ESD Superintendent Update

Welcome to a new school year! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer filled with new fun, adventure, and unforgettable moments! I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to all our students and families–new and returning.

Our district strives for continuous improvement. This year, we will continue to focus on academic excellence, critical thinking, and creativity. Our dedicated teachers and staff have been working diligently over the summer to ensure learning environments are engaging and supportive of each and every student. Throughout the summer, we continued to prepare to welcome students and families to the 2024-25 school year:

• Several school sites have new facility upgrades that will provide improved learning environments to accommodate growing enrollment.

• Administrators and primary teachers attended a summer workshop on our new foundational reading skills curriculum to support our literacy initiative.

• Campus support staff and instructional aides attended training on positive interventions and support, and instructional aides attended additional training on working with students with special needs.

• The Measure I Etiwanda Intermediate School modernization project is underway, with an anticipated completion date for the 2026-27 school year.

• Our weeklong New Teacher Academy welcomed 53 new teachers to our district.

These preparations and initiatives underscore the value we place on our partnerships with our families and our commitment to offering an outstanding educational experience for students.

We look forward to welcoming students and families to school on Monday, August 5, 2024.

Together, let’s make the most of the opportunities ahead.

Charlayne Sprague

Superintendent

We are excited to continue our partnership with our families using Rooms, our two-way communication app. Last school year, 92% of our families actively used this platform with over 950,000 messages exchanged. Over the summer, program enhancements improved the integration of Rooms and the Etiwanda App, making it a one-stop hub for all information. If you are an existing user, there is no need to reactivate your account. Classes will be synced by the end of the day on Monday, August 5.

One of the new features in Rooms, provides a landing page for notifications, "My Notifications," with a single location to catch up on all messages and announcements. Families can easily respond to recent messages without switching classes. Rooms has also improved their photo sharing experience for users. Faster uploads for teachers and a new Gallery View in the Stream makes it easy to swipe through published photos.

Coming Soon! Parents can choose to receive a text message notification of announcements. The message will contain a link to redirect users back into the app to continue the conversation.

If you are new to Etiwanda, follow these directions to get started with Rooms:

1. Download the Etiwanda App: From the App Store or Google Play Store using this link.
2. Activate Your Rooms Account on August 5: By the end of the day, look for a text message with a link to activate your account. Click the link, create a password, and you will be synced with your child's teacher.
3. Set Language Preferences: Adjust your language settings for easy translation.
4. Enable Notifications: Turn on notifications and automatic updates in your phone settings.
5. Rooms is also available on a desktop or laptop through eduRooms.com.

In addition to Rooms, the Etiwanda app can be your hub for everything Etiwanda.

Click on the Menu button for access to:

• Aeries Parent Portal for grades

• Links to Breakfast and Lunch menus and EZ School Pay

• Child Care information

• Live feed on district and school announcements

• Links to Forms and Documents, including the 2024-25 calendar, medication forms, and more.

As the new school year begins, our district is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students during the hottest months of the year. With temperatures often soaring, it’s crucial that we take proactive steps to protect our children from heat-related illnesses. Here are our district’s heat protocols and some helpful tips to keep our students safe and comfortable.

Families can assist in keeping their child hydrated at school by encouraging their children to:

Drink Water Frequently: Personal water containers are allowed at school, and students may access drinking fountains and faucets to refill containers throughout the day.

Wear Appropriate Clothing: Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing helps reflect heat and allows for better air circulation, keeping children cooler.

Use Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen to protect your child’s skin from harmful UV rays.

Bring Cool Snacks: Include fruits like watermelon and cucumbers in your child’s lunch, which can help keep them hydrated.

Know Signs of Heat Stress: Teach children to recognize symptoms like dizziness, nausea, headache, and excessive sweating, and to inform an adult immediately if they feel unwell.

School staff will monitor students for signs of heat stress, and depending on the heat index, we have specific protocols in place to keep our students safe:

When the Heat Index is 90-95 Degrees:

• Schools will provide additional water breaks during extended outdoor activities and Physical Education (PE) classes.

When the Heat Index is 95-99 Degrees:

• Outdoor activities will be reduced and/or moved to shaded areas or indoors.

When the Heat Index is at or above 100 Degrees:

• Schools will implement inclement weather schedules.
• All outdoor activities, including PE, will be restricted to ensure the safety of our students.

Our staff will be monitoring the heat index throughout the day and adjusting activities accordingly. By working together, we can ensure that our students have a safe and enjoyable start to the school year, even during the hottest months. If you have any questions or concerns related to heat protocols, please contact your child's school office.

This summer, we welcomed 53 talented new teachers to our district! These passionate educators bring fresh energy and innovative ideas that will undoubtedly enrich our school community.

To ensure they are fully prepared, our new teachers recently participated in a weeklong New Teacher Academy. This intensive training program covers essential aspects of our district’s curriculum, assessment methods, and strategies for creating effective and engaging classroom environments. Beyond the initial training, teachers new to the teaching profession will continue their training through our comprehensive two-year induction program. This coaching program is designed to provide ongoing support, helping our newest teachers thrive in their roles, maintain resilience, and remain committed to this important profession.

We believe that with the support and guidance provided by our team of experienced teacher coaches, our new teachers will inspire and motivate our students, making this academic year one of the best yet.

Drivers may have noticed the electronic sign on East Ave. south of Banyan, indicating upcoming construction by the Cucamonga Valley Water District. We want to provide a brief update on what to expect.

Starting August 6, 2024, construction will involve utility work and the installation of sanitary sewer lines along East Ave. The project will affect different sections of East Ave. over the coming months, with the installation process being similar to recent work on Rochester Ave. Please be aware that K-Rail barriers will be set up in the center of East Ave. during this time, which may limit left-hand turns to and from our facilities.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we partner with the Cucamonga Valley Water District and the City of Rancho Cucamonga on these temporary construction locations. Our primary goal is to ensure the safety and accessibility of our school community throughout this period.

Artificial intelligence enables us to communicate in multiple languages, and I’m excited to explore this new technology to better serve our families.

San Bernardino family-friendly events that are sponsored by county departments including the Library, Museum, Regional Parks, Special Districts and more.

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Website www.etiwanda.k12.ca.us