San Diego is coming together to support students
Superintendent Cindy Marten recently joined Mayor Kevin Faulconer at a news conference to share updates on distance learning.

Make school work for you

As learning moves online, many students are enjoying the new flexibility in their schedules. Even as teachers continue to hold virtual class discussions and office hours via Zoom, students have time throughout the day to focus more intensely on subjects and projects they find most interesting. School expectations for students remain high, even as everyone adjusts to the “new normal,” and every student who is able to access their classes online is expected to participate.

Your support network

Teachers
Teachers are available and engaging with their students daily. This may involve connecting via Zoom, assigning and grading homework, conducting virtual meetings, digital discussions or online lectures. Many teachers are hosting virtual office hours to provide expanded support to students. Teachers also will continue to provide regular student feedback and respond to questions from students, parents and guardians.
 
Counselors
​School counselors are available to provide students with academic, career, and social and emotional support. This includes social-emotional and wellness support for all students, where our counselors are providing coping skills for elementary students, assistance  for middle schoolers as they plan their transition to high school and high school students planning for college and other postsecondary opportunities.

Make a difference

People everywhere have put their lives on hold in order to protect the most vulnerable among us. Superintendent Marten has said an education in civics comes down to “understanding who we are as a nation, understanding the principles that hold us together, and understanding we are, at the end of the day, one country, one team – united.” In that sense, the COVID-19 pandemic and the response is the most important civics lesson many students have experienced thus far. During the first online meeting of the San Diego Unified Board of Education, held on April 14, 2020, Student Trustee Zachary Patterson said the way each of us responds to this public health crisis defines who we are. San Diego Unified students are taking up that challenge by focusing on their education, their families, and their community. The COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened students’ determination to build a #BetterSD.
 
Resources: Help classmates who need computers

Point Loma students Delivering to Senior Citizens
For elderly residents, going to the grocery store is a risk but help is now just a click away, thanks to a group of local students. “When someone contacts me saying they need help, I reach out to my team and whoever is available grabs a mask, some gloves, and gets to shopping,” said Maddie Wozniak, a Point Loma junior and the founder of Store 2 Door SD.

It gets better

San Diego has stepped up to support students, parents, teachers and school leaders, as we all make the historic shift to distance learning. City leaders recently came together – online – to wish everyone success in building new online classrooms. We are a resilient school community. We will get through these challenges together. These challenges will make us stronger.