THE PAW PRINT
VOL. 29 - Week of April 6, 2020
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Communication from Superintendent Lockhart
Dear CCUSD Students and Families,
I hope this letter finds you well and that you are all safe and healthy. Even as news around us seems to rapidly change, I hope that you have taken some time to have meaningful interactions with family and have discovered creative ways to make your time enjoyable while you are following the Safer At Home directive.
In the last 24 hours both Governor Newsom and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond provided direction for all California schools to continue distance learning until the end of the 2019- 2020 school year. Yesterday afternoon, in alignment with this order, Los Angeles County Superintendent, Dr. Debra Duardo, made the decision for all Los Angeles County schools to do the same. CCUSD students will not return to their campus this school year. This is not the news we wanted, yet we understand that, in the best interest of our students, staff and their families, this is the most cautious and health-centered decision to make.
Culver City Unified School District is committed to supporting students to continue their learning, and to reducing the negative impact of school closures on our students’ educational progress. These efforts cannot possibly replicate the rich variety of experiences that we offer on our campuses, but we will do our best to keep families connected and students engaged in learning.
Sincerely,
Leslie Lockhart
Superintendent
Technology Access for Students
Prior to spring break, CCUSD distributed more than 500 Chromebooks for student use. We
understand that there is still a need, and that some Chromebooks have broken keys, etc. There
will be another distribution for any CCUSD student on:
- Monday, April 6 from 10:30am-12:00pm at Culver City High School Library
Please enter Culver City High School through the front gates of the school. If you previously
picked up a chromebook that is not working, you can exchange it for a different one during the
same time frame. We ask that parents and students practice social distancing when picking up
the device. Forms will be available at the distribution event.
For any questions/problems with your chromebook, please email techhelp@ccusd.org . Please
include your student’s name and school site in your message.
Materials Access for Students
We understand your child may have belongings and/or materials in their lockers and/or
classrooms. Until we have further guidance, all access to classrooms and lockers will remain
closed. Please look for further communications for a date and time for materials pickup.
Food Services - Daily Lunch Service for ANY Child Ages 1-18
Starting Monday, April 6, Food Services will be distributing Grab-and-Go lunches to any child
from 1 to 18 years of age as long as they are present from 10:30 am to 12 noon every day.
Please access the food from the front gate at Culver City High School.
Distance Learning Plan: A Phased-in Approach
For the first two weeks after spring break, we will take time to ensure that all of our students
have access to online learning, that parents gain a better understanding about how to support
their children, and that teachers have the time to build their comfort with distance learning.
During these weeks, we will be in contact with all our CCUSD families.
April 6 - Pupil-Free:
- Students and Families can pick up Chromebooks from 10:30am-12pm at the Culver City High School Library. We understand your child may have belongings and/or materials in their lockers/classrooms. Until we have further guidance, all access to classrooms and lockers will remain closed. Look for further details from your site administrator for a date and time for materials pickup.
- Teachers will engage in professional development and planning
April 7-10: Distance Learning - Transition Phase
- Learning this week will consist of review and enrichment of material in order to acclimate students and teachers to new procedures and learning platforms
- Student work will be submitted and marked for completion of assignment
- Administrators and staff will continue conducting tech/materials outreach for staff and students, as well as identify and support families who will require ongoing low-tech options
April 12-18: Distance Learning - Transition Phase
- Learning this week will consist of review and enrichment of material in order to acclimate students and teachers to new procedures and learning platforms
- Student work will be submitted and marked for completion of assignment
- Administrators and staff will continue conducting tech/materials outreach for staff and students, as well as identify and support families who will require ongoing low-tech options
April 20 - June 12: Distance Learning - Full Implementation
- Learning will focus on maintaining progress made to date, as well as introduce new academic content, with an emphasis on the identified essential standards necessary for that grade level
- Student work will be submitted, marked for completion, and graded to identify areas for further academic support
- Administrators and staff will work to identify and support teachers and students needing additional assistance
CCMS Distance Learning "Bell Schedule"
CCMS Distance Learning Plan
Access the complete plan here!
Teacher Google Classroom Codes
To join a class with a class code:
Go to classroom.google.com
- At the top, click the + at the top right corner
- Click on "Join Class"
- Enter the class code XXXXXXX and click "Join"
Communication with CCMS Administrators
CCMS administrators will be available throughout the day to speak with parents and students who have issues they would like to discuss. Please email your child’s specific assistant principal with questions and/or concerns. They will reach out to you as soon as possible during the hours of 9:00 AM -- 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. If you email during the weekend or outside of school hours, they will respond as soon as they can on the next school day, but by no later than 4:00 PM. They will be sharing concerns with Ms. Villafranca should she need to further address any issues or concerns.
Julie Markussen: Assistant Principal for students with last names beginning with A-K
Tatiana Takahashi: Assistant Principal for students with last names beginning with L-Z
CCMS Yearbook Needs Your Help!
Yearbook Orders
For Current 7th grade students Interested Honors Biology:
Honors Biology Contract Due by April 24th to ericayoung@ccusd.org
Presentation from PAWS informational meeting on February 20th meeting
For any further questions regarding the class please email Erica Young, TK-12 Science Teaching and Learning Partner at ericayoung@ccusd.org
What about scheduled student activities?
April is College and Career Awareness Month!
