THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR MENLO PARK, ATHERTON, PORTOLA VALLEY AND WOODSIDE AUGUST 7, 2020 | VOL. 55 NO. 38 WWW.ALMANACNEWS.COM High school promises better virtual learning after ‘less-than-optimal’ spring By Tyler Callister “equivalent to in-person instruc- Almanac Staff Writer tion,” despite being online. Stu- dents will receive letter grades, enlo-Atherton High a significant change after the School administra- school district had switched to Mtors say that they’re a pass/fail grading system on improving the school’s online April 15, midway through the learning program for the com- spring semester. ing fall semester, following a The administration’s bumpy spring program which announcements come as many drew strong criticism from some school community members parents and students. have been expressing concerns School administrators, who about virtual learning since gave a virtual presentation on March. the topic July 22, said that Menlo-Atherton parent Kari changes coming this semester Mueller, whose daughter will include daily live instruction be a senior, called the school’s from teachers, a consistent bell spring virtual learning program schedule, and taking atten- “erratic.” dance — all of which the Mueller said that in addition school stopped requiring after to having inconsistent class COVID-19 health orders sud- schedules and some classes with denly forced campuses to close no live meetings, truancy was in mid-March. high. Many students skipped Menlo-Atherton administra- scheduled Zoom meetings, she tors also said that when school said, and the incentive to show begins again on Aug. 17, stu- up deteriorated further when Magali Gauthier dents will receive challeng- Grace Glader, an incoming Menlo-Atherton High School senior, said she found it hard to stay motivated when classes moved online in March. School officials are promising a better distance learning experience ing class assignments that are See DISTANCE LEARNING, page 16 when the new year starts Aug. 17. Shut down again, local businesses grapple with next steps By Kate Bradshaw As of Tuesday, Aug. 4, San County health leaders have communities and owners of Church of the Nativity, a Almanac Staff Writer Mateo County has had 5,758 also been pushing back against local gyms and salons, it’s a Catholic church at 210 Oak confirmed cases of COVID-19 the state’s mandate. Dr. Lou- challenge to figure out what to Grove Ave. in Menlo Park, has fter San Mateo County and 120 deaths, and California ise Rogers, chief of San Mateo do next, given the halting green gone through several iterations spent weeks teetering on has had 519,427 confirmed cases County Health, told the county lights that have been given, then of meeting offerings, accord- Athe brink of joining the and 9,501 deaths. Board of Supervisors Tuesday rescinded, by state and county ing to pastor Monsignor Steven state’s watchlist of counties that Counties have to meet all that the county’s health officer, officials. Here are some of their Otellini. Before the latest shut- are not meeting state metrics of the state’s metrics for three Dr. Scott Morrow, did not see stories. down, the church had streamed for managing the coronavirus consecutive days to get off the the problem of coronavirus services online and cautiously pandemic, the announcement watchlist. transmission in the business Faith communities offered limited indoor services, came Aug. 1. Currently, San Mateo Coun- sectors that were ordered to requiring online reservations, Starting Aug. 2, the mandate ty’s case rate, or number of cases close and “didn’t see (the state) While many churches and spreading out households and said, several specific types of per 100,000 people over a 14-day actions as warranted.” places of worship have remained reducing the church’s capacity businesses and services would period, is higher than the state’s She pointed to problems with shuttered since March, others from about 400 to 90. People no longer be permitted to oper- threshold, according to data on large group gatherings, failure have made efforts to figure out were asked to sanitize their ate unless they could do so out- the California Department of to wear face coverings, increased ways to maintain a sense of hands and wear masks, and side or by pickup. Those include Public Health website. The case exposure among frontline work- community in person. there was no community sing- gyms and fitness centers, places rate should be no higher than ers and crowded housing situ- It appears many are offer- ing, he said. of worship and cultural ceremo- 100 per 100,000 residents, but ations as bigger factors for the ing worship services exclusively The adjustments made ser- nies, offices for nonessential San Mateo County’s is currently transmission of COVID-19 in online, but some were taking vices feel different and more business, personal care services, 114.8, according to the state the community. creative steps to offer limited hair or nail salons and malls. public health department. For leaders of local faith in-person services. 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