Hello Korematsu Community,
5/1/2020
We have another news segment for you all. We are getting more participation from students which is great. We want more! Please email me with submissions or suggestions (mburnham@wccusd.net).
In the coming weeks we will start to clarify some upcoming activities around the school. We are working with WCCUSD to come up with plans for textbook returns, locker clean outs, and yearbook distribution (if purchased). As this information becomes finalized we will incorporate it within the Weekly News. All of these activities will be done following the CDC and local Contra Costa Health Services guidelines.
Anyone planning to submit their baking project to the contest please do so by May 6th. I look forward to the projects.
Have a great weekend KMS community!
Mr. B
Counselor Simpson’s Meetings. VOLUNTARY! Open to all. Talk, laugh, have fun….what you feel is up to you and no-one else. Zoom links and passwords can be found by students in Google Classroom.
Ms. S’ 7th grade support group
May 1, 2020 11:00
May 1, 2020 11:00
May 4, 2020 11:00
May 8, 2020 11:00
May 11, 2020 11:00
May 15, 2020 11:00
May 18, 2020 11:00
May 22, 2020 11:00
May 25, 2020 11:00
May 29, 2020 11:00
Jun 1, 2020 11:00
Ms. S’ 8th grade support group
Apr 28, 2020 12:00
Apr 28, 2020 12:00
Apr 30, 2020 12:00
May 5, 2020 12:00
May 7, 2020 12:00
May 12, 2020 12:00
May 14, 2020 12:00
May 19, 2020 12:00
May 21, 2020 12:00
May 26, 2020 12:00
May 28, 2020 12:00
Jun 2, 2020 12:00
4/17/2020
Hello Korematsu Community,
I hope you are safe, healthy and taking care of your families. We are wrapping up another week of distance learning. For educators, this has been an entirely new challenge, and one we are constantly learning from. Since this week began, we have seen more and more students completing assignments on Google Classroom. While this number is increasing, we still need to see more teenagers logging on and getting active with their learning. These are difficult and complicated times, but we need to work together to ensure everyone has an opportunity to learn.
Students are expected to log into Google Classroom daily. Teachers are regularly posting assignments, commenting on completed work, and providing support as needed. While some may want more work, and others less, our teachers are working hard to meet expectations outlined in the agreement between the United Teachers of Richmond and WCCUSD. We, as learners ourselves, will continue to evolve as days go by. At Korematsu, we are always in a cycle of inquiry. Distance learning is no different. We are always developing as a school, and as a community.
Many teachers are offering live office hours. I want to encourage students to participate in these whenever possible. Students can find information posted on Google Classroom (how to log on to a meeting, when they start, etc.). We have also posted the hours at www.korematsumiddleschool.org. Please continue to check this website for more information as online learning moves forward. We are in the process of developing resources for students and families that are looking for additional learning opportunities.
I want to encourage families and students with questions to reach out to teachers directly. They are available through email, and are there to support our students. You can also reach out to counselors, Ms. Ivey and of course, me, anytime. I’ve put together a first attempt at a weekly news segment that I am hoping provides some information, keeps us connected, and in the future is propelled by student voices.
Please stay safe and keep supporting one another.
Sincerely,
Matt Burnham
| English | Monday | Ms. Schantz 11-1:00 | Ms. Pulley 11-1:00 | Ms. Soto 10-12:00 | Mr. Vedder: 9:00-12:00 | Ms. Davis 11-1:00 | |||
| Math | Tuesday | Mr. Lee (math7 – 10-12), (Geometry- 12-1 on Thursday) | Mr. Hameed (no virtual office hours; students comment/email to get questions answered) | Ms. Cachero M/W/F 11:00 – 11:30 T/Th. 2:30-3:30 | Mr. Zechlin 9:30-10:30 & 2 – 3 Daily | Mr. Kunz 9:30 — 10:30 | |||
| History | Wednesday | Mr. Lee, J (available by appointment),1-3 | Ms. Schmidt 10-12:00 | Mr. Uriostegue: 9-12:00 | Mr. Fulumirani (email or appointment) | ||||
| Science | Thursday | Mr. Kunz 9:30-10:30 | Ms. Pavlich 10-1:30 | Mr. Nelson 1:30-2:30 | Ms. Wardle 9-12:00 | Writer coaches with ELD students 10-12 pm, 1-3 pm | |||
| Electives | Friday | Ms. Alcocer 1-2:05 | Mr. Pohl: 8:30-9:30 & 3-4 Daily | Carrico Friday 10:30-11 I will send zoom link each week in e-mail | Ms. Smith, J Mon-Fri 11:00-1:00 and as needed (no virtual office ours: student and parent questions via email and Google classroom) | Ms. Jenkins 9-10:00 | |||
| Special Education | Ms. Krug Daily 1:00-2:00 | Mr. Armen 2-3:00 | Ms. Smith Daily 10-11:00 | Ms. Woods Thurs 10-11:00 | Mr. Wallacker- Daily 8AM- 2PM via email | Mr. Klingele Daily 9-10:00 and as needed | Ms. Cummings 8-2:30 | Mr. Pickrell Daily AllSkills10-11 Tutorial 1-2 |
Dear WCCUSD Families,
I hope you are well. We are in the fifth week that school campuses have been closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. This has been a difficult time for everyone as we have had to adjust to this new normal. However, the public health experts are telling us that the efforts we have made to stay at home have made a significant difference in how this situation is playing out. For the first time since the start of this crisis, Gov. Gavin Newsom is discussing re-opening businesses and possibly relaxing some of the stay-at-home orders. I am convinced, now more than ever, that we will get through this together and be stronger for doing so.
