COVID CASES IN WPUSD - UPDATE

The week of May 23-27 we had 100 cases of COVID and 26 assumed school transmissions. For this week, May 16-20, we had 57 cases and 11 assumed transmissions.

We had a total (to-date) of 2203 cases for the 2021-2022 school year and 134 assumed school transmissions. This equates to a 6% overall transmission rate.

As a reminder, you can monitor our weekly COVID case counts (updated each Monday) through the last week of school on our website, HERE.

NO COST COVID TESTING OPTIONS - UPDATE

If you have any questions about testing, please contact Cliff De Graw, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services, at (916) 645-5293 or cdegraw@wpusd.org.

END-OF-YEAR MEDICATION PICK-UP - REMINDER

If your child has medication(s) in the school health office, we ask that you please pick them up from the office by 4:00pm on June 10.

If this will be a hardship for you, please contact the school health clerk to make alternative arrangements for pick-up. Medications not picked up will be properly disposed of by our District nurses as we are not authorized to keep them for the subsequent school year.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ADOPTION: ELEM & MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE

In accordance with the State cycle, we are updating our instructional materials to align with the most current Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) at the elementary (K-5) and middle school (6-8) levels. Instructional materials will be recommended for Board adoption at the June 21, 2022 Board meeting. Prior to the Board meeting, all materials will be available for public viewing and comment from Monday June 6 through Friday June 17 (or sooner - see “Mystery Science” link below).

At the elementary level, “Mystery Science” was selected through our pilot process for the Board to consider for adoption. “Mystery Science” materials are currently being utilized at our elementary schools to supplement our previously adopted and outdated materials. “Mystery Science” is accessed through an online platform and can be viewed at www.mysteryscience.com and a general overview is also available at the District Office and each of our elementary schools.

At the middle school level, “Green Ninja Science” was selected through our pilot process for the Board to consider for adoption. The full set of “Green Ninja Science” instructional materials can be viewed at the District Office and both of our middle schools.

Please direct any questions and/or comments to Reno Penders, Director of Educational Services, @ rpenders@wpusd.org.

IMPORTANT SUMMER DATES & HOURS

As we enter the final week of the 2021-2022 school year and begin our transition to the 2022-2023 school year, please note the following dates and hours:

June 10, 2022 is the last day of school for students
June 17, 2022 is the last day school offices will be open
June 20, 2022 the District Office will be closed in observation of Juneteenth
June 21, 2022 is the first day the District Office will start summer hours (10:00 - 2:00)*
August 8, 2022 school offices will reopen for the 2022-23 school year
August 8, 2022 the district office will resume regular hours (7:30 - 4:00)
August 18, 2022 is the first day of school for students.

*While the District Office is only open to the public from 10:00-2:00, staff are working full days and can be available by appointment outside of the open office hours. If you would like to make an appointment outside the open office hours with one of our staff, please call the District Office (916) 645-6350.

FACILITIES VIDEO - MEASURE A & MEASURE N

Some of you may have already seen the recent video we created to celebrate the wonderful work we've been able to accomplish over the past eight years thanks to Measure A and Measure N. With the help of some students from across the district, we've highlighted the four projects, which were all completed on time and under budget. We thank not only our school community for your efforts in supporting education, but our broader community as well. These projects wouldn't have been possible without their support for WPUSD schools.

COVID CASES IN WPUSD - UPDATE

The week of May 9-13 we had 39 cases of COVID and 3 assumed school transmissions. For this week, May 16-20, we had 86 cases and 16 assumed transmissions.

It is our goal to minimize the impact of COVID on students' participation in end-of-year activities and we appreciate your support. Therefore, as cases continue to rise, we ask that you PLEASE stay home if you are sick.  Also, as a reminder, students who have persistent COVID like symptoms will need to provide a negative test to return to school. 

As a reminder, you can monitor our weekly COVID case counts (updated each Monday) on our website, HERE.

NO COST COVID TESTING OPTIONS - REMINDER

If you have any questions about testing, please contact Cliff De Graw, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services, at (916) 645-5293 or cdegraw@wpusd.org.

