Dear Lubbock ISD families, 

We are embarking on a new adventure in learning this week: remote instruction. While this is a new experience for all of us, please know we are working with teachers to plan the best and most high-quality experience possible. Fortunately, your child is quite familiar with online learning because it is utilized every day at school.  

Beginning next week during the extended spring break, March 23-27, Lubbock ISD students will be offered a variety of optional learning experiences. Visit  www.LubbockISD.org/learnonline to find resources to keep student learning on track. When accessing this site, click on the parent tab and choose the grade level for learning appropriate resources for your student.

While your child is utilizing these resources next week, our teachers will be finalizing their plans for remote learning for their specific grade levels. Online school for all students will begin on Monday, March 30. Teachers will communicate what this will look like for your child. Students might log in at a particular time to video chat with their teacher, or be instructed to access one of the technology platforms to work more independently while the teacher monitors their work. Next week, Lubbock ISD will email instructions to students on how to access digital learning on the Chromebooks they brought home before spring break. These instructions will be specific with materials to help guide them through their work. There will also be a student help desk line available at (806) 219-0199 or helpdesk@LubbockISD.org should you or your child experience technical difficulties.  

So, what does remote learning mean to you and your family? Second- through 12th-grade students have been provided Chromebooks and learning materials. Teachers will plan and assign lessons using different platforms. Our second- through 12th-grade teachers already utilize multiple platforms, such as Google Classroom and Google Hangouts, on a daily basis and our students are familiar with these tools. The vast majority of students will know how to navigate these platforms. For students receiving special services, more detailed information will be coming from your student’s special services teacher, your campus diagnostician and/or your speech and language pathologist. 

For our students in pre-kindergarten through first grade, we will use a combination of technology such as SeeSaw, email, Class Dojo, etc., and provide learning packets. Students at these young ages benefit most from hands-on learning. Encourage your child to work on reading letters and sight words, practice handwriting, and counting items found in the home. These are great learning experiences that can be done anywhere. Teachers will share more ideas through digital communications with you. For those students who do not have home internet access, we are working to develop hard copy materials to support student learning. These will be available from the bus drivers who deliver food on eleven routes in the Lubbock ISD community or at a campus designated as a lunch pick up location. Information about our food distribution system is included in a separate email.

Families will receive log-on directions, sample calendars and help desk support beginning Thursday, March 26.

If your second- through 12th-grade student did not bring a Chromebook home over the break, families may pick up a Chromebook on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, March 25-27 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Families may come to either Irons Middle School, 5214 79th St. or the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, 3201 Ave. Q. 

Social distancing will be practiced at both locations. To protect our students and staff, please remain in your car and drive through to receive the device. Students must be present and bring their school ID and/or 10-digit 1000 number to receive a device.

Please note: students receiving services in Structured Learning Classroom (SLC) who did not take a Chromebook home before spring break, will have a Chromebook delivered directly to their home.

During these uncertain times, it’s important that we give each other grace. Children won’t learn as much if they are feeling stressed, so make sure your child takes breaks, cuddles, reads, does a puzzle, and takes walks. This is a new kind of learning for many, but it doesn’t have to be a challenging or negative experience. Make sure you communicate with your child’s teachers and ask questions. The Lubbock ISD staff and school community are working incredibly hard to ensure the safety of our students and meet their academic and social/emotional needs as well. Working together, we will get through this, and be stronger, wiser, and ready for whatever lies ahead.

Misty Rieber
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Kathy Rollo
Superintendent, Lubbock ISD