Wednesday Digital Folder
January 12th, 2022
Coffee with the Principal Recording from 1.10.22
Vaccination Cards
Great Kindness Challenge at SME
We will be partnering this challenge with a checklist of ways to be kind at school!
Please encourage your kiddo to show off their kindness in these next few weeks! There will be school BUG tickets and prizes for those that participate!
COVID Screening and Testing at SME
Please STAY HOME if you have ANY symptoms.
Screening Questions Daily before coming to school
- Do I have a fever?
- Do I have a cough?
- Am I experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
- Am I experiencing any other symptoms?
- Have I been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days?
- In the last 10 days, have I been directed to quarantine, isolate or take a COVID-19 test?
How and Where PUSD Students and Employees Can Get Tested
PUSD offers COVID-19 PCR oral or nasal swab tests on campuses and at the District’s Primary Clinic, 8 a.m. - 3:30 pm. By appointment, please call (626) 396-3600, ext 88180
On PUSD campuses(SME) weekly testing, on Thursdays, is available for ALL students and staff.
Register your student for weekly testing at SME on the Color system here: https://home.color.com/covid/sign-up/start?partner=19648816021737students
We are holding at 86% of students registered.
STEPS to follow if you get a POSITIVE COVID test result
1. Immediately isolate from all others(family, school, sports, after-school enrichment and daycare)
2. Contact Mrs. Lewis/Ms. Rupp to notify POS results
3. Expect a phone call/contact from Health Department for specific information and quarantine next steps
4. Receive a short-term independent study agreement from SME
5. Complete assigned school work, if feeling well
6. Call and/or contact school/teacher if any questions
STEPS to follow if you are requesting and Independent Study(IS) Agreement
1. Send an email to your kid's teacher and Mrs. Lewis to request an IS agreement
2. Include which days you are agreeing to work remotely on the Canvas work posted by the teacher.
3. Include if you are choosing to do an IS or if you are needing to, due to an exposure or POSITIVE COVID-19 lab confirmed PCR test.
Mask Wearing Update
Please see the following updates from the Los Angeles County Public Health Department for employees and students masking.
The key to this message is that "Cloth face coverings alone are no longer acceptable, as they do not provide the same level of source control or personal protection as a proper surgical mask or higher level PPE."
According to the latest guidance, our students are not required to wear double surgical masks as referenced in correspondence sent to you the other night.
“Better Options” are strongly recommended for our students at this time(see graphic below). This option may be required in the near future when we update the isolation and quarantine procedures in the COVID-19 Safety Plan.
At this time, follow the isolation and quarantine procedures we implemented prior to winter break. We realize these protocols are stricter than the recently updated CDC guidance.
*If you do not want your child wearing a 3-ply mask, being offered by SME staff, please notify their teacher and Mrs. Lewis
PUSD Updates 1.11.22
Message from the Superintendent
Dear PUSD Community,
As we begin the new week, I want to take a moment to thank the PUSD community for all your work and support for our students and schools during this time of rapid change. With the guidance of teachers and staff, our students continue to learn and have transitioned back to in-person learning. Our priority is to continue in-person learning safely.
COVID REMINDERS
With news about the Omicron variant and a significant spike in case numbers, it’s as important as ever to follow guidelines from health experts. Now is the time to get your vaccination and/or booster shot. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent serious illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19. Appointments are available through myturn.ca.gov.
