Heather Becksted

Greetings South Bay District Families. The school board’s decision to go back to distance learning after the Thanksgiving break has generated a lot of questions, so we’d like to clarify expectations and answer questions many of you have.

Trimester 2 will begin on Nov. 30th after the Thanksgiving break. Morning and afternoon cohorts will continue as planned, but will all be distance learning. If your student was going to move cohorts, they will continue to move to their new cohort as planned. If you have any questions about which cohort your student is in please contact either the Pine Hill (443-4596) or South Bay (443-4828) offices.
All students will be required to quarantine for the first two weeks after Thanksgiving Break. On the third week after Thanksgiving break, the week before winter break, our SDC, speech, and other students that receive specialized services on site could be allowed back on campus, provided that they pass the Qualtrics screening. Site principals will be working closely with service providers to schedule opportunities for on campus supports for those students.
Teachers are currently working on rolling out a new online learning platform called Edmentum. This program will provide students a more individualized learning experience that will be based on their STAR Reading and STAR Math assessments, helping to fill gaps in their learning and push them to excel academically.
Curriculum distribution will remain on Mondays for Pine Hill and Fridays for South Bay. Your student’s teacher will let you know if there is a packet waiting for your student.
Food distribution can be picked up at South Bay School on Fridays from 11-1pm for any and all students within the district. This will be a five day food distribution with breakfast and lunch for each child.
The Afterschool program will continue in a distance learning model via Zoom, with support for homework help and online activities to help students maintain their social connections with peers. Pine Hill Explore will be from 3:00-4:00 and South Bay will be from 3:15-4:15.

We know this time is difficult for all families and we appreciate the support of your students and the school. Together we can help one another stay safe and connected. The Family Resource Center is available to all families in the district. Contact Cassi Le-Hue (445-5933) our FRC Coordinator,if your family has a need during this time. Also, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Grimmett (443-4596 ext 11) or Mrs. Becksted (267-9165) if you have any questions or need additional information.

Saludos cordiales, familias del distrito South Bay. La decisión de la Junta de Administración del Distrito Escolar de South Bay Union de volver al aprendizaje a distancia después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias ha generado muchas preguntas, por lo que nos gustaría aclarar las expectativas y responder las preguntas que muchos de ustedes tienen.

El segundo trimestre comenzará el 30 de noviembre después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias. Los grupos de la mañana y de la tarde continuarán según lo planeado, pero todas serán de aprendizaje a distancia. Si su estudiante iba a cambiarse de grupo, continuarán moviéndose a su nuevo grupo según lo planeado. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre a qué grupo pertenece su estudiante, comuníquese con las oficinas de Pine Hill (443-4596) o South Bay (443-4828).
Todos los estudiantes deberán estar en cuarentena durante las primeras dos semanas después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias. En la tercera semana después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias, la semana antes de las vacaciones de invierno, nuestro SDC, estudiantes de foniatría y otros estudiantes que reciben servicios especializados en el sitio pueden volver al campus, siempre que pasen la evaluación de Qualtrics. Los directores de sitio trabajarán en estrecha colaboración con los proveedores de servicios para programar oportunidades de apoyo en el campus para esos estudiantes.
Los maestros están trabajando actualmente en la implementación de una nueva plataforma de aprendizaje en línea llamada Edmentum. Este programa proporcionará a los estudiantes una experiencia de aprendizaje más individualizada que se basará en sus evaluaciones STAR Reading y STAR Math, lo que ayudará a llenar las diferencias en su aprendizaje y los animará a sobresalir académicamente.
La distribución de tareas permanecerá los lunes para Pine Hill y los viernes para South Bay. El maestro de su estudiante le informará si hay un paquete para su estudiante.
La distribución de comida se puede recoger en la escuela South Bay los viernes de 11 a 1 pm para todos los estudiantes del distrito. Esta será una distribución de alimentos de cinco días con desayuno y almuerzo para cada niño.
El programa después de la escuela continuará en un modelo de aprendizaje a distancia a través de Zoom, con apoyo para las tareas y actividades en línea para ayudar a los estudiantes a mantener sus conexiones sociales con sus compañeros. Pine Hill Explore será de 3:00-4:00 y South Bay será de 3:15-4:15.

