(The following is a message from the Belmont Redwood Shores School District)

Hello Belmont-Redwood Shores Community,

Our government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and I am writing with education-related updates:

• County stay at home order extended to May 3
• State shifts expectations for remainder of school year
• Next steps

Continue reading →

(The following is a message from the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District.)

Hello BRSSD Community,

This message will address an extension to the dismissal of students until May 1 and a clarification regarding my previous message on teacher-student videoconferencing.

Dismissal of Students Extended to May 1
Earlier today, we received this press release from the San Mateo County Office of Education. The dismissal of students from public schools throughout the Bay Area has been extended until May 1, 2020.

This makes BRSSD’s planning for the return from Spring Break on April 6 all the more important. Additionally, we are developing optional resources for families to help engage students academically over the break, given the current Shelter in Place order for San Mateo County. We will share more information at the end of the week.

Clarification Regarding this Morning’s Message
This morning, I sent you a message stating that a class’s morning meeting was recorded and put on the local news and social media. It was actually a still photograph of a student participating in a morning meeting via videoconference, with other classroom participants on the computer screen. I apologize for giving the misimpression that the meeting/lesson was video recorded when it was not. Nevertheless, this incident raises the importance of student and staff privacy, and we are committed to putting safeguards in place before resuming videoconferencing on April 6.

Thanks for your support and patience on both of these topics. We will continue to work on providing the best educational program possible for your student and improving week to week.

Sincerely,

Michael Milliken
Superintendent

(The following is a message from the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District.)

Hello Belmont-Redwood Shores Community,

What a week that was…. I want to begin with the recognition that this novel coronavirus phenomenon and the subsequent governmental orders have created an unprecedented challenge for all of us. First and foremost, I ask that you follow the Shelter in Place guidelines for the health benefit of the greater community.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as our teachers and support staff have transitioned to At-Home Learning. We have made it through Week One. Looking ahead, please know that we are committed to improving the At-Home Learning program week by week.

This message update will cover:

• State Orders and County Orders
• Looking Beyond Spring Break
• At-Home Learning
• Counseling Support
• Thursday’s Board Meeting
• Mr. M’s Problem of the Week

State Orders and County Orders
Last week’s state-level shelter in place order is consistent with the County order that BRSSD is currently following. We expect County and State guidance to become more aligned over time, and I expect the existing orders to extend beyond April 7. I do not have inside information on this. However, as educators, we are planning for our school facilities to be closed to students for the foreseeable future.

Looking Beyond Spring Break
As it becomes clear that the dismissal of students from school likely will be longer than the two weeks initially ordered by the County Health Officer, our staff is working on what the next phase of our At-Home Learning program will look like. If the dismissal of students is extended, we will aim to provide more of a simulated school experience for our students beginning April 6, after Spring Break. Our goal is to provide all BRSSD students with routine, social connections, a sense of normalcy, and most importantly, an education.

At-Home Learning
Our At-Home Learning resources for families have been shared via email to date (listed here). This is impractical for the long-term. We are developing a dedicated BRSSD webpage with organized and consolidated resources to support At-Home Learning. We expect to have that established by the end of the week, March 27.

After Spring Break, as we shift to a long-term approach to At-Home Learning, more students may need to use computers with greater frequency to access the educational program. Later this week, we will send out another tech survey to families to lend out devices as needed. Similarly, we will continue to share resources for internet access, like Comcast’s program.

Last week, my direction to teachers was to continue the educational program and keep students busy. For some families, this worked well, but for others it was quite stressful. If your student is falling behind or feeling negatively stressed or overwhelmed, you have permission to excuse your student from assignments. Student wellness comes first. Please communicate this directly with your teacher. If your teacher has not indicated the relative prioritization of activities/lessons, reach out to them for guidance regarding how best to adjust the workload.

Counseling Support
If you or your child are in need of social-emotional support during the school closure, our amazing network of BRSSD counselors are here to assist you or your child. Please use this form to request support for either you or your child. All support will be conducted remotely: over the phone, via email or virtually (Google Hangout or Zoom). We will respond to your request Monday through Friday, within 24 hours.

In addition, you can also receive support from One Life Counseling through their school-based support hotline at 650-394-5224. Therapists will be on-call weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. One Life counselors will be available virtually for those in need of emotional support or ideas for social-emotional learning projects at home.

Thursday’s Board Meeting
The BRSSD Board of Trustees has its next meeting scheduled for this Thursday at 6:15pm. We plan to conduct it remotely with access to the public and the opportunity for public comment. Details for accessing the meeting will be made available on our homepage, brssd.org.

Mr. M’s Problem of the Week
Need a break from reality to work on a puzzle? Have a student that needs a challenge? Here’s a fun 3-dimensional tic-tac-toe problem (designed for ages 11 and up). Note that “noughts and crosses” is what they call tic-tac-toe in the United Kingdom. Different solution strategies and an extension to the problem can be found here.

We appreciate your partnership in your child’s education, now more than ever. Do not hesitate to write to me with feedback and questions.

Sincerely,

Michael Milliken
Superintendent