April 8: Career Day (CANCELLED)
April 13: 8th Grade College Trip (CANCELLED)
April 24: 8th Grade Six Flags Trip (CANCELLED)
April 24: Spanish Parent Workshop (VIRTUAL EVENT)
April 27-May 15: CAASPP/CAST Testing (CANCELLED)
April 30-May 3: CCMS Musical (IN DISCUSSION FOR ALTERNATIVE--TBD)
Date TBD: Mini College Fair (VIRTUAL EVENT)
Date TBD: College Week (VIRTUAL EVENT)
Date TBD: College Night (VIRTUAL EVENT)
Date TBD: ASB, AVID, WEB Interviews (VIRTUAL EVENT)
COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
PREVIOUSLY POSTED ANNOUNCEMENTS
Free Internet Access
Charter Communications
Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
Comcast
Comcast will waive fees for its Internet Essentials service to low-income households.
New Comcast customers will be sent a self-install kit that includes a cable modem with a Wi-Fi router. To enroll for Comcast’s, call 855- 846-8376 for English speakers or 855-765-6995 for Spanish speakers, or go to www.internetessentials.com.
AFTER SCHOOL HAPPENNINGS
After School Homework Help in the Library
After School Classes and Sports
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Counseling Resources From Our CCMS School Counselors
Dear CCMS Panthers & Families,
As we all adjust to the time away from school amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to assure you that your school counselors will continue to dedicate our time to serving your family and providing school counseling services for your child. We recognize that the next few weeks may be a stressful time for many families and many children are likely to want to have access to counseling support. On this website, you will find a number of resources, ways to connect and things to do that can be used over the course of our school closure and beyond.
Please feel free to reach out to any of the school counselors! Our emails are below and on the "Schedule a Meeting" tab you can book a call/video chat appointment with any of us.
We hope that everyone stays safe, healthy, and positive! We look forward to seeing you when we return.
With Panther PRIDE,
Your CCMS School Counselors
Additional Resources
Counseling Website: https://sites.google.com/a/ccusd.org/ccms-school-counselors
Make an Appointment: https://ccms.simplybook.me/v2/
Counseling 6th Grade Google Classroom Code: 4rkcggt
Counseling 7th Grade Google Classroom Code: 5msimvi
Counseling 8th Grade Google Classroom Code: itfwfzg
Counseling PSP Google Classroom Code: fat46au
Ms. Slemmons, Counselor A-E: sarahslemmons@ccusd.org
Ms. Lizotte, Counselor F-K: jeaninelizotte@ccusd.org
Mr. Brown, Counselor L-Q: terencebrown@ccusd.org
Mrs. Brown, Counselor R-Z: antoinettebrown@ccusd.org
Distance Learning Links from CCUSD
Backpacks for Kids Program
The Backpacks for Kids Program provides backpacks filled with food and snacks for students to take home over the weekend to ensure that every student can eat on the weekends. If you would like your student to receive a backpack, please complete the Backpacks Form and email to Josie Campos (josiecampos@ccusd.org).
HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT COVID-19 (FROM #CULVERPRIDE)
Concern about coronavirus can make both children and families anxious. It is important that we communicate to our students the facts about the virus in an age-appropriate way and reassure them that they are safe at home.
Here are some resources to communicate with your student about COVID-19:
This article provides some guidelines to communicate what is happening with COVID-19.
These guidelines include:
- Remain calm and reassuring
- Make yourself available
- Avoid excessive blaming
- Monitor television viewing and social media
- Maintain a normal routine to the extent possible
- Be honest and accurate
- Know the symptoms of COVID-19
- Review and model basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices for protection
- Discuss new rules or practices at school
- Communicate with your school
- Keep explanations age-appropriate
This article and video provide more tips on how to talk to your child about coronavirus
This video was created by the CDC to explain coronavirus to kid
Helping Students Cope with Stress and Anxiety
This disruption to routine and the overwhelming level of information about COVID-19 can result in students feeling stressed and anxious. It is important to give your student a sense of control by including them in positive meaning-making about the situation and brainstorming ways they can spend this time in a positive and productive way.
Encouraging your student to find ways of helping others during this time can frame this time of uncertainty as a time of growth.
Articles about managing stress and coping with anxiety:
- Five ways to help teens deal with coronavirus anxiety
- CDC article about stress and coping
- CDC article about helping children cope with emergency situations
- Ways to avoid passing anxiety on to your kids
- Further ways to support kids during this COVID-19 Crisis
- LA County Public Health Department tips about coping with stress during infectious disease outbreaks
- Tips to manage your own stress during infectious disease outbreaks
- Ways to take care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty
- What to do and what not to do when your child is anxious
Resources to help your student cope with the stress and anxiety:
- GoZen: Programs to Manage Stress & Build Resilience for Kids
- Mindfulness Exercises for Kids & Families
- Body Scan Meditation for Kids
- Guided Breathing Exercise
- Mindful Breathing Meditation Video
- Stress-Relief Guided Breathing Exercise
- Child-Mind Institute Parent Resources for Coping with COVID-19
- A Holistic Resource Guide for Parents During COVID-19
Limiting Access to Television and Social Media Ideas for Activities that Do Not Involve a Screen
- Play board games as a family
- Go for a walk outside
- Go for a bike ride
- Bake/cook for fun
- Read a book
- Write in a journal
- Make a card or write a letter and mail it to a friend or family member
- Make something out of all those Amazon boxes
- Create experiments with supplies found around the house
- Get a start on early spring yard work
- Practice an instrument
- Create art
Additional Helpful Sites and Information
Helpful sites and information:
- Culver City Coronavirus Updates and Emergency Preparedness
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
- World Health Organization
- Los Angeles Regional Foodbank
- LAist List of Where to Get Financial Resources, Food, and More During the Coronavirus Outbreak in Los Angeles
Follow us on: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @CulverCityMS
Culver City Middle School
Website: http://ccms.ccusd.org/
Location: 4601 Elenda Street, Culver City, CA, United States
Phone: 310-842-4200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CulverCityMS/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf
Twitter: @culvercityms