ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

This past Friday, Villegas Middle School celebrated its twentieth anniversary by honoring the school's current and former leaders and faculty and staff, as well as the school's namesake, Ysmael Reyes Villegas. Staff Sergeant Villegas served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic action on March 20, 1945. Mr. Villegas was twenty years old. Many members of Mr. Villegas' family were present for the celebration, including his only child, Charles Ysmael Villegas, and granddaughter, Gina Fredborg (both pictured below with the new mural created by students). A flag retirement ceremony was conducted by members of the Riverside Fire Department and members of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. The retired flags were presented to Mr. Villegas' son, Charles, in a moving ceremony.

Ysmael Villegas was a squad leader when his unit, in a forward position, clashed with an enemy strongly entrenched in connected caves and foxholes on commanding ground. He moved boldly from man to man, in the face of bursting grenades and demolition charges, through heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, to bolster the spirit of his comrades. Inspired by his gallantry, his men pressed forward to the crest of the hill. Numerous enemy riflemen, refusing to flee, continued firing from their foxholes. S/Sgt. Villegas, with complete disregard for his own safety and the bullets which kicked up the dirt at his feet, charged an enemy position and, firing at point-blank range, killed the Japanese in a foxhole. He rushed a second foxhole while bullets missed him by inches and killed one more of the enemy. In rapid succession he charged a third, a fourth, a fifth foxhole, each time destroying the enemy within. The fire against him increased in intensity, but he pressed onward to attack a sixth position. As he neared his goal, he was hit and killed by enemy fire. Through his heroism and indomitable fighting spirit, S/Sgt. Villegas, at the cost of his life, inspired his men to a determined attack in which they swept the enemy from the field.

Thank you to the Ysmael Reyes Villegas family and all of the past and present members of the Villegas Middle School team for attending the special event to honor a war hero and the many dedicated Villegas Middle School staff members who have contributed to the school's illustrious history.

HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORT CARDS ARE POSTED

Middle and High School Student progress report cards are now available online. To access report cards, go to AERIES parent portal at https://alvord.aeries.net/student

LIGHT IT UP BLUE ON APRIL 25 FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

Our Special Education team has declared this coming Tuesday, April 25, as our local day to shine a bright light on autism as a growing global health priority. The “Light It Up Blue” (LIUB) initiative is a world wide event held annually during Autism Awareness Month, every April in the United States. Please wear blue on Tuesday to help raise awareness and understanding of autism, celebrate and honor the unique talents and skills of our children with autism, and bring attention to the needs of all people with autism in Alvord and all around the world.

PARENT PRESCHOOL LEARNING SERIES THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26
Please join us on April 26th at 5:30pm for a workshop on helping your child be ready for a positive experience on the first days of school. Please see the flyer below for more information.

Here is the Zoom link to this event: HTTPS://US06WEB.ZOOM.US/J/83210480815

SCHOOL SAFETY WEEKLY UPDATE

The findings from our comprehensive School Vulnerability Assessments are guiding our Measure J project work related to safety and security enhancement. The projects include fencing and video surveillance solutions. Our goals including creating campuses that avert and restrict violence while at the same time preserving learning environments that can positively influence student behavior and create more connected, open school communities.

Stay tuned to this space for regular updates on safety and security enhancements related to Measure J. Join the ParentSquare Measure J Community Group for updates too.

IN CLOSING

On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for choosing Alvord Unified School District as your education partner. We aim to be our best, so that your children can be their best.

In partnership,

Allan Mucerino

MR. ROBERT D. SCHWANDT
President
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

Vice President

Lake Hills K-5

Promenade K-5

Villegas 6-8

District Office

MS. GEORGINA RAMIREZ

Clerk
Trustee Area 1

RMK K-5

Twinhill K-5

Valley View K-5

Loma Vista 6-8

MS. LIZETH VEGA
Member
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

MRS. JULIE A. MORENO

Trustee Area 3

Myra Linn K-5

Wells 6-8

La Sierra 9-12

GRADUATIONS (6 PM) AT NORTE VISTA ZACK EARP STADIUM

Alvord High & Alternative Ed. - May 22, 2023

Hillcrest High School - May 23, 2023

Norte Vista High School - May 24, 2023
La Sierra High School - May 25, 2023

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMOTIONS (10 AM) AT NORTE VISTA ZACK EARP STADIUM
Wells MS &n Loma Vista MS - May 23, 2023
Villegas MS & Arizona MS - May 24, 2023

SUMMER EXTENDED LEARNING

June 1 - June 29

NEXT SCHOOL YEAR

First day of school - August 9

Thanksgiving Break - November 20-24

Winter Break - December 15 to January 2

High school students can start their college journey while still in high school by earning high school and college credit at the same time through dual enrollment programs, concurrent enrollment programs, and Career Technical Education (CTE) Articulation programs. Learn more about it from your high school counselor.

April is the month we join the worldwide effort to raise awareness of autism. There are many ways to participate in this effort. Visit autismspeaks.org/WAM to:

• Pledge: Make a world of difference by pledging your support and uploading your photo to become part of our worldwide mosaic of unity and collaboration.
• Give: Make a meaningful, lasting impact for people with autism with your gift. It’s one of the easiest and best ways to show your support.
• Share: Join our 2.8 million social community and help foster understanding and acceptance by sharing the stories of people on the spectrum or telling your own.
• Connect: Engage in random acts of kindness at school, work and in your community.

Students Reporting a Positive Case: 19 (Previous week 24)

Student Cases Requiring Contact Tracing: 16 (Previous week 20)
Staff Reporting a Positive Case: 3 (Previous week 3)

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: 22.14 (Previous week 19.91)

New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population: 2.2 (Previous week 2.3)

% Staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID: 19: 1.7% (Previous week 2.0%)

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. If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider wearing a mask indoors in public and taking additional precautions.

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