Alpine Union School District

Dear AUSD Families, We are excited to welcome our students back to campus on January 4. As I shared in a previous letter, we are proud that our district has been operating in-person learning at all of our schools longer than virtually any other district in the county, and we have done it without a need for a school closure for 13 consecutive weeks. This pandemic has changed the entire way we operate. Many of our staff have a high-risk condition or are otherwise vulnerable, and others live with someone who is high-risk. While this is a facet of life all of us face in a world of COVID, we have been and remain committed to providing in-person learning. In fact, we believe that in-person learning should be the default for our students. Yet, our ability to stay open will depend on all of us working together to ensure that our health and safety protocols are followed. As a reminder, we ask that you monitor your student for any signs of illness each day such as a cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, and fever at home before coming to school. Any student with these symptoms or a fever of 100°F or more should not go to a school site, including ESS. Those experiencing symptoms including a persistent cough, shortness of breath, a runny nose should not attend school or ESS, even if no fever is present. All students and staff are required to wear a face covering, and student temperatures will continue to be taken upon entering classes and buildings. I ask that you continue to support our staff in our efforts to remain open and strictly adhere to all protocols. Most districts in the county have not been operating with in-person learning and we want to remain open. I realize that the postponement of our Pjase Three reopening is disappointing news. With the surge in cases in the county and across the country we need to work together more than ever to ensure our campuses remain safe. Again, we want to do everything in our power to remain open for our students and appreciate your support in making that a reality. Stay safe and well, Dr. Rich Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth Alpine Union School District

SPECIAL WINTER BREAK GRAB-N-GO MEALS!!!! We will be distributing TWO WEEKS worth of meals today (Monday, 12/21) from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm at JMMS. We have prepared 200 bags, so it is first come first serve. These meals are FREE to all children 18 and under. Please email kmassey@alpineschools.net if you have any questions.

Special thanks to Claudia and the Alpine Taco Shop for their support and contribution towards the new JMMS digital marquee. We appreciate you Claudia for all you do for our schools and community!

Winter Break Grab-N-Go!! Monday, December 21st from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm at Joan MacQueen Middle School. We will be handing out 2 weeks worth of breakfasts and lunches during this special distribution. We will have 200 Grab-N-Go Meal Bags, so it is first come first serve!! As always, these meals are FREE to all children 18 and under. If you have any questions, please email kmassey@alpineschools.net or call (619) 445-3639.

Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots will be available tomorrow Wednesday, December 16 at JMMS from 9:00-3:00. All students, families, and community members are welcome. The drive through process is quick and easy. Please help spread the word!

We will be handing out FREE Grab and Go Meal Bags today, Monday 12/14, at JMMS from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm AND 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. This is FREE to all children 18 and under!! We are also having a special distribution on Monday 12/21/2020... more details to come!!

Please support Shadow Hills PTA with their Silent Auction. The Silent Auction will start on Sat. Dec. 12th and will run through Dec. 16th. Bidding starts on Dec. 12 at 11:00 am. Go to the Shadow Hills PTA Facebook site to bid on these fabulous items. https://www.facebook.com/ShadowHillsPTA. Here is a preview of just some of the items up for bid: 1.$50 gift card to Chic Boutique 2.$100 Visa Gift Card from Kathrin Turner, Realtor at San Diego Estates 3. 8 private tutoring sessions from Quest Academy 4.A private station tour and dinner for 10 at the Alpine Fire Station 5. 5 week dance session from Alpine Dance Academy 6. 1 photo session with Stephani Dennis Photography 7. Gift basket from Alpine Coffee Roasters/The Well Cafe 8. Gift card from Bella's Closet 9. Gift card from Cleveland Cafe 10.Mobile car detail from J&J Mobile Detail 11. Two propane tanks courtesy of Kamps propane. 12. Game/family night basket from the Turner/Rivera class (their basket earnings go directly back to their classroom) Anyone can participate. Payment will be collected when you receive your item if you are the highest bid by Wednesday the 16th.

