Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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We will be updating this page as we receive questions from our community. The questions have divided into topics for easier navigation.
The main topics are:
- General
- Schedules
- Curriculum & Instruction
- Safety & Prevention
- COVID-19: Suspected or Confirmed Cases
- Communication
General
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Due to the upward trend in COVID-19 infections in Santa Clara County, we will start school on Wednesday, August 19 in 100% Distance Learning for students.
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Yes. Each school will be providing a list of suggested school supplies. Stay tuned for the communication from your child's school when school staff returns from summer break.
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Please fill out this request form.
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Although distance learning can never take the place of in-person learning, we can and we will work to make our distance learning program more robust. Just as in the spring, all students will be provided a Chromebook, internet hotspot (if needed), and consumable materials.
However, there is a difference from this spring:
1. The 2020-21 distance learning model will be a more rigorous and robust learning experience for all students in our district including:
- The assigned teacher will provide daily/weekly instruction either in real-time or as previously recorded lessons
- Teachers will provide small group instruction
- Daily attendance and assignment completion is required
- Feedback and grading will be given by the assigned teacher
- Elementary: standards-based grading on scale of 1 - 4
- Middle School: letter grades
- Students and teachers will follow a full daily schedule
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You only have to register for the Virtual School Program, not the Hybrid program. If you are enrolled at Cambrian Schools, you will automatically be in the Hybrid program if you have not registered for the Virtual School program.
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We are starting the school year with distance learning for all students and will phase back to in-person instruction when we can safely do so. On July 17th, Governor Newsom highlighted the requirements for all California schools K-12. Santa Clara County remains on the monitoring list. We are committed to reviewing the conditions on September 11th and communicate out if or when we can return to in-person education.
Schedules
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To ensure we have qualified staffing to address the needs of our families, we are asking families to commit to the Virtual School Program. If families want to switch to the Virtual School model at a later date, it will depend on the availability of spots in the Virtual School Program at that time. We cannot make any assurance whether we can make that accommodation.
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Transitional Kindergarteners follow the same schedule as Kindergartners.
Every day there will be a morning check-in, followed by whole or small group instruction.
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The district is currently working with our Employee Unions to establish the framework for instructional minutes and student engagement. More detailed information about instruction and curriculum will be available in the near future per the "CSD Distance Learning/Virtual School Program Guidelines for Students and Families 2020-21". Staff is currently developing the plan and it will be made available to parents soon.
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All students will begin their day at 8:15 am with a morning check-in with their teacher. The school day is scheduled to begin at 8:15 am and ends at 2:45 pm. Students will be engaged in classroom activities using zoom. Their day will look very similar to as if they were in person.
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Student cohorts will be determined by the district.
Curriculum & Instruction
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All teachers will be available for additional help with any subject.
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Students will be engaged in classroom activities using zoom. Their teacher will assign individual activities when they are not in a small group setting. Their day will look very similar to as if they were in person
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Class sizes will be similar to "normal" in-person instruction classes. When it is safe to begin in-person instruction students will be divided into two groups to attend a morning or afternoon session. The Public Health Department Guidelines will be followed.
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We understand the district/virtual learning environment is not ideal for students. Our top priority is to keep students, families, and staff safe. At this time, there is not safe for teachers our students to meet face to face.
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Excellent question. The district is currently working with our Employee Unions to establish the framework for instructional minutes and student engagement. More detailed information about instruction and curriculum will be available in the near future per the "CSD Distance Learning/Virtual School Program Guidelines for Students and Families 2020-21". Staff is currently developing the plan and it will be made available to parents soon.
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Please visit our distance learning parent page.
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Distance learning for all grade levels will be delivered synchronously and in conjunction with related services as outlined in student IEPs and 504 plans. Special education case managers will connect with parents and their students through office hours and regular meetings and messages. They will collaborate with general education teachers to provide strategies and support for special ed students. The department, with guidance from state and federal educational agencies, will provide teletherapy for all related services designated in students’ IEPs and 504 plans. Our team is refining our Distance Learning practices to improve support to students. Due to the individualized nature of special education services and 504 plans, additional information about how specific individualized services will be provided for your child will be shared with you when staff return to school in early August.
Please read the following document for details for families with students receiving services. (This document explains the difference between Virtual School and Distance Learning for Cambrian School District for Students with Services.)
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We recognize that a student’s first introduction to school through online means is not ideal. Teachers will be working to foster relationships with students, in a socially-distanced manner. Teachers and administrators are working to develop these plans to foster social-emotional connections with teachers and students.
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The middle school level will focus on English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. The long term Virtual School Program will not have elective offers.
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Teachers will be required to use the district adopted core curriculum and vetted supplemental curriculum for instruction. More detailed information about instruction and curriculum will be available in the near future per the "CSD Distance Learning/Virtual School Program Guidelines for Students and Families 2020-21". Staff is currently developing the plan and it will be made available to parents soon.
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Yes, school sites will communicate dates and times for pick up.
Safety & Prevention
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Any child who is ill and exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be given a mask to wear if they are not already wearing one and separated into a supervisied area until parents arrive to pick them up.
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Cambrian will follow the Santa Clara County Public Health Department guidelines and orders to the greatest extent possible to ensure safety for our students and staff.
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Face coverings are required for all staff members and required for students in grades 3rd-12th grade.
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Hygiene practices will be reviewed regularly with students. We will teach and reinforce washing hands, avoiding contact with one's eyes, nose, and mouth, and covering coughs and sneezes among students and staff. We are adding hand sanitizer stations to high traffic areas on all campuses.
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Cambrian will take essential actions to create a physical environment that promotes student and staff safety through established protocols and procedures. These will include daily disinfection of areas used by students and staff, and focus on high-touch surfaces such as door handles and restrooms during the day. Hand sanitizer stations are added at all high traffic areas on all campuses.
Hygiene practices will be reviewed regularly with students and staff.
- We will teach and reinforce washing hands
- Avoiding contact with one's eyes, nose, and mouth
- Covering coughs and sneezes
COVID-19: Suspected or Confirmed Cases
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Yes, the California Department of Public Health guidance states that schools should document/track incidents of possible exposure and notify local health officials, staff and families immediately of any positive case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality, as required under FERPA and state law related to privacy of educational records.
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We will follow the Santa Clara County Public Health Department guidelines for closures, beginning with notification to families and staff members. There is not a predetermined blanket answer. Each scenario has different circumstances that could affect our ability to trace likely contacts. Teh Public Health Department will assist us in the process.
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The teachers and students would transition into an online learning model. Cambrian has a plan and teacher training in place for this scenario.
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No. These students will continue to work with their assigned teachers via distance learning or through Independent Study.
Communication
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The District and School sites send updates to families via email each Friday, beginning on August 21st.