School News
If your plans have changed or you have moved, please inform us immediately by calling (408) 364-4259 or emailing turrutia [at] campbellusd.org Thank you!
School is going to begin in a few days and I know that everyone has a lot of questions about what is going to happen. We want to provide as much information that is available at this time while acknowledging that there are still many questions to be answered.
Just to provide some context--our teaching staff left school for their summer break on June 10th. While many of them have read books about educational topics, attended webinars, and done a lot of thinking about the coming school year over the summer, they are not due back to work until Monday, August 17th. The planning for the next school year that we are usually able to do in the spring could not be done due to the situation and the uncertainty of what this school year would look like.
When we left school on Friday, March 13th, we thought that we would be returning in a few short weeks once our school was sanitized and the virus had slowed down. We never imagined the severity of the global pandemic or the effect that it would have on all of our lives.
Next week, our staff will receive intensive training related to the reopening of school and our plans moving forward. They will also be creating class lists for the upcoming school year and planning with their grade level teams for our instructional program. As grade level teams, they will determine the schedules for their students and then those will be shared with you.
We realize that you need to plan for your students to begin distance learning starting on August 24th. We will be distributing Chromebooks to any students who need them in drive-by pick-ups in our lower parking lot on Tuesday, August 18th from 10:00 to 12:00 and on Thursday, August 20th from 8:00 to 10:00. If your child needs a device, please plan to have someone come by during one of these times to obtain a Chromebook.
Our basic schedule will have students attending school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 to 2:15 with both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. What that means is that sometimes students will be attending school via Zoom calls to collaborate and develop community with the other students in the class. At other times, their teachers will be teaching lessons online. That is called “synchronous instruction”. Students will also be expected to do work outside of the Zoom meeting times where they will be independently doing activities or school work on their own. They may also be asked to watch a video or log on to a website to explore a topic or perform a physical activity. This is the “asynchronous instruction.” A blend of both types of instruction helps to ensure that students are not spending all day looking at a computer screen.
Wednesdays may include a whole class Zoom meeting, small group instruction, and enrichment kinds of activities that students can access online. Teachers will also hold office hours during the week to answer students’ and parents’ questions.
Instructional materials such as workbooks, worksheets, and textbooks will be distributed at some time during the first week or so of school. These items may not be needed on day one of school since our staff will be focusing on creating community and connections with students, getting to know each other, training students on the tools that will be used for learning, and setting expectations for online learning. Once class lists are set and shared with you, the teachers will be reaching out to you with information that is specific to their class.
While this may not answer all of the questions that you might have at this time, we hope that it provides some direction for you. Know that our staff is working very hard to plan for the school year and that we will do our best to provide students with a meaningful education this year. We need to be partners now, more than ever, to help our children to learn and grow. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we plan to begin this unusual school year!
Chromebook FAQ: These questions & answers have been provided to assist you, we hope you'll find the answers you're looking for.
- Do I need to pick up a new chromebook if I previously obtained a CUSD chromebook for my student(s): No, your student may utilize the same chromebook they have been using previously, no need to switch/trade out.
- I already have a chromebook but don't have a QR code, can I find it online? Not at this time. CUSD is currently working on parent access to QR codes so that lost/misplaced codes can be downloaded/re-printed at home. However at this time, the QR code hard-copy provided by the school is your best access or students may type in their passwords.
- My child uses their password, will this still work? Yes, your student(s) may still type in their password for the same access.
- What if my student(s) can't remember their password? Teachers will have password access, password information will also be available to parents under the powerschool parent portal (not yet open to parents).
- My student(s) have been sharing a Chromebook, may each student get their own? Yes, please plan to pick up (1) chromebook for each Marshall Lane student as times may overlap for class meetings, etc.
- We already have a chromebook from CUSD that is not working properly, can we exchange it? Yes, if your CUSD issued chromebook is having technical malfunctions, please tape a note with student name and grade along with what problems you are experiencing (battery, camera, etc.) and return the chromebook and charging cord, we will exchange it for you.
- Does the chromebook have the applications and programs loaded on it that my child will be using? Yes, all the chromebooks are pre-loaded with the necessary applications and programs.
- Will my student(s) need the chromebook on the first day of school, August 24th? Yes, students will need to be able to meet with their teacher and classmates on August 24th via zoom which is available on every chromebook.
- My child does not have any passwords, how will they log in? Your child may use the QR code provided to sign in to all applications and programs.
- My child is participating in full-time distance learning, should they still obtain a chromebook from Marshall Lane? Yes, your student will need a chromebook and may pick it up from Marshall Lane, you are part of our community.
- What do I do if my child is experiencing issues (technical) with their chromebook? Contact the teacher, if they are not able to resolve the problem the CUSD tech support will be notified.
- My student(s) has an iPad at home, is this okay to use? Your student may access the distance learning programs and applications via the iPad however we suggest the use of a chromebook as there is no tech-support offered for students using their own electronic devices.
I am hoping that this message finds you and your families healthy and safe. It has been an unusual summer for all of us. When the school year ended in June, we were all anticipating that school would open this year with our students coming back to Marshall Lane in August. However, as you know, children in California will begin this year with distance learning due to the continued threat from Covid-19. When the staff returns in August, we will be working on plans and schedules to provide materials, devices, and online instruction for our students. Information will be shared over the next few weeks regarding how this will work.
This week, all site administrators have returned to work to begin to create a plan, along with district office staff for moving forward into the 2020-2021 school year. If you have questions or concerns, please send me an email at pspencer [at] campbellusd.org Take care of yourselves and your families.
It is often difficult to find ways to discuss the pandemic with young children and figure out how much information to provide to them so they will be aware of their part in controlling the spread of the virus, but not to alarm them unnecessarily. Here is a resource from Kaiser Permanente regarding how to talk to children about the pandemic and helpful hints about establishing family routines to reduce stress for them. Focusing on what they can do to help avoid spreading the virus is important so please discuss hand hygiene, physical distancing, and wearing masks when appropriate to help them to develop these safe habits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sia-8KBrJdY&feature=youtu.be
The Marshall Lane School site is currently closed until August. If you need information during this time, please contact Campbell Union School District at (408) 364-4200. All enrollment is handled by the district office, so please log on to campbellusd.org for information about how to enroll your child in our district.
Over the summer, please continue to check this website for important dates and details regarding the 2020-2021 school year. A committee of district office staff, site administrators, teachers, parents, classified employees, and union representative is currently conducting meetings to determine what instruction in the fall will look like. School begins on August 20th. Plans can change quickly so it is important to check this website often for the most current details.
Due to the global pandemic, our Marshall Lane PTA was unable to hold several fundraisers that were planned for the spring. Therefore, sufficient funding from this source is not available at this time to fund our class-size reduction p.e. program, part of the salary of our reading intervention teacher, a portion of the salary of our library aide, our STEAM Lab aide, and other services for our students that have always been supported by our generous PTA in the past. To find out more about the Marshall Lane PTA, visit their website at http://www.marshalllanepta.org/
It is important for all students to continue to learn over the summer. Having children read, write, and practice some math will be helpful to keep up their skills to prevent the “summer slide” that often occurs when students do not participate in any academic activities for a few months. Our district Teachers on Special Assignment have created some fantastic Choice Boards to enhance student learning over the summer. Check them out below:
https://www.campbellusd.org/covid19#resources
Thank you all so much for all your work and support during the 2019-2020 school year. We truly appreciate all of your volunteering during the time that school was open and your support of your students during distance learning. It takes a village!!
Have a wonderful summer break and stay safe! See you in August!