As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, the word gratitude comes to mind. But gratitude is a reflection of what's going on in our hearts, not our minds. That is why it is so difficult to put into words just how thankful we are to be entrusted with the responsibility of serving our students, their families, and our community during these difficult times. Earning that trust is important to us.

This past Thursday, at our Regular Meeting of the Board of Education, when some of our students, parents, staff members, and community members addressed the Board on the topic of the proposed vaccination mandate, we were so thankful that we serve such an incredible community. All of our speakers thoughtfully declared their position on the topic with passion and respect, while at the same time acknowledging the challenges that the governing board faces being stuck in the middle of a highly-charged political debate. On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for pouring your hearts out to us and for challenging us to act with the same conviction that compelled you to share your heartfelt sentiments with us publicly.

To access report cards for middle school and high school students, go to the AERIES parent portal here. If you prefer a hard copy of your children's progress report mailed to your home, please inform your counselor or principal.

Positive Cases this past week:

• 25 students (Up from 20 last week and 19 the prior week)
• 4 staff members (down from 7 last week and 5 the prior week)

Students Identified Through Contact Tracing:

• 137 students assigned 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)
• 18 students assigned full quarantine (home for at least 10 days)

Overall, we have been serving students in-person for 75 school days. As of Friday, November 19, we have had 114 staff members and 414 students 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 403 new cases (0.1% increase) equating to 13.6 cases per 100K (7-day average), 36 new deaths (0.7% increase), and a 4.9% positivity 7-day rate (0.1% increase from 7-days prior). There are currently 259 COVID-19 hospitalized patients, 11 fewer patients hospitalized since the prior day total (4.1% decrease). This data is as November 20, 2021 as reported on the State's tracking web site.

On behalf of your Board of Education, as we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, please know that our thoughts are with all of our families, friends, and neighbors who have suffered loss this past year. There is pain in this world that the Thanksgiving holiday cannot cheer out. We only hope that the comfort of family and friends helps those of us who are mourning the loss of loved ones this holiday season.

School is closed this entire week. We will resume school on Monday, November 29.

Stay positive. Test weekly. Be well.

Sincerely,

Allan Mucerino

Our two after-school programs are HALF-Time (K-5) and PRIME-Time (6-8). They are available M-F from school dismissal until 6:00 PM. The programs 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.