WEEKLY MESSAGE | 11.14.20
Hi all,
I hope you’re well. It’s the season of giving thanks and I want to thank all of you for investing in Larchmont through the Annual Giving Drive. Despite the pandemic we’ve raised $1.17m and now a group of you have generously donated to a challenge grant that would match further donations dollar for dollar up to $75,000. Whether you’ve already donated or haven’t yet hadn’t yet had the chance – this is an opportunity to DOUBLE the impact of your donation if you donate by 11/20. Please visit our website to donate. Thank you!
As a gesture of gratitude to our amazing staff, our wonderful Edible Schoolyard Kitchen staff are preparing a special meal for all staff and their families for staff to pick up and eat at home. We also know the salary freeze has been a strain when staff are working so hard. We’re preparing to apply for loan forgiveness for the PPP loan. Loan forgiveness would enable us to unfreeze salaries.
Reopening continues to be top of mind for everyone in our community. The public health metrics are showing LA County continues to be in the Purple Tier, indicating the most widespread community transmission of COVID with 3.8% positivity in testing and 7.6 cases per 100,000 residents and 11.5 cases per 100,000 residents in recent days. LA County would need to be below 7 cases per 100,000 residents to move to the Red Tier and stay there for 14 days before schools would be aloud to reopen. Given escalating numbers locally and nationally, the colder weather and more indoor gatherings (especially with the holidays soon upon us), this situation does not seem likely to change until at least January. Our plan is to continue monitoring the numbers and if LA can move to the Red Tier by January 1st to plan on reopening in February (and to continue rolling that timeline forward based on when we do move to the Red Tier). In the meantime, in person one on one assessments are happening on campuses and preparation for small hubs for proctored distance learning for our highest need students to begin hopefully before winter break is underway. Read more about the challenges here.
Finally, I wanted to share that our beginning of year diagnostic academic data shows that our students TK-12 and across subgroups continue to show strong proficiency in English Language Arts while proficiency in math is more mixed with lower levels of proficiency at secondary and bigger gaps between subgroups. Teachers and leaders are continually focused on how best to support students in distance learning. Thank you for your assistance ensuring your students attend every class, every day, on time and that they fully participate with cameras on, paying full attention and completing all their work. In the upper grades you can check the To-do function in the top left of your student’s google classroom homepage to instantly see what work is outstanding for your student. I have 3 school-aged kids at home myself and I know how challenging it is to manage work and home simultaneously right now. Let us know how we can help and know that we’re committed to supporting your student and family through this time. Thank you.
Warmly,
Amy Held