WEEK OF JAN. 31 to FEB. 6. 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: JAN. 31, 2022
In his new weekly newsletter to the community, Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Superintendent Jerry Almendarez provides information on the latest in education news, Covid-19 testing and resources, and more. To read it, click here.
FREE COVID-19 TESTING SCHEDULE: WEEK OF JAN. 31-FEB. 5, 2022
SAUSD this week is continuing free Covid-19 testing for the community at various locations. Click here for details on clinics for Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2022.
KINDER ROUND-UP BEGINS FEB. 1, 2022
SAUSD’s Transitional Kinder and Kinder enrollment period (Round-Up) for 2022-23 school year begins on Feb. 1, 2022 and runs through Feb. 25, 2022. Students who will turn 5 on or before Feb. 2, 2022 are eligible to enroll in TK for the 2022-23 school year. Parents/guardians should contact their school of residence to start with the pre-enrollment process. For questions, please reach out to the school campus or Support Services at (714) 433-3481. 
JENNIFER FLORES NAMED ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Jennifer Flores has been named the District’s new Associate Superintendent of Human Resources. Her career in education spans 32 years, and includes experience as a teacher, an assistant principal, and a high school principal. She comes to SAUSD from the Whittier City School District, where she served as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources since 2019. Read more about her here.
JANEA MARKING NAMED ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT/CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICIAL
Janea Marking has been named SAUSD’s Associate Superintendent/Chief Business Official (CBO). Marking began her career in education in 2004, and most recently served as Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the South Bay Union School District. She completed the School Business Management Certificate Program at the University of Southern California in 2018 and is a CASBO Certified Chief Business Official. Read more about her here. 
BOARD OF EDUCATION HONORS SAUSD EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY 2022
The Board of Education at its recent meeting honored the District’s Employees of the Month for January 2022. Nicole Gassner, a teacher at the McFadden Institute of Technology, is the certificated employee of the month. Kim Mancilla, office manager at Lathrop Intermediate, is the classified employee of the month. Congratulations to both! Read more about them here.
VIDEO: SAUSD TO OFFER ETHNIC STUDIES COURSES TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FALL 2022
Starting this fall, SAUSD high school students will have the opportunity to take various Ethnic Studies courses to meet new District and state requirements. Click here to watch a video about the classes that SAUSD is developing. For more details, visit www.sausd.us/ethnicstudies.

VIDEO: BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, JAN. 25, 2022
The Board of Education met Jan. 25, 2022 at the District Office. Click here to watch a video of the meeting.
VIDEO: SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, JAN. 25, 2022
During the Jan. 25, 2022 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Jerry Almendarez delivered remarks for the community covering Covid-19 testing and resources, upcoming special education parent meetings, Ethnic Studies courses in SAUSD and more. Click here to watch. 
SAUSD HOLDS ANNUAL INTERMEDIATE BOYS VOLLEYBALL AND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
Dozens of students participated in the District’s Intermediate Boys Volleyball and Hockey Tournament at Santa Ana Valley High School over the weekend. Students, staff and supporters gathered at the school to watch scholars from SAUSD's K-8 and intermediate schools give it their all in the annual competitions. Esqueda K-8 was named the champion in the volleyball tournament; Carr Intermediate took top honors in the hockey tournament. Congratulations to all of our participating SAUSD scholars! To read more, click here. 
VIDEO OF THE WEEK:
SAUSD GRADUATE PROFILE
In this new video for the SAUSD community, Superintendent Jerry Almendarez speaks about the District’s ongoing development of the SAUSD Graduate Profile. This initiative contains a set of educational goals and objectives aimed at ensuring SAUSD students can compete in a global workforce after graduation. Visit www.sausd.us/graduateprofile for more information.
MORE NEWS
SANTA ANA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION NOW ACCEPTING 2021-22 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
The Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation is now accepting applications for various scholarships through Feb. 13, 2022. To apply, visit www.sapsf.org/scholarships.
FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS NOW AVAILABLE TO SAUSD COMMUNITY THROUGH NEW GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
The SAUSD community can now sign up online to obtain free at-home, rapid Covid-19 tests through a new government initiative aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19. The program allows for four free tests to be requested per residential address. Tests can be ordered online at www.COVIDTests.gov, and typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering.
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS FOR COVID-19
The District encourages all students and staff to stay healthy and safe to help protect ourselves, families and the overall community. If you have any Covid-19 symptoms, we ask you to please stay home. See more information here to help identify if you need to stay home, or need to take other precautions.

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. 

WEEKLY SOCIAL MEDIA ROUND-UP
Follow our schools and departments on social media for news on programs, accolades, special events and more! Click here to access our social media directory.
Posted by Roosevelt-Walker Elementary School: Celebrating 100 days of school at Roosevelt-Walker Academy.
Posted by Monroe Elementary: Monroe Scholars love to visit the library twice a week. Thank you Miss Orzua!
Posted by Lowell ES: Our 5th grade students were afforded the opportunity to experience the theatre thanks to the generous donations of community members. A special acknowledgment to Peter and Joy Sloan.
Posted by mr._g_correa: Congratulations to Carr student Jacqueline Valdez Camarena who has been selected as a finalist in SC Johnson's "Happy Hands" Soap Dispenser Design contest. The “Happy Hands Contest” is nation wide campaign that promotes the importance of hand washing at schools. Special thanks to her art teacher Mrs. Sawyer who helped Jacqueline with her entry. The public will be able to vote for the grand prize winner from Feb 1-28. Links to vote for Jacqueline will be posted on the Carr website and social media.
Posted by Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School: Extremely proud of our student athletes, they trained hard and played hard. Go Mustangs!
Posted by MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate: Tonight over 30 MacArthur families were able to join us virtually or in-person for our STEM Night! They worked together and learned about the chemistry in bath bombs and built landers.
Posted by Century High School: Our @ebusinessacademy gets the opportunity to attend and compete at a E-Business Conference in Bakersfield this week. They’re looking forward to presenting and learning with others on how to run an organization.
Posted by Middle College High School at Santa Ana College: Congratulations to Kelly Lopez and Genesis Mendez for qualifying for the National Catholic Forensic League National Tournament held in Washington, D.C Memorial Day weekend. There is magic in those Wizards. 
Posted by Santa Ana High School: Congratulations to Santa Ana High School’s Cheerleading Competition Team for winning CHEERpros STATE Championship for the Varsity Co-Ed Novice Division! Amazing job, Saints! They are headed to CIF next weekend and to USA Nationals in February. We are SO proud of you!
UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Feb. 2, 2022 - Modified Day - Elementary & Intermediate
  • Feb. 8, 2022 - Regular Board Meeting
  • Feb. 9, 2022 - Modified Day - Elementary & Intermediate
  • Feb. 11, 2022 - Holiday - Lincoln Day
  • Feb. 16, 2022 - Modified Day - Elementary & Intermediate
  • Feb. 18, 2022 - Duty Day - Student Free Day (K-12)
  • Feb. 21, 2022 - Holiday - Washington Day
  • Feb. 22, 2022 - Regular Board Meeting
  • Feb. 23, 2022 - Modified Day - Elementary & Intermediate
  • Feb. 25, 2022 - Special Board Meeting - Governance Workshop
RESOURCES