COVID-19 has changed many aspects of our city. As El Paso transforms to keep its people safe and healthy, our students’ school experience this fall is new, and may feel uncertain to some. Ciudad Nueva is approaching the uncertainties of this time with faithful devotion and fresh resources for our students.
El Paso parents are looking for ways to help their students thrive and find encouragement in their remote learning. Families across the city are embracing online school to prevent the spread of coronavirus and keep their students healthy. While learning from home keeps students safe, the structure and peer engagement they received in their classroom may be difficult to receive at home.
Ciudad Nueva is responding to the need for accessible online school resources through an innovative solution called Learning Pods.
We launched our first session of Learning Pods on Monday, August 24. Our students arrived eager to learn and engaged actively in their classes, and our incredible staff and volunteers guided students through technical difficulties and academic questions. Learn more about our dedicated staff and volunteers here.
What are Learning Pods?
Learning Pods are stations that create the quiet, structured space that students need to study successfully. Elementary, middle, and high school students are equipped with an organized environment designed to bolster focus and morale. Students also have access to the technology and support they need to navigate their online classes.
Why Learning Pods?
Structure, peer engagement, and consistent access to technology are key components of successful learning at school. For many families, these may be challenging to maintain at home. By using a Learning Pod, our students can continue their remote learning while getting an experience similar to an in-person classroom. Here are the online school resources our Learning Pods provide:
Structure
Students achieve better academic results when they have the opportunity to read, write, and problem solve in an organized, quiet space.
Peer engagement
Ciudad Nueva strives to uplift and encourage families during the uncertainties of COVID-19. Through Learning Pods, students safely interact with their peers. They engage with each other and see their friends taking on the challenges of online school right along with them. There is a shortened after-school program where students can make crafts, play games, and play outside.
Technology
In a Learning Pod, kids access their online school resources via a consistent WiFi connection and adults are available to assist with any technology questions or problems.
How we keep Learning Pods safe during COVID-19:
Cuidad Nueva is prioritizing the safety and health of the students and families it serves. Parents can rest assured; Learning Pods provide a balance of safety and unhampered study. Here are the precautions being taken to ensure that students are accessing their online school resources safely:
Small group sizes
Eight to 10 students may use the Learning Pods at a time. This allows staff and volunteers to monitor and help where needed, as well as maintain the cleanliness of the stations. Students are added to a waitlist when a pod reaches maximum . We greatly appreciate parents’ flexibility and patience as we safely welcome as many students as we can.
Health screenings
Before entering the Learning Pod space, students are asked if they or any immediate family members are experiencing any symptoms or if they have come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If they have, students are required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test result before they are able to return. .
Social distancing
It’s important to remain several feet apart in order to limit the spread of germs. In order to align our online school resources with social distancing requirements, Learning Pods are separated from each other and students study behind the safety of a plexiglass divider.
Who are Learning Pods for?
Learning Pods are available to elementary, middle, and high school students who are currently enrolled in Ciudad Nueva programs. There is currently a waitlist as we are trying to safely accommodate all students in our program. Sessions take place Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons during school time, right after students’ lunch breaks. Students who arrive during their lunch period are provided with a lunch.
Ciudad Nueva is a community-based nonprofit that exists to advance the renewal and development of central El Paso’s Rio Grande neighborhood through the empowerment and transformation of its residents. If you have any questions about our organization or other programs, please call us at 915-521-2951 or contact us online.
