Nothing certain about school year except change » 4 COVID-19 forces colleges, universities to adapt » 6 Educators make strides toward closing tech gap » 11 PLUS: Football and volleyball previews » 12Whether you’re preparing your kids to go back to school or will be helping them attend virtually, we have back-to-school helpers for both options! RATES AS LOW ASSTARTING AT PERSONAL LOANREWARDS CREDIT CARD 7 . 900 % APR 1 % Apply online at AMOCOfcu.org/Back-to-School Enter code ‘SCHOOL9D’ when applying. INTRO APR 2 WIN WHAT YOU SPEND! 3 Plus, as a rewards cardholder, you’ll get a chance to NOW - SEPTEMBER 30 800.231.6053 | AMOCOfcu.org HELPERS 1APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rate shown is valid through September 30, 2020 and is subject to change without notice. Advertised personal loan rate is based on a credit score of 720 or greater with a term up to 60 months. 20% introductory rate for 6 months on retail purchases and balance transfers. Standard rate thereafter. The standard APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Rates and terms determined by borrower’s credit qualifications. For a complete list of all rates and terms, visit us online at www.AMOCOfcu.org. 3 Maximum payout amount is $1,000. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. NO PURCHASE OR CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. A PURCHASE MADE WITH CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VISIT WWW.AMOCOFCU.ORG/WIN-WHAT-YOU-SPEND FOR OFFICIAL RULES AND DETAILS. Some fees and restrictions may apply. Subject to membership eligibility. 2 | The Daily News | Back to School | 2020 ‘A NEW LANDSCAPE’ Nothing certain about school year except change By KATHRYN EASTBURN Correspondent It’s safe to say there’s never been a new school year like this new school year, 2020-2021. In March, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Galveston County students experienced an extend- ed spring break that turned into a months-long, unexpected shift to staying at home and learning virtually — by computer for stu- dents who had access to comput- ers and internet access, and by picked-up handouts and work- sheets for others. Teachers scrambled to pro- vide instruction while protect- ing themselves and their families from COVID-19 while students were assigned to shelter in place. This past summer, school dis- tricts across Galveston County, the state and the nation planned and re-planned, trying to deter- mine whether a physical return to brick-and-mortar school build- ings would be possible in the fall, depending on how the pandemic progressed or regressed. Meanwhile, state education governing bodies, like the Tex- as Education Agency, struggled to provide clear guidance on re-opening. In Texas, it was finally decid- ed that schools must provide an online learning platform for all students who choose to continue learning remotely, and face-to- face learning could be provided with strict safety protocols in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The education association designated the first three weeks of the new school year for tran- sition, meaning districts could limit on-campus instruction and start virtually, but students with- out electronic devices or internet access needed to be provided with alternate arrangements. School districts scrambled to secure enough electronic devices and internet hotspots to make it possible for all students to learn remotely. Inside buildings, classrooms were reconfigured to allow for safe social distancing of at least 6 feet in all directions. Hand sanitizing stations were estab- lished throughout buildings, bathrooms were reconfigured, janitorial cleaning standards in- creased and signage sprung up everywhere indicating where to stand, where to walk and how far to stand away. Administrators devised new plans for arrivals and departures to avoid congestion in hallways and new rules were instituted: Masks or face shields would be required of all staff and students in public school buildings when social distancing of 6 feet was not possible. No visitors except essential personnel would be welcome in buildings. No deliveries would be accepted during a school day — no lunches or forgotten home- work retrieved. Lunches would be pre-pre- pared and packaged by food personnel for pick up and go in disposable containers, and lunchrooms reconfigured. Or students would take lunch at their classroom desks. Students choosing to continue learning at home could pick up meals at des- ignated pick-up times and lunch- room workers once again would become front-line responders to the pandemic. Buses were sanitized, their win- dows reconditioned to open and allow better air flow. Hand-san- itizing stations and new seating arrangements were installed. Teachers got to work, training in electronic learning manage- ment