July 15, 2020

Dear ECP Families and Community,

I genuinely hope that this message finds you and your family well.  As we approach the start of the 2020-2021 school year, I would like to share how we plan on serving students this fall.

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles (LAUSD) and San Diego (SDUSD) Unified School Districts released a joint statement regarding their decision to start the school year 100% online this fall.  The decision comes as a result of incomplete re-opening information and vague guidance provided by the County and State, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics reversing its course and saying it was no longer confident that opening schools in the middle of a public health crisis is the best option for children.

Aligned to this recent announcement, I am writing to share that Endeavor College Prep (ECP) will also begin the school year 100% remote (distance learning).  With the recent and sustained spike in COVID-19 cases in LA and surrounding counties, ECP has decided to start the 2020-21 year with every student in a virtual learning environment through at least Labor Day (September 7, 2020).  Either at or before this time, we will provide an update and decide whether ECP will continue instruction all online or proceed with the possibility of a hybrid learning plan (a blend of online and in-person).  This decision will be informed by County and State guidance.  We are currently enhancing our Distance Learning platform and using valuable feedback that you provided to promote a positive distance learning experience for all students.

We are also in the process of securing more chromebooks and headphones to help all families achieve success.  ECP is deeply committed to providing the best education possible to your students, regardless of the external circumstances we are facing.

Please be on the lookout for more information regarding our fall plans, which include an upcoming virtual Cafecito (July 28), a virtual New Family Orientation for new families (August 6, 2020) and a virtual Welcome Back to School Night for everyone (August 13, 2020).

Since I started this new role last month, I have been inspired by the commitment and passion of each staff member at our school.  We will continue to tackle any obstacles together to ensure our community is safe, connected, and successful.

Sincerely,

Ruben Alonzo

Head of School

The situation with coronavirus/COVID-19 is unprecedented and evolving rapidly. Safety is always our paramount concern. We have decided to suspend on-campus summer Office Hours for two weeks as we evaluate the appropriate path moving forward. We will maintain you updated with any changes.

Summer Office Hours
8:00AM – 3:00 PM

Families will be able to:
– Return borrowed technology
– Pick-up student items/records
– Turn in requested documents for
the new year

Work Packet Pick- Up

When: Tuesday, 5/12 7:30AM-4:30PM

Where: Valet entrance (cars and walkers welcome!)

Dear ECP Families, 

The health and safety of our community is our number one priority. Based on guidance from state and health officials, statements from Governor Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, ECP’s Board of Education determined to extend our school closure until the end of the 2019-20 school year. 

We understand that this decision may pose hardships for students, families, and ECP staff. It’s not an ideal situation, but we know that it is the best option for slowing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping our ECP community healthy. 

Although our students will not be returning to school campuses, rigorous instruction will continue. Teachers have already received, and will continue to receive, professional development focused on best practices for instructing during distance learning. We know they will continue to improve so that they can provide the best instructional opportunities for your child. 

As a reminder, our Distance Learning Program can be found here and linked through ECP’s website. It serves as a central hub for instruction for all grades, training videos for our online platforms, family and mental health resources, and the link to take attendance. If you haven’t already logged on, and you have access to the internet, please do so today! 

Computers 

We previously shared that we had ordered new computers to distribute to families who needed them. Unfortunately our order was cancelled by the vendor and there are currently no other vendors who can fulfill our order before June. This is frustrating for us and we know it is for you, too.  I also know the ECP Team and Family will show determination to do our best through these challenges. 

We will be providing printed packets to students who do not have any access to technology. We are currently assessing the need and identifying the best way to get this to students while keeping everyone’s safety of top priority. We appreciate your patience and will be providing more details on our website by the end of this week. 

Do Our Best! 

If you’re like us, you have felt a variety of emotions in the past month, sometimes optimistic while other times more stressed, frustrated, and worried. We want you to know that we are in this together. Each family has a different set of challenges right now, and all we can do is our absolute best to keep students happy, safe, and learning. ECP staff is working as hard as possible, despite many unique obstacles, to meet each of your children with what he/she needs. We also know that you are doing the exact same for your child at home, and that everyone’s best looks different during this time. That is okay! We are in this together and will get through this! 

Thank you, 

Danielle Lukk 

Head of School 

Dear ECP Families,

We hope you are staying safe during these challenging times. We wanted to provide a few updates and reminders as we head into distance learning.

Launch of Distance Learning! 

Last week students had the chance to learn about our distance learning platform and start to get more comfortable learning online. Yesterday was our first day of online instruction! We encourage parents to refer to the resources on our distance learning website to manage at-home instruction and the variety of resources available to support you during this time.

We recognize that the transition to distance learning will take time, patience, and collaboration. We are here to support you and your child as we make this transition. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you need support. 

If your child is still in need of a computer, we recognize that online learning may be more difficult. Please use the resources on the ECP’s Distance Learning Home Page in the meantime and reach out to your child’s teacher if you need support. We will update you on next steps once the computers have arrived. 

Attendance

Please remember to record your child’s daily participation by 9AM every weekday!

Spring Break 

Next week is Spring Break. While there will not be online classes, students can continue to work on the variety of educational applications listed on the website. Teachers will also provide additional activities on the grade level page to help keep students engaged in learning during this time. You do not need to record attendance during this time. Online classes will resume on Tuesday, April 21. 

Testing 

Our students usually engage in testing in the Spring, but state tests have been canceled or postponed due to school closures; this includes English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), CAASPP/SBAC, and Physical Fitness Testing. 

Grading 

We understand that the transition to online learning can be a difficult one and want to make sure no student is penalized for their inability to access online learning. We are currently researching best practices for grading during this unusual time. In the meantime, we ask that you do not stress about grades and instead support your child through this challenging transition ensuring they are trying their best to complete all assignments and reaching out to teachers during office hours for support.

Commitment 

We know that these are challenging times and want you to know that we are committed to helping in any way we can as you support your child in transitioning to distance learning. As a reminder, our school website will have all the latest information. 

Sincerely, 

Danielle Lukk

Head of School

Congratulations to our ECPistas who are the recipients of $1,000 scholarships! We are so proud of them and their accomplishments–Great things are ahead!

Don’t forget to share your ECP success stories with us!