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AUSD Connection
Alhambra Unified School District News for Parents
Volume I, Issue 10 - April 7, 2023
Message from the Superintendent
Dear AUSD Community,
I hope everyone had a restful and relaxing spring break, and is ready to finish off these last two months of school on a strong note.
Spring is always filled with wonderful celebrations of AUSD students, teams, and staff members. At this week’s Board Meeting, we recognized TEN worthy honorees and there will be even more before the year closes! When we hold these in-person recognitions, it truly feels like we are getting closer to our pre-pandemic “normal.”
In case you missed the news during spring break, Los Angeles County officially lifted its COVID-19 emergency declaration on March 31st. The Los Angeles Department of Public Health (LACDPH) also updated its COVID-19 Exposure Management Plan for TK-12 Schools, which no longer requires schools to notify students of close contact. Students who are infected with COVID-19 are now allowed to leave isolation and return to school after Day 5 as long as they have been fever-free for 24 hours and have no (or improving) symptoms. A negative COVID-19 test is no longer required for students to leave isolation between Day 6-10. AUSD is committed to continued compliance with all LACDPH protocols and practicing common sense precautions to keep our community safe, but each positive step towards normalcy brings a sense of optimism for the future.
I can’t close this week’s message without sharing the profound shock and sadness I felt during spring break when I learned about the mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee and other tragic incidents that have affected our local and greater community. Whether school is in session or not, we are always concerned about the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of our students and staff members. We want to share some resources with parents in case your child expresses questions or concerns and/or needs help processing difficult news. Please keep these Resources for Families as a reference should you need them now or during the summer break. If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis, please contact the Los Angeles County Access Line at 1-800-854-7771 or dial 988.
We also want to assure you that the safety of our students is our top priority. We are
constantly reviewing our security measures to ensure that we are doing everything we can to
protect our students and staff. We also urge everyone to speak up if they see or hear anything
that could represent a potential threat to school safety. Please join me in keeping the Nashville community in our thoughts at this time. Thank you for your partnership and support.
In Unity,
Denise R. Jaramillo, Ed.D.
Superintendent
In this issue...
- Opening Event Highlight: AHS Student Exchange Trip to South Korea
- April 4th Board Meeting Staff Report Presentation Slides
- - Board Meeting Live Streaming Update
- - Other Post Employment Benefit Update
- Special Board Meeting - Wednesday, April 12th
- Educational Services
- - LCAP Parent Advisory Committee Meeting May 1, 2023
- - College & Career Center Workshop: College Hour with East LA College
- - PODER Pursuing Our Dreams through Education and Responsibility!
- - AUSD Early College Program - Summer Registration
- - Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Vision Statement and Goals
- Student Support Services
- - Parent Webinar (Let's Talk: Suicide Awareness)
- - Registration for the 2023-24 School Year
- Business Services
- - Mandatory Booster Meeting
- Facilities and Construction
- - Facilities Update
- - Construction Update
- Small Spotlights (News and Information from Around AUSD)
- Cafeteria Menus
- Parent Resources: Community Offerings
- Monterey Park Community Healing Fund
- Partner Non-Profit Organizations (AEF, ALA, AAA)
- - AEF: SGHS Football CIF Championship Ring fundraiser
- - AEF: Summer School / Programs
- - ALA: Scholarship Awards Dinner & Dance
- Human Resources
- - Employment Opportunities
- - Game Changers
- Scholarship Opportunities
- High School Athletics Calendars
- Upcoming Events and Important Dates
- - 2023 Open Houses (Continued)
- Closing Event Highlight: Impact Teen Drivers / National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
- Publicity Requests
- AUSD Featured in Local Papers
- Alhambra USD YouTube Channel
- Featured Community Video: City of Alhambra I-10 and Fremont Ave Interchange Improvements
- AUSD Website & Social Media - Stay Connected with AUSD!
- "AUSD Connection" Archive
Throughout the newsletter, please CLICK ON IMAGES AND HEADLINES to access additional information, embedded links, and larger versions of the photographs/graphics.
OPENING EVENT HIGHLIGHT: AHS Student Exchange Trip to South Korea
Staff Report Presentation Slides
Special Board Meeting - Wednesday, April 12th
We will have a Special Board of Education meeting next Wednesday with a single Study Session item on the agenda: The City of Alhambra will be providing the Board with an update of the the I-10 and Fremont Avenue Interchange Improvements Project. The meeting will begin at 6:00pm in the AUSD Board Room.
You may also attend the meeting via Zoom using this link: https://zoom.us/s/99037327686
To download the meeting announcement/highlights, click HERE.
If you can't make this meeting, we have linked a video of their earlier public community meeting as the featured video at the end of this newsletter. The information regarding the proposal will be the same, but without the focus on specific impacts to AUSD sites/traffic.
