Key excerpt:
The emergency grading system follows a "Do No Harm" policy which allows seniors to graduate and provides underclassmen an opportunity to begin the 2020-21 school year with a fresh start that will not be tied to the unmitigated challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Access the full policy in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese here.
April 2, 2020—From Dr. Clint Harwick, Superintendent
On April 1, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom and Orange County Department of Education Superintendent Al Mijares recommended keeping campuses closed to students for the remainder of the school year due to safety concerns related to COVID-19 (click to read Superintendent Mijares’ statement). In response to these statements, and in consensus with our Board of Trustees and feeder school districts, it was determined that the best course of action was to close the school campuses for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. Although school campuses will be closed to the public, online learning will continue through the last day of instruction, June 11, 2020. Also note the entire school district will be closed for the scheduled Spring Break, April 13-17, 2020.
Read the full notice here.
March 31, 2020—From Dr. Clint Harwick, Superintendent
Key excerpts:
SCHOOL CLOSURE
"In response to the President of the United States’ March 29, 2020 press conference, and in consensus with our Board of Trustees and feeder school districts, it was determined that the best course of action was to extend the closure of our community schools to care for our staff and students during this unprecedented and challenging time.
Huntington Beach Union High School District schools will be extending the closure of schools through Friday, May 1, 2020. We will evaluate this fluid situation in the coming weeks and make adjustments as necessary.
We will continue to provide Grab and Go lunches to students from all school sites except during Spring Break (April 13-17, 2020). Distribution sites will remain at Westminster and Ocean View High Schools Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm."
INSTRUCTION & GRADING
And in an email to teachers Dr. Harwick instructed them to, "Please continue connecting with your students so they understand that your lessons and assignments will contain new, content specific material. Also, remind students of your expectation that they continue to complete assignments and engage in learning just as if they were in your classroom at school."
"Subsequent to the email we sent this morning, we received communication from the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) that students, parents, and educators continue to be concerned about a lack of statewide grading and credit expectations. It was shared with Orange County school districts that there is an expectation for the Governor and/or the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to address this issue in the coming weeks. In the interim, please feel free to resume grading practices, but do so with caution as the statewide landscape may change."
Read full notice here.
March 18, 2020—From Dr. Clint Harwick, Superintendent
“Huntington Beach Union High School District schools will be closed through Friday, April 17, 2020. We will evaluate this fluid situation in the coming weeks and extend the closures if necessary.During this period, we will provide grab and go lunches to students from all school sites. Distribution sites will be at Westminster and Ocean View High Schools Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm.
The State Superintendent of Instruction, Tony Thurmond, and the California Department of Education delivered guidelines for distance learning and enrichment activities on March 17, 2020. In addition, he suspended all state testing. We will continue to monitor Advanced Placement testing and provide updates when they become available. To ensure equity and access for all students, we are working to align our educational plan with state provided guidelines.”Read the full notice here.
March 13, 2020—From Dr. Clint Harwick, Superintendent
“Today, the HBUHSD Board of Trustees voted to close schools effective March 16, 2020, through March 27, 2020.”
“Students should stay home and minimize social contacts as much as possible to keep caregivers and adult family members safe.”
March 13, 2020—From From Dr. Morgan Smith, Principal
11:18 a.m.
We have an immediate event update; SAT this Saturday will be canceled. College Board who helps facilitate this opportunity for our students will work with us on rescheduling this event for a future date.
March 12, 2020—From Dr. Clint Harwick, Superintendent
5:05 p.m.Key excerpt:
“All extracurricular and cocurricular activities will be postponed until further notice. Examples include, but are not limited to, performing arts, banquets, field trips, conferences, etc. The Sunset and Goldenwest Leagues have postponed all atheletic competitions until further notice.
This guidance does not apply to activities such as attendance at regular school classes, work, or essential services.”
Read Dr. Harwick's full message
March 12, 2020—From Dr. Morgan Smith, Principal
10:14 a.m.
March 9, 2020—From Dr. Morgan Smith, Principal
As an update to the ongoing conversation about the Coronavirus aka COVID-19, and it's impacts on our school and district, we are able to share some of the following guidance as shared by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and our school district:
District Guidance:
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has recommended the following talking points for Parents and Teachers when discussing anxiety surrounding the Coronavirus:
Talking points for parents and teachers
Remain calm and reassuring. Discuss all the measures being taken by the school to keep students safe (this decreases anxiety). Give students specific strategies for them to keep themselves healthy e.g. good hygiene, maintain good eating and sleeping habits, etc.
Give your teens age-appropriate information that helps them to accurately gauge the threat presented by this disease. Upper middle school and high school students are able to discuss the issue in a more in-depth (adult-like) fashion and can be referred directly to appropriate sources of COVID-19 facts. Provide honest, accurate, and factual information about the current status of COVID-19. Having such knowledge can help them feel a sense of control.
Additional points:
According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), all schools will need to be prepared out of an abundance of caution should a large number of students stay home. If a student or staff member contracts the Coronavirus, the CDPH may recommend a full school closure. Classes will shift to remote learning when possible.