systems and how better to provide online learning, if schools were shut down again because of virus outbreaks, and for those students who opted to stay and learn at home. In essence, it’s a whole new world, born of a need for schools to protect students and workers against a virus that can be partic- ularly active in places where large groups of potential human hosts gather. Like schools. “So much of this year feels fa- miliar, yet we are keenly aware that this is a new landscape that requires thoughtful consider- ation for each individual,” said Kelli Moulton, superintendent of the Galveston Independent School District. CH-CH-CH-CHANGES It all matters because the busi- ness of schools is teaching and the business of students is learn- ing. Doing that safely at this his- toric time means re-inventing schooling for the present and the future. Galveston schools were expect- ed to resume instruction Aug. 24 with virtual learning for its 6,000-plus students. If in-person school convenes as planned Sept. 21, pre-kindergarten through middle school students will have on-site instruction five days a week at their chosen schools, but high-schoolers will experience something different. See CHANGE » 4 JENNIFER REYNOLDS /The Daily News A bottle of hand sanitizer sits on a desk outside of a classroom at Burnet Elementary STREAM Magnet School in Galveston.Re-Elect for Henry Sheriff Virtual or in Class Wishing our students and teachers a terrific school year! Remember to be safe! Wear a mask Social Distance Wash your hands often Pd. Pol. Adv. Henry Trochesset Campaign, P.O. Box 126, Santa Fe, TX 77510 Time for Back to School! 2020 | Back to School | The Daily News | 3HITCHCOCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (100% Virtual Instruction August 17 – October 9, 2020) Travis W. Edwards, Superintendent 7801 Neville, Hitchcock, TX 77563 (409) 316-6545 Office, 409-986-5141 Fax Hitchcock Independent School District is a small district of approximately 1700 students with high standards. Dedicated to promoting the academic success of all students, HISD takes an active role in providing quality, learner-centered curriculum and instruction to a diverse population of students. A dedicated professional staff develops graduates who take their places successfully in an ever-changing world of careers, community service and higher education. Hitchcock ISD offers instruction in grades PreK-12 as well as a Head Start Program that serves children ages 3 – 4, including students with disabilities, living in the Hitchcock, Santa Fe, and La Marque, communities. Students, age 3 through 12th grade, receive individualized programs and special services, based on identified needs. Many Hitchcock ISD seniors and juniors take advantage of our close partnership with College of the Mainland, enrolling in dual credit and Collegiate High School courses, which also fulfills their high school graduation plans. HISD provides the majority of the cost for this program. There are six (6) fully accredited junior and senior colleges within five to 30 minutes from the city of Hitchcock: College of the Mainland, University of Houston at Clear Lake, Galveston Junior College, Alvin Junior College, University of Texas Medical Branch and Texas A & M University at Galveston. Hitchcock ISD offers many career and technology classes including culinary arts, auto tech, marketing, business, health science, criminal justice, cosmetology, and welding. Hitchcock High School Crosby Middle School Stewart Elementary Principal: Laurie Gilcrease Principal: Cherissa Crawford Principal: Lisa Fain 6629 FM 2004 625 FM 2004 7013 Stewart Hitchcock, TX 77563 Hitchcock, TX 77563 Hitchcock, TX 77563 409-316-6544 409-316-6542 409-316-6543 Hitchcock Primary School Kids First Head Start Principal: Constance White Director: Ethel Gaines 5901 FM 2004 5701 FM 2004 Hitchcock, TX 77563 Hitchcock, TX 77563 409-316-6467 409-316-6541 Hitchcock ISD Bulldogs For further information, please visit our website at www.hitchcockisd.org • Dental Sleep Appliances • Cosmetic Dentistry • Porcelain Laminates • Ceramic Crowns • Implants • Emergency Care • Tooth Colored Fillings • Gum Treatment • Extractions • Root Canals • Digital X-Rays • Nitrous Oxide • Partials • Intra-Oral Cameras • Teeth Whitening • Bridges • TVs Over the Chairs • Kids Arcade & Play Room Mark Martinsen DDSMark Martinsen DDS Texas A&M - B.S.Texas A&M - B.S. Texas A&M Texas A&M Baylor College of Baylor College of Dentistry - DDSDentistry - DDS Brent Patterson DDSBrent Patterson DDS Texas A&M - B.S.Texas A&M - B.S. UTHSC at SA - DDSUTHSC at SA - DDS CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY / FAMILY FRIENDLY ChildrenChildren Adults Includes Cleaning, Exam, Bitewing, Panoramic X-Rays Good thru 9/30/20 Dental Care …That makes the Grade SummerSummer AppointmentsAppointments