Foothill MS Community Memo
February 2, 2021
(Signs that will be soon visible throughout the Foothill MS campus.)
Many questions and concerns are arising regarding this year and looking ahead to the next school year. Most important is to inform you that our Superintendent and MDUSD School Board make the decisions regarding our schools, based on information from the CCC Office of Education, the CCC Department of Health, and both of those bodies at a state level, and the Governor of CA. As a unified school district we make plans together to implement, and are continually adapting to the changes and parameters we receive.
However, please know a great many things have already happened. Hopefully this newsletter will provide some insight. But additionally there are multiple ways to be informed:
- attend or listen to the MDUSD School Board meetings
- read the Superintendent's Friday Letter
- Virtual Visit w/Vaiana (3rd Friday of each month, 8am) Check Griffin News on the website.
- Foothill MS PFA meetings (Konstella messaging)
In addition to some of the signs that have arrived and will soon be posted, you will find pictures (below) that show a variety of classrooms (math, science, and Core) and some details to the work we have either completed, in process of completing, or have scheduled to do still. I've itemized some of the assessment areas for facilities.
I've included other information for you and your students. Yearbooks to order, spirit days on Wednesdays, and links for County resources.
With best regards and well wishes on this wintery, February day!
~Mrs. Vaiana
Yearbooks for Sale!
Help us spread the word - order your 2021 Yearbook now! To purchase, go directly to the Herff Jones Yearbook order page. Our school code is 6047. When ordering, the page will prompt you to enter your student's name. We do not have the students' names pre-loaded so you will have to add it yourself. Other than that, ordering is pretty straight-forward!
You and your student(s), will be seeing more information about the yearbooks in the coming weeks. With this crazy year of distanced learning, we will be gathering photos and surveying your kids about things that are different for them. We hope you and your students will help us capture this unique year so we can create an incredible time capsule for the school.
8th grade parents, you may also purchase a personalized ad for your 8th grader - we just extended the deadline to Friday, February 5th. Just follow the instructions on the order page. This is definitely a year to remember - be sure to celebrate your resilient student(s)!
Wednesday, Feb. 03: Spirit Day "Favorite Sports Team Day" (count in Advisory)
Photos of some prep work preparing FMS for reopening
Signage for each classroom.
Outdoor walkways and indoor halls will be painted and marked for traffic flow & direction, soon.
Thermometer for testing & hand sanitizer.
Front office with 'sneeze guards'.
Assessment Areas for our facilities
- The specific guidelines will be determined by the CA Department of Health, the CCC Department of Health, the CCC Office of Education, the MDUSD School Board and Superintendent Clark.
- ALL persons who enter the campus must check into the office.
- Currently onsite persons (staff and visitors) check in daily and perform a health assessment.
- Thermometers are available as needed.
- MDUSD Maintenance and Operations Department in conjunction with our custodial staff have set up schedules for hourly and daily cleaning and disinfecting.
- We have hand sanitizers installed and filled in each classroom space and common areas on campus. Learning spaces with sinks have soap and paper towels available.
- Drinking fountains will not be available and still need the caps or mechanisms turned off.
- Water filling stations will be available.
- Currently I have drawn out plans for marking walkways, hallways, aisleways, entrances and exits but they still need to be painted.
- There are temporary signs posted throughout the campus reminding persons to adhere to the 6ft. distancing.
- All classrooms have been set-up to contain students with 6ft distancing protocols.
- Restrooms have been temporarily set-up to maintain distancing with stalls, sinks, and entrances.
- Each classroom contains a plexiglass sneeze-guard for teachers.
- All HVAC systems are equipped with a Merv-13 filtration system.
- The MU does not have a stand-alone ventilation system BUT that will not prevent our school site from being open. There are three sides that provide natural cross ventilation.
- If food services resumes there are plenty of options to serve outside of this space. As well as outdoor, covered dining (this is what normally had happened previously).
- Temporary signs are posted for 6ft distancing, required face coverings, and washing hands, and how to prevent the spread of germs.
- Additional signs will be mounted throughout the campus.
Upcoming events and dates for FMS and MDUSD
February 10:
- 6pm: MDUSD Board Meeting click here for information
- 7pm: PFA meeting (via Zoom--get link through Konstella)
February 19:
- 8am: Virtual Visit w/Vaiana (link posted in Griffin News on website
Home of the Griffins
Website: foothill.mdusd.org
Location: 2775 Cedro Lane, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Phone: 925-939-8600
Twitter: @FoothillGriffin