HCSD Friday Newsletter
Welcome Ms. Bhavna Narula, New PRF, Abbott Rapid Testing
Welcome, Ms. Bhavna Narula, Incoming Director of Student Services
It is my great pleasure to announce that Ms. Bhavna Narula has been selected as the new Director of Student Services pending final Board approval.
This selection comes as the result of a thorough and extensive search process including more than 40 applicants, with direct participation from educators, parents, administrators, and the Hillsborough City School District Board of Trustees. Ms. Narula was interviewed by three panels during the first round of interviews including a “generalist panel” that was looking for leadership and communication traits and a “technical panel” that established her experience and expertise in the specialized knowledge and skills needed as a Director of Student Services. Ms. Narula also engaged in a simulation where she presented state testing data to a mock parent group from RISE (Resources for Individual Student Excellence), and she also performed a writing task. In the second round of interviews, finalists candidates met with two panels of district and site level administrators, educators and parents. Finally, the third round of interviews included two Board Trustees and myself. Following these three rounds of interviews, a thorough reference check was completed, which confirmed Ms. Narula’s standing as the top candidate for this critically important position.
Ms. Narula holds Masters Degrees in Child Development, Education, and Counseling. Ms. Narula’s experience is vast and has prepared her very well for this role. She has been the principal at Blach Intermediate School in Los Altos School District for the past six years serving the needs of special education students both at her school and throughout the district. Additionally, Ms. Narula’s strengths lie in building and sustaining a positive and inclusive school culture by implementing the Universal Design of Learning Framework, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support structures and practices, Co-Teaching, Responsive Advisory framework and Mindfulness education. Prior to serving in Los Altos, Mr. Narula was the Coordinator for Literacy, Intervention, and English Learner Services in Milpitas Unified School District. Ms. Narula also served as an administrator in the Palo Alto Unified School District.
It was clear through numerous conversations and reference checks that Ms. Narula is a student-centered leader who devotes time and energy towards building strong collegial relationships and collaborative teams focused on student success. As Director of Student Services, she looks forward to spending time in classrooms, getting to know all the students, teachers and staff members in the District, and working together with the community as we continue to build and innovate.
Ms. Narula and her husband live in Palo Alto and are proud parents of 2 daughters, a college senior and a high school freshman. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Narula and welcoming her to the Hillsborough City School District. We look forward to a smooth transition and welcoming Ms. Narula to this District level position beginning on July 1, 2021.
Updated Pandemic Recovery Framework (PRF)
See the helpful chart below taken from Page 36 of the Framework regarding travel for students and educators.
HCSD Testing Cadence: Students COVID Testing Moving to Every Other Week
As families are aware, HCSD has been exceptionally proactive in COVID testing all students (who want to test). We have been doing this weekly testing since we returned from Winter Break (when the county tier was Deep Purple / Purple)*. Moving forward after Spring Break, we will now test our students every other week (rather than weekly) which is more aggressive than recommendations from the California Department of Public Health. We will also continue to test any student who is symptomatic (and would like to be tested using our systems).
*For context on rates of COVID in the county in January 2021 compared to now, please see the chart below.
Abbott Rapid Testing FAQs!
If my student will be quarantining after Spring Break air travel, should we come to the testing event?
No. We encourage you to pick up an OmeCare test from the bins at District Office on Wednesday 4/14 between 8am-6pm with return to bins at District Office by 1pm on Thursday 4/15. If you return from air travel after 4/11, you can make a test appointment through Curative for 4/18 at Crocker Middle School.
But what if our air travel return date is before Friday, April 9th?
Since our testing date will be within the 3-5 day window of return from travel, you are eligible to test on 4/12/21 and may sign up for a testing appointment. But remember, CDPH guidelines still require a full 7 day quarantine after air travel with any negative COVID test.
I have children at both Crocker and one of the elementary schools, do we have to sign up for separate test appointments?
No, you can sign up for a test appointment at 1 site and bring everyone to the test together.
Where should we park for the test? Will you take walk-ins?
