Head of School's Message: September 14

On Thursday’s call with K-12 calls, LA County Public Health Department (LACPHD) reported that new infections in the county are now at 9 per 100,000, with the positivity rate at 4%. These numbers are significant improvements, but fears of a post-Labor Day surge, the arrival of flu season, and the consequences of infections spreading because of a rush back to normal lead to continued caution about schools being allowed to re-open. As we reported last week, it remains unlikely that Chandler will be back for in-person learning before early November. The health departments determine when schools can return. Pasadena’s Health Department can tighten LA County’s restrictions, but cannot relax them.

 

You may have read that small groups of students with special needs that include those who are English language learners, children who need support with individual educational plans, and those receiving special assessments can return to campuses this week as long as the total does not exceed 10% of a school’s total enrollment. This concession is for those children whose needs are impossible to meet through distance learning. We know that distance learning is a challenge, but Chandler has no students whose needs are impossible to meet while we remain closed, so this special exemption does not apply to us.

 

The kids are alright. That was the perspective from Chandler faculty last week reporting on the new school year’s first days of distance learning. Teachers in kindergarten, sixth and seventh grade, where most of Chandler’s new students are enrolled, said they were surprised that everyone appeared much more comfortable and settled than usual at the beginning of a school year. Being at home and feeling safe on screen made it easier for the new students to connect with their new community. It’s not the same as being on campus, and one of the teachers said she felt sad when a new student told her in a breakout room that while distance learning was O.K., he felt he was missing the middle school experience.

 

Lots of lessons are being learned. A kindergarten teacher mentioned that one of her students grew tearful towards the end of a class. She stayed on Zoom to talk to her after everyone had left.

 

When asked what the matter was, the little girl rubbed her eyes and said, “I get upset when I don’t get what I want.” Chandler students supported by you and their teachers are rising to the challenges of distance learning. Still, sometimes it doesn’t work as they would want it to work, and in dealing with those moments by themselves, they become the resilient, independent young people we want them to become.