Dear AUSD Families, We just completed a briefing with SDG&E that it is highly likely that power will be shut down in Alpine. SDG&E informed us that the winds are on track to increase this evening with the strongest winds occurring late tonight and early tomorrow with power shut offs potentially occurring through Wednesday. Out of an abundance of caution we will be closing schools for in person learning tomorrow. Teachers are preparing online materials in the event that electricity is available and students can access their Google Classroom. I realize that this situation is incredibly frustrating for all of us. We do not make the decision to shut schools down lightly. Given the briefing from SDG&E and the likelihood that power may be shut off late this evening or early tomorrow, we want to make sure we take all necessary precautions to allow our families to prepare. We appreciate your patience as we maneuver through yet another challenge. More than ever, we need to support one another through these trying times. Stay safe and healthy, Dr. Rich Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

Dear AUSD Families, We wanted to make sure to keep you up to date with the latest information. We have been informed by SDGE to be prepared for Public Safety Power Shut Offs beginning as early as this evening into Wednesday, depending on the severity of winds and potential damage to the electric system. They have notified approximately 50,483 customers who may be impacted by the shutdown, and some of our surrounding neighborhoods have already had the electric turned off. At present, school will be open tomorrow but we wanted to reach out and share that schools may need to close. We are expecting an update directly from SDG&E early this evening and will communicate any updates. Stay safe, Dr. Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

Grab and Go Meal Bags will be handed out from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm today, Monday 12/7. There are new meals every week!! Check out the Grab and Go menu at www.alpineschools.net

Alpine schools will reopen on Monday, December 7. We look forward to welcoming our students back to school.

Dear AUSD Families, Yesterday, I shared some brief information regarding Gov. Newsom’s Regional Stay-At-Home order and I wanted to share some additional updates. The Regional Stay-At-Home order will impact many businesses and industries in San Diego County for at least three weeks starting this month. The order is applicable in areas where hospitals’ intensive care unit (ICU) capacity falls below 15%. The order does not modify existing state guidance regarding K-12 schools. Our schools may continue to remain open for in-person instruction. The order, which divides California into five regions, prohibits private gatherings of any size; closes operations for sectors such as bars and wineries, and salons; and requires 100% masking and physical distancing in retail and other sectors. San Diego County is in the Southern California Tier, which also includes Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. We will continue to work with local public health as we move forward. I will also continue to share updates as they become available. We are expecting that electricity will be returned to our community and school will be able to resume on Monday. Please continue to check our website, social media and your child’s Google Classroom for updates. As always, stay safe, and let’s make sure to continue to take care of one another. Sincerely, Dr. Rich Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

Dear AUSD Families, The safety of our students, staff, and school community is our top priority. With this in mind, we want to keep you updated on the latest information regarding school closures. We will be closing schools tomorrow, Friday, December 4 due to the power outages, which are expected to continue through tomorrow. Teachers are preparing asynchronous activities for students in the event that the power is restored. These will be posted in each teacher’s Google Classroom. In addition, Governor Newsom has just announced that regions, where ICU capacity falls below 15%, will be placed into a Regional Stay-At-Home order. Governor Newsom stated that when regions are placed into the Regional Stay-At-Home order critical infrastructure, schools, retail (at 20% capacity), and restaurants (take out and delivery) will remain open. Here is the link to the latest update regarding the Stay-At-Home order. We will continue to keep you updated with the latest information. Stay well and healthy and take care of your loved ones. Sincerely, Dr. Rich Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

AUSD School Closed Thursday, December 3 Power is out in many areas across Alpine and the winds are expected to continue. At present SDGE is stating that the power outages could be sustained for long periods of time. In an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of all of our students and staff, schools will be closed Thursday, December 3.

Dear AUSD Families, The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning in effect for inland Orange County and San Diego County valleys and mountains from 6 p.m. today through 10 p.m. on Saturday. They also issued a high wind watch from 1 a.m. Thursday morning until Friday at noon. Should power shutoffs occur while students are on campus, the school day will continue as normal until students are picked up or the day ends. We remain in close contact with the San Diego County Office of Education, SDGE, and other officials and will keep you updated on any impact. You can get more information about public safety power outages through SDG&E’s public safety power shutoff mobile app. For location details and updated information on outages and when power may be turned back on, visit SDGE.com/Outages. Sincerely, Dr. Rich Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots will be available tomorrow Wednesday, December 2 at JMMS from 9:00-3:00. All students, families, and community members, are welcome. The drive through process is quick and easy.

Our next COVID-19 test and flu shot date is scheduled for November 18, 2020. Testing will take place from 9:00 - 3:00 at JMMS. All community members and students are welcome to get COVID-19 testing and flu shots free of charge.

Join the Alpine Union school District as a substitute teacher. We offer the highest substitute teacher pay rate in San Diego at $200 per day. @SanDiegoCOE @SanDiegoCounty @CityofSanDiego @sdschools

The community is welcome to preview AUSD's proposed science adoption curriculum.

We will be distributing free Grab and Go meals today, November 16, 2020 from 11:00-12:30 and 4:30-6:00 in the JMMS parking lot. Meals are free to children 18 and under.