Dear Members of the Alvord Community,

This past Friday, October 1, 2021, California announced plans to add the COVID-19 vaccination to the list of vaccinations required to attend school in-person. Currently, TK-12 students are required to be immunized against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Chickenpox. Learn more about current mandated vaccinations in English here or in Spanish here. Find an FAQ on vaccination exemptions in English and Spanish here.

According to the Governor, “The state already requires that students are vaccinated against viruses that cause measles, mumps, and rubella. There’s no reason why we wouldn’t do the same for COVID-19. Today’s measure, just like our first-in-the-nation school masking and staff vaccination requirements, is about protecting our children and school staff, and keeping them in the classroom. Vaccines work. It’s why California leads the country in preventing school closures and has the lowest case rates. We encourage other states to follow our lead to keep our kids safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

The plan is for the COVID-19 vaccine requirement to be phased-in by grade span. The California Department of Public Health will consider the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians prior to implementing the requirement, which is expected to take effect at the start of the school term following full approval of the COVID-19 vaccination for that grade span: either January 1st or July 1st, whichever comes first. Based on current information, the requirement is likely to start with students in grades' 7 -12 and not until July 1, 2022. Find a Fact Sheet on the announcement here.

Since the Governor's announcement this past Friday, the most frequently asked question I've received about the Governor's plan is whether each school district can decide whether they will mandate the vaccine for their students. Given the information we have at this time, the answer is no. School districts will not make their own decisions on the requirement. Stay tuned for more details as this development unfolds.

Our positive trend continued this past week. We had a total of 20 students (down from 23 last week and 33 the prior week) and 2 staff members (down from 5 last week and 4 the prior week) test positive this past week. As a result of being in close contact with a person who tested positive, 88 students were placed on modified quarantine (which means they can continue to attend school in-person as long as they don't develop symptoms and test twice weekly for two weeks) and 20 were placed on full quarantine (home for at least 10 days). In the COVID-19 News section below, find brief videos in English and in Spanish on what you can expect when a positive COVID-19 case is reported to one of our schools.

Overall, we have been serving students in-person for 40 school days. As of Friday, October 1, we have had 60 staff members (2.4% positivity rate) and 276 students (1.6% positivity rate) report a positive test for COVID-19. Stay current with our case rate by regularly tracking our COVID-19 Data Dashboard and FAQ here. Cases recorded on the Dashboard are confirmed by Riverside County Public Health officials and remain on the Dashboard for 14 days.

This past week in Riverside County, there were 669 new cases (0.2% increase), 18.9 cases per 100K (7-day average), 9 new deaths (0.2% increase), and a 6.0% positivity 7-day rate (0.1% decrease from 7-days prior). There are currently 361 COVID-19 hospitalized patients, 13 fewer patients hospitalized from the prior day total (3.5% decrease). This data is as of Friday, October, 2021 as reported on the State's tracking web site.

I'm following up on the TikTok trend known as devious licks. As I reported in a recent message, our schools have been vandalized as part of this nationwide social media challenge. This past week the destruction and theft in our school bathrooms continued, including by elementary school-age students. The challenge changes monthly. Theft and destruction of school property was the month of September's challenge. In October, we've learned that the challenge is physical violence against adults on campus. We realize these acts are being perpetrated by a small group of students. We are proud of the way the overwhelming majority of our students behave and care for each other as well as for their schools and all of the adults in them. Please discuss the implications of these behaviors with your children. In most cases, these acts will involve law enforcement and could lead to criminal charges.

Visit the museum's Education and Community Engagement home page here. Find details on Youth and Teen Art Classes and Workshops and other programs.

On behalf of your Board of Education and our entire team, thank you for your partnership and for your trust in us.

Stay positive. Test weekly. Be well.

Sincerely,

Allan Mucerino

When we return for the 2021-22 school year on August 6, 2021, our two after-school programs, HALF-Time (K-5) and PRIME-Time (6-8), will be available M-F from school dismissal until 6:00 PM. The program provide FREE academic support, homework assistance and enrichment activities like art, crafts, music, sports and STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Math) along with a nutritious meal. Please register your Kindergarten through 8th grade students soon as space is limited. Sign up here in English and here in Spanish.

CVS Pharmacy

CVS @ 6215 Riverside Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506

CVS @ 6840 Lincoln Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506

CVS @ 491 E Alessandro Blvd, Riverside, CA 92508

Mobile Van Schedule

Wednesdays @ Bordwell Park, 2008 Martin Luther King Blvd.

Thursdays @ Bryant Park, 7950 Philbin Ave.

Fridays, @ Casa Blanca Library, 2985 Madison Avenue

Saturdays @ Fairmount Park, 2601 Fairmount Blvd.

Sundays, Arlington Heights Sports Park, 9401 Cleveland Avenue

Drive-Thru Locations

La Sierra Park Drive-Thru Location
Make an appointment @ 5215 La Sierra Avenue

7 days a week (except holidays)

Open daily (except holidays)
11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (closed 3 – 4 p.m.)

UCR Lot 26 Drive-Thru
Make an appointment @ 3443 Canyon Crest Dr.

Riverside, CA 92507

Open daily (except holidays)
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed noon – 1 p.m.)

Kiosk Location

Make an appointment @ 3900 Main Street
Open daily (except holidays)
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

For locations sponsored by RIverside County, visit their COVID-testing location finder here.