Sheltering in Place: Primary Info & Resources

Sheltering in Place: Primary Info & Resources

Mar 17, 2020 | News

By the time you read this we will be heading into the latest stage of this crisis – SHELTER IN PLACE.  We all have so many questions, so many unknowns about what this means and what things will look like.  In this letter, I will attempt to provide some guidance and clarity around some questions connected to Chabot.

Please know that almost all links in this letter can be found on our Chabot website  in the new COVID 19 RESOURCES section.

CHABOT COMMUNITY HEALTH – One Chabot family with two children in grades K-3 has informed me that they are strongly suspected of having COVID-19. The mother had been having symptoms for two weeks. When she saw a doctor recently, they confirmed that her symptoms were consistent with COVID-19, but did not do an official test because her case was not severe. Dad and children have also been having mild symptoms and are presumed to have the virus. Please do keep me informed about your family’s health so I can let the community know. As always, we should all be taking the necessary steps (hand washing, social distancing, etc) to reduce transmission to those among us who are most vulnerable for potential complications.

SUPPORTING EACH OTHER:  In spirit of making sure all our Chabot families stay safe, healthy, and have enough food, we’re rallying together and encourage you to consider supporting in one of two ways:

  1. Donating money so that funds can help purchase groceries or other basic needs.

  2. Want to join our effort to help? Volunteers may be needed to help purchase or deliver gift cards, or possibly groceries if a family is quarantined and needs our help.

Are you a Chabot family in need of a grocery gift card or quarantined in need of an extra hand to purchase items? Please reach out to foodforchabot@gmail.com so we can work with you to coordinate our efforts. Please be sure to leave your students’ full names, address, and grades so we can verify.  Thank you all for coming together in support of our community! We are stronger together and will all make it through this.

TALKING TO YOUR CHILDREN – My general rule for talking to kids about tough things is to provide the most minimal, factual information needed to explain what is going on, and then take their cues.  If they ask more questions, answer them in the most straightforward way possible – do not overshare. If they don’t have questions, great – go onto something else. Provide genuine assurance to your children.  This is a big problem, but there are brilliant adults working on solving this problem.  We are healthy right now. If someone in our family gets sick, we will take care of them and doctors will help.

EXPECTATIONS OF TEACHERS:  Our teachers are still working now through next Thursday, March 26 when Spring Break starts.  During this time, they will be working on report cards and preparing for Parent-Teacher conferences which will happen virtually or on the phone.  They will also be updating the CONTINUITY OF LEARNING PLANS and sending out other educational resources for you to work on with your students during this time.  In addition to Parent Teacher Conferences, all teachers will be sending home weekly whole class communication and will be responding to emails during their normal working hours.  If school closure goes on far beyond Spring Break, we will explore Google Classroom for all of our students in Grades 2-5.

SPECIAL EDUCATION – Given that this a complete closure of all OUSD campuses, Special Education and related services will not be provided for the duration of the closure. Given that there is no mandatory online or virtual learning and this is a true stoppage of instruction, however, OUSD is not obliged to provide Special Education services. As with any period of time when school is not in session for more than five days, timelines for assessments will be paused.

Every effort will be made to hold virtual IEPs for those that are due during this period.

IDEAS TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN THINKING, LEARNING AND SANE –

  • SET UP A SCHEDULE – but don’t be afraid to bend it – these are unprecedented times – our children need structure, but they also need flexibility, fun, and choice.  For some youngsters, choice is key – let them build the schedule – literally give them index cards with what needs to be done each day (reading, math, writing, games, exercise, chores . . . ) and let them decide which time slot to put each one into.  Do not be afraid of positive incentives – 1 hour of school work = 30 minutes of screen time or whatever you want. Here is a SAMPLE SCHEDULE;  Here is another one for COMIC RELIEF – be sure to start on Day 1 and scroll to Day 4

  • Work on a Science Fair Project – Thank you, Ms. Ward!

Tools – Student Planning Packet – Primary Grades

Tools – Student Planning Packet – Upper Grades

2019-20 OUSD Science Fair Participation Guidelines

2020 Science Fair packet

  • Do some ART ACTIVITIES from Ms. Amber

  • Get active with these PE RESOURCES from Coach Jon

  • Go on line – there are a myriad of great learning options on our Library Home Page – check out –   Accessing School Content Online

  • Write a letter – what a great time to revive this lost art!  Send pictures and letters to relatives in other places, start a pen pal exchange with some friends.  If any Chabot student wants to write me a letter during this time, snap a photo of it and send it to my email – I will do my absolute best to write back!

  • Ritualize some sort of gratitude practice – there is so much to appreciate, even now – especially now

  • Give extra love, treats, cuddles, and comfort – we all need it!

