Whether in pods or at home, local students returned to school one way or another.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Students in Glendale Unified School District headed back to school on Wednesday and, like everything during this pandemic, it was not a traditional first day of school.

For GUSD, remote learning is how the majority of students are being taught with many parents nearby; however, for some “pod learning” was part of the first day back.

“It was fun,” said Trevor Atwater, a sixth grader at Lincoln Elementary School.

He and his brother Jared attended the first day of school in Pod C. There were a total of three people in their pod. Pods are classrooms that have a greatly reduced number of students; there are only 1,200 students in pods in the school district. They were populated on a first come basis and are staffed by a GUSD staff member.

Both kids wore their masks and were well aware of COVID-19 restrictions. Wearing face coverings is now a natural thing for them. Their mother was grateful that the district offered this option though it doesn’t replace in-person school – especially not seeing friends although Trevor and Jared have learned to deal with that too.

“We see our friends,” Jared said.

“It’s a virtual connection,” Trevor added.

For others the first day of school started with remote learning at home on Chromebooks.

“It was fine. We had one hour-long Zoom,” said Lee Torres, a third grader at La Crescenta Elementary School. “[I saw] most of my friends.”

His brother Ollie also said the first day was fine but he only knew one kid in his first grade class.

“Most of the kids were on mute and when they raised their hands the teacher told them to unmute,” Ollie said.

The school day was short; in fact, the whole week will be short as students, teachers and parents get used to the new schedules.

There has been some confusion. Lee and Ollie’s mom Anna thought the schedule would be similar to remote learning in March. But she discovered her kids are now attending a class as part of a group, then there is a break for about an hour and then students break into smaller groups. There are apparently four hours of class time held on and off during the day. Then there were headphone issues with one child that she wasn’t immediately aware of. Both brothers are in the same room when they are attending class, along with their little brother River who has yet to start school. While having the students on headphones is important to keep classes separate it means parents cannot hear the teachers.

Anna is encouraged that her sons will be going to La Crescenta Elementary to pick up books, study guides and other items from their specific teachers. Lee’s teacher was able to give him books in March when the school closed and it helped. She is hopeful that any future issues will be worked out as they continue to remote learn.

The district has had time to review what didn’t work in March after the sudden school closures and what they hope will work now.

“It’s like building a plane while flying it,” said Dr. Armina Gharpetian, president of the GUSD board of education.

She said district staff has been working on options of how to return to school since the Los Angeles County Public Health ordered school closures in March.

“No district had to face this … remote learning like this,” she said. “Nobody knew what Zoom was [back then].”

It was new to everyone and the district administration, staff and board of education worked with parents, students, teachers and community members as they created a “new normal” way of attending school.

Gharpetian added it took a lot of communication, cooperation and learning from the past in preparation for the new school year.

“It has been a challenge,” said Dr. Vivian Ekchian, GUSD superintendent. 

GUSD has made national headlines with its “pod” decision. Ekchian said she knew something had to be done to accommodate working parents.

“I saw the need based on working parents who contacted us,” Ekchian said.

The pods were a way to start answering those needs. There were a limited number of pods when the program began and Ekchian said there is a waiting list of students who want to attend school via the pods.

Each pod has a small number of students who are able to safely socially distance. Prior to entering any school, everyone – students or adults – must have their temperatures taken. All must wear face coverings and practice all requirements set in place by LA County Public Health.

“The [students] don’t go out of the classroom for their lunches,” Ekchian said.

“Food is delivered to their classrooms.”

The district cleans and disinfects classrooms and playground equipment often. They have converted the water fountains to include hand-washing stations as well.

Ekchian said she is hoping to expand the pod program but must have more staff members who agree to work at the school campuses in order to do so.

The pods are also giving the district staff a glimpse into what will work when students are allowed to return to school. There may be a slow return that might include some type of mixed in-person and remote learning protocol.

COVID-19 has affected many things in the district including families who are now struggling after losing their jobs or benefits.

“We are now 54% free and reduced fee meals,” Ekchian said of the percentage of students taking part in the free and reduced fee meal program.

On Wednesday Lincoln Elementary students who were not in pods and their parents/guardians drove by the campus to pick up their schoolbooks and programs. There was a sense of excitement when they saw their principal and school staff. 

Getting kids excited for school and creating school spirit is something a group of parents of Crescenta Valley High School senior students are working to create. They began by coming up with a new twist on a school tradition: Senior Sunrise.

“Traditionally, seniors would gather at the [track and] field on the Sunday before the first day of school,” said Adrienne Griffin, a mom of a senior this school year.

This year, due to COVID-19 and remote learning, Senior Sunrise is not possible. Griffin wanted to do something to excite seniors as they begin the final phase of their K through 12 academic career. She started a Facebook page titled Parents of CVHS Senior Class of 2021. She had a good response from parents who felt the same as she did. The first thing they decided to do was to rethink the Senior Sunrise. The parents worked together and created a mural that included all the names of the senior class. Griffin is an artist by trade and was able to create a sunrise. The idea was to allow seniors to come and take a photo in front of the mural prior to the first day of school.

Lorna Simon, a participating parent, reached out to several places, including CVHS, to find somewhere to hang the mural but had no success. She then contacted the American Legion Post 288, which immediately said yes. The mural is now hung on the side of the north side of the building and can be accessed via the parking lot.

The mural will be up until late Saturday afternoon for any seniors who would like their photo taken next to it.

Any parent of a senior at CVHS who would like to join the parent Facebook group Parents of CVHS Senior Class of 2021 is welcome to do so. The group has a lot of other ideas and plans to support seniors throughout the year.

  Mary Okeefe