Creekside Early Learning Center

Every Monday we will be distributing Grab and Go Meal Bags from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at JMMS! All children 18 and under are FREE!!! We are so proud to be able to serve our community . If you have any questions, please kmassey@alpineschools.net.

Good afternoon! We are excited to announce that we have an additional teacher, Mr. G, on board at CELC to support our 100% distance learners. In the near future, he will also be connecting with hybrid students and families to offer small group support and tutoring. This is all in addition to what our students are already receiving from their homeroom teacher. Mr. G is bilingual in Spanish and will be able to support in both languages. Be on the lookout for more information. He will be using CELCsubstitute1@alpineschools.net to connect with you. We are also in the process of organizing other tutoring opportunities with our staff. Stay tuned!

Good evening CELC families. I want to express my gratitude for everyone's support and positivity during our first week of the hybrid schedule. The staff and I are beyond grateful for the patience and cooperation with our staggered start and end times. It was smoother than we anticipated! The week was filled with laughter and learning, something that has been missing on our campus for a few months! It was a treat to hear and see signs of happy children! The students have been adapting amazingly well and have shown tremendous resilience and responsibility with wearing their masks and following our procedures. We couldn’t be prouder! As we move forward into the upcoming weeks, we will continue to work to improve/refine our procedures and instruction. We are happy to announce the addition of a guest teacher to support our teachers and the 100% distance learners for the next several weeks. Thank you for the water bottle donations! We currently have a supply on hand but can always use more. Especially with the forecast that is projected for this week. It is going to be hot! The staff is working on a plan to limit students’ time/activity in the sun if temperatures soar. Please make sure you send your student with a full water bottle and dress them in cool attire. Thank you again for all of your support and encouragement during this time. It fills the buckets of our staff, who have been working tirelessly to prepare for the transition to our hybrid schedule. I hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday! See half of you tomorrow and the other half on Thursday! Virtual hugs- Mrs. Ripke.

The Alpine Union School District has become one of the first local school districts to begin mandatory testing for all staff members. https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/alpine-schools-begin-drive-thru-covid-19-testing-for-staff-members?fbclid=IwAR1yv6V5qCicQXB2xigFLyG4U1eNO-4QOYEgV4qRmTQQEmZ_wwm-8CKTWXQ

A HUGE thanks to our famous Alpine community artist, Jorge Estrada, for painting the welcome back banners and Claudia and the Alpine Taco Shop for graciously funding the banners. Each campus has a one of a kind original banner welcoming our staff and students back to campus.

HUGE thanks to CalFire for helping implement COVID-19 testing for all district staff. @CAL_FIRE @SanDiegoCOE #Alpine

Day two of face-to-face learning. Our students once again connecting with friends and other students and using our wonderful outdoor spaces for learning. #LearningTogether #Proud OfOurDistrict

So excited to have our students back on campus for face-to-face learning. Thank you staff for being here for our students! So grateful to to our #AlpineUnion staff! @SanDiegoCOE #HeroesWorkHere

Please read the newsletter for the latest information on our hybrid reopening. https://www.smore.com/4qj1f

Dear AUSD Families, You may have heard the news that the County of San Diego may be moved on Tuesday to the lowest tier of the state reopening system and wonder what it means for Alpine Union. Because our waiver to reopen campuses was approved by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), we will be allowed to stay open if the county moves to the lowest tier on Tuesday. As we open on Monday it is imperative that everyone follow the protocols that we have designed. Over the last several months we have developed and adjusted our safe schools reopening plan to ensure that we adapt to the changing conditions. Additionally, I am pleased to share that we are one of the first school districts in the county to have implemented COVID-19 surveillance testing for all of our employees. 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. All students will be required to wear a face covering, and student temperatures will be taken upon entering classes and buildings. Lastly, I ask for your patience and grace as we begin this new chapter of learning. Our staff have worked incredibly hard to make this opening as seamless as possible. Everything we do on Monday will be different from years past. We will all be learning together while we balance the need to reduce the spread of the coronavirus with the desire to get students into more productive learning environments. We look forward to seeing our students once again back on campus. Stay well and healthy, Dr. Newman Proudest Superintendent on Earth

