Korematsu

Dear WCCUSD Families,

The main focus of our work over the first two weeks of the school closures due to the coronavirus outbreak has been ensuring students have access to food and distance learning resources. As we enter week three, the focus has shifted to creating a sustainable distance learning platform that is accessible to all students, especially those from our most vulnerable communities. 

We have also identified several questions that will require non-traditional solutions. Some of our most pressing and immediate questions have been about grades and report cards for the most recent marking period and our plan for distance learning now that the school closures have been extended. This message will give you additional details on the plan for grades and report cards and some of the expectations for the distance learning program that we will implement beginning on April 13.

Grades and Report Cards

Second trimester report cards for elementary school students will be distributed this week. You should receive them, if you haven’t already, over the next few days. They will be delivered by mail or electronically. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have not received the second trimester report card by Monday, April 13.

For secondary schools, the third quarter will end on Friday, April 3. Our goal is to have all report cards and Special Education Progress Reports completed by Monday, April 13.Distribution will take place no later than Friday, April 17 and may be done electronically or by mail. 

Students and families should know that only assignments given to students on or before March 13, will be used in calculating grades. If your student receives an Incomplete (I) grade, there will be an opportunity to complete the required assignments and they will be given a timeline for doing so.

If you have any questions regarding grades or report cards, please contact your child’s teacher or school principal.

Key Dates
Calculating assignments for grades	Assignments given up to Friday, March 13
Elementary second trimester report cards delivered	March 30 – April 10
3rd Quarter ends for middle, high schools	Friday, April 3
Distance Learning Phase 2 begins	Monday, April 13
Secondary third quarter report cards, Special Education progress reports completed	Monday, April 13
Report cards,progress reports delivered	No later than Friday, April 17

Distance Learning

After a lot of hard work and collaboration, we are ready to move forward with Phase 2 of Distance Learning. The first phase was an opportunity for teachers and students to become familiar with the resources and tools available to continue their engagement with instruction during the school closures. The second phase seeks to build on the lessons we have learned to provide engaging, empowering and challenging distance learning opportunities.

For Phase 2, we have worked with teachers, principals and families/parents to develop a set of guidelines and expectations that will inform the work as we move forward. WCCUSD’s Distance Learning will focus on mastery and deeper learning experiences, incorporate personalized learning, and offer a variety of opportunities to engage the lessons. Distance learning may include multiple delivery methods, including a wide variety of technologies, or print materials that are subject to written or verbal feedback. Teachers and administrators will be supported to prepare for this mode of teaching and will be trained in the use of available district digital tools.  We are in the process of developing training opportunities for parents as well.

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. No student will be penalized for forces beyond their control. As such, this distance learning plan is designed to be flexible and to allow students multiple ways to engage in learning. 

There are still questions regarding assessments and grading, which we know is an important concern for everyone. We hope to have a more defined grading policy regarding the final marking period by April 13. We will create this work based on further guidance from the California Department of Education, Contra Costa County Office of Education, collaboration with other school districts, input from bargaining units, and a district task force. 

We have created a Distance Learning Instructional Plan for WCCUSD Educators that gives guidance and expectations to teachers, principals, counselors and other instructional support staff. A similar document for families will be completed in the next few days. In the meantime, I have included some of the key expectations for students below.

TK/K/1st

TK, K and 1st grade students will engage in distance learning through different formats and platforms. Not all TK/K/1st grade students have district-issued Chromebooks, therefore learning may occur through paper packets or online. For students who do not have Chromebooks, the learning will be treated similar to traditional independent study, with completed packets and/or engagement. Teachers may determine the platform for mastery for each student after assessing family resources and student needs. The District will continue to pursue acquiring Chromebooks for the remainder of students in need.

Students in TK/K/1st will be expected to:

• Complete packets/work on a weekly basis
• Communicate with teachers and seek assistance as needed
• Read at least 30 minutes daily on their own and complete a Reading Log; younger readers may be read to, or engage with audio books
• Engage in independent writing on a daily basis on their own
• Participate in some type of daily physical activity on their own

Grades 2-6

Teachers will create a daily schedule that meets the time expectations for the grade level and have a completion time no later than 4 p.m.each day. Students can expect 3 hours and 30 minutes of instruction each day, but we understand there has to be flexibility for students and families throughout this process. Students will also receive arts, music and/or physical education instruction.

