Friday, March 27, 2020
Dear Lemoore Union Elementary School District Families,
As we come to the end of our second week of school closure, we continue to think of EACH ONE of our LUESD families during this challenging time. As you can understand the COVID-19 pandemic is dynamic and evolving. As I shared previously, we remain strong and vigilant in providing our students essential services and will provide critical updates. At this time, we are implementing directives from the Kings County Public Health Department and the California Department of Public Health and will be extending our school closure to May 1. This is a difficult decision but one that is necessary in order to protect the safety of our students as well as support our nation’s goal in reducing the spread of COVID-19. This is a unanimous decision by all Kings County Superintendents.
In preparing for this transition, we will begin our deployment and distribution of technology devices i.e. Chromebooks to students in TK-6th grade next week, March 30-April 3. The Chromebooks will further support students during this period of school closure. These devices can be used immediately to access the Learn From Home resources posted on the district’s website (https://www.luesd.k12.ca.us). These learning resources are suggested and encouraged learning materials but are not required.
On April 14th, the district will begin supporting students using a distance learning model. This instructional approach utilizes technology to facilitate student-teacher and student-student communication when working in the same physical space is not possible. As you are aware, our amazing teachers have been reaching out to our families this week to make connections, gather information about access to wi-fi internet and technology devices in preparation for our distance learning launch.
LUESD will check out a Chromebook and charging cable to students attending Cinnamon Elementary, Lemoore Elementary, Meadow Lane Elementary and P.W. Engvall Elementary. This device is to be used solely for educational purposes and must be well maintained and cared for while in the student’s possession. A copy of the Chromebook Agreement will be available at each school’s pick-up location. This Chromebook Agreement will be expected to be signed by the adult accompanying the student picking up their device. Students must be present to receive their device.
To help keep your child safe while studying online, we are utilizing online services provided by GoGuardian. These services:
- Help protect students against harmful and inappropriate online material
- Help students stay “scholarly” and more focused when learning online
GoGuardian’s web-based services operate on the school’s managed Google Suite for Education Chrome accounts (i.e., when a student is logged into Chrome on a Chromebook with his/her school email address).
Chromebooks will be distributed by the student’s last name at each elementary school site beginning Monday, March 30th. A student must pick up their Chromebook from the elementary school they are currently attending according to the schedule below.
| Last Name begins with: | Pick up Day | Pick up Times | Pick up Locations |
| A - G | Monday, March 30th | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Student Pick-up/Drop-off locations at: Cinnamon Elementary, Lemoore Elementary, Meadow Lane Elementary, and P.W. Engvall Elementary |
| H - M | Tuesday, March 31st | See above
| See above |
| N - S | Wednesday, April 1st | See above
| See above |
| T - Z | Thursday, April 2nd | See above
| See above |
| A – Z (if you were unable to make one of the previous days) | Friday, April 3rd | See above | See above |
When picking up Chromebooks, parents will be asked to stay in their cars and pull up in the pick-up area at each school site to avoid congregating and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
We look forward to reconnecting with our students and providing them continuous learning opportunities using this new distance learning format. Our site principals and teachers will be connecting with our students to provide more specifics related to the launch of our distance learning model on April 14th. In addition, our meal service which includes both breakfast and lunch will continue through April 3. We will begin the meal service again following Spring Break on April 14th. The same locations will be utilized for this service. We appreciate EACH ONE of you for your ongoing support and partnership as we navigate the national COVID-19 pandemic. Again, we are committed to ensuring ongoing communication via our School Messenger calls home, our District/Site Facebook pages and our District website at www.luesd.k12.ca.us.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Hunt, Superintendent