Superintendent
July 31, 2020
Dear SCSD Community,
We are excited about the upcoming start of the school year and are looking forward to another great year of learning with your child(ren)! We are continuing to make progress on our plans to start the year with a distance learning schedule for all students, grades TK-8.
I’d like to share with you some updates below around out of school care, the Connections Distance Learning Program, class assignments and schedules:
SMARTE Clubhouse Distance Learning Program TK-3rd Grade
The board approved the return of the SMARTE Clubhouse program during the distance learning schedule. The SMARTE Clubhouse is dedicated to enriching children's lives outside of school. It provides a fun, safe and welcoming place to spend time in a supervised environment to support online learning and provide other engaging activities.
The program is available to TK-3rd grade students at our four elementary schools - Arundel, Brittan Acres, Heather and White Oaks. Each program offers age-appropriate educational and enriching activities in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
For the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, the SMARTE Clubhouse will open on Wednesday, August 19 to provide on-site, all-day care while schools are on a distance learning schedule.
We have three different options available for families: Full-time 5 days a week or Part-time 3 days or 2 days a week. Programs run from 8:30 am-4:30 pm each day.
For the SMARTE Clubhouse distance learning program:
- Priority for registration will be given to SCSD staff, essential workers, households where parents are required to work outside of the home, and then other families who would like to join the program.
- Classes must have at least 12 students minimum to provide this program on a campus. If there are not enough students at a school, then students can join another campus program nearby.
- Students will be in small, stable cohorts of 12-15, with two teachers, depending on room size. We will practice safety protocols, students and staff will wear masks, no mixing of groups, physical distancing, health checks daily and a strict daily health and hygiene routine. See our SMARTE website for more health and hygiene information.
Registration will open on Monday, August 3 at 12:00 pm
Click the link below to learn more about the program and register: https://schoolcareworks.com/registration/sancarlos/start_registration.jsp
Afterschool Care Enrichment (ACE) Program - Grades 4 and 5
We are pleased to announce a new afterschool care provider at each of our 4/5 campuses. ACE is a new After School program founded by Eve Daskalakis, who has served families in the San Carlos Childcare Community since 2008. ACE will provide a familiar family-oriented program where students feel safe, at home, challenged, and excited to be a part of each day.
Please visit the ACE website for detailed program information, or feel free to reach out to Eve Daskalakis directly via email or phone (650) 931-4007.
Click the links to register: Arroyo Registration | Mariposa Registration
Full Year Connections Distance Learning Program Update
Registration closed Tuesday, July 28, for the full-year Connections Distance Learning program. 362 students have enrolled and we are in the process of dedicating staff and resources so that students can continue in the program all year.
Elementary Connections students in grades K-5 will begin the year with their Connections teacher and class and stay together all year.
Middle school students who enrolled in Connections will begin the year with their home school peers and teachers. When it is time to shift to the hybrid in-person schedule, middle school Connections students will continue to be offered distance learning for the remainder of the year. Our leadership team and teachers are working together to develop a staffing model that will support these students through the end of the year.
Class Assignments
Information on class assignments will be emailed to families by August 14. We understand that parents and students are eagerly awaiting this information. We appreciate your patience and will get this information to families as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, principals are not able to accommodate requests from parents to build classes based on “pods” parents are forming because it would prevent them from forming balanced classes of students.
Daily Student Schedules
We recognize that parents need information about their student’s daily schedules so they can begin to prepare for distance learning support for their children. Our principals and teachers are working together to form these schedules, and will be sharing this information directly with their families over the next two weeks.
August Key Dates
10-14 - SCEF Kindergarten Socials
14 - Elementary Teacher & Middle School Schedules Assignments Emailed to Parents
6-12 - Optional Teacher and Staff Distance Learning Professional Development Classes
13 - Contracted Teacher Professional Development Day - Distance Learning Training
19 - First Day of School
Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff and community!
Sincerely,
Michelle Harmeier, Ed.D.
Superintendent