Dear Families,
The first day of school is just around the corner and we are happily preparing for your students’ arrival. This year will bring opportunities for us to joyfully connect and learn as we navigate the continued pandemic. While there are challenges, we have learned a lot over the past two years that brings me confidence and when we work together we can do great for the students and families of Fuente Nueva.
At last night’s charter council meeting (the FNCC is the Board of Directors for our school), the council reviewed the safety plans that have been developed based on the latest guidance from California Department of Public Health. The robust safety procedures that we had in place last year will change very little. Below is a short list of what safety protocols will be in place. The full plans may be viewed on our website or obtained through our main office.
- Universal masking at all times for students and staff during the school day with the exception of when eating.
- Students will be regularly instructed in proper masking hygiene. For example, no touching your mouth or nose under the mask and washing the masks regularly
- Students and staff will follow the CDPH Guidance for Face Coverings
- If students do not have a mask or have one that is not secure on their face allowing regular unmasked air flow to move freely through gaps or the fabric, we will supply them with a cloth or surgical mask to use.
- During eating times there will be assigned seating with maximum space between students
- Daily health screenings completed by all students and staff that will mandate that:
- Community members stay home when they are sick
- Cases of COVID-19 are reported to the school and proper quarantine process will be followed.
- Student and staff exposures to COVID-19 are reported to the main office and proper quarantine process will be followed.
- Regular hand washing throughout the school day. Students will be instructed on proper hand washing.
- We will follow the Covid-19 Response in a School Setting guidelines developed by the Humboldt County Office of Education in consultation with Humboldt County Public Health.
- When practical, physical distancing of three feet when seated and six feet when eating will be used both indoors and outdoors.
- Students will be dropped off by parents at specific locations. Parents will be able be able to leave their child at the drop off location once it has been verified that the health screening is complete:
- Kindergarten will walk students around the back of leavey hall to the classroom
- First and third grade students will be walked to the south wing entrance
- Second, fourth and fifth grade students will be walked to the main entrance
- Visitors on the campus will be restricted to the main office walk up window
- Outdoor classrooms and learning areas will be utilized to their full potential
- Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures will followed
- Vaccination verification for all employees – weekly testing mandated for those who are unvaccinated and encouraged for all staff
Fuente Nueva has opted to offer a long term independent study program for students whose health would be put at risk by in-person instruction, as determined by their parent or guardian. This option has been created through State Assembly Bill 130 which was adopted in June. Fuente Nueva has gone above and beyond the state mandates and created a long term independent study program for our students. We ask that families who choose to opt-in to independent study do so one trimester at a time.
By opting into the long term independent study program, families are agreeing to become their student’s primary educational provider. The school will provide guidance to the family and student through assignments and some synchronous instruction. This will be different from last year’s distance learning model where we had lower expectations of what the family was able to provide for their students at home. Another difference from last year is that students who are enrolled in the long term independent study program will have Maestra Olivia Obidah Dunn as their teacher of record. The regular grade level teacher will collaborate with Maestra Olivia to align instruction to the classroom when possible.
As a Spanish immersion school we want to emphasize that the instruction in the independent Study program will be offered primarily in English with opportunities for students to engage in conversational Spanish during zoom lessons and through various online platforms. Students who have a higher level of Spanish proficiency already will be provided with more opportunities for instruction and independent work in Spanish.
Before choosing independent study for your student, please review:
To request long term independent study for your student, fill out this google form by Monday 8/23 at 10am. This will give us the necessary time to plan for the first day of school on 8/30. Please note that students who are served through an Individualized Education Plan must hold an IEP meeting for the team to discuss and decide if the program is appropriate for that student’s individual needs.
As always if you have any questions, concerns, ideas, please feel free to reach out. My schedule is busy, but I find that making time to connect with families is an essential part of my success as a school leader. If you want to make an appointment contact me at 822-3348 or email me at bwylie@fuentenueva.org.
Thank you families for being a part of the Fuente Nueva community. I look forward to working with you this school year and beyond.
With warm regards,
Directora Beth
