CUSD UPDATE
May 15, 2020
"WITHOUT CONTINUAL GROWTH AND PROGRESS, SUCH WORDS AS IMPROVEMENT, ACHIEVEMENT, AND SUCCESS HAVE NO MEANING."
- Benjamin Frianklin
Message from Superintendent Mueller
Good afternoon,
We appreciate the overwhelming response to our Distance Learning ThoughtExchange. There are over 800 ideas shared; this level of engagement is a true testament of the investment from our community in our district. Frustrations expressed are valid. We know we can improve remote learning experiences and are committed to continuous growth.
Beginning on June 1st, CUSD will embark on training and staff collaboration to design our remote learning structure for the fall. Our responsibility is to build a robust program. Parents can expect a structured schedule, direct instruction, opportunities for interaction and connection, assessment, and accountability. We will provide a preview of our adopted remote learning structure by June 15th.
Disruption fosters creativity and the COVID constraints have inspired innovation. We have learned some valuable lessons in our distance learning implementation. In designing our new model we will incorporate best practices which are aligned with researched-based online learning strategies on what is best for students. We will incorporate more Social and Emotional Learning and mental health supports. We will work on streamlining accessibility and scheduling to make this more ‘user friendly’ for our staff, students and parents.
There is nobody to blame for our current circumstances. Distance teaching, necessitated by the mandated closures, became the collective normal for public education. Our teachers were asked to design and implement new systems, immediately and without training, while navigating the impacts of the pandemic at home and with family.
What’s bad for the hive is bad for the bee.
We are all missing the very essence of the schoolhouse: the laughter, the curiosity, the shared epiphanies, the silliness. Our students are the most impacted by these conditions. The human community of ‘school’ protects and challenges our children in a developmentally appropriate way. Each child benefits from navigating through a day of interactions, disappointments, and celebrations. We can’t recreate these experiences. We need our students back.
This fall, we will seek creative scheduling to facilitate face to face opportunities as soon as it is safe and permissible. Please trust that all decisions made regarding when and how to reopen our schools will follow direction from public health official guidance.
I am proud of the work we accomplish together as a team, and am confident that we will resurface from these times with a clearer commitment and focus on how to best connect, challenge, and champion every child, every day.
Be safe and well,
Karl Mueller
Certificated and Classified Employees of the Year
CUSD Grab-and-Go Meal Service
Grab-and-Go Meal Service at Village Elementary and Silver Strand
When: Every Monday
Location: Multi-Purpose Rooms at VES (H Street, with the line forming along Green Field on 7th Street) and Silver Strand Elementary
Distribution Time: 11:00AM - 1:00PM (while supplies last)
Our next distribution day will be Monday, 5/18 beginning at 11AM. All families with children 18 and under will be able to pick up free breakfast and lunch meals via curb-side pick-up. Each child will receive one bag that contains 5 days’ worth of meals for breakfast and lunch. Meals may consist of packaged, refrigerated, and/or frozen items (heating instructions will be provided). District and school staff will start "Grab and Go Distribution" of meal bags at 11AM, and will stop once all bags are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
All meals will be distributed curb-side to decrease the risk of exposure. Bags will be placed into automobile trunks-they will not be handed through the vehicle window for the protection of both our staff and vehicle occupants. Only those in cars will be served meals during this pick-up window, no walk-ups or bicycles are allowed in order to maintain social distancing protocols. If you are unable to pick-up meals by car or during the scheduled distribution time, please email Charity.Campbell@coronadousd.net on or before the Friday before pick-up at noon and we will schedule an alternative window to pick-up a meal.
Meals may not be distributed to students. Students who are receiving meals are encouraged to be physically present at the time of pick-up. Additionally, adults may pick up meals for students not present by printing and submitting this form at the time of pick-up. No meals will be distributed to parents/guardians without a child present or a form submitted at time of pick up due to state regulations.
Meals are available for all children aged 18 and under. Children are not required to be students of Coronado Unified School District. Our incredible Child Nutrition Service team members and volunteers have served over 47,900 meals since this program began earlier this month. We are prepared to serve meals weekly to over 830 children (8,300 meals in total). As demands increase, we will continue to increase the number of meals we prepare in order to accommodate the needs of our entire school community. This is free for all children, regardless of meal status - please spread the word!
Caught Being Awesome!
As our educators, parents, and community come together to connect, challenge and champion our students during our district closure, we are humbled by the outpouring of compliments during these trying times. What a positive testament to our CUSD family!
- Jenny Rogale and Eveleen Coker were caught being awesome by a parent/staff member. "Mrs. Coker and Miss Rogale have both gone above and beyond to make our daughter Audrey's distance learning experience a positive one. My husband and I are so thankful Audrey has these two amazing professionals as her teachers. They have seamlessly job shared all year and have continued to do so during distance learning. They both leave thoughtful and meaningful comments on all of Audrey's assignments that keep her motivated, encouraged, and leave her feeling connected. Their hard work, dedication and obvious love for their students is very much appreciated by our family."
- Matt Heinecke was caught being awesome by a staff member. "Every week, he puts on a 90 minute concert in his home live on Facebook to help the community pass the time. He takes requests for songs and plays them. It has been a pleasure listening to Matt play each week. Thank you for sharing your gift!"
- Jason Yosifov was caught being awesome by a staff member. "Providing endless support, appreciation and collaboration during this unexpected time of Distance Learning."
- Smoky Bayles was caught being awesome by a parent. "Senor Bayless took the time to check in on my son via a phone call. Both my son and I very much appreciated this gesture and his words of encouragement. Senor Bayless understands the challenges that an unstructured, often monotonous environment like this one presents to teenage students. His phone call was truly a bright spot in our week."
- Thank you to our students, parents, staff, and community members for the outpouring of love and support for one another! We can not fit all the wonderful sentiments received in the last few days but the following staff have all been Caught Being Awesome: Rise' Cooley, Shante Kunin, Brad Couture, Sophia Frost, Brian Schumeyer, Danielle Zirelli, and Kathleen Spane.
Important Resources and Document Links
Adhere to Social Distancing
About CUSD
Email: information@coronadousd.net
Website: coronadousd.net/
Location: 201 6th Street, Coronado, CA, USA
Phone: (619) 522-8900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoronadoUSD/