Huntington Beach City School District

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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Page

Updates: Please note that all previous updates are available to be expanded by clicking on the arrow next to the update.
Update #13 (4/2/20): HBCSD Schools Closed for 2019-2020, Distribution Learning, & Food Service 

 

HBCSD Schools Closed for 2019-2020 School Year

HBCSD Superintendent Gregg Haulk announced yesterday in a phone blast to the community that all HBCSD schools will remain shuttered for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. While physical school campuses are closed, school is still in session. The district will continue to focus on distance learning and food service as we move forward to support our students during this turbulent time as a result of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Updates about these essential services will be shared with the community as any necessary modifications are made.

 

Distance Learning

This week, HBCSD completed the first full week of Distance Learning. Our gratitude goes out to all teachers, technology TOSAs, technology department, classified staff, and administrators for jumping into this new venture head first. to continue to provide an excellent education for our students and families. As we adjust for long term school closure, we will continue to make adjustments as we move forward farther into this learning model to continue to provide an excellent education for our students and families. To better serve our community, we ask that families complete the Family Survey Regarding Distance Learning by Tuesday, April 7, 2020. We thank you for your grace and patience as we all make adjustments to serve your children and your family. 

 

Chromebook Distribution

Over the past week, HBCSD has distributed more than 1,500 Chromebooks to families to support the new distance learning model. This effort was driven by the hard work of classified staff members and volunteers from across the district who transported, organized, prepared, and ultimately passed out devices for student use. Our teachers also did a great job in working alongside the district to assist in targeted efforts to support potentially at-risk families. 

 

However, we know that this work is not done as there are families that are still in need of a device. Here are the steps we are taking to support those families:

  • Some families may not have received a device or the number of devices originally requested. We are analyzing this data with our distribution management system that was created. We hope to have this information compiled early next week. 
  • We are currently planning for more distribution of devices and have also kept the Needs Assessment open for families to use to request a device.
  • We will be working alongside our teachers on the front lines, to help identify families that may not have completed a request to ensure that learning continues for all students. 
  • If you have a question or concern regarding Chromebook Distribution please complete a Community Input form or call (714)-964-8888 x2050. We will do our best to respond within 2 business days to any request, but do appreciate your patience in advance. 

 

Food Service to continue at Perry ES (10:00 - 11:00 a.m.) and Peterson ES (11:00 a.m. - Noon)

The HBCSD Food & Nutrition Services Department, Transportation Department, and army of classified staff and volunteers have passed out 7,063 "Grab N Go" meals since March 17, 2020!! 

 

This week food service was expanded to include both Perry ES (10:00 - 11:00 a.m.) and Peterson ES (11:00 a.m. - Noon). While distribution numbers have fluctuated over the past three weeks, we have consistently provided at least 500 meals per day across both sites. We will continue to operate these two locations next week (April 6 - 10) but will not distribute meals during out scheduled Spring Break (April 13-17). 

Update #12 (4/1/20): HBCSD Schools to remain closed until May 1st, Chromebook Distribution Tomorrow (4/2), & More

 

School Closure extended to May 1, 2020

HBCSD has extended the closure of schools through May 1, 2020.

 

However, earlier today Governor Newsom and State Superintendent Thurmond made an announcement regarding school closures and distance learning. Click here for the letter released by Superintendent Thurmond yesterday (3/31/20). HBCSD plans to review any guidance documents received from the state as a result of this announcement and will provide an update to the community on Friday, April 3, 2020.

 

Chromebook Distribution Tomorrow April 2 @ Sowers MS!!

Tomorrow, April 2, 2020 HBCSD will initiate a second wave of Chromebook distributions to our families that requested more than one device or still have not yet picked up their first device. The distribution at Sowers MS (9300 Indianapolis Avenue) is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Here are the details:

  • Any family who requested one device but did not pick it up yet are asked to come from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
  • Any family that needs to switch a device due to technological difficulties is encouraged to come to Sowers MS from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. However, families will be able to change the device anytime tomorrow during distribution hours.
  • Families that requested more than one device will be able to pick up a second device from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • Families that requested 3 or more devices will be supported on a case by case basis and will be dependent on inventory of devices available. An additional wave of distribution will be run for these families as needed next week.
  • An email from the district will not be sent out to families who requested devices.
  • All families picking up a device need to submit an agreement form (see below). Hard copies are available but IF families are able to print it out that helps to streamline the process.

 

Distance Learning

HBCSD transitioned to a distance learning model on Monday, March 30th. Please click here for the Distance Learning page or click here if you are having difficulties with technology and need some support.

 

Food Service continues at Perry ES & Peterson ES

This week we have been piloting a second location for Grab N Go meals at Perry ES (10:00 - 11:00 a.m.) and Peterson ES (11:00 a.m. - Noon). At the end of this week we will review the data on meals distributed and give updates to families for any future modifications that best serve our families.

