The schools of Santa Cruz County are proud to partner with Dominican Hospital, Safeway, Salud Para la Gente, Santa Cruz County Public Health, and other medical providers to increase access to vaccination for students and families. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine under an emergency use authorization (EUA) for children ages 12 to 15 years old . Santa Cruz County schools are offering vaccination clinics at school sites countywide through the end of the school year for students ages 12+ with parental
consent. COVID-19 vaccination represents a key part of the strategy that has dramatically reduced the number of positive cases in our community.
Well, May is here, and we’re counting down to the end of what can only be described as a momentous school year. I can’t tell you what a joy it is to have all students and classes back at school five days a week and to hear happy voices coming from all directions. The school is vibrant and alive again. I’m so glad that collectively we were able to make this happen. Our continued diligence makes a difference.
Thanks to those who were able to attend. For those who were not able to attend, we want to make certain you have access to the information.
We are all so happy to have our students on campus and are excited to let you know our plans for the next step: In School Learning five days a week for all students. Your support and partnership over the past year as well as your support to help us get to this milestone is deeply appreciated.
We especially appreciate the over 90% response rate to the recent survey sent to BDS families about planning for this next step. I am happy to report strong support (90%) for in-school learning as well as a commitment to perform daily home health screenings to assure we are continuing safety practices.
As you may be aware, both the Centers for Disease Control and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have updated their guidance for schools. The attached letter from all of the superintendents in Santa Cruz County provides important information for you. Additionally, we are opening a new survey to gain an understanding of our community readiness for further expansion of in-person services based on the updated guidance from CDPH. We are asking you to complete the survey by Friday, March 26. This will allow us to plan any necessary next steps when we rerun from spring break. Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FZ7BKCF
The Santa Cruz County school community stands in solidarity against violence,
intimidation, and racism towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and all
communities of color. Anti-Asian violence has significantly increased since the start of the pandemic with more than 2,800 hate incidents recorded in the United States in 2020. These recent acts of hate, including the attacks upon elderly community members in the San Francisco Bay Area and the shootings in Atlanta, are symptomatic of long-standing systemic racism toward Asian American communities. We strongly believe that there is no place for racial hate, discrimination, or violence in our schools nor in our community.
A travel advisory remains in effect. IF you travel out of state or country, then a quarantine of 10 days must happen before your child can return to school. Your child can return on Day 11. You cannot opt to test out of quarantine. If you have any questions, please refer to the CDPH Travel guidance. Here is a link to the entire plan. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Consolidated_Schools_Guidance.pdf
Please see the attached slides from last night's Town Hall meeting. Please reach out to the school with any questions.
I promised to keep you updated on progress that would support and allow for an expansion of in-person learning. This week I’m very pleased to be able to share some exciting news related to the vaccination of our teachers.
This past week, Dr. Sabbah, the County Superintendent of Education was able to secure vaccines for all kindergarten teachers through a partnership with Dominican Hospital/Dignity Health. And then, we were fortunate to receive additional vaccines for additional school staff. These vaccinations are a substantial step forward with regards to our ability to bring more students back to campus for classes. Please read the attached letter which is a joint communication from the all SC County superintendents.
Please join me at the next community town hall on Feb. 23 at 5:30 for an update on the plans for this expansion of in-person learning and the new hybrid approach to teaching and learning that will be rolled out for Bonny Doon School students.
It is hard to believe that January is over already. At the same time, we’re already thinking about next year and I’m pleased to be able to share with you information on the 2021-22 school year.