Irvine Unified School District

IUSD’s sustainability team is hosting the District’s annual Earth Day Student Poster Contest, which is open to all IUSD students. This year’s theme is Restore our Earth. Posters can be up to 12x18 in size and should highlight actions that can make a difference. Winning posters will be displayed on the District’s website and social media sites. Student artwork will be evaluated based on originality, message impact and visual appeal. Entries are due by April 23 and can ...be emailed, mailed or dropped off to: Attn: Jennifer Razo, Sustainability Supervisor Earth Day Poster Contest 100 Nightmist, Irvine, CA 92608 [email protected] Please be sure to include your student’s name, school, grade and teacher’s name (advisement or home room for secondary) on all entries. Visit https://bit.ly/3myjjAd for last year’s winners. #iusd #iusdSustainability #EarthDay2021

For the ninth consecutive year, IUSD has been named one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. IUSD joins only four percent of school districts nationwide to receive this prestigious honor for its commitment to music and education. More: https://bit.ly/3rVXFah #iusd #ArtsIUSD

University High School earned first place at the recent Science Bowl Regional competition for the fourth straight year! This annual U.S. Department of Energy competition, hosted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, tests students' knowledge of math, physics, chemistry and biology, among other topics. Congratulations to team members Nicholas Ouyang (Team Captain), Neil Basu, Alissa Kopylova, Robert Ni and Henry Ding and to coach David Knight. Good luck at nationals! More: https://bit.ly/3s2Tvxo #iusd #iusdSTEM

IUSD's Nutrition Services continues to provide meals for students enrolled in both IVA and on campuses for in-person instruction. Please note, meals are available for purchase or as part of the free and reduced meal program for students who qualify. As part of IUSD’s Community Feeding program, families with children under the age of 18, who need food assistance, are able to pick-up free breakfasts and lunches for the week at IUSD’s Nutrition Services facility, located at 338...7 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92606. There are two pick-up days per week from 7-8:30 a.m. Mondays Breakfast and lunch will be provided for three days. Wednesdays Breakfast and lunch will be provided for three days. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2MV63Io. #iusd #iusdCommunity

We hope you had a wonderful winter break. As a reminder, school will resume Monday, January 4, per your student’s regular schedule for both in-person instruction and IVA. Please take a moment to review the following important safety reminders. Help Keep Our Schools Safe If your holiday plans included travel, please continue to follow all CDC and California Department of Public Health guidelines, including the recent travel advisory, which states, Persons arriving in Califo...rnia from other states or countries, including returning California residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. While this is not mandatory, it is recommended to help prevent the transmission of the virus in our community and schools. If your student or a member of your household experiences COVID-19 symptoms, do not send your student to school and contact your physician for next steps. Over the break, IUSD remained in close contact with the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency. These agencies, along with the Governor’s recently released Safe Schools Plan, continue to affirm that schools are effectively combating COVID-19 with stringent mitigation strategies and have set a course for all California school districts to reopen, similar to the academic models offered by IUSD. What Families and Students Can Do The health and safety of our students, staff and families is our priority. Below are important health and safety reminders for keeping our IUSD community safe. IUSD will continue to implement health and safety protocols including face coverings, physical distancing, use of outdoor spaces, smaller cohorts, enhanced ventilation systems, standalone air purification systems for each classroom, and disinfecting protocols. For more detailed information iusd.org/2020-21. Families should continue their daily home screenings. Per IUSD and expert health guidelines, keep students home if they are sick, have COVID-19 symptoms or if they or a member of their household has tested positive or are awaiting COVID-19 test results. IUSD encourages families to observe the state’s travel advisory. This includes students who traveled for the holidays or who have traveled out of state for club sports. We understand that missing school for any reason can be stressful. Please contact your school and they will work with you to continue your student’s education and will maintain confidentiality. Thank You for Your Partnership Thank you in advance for your partnership and for following health and safety guidelines. It is going take a concerted effort to continue to keep our schools safe and we all need to do our part. For updates and information, please continue to visit iusd.org/2020-21, iusd.org/COVID-19 and iusd.org/News. We look forward to resuming instruction for all academic models, including in-person instruction, starting Monday. Visit http://bit.ly/2MrNtYa to read this letter with links.