  • Please note that HBCSD will not provide meals during our scheduled Spring Break from April 13 - 17, 2020.

 

Update #11 (3/27/20): Distance Learning begins March 30th & Chromebook Distribution 

HBCSD will transition to a distance learning model starting on Monday, March 30th. A HUGE thank you to our amazing teachers, administration, and staff who have been working hard to get ready for this new learning model to be implemented. Superintendent Haulk has released a letter to families with information on this new learning model, support tips, and suggested home learning schedules. Please click on the PDF below for the letter!

 

(Updated 3.30.20 @ 9:15am)

The "Distance Learning" webpage is up! Click here to go to the page!


Chromebook Distribution

Today, we began distributing Chromebooks to families at Sowers Middle School who requested a device on the Needs Assessment that was sent out last weekend. This initial wave of distribution will continue on Monday, March 30 for families that already received an email from the district office with a specific time period to pick up the device. Due to the high volume of requests, each household will receive one Chromebook at this time.


The second wave of distribution will be held on Thursday, April 2nd. Families that requested more than one device will be able to pick up additional devices on that day. All families will receive an email by Wednesday, April 1st with their specific pick up time. Please note that teachers and staff are aware that some families may not have access to distance learning until the second half of the week and will work with families accordingly. IF you have NOT YET made a request for a device please complete the Needs Assessment form here.

Update #10 (3/26/20): Chromebook Distribution & Food Service Expansion
Chromebook Distribution: Friday (3/27), Monday (3/30), Tuesday (3/31)**
HBCSD will begin distributing Chromebooks to those families that completed the "Needs Assessment" during the survey window over last weekend. We received approximately 1,200 requests from families for a device and our technology department, alongside classified staff, have been working tirelessly to get computers ready for distribution. Due to the high volume of requests, all families that submitted a request will receive one device during this first wave of distribution to ensure that each household has at least one device. We will look to support the 428 families that requested more than one device with additional devices after this initial need is met. If a family did not complete the "Needs Assessment", there will be an opportunity to submit a request next week. In addition, at-risk families that may not have submitted a request will receive targeted follow-ups to ensure that all families are given access to a device. Please see the timeline below for more full details. 

Thursday, March 26, 2020
Families will receive an email with a specific time to pick up a device on Friday (3/27/20) or Monday (3/30/20). Tuesday (3/31/20)** will be a tentative distribution date as needed. We ask that families respect their designated pick up time in order to expedite the distribution. We plan to distribute approximately 600 computers each day. 
 
Friday, March 27, 2020 and Monday, March 30, 2020
Distribution Location: Sowers Middle School (9300 Indianapolis Avenue)
Time(s): 9:00 a.m. - Noon; 1:00 - 3:00pm
Details: Families who have received a confirmation email with their specific time period can pick up their Chromebooks. Please pull in the front parking lot on Indianapolis Avenue. We appreciate your patience! 

Tuesday, March 31, 2020** 
Distribution Location: Sowers Middle School or TBD
Time: 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Details: This is a tentative distribution date for families that may not have received a Chromebook during their scheduled time period. 
 
WiFi / Internet Access
Spectrum is offering 60 days of free internet for households with K-12 students if they reside in a Spectrum service area. This offer is limited to new accounts that do not currently have a Spectrum internet subscription. This includes free installation. Families are encouraged to call 1-844-579-3743 or visit https://www.spectrum.com/  for more information. 
 
Food Service Expansion (3/30/20 - 4/3/20)
HBCSD will be piloting the expansion of "Grab N Go" meal service to an additional location next week (3/30/20 - 4/3/20). Families will be able to pick up a meal at Perry Elementary School (19231 Harding Lane) from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. every day during this pilot week. We will have approximately 300 meals ready to serve on those days at this new location. After the week ends we will determine if there is a need to run both sites in the future.   
Update #9 (March 23): Student Learning; Food Service Continues

Student Learning
A week long packet of ungraded enrichment activities will be available for pick up tomorrow (3/24/20) at Sowers Middle School from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. These packets are the same activities that are currently available on the "Student Activities at Home" page. Families do not need to pick up a packet but there will be enough available for all families to have one grade level packet for their student(s). These activities are not required, but encouraged to keep students engaged. 
(Update @ 3:58pm: If you are a 3rd grade family please wait until 10:30am to pick up a packet as they were not originally included in the first shipment from the printer.)
 
HBCSD continues to focus on distance learning for our students as site administrators, teachers, and district staff are participating in training this week to be prepared to support our students online. We are also planning the distribution of Chromebooks after receiving more than 1,500 requests for a device on the "Needs Assessment" completed by our school community. Stay tuned! 