Students in Grades 2-6 will be expected to:

• Log into digital learning platform daily
• Complete and submit eLearning lessons and assignments/assessments as required by teacher
• Communicate with teacher(s) and seek assistance as needed
• Read on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes on their own

Secondary (Grades 7-12)

Teachers will provide 30 minutes of daily student learning time per period. Instruction is to be completed no later than 4 p.m. each day, but we understand there has to be flexibility for students and families throughout this process.

Students in secondary schools will be expected to:

• Log into courses daily through the digital platform of your teacher’s choice.
• Complete and submit eLearning lessons and assignments as assigned
• Communicate with teachers as needed
• Spend approximately 2-3 hours per day on coursework for all classes

English Learners

Teachers will be asked to continue to support our English learners as much as they can in the lessons they provide weekly. Our focus is equity, access, and ongoing support for this special population of students using the state standards. The support will focus on language development growth, and support ELPAC and Reclassification.

ELD teachers will continue English Language Development classes though live online teaching to small groups or by recommending online resources to students to support their ongoing growth in English. 

Special Education

Case Managers and Related Service Providers will reach out to families to discuss the supports and services feasible based on current IEP goals and services and will schedule services to start during the week of April 13.Because IEP goals and services are by nature individualized and take into account the available services that are available at the time of the plan writing, some elements of the student’s IEP may not be possible to achieve in the current public health crisis. To the extent possible, we will provide appropriate services. 

Family/Parent Support for Distance Learning

Families can best assist their student’s work by contacting your child’s teacher(s) weekly and supporting students to complete the assigned work. More specific details for parents will be shared soon. There are other actions you can take to support your child’s engagement in remote learning during the school closures.

• Set a regular time and place for doing assigned work
• Remove distractions
• Provide supplies and identify resources; and
• Engage in what your child is learning.

Again, this is an unprecedented environment that will take patience and flexibility to ensure students continue to grow and learn. Now, more than ever, this will take a partnership between home and school to provide the best possible educational environment under difficult conditions.

Distance Learning Resources

If your student still needs access to wifi, several resources are detailed on the district website. These resources include access to free wifi hotspots in the community and access to lower priced internet plans. 

As a reminder, there are resources to help you through this process. 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 need assistance with technology to support your student’s distance learning, you can email parent@wccusd.net or call (510) 243-3901.

If you have any questions about grades or distance learning, please reach out to your child’s teacher or principal.

The District has also created a one-stop shop for questions and references. If you have general questions, please email questions@wccusd.net or call (510) 965-4444or (510) 965-4443 for Spanish speakers.

Thank you for your continued patience and support as we explore the best ways to continue educating the students we serve throughout this public health crisis. 

In Partnership,

Matthew Duffy
Superintendent

Dear WCCUSD Families,

Today, Contra Costa Health Services announced that the shelter-in-place order will be extended through May 3. While we know that schools will be closed through May 1, this new order highlights the continued need to follow the guidelines issued by public health experts to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Please continue to follow these guidelines and keep yourself and your families safe.

As we enter Week 3 of the school closures, we continue to expand on the services we are providing to students and families. Our partnerships are increasing and we have done a lot of work to set up a distance learning program that will offer students engaging, empowering and challenging curriculum. We have communicated details about the distance learning plan with our teachers and school leaders and will share it with you tomorrow evening.

Today, I can share with you the plan for grades and report cards for the second trimester at elementary schools and third quarter for secondary students. Second trimester report cards for elementary school students will be distributed this week..

For secondary schools, the third quarter will end on Friday, April 3, 2020. Our goal is to have all report cards and Special Education Progress Reports completed by Monday, April 13, 2020. Distribution will take place no later than Friday, April 17, 2020 and may be done electronically or by mail. 

Students and families should know that only assignments given to students on or before March 13, 2020, will be used in calculating grades. If your student receives an Incomplete (I) grade, there will be an opportunity to complete the required assignments and they will be given a timeline for doing so.

If you have any questions regarding report cards, please contact your child’s teacher or school principal.

The Board of Education will hold a meeting on Wednesday, April 1. This meeting will be virtual and meet the standards set in the Governor’s Emergency Order issued on March 12, 2020. Members of the public can access the meeting via Zoom or by telephone. Directions to access the meeting are available on the agenda.