Despite the uncertainty, it is important that we keep working to provide the support students need to continue learning. Monday, we started Phase 2 of Distance Learning. We are very proud of the work we have done to date and I am personally so proud of our staff and community working in such a united fashion. All over the distance learning landscape, students, teachers and families are working together to provide engaging, empowering and challenging educational experiences.
We know there are some areas that need more attention and improvement, and we are working on solutions in those areas. The focus of our needs assessment and support is around working to close the digital divide and equity gaps that face many of our historically underserved communities, including low income, African-American and Latino students and families who have little in the way of technology and internet and who benefit most from the in person-personal support and relationships at school. By the end of this week, we will be aggressive in monitoring where any student has not engaged and figure out what is needed.
DISTANCE LEARNING GUIDES:With the help of parent/family leaders we created these Distance Learning Guides for Preschool; TK, K, 1st; 2nd-6th, and Middle and High school.The guides are available in English and Spanish at https://www.wccusd.net/dlguides.
We know some families want more work for students and others need less right now. We continue to navigate all of the different needs. Teachers, librarians, counselors and principals are providing rich content and support for students. Early during the closures, Ohlone Elementary teacher Chandra Sherr released her trout fry her class had been raising into a local creek and sent the video to her students. She is not the only one. Everyday, I hear about other fantastic ways that WCCUSD educators are engaging students and families in distance learning.
The students have been amazing. They are engaging in instruction and advocating for themselves and each other. For instance, throughout this crisis, the students in Maya Kosover’s class at Richmond High have continued their Weekly News Broadcast despite not having access to their classroom.
The food services team and a lot of wonderful volunteers have been serving grab-and-go meals since the beginning. We are now serving more than 28,000 meals every day to any child 18 and under regardless of socio-economic status or the school they attend.
WCCUSD’s parent leaders have been great partners throughout this, meeting with me and other district leaders virtually to discuss ways we can better support the students and families we serve. Parents have been hubs of information and helped us identify needs we may have missed.
There are other great stories of collaboration and cooperation out there and these are why I am convinced we will get through this together.
Even with these positive stories, there are still those who have needs that aren’t being met. There are people who need additional resources in order to navigate this crisis. While we do not have all of the answers, there are resources that can help. We have compiled a list of these supports at www.wccusd.net/districtclosure.
If you have any questions about Distance Learning, please contact your child’s teacher or principal. You can also get instructional support by sending an email to elearning@wccusd.net or technical support for devices, software or internet access at parent@wccusd.net or by calling (510) 243-3901.
Answers to other questions can be obtained at questions@wccusd.net or by calling (510) 965-4444 or (510) 965-4443 for assistance in Spanish.Thank you again for your patience, trust and collaboration as we navigate this crisis. I will see you, in person, on the other side.
In Community,
Matthew Duffy
Superintendent
En Español
Dear WCCUSD Families,
Hello. I hope you are staying as healthy as you possibly can these days. The last month has been intense and filled with uncertainty. I hope that you were able to use Spring Break as an opportunity to rest and acclimate to the idea of students learning from home for the rest of this school year.
As you know, we will launch Phase 2 of Distance Learning tomorrow. This is our opportunity to ensure that students continue to access engaging, empowering and challenging instruction even while they are physically separated from their school communities. While the health epidemic was sudden, we now believe we know enough to create a structure for all of our students that is focused around simplicity and consistency. It is our intent to create a set of high expectations for all of our students while balancing the current real life struggles taking place throughout our community. We will focus on mastery and deeper learning experiences, incorporate personalized learning, and offer a variety of opportunities to engage students.
While instruction is required beginning tomorrow, the current situation demands flexibility and patience as we continue to find the best ways to engage students. We understand that many students will have a variety of factors that influence their ability to engage with distance learning. Educators will provide as much support as possible while ensuring that students continue to learn. This distance learning plan is designed to be flexible, allow students multiple ways to engage in learning and provide the support necessary for them to succeed.
Family/Parent Support for Distance Learning
Now, more than ever, this will take a partnership between home and school to provide the best possible educational environment under difficult conditions. While we expect our schools and teachers to be in touch with all of our students, families can best assist their children by contacting your child’s teacher(s) weekly and supporting students to complete the assigned work.
There are other actions you can take to support your child’s engagement in remote learning during the school closures.
