The STAR
August 30, 2021
“At Ruby Bridges we are committed to every student’s potential by teaching to the whole child and holding high expectations.”
Beginning 9/7 for TK/Kinder
Wow, Our Stars are Back!
What an amazing first two weeks of school! Many appreciations for the on time arrivals, flexibility with arrival/dismissal changes, and ongoing feedback. I value our partnership.
We also continue to priortize safety. As shared in the 8/25/21 Board Meeting, Covid testing will again be mandatory for all students. RB will begin its testing rotation on September 7 and 8th. If your child is not tested, they may be excluded from school. If you have declined site testing, you will need to take your child to an AUSD testing site.
- Our campus is open at 7:40 am for breakfast. All students (except TK) that plan to eat breakfast will report to the MPR as there is no supervision before 8:10 am.
- Breakfast and lunch are free for all students; however, we still need you to complete the lunch application so our Title 1 status is not jeopardized. Here is lunch application: www.myschoolapps.com. The August menu is below, please click.
- TK/Kinder 8/16-9/3- 11:40 dismissal; 1st-5th Beginning 8/30/21- 2:50 pm dismissal
- Attendance will be counted from day one. Make sure your student arrives on time for learning as every day counts. If your student is absent, please email our attendance clerk, Ms. Jones, at sjones@alamedaunified.org or call 510-748- 4006, ext. 06751. Late students should report to the office.
Principal Pharr- Matthews
Kinder Go Fund Me
BTSN 21/22 on Zoom
Back to School Night- will be virtual – Similar to last year we will meet in our community session followed by time in classrooms with teachers. Zoom link will be shared via ParentSquare
9/9- TK-5:15-6:00; Kinder 6:15-7:00pm
9/10- First grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/13- Second grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/14- Third grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/16 -Fourth grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/17- Fifth grade-6:15-7:00pm
Picture Day
21/22 Picture dates with Dorian Studios. You may purchase photos directly from the website following picture day.
Original pictures: September 1st, 2021
Retake pictures: October 13, 2021
Personality pictures: February 1, 2022
5th grade group picture: March 23, 2022
Site safety and Covid Protocols
If you suspect your student is sick, PLEASE keep them at HOME. We are also asking that ALL students are tested this week. You may visit the Longfellow campus or Alameda High school for a test. Students exhibiting symptoms of Covid while at school will be sent home. Under no circumstances should you send students who are ill to school.
Visit: Student and Staff COVID-19 Testing page or Student Vaccination web page. Please read carefully: Family Guide
Masks should be on at all times while on campus. This is for both adults and students. Masks are only removed for eating and drinking. We will prioritize handwashing and safe hygiene. As shared in prior communication, all classrooms have multiple layers of ventilation.
Lunch- we will attempt to rotate students to our outside dining tables as much as possible. Given the number of students that we serve, some will still need to eat indoors. We will continue to make necessary and reasonable changes as needed. Parents will not be on campus for lunch. Parents will not be allowed to pick up students for lunch.
Water fountains will not be used. Make sure to send a labeled water bottle for your student.
Please talk to your child about safety protocols (no) body contact between them and other students.
Updates from the Superintendent
JOINT STATEMENT OF BAY AREA PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS ON AUGUST 26, 2021 RE: SCHOOLS
We recognize that the appearance of positive cases in our schools can be unnerving for some, and so we were pleased to see a clear joint statement from public health officers across the bay area yesterday reaffirming their support for full in-person instruction for students.
Public health officers from across the region issued this joint statement which aligns with and supports our belief here in AUSD that given our preparation and current practices, full time in-person learning is the experience we can and should continue to be providing for our students.
That joint public health statement can be found here.
This encouragement from public health also in no way means we should be even remotely complacent or relaxed about the foundational protective strategies we have in place, face coverings, hand washing, testing, and vaccinations for all who are eligible. Our consistency and commitment as a community to these basic practices and actions will collectively support our efforts to keep schools safe and open all year long.
VACCINATION
- August 11th new state health order mandating vaccinations or weekly testing for staff- Human resources developing the process and requirement will be in full effect no later than October 15
- AUSD’s current data indicates 70% of students ages 12-17 have been vaccinated
Above county average for that age span (61.5%)
Above state average for that age span (44.3%)
- This is positive BUT we can do better so please visit our next vaccination clinic on September 11 between 10 and 11 a.m. at Wood Middle School (students 12+ and all adults are welcome).
COVID-19 TESTING
- Our new protocols for testing, include:
- Screening testing once a month at each of our elementary sites for all students
- Screening testing one week per month at our secondary sites for all students
- Response/exposure testing (whenever there’s a positive case)
We genuinely appreciate our staff and community’s ongoing efforts to create positive spaces and experiences for our students amidst these still very challenging and complicated circumstances.
Pasquale Scuderi
Superintendent
Alameda Unified School District
Open Position- Parent Liasion
https://www.edjoin.org/Home/DistrictJobPosting/1448400
3 hours a day, starting at $22.41 an hour.
Lunch Volunteer Support
Library before School
21/22 Ruby Bridges PTA Dates
PTA General Membership Meetings
Thursday September 2, 6 pm Virtual
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6070079703?pwd=cjd3TzZPUkwxZVNxQnlDMTlRTHRKQT09
Thursday October 14, 6 pm Virtual
Thursday, January 13, 6 pm, Virtual or in person
Thursday, March 24, 6pm, Virtual
Thursday May 19, 6 pm, Virtual or in person/ End of year celebration of accomplishments
Events
Dance-A-Thon October 11-29
Dance-A-thon Celebration October 29
Winter Gathering December 9 (if able to gather in person)
Winter Craft Night February 17 (TBD virtual or in person)
Mark Your Calendars
8/16/21-9/3/21- Family Connection Meetings- Dismissal at 11:40 am- TK/Kinder
9/1/21- Picture Day
9/3/21- First schoolwide fire drill
9/2/21- PTA Meeting 6 pm
9/6/21- Labor Day- No School
9/9-9/17- Back to School Nights- Zoom link via ParentSquare
9/9- TK-5:15-6:00; Kinder 6:15-7:00pm
9/10- First grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/13- Second grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/14- Third grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/16 -Fourth grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/17- Fifth grade-6:15-7:00pm
9/14/21- School Site Council 4:00-5:15pm
Ruby Bridges Elementary School- Home of the Stars!
Email: dpharr@alamedaunified.org
Website: https://rubybridges-alamedausd-ca.schoolloop.com/
Location: 351 Jack London Avenue, Alameda, CA, USA
Phone: 510-748-4006
Twitter: @RBStars