WEEKLY MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL TAKIMOTO

May 10, 2020
 
Hello Harding Community,
 
We are coming up on the end of the third trimester and our first shelter at home.  We appreciate everyone’s involvement and support.  We can make it!
 
We are solidifying plans to wrap up this year and starting to sketch out the next.  Nothing will be set for next year until we are right on top of it; early August if we are lucky.  We should all plan on it being different.
 
Superintendent Duffy has shared an initial plan that supports continued social distancing.  This type of plan involves students in cohorts no larger than ten attending school for partial days two or three days a week.  Additionally, the City of El Cerrito has reached out so they can try to coordinate childcare in locations around the city with whatever the plan may be. At this time, this seems like a best case scenario. All of us will continue to follow state and county mandates and guidelines throughout the planning and implementation processes, informing families when we can.
 
In any case, we should expect some form of blended learning; daily learning activities both at home and in the school building.  During this shelter in place, Harding teachers have been learning, practicing, and evaluating a variety of remote learning practices and resources. We seek to be thoughtful about the instructional program in any scenario, and continue our learning about effective instruction in a pandemic.
 
I have asked and received permission for students to keep their tablets over the summer. Student PowerSchool records will not be rolled over into the next grade level until August allowing student access to online learning in Clever and their google classroom through July.  Families will still have access to the general learning guides and resources that teachers have compiled for continued learning and study.
 
We look forward to working with your children in person next year.  If you know that your child will not be returning to Harding next year, please email dpinkston@wccusd.net or tell your child’s teacher as soon as possible.
 
Take care and stay safe.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mrs. Takimoto