WEEK OF MAY 4, 2020
El Semanario Edison Language Academy – Together Through Two Languages (310) 828-0335 www.edison.smmusd.org
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK We’re now entering our 8th week of campus closure and third of distance learning. Hopefully the distance learning aspect of the Safer at Home orders is starting to get a little easier each week. Our first weeks were about making sure all of our students had access to technology and we could communicate with all. Next, we developed a scope and sequence for distance learning and teachers learned the technology applications needed to provide distance learning. Then, we all developed grade level and schoolwide distance learning plans -- and started teaching remotely with new content right after spring break. The fact that our teachers were able to move to a very different way of teaching so quickly is a real testament the commitment and persistence of our teachers and I am profoundly grateful to them all. We’re committed to a continuous cycle of improvement, so last week we began the process of gathering feedback from stakeholders and reflecting on how to make the distance learning more effective for students, families and teachers. Thank you to those who have called, emailed and over 100 of you who came to virtual Coffees with the Principal to help inform this process – sharing comments in the chat or raising challenges during the meetings. The slide deck from those meetings is included with this e-Packet and will be posted on the Edison website. A few points that were shared in last week’s parent meetings and a couple of things we didn’t get to touch on: Edison works within guidance from SMMUSD, Los Angeles County Office of Education, California State Department of Education, the offices of public health and Gov. Newsome’s orders. We can’t move more quickly in developing programs than these entities move in setting guidance. Every day we are required to offer a certain amount of instruction – 2.5 hours total for primary grades and 2.6 hours for upper grade students. We are also required to cover core subjects – with the addition of Spanish language arts for our immersion program. These required subjects include daily ELD (English Language Development) and SEL (Social Emotional Learning).
Distance learning is a mix of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (pick up the assignment and do it when you can) instruction. There is a lot more teaching and learning going on than just live time on Zoom. As in the classroom, teachers use many tools. Our intention is to have daily live instruction in ELD/SEL. There may be some occasional times when this is not possible for any given teacher. When this happens, teachers and the principal confer and teachers still offer SEL/ELD in a pre-recorded lesson or during a small group live format during office hours. State guidance is to not give letter grades or traditional report cards to elementary school students. SMMUSD is developing policy which looks like it may be to provide holistic narrative feedback. Teachers provide feedback in a variety of ways for student work. Some grade levels review student work and use it to plan the next day’s instruction. Other teachers provide individual feedback daily or weekly. If you’re not sure how your teacher is providing feedback on student work, please contact the teacher. All state testing that affects elementary school students has been suspended this year. Deadlines for district (LCAP) and school (SPSA) plans have been pushed back until Nov/Dec. SMMUSD summer school programs will all take place on line. Without a crystal ball, we don’t really know what will happen yet with next year. But we’ll begin planning for several possibilities – physically back at school in some fashion, more distance learning, and/or a combination of the two at different times during the year. There are currently no plans to re-open schools before the end of the school year. Technology resources for parents – See the article below about district resources to help parents with programs like Zoom and Google Classroom. Parents have let us know that sometimes what teachers think will take 20-30 minutes to complete, can take a different amount of time at home. If you find that your child needs MORE to do, please