Neighborhood Enrollment Information
Everyone needs their Up-To Date Immunizations PRIOR to registration 2021-2022 (see Flyer)
For Grades Transitional and Kindergarten ONLY:
Registration 2021-2022 MERGED - TK.pdf
For Grades 1 -5 New Students ONLY:
Registration 2021-2022 New Gr 1-5-MERGED.pdf
- Free Covid Testing Sites in the San Diego Area
Covid Testing Locations
Dear Families,
On behalf of our outstanding educators, incredible support staff, and our administrative team, I am thrilled to share with you the details of our planning for the classroom reopening on April 12th. I am equally proud of the work our team has done to maintain a robust online option for families who have chosen that option. No matter the model, we are determined to help each and every student finish the academic year feeling strong and excited about their future.
We recognize the weeks ahead will be both exciting and challenging. Despite all our planning over the past year, there will be surprises no one anticipated, and we will need the goodwill and support of everyone to get through these challenges together. Most of all, we recognize students may be facing complex emotions, as they prepare to re-engage with friends they have not seen in months. Counselors have been specially trained to help students cope, and they will have plenty of tools to help students work through their feelings and learn to love school again.
April 12 through June:
We will be operating on a 4-day schedule for in-person learning on campus and online through the end of the school year.
On campus learners- For Monday through Thursday of each week, your student will arrive at school between 8am-8:30am and depart at 2pm.
Online learners will begin Zoom at 8:30am, conclude Zoom at 11:30am and complete 3 hours of asynchronous work later in the day.
On Fridays, all learners will Zoom from home from 8:30am-9am and then complete their weekly asynchronous work.
With that being said, we hope you and your family will take time to prepare for a safe classroom reopening.
Here are 10 things you can do to prepare:
1. Have an age-appropriate conversation with your student about why your family chose the hybrid model or the online option. Students may have friends who made a different decision, and it is important for students to understand every choice deserves to be respected.
2. Practice proper hygiene. Remind students to thoroughly wash their hands for enough time to kill all germs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends scrubbing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.
3. Practice wearing a mask. Masks will be required when students return to campus, and they are still recommended every time you leave the house. Students should practice covering both their nose and mouth with a snug but comfortable mask.
4. Review the rules on physical distancing. As much as friends may wish to greet each other warmly on campus next week, everyone must keep a respectful distance between themselves and other students. Remind your students about these rules for everyone’s safety.
5. Help your student prepare for the new school lunch program. For the remainder of the school year, meals will be provided to all students at no cost but students will not be able to sit together to eat unless they are able to maintain 6 feet of distance. Explain this to your students and practice a few times to make them feel comfortable. At Benchley, we have "sit here" stickers on all lunch table to guide students in maintaining 6ft distance.
6. Confirm your transportation plans in order to get to school on time. As we shared before, at Benchley, we will have a 30 minute arrival time window. Families can drop off at the front or back gate anytime between 8am-8:30am. We will have several staff members at both gates collecting symptom check lists and helping learners find their classrooms.
7. Take time to learn the new entry points for school and the rules on lining up by the gate. These rules are in place to minimize the chance of Covid-19 coming onto campus from the surrounding community. (A video and visual map for pick up and drop off will be sent tomorrow.)
8. Check in with your students to measure their emotional health. Returning to the classroom after a year can be as emotionally difficult as starting school all over again for the first time. Counselors will be available to help, but you can make things easier by talking with your students about their feelings.
9. Confirm your pick up plans- A BW video and visual map for pick up and drop off will be sent tomorrow. Also, starting April 19th, our YMCA after school program will be available on Monday through Thursday from 2pm-6pm.
10. Talk to your teacher. Think of April 12 as the start of a whole new experience for your student. Remember to share with your teacher how your student has been coping during the past year. Share your goals for your student for the remainder of the school year.
***We have been working hard to create videos and visuals to explain the schedule, classroom set up, drop off, pick up and lunch processes. Please watch for those videos to come out of the next two days. We are looking forward to an exciting and productive end of the school year for all our students, and we look forward to seeing everyone soon.
Sincerely,
Mindy Ahrens