Superintendent's Friday Update
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Welcome Back, Alta Loma School District!
The smiling faces of children on the first days of school were evidence of how happy children were to see their friends. There were many shrieks of delight as students found out who was in their classrooms, and as they saw each other at lunch and recess. Parents were also excited to see one another again, and teachers expressed how sincerely wonderful it was to have students in their classrooms.
Classrooms throughout the District are warm and welcoming. They are also equipped with some 6,000 new Chromebooks for student use, replacing technology that was heavily utilized during distance learning. You should be hearing of smaller class sizes at most grade levels and sites, and anticipating possible adjustments for those classrooms that would benefit from it due to early higher enrollment. An expanded ALSD counseling department is in place to provide students with increased access to counselors and socio-emotional support.
Alta Loma Long Term Independent Study (ALLTIS) program started on August 9, 2021. ALLTIS is a rigorous alternative program for students outside of the regular in-person classroom setting for the 2021-2022 school year. Students will be monitored for attendance, synchronous instruction, and academic performance throughout the trimester. Students may still enroll in the program.
ALSD Child Care was delighted to welcome over 550 students this week. Students were also excited to see friends, and experience the benefits of homework/reading time and participation in after school clubs. We continue to enroll and are always ready to welcome new families as space permits. Please visit our website for more information.
We are off to a great start for the 2021-2022 school year! It's true that the first weeks of school always yield questions or improvements to take a look at, so I also wanted to share with you some of the many things we are being attentive to:
Back to School Nights:
Back by popular demand, 2021-2022 Back to School Nights will be virtual again this year. Students and parents will be able to access a special Back to School Night via a link on their school website. The Back to School Night will contain the teacher's presentation for viewing. To help minimize online traffic, suggested viewing schedules will be shared and published.
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Traffic Flow at Drop Off and Pick Up Times:
The beginning of the year traffic is often slower as we prioritize safety and work on the mechanics of traffic flow...then the pace picks up through the following weeks. Thank you so much for your patience as we reacclimate to processes at each school site, particularly as it has been about seventeen months since we had campuses full of students! After the first couple of weeks if you continue to see things that you think might be helpful during drop off or pick up, please share with your site administrators. I know when I was out directing traffic as a school principal, I could not see everything my parents or staff saw from different vantage points. We appreciate your insights!
COVID-19 Updates and Safety Measures:
With our ten school sites again bustling with teaching and learning, ALSD has many safety measures in place for our students and employees. These include:
- Daily temperature screening of employees upon arrival.
- Mandating the universal and correct wearing of face masks.
- Each site maintains an ample supply of PPE and sanitation products.
- Hand sanitizer available in classrooms and offices, as well as added portable hand washing stations at each of our school sites.
- Daily cleaning and disinfecting.
- High touch surfaces are also being disinfected throughout the day.
- Maintaining healthy facilities, including ventilation improvements.
- Limiting non-essential visitors to school campuses.
- COVID-19 testing available at no cost to employees and/or students with COVID-19 symptoms.
- Contact tracing and case investigation in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with State and Local Health Departments.
On August 11, 2021 new COVID-19 requirements were put in place. Effective August 12, 2021, all K-12 teachers and school staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing. The Alta Loma School District is currently working on procedures to align with these new requirements in order to be in full compliance within the October 15, 2021 deadline.
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Crossing Guards:
We appreciate our partnership in safety work with colleagues at the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Our entities have both received communication from families about busy intersections around schools that do not currently have crossing guards. Staff from the city and from ALSD are both reviewing traffic around school sites, and we will provide updated information as it becomes available. Please continue to pass the word to others in our community that schools are back in session! We can all work together to support safe routes to schools by committing to attentive driving and adhering to posted speed limits.
Student Transportation:
We began the school year with busing available for our students whose educational plans include this service. ALSD hopes to reinstitute additional routes in a timely manner, and is working hard to address factors that are limiting our ability to do so thus far, including staffing needs. Along with many other businesses and vendors, we are experiencing pockets of challenges with hiring as we return to full services. We encourage folks who are looking for a great place to work to join our team! Current openings can be found at: https://www.edjoin.org/alsd.