2022-2023 EMERGENCY CONTACT  & STUDENT WAIVER FORMS - UPDATE

This year, online access went LIVE on: MAY 16, 2022 AT 9AM

Click HERE to read more on updating your child's Emergency Contact Information.

If your child is returning to WPUSD for the 2022-2023 school year you will need to review your child’s emergency contact and health information for any updates before your child starts the school year. When reviewing and updating your child’s information you will also be electronically signing your child’s 2022-2023 Technology Use and Waiver Agreements, Student Health Insurance option, and Photo Release Opt-Out Forms.

Please contact your child's SCHOOL office if you have any questions.

**If don't have a Parent Portal account you should have received an email or letter with information and instructions to set up your account. If you forgot your student’s Access ID/Password, please contact your child’s SCHOOL and we can help.**

If you need technical assistance, please email HelpDesk@wpusd.org.

2022-2023 PRESCHOOL OFFERINGS

Western Placer Unified School District, in collaboration with Placer County Office of Education, are excited to offer preschool offerings at some of our school sites next school year.  Preschool is available free for 32 month through 4 year olds that meet income eligibility requirements.  

Preschool offerings are available at First Street School, Carlin C Coppin, Creekside Oaks Elementary, and The Little Blue SchoolHouse. For more information, click HERE.

If you have questions about the programs, please reach out to PCOE at  530-745-1380.

END-OF-YEAR MEDICATION PICK-UP

If your child has medication(s) in the school health office, we ask that you please pick them up from the office by 4:00pm on June 10.

If this will be a hardship for you, please contact the school health clerk to make alternative arrangements for pick-up. Medications not picked up will be properly disposed of by our District nurses as we are not authorized to keep them for the subsequent school year.

PLACER COUNTY EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

On May 9, Placer County Office of Education hosted an awards reception to recognize all employees from across the county that were nominated for Employee of the Year in their job classification. Western is pleased to announce that the following employees were nominated for Placer County Employees of the Year:

Maribel Vergara - Instructional Aide, Sheridan Elementary School

Patrick Long - Custodian, Creekside Oaks Elementary School

Favi Melendrez-Lopez - Accounting Technician, District Office

Tiffany McGuire - Elementary Teacher (Gr. 5), Carlin C. Coppin Elementary School

Hank Florence - Secondary Teacher (Drama), Lincoln & Twelve Bridges High School

We are further pleased to announce that on Wednesday, May 18, Gayle Garbolino-Mojica, Superintendent of Placer County of Education, visited both Carlin C. Coppin and Creekside Oaks Elementary Schools to honor the following nominees as THE Employees of the Year in their job classifications:

Tiffany McGuire - Placer County Teacher of the Year

Patrick Long - Placer County Classified Employee of the Year - Custodial & Maintenance Services

COVID CASES IN WPUSD - UPDATE

The week of Apr 25-29 we had 29 cases of COVID and 7 assumed school transmissions. For this week, May 2-6, we had 40 cases and 9 assumed transmissions.

As cases are on the rise, we ask that you PLEASE stay home if you are sick. Also, as a reminder, students who have persistent COVID like symptoms will need to provide a negative test to return to school.

As a reminder, you can monitor our weekly COVID case counts (updated each Monday) on our website, HERE.

NO COST COVID TESTING OPTIONS - REMINDER

If you have any questions about testing, please contact Cliff De Graw, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services, at (916) 645-5293 or cdegraw@wpusd.org.

FOOD SERVICES SURVEY - REMINDER

In an effort to better serve our students with nutritious food using viable options, we would like to better gauge our parents on what they would like to see within our meal services for the 2022-2023 school year. Please take a moment to fill out the brief survey to help us improve upon our program.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY  

SUMMER PROGRAM OFFERINGS - REMINDER

We will be providing summer school this June and July for students at all levels.

High school students will participate based on need to earn credits. School Counselors and staff will be reaching out to students and parents to sign them up. The program is from June 21 - July 15 Monday through Thursday each week. If students need help from a teacher, they can attend the learning center class at any time between 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Phoenix High School. Mikaela Zimmerman, the current counselor at Phoenix High is the Coordinator for the program.

