Central Coast schools welcome students back online

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) The first day back to school will look a lot different for many on the Central Coast this year.

Alisal Union School District, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, Salinas Union High School District, San Carlos School and Santa Rita Union Elementary welcomed students back on Wednesday. All will begin the year with distance learning.

Teachers at Seaside High School introduced themselves to their students via YouTube. "We really wish we could be here in person so you could experience the classroom energy and interact with us in person. We want you to know that we are going to do our best to do that online," said freshman english teacher, Harrell McDowell, during an introduction with his class.

Students tuned in to find out what they can expect for each of their classes. "This year teachers had all summer to prepare. Next week we have 25 minutes per class. We're talking to our teachers and getting comfortable with everything," said Seaside High School Senior, Victoria Rillas.

Computer science teacher, Rikee Ross, is learning more about the online platforms she will use to connect with students everyday. "The district is giving us options we can use that will help engage students and that help us understand if students are participating and engaging in the different things that we are learning," said Ross.

Ross said she plans to teach her class in two different ways. Half of the time, she will connect with students on live video platforms like "Zoom." The other half, she will post assignments for students to complete on their own.

Seaside High School principal, Aaron Sanders, wants support for students to go beyond academics. "We need to focus in on how our students are doing emotionally. We will really build more connections here in the next couple of weeks," said Sanders.

Videos posted to the school's social media pages are letting students know that their teachers are there for them, even from a far.

"It's upsetting because we are seniors. We were expecting all the game nights, prom, everything, but it's safer this way," said Rillas.