Sierra Foothill Charter School

Happy New Year! SFCS staff members look forward to seeing students on campus or via Zoom tomorrow, Monday, January 4th. Students who have traveled out of the state or country should self-quarantine for at least 10 days per CDHP guidelines before returning to campus. These students may participate in distance learning on Zoom. Parents/guardians who would like to change the current learning option for their students (distance learning or on-campus learning) are asked to contact the office at (209)742-6222 or email [email protected]. Thank you for your continued support as SFCS prioritizes the safety of our students and staff.

Thank you to the SFCS community for partnering with us to support students during this unprecedented, challenging year! May the holiday season bring you and your family peace, joy, and hope for a better year ahead.

SFCS is looking for an Instructional Assistant to join our dynamic team! For further information or to submit an application, please see the job posting on Edjoin (https://www.edjoin.org/Home/DistrictJobPosting/1019483) or contact the school office at (209)742-6222.

Kids need self-care too. Make a list of activities that bring your child joy and/or give them a sense of calm. Have it handy for them to reference when they need some self-care time.

Today was Pajama Day and the last on-campus learning day of 2020 for SFCS. The rain made it an even better day for students and staff to be cozy in pj’s. Classes participated in games, crafts, and movie watching in the afternoon.

If you or someone in your household is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been asked to isolate or quarantine here is some helpful guidance. 1. Stay home ex...cept to get medical care. 2. Separate yourself from others in your home. 3. Call ahead before visiting your doctor. 4. Wear a mask. 5. Cover your coughs and sneezes. 6. Clean your hands often. 7. Avoid sharing personal household items. 8. Clean all "high touch" surfaces often. 9. Monitor your symptoms. 10. Follow quarantine orders. If you have questions, please reach out to our team by calling or testing 209-259-1332 or emailing [email protected].

What does the Regional Stay Home Order mean for schools? The Order does not modify existing state guidance regarding K-12 schools. Schools that are currently op...en are able to continue to provide in-person instruction on school sites. Schools are still required to follow the Schools Guidance issued by CDPH which outlines requirements for safe conditions, testing and tracing. Schools may be required to close if certain percentages of staff and students are diagnosed with COVID-19. All existing guidance applicable to schools can be found on the CDPH website.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2020 Regional Stay Home Order Effective for the San Joaquin Valley Restaurants, Hair Salons, and Other Businesses to Return to... More Protective Guidelines to Reduce Spread of COVID-19 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGION Governor Gavin Newsom announced that all sectors other than retail and essential operations will close in regions of the State where less than 15 percent of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds are available under a new Regional Stay Home Order. As of today, Regional ICU capacity has fallen below 15% available capacity, applying the Regional Stay Home Order to all counties in the San Joaquin Valley Region, effective Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 11:59 pm. The new Regional Order is a protective measure to limit the spread of COVID19 and support the most vulnerable community members and hospital frontline workers. The Regional Stay Home Order will be in effect for at least 3 weeks and urges Californians to stay at home as much as possible to limit the mixing with other households that can lead to COVID19 spread. It allows access to (and travel for) critical services and allows outdoor activities to preserve Californians’ physical and mental health. This limited closure will help stop the surge and prevent overwhelming regional ICU capacity. We are at a point where surging cases and hospitalizations are not letting up. These protective measures require all of us to take action and be diligent. I can’t emphasize this enough everyone must take personal steps to protect themselves and protect others, said Dr. Salvador Sandoval, Merced County’s Public Health Officer. We know that people are tired of the stringent measures, but they are the only weapons we have to combat the virus. Now, more than ever, we need San Joaquin Valley residents to step up and take these actions seriously - wash hands, wear a face covering, limit gatherings, get tested and socially distance, said Dr. Maggie Park, San Joaquin County Public Health Officer. "Our mountain communities rely on the region for ICU-level care for COVID and other serious medical conditions, transferring our sickest to hospitals in the San Joaquin Valley. These hospitals are stretched to capacity. It is crucial that each one of us does our part to decrease the transmission of COVID. Our collective actions will make a difference!" Dr. Eric Sergienko, Mariposa County Health Officer and Acting Health Officer for Tuolumne County. Our only hospital in San Benito County is completely full. This is an alarming situation that could get much worse. We can only get through this if we work together. Please follow our advice to keep yourself, your family and your neighbor’s safe, says Dr. David Ghilarducci, San Benito Public Health Officer. Home for the holidays takes on a new meaning this year. We acknowledge that this order will change what the holiday season traditionally looks like for families. We are asking you to protect the vulnerable in your family and in your community by taking the order seriously and staying home, said Dr. Simon Paul, Madera County Public Health Officer. COVID-19 continues to spread at alarming rates in Tulare County, and most concerning are the number of people needing to be hospitalized for COVID-19. It is imperative we take these protective actions in order to not overwhelm our local hospitals. The measures we all need to take is to avoid any gatherings outside our household, wear a face covering, social distance, and wash our hands. These are vital to decrease transmission of COVID-19, said Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Public Health Officer. For more information on the Regional Stay Home Order on the State’s website at www.COVID19.ca.gov. ###