Communication from GGUSD
Weekly Reopening Update - April 16, 2021
Dear Parents and Students,
As you know, all GGUSD schools are open for in-person instruction and our health and safety protocols are effectively working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses. We have had NO on-campus spread and positive cases remain extremely low and isolated.
We have seen the immediate academic and social-emotional benefits that our students are gaining from being back on campus! Students are engaged in classroom discussions, receiving face-to-face assistance from their teachers, participating in school activities and athletics – and they are doing it all safely! Many of our schools have increased the amount of in-person learning offered and all schools continue to welcome back those students who have remained on distance learning since the onset of the pandemic.
To those families with children who remain on distance learning, we strongly urge you to come back to school now and see for yourself how school is the safest place for your children to be. Don’t wait until the fall to make that transition to in-person instruction. Call your school principal for site-specific details about returning to campus.
GGUSD is currently planning for in-person Summer School and Summer Bridge programs aimed at providing students with extra academic support and addressing learning loss that occurred due to distance learning. Families of students who need Summer School have received individual invitations via ParentSquare and school sites will be sharing details of their Summer Bridge programs in the weeks to come. With COVID-19 conditions greatly improving, GGUSD is planning in-person ceremonies for 8thgrade commencement and high school graduation to celebrate and honor the achievements of our students. Ceremonies will adhere to the California Department of Public Health Guidance for In-Person Commencement and Graduation Ceremonies as well as updated Guidance for Outdoor Seated and Live Events and Performances.
In recent months, all GGUSD employees had the opportunity to be vaccinated at our education vaccination pod managed by Orange County Department of Education and the Orange County Health Care Agency. Yesterday, California expanded vaccine eligibility to teens age 16 to 18.
All COVID-19 vaccines remain strictly voluntary and are not mandated! To receive the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer, teens age 16-18 can sign-up through the online Othena system for a vaccine appointment at a site operated by the Orange County Health Care Agency. Families can also schedule appointments through local pharmacy chains and some physicians. Not only is parental consent required for this age group, any person under 18 who receives their vaccine at a county-operated clinic or pharmacy must be accompanied by their parent or guardian. Click here for a flyer with additional details including documents that are required for an appointment.
Next week, ParentSquare is launching a system upgrade that will log all users out and prompt you to confirm or correct your contact information. Please update your iOS or Android ParentSquare mobile app to the latest version and confirm your contact information when prompted. This process will help ensure that we have the best contact information for our families!
As always, thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to equip ALL students with the academic and personal skills for lifelong success.