News

Good evening AAV Family,

As we look to begin our first official full week of Distance Learning I wanted to reach out to our AAV family with another message.

Our staff finished an amazing week of collaboration and tireless work to ensure digital classrooms would be available to them by Thursday April 2^nd. We have posted each schools office hours on our web page so please check for updates as often as possible. Even though teachers will be available through email and other means they will communicate to their students throughout the day, we wanted to make sure there was dedicated time families could plan around as well.

I received an email from a parent, concerned their son would struggle through a Distance Learning Model. I want to assure you our teachers and support staff have been working tirelessly as a team to provide the best possible learning environment for your children. Our primary concern is how to support each student into this transition and will be here every step of the way. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact site administration or myself at the below email addresses.

Knight Prep: Vice Principal Alex Santoyo – asantoyo@avhsd.org

Palmdale Prep: Vice Principal Teresa Howard – thoward@avhsd.org

SOAR Prep/Virtual: Vice Principal Jennifer Griffey – JenGriffey@avhsd.org

Principal: Matthew Berryman – mberryman@avhsd.org

Many parents have asked if there is anything, they can do to help with this transition. The best support you can give is to ensure you are communicating daily with your student and encouraging them to check assignments and contact their teachers if they have any questions or concerns. If you are not receiving phone messages or emails, please communicate with site administration to ensure we have the most updated information on file. We want nothing more than for you to know that we are here for you and will do everything in our power to support you through this process.

We truly thank you for your support through this process and look forward to helping everyone thought this transition. I have included answers to some frequently asked questions below.

Sincerely,

Matthew Berryman

Principal – Academies of the Antelope Valley

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long will my child be learning through Distance Learning?

Superintendent, Dr. Vierra, sent an email indicating our district, based off the State Superintendent, Governor, and now LA County Superintendent of Schools, recommendations, will be extending Distance Learning and will remain physically closed for the rest of the semester (June 4^th)  I know there are many different reactions to this news but please know as a staff we are devastated by this news and what it means to our students, parents, staff and community. We know how much students look forward to coming to school to learn and spend quality time with friends. As we head towards the end of the year, we feel for our students and families who were looking forward to end of the year trips and promotion/graduation ceremonies. These life moments become memories cherished and shared through generations.

What is going to happen to promotion, graduation, trips, and more?

As stated above, we understand the thought of losing these opportunities is painful for our students and families who have worked tirelessly for years to enjoy these special moments. The best answer we can give is that there will be more information to come. I assure you, there is not a single person in our district who wants to cancel or postpone anything. Please understand, we will continue to be patient as to not make rash decisions. As decisions must be made, we will make sure to communicate them with you.

Will there be summer school?

Yes, we are still having summer school for our students this year. We are still working through what summer school will look like. Summer school is months away, which gives us plenty of time to follow new decisions made by state and local governments. We will continue to provide information as it becomes available.

How do I ensure my child will be appropriately enrolled for next year?

We are sending intent to return survey’s through email for all of our returning students. Please complete this survey at your earliest convenience so our staff will be best prepared on how to support you.  Students who will be transitioning to high school will need to enroll at their chosen school. District staff has established a team who is developing the enrollment process and will make this available to parents. Please monitor the websites of the school you are zoned for, as information will be posted there in addition to notifications through email and phone.

Dear Virtual and Academy Prep Students & Families,

You have received emails from Dr. Vierra, following Governor Gavin Newsom’s and LA County officials’ announcement Thursday of a new public health order for people to stay home to increase social distancing, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo announced she has extended her recommendation to close all schools in Los Angeles County with students returning on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 to limit the community spread of COVID-19.   

We wanted to reach out and explain what this means for you, our students and families. This may be lengthy, but it includes much of the information our students and families need to know. 

School Closure - School is closed to the public, and dark to non-essential staff until May 5^th or other information is provided which would require an adjustment to any dates. This also means school is "closed" for students until May 5th. Beginning April 2nd, we will be on Distance Learning until May 5th. See information below regarding what Distance Learning means for your student.

 Food Service - The Antelope Valley Union High School District will continue serving our families meals from 10:30am-12:30pm, Monday – Friday at our High School Campuses. Many other schools within the valley are providing meals as well. Make sure your student has school identification if you would like to take advantage of these services.

 Distance Learning Particulars - We will try to be as detailed as possible, with more information to follow as it comes. 

·  Students will receive work in week cycles, beginning on April 2nd. The work cycles will be:  April 2-10, April 13-17, April 20-24, April 27-May 1, and May 4-5. Students will complete work each week as assigned by their teachers. 

·  Teachers will use a student management system to assign, collect, and support students. Most teachers will use Google Classroom or Canvas. Some will use pre-existing systems such as Moodle, APEX, or other systems. 

·  Students should expect approximately 2 hours of work per week per course. Students will have the entire week to complete each course's coursework. 

·  If students do not have connectivity, please communicate this with your teachers and site administration. We will work to accommodate your child’s educational needs.

