Hello everyone,
For the second week in a row, we started another in-person program on a Monday. When I wrote to you last week, it was about our successful and safe opening of grades 3, 4, and 5. Yesterday, we brought our sixth graders back on campus. Once again, we were completely prepared and the reopening went extremely well. For many of our sixth graders, yesterday, Monday, March 8, was their first day to step foot on campus as a middle school student and going forward, they will be meeting twice a week with their humanities teacher. We also had two new high need hybrid cohorts open up on the middle school campus, and one new one at the high school. To see Dr. Gonzalez-Castillo’s latest update on Special Education in MBUSD, click here.
6th Grade Reopening
I say this every time, but I am grateful to all those who helped carry out this new phase. Our middle school humanities team worked together, developed a creative new in-person program, made schedule changes that needed to be made, and found a way to get it done. Our special education team also reached out to many families and found a way to bring even more of our students with special needs back on campus too. The site was safe and ready for students and staff thanks to our Maintenance and Operations team, and students, teachers and classrooms connected virtually and electronically thanks to our IT team. And finally, students from both in-person and distance learning formats had access to fresh and delicious meals thanks to our Food and Nutrition Services team. When I saw many smiles yesterday, I thought of all the hard work that went into making the day happen. Each and every one of these openings amazes me, and reminds me of how fortunate I am to work with a spectacular group of people who just get things done.
7th-12th Grade Return
As I mentioned last week, all of our efforts now turn to opening 7th- 12th grade a MBMS and MCHS. Those of us preparing for this return are eager to see the LACDPH guidance on opening high schools and middle schools. We are all hoping that it comes out some time this week, and we will see if our current plans to bring students back on campus will work within those LACDPH guidelines. While I hope that the County allows students to move from class to class, we will follow the guidelines and make it work. I am confident that we will see our secondary kids back in the classroom by April 12. It’s getting closer, everyone. Hang in there.
Vaccinations
Our employee vaccinations are going faster than any of us expected. Since March 1, when school employees initially became eligible, we have had hundreds of our staff receive their first dose through Beach Cities Health District, and we’ve had hundreds more using the County system, Kaiser, or one of the many local providers and pharmacies administering the vaccine to get inoculated. I even received my first shot last Thursday from Walgreens. BCHD will give out hundreds more this week, and by this weekend, I believe that every MBUSD employee who wants a vaccine will have received their first dose. It took longer than I expected for the state to open up vaccinations for educators, but it accelerated so fast, and I’m very happy for all of our employees.
Fields and Outdoor Space
Finally, I’m pleased to announce that the City will re-open the fields at Pennekamp, Robinson, and MBMS beginning this Saturday, March 13, and they will be extending the open hours for Meadows and Pacific to include weekends on that date as well. Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 10, they will also re-open the Grand View upper playground. These school playgrounds and fields will be open Monday through Friday from 4pm until dusk, and on weekends from 8am until 8pm.
Thanks and stay safe,