Student meal pick up will continue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 17 locations in the District. All children 18 and under are eligible to receive meals regardless of household income or school they attend.

For all the news about school closures, please check the District’s web page at www.wccusd.net/districtclosure. You can also receive information through our social media platforms. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Lastly, if you are not receiving updates for the District, make sure we have your correct contact information by completing this Google Form.

Thank you for your continued patience and support throughout this crisis.

In Partnership,

Matthew Duffy
Superintendent

En Español

LATEST DISTRICT COMMUNICATION

March 25, 2020

Dear WCCUSD Community,

I just want to thank you for continuing to work with us through the school closures due to the coronavirus crisis that is gripping the world. Today, six Bay Area counties announced that schools would remain closed through May 1 in order to help reduce the spread and transmission of COVID-19. More on the joint county announcement can be found in this release from Contra Costa County Office of Education.

This news has been expected and we have been working under the assumption that an extended closure would be likely and would need a strategy to support the long-term needs of the students and families we serve. At this time, we plan to implement a more permanent remote learning program by April 13 that will be mandatory for all district students. 

While the details are still being worked out, we do know that it will be led by District teachers and staff and meet the academic needs of students. While we are excited for the expanded distance learning, we still encourage students to remain engaged in the opportunities and resources that have already been provided.

Tentatively, the timeline is as follows:

Week of March 23: Expectations for students, teachers, and administrators will be outlined.

Week of March 30: Teachers and administrators will be trained and preparing for a more robust distance learning curriculum.

Week of April 6: Spring Break. This is a non-instructional week.

Beginning Monday, April 13: Mandatory distance learning begins for all grades at all schools.

By April 13, we also hope to have the answers to many of the lingering questions around subjects like graduation, grades and class credits. This is a new endeavor for us all and I am asking for your continued patience as we embark on this uniquely new challenge of delivering instruction remotely.

Please remember that everyone is expected to adhere to the “Shelter in Place” Orders issued by the Contra Costa County Health Office on March 16 and stay home except for essential activities. In addition, all residents are urged to keep practicing the guidance provided including: 

• Social distancing
• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Staying home if you are feeling sick
• Contacting your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. 
• Engage in regular exercise or physical activity

We will also continue student meal pick up at the 17 locations during the extended closure. Meals can be picked up Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., unless noted, at the 17 locations for children, ages 18 years and younger. 

For all the District Closure news, please check the District’s web page at www.wccusd.net/districtclosure. Lastly, if you are not receiving updates for the District, make sure we have your correct contact information by completing this Google Form.

Thank you for continuing to work with us through this crisis.

In Partnership,

Matthew Duffy
Superintendent

RESOURCES

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If you are unable to get on the internet, the District has started a Hotspot Waiting List. Sign up here

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DISTRICT’S WEBPAGE FOR INFORMATION

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PLEASE TAKE THE CENSUS

The Census determines the allocation of funds and resources for the next 10 years. This allocation is determined by population not citizenship or population.  Please, everyone, take the Census and ensure we get our rightful share.  Census workers have been sidelined due to COVID-19.  We can make their jobs easier by taking the census.  THE CENSUS MEANS MONEY. Each person not counted could result in a loss of $1,000-$2,000 per year in community funding for the next 10 years. 
California receives nearly $77 billion in federal funding based, in part, on census data and an estimated $65 million to $100 million in federal funding for schools in Contra Costa County will be allocated over the next decade based on the census count.
The census emails, texts and reminders are starting to come.   You will receive an “invitation to respond” by regular mail between March 12 and 20. This invitation will contain a 12-digit code that you can use to take The Census.  Once you receive the official mailing, take The Census and get it out of the way. This will allow limited resources to be allocated where they are needed most.  

The Census is PRIVATE AND SAFE.  The Census Bureau has a legal duty to protect your information. IEvery employee is bound by Title 13 of the U.S. Code to keep information confidential. This means that your private data is protected and cannot be shared with law enforcement or other government agencies.