The middle school program will be located at Glen Edwards Middle School. The program is from June 21 to July 8 Tuesday through Friday. The classes will run from 8:30 to 11:30 AM. Students are chosen based first on teacher recommendation. If there are any additional spaces, then students will be admitted on a first come first serve basis. Jessica Fernandez is the program coordinator. She is currently a teacher at Glen Edwards Middle School.

The elementary program will be located at Creekside Oaks Elementary. The program is from June 21 to July 26. The hours are 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Students are also chosen based first on teacher recommendation. If there are any additional spaces, then students will be admitted on a first come first served basis. April Rennie and Lyndsay Reynolds are the program co-coordinators. April is a teacher in our independent study ATLAS program. Lyndsay Reynolds is currently helping as an administrator at Glen Edwards Middle School.

We are still in the planning stages of the summer school programs. Look for more details coming out soon.

2022-2023 EMERGENCY CONTACT  & STUDENT WAIVER FORMS UPDATE

Below is some information, for returning WPUSD students ONLY, regarding the requirement to update emergency contact information and to e-sign student waiver forms for the 2022-2023 school year. NEW students who recently registered for the 2022-2023 school year DO NOT need to complete this update as your information was recently provided through the new student registration process. 

May 9, 2022
Emails will go out to all families who currently do not have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account set up. The email will include account information, password, login and instructions on how to set up an account. As a reminder, Parent Portal accounts are needed to update the emergency contact information and to e-sign the student waiver forms.

May 16, 2022 @ 9am
The link for parents/guardians to update 2022-2023 emergency contact information and to e-sign the student waiver forms goes live in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

If you have any questions please contact your child’s school site.

COVID CASES IN WPUSD - UPDATE

The week of Apr 4-7 we had 4 cases of COVID and 0 assumed school transmissions. For this week, Apr 19-22, we had 16 cases and 0 assumed transmissions. 

As a reminder, you can monitor our weekly COVID case counts (updated each Monday) on our website, HERE.

NO COST COVID TESTING OPTIONS - REMINDER

If you have any questions about testing, please contact Cliff De Graw, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services, at (916) 645-5293 or cdegraw@wpusd.org.

FOOD SERVICES SURVEY

In an effort to better serve our students with nutritious food using viable options, we would like to better gauge our parents on what they would like to see within our meal services for the 2022-2023 school year. Please take a moment to fill out the brief survey to help us improve upon our program.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY  

SUMMER PROGRAM OFFERINGS

We will be providing summer school this June and July for students at all levels.

High school students will participate based on need to earn credits. School Counselors and staff will be reaching out to students and parents to sign them up. The program is from June 21 - July 15 Monday through Thursday each week. If students need help from a teacher, they can attend the learning center class at any time between 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Phoenix High School. Mikaela Zimmerman, the current counselor at Phoenix High is the Coordinator for the program.

The middle school program will be located at Glen Edwards Middle School. The program is from June 21 to July 8 Tuesday through Friday. The classes will run from 8:30 to 11:30 AM. Students are chosen based first on teacher recommendation. If there are any additional spaces, then students will be admitted on a first come first serve basis. Jessica Fernandez is the program coordinator. She is currently a teacher at Glen Edwards Middle School.

The elementary program will be located at Creekside Oaks Elementary. The program is from June 21 to July 26. The hours are 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Students are also chosen based first on teacher recommendation. If there are any additional spaces, then students will be admitted on a first come first served basis. April Rennie and Lyndsay Reynolds are the program co-coordinators. April is a teacher in our independent study ATLAS program. Lyndsay Reynolds is currently helping as an administrator at Glen Edwards Middle School.

We are still in the planning stages of the summer school programs. Look for more details coming out soon.

COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES FOR SCHOOLS

Below is an excerpt from CalMatters regarding the status of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for schools.