PUSD COVID-19 Testing Program includes weekly tests at mobile testing clinics at each school, in addition to weekly testing clinics at the PUSD Education Center since August. Weekly Mobile Testing Clinic Schedule
If you cannot attend one of our District clinics, there are several local options for vaccinations and testing.
https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html
https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine
https://www.riteaid.com/covid-19
https://www.vons.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2022-2023
PUSD's annual Open Enrollment process begins today. It offers families an opportunity to apply to attend a school other than their assigned neighborhood school. The first lottery runs January 10 - 28, 2022 and it is for:
New and continuing K-12 students residing in PUSD applying for schools other than the student’s school of residence or for a dual language immersion program
Children of full-time, monthly PUSD employees and full-time, monthly employees of the City of Pasadena (verification required)
Families who missed the sibling/priority application period
First lottery participants not offered their first choice must select "Continue to Next Round" to be included in the second lottery
Please be aware of all of the academy choices at our wonderful high schools. If you missed our “Right Fit High School'' presentation before the break, you can view it here: Right Fit High School
You can also see the exciting things high school academies have to offer here: Academies
Applications will be online at schoolchoicepusd.com and for more information, please see our website www.pusd.us/enroll.
REDISTRICTING PUBLIC FORUM
PUSD would like your opinion on updating the district boundary maps, a requirement every 10 years based on census data. The Redistricting Task Force must ensure the proper balance of populations in each of its Board of Education areas. Three virtual public forums designed to gather input on the plans will be held virtually via Zoom as follows:
Wednesday, January 12, at 6 pm visit pusd.us/redistricting for the links
Saturday, January 15, at 10 am
Tuesday, January 18, at 6 pm
Redistricting does not affect attendance boundaries. Each area must be made as equal in population as possible to ensure balanced political representation. Community input is critical to creating a map that provides fair and effective representation for all citizens of the District. pusd.us/redistricting
HOUSING SURVEY
Under a new California state law, all Local Education Agencies (LEA), such as PUSD, must ensure that each of their schools is able to identify all children who are experiencing homelessness and unaccompanied youth. In order to ensure that our students who are impacted by housing instability receive appropriate services to support their learning needs, Pasadena Unified is conducting an annual housing survey. The purpose is to ensure our students and families are well-served and able to gain access to all available state and local resources.
We ask that all families complete the confidential survey by January 30:
If you require a paper survey or alternative accommodations, please contact your school site or Pasadena Unified Families in Transition Office at 750 N. Los Robles Ave. Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 396-5782
PUSD IN THE ROSE PARADE
I am filled with pride and gratitude for the students, staff members, and organizers who made it possible for Pasadena Unified to participate in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade. Pasadena Unified was represented by two Rose Princesses, Abigail Griffith (Pasadena High School) and Jeannine Briggs (Marshall), a vintage school bus with district officials, PUSD Teacher, Principal, and Classified Employee of the year, and the PUSD All-Star Band.
The PUSD All Star band sounded great in the Tournament of Roses Parade! The group of 45 band members, 4 color guard, and 12 dancers from four different PUSD schools didn’t miss a beat under the expert direction of Dan Adams and Music Specialist Karen Klages. This was a history-making moment for the Pasadena Unified community! It was not only a celebration of the Parade’s 150-year history but also a celebration of public education in our community. Thank you to everyone who put in hundreds of hours practicing and preparing -- you made us proud!
Have a great week.
Sincerely,
Brian McDonald, Ed.D.
Superintendent
PTA Announcements
PTA Meeting: Wednesday, January 19 @ 6:30pm
Save the date for our first meeting of 2022. We have a lot of exciting programs and fundraisers to discuss!
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvde2vpjgpG91kmEhWbNYP4GtCCAEkKiHu
SEEDs Parent Group Announcements
This month SEED is recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th. Please check out this month’s resource guide for valuable resources and information. The SEED resource guide offers Scholastic book suggestions and information on propaganda and scapegoating. SEED is highlighting Holocaust survivors Elie Wiesel and Edith Eger.
Interested in learning more about diversity and inclusion? Mark your calendars for the upcoming SEED Summit on February 17th.
SEED's next meeting will be the last Monday of the month, January 31st @ 6:30 p.m.
Want to get involved?! Come join us at our next meeting or email us at smeseedinfo@gmail.com
AFB Announcements
Community Opportunities
Sierra Madre Elementary
Email: lewis.lindsay@pusd.us
Website: sme.pusd.us
Location: 141 West Highland Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA, USA
Phone: (626) 396-5890