THE PAW PRINT
VOL. 31 - Week of April 20, 2020
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Principals' message to students
Elsy Villafranca: Principal elsyvillafranca@ccusd.org
Julie Markussen: Assistant Principal (A-K) juliemarkussen@ccusd.org
Tatiana Takahashi: Assistant Principal (L-Z) tatianatakahashi@ccusd.org
Evening Chromebook Pickup
Students are invited to watch the Panther Pressroom LIVE on Friday Mornings
A Special Message on the Challenges of Distance Learning at CCMS
For the past two weeks, the CCUSD Distance Learning Plan called for teachers to use the time as a transition period with no new learning. You may have noticed that your children were primarily engaged in short class sessions, enrichment activities, and reviews of previous learning. We appreciate your patience as we now make the transition to new material.
The responses we have received from families have varied greatly, for some asking for more work and rigor, while others are asking for teachers to give students a break from demands of schoolwork during this stressful pandemic. The CCMS administration would like to provide a little “behind-the-scenes” explanation of what we are up against.
We absolutely want kids to continue to learn, but there are several issues that the school, and district, are contending with. First, not all of our students have access to computers, internet, or a quiet place to study. Some parents have told us they only have one laptop for several kids to share at home, and many families without internet have been on waiting lists for weeks trying to get free internet service that many providers are offering. And, some families are just struggling to obtain basics like food and supplies. These are the reasons why we needed to use the past two weeks to ease into this system. We are trying to be as equitable as possible for all students, and we have sent out several surveys to get feedback on how we can best support families.
Furthermore, we have many parents who are asking for us to cut back because they feel that remote learning is overwhelming and teachers are giving too much work, so trying to find a balance is very challenging. And, we have many teachers who have children at home, too, so the district has been trying to provide them with flexibility. Because we have so many students without tech capability (but we're working to get them what they need) and we have teachers who need flexibility, the teachers' union negotiated this plan with the district so teachers and students will not be expected to be on the computer all day long. Teachers are putting in long hours getting their classrooms online, as well as figuring out how to take attendance and assign grades remotely. Many have stated that it's like being a new teacher all over again, and some have said they're putting in over 16 hours a day right now just trying to keep afloat with work and home responsibilities. It's really been tough for all of us to keep up the exact same standards as we do in the classroom while trying to meet every individual students' needs. We are doing the best we can with what we have right now, but it's taken so much time, coordination, and effort.
If you feel that there are specific issues with which your child’s teachers can assist, even if it's providing enrichment, we recommend reaching out to them individually for assistance. Most are very happy to help and very accessible right now. And, starting Monday, April 20, we will be moving into the next learning phase per the district's plans. We hope this helps ease your concerns, and please know that we have really been working hard to provide what we can at this time. It's so much more complex than any of us imagined.
CCMS PE Locker Access
Some students and parents have asked about gaining access to student PE lockers during the school closure. However, due to the city’s “Safer at Home” order, schools must remain closed except for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions. Therefore, we will not allow access to PE lockers until we have been given the “all clear” that the “Safer at Home” order has been lifted and no lives will be put in jeopardy by visiting campus to obtain personal items.
If you feel that obtaining items from your child’s PE locker is a true emergency (examples: prescription glass, inhaler), please contact your child’s designated Assistant Principal: Ms. Markussen (A-K) or Ms. Takahashi (L-Z).
There are no guarantees right now that students or parents will be allowed access to PE lockers, but we will give consideration if this is a true emergency. We thank you for your understanding and patience in this decision to protect the health and safety of CCMS community members.
Panther Pop-Ins
School Counselors will be hosting Panther Pop-ins through Google Hangouts so that students/ parents have an available Panther Staff Member to ask questions- this is intended for general use, not personal counseling. Check out the schedule! Type in the tiny url links into your internet browser or click the link in your grade level Google Classroom to access during the pop-in time. Panther Pop-Ins will be staffed by a rotating counselor. To meet with or speak to a specific counselor, be sure to email them.
If you missed the Super Match Activity, you can access it here!
COVID-19 Fighting Superheroes
Yearbook Orders
Updates from the Special Education Committee
Please find attached a summary of what was discussed at the last meeting of the District Advisory Committee on Special Education 4/16/2020.
Digital Earth Week Activities
Grab and Go Lunches
Backpacks for Kids
Free Food Market
Free Internet Access
Digital Drop In Space
PREVIOUSLY POSTED ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student Expectations for Distance Learning!
Frequently Asked Questions For Parents/Guardians
Frequently Asked Questions For Students!
Panthers show P.R.I.D.E. in everything they do, including online learning!
Mental Health Resources
April is College & Career Exploration Month
Counselor’s classrooms/ lessons put up on Wednesdays
School Counselors will be posting lessons, activities and information for students on Wednesdays through their Google Classrooms. All lessons/ activities posted in the Google Classrooms for students, will also be posted on the counseling website for parents to view!
WEB Application deadline extended to April 20th
Due to school closure, WEB didn't get to finish collecting applications so the final deadline for 7th graders to apply will now be April 20th. The interview process for WEB will now take place the week of May 11-15th. Applicants should check their student email on May 4th to get all the details for the interview process and how to get prepared! As a reminder, in order to be chosen for WEB, applicants must participate in the interview process. Application Information and Google Form
AVID Applications
Attention 6th and 7th Grade Panthers! Interested in joining AVID, but were unable to submit your application before we moved to online learning? No worries. The application window for the 2020-2021 AVID Elective Class has reopened! If you would still like to apply to AVID for next year, click here and complete the application no later than Monday, April 20, 2020. Email Mrs. Mendoza at itzelmendoza@ccusd.org, if you have any questions.
