|
Topanga Elementary Charter SchoolTopanga Elementary Charter School is a small, high-performing elementary school, offering a well-rounded education strongly focused on the arts and environmental science. Learn more about what makes TECS a unique community school, located in a natural mountain setting, within an urban public school system. |
Update for LAUSD families from Board Member Melvoin
May 5, 2020
Dear parents and guardians,
As we all begin to envision our city slowly reopening over the next few months, I know that families like yours are eager to know when students can return to schools and resume in-person classes. We are still planning for an August 18 start to the 2020-21 school year—hopefully with some semblance of normalcy—but we are still relying on the advice of public health officials to reopen schools only when it is safe to do so.
In the meantime, the learning will continue—for the remainder of this year, as well as into the summer. Nearly all our educators have completed an initial training and more than half have signed up for an additional course on virtual teaching platforms. We have distributed more than 200,000 devices and hotspots as we work urgently to ensure every student has access to a device and internet connectivity. In addition, this will be the first year that summer learning opportunities will be available, virtually, to every LA Unified student. This expansion of summer enrichment will help combat the learning loss caused by this pandemic and prepare our kids for their eventual return to school.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our dedicated educators. Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day, and there is no better time to say thank you to all the teachers who have gone above and beyond to transition to virtual teaching and stay connected with their students during this unprecedented time—like Mr. Bilek, a math teacher at Paul Revere Middle School, who has been creating music videos incorporating math lessons for his students. Here are some ways your kids can celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day while staying home.
As the District continues to plan for what school will look like in a post-quarantine reality, I will continue to advocate for more public conversations and a transparent process that centers students in our decision-making and that engages families, teachers, staff, community partners, and all other stakeholders.
And I will continue meeting with school communities and hosting virtual conversations each week. Join us tomorrow at 5:30p live at www.facebook.com/nick.melvoin for our latest town hall on Covid-19 resources with Sen. Ben Allen, Rep. Ted Lieu, and Councilmember Mike Bonin, as well as Friday at 4:30p for a DIY mask making class. Click here to submit any questions ahead of time. And you can catch up on all our past conversations and activities here, including last week’s on how to make the famous LAUSD coffee cake at home expert lesson from the Cafeteria Manager at Marina del Rey MS!
If you are still trying to get a device or having connectivity issues, please reach out to our ITD Helpdesk. You can call, chat, or use one of their online web services to troubleshoot certain issues. And because we know that the toll of this crisis is also emotional, the District also launched a Mental Health hotline, so anyone can call 213-241-3840 to receive these support services. And all 63 of our Grab and Go meal centers are still open M-F, 8a-11a, for anyone in need.
You can also call the District’s hotline for families at 213-443-1300 and, as always, feel free to reach out to my office at BD4info@LAUSD.net.
We’re all in this together, apart.
Nick
Nick Melvoin
LA Unified Board of Education | District 4
Sign up for periodic updates from my office
Email: bd4info@lausd.net
May 5, 2020
Dear parents and guardians,
As we all begin to envision our city slowly reopening over the next few months, I know that families like yours are eager to know when students can return to schools and resume in-person classes. We are still planning for an August 18 start to the 2020-21 school year—hopefully with some semblance of normalcy—but we are still relying on the advice of public health officials to reopen schools only when it is safe to do so.
In the meantime, the learning will continue—for the remainder of this year, as well as into the summer. Nearly all our educators have completed an initial training and more than half have signed up for an additional course on virtual teaching platforms. We have distributed more than 200,000 devices and hotspots as we work urgently to ensure every student has access to a device and internet connectivity. In addition, this will be the first year that summer learning opportunities will be available, virtually, to every LA Unified student. This expansion of summer enrichment will help combat the learning loss caused by this pandemic and prepare our kids for their eventual return to school.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our dedicated educators. Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day, and there is no better time to say thank you to all the teachers who have gone above and beyond to transition to virtual teaching and stay connected with their students during this unprecedented time—like Mr. Bilek, a math teacher at Paul Revere Middle School, who has been creating music videos incorporating math lessons for his students. Here are some ways your kids can celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day while staying home.