·  Each teacher will establish "office hours" where students can connect with their teachers. This will be done on Google Meet (a very easy platform that allows students to connect via webcam or to call in) or other methods deemed appropriate by the teacher. Teachers will monitor emails and will be able to take calls. More information regarding office hours to follow as we get set up. 

Obviously, this information is just the beginning of the planning and implementation of distance learning. As a parent or student, what I would begin to do as a habit is to check your email daily and for students to check their teacher's Google Classroom daily.

Chromebook/Technology Needs - Each of our middle school students has a Chromebook checked out to them and while our virtual students were offered one during enrollment. If your student needs to check out a Chromebook, we will be establishing a protocol for distributing those next week. We will likely coordinate Chromebook checkouts “drive-thru” style.  If you experience technology complications, we will work to provide assistance the best we can. More information to come soon.

 

I'd like to now take the time to answer frequently asked questions by students and parents. 

 

What will happen to my 3rd quarter grades?   Grades are locked in as of March 13th for 3rd quarter. If you were going to turn in work and haven't been able to do so, simply contact your teacher. If you can do so digitally, do so. If not, make individual arrangements with your teacher via email.   

I am not sure if my teacher uses Google Class or any other online system, what will I do?  Your teacher WILL be using a student management system if they are not doing so already. Keep checking your student email for more info.  

I have an IEP, how will I be supported?  More information to follow, but you will be supported as best as we can. Your unique needs will be addressed individually. Feel free to email your case carrier if you have additional questions and they will work to provide additional assistance needed. 

How will attendance be taken?  For students, just take care of your school work and attendance will take care of itself. We will use a system similar to summer school. Just stay on top of your weekly work and your attendance will be validated.  

What should I do now to prepare?  s we make our way to April 2nd and distance learning, I would say begin by setting up a work space for you to complete work at home. Prepare a nice space where you have computer access and can do work with limited distractions. Get in the habit of checking student email regularly. Research Google Meet, a platform many teachers will use. If your teacher uses a student management system such as Google Class or Moodle, check it daily beginning April 1st.

What about AP testing? (High School Students only)  College Board reported that they are not canceling AP testing. Visit the College Board website for information (we will provide info at a later time). College Board has thought outside-the-box and will do remote testing. I can't stress this enough. If you paid and committed to taking an AP test, TAKE THE TEST. If you don't take the test, you won't be eligible for any modifications or waivers they provide. More information will come as we get closer to test administration.

What about graduation/promotion?  I can't stress this enough... WE DO NOT WANT TO CANCEL anything, let alone graduation/promotion. I want to assure you we are doing EVERYTHING in our power to keep these events. People are working very hard behind the scenes to work this out for our students. The cancellation of this event may still be necessary due to circumstances beyond our control. We will keep you posted with any new information.

I have a question, but do not know who to ask?  Please email your students teacher, counselor, or any administrator if you have a question and do not know who to ask. We will forward your email to the correct person or we will answer you ourselves. Please email me at mberryman@avhsd.org if you have a question and do not know who to ask. I will forward your email to the correct person or will answer myself.

 

Ok, take a deep breath....This is a lot of information to digest. We will communicate with you, students and families as often as we can. We cannot stress enough that our staff is here for you as we transition to distance learning. As a nation, we did not choose this and we may not be happy with this... but it is here. We as a staff will do everything in our power to give your student the best possible learning experience in these unique times. With that said, we need your support to get through this. We care about your student and we want to make sure they are supported. We ask you for your continued support and ask that we do this together. Thank you students and families. 

 

Thank you for your time and we look forward to navigating this new experience with you.

 

Matthew Berryman

Principal – Academies of the Antelope Valley

mberryman@avhsd.org

Letterfromourprincipal_websites.pdf

"Congratulations to the following students for competing at SkillsUSA last month, many of these students have won medals or have qualified to advance to the State level in April.

Ariana Arreola, Lillian Lohmann, Zaira Alexa Cedano Gama, Sophia Magallanes, Kerry Brinson, Anahi Liseth Mejia, Emiliano Pureco, Angel Aguilar, Aaron Raul Gordon, Damian Munoz Bravo, Elias Nathan Altamirano, Luis Rincon, Isabella Margarita Vargas"

SkillsUSA2020RegionalResults.pdf

Congratulations to two educational pathways in the Antelope Valley Union High School District for achieving Linked Learning Gold certification. The pathways – Biomedical Science Academy at Eastside High School and Multimedia and Engineering Academy at Lancaster High School – are among the first in the nation to achieve this distinction.

 Linked Learning pathways integrate rigorous academics with technical coursework that is relevant to the needs of local employers, offer students work-based learning experiences aligned with their classes, and provide support services to help students graduate ready for entry into college and career. Gold certification is based on evidence that a pathway successfully integrates these core components of the Linked Learning approach. It is the Linked Learning field’s highest standard for college and career preparation.

Got Game? - NASEF is a national esports league that uses STEM learning with competitive video gaming. Don’t just be a another player, learn the business and officially train as a pro gamer.

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