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

I hope this note finds you healthy and safe. The past week has been very difficult for our community. In such devastation, it has been amazing to see people rise up and shine above the darkness. I am proud to be a part of such a strong and selfless Alpine “family”. If you know of anyone affected by the fire that needs support, please contact Mrs. Ripke at tripke@alpinescools.net . September 21 is right around the corner! The team is excited to be able to welcome our hybrid students back on campus. Our staff members are making final preparations for Creekside’s return to face-to-face learning. If you have not had a chance to watch the CELC Reopening Plan video, please take the time to view it: https://youtu.be/eDXLdJzOPp8. You may also view the slideshow by clicking this link. We have staggered start and end times to help support social distancing and traffic flow. Your student’s schedule is in the slide show and will also be posted in Google Classroom. Teachers will open their classroom doors 10 minutes prior to the classroom’s assigned start time. Students will have their temperature taken and will sanitize their hands before entering the classroom. We understand the challenges of dropping off students at multiple campuses and will be flexible with families that experience this. Please let your teacher know if you anticipate difficulty with the times due to multiple campuses. Please do not park in red zones or bus areas, double park, or block the rolling gate or parking entrance. One parent/guardian may walk their student to the classroom and then leave. Please do not hang out and socialize. The same is true for pick up. Parents must wear a mask while on campus. No parents/guardians are allowed in the classroom. Due to contact tracing, traffic flow, and the overall safety of our families and staff, crossing the bridge to Shadow Hills (or vice versa) will not be an option during this time. All students must enter school through their own campus. Your child’s class is assigned to one of two entrances and exits. See the slide show and/or your child’s Google Classroom. The front gate and rolling gate will be closed and locked until ten minutes prior to the first start time. They will be locked during school hours and then unlocked 10 minutes prior to the first pick up time. AUSD is requiring that all students preschool through 8th grade must wear a mask. Students do not have to wear a mask at lunch, PE, or recess. Please send your child with the following items: backpack, a healthy snack, a change of clothes, two face masks, a water bottle and a back up one, a lunch from home if they do not plan to eat a school lunch. Your teacher will communicate any additional requests that are specific to their class. At this time, CELC students will not be bringing their chromebooks back and forth from home. After we get acclimated to the rules and procedures, the teachers will revisit the idea of students bringing chromebooks to campus. Disposable lunch sacks are recommended. Please send easy to open bags/containers so that your child can be as independent as possible at lunch time. If you desire to send your child with a lunch box/container that is not disposable, please ensure that they are able to open/close and secure the box/container and the items inside. For organization and safety, it is requested that student lunches be stored in their backpacks. If you plan to utilize child nutrition services, please make sure you are set up online. The cafeteria is unable to take payments on school sites. Teachers will be posting schedules and other important information in their Google Classrooms and/or sending emails. Mrs. Nash’s class, ESS, and Learning Pods will be back on school sites tomorrow, September 14. We are still in need of donations of cases of little water bottles and shade structures. Thank you to the Almond family for donating two shade structures! Your generosity is appreciated. Thank you also to everyone who contributed pictures/videos for the Patriot Day video. We have nearly 800 views as of Sunday afternoon. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it, here is the link: https://youtu.be/HTsxD02NMwY. I could watch it over and over! Thank you for your patience as we try our best to keep you up-to-date on the evolving guidelines and situations surrounding the schools reopening. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office

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

Good afternoon Creekside families. Please view information about CELC's Reopening Plan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDXLdJzOPp8&t=51s

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

Congratulations to CELC SSC members: Leslie Camerino, Ruben Camerino, Patricia Henry, and Randi Hunt. Thank you for your service to our school.

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 tonight. In consultation with Alpine Fire Marshall, Jason McBroom, all staff except essential staff, will work from home today. 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 surrounding communities. Please continue to check for updates to stay informed. If you or your family are in need of assistance, please contact Mrs. Ripke. Sending virtual hugs!

Good evening Creekside families. I am thinking of all of you and our neighboring communities during this difficult time. Like Alpine has proven in the past, we are always ready and willing to support each other. I am sending good thoughts of safety and peace. If you know anyone of need, please ask them to reach out to me. I am currently at the evacuation center at JMMS (that is why this note is a little later than usual). It has been encouraging to see everyone work together to help out, including district employees, The Humane Society, Red Cross, the Kiwanis and more. My phone and email have been full of messages wanting to help the last two days. THANK YOU! Right now, we are doing ok but the district will put out a message if there is any way you can help. Tuesday marks the beginning of our third week of distance learning. In addition to providing distance learning, the staff has been working on schedules for the A/B hybrid model. Teachers will be sharing the A/B list in Google Classroom on Tuesday between 8:30am and 9:00am. Please take a moment to see which group your student(s) will be in. We have a board meeting at 6:15pm on Wednesday, September 9 outlining our upcoming opening. Please join us if you are able to sit in and listen. Communications will be going out on September10 with more details about our opening on September 21. Here is the link to the agenda and can also be found on our website at www.alpineschools.net. Here is the link to the Zoom meeting and it is also included on the agenda. We are still looking for pictures of friends and family members to honor in our Patriot Day Video. If you or a loved one are a first responder, military personnel, or a medical professional, please send a picture to your child’s teacher. I am also looking for volunteers to record a short video message. Please email me if you are willing to record your student giving a personal thank you or appreciation message. tripke@alpineschools.net As a reminder, Creekside is in need of water bottle donations and shade structures. Please let us know if you can help out. Have a great rest of your weekend and don’t forget that there is no school tomorrow for the Labor Day Holiday. Stay safe and cool! Virtual Hugs!