As the District continues to plan for what school will look like in a post-quarantine reality, I will continue to advocate for more public conversations and a transparent process that centers students in our decision-making and that engages families, teachers, staff, community partners, and all other stakeholders.
And I will continue meeting with school communities and hosting virtual conversations each week. Join us tomorrow at 5:30p live at www.facebook.com/nick.melvoin for our latest town hall on Covid-19 resources with Sen. Ben Allen, Rep. Ted Lieu, and Councilmember Mike Bonin, as well as Friday at 4:30p for a DIY mask making class. Click here to submit any questions ahead of time. And you can catch up on all our past conversations and activities here, including last week’s on how to make the famous LAUSD coffee cake at home expert lesson from the Cafeteria Manager at Marina del Rey MS!
If you are still trying to get a device or having connectivity issues, please reach out to our ITD Helpdesk. You can call, chat, or use one of their online web services to troubleshoot certain issues. And because we know that the toll of this crisis is also emotional, the District also launched a Mental Health hotline, so anyone can call 213-241-3840 to receive these support services. And all 63 of our Grab and Go meal centers are still open M-F, 8a-11a, for anyone in need.
You can also call the District’s hotline for families at 213-443-1300 and, as always, feel free to reach out to my office at BD4info@LAUSD.net.
We’re all in this together, apart.
Nick
Nick Melvoin
LA Unified Board of Education | District 4
Sign up for periodic updates from my office
Email: bd4info@lausd.net
Watch: Superintendent Austin Beutner's Address to the School Community on May 4
https://achieve.lausd.net/latestnews
https://achieve.lausd.net/latestnews
April 13, 2020: LAUSD SCHOOLS TO REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH SUMMER AS COURSES CONTINUE ONLINE
Los Angeles campuses will be closed not only for the remainder of the academic year, but throughout the summer as well, the district announced Monday... “There is still no clear picture in testing, treatments or vaccines and we will not reopen school facilities until state authorities tell us it is safe and appropriate to do so,” L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner said during a Monday video briefing. “The remainder of the school year ... will be completed in the current, remote fashion and we will have a summer session in a similar manner.”
Los Angeles campuses will be closed not only for the remainder of the academic year, but throughout the summer as well, the district announced Monday... “There is still no clear picture in testing, treatments or vaccines and we will not reopen school facilities until state authorities tell us it is safe and appropriate to do so,” L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner said during a Monday video briefing. “The remainder of the school year ... will be completed in the current, remote fashion and we will have a summer session in a similar manner.”
To learn more about how LAUSD is planning for the possible spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to our school community, visit: achieve.lausd.net/latestnews
What’s Coming Up?
SCHOOL CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
From Alisa Land Hill:
"I wanted to share with our parent community that local concerned citizens and leaders of various groups (Sheila Kuehl and Assemblyman Bloom offices, Town Council, Sages, TCEP, TCC, etc) have started meeting via Zoom each Wed at 630 pm to discuss preparedness and local needs during the covid 19 pandemic. All are welcome to join to listen, share ideas, and get involved."
Please email Alisa at alisajlandhill@gmail.com to request the Zoom link. Thank you!
"I wanted to share with our parent community that local concerned citizens and leaders of various groups (Sheila Kuehl and Assemblyman Bloom offices, Town Council, Sages, TCEP, TCC, etc) have started meeting via Zoom each Wed at 630 pm to discuss preparedness and local needs during the covid 19 pandemic. All are welcome to join to listen, share ideas, and get involved."
Please email Alisa at alisajlandhill@gmail.com to request the Zoom link. Thank you!
SPONSORS
A big thank you to our generous sponsors! We couldn't do it without you!
Click here to learn about Business Sponsorship