Still AvailableStill Available TEXAS CITY OFFICE 409-938-1700 LEAGUE CITY OFFICE In front of Education Village 281-557-7747 4 | The Daily News | Back to School | 2020 At Ball High School, students with names beginning with A to K will meet in-person on Mon- day and Tuesday and remotely on Wednesday and Thursday. Students with L to Z names will learn remotely on Monday and Tuesday and will go to school on Wednesday and Thursday. All students will learn remotely on Friday. That’s for students choosing in-person schooling. For the 30 percent of students who’ve chosen to continue learning re- motely, at least for now, the dis- trict has instituted an entire new academy called SAIL or Stu- dents Accessing Independent Learning, with opportunities for daily interaction with teachers and other students and access to special education, bilingual education and extracurricular activities. Teaching faculty will be dedi- cated either to online instruction or in-person instruction and the SAIL program will have its own administrative staff. Santa Fe Independent School District started earliest of all districts in the county, with virtual instruction beginning on Aug. 13. Families had until Aug. 26 to commit to remote or in-person learning for the first grading period, and learning labs were opened on all cam- puses to provide a safe way for students to continue learning if they didn’t have what they needed at home. In-person instruction will be- gin on Sept. 8 for Santa Fe stu- dents. The district has designated training in digital citizenship as part of its reopening plan, a mandate for staff and students to learn strategies in communicat- ing responsibly, online privacy, combating cyberbullying, re- specting multiple points of view, citing others’ work and copyright restrictions. “We will continue to reinforce this within all learning environ- ments to help students eliminate the noise and focus on the mu- sic,” said Jenny Davenport, dis- trict spokeswoman. Digital citizenship will be in- corporated into the district’s Student Code of Conduct with anti-cyberbullying training re- quired of district employees. ‘AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME’ At the Hitchcock Independent School District, with less than 2,000 students, 60 percent of par- ents surveyed over the summer expressed a desire for remote learning, which the school will provide. All students have access to devices, but internet hotspots are scarce, said Superintendent Travis Edwards. “We’re trying to get the word out now about Comcast offering 60 days of free internet to kids attending schools in the district,” Edwards said. The district also has scholarship funds to help stu- dents purchase internet access if needed, Edwards said. But Edwards is hoping that once school starts the virus will wane in the county and more students will opt for in-person learning. “I truly believe most kids want to be in school and teach- ers want to be in school,” he said. “It’s not normal for them to not be in school when school’s going on.” At Texas City Independent School District, about 2,700 or 32 percent of all students have enrolled in the district’s Link to Learning virtual school, while 68 percent will attend brick and mortar classrooms starting Sept. 14. All students were expected to start virtually Aug. 24. “Online program enrollees will receive live, interactive classes or synchronous learning, but there will also be time built in for self-paced instruction with intermittent teacher inter- action,” said Melissa Tortorici, district spokeswoman. The district made a $1.6 mil- lion investment in new electronic devices and hotspots for students over the summer and had been busy handing out devices to stu- dents, Tortorici said. With 5,156 students, Friends- wood Independent School District has enrolled 1,500 for virtual learning and 4,656 for face-to-face learning. Par- ents had to make a choice by mid-August. A focus on extracurricular ac- tivities led Friendswood schools to devise ways for virtual learn- ing students to participate, said CHANGE Continued » 2 See VIRTUAL » 5 JENNIFER REYNOLDS /The Daily News A sticker reminding students to social distance is placed at the entrance to a classroom at Burnet Elementary STREAM Magnet School in Galveston as Concepcion Tapia, left, and Maria Juarez, both building engineers, clean the classroom.ROOFING & REPAIRS Protect and beautify your home with the best in the business. Hurricane Hurricane SSeasoneason is here!is here! Call the people you can trust.Call the people you can trust. Licensed and BondedLicensed and Bonded Locally Owned forLocally Owned for Over 30 YearsOver 30 Years 409-762-8068 | office@morganroofingtexas.com morganroofingtexas.com Morgan Roofing, LLC Galveston’s #1 Roofing Company OUR FASTEST BUNDLE EVER! SUPERFAST 1 GIG INTERNET AND AT&T