C3 Classes
COVID-19 Updates, Protocols, & Resources
Update: November 18, 2020
Dear C3 Families,
Thank you for your patience and continued support during these challenging times. Because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Orange County and across the nation, in the interest of safety for our students, their families, and our teaching staff we have decided to continue with live online classes to start the winter/spring semester.
As the semester progresses, we will reevaluate. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have sought to provide a consistent quality education without bouncing back and forth between in-person and online formats. We will continue to strive to provide quality, engaging instruction, and make adjustments when needed. Our decision to stay online was made after receiving valuable feedback from parents and teachers, class size limits from our location coordinators, and notifications from charter schools that once again in-person classes are no longer permitted.
We are so encouraged by how well students are adapting to online instruction and connecting with their peers during class time. It is uplifting to see students enjoying friendly conversations and laughing with one another, even in the virtual environment. There is still such a sense of community within each class! In addition, we have had a growing number of students joining us for our Thursday night social events. These will definitely be continuing during the winter/spring semester, so mark your calendars now!
We know this is a disappointing development for many, and we are doing our best to accommodate students who prefer in-person classes. We are in the process of planning a couple of mixed virtual and in-person classes on Thursdays; US Geography and a literature class on Harriet Tubman. If everything goes according to plan, these classes will have students participating via Zoom with one instructor, and another instructor will be in the classroom teaching students simultaneously. Our hope is to have these classes followed by an in-person PE Games class at the Mission Viejo Family YMCA, so students eager to return to the classroom may have an opportunity to participate in two back-to-back classes. We are currently working with the Y to pursue this idea. Of course, C3 Classes will continue to follow the most current state and CDC guidelines, and masks will be required at any and all in-person events. Please stay tuned for further developments on this front.
As we approach the end of the fall classes, we thank you again for a wonderful semester. We know this has been a challenging year for all of us, and we have appreciated your flexibility and can-do spirit as we’ve navigated these obstacles together. We hope you and your family have a lovely, safe holiday season and we are excited to see everyone via Zoom in the new year!
Best,
Adrienne Collins & Laurie Weir
Dear C3 Families,
Thank you for your patience and continued support during these challenging times. Because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Orange County and across the nation, in the interest of safety for our students, their families, and our teaching staff we have decided to continue with live online classes to start the winter/spring semester.
As the semester progresses, we will reevaluate. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have sought to provide a consistent quality education without bouncing back and forth between in-person and online formats. We will continue to strive to provide quality, engaging instruction, and make adjustments when needed. Our decision to stay online was made after receiving valuable feedback from parents and teachers, class size limits from our location coordinators, and notifications from charter schools that once again in-person classes are no longer permitted.
We are so encouraged by how well students are adapting to online instruction and connecting with their peers during class time. It is uplifting to see students enjoying friendly conversations and laughing with one another, even in the virtual environment. There is still such a sense of community within each class! In addition, we have had a growing number of students joining us for our Thursday night social events. These will definitely be continuing during the winter/spring semester, so mark your calendars now!
We know this is a disappointing development for many, and we are doing our best to accommodate students who prefer in-person classes. We are in the process of planning a couple of mixed virtual and in-person classes on Thursdays; US Geography and a literature class on Harriet Tubman. If everything goes according to plan, these classes will have students participating via Zoom with one instructor, and another instructor will be in the classroom teaching students simultaneously. Our hope is to have these classes followed by an in-person PE Games class at the Mission Viejo Family YMCA, so students eager to return to the classroom may have an opportunity to participate in two back-to-back classes. We are currently working with the Y to pursue this idea. Of course, C3 Classes will continue to follow the most current state and CDC guidelines, and masks will be required at any and all in-person events. Please stay tuned for further developments on this front.
As we approach the end of the fall classes, we thank you again for a wonderful semester. We know this has been a challenging year for all of us, and we have appreciated your flexibility and can-do spirit as we’ve navigated these obstacles together. We hope you and your family have a lovely, safe holiday season and we are excited to see everyone via Zoom in the new year!
Best,
Adrienne Collins & Laurie Weir
Update: October26, 2020
Dear C3 Families,
Wow! We have successfully completed our first six weeks! Congrats to all our students on a terrific start to the school year. It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming our families back from summer vacation. While the weather is cooling, the sixth week marks the halfway point of our first semester. We hope you are all doing well, staying safe, and making healthy adjustments to life as we now know it.
Over the past month or so, hundreds of Orange County schools have reopened for in-person instruction. We know that students thrive on interaction with their peers, teachers, and a routine that sends them to the familiar and supportive surroundings of traditional classes. We have received questions from several parents about our plans for returning to in-person instruction, so we want to clarify our current standing (as best we can). While we have been busy making plans and preparing for the time when we may transition back to the physical classroom, our number one goal as educators is to ensure that our students receive quality instruction with the least amount of distractions as possible (technology issues, schedule concerns, communication). We miss the traditional classroom as much—if not more—than you do, but we want to make sure we are following the most effective and safest education practices.