Message from Superintendent Walker: On behalf of the IUSD Board of Education and District leadership, we hope you enjoy the upcoming winter break and the holiday season. We would also like to express our deepest gratitude for your partnership and support throughout this unprecedented year. I have often said that IUSD is more than a school district. We are a student-centered community. Never has this been more evident. Together, we have worked through many challenges in an...Continue reading

During the December 15 Irvine Unified School District Board of Education Meeting, incumbents Paul Bokota and Lauren Brooks, and newly-elected Board Member Cyril Yu, took the oath of office. This is the third term for both Bokota and Brooks. The Board also selected a new president and clerk, which are one-year terms. Bokota was selected to serve as president and Ira Glasky was tapped to serve as clerk. More: http://bit.ly/2WgLaZy #iusd

The Orange County Health Care Agency recently announced the winners of their Mask Message Contest, which included the following IUSD students: Second Place Elementary Video | Audrey Kim |Santiago Hills Elementary School Second Place Middle School Art | Sarina Zafra | Santiago Hills Elementary School... Second Place Middle School Essay | Charlie Kruger | South Lake Middle School First Place High School Art |Anoushka Khajanchi | Irvine High School The contest was an online competition that solicited videos, drawings and social media posts created by students across the county to promote mask safety and help inform school communities about ways to slow the spread of COVID-19. More than 600 entries were submitted from elementary, middle and high school students. OC Health Care Agency officials expressed that they were overwhelmed by the response and that the judges were so impressed by the creativity, heart and soul that students poured into their work. Schools with winning entries will receive technology grants for Wi-Fi hotspots and more. Congratulations to our IUSD students and those who participated in this contest! #iusd #iusdCommunity

Update 3: All IUSD schools will continue in distance learning tomorrow, Friday, December 4. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has informed IUSD that air quality in the region, including Irvine, will continue to be unhealthy tomorrow due to the Bond Fire. As a result, our schools cannot operate their HVAC system, which are an important component of our COVID-19 safety protocols. In preparation for in-person instruction, IUSD HVAC systems were recalibrated to p...ull in 50 percent more outside air, which is ideal to prevent COVID-19 but not for poor air quality due to wild fires. Schools will contact students and/or families directly with more information. IVA schedules remain the same unless you hear otherwise from IVA staff. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, students will resume their normal schedules on Monday. Thank you for your partnership and understanding during this unprecedented time.

Update: 10/26/20 10:24 a.m. The Irvine Police Department has informed IUSD that the areas between the 5 Freeway and Irvine Blvd. are under suggested evacuation. This includes the following elementary/K-8 schools: Brywood Northwood Cadence Park... Beacon Park Cypress Village Woodbury While students remain safe, parents are asked to immediately pick their children up from the schools listed above and to follow all traffic directions from Irvine Police and the school site. For those parents unable to make it to the school site, students will be transported by school bus to Irvine High School for reunification with parents/guardians. Your school will notify you once school buses have left for Irvine High School. Please continue to check your email, voicemail and text messages. Once parents or those approved to pick students up, arrive at Irvine High School, follow all directions for reunification. Parents or those authorized to pick-up students must show a valid picture ID. Please note, due to the hybrid schedule, middle and high schools are not in session today and not subject to evacuation.

Update: 10/26/20 9:57 a.m. The Irvine Police Department has informed IUSD that the areas north of Irvine Blvd. are under mandatory evacuation. This includes the following schools: Canyon View Elementary School... Santiago Hills Elementary School Portola Springs Elementary School Eastwood Elementary School Stonegate Elementary School Loma Ridge Elementary School While students remain safe, parents are asked to immediately pick their children up from the schools listed above and to follow all traffic directions from Irvine Police and the school site. For those parents unable to make it to the school site, students will be transported by school bus to Irvine High School for reunification with parents/guardians. Your school will notify you once school buses have left for Irvine High School. Please continue to check your email, voicemail and text messages. Once parents or those approved to pick students up, arrive at Irvine High School, follow all directions for reunification. Parents or those authorized to pick-up students must show a valid picture ID. Please note, due to the hybrid schedule, middle and high schools are not in session today and not subject to evacuation. Follow the Orange County Fire Authority at ocfa.org and the Irvine Police Department for updates related to the fire.

IUSD is working closely with the Orange County Fire Authority and the Irvine Police Department. We will notify our school community of any conditions that relate to our campuses. Please continue to follow the Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority on social media.

IUSD has been informed by the Orange County Fire Authority that there is a fire in Silverado Canyon. While it does not pose a threat to Irvine schools, due to heavy winds, our region has been impacted by smoke and poor air quality. School is still in session for those scheduled to attend today. However, activities will be modified and students will remain indoors. For more information about the fire and related conditions, please visit ocfa.org.

