Good Day Summerville Community,

This is Kellene Ditler and Michael Merrill with your Weekly Campus Update for January 22, 2021.

Weather Watch:

Be aware that we may experience inclement weather patterns this coming week.  We make calls in terms of school being open or closed or later start based on the conditions on Tuolumne Road adjoining the campus as well as on campus conditions.

When we experience inclement weather and school remains in session, bus routes will follow the inclement bus route schedule which will be posted by Monday on the school’s website.

Stay tuned for more information through the following communication systems.

Resources for information: local radio stations/websites:

• KVML 1450 AM

• KZSQ 92.7 FM

• KKBN 93.5 FM

• mymotherlode.com (school delays tab)

• Summerville Union High School Facebook page

• Connections Visual and Performing Arts Facebook page

School will be Open and Students continue Learning!

• January 25:  We will continue to have all students on campus attending their A and B classes Monday through Friday.  Classes will run from 8:00 am until 12:30 pm during this full inclusion period.  Please see the master calendar on the school website for A/B days. Grab and Go lunches will be provided for each student as they leave campus.

• As per our discussion at last week’s board meeting, continuation of this same instructional format is expected to continue until such time as we are out of the purple tier and in at least the orange tier. 

• We shared plans about when and how to extend learning time at our January 13 board meeting.  This included objective metrics about number of COVID cases, ICU bed availability, which colored tier we are in, and what events can proceed within each tier. See attached document for the metrics we will be using.

• If a need to return to hybrid learning or distance learning should be necessary at any time, you will be alerted by the district through School Messenger.

Accountability for timely attendance

Attendance each day is a critical piece of student success. Please ensure that your student arrives at school on time every day unless ill or quarantining.

After School Tutorial and Late Bus Run:

After school tutorial is happening Monday through Thursday afternoons each week.  Parents are asked to confirm with their student’s GLC if they are planning to stay for after school tutorial and whether they will use the late bus run or be picked up. There will be one classroom available for after school tutorial Monday through Thursday afternoons from 1:00 until 3:00 pm.  There will be another room available should students need to serve detention or simply access internet. The buses will leave campus at 3:00 pm and will be dropping students off at the transportation hubs.

Prior to starting tutorial, grab and go lunches will be provided as will a safe, supervised lunch area.

GLC contacts:

7^th and 8^th and Connections students: Dan Atkins can be reached at datkins@summbears.net

9^th and 11^th graders:  Jennifer Osterhout can be emailed at josterhout@summbears.net

10^th and 12^th graders: Steve Sweitzer can be emailed at ssweitzer@summbears.net

Mental Health information for parents:

Tuolumne County is providing support services and training about suicide amongst our teen population.  Our Crisis Counselors have noted that suicide assessments are on the rise.  Please see the attached flier about an opportunity this Wednesday, January 27^th to learn more about effectively communicating with your teen around this serious and often not spoken about topic.

This free webinar and Facebook Live event will provide information about suicide prevention for parents, including warning signs for suicide, how to have a conversation with your teen, actions to take if your teen is having suicidal thoughts, and resources.

Student Support:

Your student needs you as well as their teachers and GLCs to help hold them accountable for their grades.  Please sit with your student and check grades on Power School. Reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns, and suggest that your student attend after school tutorial for additional help. Working with teachers to determine a plan for success is a team effort and we all need to be involved. 

We recognize that COVID has thrown us all a curveball, but we cannot stop short of continuing to educate our students and expect that they will turn in quality work.  We all have to be a part of their support system.

Important Reminders:

• We ask that parents/guardians check student’s temperature and be sure that they are feeling well daily before sending them off to school.  This is truly critical in our effort to keep our school open.  We are seeing more students who have one or two symptoms are being sent to school, thus requiring us to send them home.  If your student is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or is generally not feeling well, do not have them come to school.  Contact the attendance office to alert the school to the reason the student will be out of school as we are tracking illness and symptoms for public health.

• If your student is presenting with any COVID-19 symptoms, please take them to the state testing site at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds the same day for a free COVID test.  Pre-registering yourself and/or your student will save time at the testing site when you do need to have a test done. Obtaining a negative test result is the fastest way to ensure you student may return to campus.

