Dear Parents/Guardians,
Several days ago, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released updated guidelines for K-12 schools around the opening of the 2021-22 school year. There appears to be conflicting guidance causing confusion around masking requirements.
The latest guidance, released on July 12, stated that masks are optional outdoors for all in K-12 school settings. However, students in grades K-12 would be required to mask indoors, with exemptions per CDPH face mask guidance. However, on July 13, it was reported in the news that CDPH has changed its guidance and will allow school districts discretion on how to enforce mask rules. As you can imagine, it is difficult to plan with ever-changing guidelines, recommendations, and requirements. Given the ever-changing nature of this pandemic, we once again expect the roller coaster of changing health protocols, requirements, and recommendations.
Based on current conditions, if districts are allowed discretion over mask-wearing during the 2021-22 school year, AUSD will make masks optional for students. We, of course, will continually analyze conditions and respond accordingly and make changes to ensure that our students and staff are safe. Last year, our mitigation strategy, which did include mask-wearing, was very effective. We will continue virtually all of our safety protocols. This will include a requirement for temperature checks upon entering campus. Students will also continue to be assigned restrooms and hand-washing stations across campuses. Frequent hand hygiene practices will be encouraged. Continued sanitizing and electrostatic spraying will also remain in place. We will also continue to offer COVID testing options for students, staff, and parents.
Last, with the ongoing and important conversation happening in our country—and in our own community—around opening schools safely, I want to remind us all that we take the safety of our staff, students and families, seriously. We also take the input of the community we serve seriously.
Last year, early on in the pandemic we made a decision to open our schools because we believed it was our moral responsibility to provide in-person learning for our students when safe and possible. We took this responsibility seriously and were one of the first Districts to receive a waiver from the state and county to reopen, and were one of the first school districts in the county to actually reopen schools for in-person learning. We were also one of the first districts in the state to upgrade our ventilation systems, and we were also the first District in the state to fully vaccinate our staff, provide District-led learning Pods, and begin COVID testing for staff, students, and our community. We continue to believe that our students need to return to school and resume life in as regular a fashion as possible. We remain committed to opening our schools as safely as is possible given the ever-changing nature of this virus.
While we are keenly aware that things will continue to evolve and change, we wanted to make sure our community knew where the Board and I stood in terms of mask requirements for students. We will continue to provide updates as necessary.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rich Newman
Proudest Superintendent on Earth
Happy 4th of July!
The last day of school is here! We are so excited for the eighth grade promotion. See you soon students and families!
Come by JMMS today (6/7) for our FINAL Grab-N-Go distribution. We will be handing out a weeks worth of breakfast and lunches from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. This is FREE to all children 18 and under in San Diego County.
Mountain View Learning Academy was the first promotion of the year for AUSD. So glad to have all of our promotions in-person and welcome parents on campus.
It is always such a fun time of the year to see our Creekside Cubs promote to first grade. Go cubs!
Due to COVID, our students couldn't attend six grade camp so we brought the camp to them! #JMMS ROCKS
It's Grab-N-Go Tuesday!!! We will be out at JMMS from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Come on by and get a weeks worth of breakfast and lunches. This is FREE to all children 18 and under, children DO NOT need to be present to pick up the meal bags.
We honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, those who continue to serve, and those who return to civilian life! Thank you! #MemorialDay
Just a reminder that our Grab-N-Go distribution will happen next week on Tuesday, 6/1 due to school being closed in observance of Memorial Day. Please email me if you have any questions, kmassey@alpineschools.net
NO WAIT FOR VACCINATIONS: Sharp Health COVID Vaccination clinic is being held today, Thursday, May 27 at Joan MacQueen Middle School from 10:00 - 3:00. Parents must accompany any student who is 12-17 years old.
The Federal Communications Commission has launched a temporary program to help families and households struggling to afford Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application. You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, or by calling 833-511-0311
REMINDER: Sharp Health will be holding a COVID Vaccination clinic Thursday, May 27 at Joan MacQueen Middle School from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Parents must accompany any student who is 12-17 years old. The Pfizer vaccine will be administered. No appointment is necessary.
Sharp Health COVID Vaccination clinic will be held Thursday, May 27 at Joan MacQueen Middle School from 10:00 - 3:00. Parents must accompany any student who is 12-17 years old. Appts can be made @ https://myturn.ca.gov - access code is BNN3GOODO6. Walk-ins of all ages welcome!
It's Grab-N-Go Monday!!! We will be at JMMS from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm today (5/24). This is FREE to all children 18 and under in San Diego County, children DO NOT have to be present. Come on by to get your weeks worth of FREE Breakfast & Lunches.
Sharp Health will be holding a COVID Vaccination clinic this Thursday, May 27 at Joan MacQueen Middle School from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Vaccinations are available for anyone 12 years and older. The Pfizer vaccine will be administered. No appointment is necessary.
CAL Fire will be administering drive through COVID testing today from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the JMMS parking lot. No appointment necessary.
CAL Fire will be in the JMMS parking lot tomorrow, May 19th for COVID vaccines from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm and COVID testing 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Go to myturn.ca.gov. to schedule an appointment.
Come by JMMS for Grab-N-Go Monday!!! We will be distributing meals from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm today (5/17). This is FREE to all children 18 and under in San Diego County. Come on by and get your weeks worth of breakfast and lunches for FREE :)
A special thank you goes out to East County Schools Federal Credit Union for providing our lawn signs for Staff Appreciation Week. The signs were placed in our staff's yards or in classrooms. Thank you ECSFCU!
