Alpine Union School District

Dear AUSD Families, We are excited to share that next Monday we will begin phase two of our reopening schools plan with students returning to our campuses for face-to-face learning. At each school site, one cohort of students have been assigned to attend school for face-to-face learning on Mondays and Tuesdays, and another cohort of students will attend school on Thursdays and Fridays. Distance learning will continue to occur online the days in which students are not on campus. Those students in a complete distance learning environment will also continue their learning online. CONNECTION Since schools closed on Friday, March 13, 2020 we have continued to be concerned about the social and emotional well-being of all of our students. We also realize that with the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, parents may opt to move back and forth between face-to-face and distance learning during the year. In fact, one of the biggest concerns we have heard from families is the fear of losing their connection to their school and teacher this year if they choose to have their child participate in face-to-face or distance learning. We have intentionally designed our hybrid learning model around building and maintaining relationships and connections by having students remain in a class that is stable and consistent throughout the year and not have students switch back and forth between a different distance learning and face-to-face teacher. Each class will comprise both face-to-face and distance learning students. Since approximately 84% of our parents have chosen to have their child return to face-to face learning there is not a large number of students who prefer only distance learning. GRAB AND GO MEALS We will continue to provide free Grab and Go meals for all children 18 and under at JMMS each Monday. LUNCH Each school will continue to provide bagged or boxed lunches for students. We ask that you use our online portal to prepay for lunches, which is located on our website. BUSSING We will continue to provide bussing for students to school albeit will be slightly reduced this year. Similar to most districts, the Board has approved a transportation zone that would provide home to school transportation for students who live 1 ½ miles or more from school. All students will be required to wear face coverings on the bus and will be socially distanced as much as possible. Registration for bussing can be accessed via our district website. FACE COVERINGS When we return to school for face-to-face learning, all students will be required to wear a face covering (face mask or shield). Students may remove their face coverings during lunch, PE, and recess but will be required to have them on while in the classroom, even when sitting behind the plastic desk dividers. Only students that meet one of the exemptions outlined in the California Department of Public Health Guidelines and have the required medical documentation will be exempt. Previously, we shared that face coverings would only be required for students in grades three and above. We made the change requiring all students to wear face coverings for the following safety concerns. First, we set a goal of opening our schools for face-to-face learning and want to ensure we do everything in our power to keep our schools open and operating. Many of our staff have also shared concerns about contracting COVID-19 and want to be able to feel safe and comfortable so that they can focus on teaching and learning. Classroom schedules have also been designed to ensure students are not wearing a face covering for longer than two hours at a time without a break. WELLNESS We ask that you monitor your student for any signs of illness each day such as cough, shortness of breath, runny nose and fever at home before coming to school. Anyone with a fever of 100°F or more should not go to a school site. Those experiencing symptoms including persistent cough, shortness of breath, or runny nose should not attend school, even if no fever is present. We know next week will be filled with excitement and nervousness. We look forward to this next phase in reopening our schools, and as always, appreciate your continued support. Lastly, if you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s principal. Stay well, Dr. Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

We remember and honoring the victims of the #September11 attack. #UnitedWeStand

Dear AUSD Families, We are continuing to monitor the Valley Fire situation very closely. Given the active nature of the fire, San Diego County Sheriff Gore and the Office of Emergency Services, are encouraging all of us to be prepared to evacuate with very little notice. The fire has tripled in the last four days, and Santa Ana winds are expected to impact our community beginning this evening. We realize that many of our students, families, and staff have been impacted by the Valley Fire. We are here to help and assist in any way possible. Please reach out to us if we can be of any assistance. Joan MacQueen remains an active temporary relocation center for community members and their pets. All District personnel, other than essential staff, will be working from home for the remainder of the week. Distance Learning will continue but our staff are mindful of what our students need at this time, and will be available to provide the support necessary. Lastly, I want to take a moment to remind each of you to review your evacuation plan, be prepared, stay informed and sign up for updates at www.readysandiego.org. We will get through this together united as one community. Stay safe, Dr. Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

Joan MacQueen Middle School remains open as a temporary evacuation center. We have A/C, food , water, restrooms, and wifi. Yes, animal friends ARE welcome! #AlpineStrong #United #OnwardandUpward

