The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) began school on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 in a distance learning model. All students will be a part of the WEAVE model that allows for a mix of learning tools and techniques to allow for more teacher interaction, greater support, and an enhanced off-campus education. All Ventura County Districts will begin with distance learning for the start of the Fall 2020 semester, however, Ventura Unified’ s Board of Education decided in July that they would remain on distance learning until January 2021 to provide stability to parents. The District has also moved to a 1:1 technology environment ensuring that every student will receive a District device.
“We have learned from past experiences that providing stability to our families for long term planning rather than switching between models each time a surge happens in our County was important to us,” stated Board President Sabrena Rodriguez. “The Board does reserve the right to make a change to this decision if there is a dramatic turn of events that would allow students to physically return to our campuses safely and according to state and local guidelines.”
The District has launched in-depth Fall 2020 Information webpages to better communicate with their families. Pages are available in English (https://www.venturausd.org/Fall2020.aspx) and Spanish (https://www.venturausd.org/Oto%C3%B1o2020.aspx. Staff have been hard at work at all grade levels preparing first day packets and supplies to ensure each student is as successful as possible in this Fall semester. All students will begin with Orientation dates from August 18-28. Each school will set its own schedule that will incorporate socially distanced pick up of devices, textbooks, school supplies and more. Each school has reached out to their students to notify them of the modified schedule for these two weeks. Graded learning will begin on August 31, 2020.
Live online teaching will follow a set schedule, and there will be additional time for small group sessions. For middle and high school, periods 1, 3, 5 and 7 will take place on Mondays and Thursdays and periods 0, 2, 4 and 6 will be on Tuesdays and Fridays. For elementary, students may choose from a morning or afternoon session with their teachers through online videoconferencing.
To support the emotional and social well-being of their students, VUSD students will receive lessons that focus on the five Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness and relationship skills. In addition, bully prevention, digital citizenship, mindfulness, coping skills and mental health resources will be addressed. Teachers, counselors, school administration, parents and community partners will all be involved in providing these lessons on Wednesdays through videoconferencing.
For additional information, reach out to the VUSD Communications Coordinator at 805-641-5000 or [email protected].