- Create a routine with a set a regular time and place for doing assigned work
- Remove distractions where possible
- Engage in what your child is learning
- Allow time for breaks and outside time where possible
- Be patient as your child adjusts to this new reality
If at any time, you feel that your student needs more support or is in a situation that prevents her or him from engaging in the assigned work, please contact your child’s teacher or principal so that we can assist you. All students and families are facing different situations. Some are struggling to access the internet while others have sick relatives, others are working on the front lines every day and others have lost jobs. Patience and support are the operative words for these final 7-8 weeks of school.
Over this final stretch of school, you will begin to hear more from your schools and a little less from the district as we aim to reestablish the school as the center of support and communication for our students and families.
Because Distance Learning can include multiple delivery methods, students may need resources like printed materials and writing implements or Chromebooks and wifi access. Contact your child’s teacher or principal if you need help accessing the necessary resources for your child. In order to help you navigate our Distance Learning plan, we created Parent Guides (English, Spanish) to give you tips and outline the expectations for students at the various grade levels.
Your first point of contact for assistance should be your child’s teacher or principal. If you need additional support, the District’s eLearning website is active and being populated with new resources regularly. Support for distance learning materials and resources can be accessed by email at elearning@wccusd.net.
If you have questions about the technology to support your student’s distance learning, email parent@wccusd.net or call (510) 243-3901.
Additionally, our team will continue to focus energy on those students traditionally furthest from opportunity and we want our community to know that we will do everything in our power to make sure further achievement gaps are not perpetuated during this time. In fact, we might even see this as an opportunity to learn how this uncomfortable time can possibly close opportunity gaps if we keep our minds open to new and different ways of “doing school” and not simply rushing to recreate a similar system of winners and losers just this time online.
As a parent going through this myself, this is not easy but I know together we can do it and we can rise to the occasion. Our health is our primary concern right now. Knowing that, I believe together we can find a new rhythm, new routines and habits to live and learn together with one another in our houses and on our screens. Please reach out if you have a concern, know someone who needs help or have a thought about how we could improve our support for our students. I am looking forward to this next phase of our distance learning and thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
In Partnership,
Matthew Duffy
Superintendent
Dear WCCUSD Families,
The news we have been expecting is now official. West Contra Costa Unified School District students will not return to their campuses this school year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This decision is being made in an effort to help slow the spread of this disease and was not taken lightly.
Both the Governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction have issued strong recommendations that, given the nature of the statewide stay-at-home order and continued need for physical distancing, K-12 schools should not expect to return to in-class instruction for the remainder of the school year. While not a directive or executive order, based on this guidance and the likely event that Contra Costa Health Services will extend the stay-at-home order, we will keep our school buildings closed through the rest of this school year.
While this means that physical campuses would not re-open to students this school year, it does not suggest that learning is over for the year. Teachers, classified staff and administrators continue to provide meals and learning devices to students who need them, and are working hard to transition to high-quality distance learning, and support the needs of all students. If you need internet access please visit www.wccusd.net/districtclosure.
The California Department of Education has now provided guidance around grading and graduation requirements, particularly as they relate to WCCUSD’s graduating seniors. We know that higher education (particularly the University of California and California State University systems) is working closely with K-12 schools to ensure that students will not be penalized through grades or graduation requirements because of the situation we all find ourselves in. We are developing guidelines and procedures regarding second semester grades, transcripts, graduation criteria, promotion, and commencement celebrations. These will be communicated to students and families in the coming days and weeks.
We know that this situation is taking its toll on everyone for many reasons, but our health experts continue to remind us that following the stay-at-home order and practicing strict physical distancing are the two best ways to slow the transmission of the coronavirus. While we may not be able to welcome students back to campus this year, we know that learning WILL continue, and that every educator and education professional in WCCUSD will continue to work hard on behalf of the students and families we serve.
As mentioned in previous letters, a more robust distance learning plan will begin when we return from Spring Break on Monday, April 13, and we want to support you and your students to continue learning at home. This is an unprecedented situation and I am asking that you continue to be patient with us as we figure out how to best support this community during the school closures. There are still a number of questions around graduations, summer school and even how next year will work. I want you to know that we are taking these questions seriously and will be reaching out to stakeholders to help us find the right solutions for this community.
As a reminder, Spring Break is next week. Meals will still be distributed every day, except for Monday, April, 6, which is a district holiday. There are 17 locations distributing meals.
Since schools will be on a more formal schedule when we return from Spring Break, we will begin sending communications from the district twice a week. If there is urgent news, we will still share it quickly. There are also several avenues to keep yourself informed.
- News/Updates/Resources – www.wccusd.net/districtclosure
- Social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
- Update your contact information – Google Form.
Questions or help – District Call Center questions@wccusd.net or call (510) 965-4444 or (510) 965-4443 for information in Spanish.
You can also check Powerschool and/or Google Classroom daily to keep up with your students’ progress.
Thank you again for your trust and support. Stay safe and enjoy Spring Break.
In Partnership,
Matthew Duffy
Superintendent