For those who may not be aware of the approval process for moving back to in-person instruction, C3 Classes is a contractor of 12 different charter schools in the Orange, San Diego, and LA County areas. In order for us to be allowed to hold classes in the traditional classroom, all 12 of those schools had to receive approval from the state to hold in-person classes. We are excited to announce that just last week we cleared this milestone! The next step is for us to apply for individual permission from those schools. We are in the process of submitting our reopening plans to the proper approval boards and hope to hear back soon. We are also waiting for approval from our site directors, as we cannot hold classes in-person without having actual, physical classrooms!
Because there are so many moving pieces to this, and to ensure a smooth transition and avoid the possibility of bouncing back and forth between in-person and virtual classes, all C3 courses will remain online for the few weeks remaining before Winter Break. As a reminder, classes end December 10th. With so few weeks left, we feel it will be better if we can keep the focus on teaching and learning.
A few other updates:
- Mrs. Wong's science classes will remain online through the rest of the school year.
- The rest of the C3 Team is actively in the process of figuring out spring semester plans by exploring new options such as offering some classes online, others face-to face, and/or a hybrid of home and classroom learning.
We will do our best to keep everyone updated as things develop. As always, we will work hard to be flexible and adaptable to all the challenges that come our way.
Parents, thank you for being great partners in our students’ and your child’s success. And thank you for your patience as we work to prepare for the next semester.
With all good wishes,
Adrienne & Laurie
Dear C3 Families,
Wow! We have successfully completed our first six weeks! Congrats to all our students on a terrific start to the school year. It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming our families back from summer vacation. While the weather is cooling, the sixth week marks the halfway point of our first semester. We hope you are all doing well, staying safe, and making healthy adjustments to life as we now know it.
Over the past month or so, hundreds of Orange County schools have reopened for in-person instruction. We know that students thrive on interaction with their peers, teachers, and a routine that sends them to the familiar and supportive surroundings of traditional classes. We have received questions from several parents about our plans for returning to in-person instruction, so we want to clarify our current standing (as best we can). While we have been busy making plans and preparing for the time when we may transition back to the physical classroom, our number one goal as educators is to ensure that our students receive quality instruction with the least amount of distractions as possible (technology issues, schedule concerns, communication). We miss the traditional classroom as much—if not more—than you do, but we want to make sure we are following the most effective and safest education practices.
For those who may not be aware of the approval process for moving back to in-person instruction, C3 Classes is a contractor of 12 different charter schools in the Orange, San Diego, and LA County areas. In order for us to be allowed to hold classes in the traditional classroom, all 12 of those schools had to receive approval from the state to hold in-person classes. We are excited to announce that just last week we cleared this milestone! The next step is for us to apply for individual permission from those schools. We are in the process of submitting our reopening plans to the proper approval boards and hope to hear back soon. We are also waiting for approval from our site directors, as we cannot hold classes in-person without having actual, physical classrooms!
Because there are so many moving pieces to this, and to ensure a smooth transition and avoid the possibility of bouncing back and forth between in-person and virtual classes, all C3 courses will remain online for the few weeks remaining before Winter Break. As a reminder, classes end December 10th. With so few weeks left, we feel it will be better if we can keep the focus on teaching and learning.
A few other updates:
- Mrs. Wong's science classes will remain online through the rest of the school year.
- The rest of the C3 Team is actively in the process of figuring out spring semester plans by exploring new options such as offering some classes online, others face-to face, and/or a hybrid of home and classroom learning.
We will do our best to keep everyone updated as things develop. As always, we will work hard to be flexible and adaptable to all the challenges that come our way.
Parents, thank you for being great partners in our students’ and your child’s success. And thank you for your patience as we work to prepare for the next semester.
With all good wishes,
Adrienne & Laurie
Update: July 20, 2020
Dear C3 Community--
We hope that you are all enjoying a restful summer and that you and your loved ones are staying healthy amid all the challenges posed by the pandemic.
By now you are probably aware of Governor Newsom’s announcement made last Friday that schools in counties on the state’s COVID-19 watchlist will not be able to host in-person classes. Since C3 Classes is contracted with numerous public charter schools, we are obligated to act in accordance with all regulations affecting public schools and provide live online instruction until circumstances change. In order for Orange County schools to resume in-person classes, the county must be off the watchlist for 14 consecutive days. We remain committed to pivoting to in-person instruction if and when it becomes safe to do so.
