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When Linda Crawford walked down the halls of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) on Monday, Aug. 17, she had a good feeling about the school. And that was before she received a Chromebook, a bookbag of classroom supplies, a box of food and school shirts for her niece, Kimbra, a CHS freshman. 

 “I could feel that I made the right choice, and that Charter High School was the best place for her to be educated,” said Crawford. 

CHS is 100% remote learning for its first quarter, which is nine weeks long. After the first quarter, circumstances 0will be reassessed. The CHS school is prepared to offer a hybrid model of instruction when students are allowed to return in-person.   

In picking up supplies, all students and their families had their temperature checked before entering the school, according to CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD. Chromebook and school supply pick-up times were staggered with freshmen and sophomores coming on Monday, Aug.17, and juniors and seniors arriving on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Students also had the opportunity to walk the red carpet, which is a CHS tradition. 

“First, students stop and get their schedule,” detailed Jeffries. “They receive a backpack with a CHS insignia mask, a 2020 yearbook, pens, paper, a box of food, two CHS shirts, and a Chromebook.” The shirts were made by Andrea Pagan of Kut Kreations in East St. Louis and parent of Lauren Edwards, 2020 CHS valedictorian. 

The Chromebooks are loaded with needed apps, such as Edpuzzle and ALEKS (both math related), Kahoot, Google Classroom and more. Google Classroom allows students and teachers to communicate, noted Jeffries. 

“This year will be interesting,” said CHS English instructor Bridget Nelson, “It will be a mix of fun, the unknown and maybe a little bit of anxiety. But we have such a good group of teachers and a great group of students, I think we will be able to work really well with remote learning and eventually our transition back to school.” 

“I like doing remote work. I wasn’t upset about not coming back to school in person,” said Kimbra, who said she is prepared to go the long distance in virtual learning, if need be. 

“She is a motivated person,” chimed in Crawford, Kimbra’s aunt. “She doesn’t need me to tell her to get her work done.” 

However, sophomore Ta’Nyja Hopkins is hoping remote learning will be over after the first quarter. “I learn better in person,” she said.

“I plan to do what I did last year, and work better at it to maintain my grades and perhaps do better,” said CHS sophomore Ayonn Gray, son of Chad Gray Sr. 

To Ayonn’s comments, Gray instructed his son, “Organization, discipline and motivation are the key principles to succeeding in life.”

“We have a synchronous remote schedule for times when teachers and students will meet for classroom instruction,” said Jeffries. “Teachers had input in the schedule. We don’t want to overwhelm the students or the teachers.” For technology issues or concerns, contact CHS IT support associate Ronald Irving at roirvin@siue.edu or 618-482-8370.

“Being offered this quarter are core classes plus Project Lead the Way (PLTW),” added Jefferies. “We are also at full enrollment, with 120 students.” 

Photos:
Picking up his class schedule is CHS sophomore Stevion Mathis with his aunt, Danielle Mathis (right). Processing the student is CHS English teacher Bridget Nelson and CHS physical education and social studies teacher Aaron Vance (right).

CHS IT support associate Ronald Irving gives instructions to Ashanti Jones (left) and Jones’ daughter, Akhyra Allen (center).

Students received two CHS shirts and a bookbag full of school supplies. (L-R) CHS science teacher Mildred Fort, CHS Program Director Gina Jeffries, EdD; and CHS resource teacher Edit Laktzian.

Leaving the CHS with their supplies are (left-right) sophomore Kiantae Luster and his father, Henery Luster.