ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

I hope your family enjoyed a safe, peaceful, and festive Thanksgiving holiday. When students return to school tomorrow, there will be three weeks left in the first semester. The last day of the first semester for students is Thursday, December 15. Winter recess is from December 16 to January 2. The second semester begins on Tuesday, January 3. Schools are closed on Monday, January 2 in observance of New Year's Day, since January 1 is on a Sunday this year.

Staying focused to finish the semester strong with winter recess approaching is challenging. Many students may be feeling overwhelmed. Particularly students preparing for final exams. Add the distraction of today's digitally-saturated world our students live in and it's easy to understand why students have to manage their impulse control to stay focused. The part of the brain that's responsible for impulse control is the last to develop in young people, which is why students sometimes act impulsively and make poor choices.

Attention management is one of the the most important skills for learners to master in the 21st century. Teachers explicitly teach study skills and other mindfulness techniques to help students learn to manage their attention. Parents can help at home too. Minimizing digital distractions, setting limits on cell phone and computer use, and encouraging periodic resting can enhance task focus while doing homework and studying.

Help your children to set up study sessions with cycles of work interrupted with scheduled breaks. The younger the child, the shorter the study session. Build up the time spent on task slowly over time to decrease internal resistance and sustain motivation. Ending the semester strong is important.

Thank you for participating in our Slow the Spread COVID-testing program before returning to school tomorrow. Students who test positive or who have a fever or cold or flu-like symptoms, should not attend school tomorrow or until symptoms approve and they test negative.

Students from the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at Norte Vista High School launched a massive community service project in 2020 that provides every foster student in our district with a wrapped Christmas shoe box filled with stocking stuffer type items including easily transportable games, candy, hygiene products, school supplies, and other items.

If you would like to support the project, there are a few ways you can help:

1. We need shoeboxes, wrapping paper, and tissue paper.
2. We need items from our Amazon wish list to fill the shoeboxes. Find the wish list here.
   
   

Learn more about the project from the brief video below and by visiting at the Christmas Shoe Box web page here.

Numerous campus safety projects continue to be implemented around the district. Most projects will not be visible because they are addressing school safety infrastructure design based on our threat assessments. Projects that are visible include installing video surveillance systems and 8-foot, anti-climb fencing at our schools. The McAuliffe Elementary School project was recently completed and the other elementary schools near a public park or sharing a space with a public park separated by a fence are in various phases depending on the complexity of the projects.

On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you in advance for helping your children finish the semester strong. Stay on top of your children's grades by visiting the Aeries parent portal regularly and discussing their progress with them. Please contact your school's counselor, principal, or your student's teachers for assistance and support. We are here for you.

In partnership,

Allan Mucerino

MRS. JULIE A. MORENO

Trustee Area 3

Myra Linn K-5

Wells 6-8

La Sierra 9-12

DR. JOANNA DORADO

Vice President
Trustee Area 1

RMK K-5

Twinhill K-5

Valley View K-5

Loma Vista 6-8

MR. ROBERT SCHWANDT
Clerk
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

Trustee

Lake Hills K-5

Promenade K-5

Villegas 6-8

District Office

MS. LIZETH VEGA
Trustee
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

Students Reporting a Positive Case: 47 (Last week 32)
Student Cases Requiring Contact Tracing: 33 (Last week 25)
Staff Reporting a Positive Case: 10 (Last week 5)

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: 75.57 (Last Week 50.23)

New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population: 6.6 (Last Week 4.2)

% Staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19: 3.2% (Last Week 2.5%)

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.

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