THIS WEEK in Scripps Ranch

THIS WEEK in Scripps Ranch

Hello Scripps Ranch,
We are in the week of April 26-May 2, 2020. Here is a little about this week:

This is National Princess Week, Sky Awareness Week, Every Kid Healthy Week and Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.
Sunday, April 26 is National Audubon Day, National Help a Horse Day, National Kids and Pets Day, National Pretzel Day and National Richter Scale Day.
Monday, April 27 is National Babe Ruth Day, National Devil Dog Day, National Prime Rib Day and National Tell a Story Day.
Tuesday, April 28 is National Blueberry Pie Day, National Great Poetry Reading Day and National Superhero Day.
Wednesday, April 29 National Shrimp Scampi Day, National Zipper Day and National Denim Day.
Thursday, April 30 is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, National Bubble Tea Day, National Bugs Bunny Day, National Honesty Day, National Oatmeal Cookie Day, National Raisin Day, National Military Brats Day and National Hairstylist Appreciation Day. Look for your printed issue of Scripps Ranch News in your mailbox on Thursday.
Friday, May 1 is May Day, National Loyalty Day, National Mother Goose Day, National Chocolate Parfait Day, School Principals’ Day, National Space Day and School Lunch Hero Day.
Saturday, May 2 is National Truffle Day, National Fitness Day, National Scrapbook Day, National Homebrew Day – First Saturday in May and Free Comic Book Day.

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COVID-19 cases in 92131
The County of San Diego reported the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Scripps Ranch 92131 ZIP Code area at 11 cases as of April 25. Mira Mesa had 55 cases reported and Poway had 26 cases. The County reports the cases, broken down by residence listed for each patient.

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Distance learning classes begin
Students and teachers in all schools within San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) officially begin classes under distance learning Monday, April 27. This means all students are to be online for their classes and grades will count from here until the end of this academic year. It’s the school district’s attempt to provide education to all its students so they may complete their year and advance. While SDUSD authorities have yet to officially state that physical classes on its school campuses will not be held the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, they assume everyone understands classes will not be held at schools this spring due to the overall stay-at-home/social distancing orders issued by state, county and city governments.

At first, it was not clear if parents of all students in the district would cooperate with the social distancing plan – especially considering home/family and work situations vary greatly. Chromebooks and online service access were provided by the school district to families that did not have them, which was a huge undertaking. The question now is whether or not all families with students in SDUSD schools got the message and are set up to begin online classes – on an equal basis ­– as required. Late last week the district claimed “nearly 90 percent” of students have connected to Distance Learning. Whether teachers are fully prepared to conduct this kind of instruction, what type of glitches will occur and what to do about online trolls patching into classes are questions that remain to be answered. Parents are also concerned about class schedules, as some teachers have already changed class times and testing – some setting them into the evening.

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Listen to literature each day
Write Out Loud – an organization founded in 2007 with a commitment to inspire, challenge and entertain by reading literature aloud for a live audience – has responded to the pandemic in the only way its knows how: with stories. The organization have initiated a new online program called Listen to This – Write Out Loud, in which the organization’s members record one of their favorite stories each day and share it with the community.

“Reading stories aloud is what we are all about,” said Write Out Loud Artistic Director Veronica Murphy. “When the pandemic hit, we were personally struggling with all the changes going on that we had no control over. So, we looked to what we are passionate about – telling stories. Now we are recording stories and sharing them, one each day. We hope our community finds comfort in taking the time to stop and listen, purely for the joy of it.”

After three weeks of sending out stories – “Listen To This – Write Out Loud now has listeners in Abu Dhabi, Australia, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Florida, India, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Nepal, New Mexico, Oregon, Thailand, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and – of course – right here in San Diego.

Listen to This – Write Out Loud storytellers include Susan Clausen, Charles Evans, David Fenner, Caitie Grady, Linda Libby, Brian Mackey, Allison Spratt Pearce, Veronica Murphy, Walter Ritter, Rachael VanWormer and others.

To sign up for your free daily stories read aloud by Write Out Loud performers, visit http://writeoutloudsd.com/

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Check for your newspaper Thursday
The new issue of Scripps Ranch News is scheduled to arrive in local mailboxes by Thursday, April 30. This the “miracle edition” due to all of the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus crisis, but the newspaper is in the mail and it contains all kinds of new stories including wonderful features that will lift your spirits and give you added strength.