We understand this decision may be disappointing. We will certainly miss seeing you all in person! However, our dedicated teachers have been working all summer to design their courses to accommodate live online learning, foreseeing that classes would be moved to a virtual platform this fall. At C3 Classes, our first priority has always been to offer high quality educational instruction to our students. A virtual classroom environment does not change that. We are pleased to report high satisfaction from our families who participated in remote classes this spring; the feedback received from these students and families has helped us shape our upcoming classes and allows us to provide an excellent online education to all students.
The start of our fall semester is approaching on September 10th. Please let us know in writing by Monday, August 3rd if your plans have changed. All change/drop fees will be waived until August 3rd.
Our entire staff is counting down the days until we can connect with you. We look forward to welcoming you back for a new academic year and to all the promise and potential it brings. Be well, and we look forward to kicking off the school year with you next month!
Sincerely,
Adrienne Collins & Laurie Weir
Dear C3 Community--
We hope that you are all enjoying a restful summer and that you and your loved ones are staying healthy amid all the challenges posed by the pandemic.
By now you are probably aware of Governor Newsom’s announcement made last Friday that schools in counties on the state’s COVID-19 watchlist will not be able to host in-person classes. Since C3 Classes is contracted with numerous public charter schools, we are obligated to act in accordance with all regulations affecting public schools and provide live online instruction until circumstances change. In order for Orange County schools to resume in-person classes, the county must be off the watchlist for 14 consecutive days. We remain committed to pivoting to in-person instruction if and when it becomes safe to do so.
We understand this decision may be disappointing. We will certainly miss seeing you all in person! However, our dedicated teachers have been working all summer to design their courses to accommodate live online learning, foreseeing that classes would be moved to a virtual platform this fall. At C3 Classes, our first priority has always been to offer high quality educational instruction to our students. A virtual classroom environment does not change that. We are pleased to report high satisfaction from our families who participated in remote classes this spring; the feedback received from these students and families has helped us shape our upcoming classes and allows us to provide an excellent online education to all students.
The start of our fall semester is approaching on September 10th. Please let us know in writing by Monday, August 3rd if your plans have changed. All change/drop fees will be waived until August 3rd.
Our entire staff is counting down the days until we can connect with you. We look forward to welcoming you back for a new academic year and to all the promise and potential it brings. Be well, and we look forward to kicking off the school year with you next month!
Sincerely,
Adrienne Collins & Laurie Weir
COVID Protocols
We are continually refining our health and safety protocols. The list below has been updated July 23rd, Please note plans are subject to change.
- Parents and guests are allowed to enter buildings for essential purposes only.
- We also will continue to follow Orange County protocols regarding testing, positive cases, suspension of classes, and return to in-person classes.
- Inside our buildings, we are maximizing use of multiple entries and exits, optimizing ventilation systems, using open windows and doors where possible, and cleaning common areas or shared materials regularly.
- Physical Distancing - Strive for 6 feet when near other people. No large gatherings.
- Face Covering - All students, parents, and teachers will wear masks indoors at all times. If the 6 feet cannot be maintained outside, masks will be worn.
- Hygiene - Hand-washing and sanitizing will be emphasized.
- Health Screening - Temperature and symptom screening will be required of all families, prior to arrival to class. Individuals with symptoms must stay home.
- Parents and guests are allowed to enter buildings for essential purposes only.
- We also will continue to follow Orange County protocols regarding testing, positive cases, suspension of classes, and return to in-person classes.
- Inside our buildings, we are maximizing use of multiple entries and exits, optimizing ventilation systems, using open windows and doors where possible, and cleaning common areas or shared materials regularly.
Coronavirus Resources
Helpful Websites:
* Free mindfulness resources: Calm.com
* Four mindfulness strategies: The Now Effect
* Guide to well-being during coronavirus: Greater Good Magazine
* Teen issues: New York Times, "Quaranteenagers"
* KidsHealth: Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Talk to Your Child
* NPR: Concise info in cartoon form, "What Kids Want To Know About Coronavirus"
*Child Mind Institute: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
* Centers for Disease Control (CDC): CORONAVIRUS WEBSITE
* Centers for Disease Control: Travel Notices
* World Health Organization (WHO): Coronavirus information
* U.S. State Department: Travel advisories.
* California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
* Free mindfulness resources: Calm.com
* Four mindfulness strategies: The Now Effect
* Guide to well-being during coronavirus: Greater Good Magazine
* Teen issues: New York Times, "Quaranteenagers"
* KidsHealth: Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Talk to Your Child
* NPR: Concise info in cartoon form, "What Kids Want To Know About Coronavirus"
*Child Mind Institute: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
* Centers for Disease Control (CDC): CORONAVIRUS WEBSITE
* Centers for Disease Control: Travel Notices
* World Health Organization (WHO): Coronavirus information
* U.S. State Department: Travel advisories.
* California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/