Brawley, Holtville welcome students back via online videos
HOLTVILLE — A handshake wasn’t possible under the circumstances, so administrators at Holtville and Brawley Union high schools welcomed their students and parents to the 2020-21 school year via online videos.
The high schools posted videos Thursday on their social media accounts that contained helpful information for students and parents before the first day of school on Monday.
Imperial and Calipatria high schools also start on Monday, but no welcome videos were apparent on their social media accounts or school website.
Vincent Memorial Catholic High School will start on Wednesday, while Calexico High School will start Aug. 24. Southwest and Central Union high schools began Tuesday.
All schools in Imperial County will begin the school year via distance learning.
Holtville’s welcome-back video is 17 minutes long, while Brawley Union’s is 11 minutes long.
These videos are still available for viewing on each school’s Facebook page and school website.
As explained in its video, Holtville High’s school day will commence at 8:30 a.m.
Each period will go for 30 minutes. During these 30 minutes, students will need to report to their “live classes” by using Google Classrooms on their laptops.
A “live class” is when a teacher is providing instruction in real time as students tune in and participate.
HHS Principal Anthony Arevalo reminded parents that their students will need to follow the school’s “online norms.”
The norms are a set of rules, such as being an active participant, wearing appropriate clothing and having the laptop camera on, that each teacher will review with their students on the first day of school.
Students will be given a five-minute break in between each 30-minute period.
The students will attend seven periods throughout the day. Seventh period will end at 12:30 p.m.
This is when students will be done attending live classes for the day; however, they will still each be responsible for completing approximately 10 minutes of homework for each period.
During Thursday’s video, Holtville Dean of Students and Athletic Director Carl Johnston explained that students will still need to maintain a 2.0 grade point average to play sports this school year.
Johnston also said although fall sports will be pushed back to start during the winter time, it has still yet to be decided when students can begin practicing.
Holtville’s ASB co-advisor Alicia Arevalo mentioned that school clubs, such as ASB, FFA, band, AVID or Campus Life, are still available for students to participate in.
In order to join a school club, a student would need to contact Arevalo or counselor Mayra Duarte to obtain an application.
For Brawley Union, each school day will start at 8 a.m. and last until 3:01 p.m. with a lunch break in between.
The periods that each student attends will differ from day to day.
Students will attend their odd-numbered periods (one, three and five) on Mondays and Wednesdays, and attend their even-numbered periods (two, four and six) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
From 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. each day, students will participate in a student preparation period. From 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., they will have a tutorial period.
Afterward, from 9:15 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. they will participate in their three live class periods for the day.
From 12:45 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. will be lunch. The day will conclude with student learning and tutoring from 1:25 p.m. to 3:01 p.m.
Fridays will alternate between even- and odd-numbered periods every week. As on other days, a student prep period will take place from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. However, there will be no tutorial period, and students will participate in their three periods for the day from 8:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. (periods will be shortened to 15 minutes each).
From 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 pm., student learning and tutoring will take place.
Lunch will then follow from 12:45 p.m. to 1:25 p.m., and another period of student learning and tutoring will conclude the day from 1:30 p.m. to 3:01 p.m.
“The afternoon time is set for students to complete assignments, projects and prepare for other classes,” BUHS Principal Jesse Sanchez said during the video. “Students will also be able to work with their teachers during office hours, and various tutoring sessions will be available for students.”
“The most important idea that I want you to understand, as parents and students, is that we have started school,” he added. “Attendance does matter — completing work and seeking help does matter.”
Sanchez also announced that breakfast and lunch services will begin on Monday.
Breakfast and lunch will be served in a grab-and-go style from noon to 2 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays outside of the BUHS cafeteria.
These meals are for all Brawley Union High School District students, including Desert Valley High School and Renaissance School students.
For BUHSD students who live in Westmorland, meals will be served from noon to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Youth Hall in Westmorland.
These meals are only for BUHSD students. If a parent is picking up a meal, then that parent would need to provide the student’s name, Sanchez said.
“We will continue to reach out to parents and students with more details on a regular basis,” he said. “We will provide parent and student workshops to answer questions and support your children in distance learning.”