Critical Updates: COVID-19

Distance Learning

Student safety and learning are always top priorities in Southside ISD. To support students and families, the District has prepared instructional resources. Beginning the week of March 23, we will also be providing instructional lessons for students. These lessons will be provided predominantly through Google Classroom which is accessible through the Google Apps or Clever. We appreciate your patience as we explore a different way of teaching during extraordinary circumstances.

Distance Learning for Students

Tech Support

Southside ISD is committed to assisting our students, parents, and staff in their distance learning efforts during this unprecedented time of school closures. A tech support site has been set up to provide technology-relevant help to ensure a successful distance learning experience for all.

SISD Health Clinic taking phone visits

University Health System which operates the Southside ISD Susan Hall Community Health clinic wants parents, teachers, and the community to know its medical team remains available for phone visits. UHS says its staff is available for phone visits, medication refills, etc., despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients may call the clinic at 210-644-1800 for any medical questions. UHS says the clinic will remain closed until the District reopens.

SISD Counselors and Social Workers are available

Southside ISD is committed to providing social and emotional support to students during the time schools are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Students can reach a professional school counselor or social worker through the link below. A member of the counseling team will respond to requests for assistance.

Request a call for a wellness session.

Free or Reduced Internet – Now Available

Grande will offer free internet and WiFi for 60 days to all qualifying low-income households who do not already subscribe to their internet service and who enroll in the Internet First program. Internet First is an affordable internet program designed to help families and students in low-income households to have reliable access to the internet. Additionally, Grande will not terminate service to any residential or business customer of their inability to pay their bills due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 and will also be waiving late fees.

AT&T is also offering free and reduced rates for the internet. Click here for more information. Remember some cell phone data plans like AT& T are temporarily waiving fees for wifi and hotspots on cell phones. Check with you provider for more information.

Spectrum customers can use free or discounted services too through their Charter Communications channel. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. Or for more information, click here.

In response to the virus, Comcast also announced it will be offering two months of free internet services to low-income households in its service areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

With the extended closure of our schools, this continuous learning plan is being implemented by the district. The purpose of this plan is to allow instruction to continue and to ensure students have access to learning. It is of utmost importance that students do their assignments and continue mastering the standards for their grade level/course to assure grade level
advancement and/or course credit.

How will instruction continue through the school closure?

Instruction will continue through distance learning. Online and print options will be made
available to all students. Detailed information can be found at the website here.

How will student attendance be taken during distance learning?

The Texas Education Agency has provided school districts with guidance on what is required to capture attendance during school closures due to COVID-19. Student attendance will not have to be turned in daily; however, the school district, schools and teachers will need to show that learning continued while campuses were closed. This includes online learning and/or paper packet learning. Student attendance will be verified through Google Classroom logins (the district can pull these records), teachers checking and/or grading completed work, and teachers contacting any student (or student’s family) who may not have turned in their work each week to verify that the student has access and is able to participate in remote learning (a contact log will be kept by the teacher).

What options do I have for distance learning?

Distance learning will focus on a mixture of reviewing previously learned material and introducing new material. Teachers will work to include opportunities for interactive instruction, formative assessments, and summative assessments. Differentiation for student needs may look different than in a traditional school setting; however, our teachers are committed to providing the support needed for students to be successful during remote learning.

Both High Tech (online) and Low Tech (hard copy packets) – will be assigned in two week increments through Packet #2. When a new packet is picked up, the previous/completed packet will be returned. Packets can be picked up on your child’s home campus. Menchaca students can drop off completed packets and pick up their packets at any elementary campus in the district according to the schedule below. There will be no hard copy distribution after Packet #2. Packets #3 & #4 will be available on the district website. It is important all the work in each packet is completed and we are working through various ways for it to be returned. Look for more detailed information on the return of packets #2, #3, & #4.

View the full list of Frequently Asked Questions – English
Ver la Lista Completa de Preguntas Frecuentes – Español

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