TV ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. CALL DITV COMMUNICATIONS 409-682-4120 INTRODUCING The GCM will be reopening on August 24th as a small, licensed, COVID-19 safe, in-person, Learning Center, where certified teachers work with K-4th grade children as they navigate and complete their online assignments. We will be your child’s online educational coaches, complet- ing all their assignments, while you are at work. Teacher assistance can maximize their learning experience as well as provide enrichment in arts, music, and physical movement. Galveston Children’s Museum Learning Center Bridging the Gap Program 2618 Broadway, Galveston, TX galvestoncm@gmail.com 409.572.2544 galvestoncm.org SCHOOL DAY HOURS: 8:00-5:00: • Instructional Day: 8:30-2:00 • Enrichment Activities: 2:00-4:00 • Extended Day: 4:00-5:00 CURRICULUM: • Children will be assisted through their school’s online curriculum • Active learning to support, reinforce and enhance their studies. • Visits to the Rosenberg Library, reading books and discussing. • Enrichment activities scheduled daily for all students, with LEGOTM WeDo Robotics for 3rd and 4th graders. SETTING: • Small groups with social distanced workspaces. • Masks required when social distancing is unavailable. • Students bring their computers, headphones and school supplies. TEACHING STAFF: • Certified teachers: Nancy Schultz and Terry Talley, EdD • Support Staff: Cora Harper and Kellie Rae VanZandt • Resumes available COST: • Monthly fee: $800 (Qualifies for Childcare Tax Consideration) • Pack a lunch, snacks will be provided. • Scholarships available for reduced fees. Please call for information. 2020 | Back to School | The Daily News | 5 For the Latest Information School districts worked all summer developing reopening plans that address new safety measures, instruction and technology, contingencies for COVID-19-related emergencies and a myriad of other concerns. These reopening plans came with hard-earned, optimistic, even lyrical names. Consider these: Returning to Learning. Together We Can. Better Together. Together We Are Mighty. Connecting the Future. To learn everything you need to know from class schedules to tech help to what’s for lunch, visit district reopening plans at these school district websites: » Galveston Independent School District: www.gisd.org » Texas City Independent School District: www.tcisd.org » Dickinson Independent School District: www.dickinsonisd.org » Friendswood Independent School District: myfisd.com » Santa Fe Independent School District: www.sfisd.org » Hancock Independent School District: www.hitchcockisd.org »Clear Creek Independent School District: www.ccisd.net district spokeswoman Dayna Owen. “We have over 86 percent of our student body participating in extracurricular activities,” Owen said. “Our choir and band departments will allow virtual students to participate from home along with the class for the time being, and they will periodically schedule times to come to school and participate during the scheduled athletic periods, making sure they fol- low all safety protocols.” The county’s largest public school district, Clear Creek In- dependent School District, with 42,000 students and 45 schools, over the summer hired 24 new custodians to meet new sani- tizing standards, hired aides for school nurses and hired new bus drivers to accommodate ex- tra routes and fewer students on each bus, according to the dis- trict’s website. School was slated to start re- motely for everyone on Aug. 24, and on Aug. 31, some 9,200 students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, sixth grade, ninth grade and special programs will be welcomed back to their schools for in-person instruc- tion. Students in grades 1 through 12 will return on Sept. 14, with 60 percent of students choosing brick and mortar schooling and 40 percent opting for the district’s Clear Connections online learn- ing program. Dickinson Independent Schools was to begin virtually on Aug. 24 and will start phas- ing in face-to-face instruction with pre-kindergarteners and kindergarten students on Aug. 31. Other district students will begin in-person instruction Sept. 11. Access to a computer or tab- let and internet access are re- quired for anyone enrolled in remote learning, and Dickin- son’s technology department can help students secure a de- vice, according to the district’s website. Success will be determined by each districts’ preparation and flexibility on the part of stu- dents, teachers, administrators and parents. “As we move through this year, words of affirmation and encouragement from you will mean more than ever before,” said Thad Roher, Friendswood school district superintendent, in a letter to parents. “Affirmation is energy,” he said. “Energy to push through an un- precedented time.” VIRTUAL Continued » 4 JENNIFER REYNOLDS /The Daily News photos FROM TOP: Shantel Venible, a teacher in the Galveston Independent School District, helps a Pre-K student board the school bus after the last day of a two-week summer program at Burnet Elementary STREAM Magnet School; Juana Garza Perez, left, and Maria Juarez disinfect all the surfaces in a bathroom at the school.FOUR DISTRICTS, ONE COMMUNITY. LA MARQUE EDC LMEDC.com La Marque is unique in the fact that there are six school systems within the city limits. Depending on where they live, school-age children could be zoned to Dickinson ISD, Hitchcock ISD, Santa Fe ISD or Texas City ISD. Private schools also operate within La Marque city limits at Abundant Life Christian Academy and Mainland Preparatory Classical Academy. No matter where you go, we want to wish a great school year to all our teachers, parents and students! YOU GOT THIS, La Marque! 6 | The Daily News | Back to School | 2020 COIVD-19 forces colleges, universities to adapt By KATHRYN EASTBURN Correspondent Colleges and universities around the country reopened over the past few weeks with mixed success as it relates to the spread of COVID-19. In Galveston County, insti- tutions of higher learning have adjusted schedules, prepared buildings, changed procedures and done everything they can to assure a safe beginning of the new school year for faculty, staff and students. “Community colleges are not- ed historically for their ability to adapt and meet needs, whether employers’ needs, community needs or students’ needs,” said Myles Shelton, president of Gal- veston College. “I think preparing for this school year has reinforced our ability to be adaptable and that’s what ultimately leads to student success.” Galveston College students, beginning Aug. 31, can expect a blend of online and in-person classes adapted to social distanc- ing and other health and safe- ty measures, according to the school’s reopening plan. During enrollment, students were presented with a num- ber of options for how classes would be conducted: some face- to-face, some a combination of face-to-face and Zoom video- conference meetings, some on- line utilizing Zoom, some with traditional online instruction, and some a combination of all the above. All classes will be prepared to move online in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19, Shelton said. “It’s just a different time in which we live,” he said. “It ap- pears the virus will be with us for many months, and we can’t just bury our heads in the sand and think it’s going to go away. “At the same time, we can’t just do what we did last fall and the year before.” Summer classes offered ad- ministrators an opportunity to observe what worked, including meeting students at the door to take temperatures and asking students to fill out questionnaires about their health. In terms of the physical en- vironment, fewer students per classroom is the new normal. “A typical classroom setting used to require 15 square feet per student,” Shelton said. “Now it’s 40 to 50 square feet per student so capacity is reduced. What used to seat 40 now seats 10.” Changes at the college were inevitable, and one change was students waiting later to register. “There’s some hesitation. They’re waiting later so they have an understanding of where they’re at and where the college is in relation to the pandemic,” Shelton said. Some students are choosing to take a gap year, and others may attend community college while delaying their entry into a four-year institution. Technology has been a key is- sue at the college, which now re- quires all students to have a com- puter and access to the internet. “We used student emergen- cy funds back in March to help students buy computers, and to do the things they needed to do to have internet access,” Shelton said. Galveston College received federal Coronavirus Aid Re- lief and Economic Security, or CARES, funds and has adjusted its financial aid for the fall to help students make purchases if need- ed. A student computer loan pro- gram is also in place, according to the school’s website. Galveston College has opened its new student housing with safety guidelines in place and plans to reopen its fitness center to registered physical education students and student athletes on Aug. 31 following state and lo- cal guidelines regarding use of a gym for workout and training. NEW CONFIGURATIONS Elsewhere in the county, higher education institutions have opened under new con- figurations in response to the pandemic. The University of Texas Med- ical Branch will start classes for nursing, medical, physical therapy and occupational ther- apy students on Aug. 31 with a combination of online classes and face-to-face and small group instruction for lab and clinical courses, said Christopher Smith Gonzalez, communications