Food Service
Last week over 2,000 meals were distributed to families during our "Grab N Go" service at offered at Peterson ES!! This service will continue on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to Noon at Peterson ES (20661 Farnsworth Lane) with the exception of our scheduled Spring break from April 13 - 17. Also, we are working on expanding this food service for an additional school site in the near future!    

(Please note: Meals are served to families in their vehicles only. We are not able to accept walk-ups or bike-riders at this time.)
Update #8 (March 20): HBCSD Needs Assessment
Huntington Beach City School District is in the process of developing a Distance Learning Implementation Plan to support student learning. A key component to delivering learning content during school closures will require students to be able to access curriculum digitally. As such, we need to make sure every student has a device to use at home. We ask that families complete a survey by Sunday, March 22 at 11:59pm so we can determine the needs of our families and prepare accordingly. If your student(s) have access to a computer and internet connection you do NOT need to complete the survey. Please click here to access the Needs Assessment survey.
 
Update #7 (March 19): Ungraded Enrichment Activities
All HBCSD students are encouraged to engage with the following grade level specific ungraded enrichment activities. The activities are found in folders by date through March 27, 2020. Each day, packets for that day's activities will be available for pick up at Peterson ES (20661 Farnsworth Lane) from 11:00 a.m. - Noon.  
 
HBCSD will move towards distance learning for our students starting on March 30, 2020. Next week, we will gauge our community's access to a computer/device with WiFi/Internet access to support our students' continued learning. This curriculum will be grade level specific and developed by our teachers. 
 
Please click here to access the ungraded enrichment activities for your student(s).  or click on "Student Activities at Home" on this page. 
Update #6 (March 18)
As we all continue to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, HBCSD offers additional FAQs to our school community as it pertains to: extension of school closure, student learning, food services, and ongoing communication. 
 
Will HBCSD be extending school closure beyond March 27th?
Per local and state authorities, it is not yet realistic to have students return back to HBCSD schools. As such, HBCSD schools will remain closed until April 20, 2020. 

Will the District Office remain open during school closure?
Yes, the district office will remain open but will operate with a reduced staff on site. The office will not be open to the public or community until further notice to ensure adherence with local guidelines.  
 
What curriculum plans does HBCSD have during school closure?
Starting March 19th, HBCSD will have a link on this page that will direct students to ungraded enrichment activities. These grade level specific activities will also be available to be picked up as packets at Peterson ES (20661 Farnsworth Lane) from 11:00 a.m. to Noon daily on weekdays.
 
HBCSD will move towards distance learning for our students starting on March 30, 2020. Next week, we will gauge our community's access to a home computer/device and WiFi/Internet and provide devices and resources to support our students' continued learning. This curriculum will be grade level specific and developed by our teachers. 
 
Please know that our teachers and staff are sending lots of positive thoughts and best wishes to our community during this time apart. Close connections and relationships between educators and our families continue to be a strength of this school community, especially during this difficult time. However, we respectfully have asked educators to refrain from individual contact with families and to not provide individual lessons or programming. This ensures that we maintain equal access to the curriculum and instruction for all students. 
 
Will HBCSD continue to provide food services?
Yes, HBCSD will continue to provide meals for families at Peterson ES (20661 Farnsworth Lane) from 11:00 a.m. - Noon daily on all weekdays. These meals are FREE for ANY child that is under 18 years of age. There is no paperwork required but children must be in the vehicle and meals should not be consumed at the school site. (Note: Food Service will not be provided from April 13-17.)
 
When and how will HBCSD provide updates?
We are frequently posting new updates on this webpage ("COVID-19") and on social media (Facebook/Twitter: @HBCSchools). If you do not have a social media account, a running feed of both Facebook and Twitter can be found at the bottom of our home page: www.hbcsd.us. If there are any major announcements we will also send out a mass phone call to the community. If you are not receiving phone blasts let us know here.
 
We also encourage our community to submit their thoughts on our Community Input Form. Many questions will be answered through our updates/posts, however we will do our best to respond to submitted responses as soon as possible. 

For up up to the minute information from public health agencies click on the following links:OC Health Care Agency , CA Department of Public Health, Orange County Department of Education, CA Department of Education, Office of CA Governor. 
Update #5 (March 16)
HBCSD continues to focus on the health and wellness of our students and offers the following FAQs to our school community as it pertains to: student learning, food services, and ongoing communication. 
 
What will the delivery of instruction look like in HBCSD?
This week HBCSD will provide daily ungraded enrichment activities for all HBCSD students by grade level. These activities will be released online daily through a Student Portal. These activities will also be made available in packet form for pick up at a school site for those that are not able to access the information online. Stay tuned for more information as this process is currently being developed by the Educational Services department. 
 
