Four Buena Park School District teachers have received the 2020 Mathspace Esteemed Educator Award for their skill in boosting understanding of math concepts to students through personalized instruction.
Mathspace recognized teachers Sean Hamilton, Courtney Hsu, Scott Magnin and Jon Christensen on July 6, making Buena Park School District one of only two districts in California to earn four Esteemed Educator Awards. Mathspace is an adaptive online math platform used by students worldwide that helps replicate the experience of having a teacher conduct a lesson in person. The program became a highly effective tool when the District transitioned to distance learning in March.
Before spending the next four years studying biomedical engineering at Harvard University, Whittier High School graduate Julia Casas is dedicating her summer to working with PIH Health Whittier Hospital to develop a volunteer social network and raise awareness of COVID-19 and the available health services in the community. Casas, who is one of Whittier High’s seven valedictorians for the Class of 2020, is working with PIH Health volunteer services and health marketing administrators to compile a large volunteer database; create a volunteer website, social media accounts and weekly newsletter; coordinate donations of personal protective equipment; and organize online fundraisers.
Fontana Unified School District announced their plans for the 2020-21 academic year, providing families with two learning options, understanding that the situation with COVID-19 requires options that are flexible and allow for instructional model adaptation as the situation evolves. These two options include a “Flexible Learning Program” and a “Virtual Learning Program.”
Both learning programs start off with online learning. The flexible learning program has four stages, beginning with distance learning, as mandated July 17 by Governor Gavin Newsom in recognition of the state’s rise in COVID-19 cases. According to the new state guidelines, only schools in counties that have been off the state’s County Monitoring List for 14 days and follow strict health and safety guidelines may reopen for in-person instruction. The flexible learning program will allow the District to seamlessly phase-in on-campus learning as the community health dynamic improves.
Whittier Union Develops Flexible Back-to-School Learning Plan for Fall 2020
Whittier Union High School District is exploring adopting a quarter system for the fall semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Aug. 12. The instructional model is part of a four-stage teaching and learning plan that is adaptable to the continuously changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the recommended instructional model and one of the four stages in which schools will reopen, which range from 100% online to 100% in-person, during a special meeting Tuesday, July 28, when health conditions will be clearer.
Whittier Union to Host Socially Distanced Drive-thru Graduations
Over 2,800 members of Whittier Union’s Class of 2020 will have the opportunity to walk across a stage set up on the campuses they’ve called home for the last four years while being cheered on by families who will have a front-stage view during socially distanced drive-thru graduation ceremonies. California High will hold its ceremony from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 20; La Serna will hold its ceremony from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 21; Santa Fe High will hold its ceremony from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22; Whittier High will hold its ceremony from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 23; and Pioneer High will hold its event from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 24. On Wednesday, July 22, the Transition program will honor students from 4 to 5 p.m.; Sierra Vista will celebrate students from 5 to 7 p.m.; Frontier will honor grads from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and Whittier Union Adult School will celebrate graduates from 8:30 to 9 p.m. at the Sierra Education Center campus.
El Monte Union High School District will begin the 2020-21 school year on a 100% distance learning schedule, with the option of transitioning to a hybrid model later in fall semester should health conditions improve. Under the District’s Reopening of Schools Plan – approved by the Board of Trustees during its July 15 virtual board meeting – students will take three classes from Aug. 18 to Oct. 16 (Fall 1 term) and three classes from Oct. 19 to Dec. 17 (Fall 2 term).
Whittier Union High School District is exploring adopting a quarter system for the fall semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Wednesday, Aug. 12. The instructional model is part of a four-stage teaching and learning plan that is adaptable to the continuously changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the surge of positive coronavirus cases across the state and Los Angeles County, school districts are developing flexible back-to-school learning plans that ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff and provide robust instruction to students – whether delivered online or in-person.
Over 2,800 members of Whittier Union’s Class of 2020 will have the opportunity to walk across a stage set up on the campuses they’ve called home for the last four years while being cheered on by families who will have a front-stage view during socially distanced drive-thru graduation ceremonies taking place the week of July 20. Due to strict public health restrictions related to COVID-19, the District postponed in-person graduation ceremonies that were originally scheduled in June. Drive-thru ceremonies are now permitted in Los Angeles County under recently updated public health guidelines.
Lynwood Unified will provide Rosa Parks Elementary students with brand new iPads, laptops, robotic kits, and other learning tools after receiving a $25,000 grant from the American Honda Foundation to enhance technology education. The new technology will allow students to continue reaching success both inside the classroom and out. The District’s students and educators relied heavily on technology to stay connected during school closures. The new devices provided by the Honda grant can equip young learners to continue thriving through distance learning if necessary.
The El Monte Union Board of Trustees will consider adopting a blended learning model – in which students receive a combination of virtual and in-classroom instruction – for the 2020-21 academic year, which begins Aug. 18. The Board of Trustees will review the District’s Reopening of Schools Plan – which includes the proposed instructional program, specific plans for distancing of students, cleaning of classrooms and equipment, safety and health protocols, student transportation, preparation of meals, student and family engagement, and social-emotional support – during its virtual board meeting on July 15, which may be viewed live here.