Learn more about How the Census Bureau Protects Your Data in the link below.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CENSUS BY PHONE(844) 330-2020
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CENSUS ONLINEhttps://2020census.gov/
You can track the Census response rate here! This is a great tool to share with kids!
https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html

Greater Good Magazine

Greater Good’s mission is to share scientific research that can help promote a happier, more compassionate society. Follow the below link to find COVID-19 resources for individuals, families and educators. Excellent article on Shelter-in-Place for teens.  Thanks to Kathleen Hazard for the information. GREATER GOOD GUIDE TO WELLBEING DURING COVID-19

Dear WCCUSD Community,

I just want to thank you for continuing to work with us through the school closures due to the coronavirus crisis that is gripping the world. Today, six Bay Area counties announced that schools would remain closed through May 1 in order to help reduce the spread and transmission of COVID-19. More on the joint county announcement can be found in this release from Contra Costa County Office of Education.

This news has been expected and we have been working under the assumption that an extended closure would be likely and would need a strategy to support the long-term needs of the students and families we serve. At this time, we plan to implement a more permanent remote learning program by April 13 that will be mandatory for all district students. 

While the details are still being worked out, we do know that it will be led by District teachers and staff and meet the academic needs of students. While we are excited for the expanded distance learning, we still encourage students to remain engaged in the opportunities and resources that have already been provided.

Tentatively, the timeline is as follows:

Week of March 23: Expectations for students, teachers, and administrators will be outlined.

Week of March 30: Teachers and administrators will be trained and preparing for a more robust distance learning curriculum.

Week of April 6: Spring Break. This is a non-instructional week.

Beginning Monday, April 13: Mandatory distance learning begins for all grades at all schools.

By April 13, we also hope to have the answers to many of the lingering questions around subjects like graduation, grades and class credits. This is a new endeavor for us all and I am asking for your continued patience as we embark on this uniquely new challenge of delivering instruction remotely.

Please remember that everyone is expected to adhere to the “Shelter in Place” Orders issued by the Contra Costa County Health Office on March 16 and stay home except for essential activities. In addition, all residents are urged to keep practicing the guidance provided including: 

• Social distancing
• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Staying home if you are feeling sick
• Contacting your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. 
• Engage in regular exercise or physical activity

We will also continue student meal pick up at the 17 locations during the extended closure. Meals can be picked up Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., unless noted, at the 17 locations for children, ages 18 years and younger. 

For all the District Closure news, please check the District’s web page at www.wccusd.net/districtclosure. Lastly, if you are not receiving updates for the District, make sure we have your correct contact information by completing this Google Form.

Thank you for continuing to work with us through this crisis.

In Partnership,

Matthew Duffy
Superintendent

Dear WCCUSD Families,

As students remain at home and schools remain closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak affecting our community and the globe, we know many people have a number of unanswered questions. I want you to know that District staff is hard at working coming up with definite answers and we will have them soon.

Graduation, AP testing, credits, learning and grades are just a few of the issues we have been grappling with over the last two weeks. We are also working on expanding our distance learning program to provide all students an empowering, engaging and challenging curriculum. This is taking some time because it is important that we get it right. Districts across the state are undergoing similar work, so we are not alone.

In WCCUSD, we are working with our teachers and staff to create a system that makes sense and works for all students, including those who may need extra support as we transition to a remote learning model. We also want to align with the guidance from the California Department of Education and other districts as much as possible. Once we finalize these plans, we will share them with you and explain them thoroughly so there are no surprises. We should have more information for you in the next few days.

As we work out the details, please be sure that you are accessing the resources that have already been made available. We encourage students and families to access the distance learning materials already made available by your child’s teachers and on the District website (www.wccusd.net/districtclosure). 

Additionally, we also want to make sure students are well nourished during the closure. Last week, we served more than 43,000 meals to children in this community. Yesterday, more than 12,000 meals were served, putting us on a pace to distribute more than 70,000 meals this week. In order to serve more children, the District has expanded its food service program to eight additional locations. Breakfast and lunch can now be picked up Monday through Friday at these locations:

