Today's COVID-19 Update: April 1, 2020
Note : When we resume distance learning after Spring Break (April 14), the District will be reducing the frequency of these daily updates as schools, teachers, and students continue to establish connections and increase regular communication. 

School closures: Update from state officials 
On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tony Thurmond reiterated their recommendation that California's public schools continue accelerating distance learning measures in anticipation of school campuses staying closed the rest of the academic year.

The recommendation was not a directive or an order. The state superintendent has reiterated that the decision on the length of school closures is up to individual school districts, in consultation with local health officials. 

Folsom Cordova, in collaboration with other Sacramento County school districts and public health officials, are monitoring all state guidance carefully. In the meantime, the District continues its transition from in-person classroom instruction to distance learning. 

We will update our staff and families immediately should the District's closure be extended beyond May 1. 
If school is closed for the remainder of the year, how will this impact high school seniors? 
We realize this is a stressful time for high school seniors and families across California, and we recognize the need to keep our students on track to graduate. Our phased-in plan for distance learning will address these concerns, and we will work with our teachers, counselors, and school sites to communicate next steps as they are available. 
The California Department of Education soon will release updated guidance for school districts concerning matters related to graduation requirements, courses for college admissions, and other issues. Folsom Cordova will review this guidance carefully and in consultation with our high schools and will provide updates to our families as soon as possible. 
Plans for graduation ceremonies are pending as the District continues to work with its community to find ways to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating class. 
Additional resources for seniors can be found here: 
School facilities: Fields, courts, and playgrounds off-limits
To encourage continued physical distancing in public places, Folsom Cordova will begin closing school site play structures and all sports courts (basketball, tennis, hardcourts, etc.) and all athletic-type facilities (stadiums, baseball fields, and official soccer fields). 

All accessible open field areas will remain open, but physical distancing practices must be maintained at all times.
Student technology support during COVID-19
Tech support is available for students and families from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Please contact the Service Desk at (916) 294-9005 x103200 if you are having difficulty connecting to wifi, cannot access learning resources, or are having technical difficulties with District provided Chromebooks. Additional resources can be found at www.fcusd.org/tech
CLICK HERE FOR SCHOOLOGY STATUS if you are having connection issues. 
Need help and unable to get through on the phone? Submit your support request on the Distance Learning Student Support form located at bit.ly/FCUSDsupport (case sensitive)

#FCUSDstrong: Schools connecting and supporting each other 
Thank you to the dozens of you in our school communities w ho have been submitting snapshots of the ways you're staying connected and supporting each other during this time of crisis. We are compiling your notes of encouragement, photos and videos in one place and look forward to sharing as we head into Spring Break. 

In the meantime, here are a few more highlights from our schools showing supporting for each other:  

Virtual Spirit Events: Schools across the District, like Mather Heights Elementary, Empire Oaks Elementary, Cordova High and more are using social media to hold virtual spirit weeks, activities, and more to stay connected to their students.
Reminders: Spring Break meals for students in need 
The District will continue its daily "grab and go" meal distribution each day this week (March 30-April 3). Locations and times can be found here . Here are additional updates: 

To ensure meals reach our students in need, parents/caregivers are asked to bring students with them to the pickup locations. If that is not possible, parents/caregivers may bring students IDs for any children that are unable to join them at meal pickups. 

Spring Break: The District will provide meals fo r students to support them through our Spring Break (April 6-13). Note: There will not be daily meal service during Spring Break. The entire weeks' worth meals will be available for pickup on Friday, April 3. 

Additional meal services for the community: Local food banks are distributing food for anyone in need. Please check details below:

Cordova Community Food Locker
10497 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Twin Lakes Food Bank
327 Montrose Dr., Folsom
Monday - Friday
10- a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Update from FCUSD Health Services: Does wearing masks help? 
-from Kerri Kaye, RN, MSN, Coordinator of Health Programs & Services, kkaye@fcusd.org  

Thank you to the entire Folsom Cordova community for all of your efforts to keep your families safe by staying at home. 

There is still some confusion about face masks and who needs to be wearing them. The U.S. Surgeon General was on national news programs yesterday and today asking people to prioritize the N95 masks for healthcare workers. 

Should you wear a mask to protect yourself? The general recommendation regarding masks is that you do not need to wear one if you are healthy. If you are sick, wearing a mask will assist you from coughing or sneezing and then putting droplets out into the air and potentially getting another individual sick. 

Don't let wearing a mask give you a false sense of security. It is essential that everyone continues to practice social distancing and frequent hand washing while following the stay-at-home orders in place for our state. 

Today's Mindful Moment: Mindful breathing exercises
-from Geovanni Linares, our FCUSD Social-Emotional Academic Development Coordinator, glinares@fcusd.org   

This week has sure gotten REAL. The number of Covid-19 cases are increasing around the US, stay at home orders are being extended, we may not be going back to school this year, and we have started rolling out distance learning, which in and of itself, has had some technical difficulties. To say that times are stressful is an understatement. If I could offer up any words or suggestions of encouragement it would be to practice mindful breathing, remember that we are all in this together, and someday this will be a distant memory.
 
I first discovered mindful breathing a couple years ago. After having a heart attack at 33, with no family history of heart disease or pre-existing conditions, I focused on managing my stress levels. I came across mindful breathing exercises and found them calming and beneficial.
 
Mindful breathing has long been considered a gateway into the present moment. Other benefits of mindful breathing include stress reduction, increased patience, lower blood pressure, increased awareness and creativity, and reducing feelings of anxiety and depression.
 
This week, the team at Collaborative Learning Solutions is focusing their daily Social-Emotional Learning lessons on mindfulness. Today, the focus is on breathing. The lesson can be found here . There is an exercise for elementary as well as secondary. I invite you to visit the website and breathe together as a family. Would love for you to share what your experience was like while visiting our Facebook page .   
Stay Connected
FCUSD Communication and Community Engagement Office
(916) 294-9000 ext. 104530