Superintendent's Friday Update

February 26, 2021

021

“The beginning is always today”

- Mary Shelley

My beginning as your superintendent began on February 1, 2021… and what an exciting first few weeks it has been! In addition to welcome opportunities to meet many students, parents and staff, I have also been working with the team here on paving the path to reopening schools for In-Person Learning for those families who have requested an opportunity to move into that model. Meanwhile, excellent Distance Learning continues. Many of you have spoken of your appreciation for the tremendous efforts of teachers, staff and administrators… and I add my voice to that chorus. What I’ve seen this month at the school sites and in the classrooms I’ve been able to join has been remarkable. Our students are awesome! And the partnership in efforts between families and teachers is clearly evident.

At the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees on February 17, 2021, the Superintendent and Staff Report focused on a Reopening Plan that included an Aspirational Timeline for reopening campuses to students. Click here to view copy of that Reopening Classrooms in the Alta Loma School District plan. In addition to the timeline, the presentation included pertinent background details as well as information on the reopening models for grade spans.

ALSD has been preparing for this moment in time over the course of many months. Health & Safety and Teaching & Learning have rightfully occupied attention during school closure and will continue to do so. Facilities, Maintenance, Transportation, Childcare, and Nutrition Services are all critical components of our work; the District Support Center is full speed with a strong service mindset.

With each step we take towards reopening there will be details to pressure test and preparation to activate. Strong governance is central to our efforts; I am immensely grateful to our Trustees for their leadership. Staff will provide a Reopening Plan Update at the March 3, 2021 Board of Trustees Meeting.

You’ll also see from my office an increased emphasis on providing timely information as things are moving at a rapid pace. This Superintendent’s Friday Update is designed for that purpose. It will be pushed out through email and placed on our ALSD website.

The update will also have an emphasis on sharing some of the many great things taking place at each of our schools, and in the departments that support them. As our public narrative is shaped, it is my hope that it clearly includes the reality that there are amazing experiences happening for and with our Alta Loma School District students. Keeping those students at the center of our efforts, I’m looking forward to moving ahead with sincere appreciation and with new possibilities!

Wishing you a nice weekend ahead,

Karen Hendricks

Important Topics:

COVID-19 Safety Information

The safety of our students, staff and school community is central to our work and remains our priority as we move toward providing In-Person Learning opportunities for those students whose families are electing that option. We understand that there will be questions and inquiries around safety practices, and hope that this section will provide some timely information.

Alta Loma School District continues to follow the guidance of the California Department of Public Health and the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. On our website, you will be able to find current documents related to a safe school reopening in ALSD (COVID-19 Updates and Resources.) https://www.alsd.k12.ca.us/domain/624

In particular, you may want to review the Alta Loma School District COVID-19 Safety Plan dated February 19, 2021. It is quite a lengthy document, so we have also prepared a one page Safe Return Summary. You'll find those under ALSD Safe Return Guidance.

On January 14, 2021, The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) published a new framework to support school districts as they make decisions about returning to in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year. This framework provides an update to the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year guidance that was published in July 2020.

San Bernardino County has compiled guidance and resources which can be found at https://sbcovid19.com/schools/ and are linked below for your reference.

Guidance and Resources

CA Safe School for All Hub
Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools (1/14/21)
Cal OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Plan (CPP) template
COVID-19 Guidance Checklist (1/14/21)
COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance (1/14/21)
Case Reporting Directive (1/14/21)
Reopening Status Reporting Directive (1/14/21)

School principals will continue to provide site specific information to their school communities.

State Testing – California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress

From the Office of Educational Services:

We are receiving questions regarding state testing this spring. As of today, we are still required to administer the state test in language arts and math to students in grades 3 through 8, and also assess students in science in grades 5 and 8. We recognize that there are certainly many questions surrounding why a student would be expected to complete such as an assessment during a pandemic that has prevented them from attending school in-person. The California State Board of Education is continuing to discuss the requirements for state testing, and we are hopeful that some flexibility will be granted soon. If we must administer the CAASPP, or any portions of the assessment, we will begin the testing sessions in mid to late April. ALSD will continue to provide updates related to this matter as they become available.

Upcoming District Events

Board of Trustees Meeting

We have a Regular Board Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at

6:00 PM.

If you wish to participate in the meeting and/or make a public comment, please visit the District website at www.alsd.k12.ca.us. Public Comments must be received prior to, or at the time the Public Comment section is reached in the agenda via email at ALSD_BOARDMEETING@alsd.org. To watch live, when on the District website, click the image on the picture bar that says “Click here to watch live.”

For your convenience, below is a list of some Open Session Agenda Items:

*Recognition of District TOSA's - Margaux Cruz, Gwen Marich, and Tamara Youngstrom

*Reopening Plan

*Fall Instructional Options 2021-2022

*2020-21 Second Interim Financial Report

*Teacher Appreciation Week Resolution

*Classified School Employee Week Resolution

Alta Loma School District

Monday, March 1 - Special Day Class and Child Care Return
Wednesday, March 3 - Friday, March 5 Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences. Wednesday through Friday Modified Days.