Tuesday (9/8) - AUSD will be providing FREE Grab and Go Meals for the week for all children 18 and under @ JMMS from 11:00 - 12:00 pm. #AlpineStrong #UnitedWeStand

Dear AUSD Families, I hope each of you is staying safe and healthy. Over the last few months our students, staff, families and community have dealt with extraordinary difficulties: a pandemic, a return to distance learning, blackouts—and now evacuations due to wildfires. The Valley Fire has made the last few days trying for our community. Many staff and families have been impacted and will continue to be displaced. Power is out in parts of east county and evacuation orders continue to change by the moment. The JMMS gym is currently serving as a temporary evacuation center and will continue to be available to individuals who evacuate over the next few days. We have been coordinating efforts with the Red Cross, emergency and fire personnel and county staff. Santa Ana winds are also anticipated to hit our community tomorrow night. In consultation with Alpine Fire Marshall, Jason McBroom, all staff except essential staff, will remain home tomorrow. However, our Grab and Go meal pick will take place at JMMS from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Our ESS program and our CELC preschool will not be in operation. In addition, the Learning Pods at JMMS will not be able to take place this week due to the gym being used as an evacuation center. As always, we will continue to provide all supports possible to our Alpine and surround communities. Stay safe, Rich

HUGE thanks to the #AlpineTacoShop and Claudia who will be at JMMS tomorrow morning providing meal vouchers for displaced families and responders. Alpine knows how to take care of one another. #AlpineProud #AlpineStrong

We have opened up Joan MacQueen Middle School gym. The gym is air conditioned and we have wifi, food, restrooms and water. We also welcome your pets. Red Cross is on site setting up. #AlpineStrong

#ValleyFire Update: Overnight, the Red Cross team provided safe shelter for three families affected by the fire. The Temporary Evacuation Point at JMMS has closed. The Temporary Evacuation Point at Steele Canyon remains open.

Exciting news!! Starting Tuesday, September 8th we will be resuming the FREE Grab and Go Meals for all children 18 and under. This program has recently been reinstated by the state and we are jumping at the chance to help our community. On Tuesday (9/8), we will be handing out meal bags with 4 breakfasts and lunches @ JMMS from 11:00 - 12:00 pm. This program will remain active when we reopen to our hybrid schedule!!

The Red Cross has been dispatched to JMMS and will be on site shortly to provide basic services. We will continue to keep you updates. #AlpineStrong

AUSD staff are at JMMS to assist anyone who needs a safe space. The gym is available. District staff are in touch with the EOC at the county to coordinate efforts with the Red Cross and county services. We are here to help. #AlpineStrong

We are excited to once again welcome our youngest students back on campus. Today, our preschool students began face to face learning. We look forward to all students returning in the near future. #onwardandupward #learningtogether #Alpine

Just a reminder that we will be serving Breakfast and Lunch To Go Bags on Monday from 11 am to 12 pm at JMMS. No need to leave the car, just pull up and we will bring the food to you. Come by to grab some yummy food and help us start our week by waving and saying hello to our awesome students and families!! Please fill out a Free and Reduced Meal Waiver with the link below to see if you qualify for this amazing assistance program: https://www.alpineschools.net/o/ausd/page/free-and-reduced-meal-program--2 If you have any questions or need assistance, please call our Child Nutrition Services Director Kelly Massey at (619) 445-3639 or email at kmassey@alpineschools.net.

