April 2, 2020
Dear Alpha Families:
We want to share updates we have received from the California Department of Education (CDE), as well as the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE).
Yesterday (4/1), Governor Newsom advised counties that all California schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Therefore, Alpha Public Schools will remain closed for in-school instruction through the rest of this school year. Please be assured that while this means that students and teachers will not physically return to schools this school year, we will continue to participate in and expand on our distance/online learning program until the end of the school year.
We know that this is difficult news to hear, and we feel disappointed that we will not be able to come together again in person this school year. Please know that we are grateful for all you are doing to help support your children at home with our distance learning program.
There are many questions to answer through the coming weeks about what this means for all of us. We are continuing to have conversations with our county and state about best practices around academics (grading, credits, college admission). We also acknowledge that many students, especially our seniors, were looking forward to celebrating promotion, graduation, and other events. We will be working hard to make decisions and provide clarity around these topics as soon as possible with our students’ best interests in mind.
We remain fully committed to our Alpha students and families. Please know that we will continue to provide a variety of resources through the end of the year (Website: Alpha Family Resources). Through these difficult times, we have seen so many ways that our Alpha community has supported and cared for one another. While we miss you all, we know we will continue to work together and come out stronger as an Alpha family.
Please stay in touch with your school principal with any questions you have.
Alpha: Cindy Avitia
Principal: Jorge Arellano (jarellano@alphaps.org)
Asst. Principal: Emma Karpowicz (ekarpowicz@alphaps.org)
Alpha: Blanca Alvarado
Principal: Cynthia Martinez Nava (cnava@alphaps.org)
Alpha: Cornerstone Academy
Principal: Marion Dickel (mariondickel@alphaps.org)
Alpha: José Hernández
Principal: Dr. Rosie Carlson (rcarlson@alphaps.org)
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March 30, 2020
Dear Alpha Families:
We hope that everyone continues to stay healthy and quarantined during this time. We want to share a regular update on information and updates regarding our schools responding to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Update on School Closure: Santa Clara County, along with five other Bay Area counties extended the closure through at least Friday, May 1st. At this time, our students are scheduled to return to school on Monday, May 4. Any change to this date will be communicated to you as soon as
possible.
Alpha COVID-19 Video Conferencing Norms
As we have transitioned to online/distance learning, we want to remind students of important expectations around the use of technology at Alpha. Parents/Guardians, please ensure your
students are following the expectations below:
● As you may use video conferencing on Zoom, Google, or other platforms, please remember:
○ Video recording is prohibited.
○ Please remember to dress appropriately
● All families have signed a technology use agreement. Any violation of the agreement, particularly around mis-use of the internet, will be enforced.
Alpha COVID-19 Website with Resources
We are continuing to update the Alpha Family Resources website with up-to-date information. We have also been adding additional resources throughout the week. If you have any suggestions or
recommendations for additions, please email your Principal.
Spring Break from April 13-17
Spring break will be from April 13 - 17. During this time, schools will be closed and all staff will be on their spring break. For the duration of the closure, Alpha will continue to provide breakfast and lunch for any person (alpha or non-alpha) every weekday from 10:00 - 12:00 pm at the Blanca Alvarado & José Hernández campus (1601 Cunningham Avenue).
Access to Chromebooks & Home Internet Options
Please reach out to your school’s Principal or main office if you still need a Chromebook. They will make arrangements to ensure you have one.
Please refer to this document for best ways to sign up for internet service: Home Internet Options for Alpha Families. If you are unable to sign up for a home internet and would like to get on a waitlist for a free mobile hotspot, please send an email to techticket@alphaps.org with the following information: Student’s Name, Grade Level, School Name, and Contact Information (email or phone number). We are waiting for hotspots to arrive. We will inform you once we receive them.
Coronavirus Discrimination
Unfortunately, a repercussion of the spread of COVID-19 and misinformation related to the virus has also caused a spread of coronavirus-related discrimination, particularly aimed at our community members with Asian heritage. Incidents of discrimination and hate crimes towards Asian Americans in the Bay Area have increased recently. We celebrate that Alpha is a community that is made up of a diversity of communities, and we do not condone and will actively work against discrimination in any form. If you or others are experiencing discrimination that impacts our Alpha community, please reach out to your school’s staff.
Please reach out to your school’s main office or principal if you need any support!
