SAUSD E-blast Newsletter, Week of May 2 to 8, 2022

SAUSD E-BLAST NEWSLETTER, WEEK OF MAY 2 to 8, 2022

Official newsletter of the Santa Ana Unified School District, designed to inform the community about District related news, opportunities, and resources.

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DISTRICT NEWS

WEEKLY UPDATE FROM SUPERINTENDENT JERRY ALMENDAREZ: MAY 2, 2022

In his new weekly newsletter to the community, Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Superintendent Jerry Almendarez provides information on local Covid rates, ongoing Covid testing and more. Click here to read it.

SAUSD CELEBRATES NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK 2022

SAUSD is celebrating our amazing and dedicated teachers this week as part of National Teacher Appreciation Week 2022. We encourage everyone to thank a teacher that has made an impact on your life or your child’s life!

TWO SAUSD SCHOOLS NAMED 2022 CALIFORNIA PIVOTAL PRACTICE AWARD PROGRAM WINNERS

SAUSD’s MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate and Muir Fundamental Elementary have been named 2022 California Pivotal Practice Award program winners, which is being used this year in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program. The award celebrates schools and districts that implemented innovative practices during the 2020–21 school year, when California required schools to offer distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Congratulations!

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS (NAMM) FOUNDATION NAMES SAUSD AMONG BEST COMMUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION

SAUSD has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 23rd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The District qualified based on multiple criteria including graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, and more. Click here to read more.

SAUSD STUDENTS, SCHOOLS RECEIVE TOP SPOTS IN ELEMENTARY SPEECH AND DEBATE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

The results of the California Michael Leigh Elementary State Championship are in - and SAUSD students and schools received top honors in the statewide contest! Students won individual events, and some SAUSD campuses even received schoolwide awards. Click here for more information on our Team Sweepstakes winners, which include gold medalists Santiago K-8 and Muir Fundamental Elementary.

TUNE INTO SAUSD’S 2022 RETIREMENT/LONGEVITY CELEBRATION ON MAY 5

SAUSD is holding a drive-through Retirement/Longevity Celebration at 4 p.m. on May 5, 2022 at Godinez Fundamental High School to recognize our employees who have dedicated many years of service to our students, families and school communities. The ceremony is being live streamed so that supporters can follow along online. Click here to watch live.

SAUSD STUDENTS TAKE TOP SPOTS IN COUNTYWIDE ROBOTICS COMPETITION

Students from SAUSD’s CTE STEAM/Robotics programs scored top spots at the Robot OC VEX Robotics competition held recently at Santa Ana College. Middle College High School placed first in the “High School VEX Clawbot Division Podium Winner” category, while Carr Intermediate placed first and second in “Intermediate School VEX Clawbot Division Podium Winners.” Click here to read more.

VIDEO: SAUSD EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL 2022

Congratulations to the SAUSD Employees of the Month for April 2022: Virginia Arvizu and Marivel Sanchez Garcia. Click here to watch a video in which they were recognized by the Board of Education on April 26, 2022.

VIDEO: APRIL 26, 2022 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

The Board of Education met April 26, 2022 at the District Office. Click here to watch a video of the meeting.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

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The District recently held an Ethnic Studies Conference to give the SAUSD community the opportunity to learn more about the rollout of our ethnic studies programs. District leadership joined students, parents, staff members and community members for a morning of learning, discussion and reflection. Click here to watch a video recap.

MORE NEWS

VIDEO: SUPERINTENDENT JERRY ALMENDAREZ’ REPORT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Superintendent Jerry Almendarez gave a report to the Board of Education last week covering decreased Covid rates, Women of the Year, Race to Submit, student and staff awards and more. Follow along here.

INAUGURAL UNIFIED SPORTS EVENT HELD AT SAUSD’S LOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

About 65 students participated in the District’s inaugural Unified Sports event, held recently at Lowell Elementary School. The event theme was “I Choose to Include” and highlighted the importance of working on teamwork and soccer skills. Lowell is the first SAUSD school to hold a Unified Sports event. Other schools will be conducting their own in the future. Click here to read more.

FREE COVID-19 TESTING SCHEDULE: MAY 2022

SAUSD is continuing to offer free Covid testing to the community. Click here for the May 2022 schedule.

SAUSD TO LAUNCH COMPREHENSIVE SUMMER PROGRAM FOR 2022

SAUSD will launch a comprehensive Summer Program that will include enrichment, personalized learning camps, academic support, visual and performing arts, and other programs and services for students in all grade levels. Click here to view a preliminary schedule.

SAUSD COVID-19 INFORMATION & RESOURCES

Looking for Covid-19 resources? Click here for information regarding SAUSD’s facemask requirements, Covid-19 guidelines for students and staff, Covid-19 dashboard, virtual learning options, and Covid-19 services available for parents, students, and staff.