spe- cialist for the medical branch. “While the method of deliv- ery for our many programs has changed in response to COVID, UTMB programs have managed to keep students on track in their degree programs,” Gonzalez said. Precautions in place on campus include mandatory masks, lim- iting classroom occupancy to 25 percent and prohibiting gather- ings of larger than 10 people. Classes were to begin Aug. 24 at College of the Mainland in Texas City with as much instruc- tion as possible online. Some skills-based, hands-on courses that require on-campus instruc- See COLLEGE » 7 STUART VILLANUEVA /The Daily News photos CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: College of the Mainland maintenance technician Marcus Taylor wipes down newly installed plexiglass partitions in the campus library; a hand-sanitizing station stands at the entrance to the student center; a sign notes that masks are required on campus.tion will be socially distanced with sanitization measures and mask requirements in place, according to the college’s website. College of the Mainland’s library, tutoring center and computer labs will be open with reduced staffing, limited hours and decreased ca- pacity and the campus gym and conference center will be closed until further notice. Texas A&M at Galveston students began classes on Aug. 19 with a mix of remote and in-per- son instruction. “During enrollment, 75 percent of students registered for at least two face-to-face classes on cam- pus,” said Rebecca Watts, market- ing and communications director. The university expected about 1,200 students in residence halls this fall with multiple safety mea- sures in place. “Masks are required of all on campus and gatherings and vis- itors are limited until further no- tice,” Watts said. For the Latest Information To see guidelines for on-campus restrictions and safety measures, visit these college websites: » College of the Mainland: www.com. edu/coronavirus »Galveston College: www.gc.edu/ coronavirus » University of Texas Medical Branch: www.utmb.edu/education » Texas A&M University at Galveston: www.tamug.edu/covid-19 Providing a diverse academic curriculum strong in math, science and technology Odyssey Academy is a free, open-enrollment, public charter school with over 1,400 students at 3 locations, including the brand new Odyssey Academy in Texas City. AN OFFICIAL OA BAY AREA Home of the Dolphins Pre-Kindergarten - 8th Grade 2600 Stanley Lane El Lago, TX 77586 (281) 326-4555 oaba@odyssey-academy.com OA GALVESTONOA TEXAS CITY Home of the Rockets Pre-Kindergarten - 12th Grade 2412 61st Street Galveston, TX 77551 (409) 750-9289 oag@odyssey-academy.com Home of the Jets Pre-Kindergarten - 6th Grade 10000 Emmett F Lowry Expy, Suite 1300 Texas City, TX 77591 (409) 978-8015 oatc@odyssey-academy.com WWW.ODYSSEY-ACADEMY.COM R SCHOOL 2020 | Back to School | The Daily News | 7 COLLEGE Continued » 6 STUART VILLANUEVA /The Daily News College of the Mainland maintenance technician Leastur Spurlock plac- es social-distancing stickers on the floor in the campus library. By KATHRYN EASTBURN Correspondent Private, parochial and pub- lic charter schools in Galveston County have been preparing throughout the summer for re- opening, looking at facilities lim- itations, student needs, safety re- quirements and online learning options. “Almost every procedure has changed — arrival, dismiss- al, breakfast and lunch, transi- tions and class changes as well as changes to our learning plat- forms and instructional models,” said Jennifer Goodman, superin- tendent of Odyssey Academy, a public charter organization with three campuses in the Galveston Bay area. Odyssey is offering in-person, on-campus classes and a distance learning program. School be- gan on Aug. 12 with all students working online for the first eight days while teachers and staff practiced and solidified proto- cols, Goodman said. Students transitioning to in-person learning were to be- gin filtering back to campuses Aug. 24 with a goal for all to be in place by Sept. 7. “We’ll have to remain flexible with the current state of the pan- demic,” Goodman said. “We’re constantly reevaluating to ensure the safety of our students and staff.” About half of Odyssey fam- ilies expressed a preference for learning at home, meaning most classrooms will have a reduced number of students, at least ear- ly in the year, allowing for social distancing. “We are so eager to reconnect with and see our families again,” Goodman said. “We have missed them!” A TRINITY EDUCATION Trinity Episcopal School, a private parish school serv- ing students in pre-kindergar- ten through eighth grade on a 23-classroom downtown Galves- ton campus, formed a task force early in the summer to deter- mine how the school could meet safety needs as advised by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gov. Greg