Dear Husky Community,
As I told the faculty yesterday, there is no substitute this year for seeing you and your children on campus and interacting daily in both formal and informal ways. In lieu of the many conversations that we are missing, today’s note touches on a pretty disparate set of issues.
First of all, thank you again to all of you who joined our Grade Level Gatherings over the past two weeks. They were a great chance to see your faces and hear updates on the many events and activities we are providing our students. For more options coming their way, please make sure to remind students about the Club Fair on Wednesday.
In terms of our distance learning scenario, we received this notice yesterday from the Dept. of Health:
Los Angeles County has met the metric thresholds for Tier 2 but must continue to meet these metric thresholds for two consecutive weeks before moving into the higher tier. We must continue implementing infectious control measures to help slow community transmission so we can open up more business sectors and schools in the county.
Although the language is not specific, the message is clear: The County is being very appropriately methodical about opening schools, and the focus remains, as ever, about not proceeding until we can do so in an environment which minimizes risk to all members of our community. We continue to evaluate next steps and wait for word that we will be able to bring more students to campus soon.
Lastly, but by no means of lesser importance, Breonna Taylor’s life mattered. This week provided another shattering example of the injustice that continues to face people of color in our nation. Christina Morse (Director of Student Life), and Emilie Padua-Douglas and Matt Blanchette (our co-Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Coordinators) provided two Diversity Dialogues today to support our Black students and other students of color in our community now and in the time ahead, and we are committed to fulfilling our diversity promise to “live, work, and study with a multiplicity of people who are not just like ourselves.” At this difficult time, we all need to support this multiplicity as well.
Wishing You Health and Wellness,
David
Pictured Above: Regardless of virtual learning, our students took Spirit Week to heart and came prepared for each day's theme. Whether it was showing off a pet, a favorite team, an inspiring character, or a favorite meme, Husky Spirit unites our entire community!
