Wishing all of Raider Nation a safe and very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Dear Raider Parents and Guardians,
The safety and security of our students has been, and continues to be, a top priority at Midwest Central CUSD #191. We have worked diligently over the past few years to improve our protocols and procedures, harden facilities, increase communications with stakeholders and strengthen our partnership with law enforcement.
In order for our safety efforts to be truly successful, we need your help. Please talk to your child about the importance of alerting law enforcement or district administration immediately about any threats of violence or safety concerns at school.
One easy way to report safety concerns is through the state’s new confidential reporting platform, Safe2Help Illinois, which is staffed 24/7 by trained help line professionals. When someone reports an urgent threat through this platform, phone calls are immediately made to a District level team who then notify specific school officials and develop a plan of action. A Safe2Help button is located on the front page of our website, www.MidwestCentral.org, and will direct you to a site providing you several options for making reports.
Over the past month, there have been instances of rumors and misinformation spreading amongst students or on social media before it was reported to school officials or authorities. In these instances information was reported days or weeks after the triggering incident. What transpired as a result was damaging information being shared publicly and doubts being cast that the district is not addressing the situation.
I assure you Midwest Central CUSD #191 will always take any threat or safety concern seriously. For instance, each situation that has occurred over the past month has been investigated and determined to not be credible. If a threat ever is credible, I promise you would hear directly about the incident from us.
To close, we have wonderful students, caring staff and supportive families in our communities. Let’s all work together and keep the lines of communication open.
Thank you for your patience and support,
Dr. Todd Hellrigel
Join our team!
Breakfast Menu Change for Friday, October 28, 2022
Banana Bread/Muffin
instead of
Cheesy Breakfast Quesadilla
Don't have time to shop? We have elves that will do the shopping for you. All you have to do is drop off your cash or check (made payable to Midwest Central with "Snow Buddies" in the memo line) to any of the school offices.
Would you like to shop for your own Raider family? We will be ready to hand out information on 11/14/22. All presents need to be turned in by 12/12/22 to the Primary School .
Mrs. Simkins Class had an engineering challenge today of making a Wigwam with a partner.
Reminders -
Today is 1 hour early dismissal because of Parent/Teacher Conferences.
Tomorrow, no school for students for Parent/Teacher Conferences.
We hope to see you there!
Hello All,
1. Thursday (evening) and Friday (morning) we will hold parent/teacher conferences. Thursday will be a 1 hour early dismissal, and Friday there is no school for students. We're hoping for a record turn out this year! Please help us out with that goal.
2. I have attached a link to our district calendar on the website below.
https://www.midwestcentral.org/page/district-calendar
Have a good day,
Dr. Todd Hellrigel
5th grade students participated in the Think! Energy program offered by Ameren with an exciting presentation and energy efficient goodie bag to leave with! See more about this program at www.thinkenergy.org/amerenillinois
Yesterday at the primary school, the staff celebrated Ms. Timm and Mrs. Jackson for Boss’s Day! Their leadership doesn’t go unnoticed!
Midwest Central staff got the opportunity to spend the second half of Friday doing some pretty cool professional training exercises... after being treated to a most delicious lunch!
A HUGE Thank You to everyone that helped make this possible!!!!
Hello Raiders,
We've had quite a few questions surrounding the P-EBT program. The district doesn't have any control over the program. We've been directed to have people call 1.800.678.5465(LINK) or going to the website for Illinois Link Cardholder (www.link.illinois.gov). The link below takes you to an FAQ for additional information. I hope this helps.
https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=137078
Enjoy your weekend,
Dr. Todd Hellrigel
Preschool staff attended the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children- Growing Futures Conference yesterday in Springfield
Hello Raiders,
Two quick items:
1. Tomorrow, Friday, October 14th is 1/2 day early dismissal.
2. Summer P-EBT benefits for students enrolled in public school will be issued between October 11th and 21st, 2022. Summer 2022 P-EBT issuance will be $391 per eligible student. Because Midwest Central has the Community Eligibility Option all students enrolled last May will receive this benefit. This benefit is not something you or the district has applied for. It is a program we automatically qualify for based upon our participation in the National School Lunch Program. Benefits will be loaded to your existing P-EBT card.
Thank you,
Dr. Todd Hellrigel
Congrats to Sydney McDaniels on being selected to receive grant funds to help students improve reading skills!!!
Thank you to the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation (IRTAF) for supporting our District!!
Happy Columbus Day!
Hello Raiders,
I wanted to communicate 2 reminders for next week:
1. Monday (October 10) is Columbus Day, so there will be no school.
2. Next Friday (October 14) is ½ day early dismissal. The Middle School dismisses at 11:20, the High School dismisses at 11:30, and the Primary School at 11:40. There is no preschool Thursday or Friday (October 13 and 14).
Enjoy the beautiful fall weather,
Dr. Todd Hellrigel
Flu Shot Clinic for Students - Thursday, October 20, 2022
MCPS students will ALL have forms sent home. MCMS and MCHS students will need to request sing up forms from the student's respective school if they would like to participate.
Registered nurses from the Mason County Health Department (MCHD) will come to each of the schools and administer the flu vaccine injection to students who have turned in their completed forms. A list of insurances that can be billed are listed below, otherwise cost will be $40.00. If paying for your child’s vaccination please send cash or check payable to MCHD.
The Vaccine Information Statement for the flu shot can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.html
List of insurances that MCHD will accept:
• AETNA/CIGNA
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
• Coventry
• HFN
• Health Alliance
• Healthlink
• Humana
• Meridian
• United Healthcare
• Medicare
• Illinois Medicaid
• Managed Care Organizations:
Molina, Harmony, Meridian, Blue Cross Blue Shield Community Health Plans
Please have your child wear a short-sleeved shirt or dress in layers on October 20th, since the injection will be given in the upper arm. If you have any questions feel free to call the Mason County Health Department at 309.210.0110.
A couple of quick reminders for our Raider Community about bus safety.
Please make sure you are aware and alert when driving around school buses on and off of school property.
Passing a stopped school bus with the stop arm out and lights flashing is illegal at any location.
THANK YOU for helping us keep our students safe!
