Distance Learning

We know everyone is keen to get information about the start of school. Thanks for your patience. We expect information to be coming at the end of the week. Please look out for an email from Lincoln. We’ll also add information here as and when it’s available. 

Not getting Lincoln emails? Please be sure to add lincoln-bc@smmusd.org to your contacts list. 

Don’t forget to sign up for the District’s online parent conference, Back to Learning 2020, on Friday August 21st. There’ll be a number of workshops to choose from:

• Secondary Mathematics at Home (led by Rosa Serratore, PreK-12 Mathematics-Science/ STEM Coordinator)
• Google Classroom & Clever (led by Arielle Gleicher, TOSA EdTech)
• Special Education (led by Deanna Sinfield, Director of Special Education)
• School-based Mental Health Supports (led by Shuli Lotan, LCSW PPSC, Mental Health Counseling Coordinator)
• Social Justice (led by Dr. Satinder Hawkins, Coordinator, American Culture & Ethnic Studies)
• Staying Connected (led by Gail Pinsker, Community & Public Relations Officer)
• Project-based Learning (led by Dr. Devon Smith, Coordinator, Learning & Innovation)

Get more information and register here.

Find out more about what learning will look like in the fall with the Back to Learning parent conference on Friday, August 21, 2020.

SMMUSD is hosting the online parent conference from 8:30am to 12:45pm, but you don’t have to be online for the whole of that time.

The schedule for the day will be:

8:30 am – 9:00 am: Welcome Session
9:15 am – 10:15 am Session 1
10:30 am – 11:30 am Session 2
11:45 am – 12:45 pm Community Resources panel

You get to choose which workshops to attend, one from Session 1 and/or one from Session 2. Everyone is welcome to attend the Community Resources Panel.

Check out the different workshops here. Registration is required.

All sessions will have interpretation in Spanish and will be recorded for future viewing.

Find out more and register here. /  Aprende más

Do you need supervision for your student(s) during the school day once distance learning resumes this fall?  If so, please read the District’s letter of August 5th, and complete the attached form to indicate your interest.  

In brief, SMMUSD is looking to offer In-School Work Hubs during school hours at locations throughout the District. However, this offering is clearance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE).

See the full letter here.

See the expression of interest form here. Please complete the form before August 10th and complete one form for EACH child who requires supervision to engage in distance learning and school work during school hours.

Please note, completing the form indicating that you are interested DOES NOT guarantee a space for your child(ren). This application is only to express interest.

https://forms.gle/R3zyzDjYShtbdgEBA

The District’s Board of Education has approved Distance Learning to begin the 2020-21 school year.

Read Superintendent Drati’s letter of July 17th in full.

Want more information about school reopening plans?

• See the presentation made to the Board on July 16th about school reopening plans.
• See the District’s Frequently Asked Questions about Distance Learning, which includes information about student engagement, grading, and evaluation of student learning.
• Didn’t make it to any of the town hall meetings to discuss school reopening? See the questions raised by members of the SMMUSD community during the town hall process.
• Keep up to date with school reopening plans at the District’s dedicated School Reopening page.

SMMUSD staff will recommend to the School Board that schools reopen in August with distance learning. The School Board is scheduled to meet this Thursday, July 16th and will make its decision on school reopening plans then.

The recommendation comes following recent state and local health recommendations and a surge in Covid-19 cases in Los Angeles County.

Read Dr. Drati’s announcement about the staff recommendation here:

https://www.smmusd.org/cms/lib/CA50000164/Centricity/Domain/1792/ReopeningStatementPreBOE071420.pdf

Interested in attending the School Board meeting?

See the meeting agenda. The agenda includes the Zoom meeting link and attendance instructions should you wish to attend the public meeting (start time is 5:30pm).

Stay up to date on School Reopening plans

To keep up to date on school reopening plans, visit the District’s School Reopening page.

Parent feedback on school reopening plans is needed by midnight this Sunday, July 12.

Please read the following email from Superintendent Drati, view the town hall meeting recording (if you didn’t attend the meeting), then follow the link to complete the survey.

Thanks for taking the time to participate. Your input will help inform the District in making decisions about school reopening.  

Dr. Drati’s email:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

In conjunction with our three town hall meetings on June 30, July 1 and July 7, we would like your feedback on a parent survey regarding the reopening of our schools. The primary goal of this survey is to gather data about potential student attendance. In order to fill out this survey, you will need to have taken part in one of these town hall meetings or viewed the recording and reviewed the presentation (attached here as a pdf)

The links to view or review the recordings are here: www.smmusd.org/school2020-21

After viewing or reviewing the town hall meeting and presentation, complete the survey below. We will continue to provide additional details in future communications and/or surveys. 

Please note that your survey responses will help our district plan for the fall semester. You will not be held to your choices at this time. You can access the survey here:

https://forms.gle/cphVY7CQCWdedHm1A

Please complete the survey by midnight on Sunday July 12, 2020. 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ben Drati, Superintendent

File attachments:
Fall20 reopening pres – Eng 7-20.pdf

To view the SANTA MONICA-MALIBU USD privacy policy, please click here.