If you know of any individuals who are excellent transportation service professionals, please send them our way! Thank you!
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With my appreciation and best regards,
Karen Hendricks
Superintendent
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Construction Bond Report
Jasper Elementary School
We are fast approaching the end of our modernization work at Jasper Elementary, with the completion of the Kindergarten and Special Day Classes in the days prior to our return to school. Along with the modernization of these last classrooms on campus, we also completed extensive modernization to the parking lot and drop off loop, as required for ADA compliance. Additionally, and certainly one of our most exciting improvements was the work included in the rear of the MPR with the installation of HVAC, Solatubes, LED lighting, and ceiling grid. These upgrades have made this particular area much brighter and more comfortable. While we still have some work to be completed in the staff restrooms on campus, Jasper Elementary is off to a fantastic start to the 2021-2022 school year.
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Carnelian Elementary School
As we kick off the 2021-2022 school year, the final phase of modernization has begun at Carnelian Elementary with the last four classrooms now underway. The modifications completed in these classrooms are a vast improvement from their original condition. Included in the renovations for these rooms were new grid ceilings, LED lighting, Solatubes, HVAC and ductwork, A/V, carpet and paint. We included more tack panel surfaces throughout, updated the clock system sitewide, and replaced the fire system in its entirety. Also included, were new roofs and gutters and extensive upgrades for ADA compliance throughout the campus. Based on our current schedule, we will likely be wrapping up modernization at Carnelian Elementary in mid-November.
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- Tuesday, August 24, - Virtual Back to School Night; Junior High Schools
- Tuesday, August 24 - Fall Picture Re-Take Day; Vineyard Junior High
- Wednesday, August 25 - Picture Day; Carnelian Elementary
- Wednesday, August 25, 6:00 PM - Parent Leader Group Meeting
- Wednesday, August 25, 7:00 PM - Virtual Band Parent Information Meeting; Alta Loma Elementary, Carnelian, Jasper & Stork
- Thursday, August 26, Virtual Back to School Night; Elementary Schools
- Wednesday, September 1, 6:00 PM - Board of Trustees Meeting
- Monday, September 6 - Labor Day Holiday; No School
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Thursday, September 9, 6:00 PM - Paper Parent Training https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84656730222?pwd=aEw3RWJkbEoxaUFoQ2FsOVpueHdiUT09
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Some Great Things Happening At Our Schools |
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From Principal Dolly Bentley:
Alta Loma Chieftains had a wonderful start to the 2021-22 School Year! ALE had a wonderful turn out to our Kinder Orientation and Meet and Greets! Monday morning students arrived on campus with bright smiles and an undeniable excitement. Administrators and teachers are busy revisiting our PBIS Classroom and School Expectations with students. Classrooms are buzzing with energy and student voices once again...and we are so happy!
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From Principal Khaleelah Lewis-Wilkins:
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Banyan Bulldogs have set forth on the path to discovery and exploration! Students entered campus with a smile and excitement to meet their new teachers, see familiar faces and make new friends! The administrative team met with each class, introduced themselves and set expectations for learning in classrooms.
On Tuesday, students returned to campus ready to learn and demonstrate many of the routines they learned the day before! Students showed their love for the “Walk and Talk” routine with their peers and staff, by walking, smiling and singing songs while preparing for the beginning of the school day.
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From Principal Chris Deegan:
Carnelian had a celebratory launch of our 2021-2022 school year. We are grateful for the support of our PTA, who helped create a festive atmosphere as we welcomed our Cardinals to campus.
Happiness and joy were abundant throughout our classrooms, hallways and campus! It has been a highlight of the week to visit classrooms and spend time with our amazing students, staff and faculty.
We have wonderful children at Carnelian and throughout the Alta Loma School District, and they are a reflection of our terrific families. We thank our families for their partnership and support as we work together to enhance the lives of our students each and every day!
