Message from Superintendent Amerson |
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Dear Students, Families, Staff, and Community,
The heinous acts that transpired at the U.S. Capitol last week left me shocked, angry, and disheartened. Many in our community expressed they shared similar reactions. As the events unfolded, I reached out to our staff to offer my support, knowing they were confronted with the challenge of dealing with their feelings while simultaneously reassuring our students. The rioters’ inexcusable actions have exacerbated the physical and mental duress we have faced for months due to COVID-19 and raised raw emotions connected to the social unrest we experienced this summer. Within our DUSD family, many are also dealing with personal trauma in addition to the whirlwind of these national events. As I told our staff, I understand how taxing this is on us all.
Our students may be feeling the effects of what has transpired as well. They may have been exposed to the frightening imagery of the appalling actions of the vicious mob. We anticipated they might have questions or seek reassurance, and I want our parents/caregivers and community to know our mental health team is ready to help our students and you. Please click here for a listing of resources.
The more I process what has taken place, the deeper my convictions that it is incumbent upon us to be positive role models in our children’s lives. Please join with our staff and help teach the values that are important to upholding our democracy and reinforce that people should be treated as valued human beings. Together, we educate and inspire the next generation of public servants and private citizens entrusted to our care. It is this that brings me comfort for the future.
I look forward to speaking virtually with all of our staff members this Friday to kick-off our Professional Development Day. A focus of our training will be learning self-care practices to deal with trauma. We all are wrestling with the repercussions of the tumultuous times we live in, and I hope these sessions will be helpful. Learning to care for ourselves will help us be better equipped to help our students and their well-being. As a reminder for parents/caregivers, this means no school on Friday for students. Hopefully, they can use this day-off as a mental health day too. Please take care of yourselves, and we will pull through this together.
Best wishes,
Gordon Amerson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Duarte Unified School District
#ProudSuperintendent
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On Thursday, January 14, a Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will take place starting at 7:00 p.m. Board meetings are currently being held remotely. Meetings can be viewed live online or for video playback here. View the agenda once posted here.
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All DUSD employees will participate in a Staff Development Day on Friday, January 15, beginning at 8:00 a.m. with a virtual greeting from Superintendent Amerson. Please note, there will be no classes for students on this day. |
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Reopening Tier Framework Explanation & Status |
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Every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its test positivity and adjusted case rate. At a minimum, counties must remain in a tier for at least 3 weeks before moving forward. Data is reviewed weekly and tiers are updated typically on Tuesdays. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks. In addition, counties must meet the health equity criteria to demonstrate the county’s ability to address the most impacted communities within a county. If a county’s metrics worsen for two consecutive weeks, it will be assigned a more restrictive tier. Public health officials are constantly monitoring data and can step in if necessary. See how tiers are assigned and change, as well as county historical data (California Blueprint Data Chart), at the California Department of Public Health guidance page.
Governor Newsom’s recent 2021-22 State Budget proposal to the Legislature allocates $2 billion for California's Safe Schools for All Plan to support safe returns to in-person instruction with priority for the youngest children and those with the greatest needs first. While all schools will be eligible to apply to receive funds by meeting certain criteria, schools must be in counties with a seven-day average of fewer than 28 cases per 100,000 residents to reopen. Los Angeles County’s adjusted case rate was 65.8 as of last Wednesday. Due to the surge in COVID-19 case counts, the Department of Public Health is not currently approving any applications to reopen under the waiver program. The state is expected to issue additional school reopening guidance in the coming days. Here’s a quick guide to the Safe Schools for All Plan.
The implementation of programs currently by DUSD is listed below:
Grades TK-12: 100% Distance Learning at least through March 1, 2021.
1:1 Assessment of ELL and SPED students: In-person, ongoing as needed.
Full-Day/Full-Year Preschool: In-person instruction for qualifying students.
Learning Centers: Limited in-person enrollment during the school day for students in Grades TK-8 facilitated by Think Together.
High School Sports Conditioning: Return to Play Plan postponed.
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Vaccine Information and Updates |
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LADPH is expected to begin Phase 1B distribution of the vaccine as early as February. Beginning Monday, January 11, COVID-19 vaccination is open to all healthcare workers in Phase 1A. This includes school nurses and other school health services staff. If you are a healthcare worker affiliated with a school who has direct or indirect in-person contact with patients or infectious materials; we encourage you to visit the LADPH Vaccination for Health Care Workers webpage for information on how to access vaccination.
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DUSD Curbside Meals FREE this School Year |
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Even though Curbside Meals are FREE,
We NEED Your APPLICATIONS
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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reversed its decision and will now allow school districts to offer curbside meals for free this school year. This will make it possible for Duarte Unified to once again provide all children who are 18 years old and under a breakfast and lunch combination daily, Monday - Friday.