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM REGISTRATION has been postponed until further notice

Please join me in sending our most heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and good wishes to all those whose health and families are directly impacted by COVID-19 and to the medical practitioners who are risking their own health to serve them.

Please know that I am still available to this community and very open to emails.  It is so important that we stay connected during these times of “distancing”.

In community,

Jessica

Food and Health Resources:

Education Resources:

Mutual Aid Resources: (offer/request financial and other support such as errands, cooking, supplies, etc)

Family Resources:

PLANS Bay Area Comprehensive Resource Guide:

Message from Principal Cannon Regarding School Closure

Message from Principal Cannon Regarding School Closure

Mar 13, 2020 | News

Most of you have probably already heard that all OUSD schools will be closed from 6pm at least through Spring Break (April 5).  I can say with absolute certainty that this decision was not made lightly, and that those who made the decision balanced the essential function of schools with our need to protect public health.

Safety is always our top concern.  More than anything I want all of our community to stay safe during this time. OUSD recognizes that many children rely on our schools for breakfasts and lunches.  “Grab and Go” breakfast and lunch meals will be available for our students. In Northwest/West Oakland, Sankofa Elementary, West Oakland Middle and Hoover Elementary will be open at the following times and children will be able to pick up multiple days worth of food to take home according to the following schedule:

• Monday: 8:00-12:00 (3 breakfasts/3 lunches per student)
• Thursday: 8:00-12:00 (2 breakfasts/2 lunches per student)
• Food is available to any child under 18.
• Please bring a grocery bag or cooler to bring food home for the week.

Additionally, Chabot families are organizing systems to support each other during this time. While school is closed, if you find yourself needing food or other supplies delivered, please reach out to any of us in the office (Jessica.Cannon@ousd.org, Celia.Bermeo@ousd.org, eve.isbell@ousd.org, Margaret.Thorp@ousd.org ) – we can connect you to ways to have groceries delivered funded by Chabot Families. Also, we do have dried goods in a Food Pantry – please stop by the office today between 3:30 and 6 if you would like some.  

Also, please make sure to keep me and the office up to date about your health and your family’s health.  Although we will not be at school, we will all be working remotely and checking email during normal work hours.  If you learn that anyone in your family has been exposed to or diagnosed with Covid-19, please let us know.

We will continue to send out frequent updates through Room Parents, Broadcasts, and School Messenger. We will make every effort to keep our web site up to date. Please check your emails frequently.

Another one of our main goals is to ensure that every Chabot student has access to the resources necessary to continue his/her learning at home.  While we know that work packets and on line assignments are no replacement for face to face instruction, we also recognize that maintaining an academic routine and practicing their skills will be very important for our young children.

We want to make sure that every Chabot student has access to a computer.  We are arranging check outs of a limited number of Chromebooks for families who do not have a computer or families whose primary computer needs to be used by a parent for work.  If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please come to A5 between 3 and 6 pm today.

Teachers have begun creating CONTINUITY OF LEARNING PLANS. These will continue to evolve over the next school days. You can access your grade level plan through the link above or on our website. If school remains closed for a more extended time, we will make every effort to move to Google Classrooms, especially for Grades 2-5.

The most important thing any student should do at home is read, read, read! Read as a family, read out loud, read silently – talk about what you read, write about what you read, draw about what you read. Luckily, in today’s world, almost every piece of literature can be accessed on line. Additionally, our library will be open for students to check out extra books today after school.

Another great learning option is to work on your Science Fair project – please see the complete SCIENCE FAIR PACKET for details. Ms. Ward will have boards available today after school in the Science Lab.

As parents, our first concern is always our children. I can say that the number one thing your children need right now is you. Double down on attachment, bend the rules, stay up late, cuddle, be close, be silly . . . . fill your homes with love.

These are tough times, there is no doubt. In the deepest place of my heart, I believe that challenging times give us all the opportunity to be our best selves and to come together as community in ways we may not have envisioned before. I am holding each of you and your families in my hearts and in my prayers.

With deep respect,
Jessica Cannon

Message from Principal Cannon Regarding School Closure

Continuity of Education Plan During Chabot Closure

Mar 13, 2020 | News

All OUSD schools, including Chabot, will be closed to students starting at 6pm, on Friday, March 13 and will remain closed through Spring Break. OUSD schools are tentatively scheduled to reopen on Monday, April 6th.

Now that Chabot will be closed for an extended period, Ms. Cannon and our teachers are working on a Continuity of Education Learning Plan for students and families to use.

You can find it online in this Google Drive folder. It is still being updated so will live here for now. Once complete we can make copies available for download on the website.

Again, you can access the Continuity of Education Learning Plan here.

For OUSD information on closures, any changing circumstances, school services, and food availability please visit www.ousd.org/coronavirus for the latest information.

You can also follow OUSD on Facebook and/or Twitter for updates.