Redwood Elementary School

Last Wednesday, the Governor announced the Safe Schools for All plan, California’s framework to support schools to continue operating safely in-person and to ex...pand the number of schools safely resuming in-person instruction. This new plan includes four major components: funding, safety & mitigation, oversight & assistance, and transparency & accountability. As Del Norte is already engaged in in-person learning, we will be closely following the details of this proposal over the next few weeks. You may also hear about an emergency bill in the CA legislature, AB 10. This bill would require schools not already in person to move to in-person as soon as possible. As our district is already in person, this bill should have little, if any, impact on us. Remember, too, that Del Norte is not currently under the modified stay at home order. Any potential stay at home order is based on whether the regional ICU capacity falls below 15%. As of yesterday, our regional capacity is just over 35%. As of today, there are three reasons that our schools would close - executive or public health order, staff or student infection rates within schools, or quarantines so widespread that we do not have enough staff to allow our schools to function. To help avoid transmission and quarantines, we continue to encourage families to consider requesting an independent study contract for up to two weeks of in-person learning following out of area travel or hosting visitors from out of the area. This would still allow your child to participate with their teacher and other classmates virtually but would also allow time for families to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms or to be tested for COVID prior to returning to school. We are asking everyone to take universal precautions of handwashing, masking, and physical distancing, and staying home if you are sick. We have also had some very preliminary conversations with public health regarding COVID vaccines for educational staff. The State has committed to putting educators near the top of the priority list for vaccines. We will continue to work with public health and our staff to get vaccines to staff as soon as possible. For more information on all of the steps you can take to help ensure that classrooms and schools remain open, please visit our website at dnusd.org/familyresources or the California Department of Public Health at cdph.ca.gov. Finally, I’d like to end with some great news about a new resource that we have available to our community. For the past several months, we have been working on a new website, Connect Del Norte. Connect Del Norte is an all in one portal to assist everyone in our community. The website is arranged around four basic areas: education, families, health, and careers, and includes information and contacts for over 200 community partners. The site is searchable and will be especially helpful to those new to our community or those facing new challenges brought on by our current situation. For more information on all of the steps you can take to help ensure that classrooms and schools remain open, please visit our website at dnusd.org/familyresources or the California Department of Public Health at cdph.ca.gov

Superintendent's Message to the Community 12-28-2020 Superintendent Jeff Harris has a special message for the community. -Students return to school from Winter ...Break on Monday, January 4th -For families traveling or hosting family members from outside of our area, we encourage you to consider requesting an independent study contract that covers up to two weeks of in-person learning following your return to town or your guest's departure. This would allow time for families and students to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms or to be tested for COVID prior to returning to school. -There are only three reasons that our schools would close - executive or public health order, staff or student infection rates within schools, or quarantines so widespread that we do not have enough staff to allow our schools to function. -DNUSD is looking for subs, please call us at (707)464-6141 if you are interested For more information on all of the steps you can take to help ensure that classrooms and schools remain open, please visit our website at dnusd.org/familyresources or the California Department of Public Health at cdph.ca.gov.

There are many perspectives on COVID-19 in our community, but we must ask that we all work together, in order to keep our schools open. Schools in California ar...e subject to state and local law as well as Public Health mandates and guidelines. In order for our schools to remain open, we must meet those requirements set forth by these institutions. We ask that you practice the following: Hands, Face, Space, and Home Wash your hands, wear your mask, when required, physically distance, and stay at home if you’re sick. If you travel out of the area or host visitors from out of the area and have children in Del Norte Schools, the District asks that you keep your children home for 14 days after you return from travel or your guests leave. We recommend that you request independent study for any school days that your child may miss. It’s in everyone’s interest, to help #KeepDNopen. Remember - Hands, Face, Space, and Home This is #notforeverjustfornow

DNUSD Podcast Coffee and Conversation Episode #36 - Introducing the Maintenance & Operations Department This week we are joined by three staff members from the Maintenance and Operations department that work in the custodial, maintenance, and grounds divisions. Guests:... James Tryon - Lead Grounds Keeper Josh Mccubbin - Maintenance Coordinator Jennifer Geissert - Custodian Coordinator Jeff Harris - Superintendent of Schools Soundcloud- https://soundcloud.com//episodes-36-introducing-the-mainte Also, view on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4OAeKtM6J3Y350cLy4pNBx iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com//dnusd-coffee-and-/id1521481929 Stitcher - https://app.stitcher.com/browse/feed/550896/episodes If you have any questions or concerns email [email protected]

