Back To School For Capistrano Unified School District: 2020-21

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — School is opening differently in the fall of 2020, at Capistrano Unified School District and across the county.

On Tuesday, 47,000 students of Capo Unified will engage with their teachers through online courses and as guidelines allow, into the classroom, according to Superintendent Kirsten Vital.

For the district, the magic number is 14. When Orange County has gone 14 days without being on the State of California's watch list, schools can return to on campus instruction. As of this report, Orange County has not come off the state's watch list since the watch list was initiated by Gov. Gavin Newsom's office.

The coming school year "will open very different than we are all used to," Vital said in an online welcome message. Everyone will go back to school online on Aug. 18, according to the district.

View the full 2020-21 Capistrano Unified School District Calendar.

According to Capistrano Unified, the new "typical day" for the district involves looking toward getting kids back on campuses. For now, online learning rules the day. In elementary school, vs. secondary school6th through 8, and 9 through 12th grades.)

Once the state relaxes restrictions, families will be able to choose a plan that works for them:

For elementary programs in 2020-21:

Program A: Full day school - which amounts to 50 percent with a teacher, live, and 50 percent with a supervisor.

Program B: A hybrid school - also 50 percent with a teacher, live, 50 percent independent learning at home.

Program C: Online School - 100 percent online learning, daily live instruction with a teacher.

In all cases, lessons provided over Canvas, using an adopted curriculum. Devices provided.

For secondary programs in 2020-21:

Program A: A hybrid learning experience, 50 percent with your teacher, live, 50 percent independent learning.

Program B: Online only learning, 100 percent independent learning with daily live interaction with one or more teachers, but no live teaching. Daily independent lessons will be available with teacher support.

In all cases, Apex, UC Scout, and CUSD modules will be taught and devices will be provided by CUSD.

For secondary students enrolled in Program A or B, they can remain in the program they enroll in by the quarter for students grade 6 through 8. For High School, students can make changes by the 6 week mark, and by semester.

Mental health, emotional support, and social emotional learning while continuing to foster cultural diversity.

Look to your school counselor if you are feeling stressed. Resources will be available for parents and students during this time.

"We will continue to align yourselves with the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency," and we will continue to innovate on our campus learning models to be implemented once Orange County meets the criteria for school re-openings.

"Some will be excited, some anxious, others nervous," Vital said. "One thing is sure, we're all in this together."

Important dates:

Back-to-School night will take place between Aug. 25 to 27, depending on your middle school.

High School back-to-school night will take place between Sept. 8 to 10, depending on your high school.

Elementary back-to-school night is scheduled for Sept. 15 to 17.

How are you feeling about starting the school year online?

Let us know how your student is doing, how you are navigating this "new typical" school environment in comments, or by emailing your Patch editor.