ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Show your support and wear green on May 9. It's an opportunity to not only raise awareness of behavioral health issues, but also to reduce the stigma surrounding them. We are committed to provide our students with access to a full continuum of behavioral health care, through our student services department and partnerships with multiple agencies that specialize in behavioral health for youth. Mental health disorders among teens is a national crisis. The problem is particularly acute with teenage girls. Mental health disorders can contribute to substance use and substance abuse.

Immediately contact your health care provider or email our Pupil Support Services team or call us at 951-509-5138. Our behavioral health support team can help you navigate the network of care and support available to children, teens, and families. If your child is in crisis, call the 988 hotline or chat at 988lifeline.org

IT'S TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

Thank you for taking the time this week to thank your favorite teachers for their unwavering dedication to their profession and our students. Our teachers are our students' lead learners and are constantly refining their craft and continuously improving to better serve our students and make Alvord schools the best they can be. Our teaching professionals are committed to provide engaging, safe, and nurturing learning environments so our students can thrive. Thank you to all of our wonderful teachers!

CONGRATULATIONS RIVERSIDE COUNTY EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR

This past Tuesday, on National Teacher's Day, the Riverside County Department of Education held its annual special recognition luncheon to celebrate the most distinguished of Riverside County’s outstanding educators. During the event, Mrs. Beth Schwandt was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for Riverside County. Mrs. Schwandt will be among a group of teachers statewide competing for the distinction of California State Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Mrs. Schwandt and to all of our extraordinary educators recognized at this prestigious event:

Site Support of the Year: Jennifer Wholley (Promenade)

Counselor of the Year: Jaclyn Vander Veen (Terrace Elem.)

Classified Employee of the Year: Tania Villarreal, Bilingual Assistant (Promenade)

Certificated Admin of the Year: Michelle Sebastian, Director III (Special Education)

Principal of the Year: Gerardo Aguilar (McAuliffe)

Classified Administrator of the Year: Karla Renovato (Business Services)

Teachers of the Year: Tina Naif (LSHS), Jeanette Vasquez (NVHS) and Beth Schwandt (Lake Hills/RMK).

LOMA VISTA DANCE CLUB PERFORMS AT BOARD MEETING
Our Loma Vista Middle School Dance Club, under the direction of teacher and club advisor, Lina Alfaro, performed for the Board of Education and the attending community this past Thursday. The music, dance and costumes were all wonderful and the students performed with confidence and grace. Thank you students and Ms. Alfaro.

HONORING OUR 2022-23 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
Our high school student representatives provide the Board of Education and attending community a monthly update during our Board meetings. The students refine their public speaking skills while delivering a PowerPoint presentation about what's happening at their high school. Thank you students for always lifting us with your smiles, enthusiasm, and all of the great things happening at our high schools. Thank you Juan Badajoz, Lucy Bryan, Isabella Rodriguez, Rebecca Estrada, and Amari Overton-Lewis for a great school year of presentations.

SCHOOL SAFETY WEEKLY UPDATE

On Friday of this past week, numerous school districts around the nation responded to a vague school shooting threat that spread on social media on Thursday and Friday. It was a non-specific threat to schools in general that was traced to an 18-year-old student in Florida, who was arrested Friday afternoon in connection with the threats. The student sent the threat out using another student's name and computer access. The student faces multiple felony charges. This latest episode is another example of the destructive impact of social media when it is used as a weapon and how easy it is to disrupt schools and strike fear in students, families, and staff. It prompted a few inquiries from students, staff, and parents in some our schools and in many other schools in Riverside County.

Schools are faced with a variety of issues related to social media. Social media heightens the risk for negative peer influence among adolescents, as well as for addictive social media use and stress. Young people form and maintain friendships online. These relationships may be helpful or they may be harmful. It's important to monitor your children's use of social media and routinely remind them of responsible social media use. Thorn is among the websites parents can use to learn how to protect their children from the harmful effects of social media. Use the age-appropriate discussion guides and choose your comfort level to start the conversation about social media with your children today.

IN CLOSING

On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you in advance for celebrating our wonderful teachers during our annual Teacher Appreciation Week beginning tomorrow, May 8.

Thank you for choosing Alvord Unified School District as your education partner. We aim to be our best, so that your children can be their best.

In partnership,

Allan Mucerino

MR. ROBERT D. SCHWANDT
President
Trustee Area 4

McAuliffe K-5

Orrenmaa K-5

Stokoe K-5

Arizona 6-8

Alvord High 11-12

Hillcrest 9-12

MRS. CAROLYN M. WILSON

Vice President

Lake Hills K-5

Promenade K-5

Villegas 6-8

District Office

MS. GEORGINA RAMIREZ

Clerk
Trustee Area 1

RMK K-5

Twinhill K-5

Valley View K-5

Loma Vista 6-8

MS. LIZETH VEGA
Member
Trustee Area 2

Arlanza K-5

La Granada K-5

Terrace K-5

Norte Vista 9-12

Alternative Ed Center

Keller Administration Site

Child Nutrition Services

MRS. JULIE A. MORENO

Trustee Area 3

Myra Linn K-5

Wells 6-8

La Sierra 9-12

GRADUATIONS (6 PM) AT NORTE VISTA ZACK EARP STADIUM

Alvord High & Alternative Ed. - May 22, 2023

Hillcrest High School - May 23, 2023

Norte Vista High School - May 24, 2023
La Sierra High School - May 25, 2023

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMOTIONS (9:30 AM) AT NORTE VISTA ZACK EARP STADIUM
Wells MS & Loma Vista MS - May 23, 2023
Villegas MS & Arizona MS - May 24, 2023

SUMMER EXTENDED LEARNING

June 1 - June 29

NEXT SCHOOL YEAR

First day of school - August 9

Thanksgiving Break - November 20-24

Winter Break - December 15 to January 2

Each May, the National Council observes Mental Health Awareness Month, a national event to bring attention to the importance of mental health. Learn how to become an advocate here. We continue to build the capacity to address students’ mental health needs through a comprehensive system of supports in connection with multiple community partners.

Students Reporting a Positive Case: 19 (Previous week 12)

Student Cases Requiring Contact Tracing: 17 (Previous week 11)
Staff Reporting a Positive Case: 4 (Previous week 3)

Riverside County Data COVID-19 Community Level: Low (last week Low)

Weekly Metrics Used to Determine the COVID-19 Community Level

Case Rate per 100,000 population: 18.05 (Previous week 21.29)

New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population: 1.9 (Previous week 2.2)

% Staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID: 1.4% (Previous week 2.0%)

Recommended actions based on current level

Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Get tested if you have symptoms. Wear a mask if you have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19. Wear a mask on public transportation. You may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others. If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider wearing a mask indoors in public and taking additional precautions.

Email: AUSD@alvordschools.org
Website: https://www.alvordschools.org
Location: 9 Kpc Parkway, Corona, CA 92879, USA
Phone: (951) 509-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/alvordunified
Twitter: @AlvordUnified
Instagram: alvordunified