Dear Warrior Community,
Since March, we’ve been looking forward to welcoming students back to our campus and classrooms for in-person instruction. As recently communicated by the District, in-person instruction will begin September 24-25, for those who selected in-person academic models, assuming the county’s COVID-19 rates continue to trend in a positive direction.
- Thursday, September 24: Cohort A [Last name A-Le]
- Friday, September 25: Cohort B [Last name Li-Z]
If your family has a compelling reason for wanting to change your student’s cohort assignment, please fill out the form here and we will review your student’s schedule to see if space is available. Please know in advance that cohort changes are extremely difficult and highly unlikely, and will only be considered for the most compelling reasons.
Our Commitment to Families
IUSD is committed to following and sharing guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health and our local partners, including the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Department of Education. We encourage all families to visit IUSD’s Opening and Safety Planning webpage for districtwide information. Please also review our September 11 email titled “WHS Hybrid Transition Details” for specific details of the WHS plan.
September 21-22 are Districtwide Non-Student Days
- support the transition from online to in-person instruction, the District has moved two staff development days from October 12 and February 12 to take place on September 21 and 22, which will now be non-student days for all IUSD students.
The transition schedule for in-person instruction is as follows:
- Monday, September 21: Staff Development Day/Non-Student Day
- Tuesday, September 22: Staff Development Day/Non-Student Day
- Wednesday, September 23: Distance Learning Day, Monday Schedule
- Thursday, September 24: First day of in-person instruction per regular schedule, Cohort A
- Friday, September 25: Second day of in-person instruction per regular schedule, Cohort B
October 12 and February 12 will be restored as instructional days.
If There’s a Confirmed Case
If the District is informed that a student or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, the District has been directed to immediately contact the Orange County Health Care Agency, which will assist school personnel in conducting a case investigation and assessing the exposure risk. Confidentiality of identified cases will be maintained. If a case is confirmed, the Orange County Health Care Agency will provide a letter to students or staff, who were in close contact (less than six feet for more than 15 minutes) with the confirmed case. Self-isolation instructions will be detailed in the letter. Lower risk exposure notifications that do not require self-isolation may be provided in some circumstances. Please note that a letter will not be sent home to communicate unconfirmed cases. Only confirmed cases will be communicated.
Click here for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for confirmed, exposure related or suspected COVID-19 cases.
When to Close Due to an Outbreak
With guidance from the Orange County Health Care Agency, a return to distance learning may be necessary under the following conditions:
- A classroom or school may switch to distance learning based on the number of cases, number of classroom cohorts affected, and percentage of teachers, students or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19.
- According to the California Department of Public Health, a district should switch to distance learning if 25 percent of its schools are closed within a 14-day period.
The Orange County Health Officer may consider the size and physical layout of the school when making decisions, including results from public health investigation or other local epidemiological data. Click here for more information.
What We’re Asking of You
We are encouraging each of you to discuss with your child what their return to school will look like, along with some of the ways we’re working together to keep one another safe. Also, reinforce the importance of hand-washing, physical distancing and face coverings. If your child has any underlying health issues, please schedule an appointment with your pediatrician to talk about risk factors for vulnerable children. If a member of your household tests positive for COVID-19, please keep your child at home and contact the school for guidance. Finally, if your child has any symptoms associated with the coronavirus, make sure they stay home and get tested if necessary. Keep children home when they are sick.
Stay Informed
For ongoing updates and information, visit the District’s COVID-19 resource page, which includes an FAQ that may also provide answers for many of your questions. For detailed information about the District’s safety planning, visit our Opening and Safety Planning webpage.
We’re in this Together
We hope that our county continues to see declines in its COVID-19 rates and that our schools can reopen for in-person instruction safely without any setbacks. However, it is going to take a concerted effort from all of us to keep students, employees and families safe when in-person instruction resumes. We are all on the same team, with the same goals, working on the same mission of promoting positive physical, emotional and intellectual growth in our students.
I want to thank you again for your support and trust during this complex and challenging time.
We are many. We are one. We are Warriors!
Christopher Krebs
Principal
Woodbridge High School