Today is IPSF Giving Day! In addition to supporting IUSD’s mission and vision, IPSF raises funds, including innovation grants and provides a wide range of programs such as after school programs, events and activities, and summer classes and camps, all to enrich the educational experience of every student in every school. To learn more about IPSF and how you can help support educational enrichment for IUSD students, visit ipsf.net/givingday. #TurnIrvineOrange #SupportIPSF.

Friday, October 16 is IPSF Giving Day. Whether you are at school, learning virtually from home or out in the community, please join us on this special day by wearing orange as we show our support for the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF). In addition to supporting IUSD’s mission and vision, IPSF raises funds, including innovation grants and provides a wide range of programs such as after school programs, events and activities, and summer classes and camps, all to enrich the educational experience of every student in every school. Show us your orange by posting photos with #TurnIrvineOrange and #SupportIPSF. To learn more about IPSF and how you can help support educational enrichment for IUSD students, visit ipsf.net/givingday.

Sergeant Tom Goodbrand recently received the Continuing Service Award from the Irvine Unified Council PTA. Sergeant Goodbrand, who is the Irvine Police Department’s Youth Services Supervisor, earned this award for his tireless service to IUSD students, parents and staff. Upon receiving the award, he thanked his team of School Resource Officers and D.A.R.E. Officers for their dedication to the youth of our community. Superintendent Terry Walker was also on hand and on behalf o...f the IUSD Board of Education extended a special thank you to Sergeant Goodbrand, our School Resource Officers and D.A.R.E. Officers, who are critical and valued partners, providing education on a variety of topics to students and parents, while forming positive connections with our students. They also continuously work with District staff and school administrators and staff to help keep our campuses safe. The Continuing Service Award is given annually to recognize an individual or organization for ongoing or long-time service to children and youth, providing support year after year. #iusdCommunity

On Wednesday, October 7 from 7-8:30 p.m., the Irvine Unified Council PTA will host the IUSD School Board Candidate Forum, moderated by the League of Women Voters of Orange Coast. The forum can be viewed on Cox Channel 39 and livestreamed at IUSD.TV. Please submit your questions for the candidates at bit.ly/IUSDCandidateForum2020. Learn More about the Candidates: Trustee Area 3... Douglas Euper (www.DougEuperforschoolboard.com) Bethany Huang (www.bethanyhuangforschoolboard.com) Sidney Wu (www.wuforiusd.com) Cyril Yu (www.cyrilyuforiusd.com) Trustee Area 5 Demetra Arvanitidis (www.votedrdemetra.com) Paul Bokota (incumbent) (www.bokotaforschoolboard.com) Vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 Last day to register online to vote: Monday, Oct. 19. Register at www.registertovote.ca.gov Check your voter registration at ocvote.com/vlt.

The Irvine Unified School District is committed to providing accurate and transparent information regarding COVID-19 cases on our campuses, while also maintaining privacy and confidentiality for our students and staff. To this end, the District has created a COVID-19 dashboard reflecting confirmed positive cases among District students and staff on our campuses (in-person instruction only). This data will be updated regularly and as cases are confirmed. The Dashboard also... provides information about IUSD’s communication process, parent reporting requirements, information about how families and students can limit the spread of COVID-19 and links to resources. To access the dashboard, visit iusd.org/dashboard. In addition to updated information on the dashboard, principals or school staff will also communicate new cases directly to their communities. Please note that our District will only communicate and provide data for confirmed COVID-19 cases. #iusd #iusdCommunity

Vista Verde K-8 School has been named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, making it one of 367 schools from across the nation to have earned the nation’s highest level of recognition for public and private schools. Thirty-six schools in California received this designation, with only five from Orange County. To read more, visit https://bit.ly/3cxw6xX. Congratulations to the entire Vista Verde community! #iusd #iusdCommunity

Today was a wonderful first day back to school! District staff had an opportunity to visit students, teachers and staff at many of our school sites. A special thank you to our dedicated teachers, principals and staff who worked tirelessly to make this day happen. And thank you to our students and families for your partnership. We look forward to welcoming students scheduled to start tomorrow and hope they have a great day! #iusd #iusdCommunity

IUSD would like to welcome back our students, families and staff to our campuses and classrooms, as in-person instruction begins today and tomorrow, for those who selected in-person academic models! While things may look different due to health and safety measures, we are excited that you will be able to engage with teachers, staff and friends in a way that has not been possible since early March. Please follow all directions and guidelines provided by your principals and teachers. It’s going to take a concerted effort from all of us to keep students, employees and families safe. By working together, we can make this a great year. For additional information about the District’s Opening and Safety Plan, visit iusd.org and iusd.org/2020-21.

September 11th is Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. To learn more, visit nationalservice.gov. #iusd #iusdCommunity