Parents throughout the Coachella Valley have begun preparing for virtual distance learning as the first day of school approaches. Last week Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that schools could hold in-person instruction only if the counties they reside in have been off the state’s monitoring list for 14 consecutive days. Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage
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On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom released strict guidelines to reopen schools and ordered counties on the state’s monitoring list, which includes Riverside County, to keep classrooms closed and start the new school year with distance-learning programs. The valley’s three school districts already planned on starting the school year digitally. With Palm Springs Unified School District
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Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all school campuses to remain closed when the new school year begins in counties on the state’s monitoring list due to spiking coronavirus cases — including Riverside, Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties. The order means districts in 32 counties will start the new school year with distance-learning programs. All
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At the Palm Desert campus of Cal State San Bernardino, banners feature photos of students of color. Now, the California Faculty Association wants more students of color on the campus, and the 22 other campuses in the Cal State System. “We need a radical change to address a systemic ill that is structured into our
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On Tuesday afternoon the Coachella Valley Unified School District hosted a public forum via Zoom. Superintendent Maria Gandera was joined by other district officials in discussing the latest information on reopening plans ahead of the new school year, which begins August 13. Last Tuesday the Board of Education reviewed a proposal brought forth by a
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The Palm Springs Unified School District is celebrating and showcasing the visual and performing arts in a special to air on KESQ News Channel 3 this Saturday the 27th at 7 p.m. Coordinating all the talent is David Green, Director of Musical Theater University, which calls PSUSD’s Rancho Mirage High School home. MTU trains students
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Local school districts are asking parents what they think about the upcoming school year and trying to get input on how schools should handle the threat of coronavirus. Parents are concerned about how local districts will handle back-to-school amid the pandemic. “It is hard as a working parent,” said Myra Garcia. “I don’t know if
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LINK: “Stronger Together — A Guidebook for the Safe Reopening of California’s Public Schools” State School Superintendent Tony Thurmond unveiled the detailed 55 page document Monday morning during an online press conference. The plan is called “Stronger Together — A Guidebook For The Safe Reopening of California’s Public Schools”. “We have worked to provide
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College of the Desert’s Partnership and Community Education program is offering 10 free self-paced professional development trainings to help residents facing the rapidly changing job market due to the coronavirus pandemic. Free trainings include:• Creating Web Pages• Creating WordPress Websites• Fundamentals of Supervision and Management• Twelve Steps to a Successful Job Search• Keys to Effective
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Seniors at Palm Desert and La Quinta High School picked up their graduation packets ahead of their virtual graduation ceremonies next week. “You know our heart goes out to the class of 2020 because we know it’s been specifically hard on them the last two months,” said Dennis Zink, Palm Desert High School’s Principal. Students
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As Rancho Mirage High School seniors picked up their graduation packets Monday evening, it was an emotional scene for teachers and students. High school graduation ceremonies are a storied tradition, launching students from grade school out into the world, but this year, coronavirus had other plans for the Class of 2020. The soon-to-be graduates are
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The city of Coachella, in partnership with the Coachella Valley Unified School District, will buy 3,000 personal wireless hotspots to help students studying from home who don’t have access to the internet. Coachella and CVUSD will place the hotspots in homes throughout the city and surrounding areas. Back in March, the district established a “Distance
Continue Reading The Desert Sands Unified School District is now accepting applications for new students in the early childhood education program. The two programs available are Head Start and the California State Preschool Program. Below is some of the information included in a press release sent out by the district: “Desert Sands Unified School District is now
Continue Reading College of the Desert will only offer online classes during the Summer and Fall semesters due to the coronavirus pandemic. Stay up-to-date with local update at KESQ.com/Coronavirus “The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff and maintaining the quality of our teaching and learning programs are of utmost importance for the College, our
Continue Reading During an online educational summit Wednesday hosted on Zoom, superintendents from the valley school districts talked about their approaches to this year’s graduation ceremonies. “The big graduation ceremonies, the proms that our seniors were looking forward to those have been interrupted at this moment in time,” said CVUSD Superintendent Dr. Maria Gandera. Still in the
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Students walked between classes and others played outside Monday while their district leaders talked about coronavirus. Parents expressed their concerns, including a mother with two students in Palm Springs Unified School District. “As a parent I’m really concerned. As a parent of two kids it’s kind of very concerning,” said Alejandra Hernandez. PSUSD sent a
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Shadow Hills and Palm Desert high schools both lit up their athletic facilities on Friday night as a way to show their support for the Class of 2020. The lights were on for 20 minutes. In turn, this was also was done for our local senior student-athletes who lost their final season due to the
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Teachers at Andrew Jackson elementary held their own drive-by parade Friday morning. “This is a great way for us to kind of reconnect with them,” said Jose Montano, principal, Jackson Elementary. Jackson Elementary is the latest valley school to get creative in showing support for their students quarantining at home. “We want to let the
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Staff members at Mecca elementary school organized a drive-by parade on Wednesday morning to visit their homebound students. “I sent a message and the response from our teachers was just amazing,” said Armando Rivera, Principal, Mecca Elementary. The principal, teachers and other school members formed a line with their cars — the parade began promptly
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An Indio mother of three, who is also a credentialed teacher tells News Channel 3 the homeschooling community in the valley is “booming”. Since schools closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Heather Siani says she has seen a spike in inquiries from local families wanting to learn more about homeschooling. Siani home schools her
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