Dear Alpha Families:
We want to share updates we have received from the California Department of Education (CDE), as well as the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE).
Yesterday (4/1), Governor Newsom advised counties that all California schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Therefore, Alpha Public Schools will remain closed for in-school instruction through the rest of this school year. Please be assured that while this means that students and teachers will not physically return to schools this school year, we will continue to participate in and expand on our distance/online learning program until the end of the school year.
We know that this is difficult news to hear, and we feel disappointed that we will not be able to come together again in person this school year. Please know that we are grateful for all you are doing to help support your children at home with our distance learning program.
There are many questions to answer through the coming weeks about what this means for all of us. We are continuing to have conversations with our county and state about best practices around academics (grading, credits, college admission). We also acknowledge that many students, especially our seniors, were looking forward to celebrating promotion, graduation, and other events. We will be working hard to make decisions and provide clarity around these topics as soon as possible with our students’ best interests in mind.
We remain fully committed to our Alpha students and families. Please know that we will continue to provide a variety of resources through the end of the year (Website: Alpha Family Resources). Through these difficult times, we have seen so many ways that our Alpha community has supported and cared for one another. While we miss you all, we know we will continue to work together and come out stronger as an Alpha family.
Please stay in touch with your school principal with any questions you have.
Alpha: Cindy Avitia
Principal: Jorge Arellano (jarellano@alphaps.org)
Asst. Principal: Emma Karpowicz (ekarpowicz@alphaps.org)
Alpha: Blanca Alvarado
Principal: Cynthia Martinez Nava (cnava@alphaps.org)
Alpha: Cornerstone Academy
Principal: Marion Dickel (mariondickel@alphaps.org)
Alpha: José Hernández
Principal: Dr. Rosie Carlson (rcarlson@alphaps.org)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 30, 2020
Dear Alpha Families:
We hope that everyone continues to stay healthy and quarantined during this time. We want to share a regular update on information and updates regarding our schools responding to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Update on School Closure: Santa Clara County, along with five other Bay Area counties extended the closure through at least Friday, May 1st. At this time, our students are scheduled to return to school on Monday, May 4. Any change to this date will be communicated to you as soon as
possible.
Alpha COVID-19 Video Conferencing Norms
As we have transitioned to online/distance learning, we want to remind students of important expectations around the use of technology at Alpha. Parents/Guardians, please ensure your
students are following the expectations below:
● As you may use video conferencing on Zoom, Google, or other platforms, please remember:
○ Video recording is prohibited.
○ Please remember to dress appropriately
● All families have signed a technology use agreement. Any violation of the agreement, particularly around mis-use of the internet, will be enforced.
Alpha COVID-19 Website with Resources
We are continuing to update the Alpha Family Resources website with up-to-date information. We have also been adding additional resources throughout the week. If you have any suggestions or
recommendations for additions, please email your Principal.
Spring Break from April 13-17
Spring break will be from April 13 - 17. During this time, schools will be closed and all staff will be on their spring break. For the duration of the closure, Alpha will continue to provide breakfast and lunch for any person (alpha or non-alpha) every weekday from 10:00 - 12:00 pm at the Blanca Alvarado & José Hernández campus (1601 Cunningham Avenue).
Access to Chromebooks & Home Internet Options
Please reach out to your school’s Principal or main office if you still need a Chromebook. They will make arrangements to ensure you have one.
Please refer to this document for best ways to sign up for internet service: Home Internet Options for Alpha Families. If you are unable to sign up for a home internet and would like to get on a waitlist for a free mobile hotspot, please send an email to techticket@alphaps.org with the following information: Student’s Name, Grade Level, School Name, and Contact Information (email or phone number). We are waiting for hotspots to arrive. We will inform you once we receive them.
Coronavirus Discrimination
Unfortunately, a repercussion of the spread of COVID-19 and misinformation related to the virus has also caused a spread of coronavirus-related discrimination, particularly aimed at our community members with Asian heritage. Incidents of discrimination and hate crimes towards Asian Americans in the Bay Area have increased recently. We celebrate that Alpha is a community that is made up of a diversity of communities, and we do not condone and will actively work against discrimination in any form. If you or others are experiencing discrimination that impacts our Alpha community, please reach out to your school’s staff.
Please reach out to your school’s main office or principal if you need any support!