We hope you are enjoying your long weekend. The school will host its annual Snow Day on Friday. Students will have the chance to play and slide down a small snow hill. It is a fun day for our students and staff alike! The schedule of the day is listed below if you would like to join your student at their designated time.

Last Friday a district communication was sent regarding power outages in the community. The content is also included below. The essential information is that schools will remain open even during power outages. As these PSPS outages become more common, the district needed to adjust the protocols we had in place. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out.

This week you should receive an intent to return form for the 25-26 school year. It sounds early, but we are already looking ahead to next year and what our staffing needs will be. We greatly appreciate you returning the form and filling out one for each child you have currently enrolled at Santa Susana.

Please keep reading for additional information and updates.

Stacy Walker, Principal

Santa Susana Elementary

stacy.walker@simivalleyusd.org

Al lado de esta página, uno tiene la opción de elegir la opción de "translate" para poder leer la información en español.

Haga clic en el boletín en su correo electrónico. Se abrirá el boletín en el sitio web. Puede hacer clic en traducir en la parte inferior.

8:40- Ms. Heit

9:10- Mrs. Rasmussen and Mrs. Petrula

9:40- Mrs. Otis and 4th graders from Mrs. Drury

10:10- Mrs. Avila and 5th graders from Mrs. Drury

10:35- Mrs. Teal

11:05- Mrs. Carrillos

11:30- Mrs. Jones

12:00- Mr. Ochoa and Mrs. Lachman

12:30- Ms. Vorgitch

1:00- Mrs. Roberts and 2nd graders from Ms. Magadan

1:30- Ms. Chung and 3rd graders from Ms. Magadan

2:00- Mrs. Nuttall

Friday, January 17, 2025

Dear Simi Valley Schools Families,

I hope this message finds you well and that we are emerging from the dangerous weather conditions we’ve recently faced. I recognize that these circumstances have caused significant stress, fear, and frustration throughout our community and across Southern California.

For many in our District’s community, the added challenge of school closures due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) has only intensified these difficulties. In previous years, we adopted the practice of closing schools without power when we were informed ahead of time, and it worked well in those circumstances. However, as PSPS events have become more frequent and extended, this practice has also created additional burdens for our families, students, and staff.

To better serve our community during these power outages, we have reviewed and updated our protocols. Effective Tuesday, January 21, 2025, we will keep schools open and operational during PSPS events, assuming no additional safety concerns arise. This applies even if a PSPS occurs before the start of the school day. Should any of our schools be impacted by a PSPS, we will communicate with the impacted school families directly and our school(s) will remain open to continue serving our students.

Over the past two years, we have made significant improvements to our schools’ ability to maintain operations during outages by installing Tesla battery systems at 13 of our 28 campuses. These battery systems were installed at our largest and most strategically located campuses with the understanding that these schools could serve as emergency evacuation centers if necessary. During recent outages, we assessed the performance of these systems and made adjustments to enhance their reliability.

The following schools have Tesla battery systems:

• Atherwood Elementary School
• Big Springs Elementary School
• Berylwood Elementary School
• Garden Grove Elementary School
• Hollow Hills Elementary School
• Hillside Middle School
• Royal High School
• Santa Susana High School
• Simi Valley High School
• Sinaloa Middle School
• Valley View Middle School
• Vista Fundamental School
• White Oak Elementary School

In addition to the battery systems, we also have a limited number of generators to provide backup power for essential operations, such as keeping the school’s main office running.

There have been questions regarding what will happen if we have too many missed days of school? The state does require schools to provide a certain amount of “instructional minutes” to students. If we do not meet that requirement, we can apply for a waiver from the state for emergency situations. There is no guarantee that the state will grant a waiver to us, and if they do not grant us the waiver for that lost time, we may have to adjust the school year calendar or face a fine.

We understand that power outages present unique challenges, and we’ve developed a set of contingency plans and measures to ensure that schools remain open and continue to serve students to the best of our ability. These are designed with the safety and well-being of students as our top priority.

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect if there is a power outage at one of our schools:

Attendance and Lunch: We will manually track attendance and lunch counts.
Meals: If hot meals cannot be served, we will ensure cold meals are available.
Bathroom/Locker Rooms: We will designate bathrooms with natural light and provide additional safety measures. Locker rooms will be closed.
Fire Safety: We will conduct fire watch protocols, ensuring the safety of all students and staff.
Air Quality: Real-time air quality data will be monitored, and restrictions will be implemented if necessary.
Instruction: Offline lessons will be provided, using printed materials, adopted textbooks, hands-on activities, and whiteboards to keep students engaged.
Transportation: We will assess transportation routes and communicate any schedule changes as soon as possible.
Medical/Special Needs: We will ensure that students with medical or special needs are supported with trained staff and the necessary equipment.
Temperature Management: If needed, we will communicate any necessary steps for students to dress appropriately for comfort.
After-School Care: Onsite care providers will be coordinated to ensure safety during outages.
Special Events/Activities: We will evaluate and communicate changes or cancellations of extracurricular activities or events if power disruptions affect their viability.

We understand that every situation may require adjustments, and we will continue to update our measures and communicate any changes as needed. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenges together. Our commitment remains to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all of our students.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Your continued dedication to our students and schools make a real difference, and together, we will continue to create an environment where learning and safety go hand in hand.

Sincerely,

Dr. Hani Youssef
Superintendent of Schools

Don't forget to follow us on Social Media for updates and info.

PTA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santasusanaelementarypta/

PTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSEMustangsPTA/

Every year at Santa Susana we use the Core Values program. We discuss a value each month and use this as part of our Student of the Month program. This month our value is RESILIENCE.

School of Choice continues across the Simi Valley Unified School District for the 25-26 school year. Information about Santa Susana is listed in the slide deck below. Enrollment for students that live in our area of residence will begin in early February.

Enrollment for Transitional Kindergarten students (students that are 4 years old by 9/01/25) continues to be accepted at the District Office.

HILLSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Homeshow Showcase

Thursday, January 30th

5:30PM

SINALOA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Sinaloa Showcase- Already held

VALLEY VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

VVMS Showcase

Wednesday, January 29th

5:30PM

1/20- NO School- MLK Day

1/23- VAPA Day (Art Teachers)

1/24- SNOW Day

1/27-1/31- Kindness Week

1/28- PTA Assembly- Dairy Council

School Site Council- 3:00 PM

1/31- Fire Drill- Time TBD

School begins daily at 8:30 AM.

Dismissal is at 2:39 PM.

The school opens for students at 8:00 daily.

We provide breakfast service for any student that wishes to eat from 8:00 AM- 8:20 AM.

The office is open daily from 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. We are here to assist you!

(805) 520-6765

The contact information of our office staff members is listed below.

Ms. Hunter- Office Manager

wendy.hunter@simivalleyusd.org

Mrs. Blackburn- Student Attendance

kristina.blackburn@simivalleyusd.org

Mrs. Mancia- Community Liaison

ashly.mancia@simivalleyusd.org

School Vision

The Santa Susana community will help students become their best selves.

Email: stacy.walker@simivalleyusd.org
Website: https://santasusana.simivalleyusd.org/
Location: 4300 Apricot Road, Simi Valley, CA, USA
Phone: (805)520-6765
Facebook: facebook.com/Santasusanaelementary
Twitter: @ssemustangs