Dear Westside Waldorf Grades Families,
We are writing to share important information regarding the start of school this Fall.
Based on current information coming forth from the State and Los Angeles County, there is no indication that we will be able to open in-person for our planned Middle Grades soft-start on September 1st. As of now, all Grades classes will plan to open remotely on September 9th. If we receive any updates from LA County Department of Health that allow for in-person opening before that time, we will inform you immediately. Please know that the school and teachers will be prepared for in-person teaching as soon as it is possible.
Meanwhile, to prepare for a healthy and vibrant Remote Learning experience, the school has been working with our IT support to prepare our Google Classroom platform. We additionally hired a Distance Learning consultant who is working with teachers to train them on using the new Learning Management System and to introduce them to other Educational Technology that will support them in bringing their unique curricula. Please save the date for a Virtual Back to School Night on the evening of September 2nd to get you oriented to Google Classroom and to help you get set up with the distance learning technology at home. An invitation and links for that meeting is forthcoming.
To set a healthy tone for the remote learning, we are organizing a one-on-one, in-person supply pick-up for every class for the week of August 31‒September 3rd. This will create the opportunity for students and teachers to meet safely in-person and for students to individually have a brief orientation with the new school rhythms and to experience their physical classroom before they begin in their virtual one.
Please see the Supply Pick-up schedule below and save the date. We will send more detailed instructions next week.
Grade 1 — Wednesday, September 2, 9:00 a.m. ‒ 4:00 p.m.
Grade 2 — Thursday, September 3, 1:30 p.m. ‒3:30 p.m.
Grade 3 — Tuesday, September 1, 9:00 a.m. ‒1:00 p.m.
Grade 4 — Tuesday, September 1, 1:30 p.m. ‒ 3:00 p.m.
Grade 5 — Thursday, September 3, 9:00 a.m. ‒1:15 p.m.
Grade 6 — Monday, August 31, 1:30 p.m. ‒3:00 p.m.
Grade 7 — Tuesday, September 8, 10:00 a.m. ‒12:30 p.m.
Grade 8 — Monday, August 31, 10:00 a.m. ‒12:00 p.m.
The first day of school is almost here, so to honor our traditions, we will mark the beginning of school with a virtual assembly that will feature a Rose Ceremony for our Rising Grade One students and their graduating Eighth Grade buddies. Each of Our Grade One students will also have an in-person ritual on the day of their Supply Pick-up to acknowledge the start of their journey.
Finally, we wish to share some good news. We are pleased to welcome Ms. Stephanie Kern as the class teacher for our Rising Grade Two class moving forward. Ms. Kern, who has a B.A. in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California and an M.A. in Curatorial Practice from the California College of Arts and is near completion of her Waldorf Certification from the Waldorf Institute of Southern California, comes to us after four years of teaching in the grades at Pasadena Waldorf School.
We remain grateful for your support and flexibility as we craft a healthy start for our students.
Please reach out to Leadership Council should you have any questions and please look out for further communication next week regarding any new developments and specifics.
Warm Regards,
Leadership Council