Children do not have to be students of DUSD and do not have to be in the car at the time of pick-up. The monthly menu options, locations, and times for service previously provided will stay the same as listed below:
TIMES:
Meals will be distributed Monday - Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. except for major holidays. You will be notified in advance as to the days of curbside meals service closure.
LOCATIONS:
Andres Duarte Arts Academy (1433 Crestfield Drive, Duarte, CA 91010)
Maxwell Academy - IB World School (733 Euclid Avenue, Duarte, CA 91010)
Royal Oaks STEAM Academy (2499 Royal Oaks Drive, Bradbury, CA 91008)
Parents can pick up meals from the location that is the most convenient for them.
Any questions regarding the above information can be directed to the Duarte Unified Food Service Department at 626-599-5022 or 626-599-5023 or by email to bvolz@duarteusd.org.
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Even though we are able to provide FREE curb side meals this school year, we ask that all families still submit an application. The application will not be used to determine eligibility for school meals, but it will help our district qualify for additional programs and resources that can be used to help our students.
If you have not done so already, please return the letter mailed home with stamped return envelope. Online Free & Reduced meal applications are also available at www.schoolcafe.com. If an application is to be filled out in person (Paper Application), then it will need to be turned in curbside during meal distribution hours.
If you have any questions about creating an online account, please call the Food Service Office at 626-599-5022 or 626-599-5023 or you may call the school café help line at 855-Pay – 2EAT or 855-729-2328.
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CSArts-SGV Virtual Preview Day & Live Event |
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Interested in applying to California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) and DUSD joint program? Prospective students and their families are invited to attend a Live Zoom Info Session to learn more.
CSArts-SGV and DUSD Principals and Administrators will be joined by current students who will share their experiences and answer questions about the 7th and 8th grade arts and academic program.
DATE: January 26, 2021
TIME: 5-6 p.m. | Middle School Informational Session
Zoom details will be emailed to all participants on the day of the event.
The Virtual Preview Day information is also available for you to view at your convenience. Keep in mind, the deadline to apply for the 2021-2022 school year is February 5, 2021.
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Free Online Tutoring for DUSD Grades 6-12 |
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Parent University Workshops |
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No-Cost or Low-Cost Health Insurance Information |
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Download the Free WIN APP for Resources |
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Please help us to share that a Mobile App for LA’s Homeless and Struggling Youth, Families and Adults is in the APP Stores TODAY! With it you can search for food, shelter, jobs, and other services near you! |
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Mental Health Support Offered by D'Veal |
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LGBTQIA+ Parent Support Group |
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Mindful Mondays Presented by D'Veal |
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Keep these Distance Learning Tips Handy! |
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Please click on the links below to view the written guides and videos that contain helpful information and instructions to navigate our Distance Learning platforms. |
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Email our Tech Support for IT Assistance |
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100% Distance Learning Website Hub |
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We have created a dedicated section within our website to serve as a hub of information for our 100% Distance Learning Model. Included within this section are the schedules, contact information, technology support and services, Aeries navigation directions, instructional guides and videos for Google Classroom, and much much more. It is our goal to have all of the information you may need for distance learning within just one click. Start by visiting the 100% Distance Learning Hub.
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DUSD Social Media Directory |
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As you know, you can follow @duarteusd on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube. But, we have also put together a DUSD social media directory of all the official sites operated by our district, schools, and staff for your convenience. In addition to following @duarteusd, we encourage you to follow these other sites too for important information and updates during distance learning.
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COVID-19 Safety and Public Health Information |
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The best protection against COVID-19 is to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, self-isolate if you are sick, practice physical distancing, and wear a clean face mask whenever in public. Also avoid the three C's: crowds, confined spaces and close contact with people outside your own household.
The Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website.
Always check only trusted sources for the latest accurate information about COVID-19:
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Download it Today for FREE |
Stay up to date with everything that is taking place at every school across our district by downloading the DUSD APP. Check your child's grades, attendance, lunch balances, sports scores, notices from teachers, calendar of events and more all in one place! Download our free app from the Apple App and Google Play Stores. |
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Download the ParentSquare APP |
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School Flyers Available Via Email |
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Save Paper & Stay Informed |
DUSD uses Peachjar to send home school-approved flyers digitally, saving our schools time and money while eliminating paper waste. This means that now our parents can opt to receive flyers via email. |
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See Why YOU Belong at DUSD |
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Submit Your Newsletter Ideas |
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Have an idea, information or a suggestion for a story for our newsletter? |
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DUARTE UNIFIED | 626.599.5000 | communications@duarteusd.org |
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