Students start school year from a distance
PALMDALE — Palmdale School District started the 2020-21 school year on Thursday with students from multiple grade levels and school sites chatting with District trustees and cabinet members via a Zoom meeting.
Board President Dennis Trujillo, Board clerk Nancy Smith, and Board members Sharon Vega, Simone Zulu-Diol and Ralph Velador participated in the Zoom call.
Cabinet members Assistant Superintendents Elena Esquer of Educational Services, Frances Ufondu of Business Services, Ryan Beardsley of Human Resources and Donna Campbell of Special Education/Student Services stood behind Superintendent Raul Maldonado and cheered for the students.
The first student to join the call was Buena Vista Elementary School second grader Valentina Marin Hernandez. She set the upbeat mood for the call by holding up a sign that read: “Welcome Mr. Maldonado to our 1st day of school 20-21.”
Maldonado thanked her and began the meeting by asking, “Who has a Good Thing to share?”
Yucca Elementary School first-grader Liam Soli responded quickly saying, “I turned six
years old. That is my good thing.”
Other students on the call laughed, clapped and called out, “Happy Birthday, Liam.”
Cameron McGriff from Buena Vista drew cheers from everyone on the call when he said, “This is my last year at my school and I am going to make it the best year ever.”
Luis Hernandez, Valentina’s older brother, started eighth grade at SAGE Magnet Academy.
“They did good. They were excited,” Nancy Hernandez, Valentina and Luis’ mother said. “It was something new; they didn’t know what was going to happen. For them, it’s hard to believe they’re going to be in school but at home. But they were really happy to see their classmates again, teachers.”
Hernandez added her children are excited to know what will happen next.
“It’s a new thing,” Hernandez said.
Luis Hernandez said he liked the first day of school.
“I like how we’re doing distance learning. You have more time to do things,” Luis said. “The homework is easier to do with distance learning.”
Luis was able to reconnect with some of his classmates from last school year.
“I’m looking forward to passing this year and getting good grades,” Luis said. “I’m trying to start high school with good grades.”
Luis looks forward to a return to in-person instruction.
“Distance learning is good, but in-person I can learn better,” Luis said.
Hernandez thanked the Palmdale School District for its support.
Parent and teacher Elizabeth Soli said the first day of school went well. Her son Liam Soli started first grade. Soli teaches kindergarten.
“It went really great,” Soli said. “My son, he was a little bit nervous because he really loved his kindergarten teacher. He was a little hesitant this morning but once he got on Zoom with her and saw her and a few of his classmates from last year he whispered over to me, ‘I’m excited now.’ ”
Soli met eight of her students via Zoom on Thursday.
“The parents seemed very excited,” Soli said.
Student Board member Anthony Rivera, an eighth grader at Palmdale Learning Plaza, said the first day of school was kind of confusing.
“Different links everywhere that you could find a classroom code in one and another one in a different place. I know a lot of my classmates couldn’t even find the classroom codes,” Rivera said.
Once class began it was good, he added.
“It probably proceeded much better than actual in real life school because with the touch of a button, the teacher can mute all the disruptive kids and what not,” Rivera said.
Rivera is looking forward to seeing how band class will play out. He plays the alto saxophone.
Rivera enjoys being a student trustee.
“It’s really exciting to see all the movements and suggestions that go on inside the boardroom,” Rivera said. “A lot of people come up to express their feelings and being able to view different points of view from different types of people, the classified, the teachers, (and) the organizations.”
Maldonado spent Thursday visiting school sites. Although the District started the school year with a distance learning model, many teachers are teaching from inside their classrooms. Teachers can use the large interactive Promethean Boards in their classrooms to connect with students via a Zoom video conference call.
“We have very good Internet services in our classroom so it’s much quicker. I just thing people are ready to come out and see their kids,” Maldonado said.
The superintendent had a chance to visit with teachers, administrators, and parents. Some parents picked up Chromebooks, lunch, and other supplies for their students.
“I saw a lot of happy faces, kids, administrators, and classified staff,” Maldonado said.