Sabemos que esto es difícil para todas las familias y agradecemos el apoyo de sus estudiantes y de la escuela. Juntos podemos ayudarnos mutuamente a estar seguros y conectados. El Centro de Recursos Familiares está disponible para todas las familias del distrito. Comuníquese con Cassi Le-Hue (445-5933) nuestro coordinador de FRC, si su familia tiene una necesidad durante este tiempo. Además, no dude en comunicarse con el Sr. Grimmett (443-4596 ext 11) o la Sra. Becksted (267-9165) si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita información adicional.

Gary Storts

November 19, 2020

Dear Pine Hill and South Bay Families,

Last night, the South Bay Union Elementary School District's Governing Board of Trustees voted – with the strong recommendation from Humboldt County Public Health Officer, Dr. Teresa Frankovich – to move all students to distance learning following the Thanksgiving Break. Dr. Frankovich clarified her recommendation via email stating, "Although schools have done a remarkable job of implementing preventative measures to promote safety in on-site education, we anticipate a marked increase in local infections due to travel and gatherings occurring around Thanksgiving. This would threaten rapid identification and containment of cases, leading to increased transmission in the school setting."

When taking Dr. Frankovich's strong recommendation into account, and continued concern for expected travel and gatherings during Christmas and New Years' Eve, after the Thanksgiving Break, all students will be placed in distance learning with the option of returning to on-campus, in-person learning on January 19, 2020.

The District's recommendation and ultimate approval from the South Bay Governing Board did not come without acknowledging the impacts this decision places on students, families, and staff. The many stresses this virus has caused each of our families and too numerous to count. Want I can promise are my commitments to bolster our distance-learning efforts. As a staff, we pride ourselves on our ability to improve continuously. You can expect enhancements to our distance-learning efforts, including more personalized learning opportunities with more frequent student check-ins to maintain positive student-teacher relationships. The District will also work to provide on-campus access to specialized services. Please look for more detailed communication from your school's principal very soon.

My hope, not only as a superintendent but also as a father of a kindergartner and fifth-grader, is that this is the last time we are forced into distance learning. That said, our ability to safely keep our campus doors open depends on our entire community's preventative efforts. Everyone needs to follow the lead of Humboldt's schools by (1) wearing a face-covering, (2) providing 6ft of physical distance, (3) practicing great hand and respiratory hygiene, and (4) staying home if you are feeling sick. If we do these four simple measures when we return to campus in mid-January, I believe we can remain in-person for the remainder of the school year. And our efforts start with the holidays. I urge all our Pine Hill and South Bay stakeholders to follow the Travel and Private Gathering Guidance.

Thank you all in advance for doing your part to ensure when we return to on-campus, in-person laughing and learning on January 19, 2021, we can do so through the end of the school year.

My Very Best,

Gary Storts
Superintendent, South Bay Union Elementary School District

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Gary Storts

Good evening Pine Hill and South Bay Stakeholders.

A Special Board Meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow evening, Wednesday, November 18, 2020. A single item - Humboldt County moving into the RED/Substantial COVID-19 category will be the topic of discussion. The Open Session, which includes public comment, will begin at 6:30 PM. You can access the agenda, packet, and zoom link on our website - southbayusd.org.

My Very Best,

Gary Storts, Superintendent

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South Bay School

Here's your weekly PH/SB News. Please be sure to read, there is lots of important information for families. Have a great evening! https://www.smore.com/adng7

Gary Storts

We have all worked so hard to be able to offer our families the option of on-campus, in-person learning. With the steady increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Humboldt County, you can help Pine Hill and South Bay keep our campus doors open by following the CDPH Guidance for Private Gatherings. Thank you in advance for keeping your family, neighbors, and our greater school community safe and healthy.

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