CSD Weekly Update
WEEK #1, August 21, 2020, Cambrian School District
Week #1
Congratulations to all of our students, staff and families in reconnecting this week to begin the 2020-21 school year! The beginning of the year is full excitement for our students and staff in building relationships with new classmates, new classes and new teachers. Even though starting the school year in a distance learning scenario is not what any of us would have chosen, it doesn’t take away from the excitement that takes place starting out on a new educational adventure. I am so proud of each of your students for their flexibility and enthusiasm.
Also, I must say it is important to acknowledge all of the Cambrian staff that have been working diligently and adapting to our situations to support our students and families. They most certainly deserve a grand “thank you” for all their hard work. While there are going to be situations that we will need to overcome, we need to take the time to recognize what our teachers and staff provide each of our students in Cambrian. I have received wonderful feedback from teachers regarding how classes have gone over the past few days. Even though we still have much to learn about the best ways to move forward amidst these extraordinary circumstances--a pandemic, power outages, wildfires--we are resolved and united in our commitment. We will make adaptations together.
Throughout the school year I will be sending out a weekly message every Friday. This newsletter is for Week #1 for the 2020-21 school year. The Friday District newsletter will contain valuable information regarding events, technology, distance learning supports, student services, health and safety, food services, school updates and more. Please take a moment each week to review it, since all the material is designed to keep you informed. I also want to recognize Cambrian’s fabulous school site principals and teachers who will also be sending out communications as well. They each are creating ways to connect and engage with their students, classes and schools in innovative new ways.
As we end our first week of the 2020-21 school year, I hope you can take a break to pause and enjoy a well-deserved rest this weekend. You’ve earned it! Please continue to reach out to our team if you have any questions moving forward. We remain committed to making this 2020-21 school year fantastic, no matter what. We are CAMBRIAN!
Staying Connected through Technology
We want to do everything we can to help with your technology needs, as we start this new year in a distance learning setting. Thank you for your partnership!
Tech Help: If you have challenges getting your child logged in online and need assistance, you can reach out to our Technology Help Line (http://bit.ly/39PmbSj). We will have staff call individuals back in the order that they are received to help get your child get logged in.
If you need to borrow a device to please see the Device Loan Request form on our Distance Learning Help! page: https://www.cambriansd.org/Page/3640. This page also has pointers to a lot of information to help you navigate distance learning!
Troubleshooting Zoom: If the Zoom app does not start for you/your child, please close any existing Zoom windows and try again. You can also enter the Zoom meeting by clicking on Join from the Browser. More information about launching the Zoom app is here.
Education and Support Services- Distance Learning Program
Distance learning can take some getting used to. We want to equip you with all the resources and info you need to make your child successful. Please refer to our guidelines at Distance Learning/Virtual School Program Guidelines for Students and Parents/Guardians. On our District website (www.cambriansd.org), we have a section for the Virtual School Program and another for our Distance Learning program. Please consider consulting these pages for valuable resources pertaining to the Virtual School Program and the Distance Learning program.
Virtual School Program Information for VSP Families
We know that many of you have reached out with more questions seeking for better understanding of the program and offerings regarding the Virtual School Program. In an effort to provide more clarity about the program, we have provided detailed information in the following Slide Presentation.
We hope that the information in the presentation will alleviate some of the confusion about the Virtual School Program for you and your student. Should you have additional questions, please visit our Virtual School Program website at https://www.cambriansd.org/Page/3693. If you have additional questions about the Virtual School Program, please read the Frequent Asked Questions section. We have compiled this from community feedback in hopes of addressing your most common questions. If you do not see the answer to your question here, please complete the following VSP Feedback Form and someone will get back to you within 2 business days.
Student Services Support
All families will receive a letter describing how your student’s Individual Education Plan team will implement their IEP for either Distance Learning or the Virtual School Program. Your child’s case manager will also reach out to each family to provide personalized information on services for students. If you have questions please contact your school site principal.