Today is the DNUSD & DNCOE board meeting at 4:00 PM, public comment begins at 3:30 PM, public comment will be available by joining zoom. DNUSD Board Meeting Zoom link: https://dncoe.zoom.us/j/193445536... In order to participate in public comment, follow these instructions: https://docs.google.com//19Hdaa_dV_4GSewjjkeIUO0vlHvLU5-P/ Board meeting agenda can be viewed at: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com//SB_MeetingListing.aspx You can watch the Facebook live stream at https://www.facebook.com/dnusd

Superintendent's Message to the Community 12-7-2020 Superintendent Jeff Harris has a special message for the community. -Del Norte County has entered the purple... (tier 1) regarding COVID-19 -School can and will remain open -Join us this week for our Webinar at 1 PM where we discuss the purple tier and the impact it has on school -If your child is symptomatic or has been in contact with a known positive COVID case, please keep them home -Please make sure that your child is engaging every day with their teacher -DNUSD is looking for subs, please call us at (707) 464-6141 if you are interested -Winter break is from December 21st to January 1st, please visit dnusd.org/calendar to see a complete list of upcoming holidays and school events -Podcasts, webinars, videos, board meetings, and so much more can be viewed at dnusd.org/families under the golden section titled "Communication to Families"

COVID19 Precautions & Best Practices To move forward and to ensure that we do not have to close classrooms, schools, or the entire district, we are asking your help on the following: 1. For Families Traveling - We encourage families who travel or families hosting family from out of the area to consider requesting an independent study contract for two weeks following a holiday break. This would still allow your child to participate with their teacher and other classmates virtu...ally but would also allow time to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for your child or family members prior to returning to school. 2. Face Covering - We ask parents/guardians to support this effort to avoid the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses after the holidays. 3. For Symptomatic Students - As always, we encourage you to keep your child home if they are exhibiting any of the symptoms on the daily health screener. This is always an important aspect of dealing with any infectious disease, but it is even more important this year, to help ensure that our schools can remain open for in-person learning. 4. Handwashing & Physical Distancing - Please ensure your family and students are taking the proper steps to help limit contact and the chance of spreading infectious disease. For more information on all of these things, please visit dnusd.org/familyresources

COVID-19 TESTING INFORMATION AND UPDATES During the Wednesday webinar on 12/2/20, Superintendent Jeff Harris had a discussion with Del Norte County Public Health Officer, Dr. Warren Rehwaldt, regarding current and future testing opportunities within Del Norte County. Testing by Verily is currently available through public health at two locations, the Crescent City Cultural Center and the Holiday Inn Express/Redwood Hotel in Klamath. Testing at these sites is for those ages... 13 and older. Testing is by appointment only. The Cultural Center is open for testing on Monday and Tuesday, and the hotel location is open on Wednesday. For more information, or to make an appointment, please visit https://www.covid19.dnco.org/testing. Additional testing is available at Sutter Coast Urgent Care Clinic, CVS Pharmacy, and through other healthcare providers. Del Norte County Public Health is also working closely with Humboldt County Public Health to expand testing availability through our two counties. Testing will be done by United Indian Health Services (UIHS) and is expected to be in place by mid-December. In October, Dr. Rehwaldt reached out to Del Norte Unified and asked if we could assist this effort by providing a location at a few schools for testing. We have been working with the County of Del Norte to ensure that testing is done after students leave for the regular school day, that testing is walk up or drive up, that testing is done outside of spaces used by students and staff, that UIHS staff disinfects any district facility that is used by UIHS staff, and that those seeking testing do not travel through the school site. All testing will be done between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and no testing will occur within the school building or near students or staff. The tentative testing schedule is: Monday- Crescent Elk Tuesday- Margaret Keating Wednesday- Redwood Friday- Smith River Sunday- Mountain School This increased testing will be available to the community, and more information, including a final schedule, will be provided by the Public Health Officer when the sites are open for testing. Please note that contrary to information being placed on social media, testing is not being provided by the District, administered by the District, or mandated by the District, nor is the District receiving any compensation for allowing UIHS and Del Norte Public Health to use the agreed-upon locations.

DNUSD Podcast Coffee and Conversation Episode #34 - Attendance During COVID-19 This week we are joined by a few community members around the county involved in attendance at Del Norte Unified School District. Join us as Lonnie Reyman, Katherine Micks, David Hernandez, Randy Fugate, and Jeff Harris discuss a number of initiatives in place to help student attendance. Guests:... Katherine Micks - District Attorney of Del Norte County Lonnie Reyman - Chief Probation Officer David Hernandez - Deputy Probation Officer Randy Fugate - Principal of Del Norte Community School Jeff Harris - Superintendent of Schools Soundcloud- https://soundcloud.com//episodes-33-attendance-during-covi Also, view on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4OAeKtM6J3Y350cLy4pNBx iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com//dnusd-coffee-and-/id1521481929 Stitcher - https://app.stitcher.com/browse/feed/550896/episodes If you have any questions or concerns email [email protected]