California backs away from COVID vaccine mandates for kids

"Although more than three-quarters of California adults are vaccinated against COVID-19, opinions are more divided when it comes to vaccinating children. That sentiment played out Thursday (April 14) when first, the author of a bill that would have mandated vaccines for all children pulled the legislation, and then again when state health officials pushed back the date of their student vaccine mandate. It was a striking shift for a state that had been the nation’s first to announce a planned K-12 COVID-19 mandate. The bill by Sen. Richard Pan, a Sacramento Democrat who chairs the Senate Health Committee, would have granted no personal belief exceptions to the requirement that all children get the COVID vaccine to attend school or child care. In sidelining his own bill, Pan said the focus needs to be on making sure families can access the vaccine for their children.

Within hours, the California Department of Public Health announced it will not begin the process of adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of mandated childhood vaccines for K-12 public and private school students because it has not been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Previously the state had intended to require it for the upcoming 2022–23 school year, but now that won’t happen until at least July 1, 2023. The health department said in a statement that even after COVID vaccines for kids receive full approval, it would also consider the recommendations of a Centers for Disease Control vaccine advisory committee and the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians before issuing a school vaccine requirement."

COVID CASES IN WPUSD - UPDATE

The week of Mar 21-25, we had 8 cases of COVID and 0 assumed school transmissions. For this week, Mar 28-Apr 1, we had 3 cases and 0 assumed transmissions. 

As a reminder, you can monitor our weekly COVID case counts (updated each Monday) on our website, HERE.

NO COST COVID TESTING OPTIONS - REMINDER

If you have any questions about testing, please contact Cliff De Graw, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services, at (916) 645-5293 or cdegraw@wpusd.org.

SYMPTOMATIC STAFF/STUDENTS

WPUSD considers the health and well-being of our students and staff a priority.  While masking is strongly recommended in all K-12 school settings, we are still following the strategy for staying home when sick and getting tested as recommended by the CDC and CDPH.

When a student or staff member exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, which cannot be explained by an underlying chronic condition documented by a healthcare provider though a doctor’s note (e.g., allergies or asthma), the symptomatic student or staff member will need to show proof of a negative COVID test from a clinic or medical provider regardless of prior COVID-19 infection.  

As a reminder, we offer free testing to students and staff members in the district.  The testing schedule can be found on our website HERE.

The scenarios for symptomatic, close contact, and positive students and staff members can also be found in the Road Map for WPUSD Schools. You can find this information on our website HERE.

If your child is symptomatic, please contact their school for guidance and next steps.

Thank you for your continued support!

CHANGE IN COVID-19 PROTOCOLS: AT-HOME EXPOSURES

Effective Monday, April 4, 2022

All asymptomatic exposed students, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status or location of exposure, may continue to take part in all aspects of K-12 schooling, including sports and extracurricular activities, unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.
 
In other words, if a student is exposed to COVID-19 in the home, they may continue attending school in person as long as they remain asymptomatic. You will see these changes reflected in the scenarios section of the Road Map for WPUSD Schools HERE.

NAMING OF LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL THEATER

A member of our community requested that the WPUSD Board of Trustees consider naming the Lincoln High School Theater after a very dedicated volunteer, Lee Basham.

Currently, the LHS Theater does not hold a formal name. The Board is requesting community input on this proposal. As a result, we have created and are asking that you complete a survey (HERE) to provide your input. In the survey, you will find more information on Lee and his service to the Lincoln community and, specifically, the LHS arts program. The survey will remain open and accept responses for one week, closing April 8th at noon.

COVID CASES IN WPUSD - UPDATE

The week of Mar 7 - 11, we had 13 cases of COVID and 0 assumed school transmissions. For this week, Mar 14-17, we had 10 cases and 0 assumed transmissions. 

As a reminder, you can monitor our weekly COVID case counts (updated each Monday) on our website, HERE.

NO COST COVID TESTING OPTIONS - REMINDER

THERE IS NO TESTING TOMORROW, FRIDAY, MARCH 18!

If you have any questions about testing, please contact Cliff De Graw, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services, at (916) 645-5293 or cdegraw@wpusd.org.