Health Updates from CSD District Nurse and Student Services Department
Welcome to the 2020-21 school year. We are excited to have your child with us here in Cambrian School District. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of our lives and created a new normal for everyone. Your Cambrian team is committed to continuing to provide quality education to all our students regardless of the changes in place during the pandemic. Although students are currently not attending in-person instruction, immunizations are still an important part of a child's health. The attached letter from the County of Santa Clara Health Department reminds us all that the immunizations that are required to attend school are important to receive even when students are not physically attending school. All Cambrian students will need to be up to date with all required vaccinations when we are able to return to in-person instruction. If you do not have all the required vaccinations please reach out to your doctor or school’s health clerk for more information on getting the required vaccination. Your School’s health clerk will reach out to you if your immunizations are not up to date. If you do not have all the required vaccinations please reach out to your doctor or school's health clerk for more information on getting the required vaccination.
Additionally, the letter speaks about the TB risk assessment, the importance of dental services, and countywide supports for mental health. Please see the attached letter for more information.
Meal Service During Distance Learning
Cambrian School District is offering breakfast and lunch daily to all district enrolled students. Meals will be provided to enrolled Cambrian School District students with normal school year meal prices. They will be available for pickup at Price Middle School Monday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., providing breakfast and lunch for the following day.
Child(ren) do not need to be present to receive meal(s). Family members may walk up or drive up to receive meals. This Fall, in order to meet the federal requirements of the National School Lunch Program, staff must confirm all distributed meals are recorded to the appropriate student account.
To help facilitate this, each student in the District will receive a student ID card on the first day they pick up meals. If the student is not present at food pickup, the ID card will be given to the student’s parent/guardian. This card must be maintained by the student/family and presented for daily use when picking up meals. The student ID cards will be scanned by the student/family member at the time the meals are picked up.
To additionally support community and staff safety, Cambrian School District Staff will practice social distancing and non-contact delivery during the meal service process. A touchless scanner or ID number tracking form will be used to minimize any contact between the community members and the Food Service staff. The ID card is connected to your student’s Titan payment account. To reduce contact between community members and staff, cash and checks will not be accepted. Thus, each family will need to establish a payment account by depositing funds at https://family.titank12.com. Student meal accounts will be charged according to the students’ paid or free and reduced status. Students and parents are expected to pay for all food purchased in advance based on the amounts due and not allow a negative payment account balance.
For more information about menus, nutrition and the CSD food program, visit our website at https://www.cambriansd.org/domain/268. Please contact the Food Services office at 408-559-0273 with any questions.
ALL ONLINE MEAL PAYMENTS AND FREE & REDUCED MEAL APPLICATIONS:
We Want To See Our Amazing Students!
Last week Dr. Andrews’ posted some of our Cambrian students at home on their first day of school with distance learning. We want to see your students showing their school spirit! Please send us photos of your students in their distance learning settings--ready to learn! We'd like to share some of them on social media, in newsletters and online, so sending photos implies consent. SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT--Any Cambrian-related t-shirts are a bonus! Let us know how they are preparing-- we miss them so much! Email photos to klavond@cambriansd.com today!
We LOVE our Cambrian kids!
Thanks to the many parents who shared photos of their student on the first day of school. We are honored that you sent them our way--and will continue to use them to promote our district, schools, and gaze at their smiling faces! Keep ‘em coming!
Enrollment Questions
If you have enrollment questions answered please call our office during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. You can also enroll via our webpage. Still have questions? Contact Carlena Grandey at the District Office:408-558-4906 or grandeyc@cambriansd.com.
Next School Board Meeting
The next meeting of the Governing Board will be held Thursday, September 3rd, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. through Zoom as a teleconference, in response to the COVID-19 virus situation. The public may participate remotely using the link sent out the week of the event. The meeting will be held via teleconference pursuant to the provisions of the Governor's Executive Orders N-5-20 and N-29-20, which suspend certain requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act.
CAMBRIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Email: klavond@cambriansd.com
Website: www.cambriansd.org
Location: 4115 Jacksol Drive, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: (408) 377-2103
Facebook: facebook.com/CambrianSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @Supt_Andrews