BEN CHURCHILL SUPERINTENDENT
CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
This is an unprecedented and challenging time for all families in our community and across the nation. At this time, we do not yet know when, or if, our campuses will reopen this spring. Despite our new realities, Carlsbad Unified schools are open, teachers are teaching, and students are learning. But, because of the dangers of COVID-19, we have moved from our school campuses to Remote Online Learning.
We are fortunate to have forward-looking, tech-savvy administrators, teachers, and staff members open to innovating with new technologies that promise to advance the way students learn. Our students, also, are comfortable using the e-devices on their desks and in their hands. The development of high-quality on-line instructional opportunities has flourished in recent years. These new developments have helped us to manage the upheaval of recent months and to embrace new ways to deliver instruction.
In early March, with the spread of the coronavirus, our “new normal” hit suddenly. When schools closed on March 13, our first priority, of course, was for the health and well-being of our families — students, teachers, staff, and parents. So it was important for us to allow time for families to arrange for their physical and emotional needs. But, as we believe that one of the strongest contributors to student well-being is returning to normality, our goal has been to keep our students engaged in learning.
With barely weeks to come up with an online learning plan for 11,000 students, our Instructional Services team went to work. Just days after schools closed, we rolled out an Extended Learning Activities website, full of resources to keep students’ minds active with stimulating activities that they can undertake either alone or with their families, and at any time. The materials include core academics as well as enrichment activities and resources to support the physical wellness and social emotional learning of our students. These tools, organized by grade (K-12) and by subject, will continue to be available to all students to supplement their learning.
At the same time, our extraordinary teachers immediately took the spring curriculum they had meticulously planned for their students and began to re-imagine it. They are preparing remote on-line lessons and activities that are self-paced and allow for flexibility. Also, they are facilitating their students’ learning by using a variety of platforms, such as Google Meet, Google Hangouts, Facetime, Google Classroom, and Flipgrid. In ways such as these, our teaching staff has shown laudable creativity in providing students with innovative access to our rigorous content while supporting their need to feel connected to their classmates, teachers, friends, and all those who care about them. As our Teacher on Special Assignment for Technology Robert Allen put it, “We are building the plane while flying it. And we are rising to the challenge.”
Student attendance has been outstanding. In the first week, 10,300 students, or 94%, accessed on-line instruction. Even if it’s “only” in a virtual classroom, parents are happy to see their children engaged, students are happy to see their classmates and teachers, and teachers are happy to see their students’ shining faces.
As you can see, we are all working hard, though remotely, to support our instructional programs. We also realize that teachers, students and their parents are all on a steep learning curve. Although the circumstances are hardly optimal, we all will be there for our students and for each other along the way. We are grateful for our teachers, all of our employees, and all of the Carlsbad Unified families, for all they are doing for our students.
And, thanks to our Food Service team, we continue to provide free pick-up food service at Carlsbad High School for the young people in our area.
We hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe at home.