Lifeline uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages.
What happens when I chat 988?
Chat is available through the Lifeline's website at 988lifeline.org/chat in English only.
People seeking chat services are provided a pre-chat survey before connecting with a counselor, who identifies the main area of concern.
If demand is high, people can access the Lifeline's helpful resources while waiting.
Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful.
What happens when I text 988?
When you text to 988, you will be responded to by a group of Lifeline crisis centers that answer both chats and texts. The service will expand over the next few years to increase local and state level response. Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful. Currently texting is available in English only.
Does calling/texting/chatting the 988 Lifeline really help?
Yes, the Lifeline works. Numerous studies have shown that most Lifeline callers are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful after speaking to a Lifeline crisis counselor.
Almost 98% people who call, chat, or text the 988 Lifeline get the crisis support they need and do not require additional services in that moment. The counselors are trained to help reduce the intensity of a situation for the person seeking help, and connect them to additional local resources, as needed, to support their well-being.
How is 988 different than 911?
988 was established to improve access to crisis services in a way that meets our country's growing suicide and mental health-related crisis care needs. 988 provides easier access to the Lifeline network and related crisis resources, which are distinct from the public safety purposes of 911 (where the focus is on dispatching Emergency Medical Services, fire and police as needed).
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line
The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support via a medium people already use and trust: texting.
What is the Crisis Text Line?
The Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.
Additional Information
What happens when I text the Crisis Text Line?
1. First, you are in a crisis. Crisis doesn't just mean thinking of ending your own life, it is any painful emotion and any time you need support. So text us at 741741. Your opening message can say anything, keywords like "REACH," "HOME" or "HELLO" just help us to identify how people hear about us.
2. The first two responses are automated. They tell you that you are being connected with a Crisis Counselor and invite you to share a bit more. The Crisis Counselor is a trained volunteer, not a professional. They can provide support, but not medical advice.
3. It usually takes less than 5 minutes to connect you with a Crisis Counselor, who will introduce themselves, reflect on what you've said, and invite you to share at your own pace.
4. You will then text back and forth with the Crisis Counselor. You do not need to share anything you don't want to. The Crisis Counselor will help you sort through your feelings by asking questions, empathizing, and actively listening.
5. The conversation typically ends when you and the Crisis Counselor both feel comfortable deciding that you're in a "cool," safe place. After the conversation, you will receive an optional survey about your experience.
6. The goal of any conversation is to get you in a calm, safe place. Sometimes that means providing you with a referral for further help, and sometimes that just means being there and listening. A conversation usually lasts anywhere from 15-45 minutes.
ReferralGPS
ReferralGPS
District 20 partners with ReferralGPS to provide an anonymous easy to use secure website to locate Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Resources. Referral GPS allows students, parents, and staff to access their proprietary database of providers and care navigation services to help connect to mental health treatment.
- Al-Anon Meetings
- Alateen Meetings
- Divorce Care Groups
- Divorce Care for Kids
- DuPage Treatment Resources - CRIS System
- Grief Care
- Open Path Collective
- Single and Parenting
DAY 5: Safety is a Shared Responsibility
The prevention of violence in our communities and within our schools is a shared responsibility between schools, medical and mental health providers, community service providers, law enforcement, families, and students. Community safety must involve participation from all community members and the institutions that serve the community. The most effective way to ensure safety is to prevent the conditions perpetuating it.
District 20 focuses on prevention as the most important aspect of school safety. The research on underlying contributing factors to violence in schools overwhelming shows the need for supportive learning environments that all students feel connected to. District 20 emphasizes positive school culture and programs and encourages initiatives that promote equitable environments, a sense of belonging, and identifiable trusted adults. When students are in crisis or do not feel safe or connected, our safety reporting mechanisms allow staff to act quickly to respond and allow our student services teams to intervene when students are in need.
SEE Something, SAY Something
The district encourages all of our students, staff, and community to report personal or safety concerns to school, district, or one of our reporting mechanisms. District 20 has expanded access to and visibility of safety reporting andith Safe2Help Illinois. Additional support and reporting helplines include 988 Suicide & Crisis Line, Crisis Text Line, and ReferralGPS.
For more information on reporting and self-help resources, go to D20 Student Supports.
We thank the Keeneyville District 20 Community for helping to keep our schools safe!
If your concern requires immediate attention, please contact 911.
Board of Education - Board Briefs
Stay Connected With Us!
MOBILE APP
We encourage our families to download the free "Keeneyville District 20" Mobile App to ensure that you have easy access to current district and school information. Available at Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Go to D20 Mobile App for more information.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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