LCAP Parent Advisory Committee Meeting - May 1, 2023
COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER WORKSHOP
College Hour with East Los Angeles College
April 26, 2023 at 7:00pm (English/Chinese/Vietnamese) http://bit.ly/3XVgJpl
Join PODER Today!
Our High Schools would love to have all interested incoming 9th grade students apply for the PODER program at their respective high schools, Alhambra, San Gabriel or Mark Keppel. If you missed the informational meeting, please look at the PODER website linked below and consider applying today. The program has been revamped, field trips are back with access to additional tutoring, clubs, monthly activities and it’s A-G approved! It is an invaluable experience and we plan to keep enhancing it to make it worthwhile for all our students. Kindly peruse the PODER Site and apply to become a member of the 23-24 9th Grade PODER Class of 2027 at your high school! We look forward to welcoming our new PODER members!
Pursuing Our Dreams through Education and Responsibility!
AUSD Early College Program - Summer Registration
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Vision Statement and Goals
Parent Webinar 9 (Let's Talk: Suicide Awareness)
The webinar will be presented by the LA County Department of Mental Health, and will provide important information about teen suicide warnings and how to connect to sources of support.
Register here: https://forms.gle/fJt8us2FVVT8DjQV6
For more information about the Parent Webinar Series, please click HERE.
Registration for the 2023-24 school year is OPEN. If you child will be a new student at an AUSD school, it's best to register as early as possible. Permit applications are also open now.
The Parent Portal is also ready for returning students to update their enrollment. (Reminder: Parents of returning students need to update their enrollment information in the Parent Portal ANNUALLY! Make sure you complete it before the new school year begins.)
Mandatory Booster Meeting - April 18th
All new and renewing booster organizations are required to attend this virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 18th, from 5:00pm until 6:00pm. Zoom meeting ID is 913 6969 6397 and the password is 381042. Click HERE to access a letter with more information.
Facilities Updates
ENERGY STAR certified buildings save energy, save money, and help protect the environment by generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings. To be certified as ENERGY STAR, a building must meet strict energy performance standards set by EPA.
AUSD has EIGHT Energy Star Certified Sites: District Office Mission Building and seven elementary sites: Emery Park, Fremont, Granada, Marguerita, Ramona, Repetto, and Ynez. The three MOST energy efficient sites (lowest energy use per square foot) are Emery Park, Granada, and Ynez Schools.
In addition to the eight Energy Star certifications, the District was also received the EPA’s special recognition program called Certification Nation. Alhambra USD is one of only 24 school districts nationwide to receive this EPA’s recognition!
Construction Updates
Little Bits of Good News & Information from Around the District
We're so impressed by Northrup School's Family Literacy Night ("Reading Under the Stars") earlier this week. They had a wonderful group of community members there to read to the students, including APD, MPD, parents, teachers (who also modeled literacy skills), and local elected officials...including our own Board Member Ken Tang, who also delighted the audience with some magic tricks. Northrup's PTA also hosted special guest author, Debbie Leung Yamada, author of Echoes from Gold Mountain and Old Charlie the Fire Horse.
We were so honored when Alhambra USD was named the San Gabriel Valley's FAVORITE SCHOOL DISTRICT last year! It's now time to vote for the 2023 Readers Choice Awards and we would love to see our schools, AEF, and AUSD among the favorite local people, places & things recognized this year! (A voting suggestion list is HERE.) Please click HERE to vote by Sunday, April 9th.
Congratulations to Mark Keppel High School senior Alysse (Allie) Phillips for her historic wrestling accomplishments. This year she went had an amazing undefeated (37-0) season earning CIF 1st place and CIF Masters 1st place. She qualified for the State competition where she came in 2nd place. She still qualified for Nationals, and she ended up winning it all! We're so proud of Allie Phillips, National Wrestling Champion!
Congratulations to Mark Keppel High School for coming in FOURTH in the State of California! Alhambra High School (by finishing third in Los Angeles County) also competed admirably at the state level. San Gabriel High School's AcaDec team did not qualify for state this year, but they competed in the virtual state competition, and ended up in fourth place too! It's been a great year for all three AcaDec teams and we can't wait to see what they will accomplish next year!
Ramona Elementary School is spotlighting another Project Based-Learning launch.
Throughout the year, their TK and Kindergarten classes have been focusing on caring for our environment.
Alhambra High School Thespians are bringing musical theater back from the dead with their spring production of ZOMBIE PROM, a high-octane Off-Broadway hit musical! This 1950’s rock comedy plays for five performances, starting April 14th. Tickets are available HERE or at the door. ($15 for students and $20 for adults)
San Gabriel High School Drama presents its spring production MAMMA MIA! Performances start April 14th. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter, and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A large cast, non-stop laughs, and explosive dance numbers combine to make "Mamma Mia!" a smash hit! Tickets are available HERE. ($10 for students and $12 for adults)
non-profit partner organizations
Alhambra Educational Foundation
DATE CHANGE: The AEF Service to Education Dinner and Gala has been moved to September 16, 2023. More info. will be forthcoming.
