Season’s Greetings! Ahead of the winter holiday break, I want to take the opportunity to share my sincere appreciation to our community as we wrap up 2021, a year to certainly remember.

I know there is a lot happening in the world right now, and at times, it can feel overwhelming. I want you to know that I am here for our community. For that reason, I will be hosting a virtual community wellness check-in for our families in January. This will be an opportunity for all of us to simply come together as a community and talk about how we are doing, what’s on our mind, or simply to decompress with other members of our community. A zoom invitation will be shared with families in the new year for an informal conversation with me.

As we move forward into the new year, I want to recognize our united collective efforts to keep one another safe and healthy by following health protocols. We must continue to stay prudent to the safety protocols over the holiday break. Before we return to school in the new year, please take a moment to read over the latest updates to our masking and school-based activity health guidance listed below. Also, we are fortunate to be able to provide all students and staff members with a take home rapid COVID test kit with directions to test over the holiday break prior to returning to our school campuses on Monday, January 3rd 2022. Collectively, whatever challenges may arise, there is nothing we cannot overcome in USD as we are stronger together.

As the 2021 year comes to an end, we must continue to celebrate the growth of our students and children each and every day. I encourage you to take the time over the holiday break to talk with your child about their accomplishments made this past year. Ask your child what they are proud of in themselves. You can do this while playing a board game, baking together or eating dinner to encourage this reflection. This opportunity allows them to reflect on their strengths, growth and build strong self-efficacy. Our students are passionate, curious, and we join them in their excitement for all that 2022 will bring.

I hope you have a safe and joyful holiday and a very Happy New Year! Looking forward to seeing everyone January 3rd 2022!

CDPH recently updated their guidance regarding School-Based Extracurricular Activities. The requirements and recommendations in this guidance apply to all extracurricular activities that are operated or supervised by schools, and all activities that occur on a school site, whether or not they occur during school hours, including, but not limited to, sports, band, chorus, and clubs:

1. Activities may be performed outdoors without masks.
   
   

2. Indoor mask use remains a critical layer in protecting against COVID-19 infection and transmission, including during sports, music, and related activities. Accordingly:
   
   Masks are required indoors at all times for teachers, referees, officials, coaches, and other support staff.
   
   Masks are required indoors for all spectators and observers. This applies to all adults.
   
   Masks are required indoors at all times when participants are not actively practicing, conditioning, competing, or performing. Masks are also required indoors while on the sidelines, in team meetings, and within locker rooms and weight rooms.
   
   For after school activities, sports and clubs, when actively practicing, conditioning, or competing in indoor sports, masks are required by participants even during heavy exertion, as practicable. If masks are not worn due to heavy exertion, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly. An FDA-approved antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.
   
   Individuals using instruments indoors that cannot be played with a mask (e.g., wind instruments) may perform if bell coverings are used when playing wind instruments AND a minimum of 3 feet of physical distancing is maintained between participants. Modified masking may be considered in addition to, but not in place of, bell covers. Instruments that cannot be played with masks and that do not have bell covers must be played outdoors.
   
   

3. Volunteers need to fill out the volunteer packet and must show proof of vaccination.
   
   

4. The consent forms should state that these stipulations are subject to change and the newest guidance from the county or the state, whichever is stricter, will be followed. All parties will be notified of any changes.
   
   

5. For choir and theater performances, parents/guardians of the student will be given the option for their child to either wear a mask or will be able to test weekly if a mask isn't worn. This applies to after school events only as during school hours, masks must be worn.
   
   

6. Face masks should not be worn for competitive cheerleading (tumbling/stunting/flying) and gymnastics (while on the different apparatuses) because of the theoretical risk that the mask may get caught on objects and become a choking hazard or accidently impair vision. During wrestling contact, a face mask could become a choking hazard and is discouraged unless an adult coach or official is closely monitoring for safety purposes. Any face mask that becomes saturated with sweat should be changed immediately.