Capistrano Unified School District A Message About Reopening School | Mensaje Acerca De La Reapertura De Las Escuelas

Press release from the Capistrano Unified School District:

August 17, 2020

Good Afternoon CUSD Families,

In less than 24 hours our District will be reopening schools for the 2020-21 school year online. This opening is brand new to all of us. Unlike our first day of school last fall, students and teachers will be meeting each other for the first time over a computer screen. It will take some time for everyone to get to know each other in this new medium. I ask you for your patience and grace with our teachers and staff as we reopen in this new way.

New beginnings and new technology always require time and patience. When technology is working well, life can be a breeze. Over the last week, however, we have been working to link two of our systems - Aeries and Canvas - and what we've found is that they don't always speak the same language. An already complex problem is made even more challenging when we're preparing our teachers, staff, and families to use these systems when we open!

The great news is, unlike the spring, we now have a universal online learning platform, Canvas, that should provide consistency throughout the district to support students transitioning from online learning to the classroom once we reopen schools for in-person learning.

Additionally, your student's academic progress will be tracked by their teacher using Canvas. Students, families, faculty, and staff will learn to use this tool together. The first few days may feel uncomfortable, but working together, we are confident the value of Canvas will quickly be realized.

We know from other school districts who have already opened online that there will be bumps in the road as we reopen. Tomorrow won't be perfect. But we also know from their experience that a little patience and grace on everyone's part helps smooth out the bumps. We will all need to exercise patience and flexibility as we start back to class. With a little work and a little time we will get it right.

View our Welcome Back to School Message Here!

This is an historic and challenging school opening. We are committed to providing extraordinary education in this new way. I am grateful for the teachers and staff who have worked so hard to prepare for tomorrow. They are committed to serving your children and helping them succeed, regardless of the challenges that stand in our way.

I am also thankful for you and for the patience you will extend to all of us as we begin school online tomorrow morning, like never before. This is an adventure for all of us and I'm grateful for your partnership and support.

Sincerely,

Kirsten Vital

Superintendent

PS If you need technology support, all directions and information regarding Canvas are located on every school website, and on the District website, under “Parent Technology Support” and “Canvas Log In and Support.” Here are some helpful links to the places where you can get help with both student and family access:

• Canvas Log In and Support website (located at the top of the Parent Technology Support website and also on every school website)
• Parent Technology Support website (located on the District's front page of the website)
• Canvas Frequently Asked Questions for Students and Families (located in the Canvas support website)
• Parent video regarding Canvas log in and features (located in the Canvas Log In and Support website)
• Canvas for Parents webinar PowerPoint (located in the Canvas Log In and Support website)

Good Afternoon CUSD Families

In less than 24 hours, our District will be reopening online schools for the 2020-21 school year. This is a new way of reopening for all of us. Unlike our first day of school last fall, students and teachers will see each other for the first time through a computer screen. It will take some time for everyone to get to know each other in this new system. I ask for your patience and understanding with our teachers and staff as we reopen schools in a different way.

New teaching systems and new technologies always require time and patience. When technology works well, life can be very simple. However, for the last week, we have been working to link two of our systems, Aeries and Canvas, and encountered some difficulties, as the systematized programs do not always speak the same language. A complex problem in itself becomes even more challenging when we are preparing our teachers, staff, and families to use these systems to reopen our schools!

The good news is that, unlike last spring, we now have a universal online learning platform, called Canvas, which will provide consistency across the district to support students in the transition from online to learning. in the classroom, once we can reopen schools for in-person learning.

In addition, the teacher will track your student's academic progress using Canvas. Students, families, teachers, and staff will learn to use these tools together. The first few days can be difficult, but working together, we are confident that the benefits of Canvas will be seen quickly.

We know from the experience of other school districts that have already opened online that we will have obstacles along the way when classes reopen. Tomorrow will not be a perfect day. But we also know from experience that patience and understanding on everyone's part will help mitigate obstacles. We will all need to practice patience and flexibility when we return to class. With a little work and a little time we will get it right.

See our welcome back to school message here!

This is a historic and challenging school opening. We are committed to providing an extraordinary education in this new way. I am thankful for our teachers and staff, who have worked hard preparing to start tomorrow. They are committed to serving their children and helping them succeed, regardless of the challenges that stand in our way.

I am also grateful to you and for the patience you will give us all as we begin online school tomorrow morning, a start like never before. This is an adventure for all of us and I am grateful for your cooperation and support.

Sincerely,

Kirsten Vital

Superintendent

PS: If you need technology support, all instructions and information about Canvas are located on each school website and on the District website, under "Technology Support for Parents" and under "Canvas Login and Support." Here are some helpful links to where you can get help with access for both students and parents:

• Home and Technology Support Canvas website (located at the top of the Parent Technology Support website and also on each school's website)
• Technology Support for Parents website (located on the main page of the District website)
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Canvas for Students and Families (located on the Canvas support website)
• Parent Video regarding Canvas login and features (located on Canvas Login and Support website) ·
• Introducing the Canvas for Parents Seminar (located on the Canvas Login and Support website)

Attachments:

A Message About Reopening School SPANISH ...

This press release was produced by the Capistrano Unified School District . The views expressed here are the author's own.