Health and Safety Update
For Bonsall Unified School District 1-13-2022
COVID-19 Update
As we continue to get inquiries about some of the following topics, we wanted to keep you updated with the latest information.
Keeping Our Kids in school- BUSD
Our priority continues to be keeping our students in school and safe. With that in mind, we continue to work closely with county health experts to accomplish this goal.
At Home COVID-19 Test kits are available upon request for all BUSD students. All test kits results must be registered. Please email Bonsall West, Vivian Banks, or the District Office to get your at-home test kits. BUSD has 1 test kit per student available.
Prioritizing In-Person Learning:
Some families have questioned why we are not switching back to virtual learning following the winter break due to the increase in COVID cases in the community. Overwhelmingly, our staff, students, and parents have expressed a strong need and desire for our schools to remain open in spite of the current situation. In addition, what we do know is that school is the best and safest place for children. Keeping schools open allows us to meet the rigorous academic and crucial social-emotional needs of our children. Additionally, data shows that when students and staff are back in school, wearing masks and following protocols, COVID numbers decrease.
The ability for school districts to return to virtual learning is NOT an option available to districts in California. State legislation requires school districts to prioritize in-person learning and limits our ability to offer distance learning. The only options we have available to us are in-person learning or independent study. The CDPH also says school closure is an extreme last resort to be considered only if public health officials recommend closure due to in-school COVID transmission or insufficient staff to safely provide in-person instruction.
Case Reporting and Notification:
We will continue to do our best in notifying known close contacts and updating case notifications on the BUSD Covid Dashboard on a regular basis. The dashboard will now include self-reported test results in addition to results from clinics and labs. We appreciate our families adhering to the guidelines, closely monitoring for symptoms, and keeping sick children home.
We are doing everything possible to address the unusually high number of absences due to illnesses, isolation, and quarantine among our staff and students. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we all work through this together, and share the common goal and desire of keeping our schools open and safe for all students and staff.
Social-Emotional Learning and Health
Beginning January 19th, students at all BUSD schools in grade 3-12 will be asked to complete a survey that will help us learn more about their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to their needs. The survey will measure their social-emotional learning competencies and skills as well as their perceptions of school climate, safety, and sense of belonging.
Students in grades 3-5 will complete a survey that has been created using grade appropriate language, which can be previewed in English here or in Spanish here.
Students in grades 6-12 will complete a survey that can be previewed in English here or in Spanish here.
What Research Tells Us about SEL and Student Success
Social-emotional learning is an important part of a well-rounded education. Research shows that SEL is an important lever for boosting academic achievement, including 11% gains in academics. Positive social-emotional skills are also correlated with improved attendance, reduced disciplinary incidents, and an 11:1 return on investment for SEL programs.
To learn more about the relationship between SEL and improved academic outcomes, please explore this research on the connections between social-emotional learning and the traditional metrics of student success, including attendance, behavior, and course performance.
If you would prefer that your child not complete this survey, please complete this Form by Monday, January 17th.
An additional survey will be sent to parents and families beginning January 19th. We look forward to hearing from you!