• Ephesians COGIC
  • 2887 Foothill Ave., Richmond, CA 94804
  • Noon – 2 p.m.
• GRIP Family Housing
  • 165 22nd St.,  Richmond, CA 94801
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Independent Holiness Church
  • 605 S. 16th St., Richmond, CA 94804
  • Noon – 2 p.m.
• McGlothen Temple COGIC
  • 1443 Fred Jackson Way, Richmond CA 94801
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Pilgrim Rest MBC
  • 831 S. 43rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Sion Miracle Temple COGIC
  • 1320 Sanford Avenue, San Pablo, CA 94806
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Richmond Roadrunners
  • 492 A Street, Richmond, Calif 94804
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Zion Hill MBC
  • 5150 Bayview Ave., Richmond, CA 94804
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Meals will continue to be served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at De Anza, Kennedy, Richmond and Pinole Valley high schools, DeJean and Helms middle schools, Montalvin K-8 and Nystrom and Riverside elementary schools. Remember, the meals are available to any child 18 and under, regardless of socio-economic status or the school they attend. You can pick up the meals at any of the 17 locations.

Additional food resources can be found at www.wccusd.net/districtclosure. If you know of someone in need of additional help during the crisis, please have them call 211.

As always, we want to ensure that families are receiving the most up-to-date information from the District. District information and resources can be found online at www.wccusd.net/districtclosure. If there are any District families who are not receiving messages from the District, please share this link so they can make sure we have their updated information. 

Thank you for continuing to work with us through this crisis.

In Partnership,

Matthew Duffy
Superintendent

Dear WCCUSD Families,

Thank you for a successful distance learning distribution today. We were able to get more materials and technology into the hands of our students and that’s a good thing. We know that there are additional needs such as musical instruments, textbooks, and other supplemental instructional resources and we will work to provide additional opportunities to access our schools and get those resources distributed. If you still have needs or questions, please contact us at (510) 243-3901 or at parent@wccusd.net.

First, there hasn’t been any new information from federal, state, or local agencies today to change our current position around the closure caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak affecting our community. But we want to continue encouraging WCCUSD students to engage with the distance learning opportunities that have been made available. As there is more discussion about extended school closures, we believe that it is imperative that students remain connected to learning. More information and additional supports will be made available in the upcoming days and weeks.

Second, while there isn’t any new information to share, we do want to remind all of our families about the 2020 Census. Households should have received an invitation to complete the 2020 Census  Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your household in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. The Census determines the amount of federal funding distributed to states for programs that impact schools, students and families. For more information on the 2020 Census, please visit Be Counted, California!

Finally, we want to ensure that families are receiving the most up-to-date information from the District. District information and resources can be found online at www.wccusd.net/districtclosure. If there are any District families who are not receiving messages from the District, please share this link so they can make sure we have their updated information. 

As always, thank you for your continued patience and support.

In Partnership

Matthew Duffy
Superintendent

Dear WCCUSD Families,

The situation with the coronavirus has continued to evolve and I am sure your concerns have continued to grow.  Thank you all for your continued patience and support as we manage this outbreak. 

Today, the Contra Costa County Health Officer issued a “shelter in place” order (https://cchealth.org/coronavirus/pdf/HO-COVID19-SIP-0316-2020.pdf) for residents through April 7. Similar orders were issued in six other Bay Area counties. The order starts Tuesday  March 17, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. and advises people to leave their homes only for essential activities, including shopping for food and household supplies and to seek medical care or to care for relatives or pets.

Meal distribution at the nine WCCUSD schools is considered an essential service and will continue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following schools: De Anza, Kennedy, Pinole Valley, and Richmond high schools; DeJean and Helms middle schools; and Montalvin, Nystrom and Riverside elementary schools.

We want to encourage students to continue learning by engaging in the activities (paper or online) that were prepared by their teachers as much as possible. The assignments are not mandatory, but we believe it is essential that students remain connected to instruction to prevent learning loss during the closures. We have compiled a number of learning resources and schedules on our website for all grade levels. We had hoped to reopen schools briefly this week for families to obtain technology if they had not previously done so, but due to the new order from the county health officer, we will be unable to do so.

We are also moving Spring Break back to the Week of April 6 and adding an additional school closure week for the week of March 30. School is now scheduled to resume on Monday, April 13. We will keep you informed of any changes. 

You can stay up to date on the District’s website www.wccusd.net and more specifically www.wccusd.net/districtclosure. 

Please continue to follow the county’s shelter in place order and follow the social distancing guidelines if you must go out. Stay safe and take care of yourself and your family. We are in this together.

In community,

Matthew Duffy
Superintendent