WPUSD BOARD MEETINGS

There will be a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, March 22 at 5:00pm in the Twelve Bridges Middle School Multipurpose Room. This meeting will serve solely as a workshop for the Board of Trustees to discuss the District's Facilities Master Plan and public comment will be limited to this topic.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 6:30pm in the City Council Board Room on the 3rd Floor of the City Hall/WPUSD District Office Building (600 6th Street).
 

Public Access - The Board meeting will be open and available to the public for in-person attendance in the Twelve Bridges Middle School Multipurpose Room. The meeting will also be available virtually via Google Meet for live public viewing during Open Session (6:30pm). To access the meeting virtually through the video link embedded in upcoming Board meeting agendas, which can be found HERE. 

Public Comment - Those individuals who wish to provide verbal public comment, must do so in-person at the meeting. Those individuals who wish to provide written public comment may do so via email to Maria Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant, at mgonzalez@wpusd.org. More detailed information regarding each option for public comment is bulleted below:

• Individuals who wish to provide verbal public comment, must do so in-person at the meeting by filling out the "Request to Address Board of Trustees" form, which will be available at the meeting. Speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each and the Board will limit the total time for public input on each agenda item to twenty (20) minutes.  However, in exceptional circumstances, when necessary to ensure full opportunity for public input, the Board President may, with Board consent, adjust the amount of time allowed for public input and/or the time allotted for each speaker.  Any such adjustment shall be done equitably so as to allow a diversity of viewpoints.  The President may also ask members of the public with the same viewpoint to select a few individuals to address the Board on behalf of that viewpoint. (Board Bylaw 9323) 
• Individuals who wish to provide written public comment (500 word limit)  may do so by submitting their comment to Maria Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant, at mgonzalez@wpusd.org by 12:00pm the day of the meeting. Submissions should state what agenda item the comment is for, or general public comment if the comment is not specific to an individual agenda item. Written public comment will be emailed to the Board Trustees prior to the meeting and handed to them during the meeting for public record. The comments will not be read aloud during the meeting. 
• Public comment is allowed in two ways:
  • Comment specific to an item/s on the agenda.
  • General comment on a topic/s not on the agenda that fall within the Board's jurisdictional authority.

SHOUT OUTS

LHS CADET CORPS

Congratulations to Commandant Pierce and his incredible team of Cadets for winning 1st Place last weekend in San Luis Obispo at the Extreme Team Challenge. A total of 363 Cadets from across the state competed and eleven (11) from LHS. Ten (10) of our Cadets worked together to win 1st Place and the 11th Cadet was farmed out to another team who ended up winning 2nd Place. I am sure our lone Cadet on another team had something big to do with that team's 2nd Place win. This is LHS' Cadet Corps second time competing in the Extreme Team Challenge and their second time taking 1st Place. Way to go Cadets and Commandant Pierce!

PLACER COUNTY SPELLING BEE

On Wednesday, March 16, the top eleven (11) spellers from elementary schools across Placer County competed at the Placer County Spelling Bee. Two (2) of those students were from WPUSD. Congratulations to Dev Chandra, 4th grader in Ms. Pellegrino's class at First Street Elementary, and Matthew Kiley, 4th grader in Ms. Mandel's class at Twelve Bridges Elementary, for making it to the Spelling Bee and representing WPUSD so well. I had the opportunity to watch part of the competition and was astonished by the spelling abilities of Dev, Matthew, and the other students who competed.

LHS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM - 4TH IN STATE

Our lady athletes played their hearts out in a tough battle against Oakland Tech on March 8. Although they lost 51-46 and are surely disappointed, we are so proud of their accomplishment this season. Being the 4th best basketball team in the State is amazing!! Way to go Lady Zebras!!

MIKE MAUL NAMED REGION 2 SECONDARY ADMIN OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to Mike Maul, Principal of Twelve Bridges High School, for winning not only Placer County Secondary Administrator of the Year, but also Region 2 Secondary Administrator of the Year. We are so proud of your accomplishments at Lincoln High School and now at Twelve Bridges. Well deserved recognition!!