Tustin Connect News

No need for tricks, it's time for Issue 36. We are in the home stretch. Last week of classes! Thanks to all of our students, families, and staff. This week's picture is from our high school Senior Diploma and Device Collection. So great to see our seniors. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mr. Fineberg, our principal, at efineberg@tustin.k12.ca.us.

Thanks to Data Impressions and Microsoft, we are able to offer a Microsoft Surface Go to one lucky student that has qualified. The eligibility was through the 3rd quarter. Students would have needed to complete and turn in their work on time throughout the year. Qualifications are a little different for Tustin Connect because our attendance is tied to work completion. For a complete list of eligible students, please visit the link. We will be doing the drawing next week and include it in our final newsletter of the year next week. So be on the lookout. If you do not find your name on the list of eligible students by perm id number, please let us know prior to Wednesday so we can look into it and review your eligibility prior to the final drawing.

This is it. Last week of school. Our teachers are reaching out to families planning to return in the Fall for Master Agreement Meetings. We appreciate your flexibility in conducting these meetings virtually. A number of families have asked me about what Tustin Connect will look like in the fall. I'd love to be able to give you all an answer to that question. Unfortunately, like the experts, there is much we don't know. What I can tell you is that we will have a variety of options available to our families. We are hoping to return to our regular weekly meetings and live sessions as we have done prior to the current guidelines with updated protocols per state guidance. We will also have options for full online instruction in the fall as well for those that prefer that modality with required Virtual Meetings. More details will follow as we receive clarity from the State. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any additional questions or concerns. efineberg@tustin.k12.ca.us

COVID-19 Update for Parents and Guardians – May 22, 2020

From Gregory A. Franklin, Ed.D., Superintendent

Tustin Unified School District

End-of-the-School-Year Message

This has been a truly unprecedented time for all of us and the Tustin Unified School District wants to thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked through the many details related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s hard to believe the end of the school year is next week. Monday, May 25, is Memorial Day (holiday) and the last day of school is Thursday, May 28. As a reminder to parents, elementary school principals are coordinating with each of their classroom teachers to select a time for the students in their class to drive through the school parking lot in order to pick up any personal items left in their classroom. Middle and high school principals are coordinating with 8th graders and 12th graders for the collection of their locker belongings. Students in grades 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11 will collect their belongings upon physical return to schools in the 2020-21 school year. TUSD wishes you and your family a happy, safe, and healthy summer.

Grab-and-Go Meals Continue in June and July

Good news for TUSD students and parents! Due to the USDA extending its National School Lunch waivers, the Tustin Unified School District will continue providing Grab-and-Go breakfast and lunch meals throughout the summer at Robert Heideman Elementary School, 15571 Williams Street; Columbus Tustin Middle School, 17952 Beneta Way; A.G. Currie Middle School, 1401 Sycamore Avenue; and Tustin High School, 1171 El Camino Real. Here is the Grab-and-Go meals schedule for the coming months:

• Monday, May 25 – No meal service due to the Memorial Day holiday.

• May 26 through 28 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, students receive four meals – two for the current day and two for the next day.

• June 1 through July 29, Monday and Wednesday – 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

On Mondays, students receive four meals (two breakfasts and two lunches) – two for the current day and two for the next day. On Wednesdays, students receive six meals (three breakfasts and three lunches) – two for the current day and four for the next two days.

The meals are provided at no cost to all children 18 years and younger (it is not necessary for them to be in the free and reduced lunch program). Service is set up as a drive-thru style for pickup; however, walk-ups are accepted.

For more information, call the TUSD Nutrition Services Department at (714) 730-7301, extension 396.

Pandemic EBT Benefits Program

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, California has a new program that will allow families who qualify for free and reduced meals to receive an additional $365 per child on a Coronavirus Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) card, according to the TUSD Nutrition Services Department.

The initiative provides assistance to families with children who are no longer able to access free or reduced-price meals due to school closures following the coronavirus outbreak. The benefits are issued in the form of a debit card which is distributed to households approved for the program. If parents have lost their jobs or wages have decreased, they may now be eligible for the P-EBT program.

Due to the current circumstances, Tustin Unified is aware that families’ financial situations may have changed and, consequently, the District is providing this information to the entire school community.

High School Graduations Update

High school seniors and their families are excited about the Tustin Unified School District planning to hold traditional graduation ceremonies during such an unusual school year. At this time, the District is still planning to hold high school graduations in early August.

Tentatively, graduations will be held on August 4, 5, and 6, with two schools per day. Below is the high school graduation schedule:

• Tuesday, August 4 – Tustin Connect at 4 p.m. and Tustin Adult School at 6 p.m.

• Wednesday, August 5 – Foothill at 10 a.m. and Beckman at 6 p.m.

• Thursday, August 6 – Hillview at 10 a.m. and Tustin at 6 p.m.

Beckman, Foothill, Hillview, and Tustin graduation ceremonies will be held at Tustin High School’s Northrup Stadium, 1171 El Camino Real, Tustin. Tustin Connect and Tustin Adult School graduation ceremonies will be held in the Beckman High School Performing Arts Center, 3588 Bryan Avenue, Irvine.

The District’s high school graduation ceremonies will be conducted under the social distancing guidelines in place at that time. More information will be provided in the weeks ahead as plans are finalized.

TUSD Website COVID-19 Section

Please continue to visit the COVID-19 section on the Tustin Unified School District’s website for regular updates at https://www.tustin.k12.ca.us

Senior and 8th Grade Pictures

We wanted to update everyone on how they can view their Senior and 8th grade pictures. The Lifetouch labs have been shut down as a nonessential business, but you can either call the Call center at 800-736-4753 or go online to MYLIFETOUCH.com to view the pictures.

The first step is to go online or call to get your student's access code to view the files.

1) Go to mylifetouch.com

2) Click on the LIVE CHAT blue button under the contact information in the bottom left-hand side of the screen.

3) Fill in your name, number, and add the Picture day ID number (EVT22XXM3) and type: Can I get the Access Code for my student?

4) They will ask you some questions to verify your relationship for security reasons.

5) Then they will provide the access credentials for you to view the images.

or

If you choose to call to get the access code, you will need to give the event number.

8th-grade event number is EVTKFCBJK

12th-grade event number is EVTTQ3ZZS

Then follow the prompts:

press 6 (K-11th grade students)

press 1 Lifetouch school portraits

press 1 to speak with someone and listen to the message

There may be a long wait time if you use the phone option. Online access code retrieval above is faster.

For ordering:

Enter portrait ID and Access code

Select package

Click the CHANGE button under each sheet to see different backgrounds and additional pose options.

When finished and all items are in your cart and you are at the payment stage, enter your home shipping address to complete the order.

To provide students a flexible, yet rigorous, alternative education solution within a caring community that cultivates success, resilience, and advocacy for themselves and others

Email: efineberg@tustin.k12.ca.us
Website: www.tustinconnect.org
Location: (K-8) 14741 North B Street; (9-12) 1151 San Juan Street
Phone: (714) 430-2052
Twitter: @tustinconnect