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