AEF Summer School registration is now OPEN. Classes will take place June 8th through July 14th. Register through the AEF WEBSITE.
Alhambra Latino Association
Please support the Alhambra Latino Association (ALA) by donating $25 gift cards for their BALLOON BLAST, which will be part of their May 5th Scholarship Dinner & Dance. (See BELOW to RSVP for the Dinner & Dance.) Gift cards can be sent to the Alhambra Latino Association, P.O. Box 6062, Alhambra, CA 91802. For more information about ALA, please visit their WEBSITE.
Asian American Association
Thank you to everyone who supported AAA's Lunar New Year banquet through donations and/or attendance. We are already planning for next year's event (which will be on February 23, 2024).
If you would like to be part of the committee, please contact AAA through their WEBSITE.
news from AEF:
Please support AEF as they work to fundraise for CIF Champion rings for the SGHS’ football team to commemorate their incredible 2022 season (CIF-Southern Section Division 13 Champions, SoCal Regional Champions, and California State Runner-Ups).
Registration is OPEN for AEF's summer programs, please visit their WEBSITE.
news from ala:
Employment Opportunities - Join the AUSD Team:
Please click HERE for full-and part-time positions. We have competitive salaries and excellent benefits! AUSD posts all job opportunities at EdJoin.com. Make sure to check back often.
March 2023 Certificated Game Changer: Louise Tsoi from San Gabriel High School
High School Athletics Calendars
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
- April 10: Equity Talks with Parents 5:00pm-7:00pm
- April 12: Special Board of Education Meeting (Agendas & Minutes)
- April 15: WSGV SELPA Students with Disabilities Resource Fair 10:00am-1:00pm (Flyer)
- April 16: AUSD Booth at Alhambra Farmers Market 9:00am-11:00am
- April 17: Equity Talks with Parents 5:00pm-7:00pm
- April 18: Booster Mandatory Meeting 5:00pm-6:00pm (Letter/Info)
- April 19: ATA Food Pantry 9:00am-12:00pm (Flyer)
- April 23: AUSD Booth at Alhambra Farmers Market 9:00am-11:00am
- April 24: Equity Talks with Parents 5:00pm-7:00pm
- April 25: Board of Education Meeting (Agendas & Minutes)
- April 26: College & Career Center Workshop: College Hour with East Los Angeles College 7:00pm (RSVP)
- April 27: PARENT Community Conversations 6:30pm (Flyer, RSVP)
- April 28: "AUSD Connection" Newsletter Emailed to Parents & Staff
- April 30: ATA Read Across America 11:00am-1:00pm (Flyer)
- May 1: Local Control Accountabily Plan (LCAP) Parent Advisory Committee 6:45pm-8:00pm (Zoom Link)
- May 2: Equity Talks with Parents 5:00pm-7:00pm
- May 3: ATA Food Pantry 9:00am-12:00pm (Flyer)
- May 5: Alhambra Latino Association Scholarship Awards Dinner & Dance 5:30pm-10:30pm (Flyer)
- May 7: AUSD Booth at Alhambra Farmers Market 9:00am-11:00am
- May 9: Board of Education Meeting (Agendas & Minutes)
- May 12: "AUSD Connection" Newsletter Emailed to Parents & Staff
AUSD OPEN HOUSES CONTINUE!
Open Houses continue during April and May. Open Houses will showcase students' learning throughout the 2022-23 school year. Be on the lookout for more information directly from your child's school as your site Open House gets closer! Click HERE to download a PDF of the flyer. (NOTE: Correction to Moor Field Open House date and time.)
Closing Event Highlight: Impact Teen Drivers / National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Yesterday, the Alhambra Unified School District and Alhambra High School partnered with Impact Teen Drivers and the California Highway Patrol to host elected officials and community leaders to build awareness, engagement, and education outreach to empower students to prevent the number one killer of teens in America — reckless and distracted driving car crashes.
This media event was held to bring awareness of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and California Teen Safe Driving Week. Among our key guest speakers were Congresswoman Judy Chu, Board President Kaysa Moreno, and AHS senior Marcus Partida. The key message they shared: We can save lives by encouraging teens to make good decisions behind the wheel, ultimately creating a driving culture that is distraction-free.
We thank CBS2, ABC7, KCAL9, and SinoTV for joining us to showcase the media event and help us spread the word to drive distraction free. Click HERE or below to access the CBS2 news coverage.
Read about AUSD in these Local Papers:
Featured Community Video
About AUSD
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https://www.youtube.com/@AlhambraUSD
Email: AlhambraUSD@ausd.us
Website: www.ausd.us
Location: 1515 West Mission Road, Alhambra, CA, USA
Phone: (626) 943-3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alhambrausd
Twitter: @alhambrausd
Look for the next issue of "AUSD Connection" on Friday, April 28th!
All issues of "AUSD Connections" are archived on our website. Click this button to access them.