Some Great Things Happening At Our Schools:

Alta Loma Elementary School

March 5th - Virtual Super Spirit Assembly

The first week of March is Read Across America and Alta Loma Elementary has spirit (dress up) days planned all week.

Monday - Green Eggs and Ham Day - Wear your green beads to start off the week!

Tuesday - Happy Birthday to Dr. Suess - Read your favorite book and use your bookmark to hold your place.

Wednesday - Cat in the Hat Day - Grab your glasses and show your stripes!

Thursday - Horton Hears a Who Day - Complete a random act of kindness towards another!

Friday - The Lorax Day - Here come the weekend! Be silly and wear your mustache!

Members of the community will read books, and the videos will be shared with students throughout the week. ALE will hold a bookmark making contest to go with the theme:

A Nation of Diverse Readers. Bookmarks are due by Wednesday, March 3.

Banyan Elementary School

District Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) Margaux trained site proctors to utilize Google Meet to host virtual recess and a check in with selected students to create connectedness.

Tuesday, March 2 at 2:00 PM is 2nd Grade supply pick-up in the bus turnaround and Thursday, March 4 at 2:00 PM is supply pick-up for Kindergarten students in the bus turnaround.

Carnelian Elementary School

Carnelian hosted their second Coffee with the Principal Parent Chat and had great discussion regarding overcoming challenges.

They will also be hosting a Virtual Family Fun Night to play some Kahoot! Students will have an opportunity to earn prizes and enjoy interacting with each other. Look for more information to come.

Carnelian will be having a Dine-out Night, Thursday, March 11 from 4:00-8:00 PM at the Panera Bread on Haven. Go support the Cardinals!

Deer Canyon Elementary School

Staff was excited to host the Deer Canyon drive through Lifetouch photo day on 2/23. It was wonderful to have smiling Eagles back on the DC campus!

Two of DC Teachers saw a need and took action: they are hosting weekly physical fitness activities for our very first DC Track Club. A fun and healthy time is s being had by all!

Hermosa Elementary School

6th grade Student Senate is now providing the weekly school news on a recorded Google Meet for all the Husky students and staff.

Hermosa will be starting their first club in March an art and drawing club! Classes begin

Wednesday, March 3 - 3:00 PM Beginner Class and 4:00 PM Intermediate Class.

Jasper Elementary School

Jasper held their digital H.E.R.O Assembly today and honored their monthly Writers of Worth (W.O.W.).

Jasper staff is excited to be in the final stages of preparing for SDC and Child Care to return to campus!

Floyd M. Stork Elementary School

Proctors began a “Lunch Bunch”. This is a great opportunity for kids to hang out during their lunch time with others in their grade level.

Student Senate and GATE Program recently contributed $1000 to the Iron Giraffe Challenge. They have now contributed $3140 in two years towards building water wells in South Sudan, raising money through a monthly recycling drive.

Victoria Groves Elementary School

Victoria Groves concluded the final week of their Boosterthon fundraiser. A Dance Fit activity was held on Thursday. The PTA was excited to note that the goal of $12,000 was reached! That means that: Mrs. Johnson will experience a Gatorade Dunk, Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Perry will be on the receiving end of a lot of Silly String, and Mr. Perry may just be sporting a new hairstyle...!

There was also a drive thru prize pick up for Boosterthon, with students picking up prizes they earned for their efforts.

Alta Loma Junior High School

As ALJH welcomes the Keystone class back to campus next week, they will celebrate Read Across America week with a Week of Seuss. Costumed guest readers will share all the classics while students enjoy Seuss inspired snacks.

Alta Loma High School has held two drive through events at ALJH for future Braves to get enrollment packets. It has been fun for the 8th graders to meet some of the counselors and APs from the high school and even get a little bit of Alta Loma High School swag.

Vineyard Junior High School

Vineyard put on a virtual Talent Show showcasing 13 talented students, and shared it in all classes for students to enjoy.

Our ASB Leadership students organized “Every Hero Needs a Squad” as a community outreach. We raised $958.00 to support children with Leukemia.

From Aaron Sosa, ASB President:

Hello Alta Loma School District Community,

When our new Superintendent Mrs. Karen Hendricks sent us an email introducing herself, I was happy to hear she wanted to meet the community. I sent an email introducing myself and also about my experience this year as ASB President in Mrs. Robert’s Leadership class at VJHS. I presented the idea of meeting the cabinet and leadership class and if she was interested or had the time. I was happy to hear from her right away and that she was happy to join us on February 25, 2021. It was exciting for our class and teacher to meet the new superintendent! We got to hear about her family, interests, and experiences. Meeting the superintendent had us a little nervous at first, but she was friendly and funny and made us feel comfortable. We learned that she is a big Disney fan, she has three daughters, she enjoys baking and watching baking shows in her free time. Her experience in the Education Field has been 32 years. She enjoys traveling, most specifically to Austria and Germany. Her favorite food is Tofu and veggies over brown rice. My favorite part of meeting her was learning that her first job was serving hot dogs on the (Santa Cruz Beach) boardwalk.

‌

A PowerPoint slide welcome from the Leadership Class at Vineyard Junior High School.