Dear AUSD Families, I am thrilled that the 2020-2021 school year is finally underway. Our goal of reopening our schools for face-to-face learning is now close to reality. For the last several months, we have been preparing for the return of our staff and students to campus. We have developed and updated our reopening schools plan with every new public health order. We have purchased pallets of hand sanitizer, face coverings, personal protective equipment, electrostatic cleaners, Chromebooks, new digital books and tools, and much more, all with the goal of reopening our schools with a sound plan in place. We are also finalizing an agreement with the San Diego County Office of Education to provide free hotspots to our families who do not have reliable internet access. To ensure that we had the option to open our schools, even if San Diego remained on the county watchlist, we submitted an Elementary School waiver. Yesterday, we were notified that the county and state approved our waiver. In fact, we were one of only four public school districts in San Diego county to receive a waiver approval. We have reassigned many of our staff, including bus drivers, instructional aides, and food and nutrition staff, to support our families in our Extended Student Services child care program. We were also the first school district in the state of CA to design and develop a Learning Pod option for our parents. In short, we have been focused on adapting our district to meet the challenges our families face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While our goal is to open our schools, we want to do it in a way that ensures the health and safety of our staff, students and families. We have designed a gradual re-entry plan that will allow us to begin to open our schools on September 2 with our Preschool Special Day Class being the first to return for face-to-face learning. Our goal is to ensure that all of our planning and procedures have a chance to be put into practice and tested before we bring all students back on campus. On September 21, we will begin our hybrid learning model with all students returning to campus in the A/B Day learning model. More information will be forthcoming regarding days in which students will be attending. Having our staff and teachers feel safe is critical to our goal of ensuring the opening of our schools is done with care for our entire community. When we return to campus, all students in grades TK-8 will be required to wear a face-covering unless they qualify for one of the exemptions specified in the CDPH face-covering guidelines. With a gradual re-entry plan, we feel confident that we can monitor the success of our social distancing and sanitation measures, make adjustments as needed and ensure that everyone is as safe as possible. While there is much work that has gone into our reopening plan, there is much work ahead. I have asked our staff to assume positive intentions in all our actions and to create a working and learning environment that supports everyone. Lastly, as we move forward and open our schools, I also ask that each of you join me in supporting our students and staff as we all work together to make our community proud of the way we respond in reopening our schools. With great respect and hope for the future, Dr. Rich Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

It has been wonderful to see so many of our Alpine Union School District families grabbing breakfast and lunch to go the past two weeks!! We will be serving Breakfast and Lunch To Go Bags every Monday (or the first school day of the week if there is a holiday) during Distant Learning from 11 am to 12 pm. All To Go Bags will have 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches, one bag per student. Your student has to be enrolled in one of our Alpine Union School District schools to participate in this program. Please fill out a Free and Reduced Meal Waiver with the link below to see if you qualify for this amazing assistance program: https://www.alpineschools.net/o/ausd/page/free-and-reduced-meal-program--2 Cost per student for 5 days: Free: $0 Reduced: $3.50 Full Pay: $26.35 If you have any questions or need assistance, please call our Child Nutrition Services Director Kelly Massey at (619) 445-3639 or email at kmassey@alpineschools.net.

Reminder - Grab and Go meals are being distributed today, August 20th at JMMS from 11am - 12pm. After today, meals will be handed out on non holiday Mondays at JMMS.

Alpine Union will begin operating our regular meal program this Thursday, August 20th. A previous communication inadvertently stated September 20th. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Welcome Back Alpine Families, The Seamless Summer Meal Program has ended, which provided meals to any school age child. Starting Thursday, September 20th the District will be operating our regular school meal program. It will be held at JMMS from 11:00 - 12:00. There is no cost for the regular school meal program for families who have completed the Free or Reduced Meal Application and qualify for a free meal. For those who qualify for a reduced-price meal, the cost for breakfast is 30 cents and lunch is 40 cents for a total cost of $3.50 for a five (5) day school week package. If you do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals, your child may purchase meals. The cost for breakfast is $2.00/day and lunch is $3.25/day for a daily cost of $5.25 and a total cost of $26.25 for a five (5) day school week package. Only weekly packages will be available each pickup day. The meal pickup will occur on the first school day of every week, which is usually a Monday except for holidays and this coming Thursday, September 20. . If you are paying with cash, you will need exact change only. There will be no change given so all amounts due back to the student will be credited to the student’s School Cafe Account and can be used the following week. You can also pay via our online system at: http://alpineunionsdca.apptegy.us/o/ausd/page/meal-payments--6. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact me at 619-445-3639 or cnsdirector@alpineschools.net. Thank you very much, Kelly Massey Child Nutrition Services Director

We are fortunate to have such a great community partner in the Viejas Tribal Council. Viejas has kindly donated 100,000 masks for our schools. A huge thanks to the Viejas Tribal Council for showing all of us the true spirit of community partnership.