August 28, 2020 Update from Principal Hanson

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Greetings, Caleb Families, 

Less than one week to go! Our Caleb Staff is extremely busy preparing to welcome your children for our first day of school on Thursday, September 3. While we are still waiting for a finalized daily schedule resulting from negotiations with SCTA, our teachers have their first days planned, with a focus on building community, social emotional learning and getting our students reacquainted with distance learning tools and expectations. I know not having a schedule makes planning challenging, so as we wait for a schedule, please think in terms of having your kids engaged in distance learning during regular school hours, in both synchronous (together online with their teacher) and  asynchronous (independent work) learning. I appreciate your ongoing patience and will share more information as soon as it is available. 

If you find yourself or your kids losing perspective amidst this crisis and this less than ideal start to the school year, think about this. According to a recent study commissioned by Unicef, more than 463 million children worldwide remain cut off from education, and an even greater number are without internet access, leaving them to learn through broadcast television and radio. In our own city, families are still struggling to access the internet and secure devices that enable them to interact with teachers and peers. How can you foster Open-Mindedness in your home by recognizing the access and opportunity you have just by being part of our incredible Caleb Greenwood learning community? And what do you actually need in order to make distance learning work? Source:  https://data.unicef.org/resources/remote-learning-reachability-factsheet/?referringSource=articleShare

Chromebooks: Monday, August 31: All available Chromebooks have been spoken for. If you requested a Chromebook prior today, August 28, we have one reserved and available for your child(ren). Any further requests will be added to our waitlist. District-wide and despite extensive planning, the demand has been much greater than expected, so we do not have any additional Chromebooks currently available. You may be added to our waitlist by completing this form. Chromebooks are intended for children who do NOT have access to a device at home. If you have requested a Chromebook and do not have an immediate need for it, please email me so I can make your reserved device available for another child who does have an immediate need. I will then add you to the waitlist for when we have more devices available. 

Directions for picking up a device can be found here. Please bring a pen to complete your Computer Use Agreement Form upon arrival. 

If you are not able to make it to Chromebook pick-up on August 31, please email me at erin-hanson@scusd.edu to make alternate arrangements. 

Back to School Nights, Monday, August 31 & Tuesday, September 1: Please save the date for Back to School Night, which will take place before school begins this year. In order to facilitate participation for every family, teachers will hold two sessions and will record one of them for later viewing for those who are unable to attend. 

Monday, August 31, 6pm: Back to School Night with Mrs. Hanson 

https://scusd.zoom.us/j/85417671266

Meeting ID: 854 1767 1266

Passcode: CalebBTSN

Tuesday, September 1, 5:30 & 6:30: Back to School Night with Classroom Teachers 

Zoom information provided by your classroom teacher 

Student Materials, September 8 & 9:  In order to ensure we are able to provide all learning materials required for successful engagement in Distance Learning at once, materials will be distributed the week of September 7. Teachers will digitally provide all materials necessary to engage in Distance Learning for September 3-10. Students will receive curriculum-related consumables, such as workbooks and packets, textbooks and an assortment of general supplies. Teachers will share additional supplies needed during Back to School Night on September 1 and via Google Classroom.  Please click here for more information. 

SCUSD Return to Learn:  The district has put together a centralized web page with a Distance Learning Digital Binder and First Day of School Resources for parents and families. https://learn.scusd.edu/. This website is easy to find, search and navigate and includes:  

Start Here Button. 

“How to” guides and videos for Google Classroom, Clever and Zoom

Links to request a computer, internet assistance or locate login info

Tech Support

Coming Soon: Digital versions of Back-to-School Forms and the Student Handbook

Internet Connectivity:  Having trouble with securing internet access? Please visit this page for information about Free Internet and Hot Spots. https://learn.scusd.edu/internet-support 

Teacher Communication: By now, most of you have heard from your child’s teacher about Back to School Night, meet & greets and getting ready for the first days of school. Our new teachers, Ms. Perez and Maestra Barrera are still working through new employee processes and will be in touch soon! If you have yet to hear from your child’s teacher, do this: 

1. Check your email spam folder; we’re hearing from a number of parents that teacher emails have been going to junk mail. 

2. Then, call our front office (916-395-4515). It’s possible we do not have an accurate email address or phone number on file for you and we’d like to correct that immediately. Ask for your child’s class placement and their teacher’s email address, then reach out to him/her directly. They are just anxious to connect with you as you are with them! 

Infinite Campus Access: In addition to Google Classroom, you’ll want to have access to Infinite Campus to monitor your students attendance, assignment completion and grades. Please visit this page for information about how to gain access to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. 

As your family works together to plan how distance learning will look and feel in your home, I encourage you to employ our Open-Minded attribute. What we did in the spring was crisis teaching and learning; and we all did the very best we could given the circumstances. While the crisis at hand still remains, our children need us to settle into our current reality of distance learning and work together to ensure they have the supports in place to successfully engage with their teachers and peers. We have to accept that we cannot control the world around us and be willing and ready to compromise and adjust to keep our families safe and our children learning, despite the ever-changing landscape around us. 

Be safe! And as always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. 

Principal Erin Hanson 

erin-hanson@scusd.edu 

916-395-4515