ASB & Yearbook Application deadlines have been extended!
Due to current school closures, ASB & Yearbook Application deadlines have been extended!
We are still looking for Incredible Panthers to join ASB and Yearbook for the 2020-2021 school year. Please complete the application and submit it to: monicavielman@ccusd.org
Applications are due: Monday, April 20th. Once all applications have been submitted, you will be notified of your interview, via email.
Advanced Theatre Class Auditions
Auditions for the 2020-2021 Advanced Theatre Arts Class have changed! If interested in auditioning for this year-long performance-based elective for next year, please send a self-tape audition video to Mrs. Balboa by May 1st. See the school website under students then theatre arts for more information regarding the audition. Email Mrs. Balboa (kathleenbalboa@ccusd.org) with any questions or concerns.
JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST VIRTUAL CCMS PTSA ASSOCIATION MEETING
All CCMS PTSA Association members are invited to virtually attend our Association meeting on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00pm. We will be using Zoom, and details for how to join the meeting are below. In addition to our regular business, we will be conducting the election for our Executive Board officers for the 2020-2021 school year. Please join us!
Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/150047215?pwd=MCsrYVF4T3JKQlQzNzBCS2IrOW1Wdz09
Meeting ID: 150 047 215
Password: 2Q5W9P
A letter from the School Counseling Office
Dear CCMS Panther Families,
Confidentiality
As a general rule, CCMS School Counselors will keep the information your student shares with us in our sessions confidential, as would be expected in a traditional school setting. There are, however, exceptions to this rule that are important for you to understand before your student shares personal information with us in a virtual school counseling session. In some situations, we are required by law or by the guidelines of our profession to disclose sensitive information.
Confidentiality cannot be maintained when:
Your student discloses a plan to cause serious harm to themselves.
Your student discloses a plan to cause harm to others.
Your student discloses they are being harmed by someone else.
An exception to this rule is when a student gives the School Counselor permission to share what has been discussed with a trusted adult, such as a parent/guardian, teacher, or principal.
Risks of Virtual School Counseling
There are many benefits of the virtual school counseling services that we provide; however, there are potential risks with this technology as well.
The video or phone connection may not work or it may stop working during the virtual counseling session.
Due to the nature of the service, we cannot guarantee full confidentiality considering the makeup of online communication and/or lack of control over end-user security. Platforms like Google Meet and Zoom are encrypted services that are district approved. They are both very secure platforms, but we cannot guarantee full confidentiality with 100% certainty. We encourage a quiet and private space for your student where they will not be distrubed or interrupted during their virtual counseling session.
Consent
This document serves as notice to Culver City Middle School parents/guardians of the benefits and risks of virtual school counseling services made available by the CCMS School Counselors of Culver City Unified School District.
State law allows you to opt out of services provided to your child outside of academic advisement. If you do not wish your student to participate in individual, short term, school based counseling, please notify your student’s school counselor in writing by April 20, 2020.
If you have any questions regarding the counseling services, please feel free to communicate with your student’s school counselor. We are grateful to be working with your students and hope to support all Culver City Middle School families through this difficult time.
Stay healthy,
CCMS Counseling Team
Student's Last Name begins with:
A - E: Sarah Slemmons x6052 sarahslemmons@ccusd.org
F - K: Jeanine Lizotte x3581 jeaninelizotte@ccusd.org
L - Q: Terence Brown x3045 terencebrown@ccusd.org
R - Z: Antoinette Brown x3342 antoinettebrown@ccusd.org
We know this is a difficult time for everyone...
IF YOU HAVE AN URGENT MENTAL HEALTH NEED, PLEASE CALL 9-1-1
If you are feeling sad, hopeless, or depressed, please text use the hotline numbers that are open 24/7:
Text "hello" to 741-741
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
California Youth Crisis Line: 1-800-843-5200
Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention: 1-877-727-4747
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health: 1-800-854-7771
Teen Line: 1-800-852-8336
Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ): 1-866-488-7386
After School Classes Continue Remotely!
If you are interested in continuing or joining an online "After School Class," we are running the following classes:
- Mondays: Writing
- Tuesdays: Jr. Culinarians(receive pre-recorded cooking video by Chef Joah, make the recipe and class zoom)
- Wednesdays: Photography or Art Exploration
- Thursdays: Discover Art
- Fridays: MathCounts or Weightlifting (get weekly workout plan and exercise videos)
All ASC classes will be prorated!
Contact Andrea Schainen at: aschainen@gmail.com if you have any questions or interested in registering for one of the above classes.
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 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!
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 24: 8th Grade Six Flags Trip (CANCELLED)
April 24: Spanish Parent Workshop (VIRTUAL EVENT)
April 24: Virtual College Fair
April 27-May 15: CAASPP/CAST Testing (CANCELLED)
April 30-May 3: CCMS Musical (IN DISCUSSION FOR ALTERNATIVE--TBD)
Date TBD: College Night (VIRTUAL EVENT)
Date TBD: ASB, AVID, WEB Interviews (VIRTUAL EVENT)
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
Free Audible Books for Students
Be internet Awesome: A Parent Guide
Distance Learning Links from CCUSD
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.
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
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