• Our mask requirement along with handwashing is the most effective way to slow the transmission of the virus. Following these protocols is the best way to keep everyone safe and allow our campus to remain open.  We all thank you so much for following this requirement as we know that each of us has to do our part to prevent the transmission of the virus. When any students or staff are on campus or being transported by school vehicle to and from campus, masks are required at all times.

• Students are encouraged to bring personal water bottles to campus.  There are filling stations on campus.

• Locker rooms will not be opened, and students will not be required to change clothes for PE.  Students are encouraged to dress comfortably in attire that will allow for PE activity. 

• Cell Phone use is not allowed when classes are in session.  They are to be silenced and out of site during class hours.

• Students are to wear masks at all times and to wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer frequently.  Additional wash stations and hand sanitizer dispensers are available throughout campus.

As always, it is critical that we continue to work as a team on campus and in our community to ensure for the safety of all and to ensure that our campus can remain open.

Athletics:

Sports Conditioning for Season 1 Athletic teams started on Tuesday, January 19^th. All coaches are aware of the safety protocols that must be implemented in order to keep all athletes and coaches safe.  The teams will be working out in cohorts so there is not mixing of members form various teams.  Conditioning for Season 2 Athletic teams can start Monday, January 25^th.  Not all teams will be starting on the 25^th.  Coaches will be announcing practice times soon.  If an athlete is conditioning with a season 1 sport, they may not condition with a season 2 sport until the season 1 sport is complete or cancelled.  Please make sure your athlete is registered on 8to18, has a current physical and an up to date concussion baseline test. 

We are still awaiting information from CIF in regard to when athletic competitions will be allowed to start.  Currently, no athletic competitions between schools are allowed for any sports.

Food Service: 

Breakfast/snacks will be provided by the cafeteria each morning as students arrive on campus. Lunches will remain Grab and Go at students release at 12:30 pm.

Lunches continue to be Grab and Go until such time as we are back to school and serving lunches on campus during the school day.  This will not be until sometime after Christmas Break.

 Transportation:

Bus routes will follow the regular bus schedule posted on the school website; but while students are being released at 12:30pm, drop-off times will be earlier than specified.

Students are not to eat on the school buses, they need to keep masks on and lunches closed for safety reasons.

We will be running a late bus to allow for students to access after school tutorial and teachers’ office hours after the 12:30 release.  See above section “After School Tutorial and Late Bus” and attachment for route drop offs.

State COVID-19 Testing Site:  Now open 7 days per week.

• Tuolumne County Fairgrounds COVID-19 testing site in Sonora.  The State COVID-19 testing site is in Sonora at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Appointments are required due to the amount of testing being done. Appointments can be scheduled at www.lhicare.com/covidtesting

• Testing is now available at Memorial Hall in Tuolumne on Thursdays by appointment or walk-in.

Vaccinations:

Educators have started the process of receiving the first dose of the COVID 19 vaccine if they wish to as of last Tuesday.  There are more dates set for the continuation of this process.  A huge thanks goes out to Tuolumne County Public Health, Adventist Health and TCSOS for these opportunities.  Stay tuned for dates for vaccines for the rest of our community.

Updates will continue each week to keep our community informed

Remember, it is critical for each of us to do our part to flatten the transmission rate of the virus.

• Practice physical distancing at all times. Keep 6 feet of space between yourself and others who are not part of your household. Stay in your household bubble!

• Wear a face covering in public.

• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.

• Stay home if you are sick.

• Avoid unnecessary travel, and limit your outings to essential tasks

Please stay home if you are feeling sick. 

Thank you to all for your continued support of our school, students and staff. 

Have a great day, continue to mask up and please be safe.

Covid 19 Symptoms 

Covid-19 State Testing Site

Tuolumne School Flow Chart When a Student is Sick 

Late Bus Route

Alternative Household Income 2020-2021

CIF Update 

Suicide Prevention 101 for Parents 

January 5th Athletics Update

January 22nd Weekly Update

Metrics for School