Dear Springfield Public Schools Community,
Happy Spring! This year we are greeting the change of the seasons with joy and celebration. Two years ago, we were in our homes struggling with the start of a global pandemic, making this change of season a little sweeter and meaningful.
The purpose of this letter is to update families regarding the school calendar revision and other district news and information.
First, at our Board of Education meeting held on Monday, March 21, 2022, the Board approved a revised calendar that includes the days we will need to use to make up for closures due to inclement weather. The changes include:
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May 27, 2022: Edward V. Walton School will be open for students. It will operate on an Early Dismissal schedule.
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June 17, 2022: The last day of school for students at JDHS, FMG, James Caldwell, and Thelma L. Sandmeier. All schools, including Edward V. Walton, will operate on an Early Dismissal schedule.
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June 20, 2022: The last day of school for students at Edward V. Walton School. The school will operate on an Early Dismissal schedule.
Second, Principals and PTAs have been hard at work planning a wide variety of activities and celebrations for the remainder of this school year. In regards to moving up and graduation ceremonies, please note the following:
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The FMG 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 15th. It will be held at the JDHS field, and begin promptly at 6:45 pm. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the Halsey Hall Auditorium. FMG Principal Kielty will be sharing additional information about this event.
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The Commencement Ceremony for the JDHS Class of 2022 is scheduled for Thursday, June 16th. It will be held on the JDHS field, and begin promptly at 6:00 pm. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the Halsey Hall Auditorium. JDHS Principal Dr. Francis will be sharing additional information about this event.
Finally, it is important to remember that while we have embraced our return to normal, COVID-19 remains present in our community, and we have seen a marked increase in cases this week. Please remember that if your child is symptomatic, they may be sent home and you may be required to provide a negative test result. We know that the change of seasons is impacting allergies, and our school nurses recognize the different symptoms. Do not send your child to school if they have a fever (≥100°), and we kindly request that parents not challenge the school nurse when they are requested to pick up their child due to a fever or the presence of multiple symptoms.
Thank you for your ongoing support. It has been wonderful to see students’ smiling faces over the last couple of weeks, and we look forward to continuing to see them learning and growing every day!
Sincerely,
Rachel Goldberg
P.S. The JDHS cast of Chicago is actively preparing for the Spring Musical on April 1 & 2, and I encourage you to get your tickets - it is going to be a terrific show!