Ab- bott, state licensing agencies and county and local authorities. “UTMB and other local med- ical institutions’ data, including the local positivity rate, were in- strumental in making decisions,” said Shannan Pfeifer, the school’s advancement and admission as- sistant. Families have been advised about when their children should stay home and when, if they are quarantined, they will be allowed to return to school. Trinity’s start date was Aug. 19. “We feel it is safe to say that whether you are back on campus with us or you choose our newly designed accommodated learn- ing environment, we can still deliver a Trinity education,” said Mark Ravelli, head of school. An assessment of space con- cerns in one part of campus, an upstairs cloister area that houses fifth grade, led Trinity to create a third fifth grade section for the school year and to hire a new teacher. Concerns about financial con- straints in response to the virus pushed back the school’s tuition fee schedule to August rather than July, as it is normally sched- uled, according to the Trinity website. SMALL TEAMS Classes at O’Connell College Preparatory School, a Galveston Island high school under the umbrella of the Catholic Arch- diocese of Galveston-Houston, started Aug. 20 with courses de- signed to be offered in-person and synchronously online. Most classes will meet in per- son on a regular basis but will have remote components due to health accommodations or class- room capacity restraints, accord- ing to the school’s website. O’Connell devised course ses- sions that are divided into small teams of students that will meet in-person with teachers for some sessions and remotely on other days. In-person classes will dis- miss five minutes early to en- able socially distanced transit through the hallways and clean- ing of equipment and spaces, the school said. Masks will be required of all students and staff when inside buildings, and outside when physical distancing is not pos- sible, with masks required of all visitors and provided upon re- quest, according to the website. Regardless of whether school is experienced remotely or in-per- son, tuition for the semester at O’Connell will remain the same given that students have access to faculty, support services and all related campus activities. Private schools among the first to welcome students For the Latest Information To learn more, visit the websites of these schools: » Odyssey Academy: www.odyssey-academy.com » Trinity Episcopal School: www.tesgalv.org »O’Connell College Preparatory School: www.oconnellprep.com “Almost every procedure has changed – arrival, dismissal, breakfast and lunch, transitions and class changes as well as changes to our learning platforms and instructional models.” JENNIFER GOODMAN | Superintendent of Odyssey Academy10114 Hwy 6 (Between Hitchcock & Santa Fe) ololcs.org 409-925-3224 Pre-K3 through 8th Grade Face-to-Face and Online Instruction S.T.R.E.A.M. Curriculum Excellent Faculty Free Before School Care 6:00am After School Care until 6:00pm Fully Accredited Catholic School students consist- ently test above the National Average on Standardized Tests All Faiths Welcome! 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Contact me today to learn more. 8 | The Daily News | Back to School | 2020 2020 | Back to School | The Daily News | 9 For students and parents, it’s catching up and learning anew By KATHRYN EASTBURN Correspondent Teachers, parents and students face a daunting number of chal- lenges as the 2020-21 school year begins. Some students may not have advanced academically with the abrupt end to in-person school- ing in the spring. Many parents are juggling con- cerns about work and paying the bills with the need to help their students catch up. Teachers face a new instructional model that melds face-to-face classroom teaching with new online meth- ods, while dealing with their own concerns at home. Everyone wonders: Am I safe from COVID-19 and what hap- pens if I become infected? It’s a perfect storm for building anxiety that everyone must help everyone else through as the new school year begins, educators said. “The primary thing parents can do is to talk with their chil- dren about their feelings, hopes, dreams, fears, highs and lows,” said Jennifer Goodman, super- intendent of Odyssey Academy public charter schools. In other words, don’t pretend that this is a typical school year. Odyssey will have mental health counseling in place for students and parents, Goodman said. Trinity Episcopal School will offer Coping and Resilience Training to staff and teachers will be trained on how to support students, said Shannan Pfeifer, the school’s advancement and admission assistant. “Trinity will also encourage employees and students to take breaks from watching, read- ing or listening to news