This is a drive-thru test. You will stay in your vehicle the entire time. Please sign up for a test appointment using the sign up links listed in checklist. Crocker, North, West, or District Office
Can my caretaker bring my child to the testing event?
Yes. Please make sure the adult in the car has the NAVICA app on their smartphone with children’s managed profiles added to the account. We recommend taking screenshots of each child’s Navica badge (QR code).
If my child is symptomatic, can I come to the testing event on 4/12?
This testing event will be run by HCSD staff members, volunteer parents and community members. We ask that you do NOT come to testing with a symptomatic child. There are many options for local testing- Please contact your child’s physician.
What is going to happen at the test appointment?
After driving into your test site, your phone will be checked for the NAVICA app and confirm your managed profiles (children) are connected to HCSD. You will be directed into the queue for drive-thru testing. Another volunteer will scan your phone using an iPad and ask you a number of questions about the test participant. A 3rd volunteer will hand your child a testing swab and ask them to lower their mask and slowly and gently self-swab both nostrils. This video demo shows a student doing the self- swab. Once this step is complete for all children in your vehicle, you will be directed to leave. A notification with test results will appear on your smartphone within 15-30 minutes after testing.
Where are the test sites?
We are holding drive-thru testing events at North, West, Crocker and the District Office with test appointments throughout the day. Don’t forget to make an appointment: Crocker, North, West, or District Office
I haven’t set up the NAVICA app on my phone, can we still come for testing?
No. Without your child’s unique NAVICA passcode (QR code) on the app, we cannot run a test.
I *think* I set up my NAVICA app account, added managed profiles and connected to HCSD. How can I check if I did it correctly?
If you receive another Navica Invitation email today, that means one or more of your children is not properly connected to HCSD. Please go through all 4 Tasks to complete this important step. Here is a quick visual of a connected NAVICA account: NAVICA Quick Check. Log into the NAVICA app and click ‘Display NAVICA ID’- you should be able to swipe left to reveal your child’s code. Click the “person” icon in the top right corner and then click ‘Connected Organizations’. You should see Hillsborough City School District listed.
Why are we using Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid Tests and where can I get more information?
HCSD felt that the fast turnaround time of the BinaxNOW test (15 minutes) versus the OmeCare PCR test (~4 days from when you drop off your specimen) was important for testing our community after most higher-risk Spring Break activity was complete but before in-person school starts on April 13. More information can be found here. (Scroll down to the section: For Parents and Schools)
Where can I find the Spring Break Travel Flowchart and other travel reminders?
Everything you need to know about Spring Break travel guidance can be found in the 3/26 HCSD Newsletter.
Will we still need to do daily CARE symptom screening for green badges after spring break? What about weekly testing?
Yes, you should resume daily CARE symptom screening to generate a green badge each day of in-person school after spring break. HCSD CARES will offer Omecare tests to students every other week after spring break.
Rapid Testing on 4/12
Dear Families,
As a reminder, if your student is returning to in person school on 4/13 and you want to participate in our Drive-Thru Testing Event on Monday, 4/12 you need to do all 3 steps below:
Your NAVICA account must be properly connected to our organization (HCSD); Just having a QR Code for your account is not enough. If you received a NAVICA Invitation email today, you are NOT YET CONNECTED. Please follow this: NAVICA Step-By-Step Instructions Once completed, this short demo will take you through the steps to double check your account is connected to HCSD: NAVICA Quick Check
You need to sign this Testing Consent Form
You need to make a testing appointment: Crocker, North, West, or District Office
For all other details about our Testing Event on 4/12, reference our FAQ in this District e-blast from 3/30. Thank you so much for your patience and participation. Have a safe and restful spring break!
Hillsborough City School District
Email: news@hcsdk8.org
Website: www.hcsdk8.org
Location: 300 El Cerrito Avenue, Hillsborough, CA, USA
Phone: 650-342-5193
Facebook: facebook.com/hillsboroughschools
Twitter: @HCSD_k8