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From Principal Andrew Carter:
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Deer Canyon was excited to get “Back into the Swing of Things” this year! We welcomed our Eagles back on campus and their energy and excitement were infectious! Their smiles, laughter, and resounding joy made this week a great one all around. In addition, we opened the very first Preppy K class ever at Deer Canyon! Our little Eagles did such an amazing job as they skipped and smiled all the way to class.
With outstanding support from our parents, the Deer Canyon PTA, and our incredible staff, this week was fantastic, especially for our students. We will continue to work hard together and SOAR!
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From Principal Val Bires:
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Hermosa welcomed back over 500 Husky students on Monday who were excited and overjoyed to be back on campus. Hermosa Huskies are revving their engines to get BACK ON TRACK and continue succeeding!
Students are happy, rekindling friendships, reviewing our school guidelines, and creating personal goals for trimester one. Thank you to the entire Hermosa Staff, Hermosa PTA and Hermosa parents for making this first week back at school successful, smooth and enjoyable.
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Assistant Principal Bowyer, Principal Bires and Associate Superintendent of Administrative Services Eric Hart walked classrooms this week, made sure students were settled into class and handed out Husky Bucks to students who were on task.
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From Principal Curtis Quanstrom:
Jasper is back! All of our Champions are filled with joy as they anticipate the year to come. The Jasper staff was out on campus early on the first day of school in full force to meet and greet students, and help them find their way. The excitement continued as new friendships were made and old friendships rekindled. A joyous day for all of Jasper as students were welcomed on their first day.
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As the week rolled out, rhythms and routines were getting started. The students, teachers, and staff have not missed a beat. The Jasper students participated in countless classroom activities and a PBIS Campus Tour led by their teachers. Jasper is alive and gearing up for a great year. |
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From Principal Guadalupe Berzunza:
Stork Superstars are off to a great start as we begin our journey towards Building our Future. It was wonderful to welcome back our students. Their smiles, enthusiasm and kind words are what make Stork an amazing place.
Stork Superstars had a very successful Kinder Orientation and Kinder Meet and Greet.
Our Administrators visited every classroom on the first day and welcomed our Superstars back on campus. Go Team Superstars!
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From Principal Kristy Johnson:
Our Grizzlies are back on campus and ready to Travel through the 2021-2022 school year. With our new theme this year, we are going to Explore, Dream and Discover. “Let the Adventures Begin!”
We started the year with our TK/Kinder meet and greets to prepare our youngest learners on campus for their first day of school. Our students were so excited to be back on campus this year.
Superintendent Hendricks stopped by to visit and greet our Grizzly families.
Our primary and upper grade classes have teamed up to learn about our PBIS expectations. Each student has their own Grizzly Passport booklet to fill out after visiting each station.
We would like to welcome Joylynn Peralta, our new Teaching Assistant Principal. She has been visiting classrooms and meeting our wonderful Grizzlies.
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From Principal Michele Rachielles:
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The Adventure has begun! All of our Warriors were excited to come to campus for the first days of school. Seventh grade Warriors had the campus to themselves on Monday and had no troubles finding their way around with the help of ASB students.
On Tuesday the whole student body attended and everything went smoothly. Some highlights were ASB students cheering the 7th graders onto campus Monday morning, and 7th graders meeting thier teachers in person for the first time!
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From Principal Sandy Rose:
Our Vineyard Vikings had a successful first week of school and were excited to meet their teachers and see their friends. Many students shared that although it’s hard to wake up early, they are happy to be back at school. Our administrative team enjoyed visiting classrooms to welcome our students and to introduce Brittany Brehm, our new Dean of Students.
At Vineyard, we recognize how important the partnership is between home and school, and we appreciate the continued support from the school community. A huge shout out goes to our dedicated PTSA for providing such an amazing welcome back luncheon for our staff. We are thrilled to have our students back, so this is the perfect school year to celebrate our theme, “Treasure the Voyage!”
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