HSI NEWSLETTER SPRING 2021
A LOOK BACK In-person instruction began at Las Lomitas in September 2020. Some staff and families arrived nervous as we were one of the few schools to open full time in the Bay Area; could we expect students to faithfully wear their masks and keep their distance? How would we handle lunch on campus? Would we have COVIDcases and quarantine classes? What unexpected challenges would we encounter?
LLESD partnered with Stanford Healthcare to offer weekly COVID-19 testing for all staff. Nurse Julia DeSaram supervises a staff member selfadministering a nasal swab.
Months later, having faced these real life scenarios, we reflect on this time immensely grateful for the safe educational and social experiences we have provided our students, proud of how well our students have adapted to learning in the time of COVID-19, and appreciative of the dedication and efforts of our staff who worked overtime week after week to pull this off even during the most demanding and uncertain of times.
A LOOK AHEAD
LLESD will welcome more students back to in-person instruction this spring and extend the learning day for middle school students, who - due to the complex nature of older students enrolled in multiple classes - have participated in hybrid instruction. With the lifting of some public health restrictions for outdoor recreation, middle school students look forward to inperson PE and elementary school students are eager to explore new spaces for recess and participate in a newly launched COVID Safety Program which recognizes those who demonstrate outstanding safety behaviors while playing at recess. Spring on campus is showing a hopeful vision for the future which excites us all. As this school year draws to a close we are shifting gears to summer and fall planning. Teachers will conduct student assessments to help identify students’ learning progress and provide the necessary academic support. Summer classes will be offered, as has been done in the past, and a new series of “kick off classes” will be launched in August in the weeks before school officially opens to help students transition to the next academic year. The health and wellness team has been meeting regularly in partnership with school leadership to address how multiple stakeholders will continue to support the mental, physical, and social-emotional health of our students and our staff.
Public health guidelines required LLESD to reimagine how to safely conduct classes, lunch ,and recess. Students sit on mats provided by the school to enjoy a meal 6 feet apart.
With the majority of our staff vaccinated, local case rates declining, and the lifting of some public health restrictions we look hopefully to the fall. Thank you to families, students, staff, and our community partners such as the Sequoia Healthcare District who have made this year possible.