What a time this has been! I have been so inspired by your collective patience, resiliency, wisdom, creativity, calm, honesty, support, questions, offers and pleas.
In order to share with you important information about what is in store for fall and how we might prepare for fall, I offer you this hopefully helpful Q and A:
What will the fall trimester/semester look like?
The District is working tirelessly on this. As the second largest district in the nation, in the largest economy in the nation, and the 5th largest economy in the world, all eyes are on LAUSD and California.
Here are the possibilities Superintendent Beutner has discussed:
- 100% in-person, like always
- 100% virtual with enhanced access, capacity, facility and cohesion
- Hybrid of the two, with students attending in shifts in smaller groups for some of the time and attending online in a specified manner for the rest of the time
- Parent choice, so those parents who PREFER 100% virtual, can sign up for that option
- Anything and everything in between, as the District researches, troubleshoots and plans with the most vulnerable in mind alongside the most blessed
Please keep your borrowed device for the duration of virtual learning. Please DO NOT return your device the District centrally, per their LAUSD website. We paid for it locally with Walgrove funds, and would like to keep it in our arsenal. We are not a Title I school. We do not receive federal Title I funds. We fight for every dollar. So, please help us to hold onto our locally funded devices.
If you need to swap it out because it's broken, please let me know via andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net.
If you are in Grade 5, keep your device over summer so you can study over summer, and return it to Walgrove in the fall (specifics TBD).
Why can't we do a "drive-by" event like others have done (or, so I have heard)?
The District banned such events. Then, last Friday, May 22, the District OK'd such events for culminations, within certain strict parameters, e.g., they happen AFTER school ends and two weeks after culmination. So, as it stands, we are not in a position to host one at Walgrove.
Students in other grades may engage in "drive-by" events only if:
- Parents organize the event entirely, and no teachers or other LAUSD staff help plan
- The event happens off LAUSD property
- No LAUSD staff attend the event
- It is effectively a giant private play-date (that honors state and local social distancing orders)
- Invite teachers to come during the week that parents come to collect belongings (June 15-19)
- Parents come by appointment Mon-Fri June 15-19 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (appt. process TBD)
- Appointments are according to grade level
- Teachers of each grade level are present for three hours to wave and say good-bye to whomever from their grade level passes through during that time
- Because teachers work Monday, June 15, we could try to have as many as possible on that day...(I will look further into this!)
When is culmination, and can I attend?
- Culmination is Friday, June 5 at 11 a.m. It is a live Zoom event with embedded surprises
- Students in Grade 5 may invite 5 guests each. As well, certain staff may attend (speak with Dr. K and/or Ms. Elkins)
Friday, June 12 is the last official day of school.
The last day of most Zoom classes will be Friday, June 5.
However, SOME Zooms may still take place during the final week. Your teacher will let you know.
Most teachers will be cleaning their classrooms, filling out cumulative folders, completing report cards, and more during that last week of school. So, that last week is a great time to finish everything up and submit it (the earlier the better) so that you can get credit for it.
How will my child be graded for report cards?
Your teacher has likely already shared, or will share with you imminently, that you may/should do one or more of the following:
- Document work done, both analog and technological work
- Have the work in your possession (or know how to access it online)
- Scan it or take photos of it (not all of it, necessarily, but representative samples)
- Compile journal entries about the work (if your child kept a journal)
- Write a descriptive narrative that explains what was done, why it was done, how it was done and what was learned, and provide samples
- Upload work to Google Classroom or whichever system your child's teacher is using
- Complete a checklist for your grade level
- Use the school-wide grading rubric
- Administer the San Diego Quick Reading Assessment and share the results with your child's teacher
- Know that the District guidelines are:
- All children will be "held harmless" and will not receive a lower grade than they received previously on the most recent report card
- No child shall receive a 1
- All children who receive a 2 should have been notified that this was a possibility on or before May 21
- All teachers recognize that not all students had the same resources (which is why we are offering so many varied ways to prove academic might), and they recognize that we at Walgrove want for ALL students to be honored for what they accomplished no matter their circumstances
- Grades should not just be about work completion, but should also represent skill set. If you are a brilliant reader who read dozens of high level chapter books for pleasure but did not submit reading assignments in a particular way during this time, then you may still earn a 3 or 4. Just share with your teacher what you read, why you read it, what it meant to you, etc, and otherwise show your reading prowess (if you don't have access to Clever or Amplify or other program that demonstrates your reading skill, then perhaps take the San Diego Quick Reading Assessment, which takes 5-10 minutes).
We will notify all families of their class assignments on August 5.
May I request a specific teacher for next year?
We take requests for kindergarten. We cannot take requests for the other grades.
Teachers and staff work together (along with administration) to place students into the groups that they believe, based on their expertise, will be the most conducive to student learning. Teachers and administration take into account skill sets, group dynamics, health and medical needs, and more. Walgrove teachers work like florists, placing the flowers lovingly into vases. When one flower is moved, the whole arrangement changes.
I want to share information about how this whole thing has been going for me and my family. Will you send a survey?
Yes. Please take this survey.
How do I participate in a Walgrove-specific task force to help decide what school in the fall will look like at Walgrove (assuming that we have a lot of flexibility within the LAUSD framework)?
Answer the survey.
How and when do I enroll my other child and/or my friend's children in Walgrove?
Email tracy.mccarthy@lausd.net, and she will walk you through the process.
How do I donate money to FOW via the WEMoves event?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofwalgrove/announcements
When is STAR registration?
Dear parents,
We hope that all of you are well and enjoying time with your family.
An email went out informing parents that registration for the school year 2020-2021 would take place on Monday. This is incorrect.The registration for the program being offered at your school campus will take place at a later time period. We will be sending you an email next week with the registration information for your school.
We are waiting for more information from the district outlining registration procedures.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. We can’t wait to see all of you in the fall on the first day schools open their doors.
Stay safe and know that we are working with joy in our hearts to prepare a wonderful program for the children we love.
With warm regards,
Katya