stories about COVID-19, including social media, if they are feeling overwhelmed or distressed,” Pfeiffer said. In addition to managing stress, parents this school year must prepare their children for a new physical reality at school and for the challenges of catching up ac- ademically. Talking with children about how to protect themselves from the virus is key, even if it seems unpleasant. Hand-washing tech- nique, the need for social dis- tancing and how to safely and consistently wear face coverings need to be drilled into children as they return to a group setting, Goodman said. “They especially need to find face coverings that are comfort- able for each child and get them accustomed to wearing them,” she said. Determining individual needs Preparation for learning may be even more difficult. The Galveston Independent School District offered summer programs at all its campuses over the past few months, includ- ing pre-kindergarten programs, reading and algebra camps, and transitional training for students moving from seventh grade and eighth grade, said Audrey Torres, the district’s head of curriculum and innovation. “When students are back in school, the curriculum depart- ment at the beginning of the year will administer tests to determine needs among students, figuring out how to best individualize in- struction,” Torres said. “But we don’t want to over- whelm students in the first two weeks when they’re going to be learning tools for adjusting to this new world,” she said. Meeting Texas Education Agency standards and prepar- ing for state tests will be more of a focus for end of year, when students have caught up to their grade level and new instruction methods have been normalized, Torres said. Teachers will have difficult ad- justments at the beginning of the year as well. “Gauging where students are academically will be a challenge with educators more focused on safety, food security and other pandemic-related trauma stu- dents are facing,” said Katie Jef- fries Assad, a teacher at Palmer Elementary School. “We won’t be rushing to get a kid in front of a test.” Texas City Independent School District will dedicate the first three weeks of instruction to review of units and skills taught over the last nine weeks of the 2019-20 school year, when schools went virtual to curb the spread of COVID-19, said Melissa Tortorici, district spokeswoman. And with districts starting out virtually, teachers will have a harder time getting to know each of their students and their unique qualities and quirks. “I just have faith that as teach- ers we will reach out and learn these kids,” Assad said. “Our pas- sion is not changing because we have to start out virtually. We’re just doing our jobs differently.” Reading is key If there is one thing parents can and should do to help prepare their students for the school year, it’s encouraging reading, these educators agreed. “To parents, we say: Read, read read!,” said Melissa Duarte, super- intendent of the Texas City dis- trict. “Ask your children questions about what they’ve read to help them practice comprehension.” For older students, engage them in topical conversations about subjects they’re learning, Duarte said. Assad concurred. Reading not just books but magazines, pack- aging or anything available is a worthwhile way to keep a learner engaged, she said. “During the school year, we stress 20 minutes a day of at- home reading,” she said. Children also must be encour- aged to ask for help, especially under these unusual circum- stances, educators agreed. Faced with new technology, the scare of the pandemic, possible tensions at home and a difficult end of year in the spring, students likely will have more questions than usual and all adults should encourage students to let their concerns be known rather than holding them in out of fear or embarrassment. “We encourage parents to stay positive, create a daily routine, manage stress and listen to your child’s feelings regarding all of the new changes,” Pfeiffer said. “We need to promote healthy eating, exercising, getting enough sleep and finding time to unwind for employees and for students.” Some kids may need more en- couragement than others, Assad said, and it’s a teacher’s job to rec- ognize that need. “It can be scary with all the changes,” she said, referring to the period of virtual learning students are experiencing before they return to in-person instruc- tion. “I think a lot of people are nervous, working out of fear. I have a child who’s a senior and even he is worried about starting out online. It’s a scary place to be.” STUART VILLANUEVA /The Daily News Stewart Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jashaina Williams writes out a lesson on a clear board while preparing to record a session in her empty classroom at the school in Hitchcock.Next >