Will HBCSD be providing food services?
Yes, HBCSD will provide a drive-through "Grab n Go" opportunity for families to pick up a lunch from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. starting tomorrow (3/17/20) at Peterson Elementary School (20661 Farnsworth Lane). These meals are FREE for ANY child that is under 18 years of age. There is no paperwork required but children must be in the vehicle and meals should not be consumed at the school site. Please see the image ("HBCSD Food Services during School Closure") at the bottom of this update for more information.
 
When and how will HBCSD provide updates?
As this is a rapidly evolving situation, if there are any new developments we will update this webpage ("COVID-19") and on social media (Facebook/Twitter: @HBCSchools) by 3:00 p.m. If you do not have a social media account, a running feed of both Facebook and Twitter can be found at the bottom of our home page: www.hbcsd.us. If there are any major announcements we will also send out a mass phone call to the community.
 
We have also expanded our "Community Input" form to include an option to provide comments, concerns, suggestions, or questions about COVID-19. Due to the volume of inquiries, many questions may be answered through our updates on this page. However, we appreciate your patience as we do our best to respond to all submitted responses in a timely manner. Please click on the following link to access this form: Community Input Form
 
We encourage families to access up to the minute information from public health agencies, (OC Health Care Agency, CA Department of Public Health), educational agencies (Orange County Department of Education, CA Department of Education), and state government (Office of CA Governor) as updates are provided on the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. 
 
What do I do if I am not receiving mass phone blasts?
If you have a student(s) in an HBCSD school and have not received phone messages please click on the following link to update/provide this information. 
 
Click here to receive HBCSD phone calls
 
Update #4 (March 13): Optional Student Activities during school closure. (See "COVID-19 Update 4" below) 
Superintendent Haulk has announced that students will not be required to complete any work during the closure at this time. He has released a list of optional student activities to help keep children engaged and active. Please note that these are not required activities. Click on the link "COVID-19 Update 4" to access this list.
Update #3 (March 13): HBCSD Schools closed from Monday, March 16 - Friday, March 27

HBCSD's Board of Education met in an Emergency Board Meeting today and unanimously voted to temporarily close all HBCSD schools and offices effective Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27 out of an abundance of caution for student, staff, and community safety.  The public health crisis created by COVID-19 has put our institutions, including K-12 school districts, in uncharted territory and we must take steps to prevent the spread of the illness. In addition to proactive actions taken by HBCSD, we will continue to follow the guidance of public health experts to protect our students, families, staff and the community. Students will not be provided work to complete, but rather a list of activities to do at home will be posted on our website to keep students active. 
This is a stressful time for families and everyone involved so we thank you for your understanding of the many unique considerations of K-12 school districts in serving our diverse population and needs. 
 
Update #2 (March 12, 2020):
Superintendent Haulk has released an additional update that cancels or postpones all "non-essential" gatherings and field trips. In addition, all families are reminded that if your child is running a fever or is feeling sick, to keep your student home for the duration of the illness. (See "COVID-19 Update #2")
Update #1 (March 12, 2020):
HBCSD is aware of the newly issued guidelines from Governor Newsom and the California Department of Public Health. This morning Superintendent Haulk sent a phone message out to all HBCSD and staff that indicated the following events would be cancelled: all Community Connections Meetings, the Grand Opening of the Dywer Gym, and the Roots of Rock Concert. That message is provided in the "COVID-19 Update #1" on this page. HBCSD will follow additional guidance from state agencies and work alongside the OC Health Care Agency (OCHCA), the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and other Orange County K-12 public school districts. 
 
The California Department of Public Health has not updated the last guidance to schools that was released on March 7, 2020. As such, all K-12 public schools in Orange County remain open.  
HBCSD continues to monitor and follow the guidance provided by local public health authorities as it relates to the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19. This resource page will provide updates as information becomes available. Here is what we know...
 
  • There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in HBCSD schools. 

  • The Orange County Health Care Agency acknowledges that "the situation is rapidly evolving" but they report that the risk to the general public remains low. 

  • HBCSD custodial staff follow proper cleaning and disinfecting techniques on a daily basis. However, out of an abundance of caution, the district is currently planning to provide additional cleaning of HBCSD classrooms and facilities. 

  • District staff is developing plans to address potential school closure should that become a recommendation from the local public health agencies. The decision to close a school would be made in coordination with the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Department of Education. 

  • All HBCSD students, families, and staff should continue to practice good health hygiene which includes washing your hands, covering coughs/sneezes, avoiding touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth, etc...), and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. 

  • Updates from the Orange County Health Care Agency are provided here.

  • Updates from the Orange County Department of Education are provided here.

Links/Resources