RUSD Family & Community eNews

👋 As the Coordinator of our Special Services Department, I am proud to take on a leadership role in the Redlands Unified School District. 💪 Teamwork within our department is essential to continue building an inclusive and supportive learning environment for students with diverse needs. It takes a dedicated team of office support staff, coordinators, program specialists, and Teachers on Assignment (TOAs) to collaborate effectively with our parents, staff, and students across Redlands Unified. 🤝

By working together, Special Services can share insights, resources, and strategies to enhance instructional practices and student engagement. 🙌 We have several upcoming opportunities to connect with our parents and community through SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee), SEPTA (Special Education Parent Teacher Association), and Coffee Chats.

🗓️ We invite you to join our upcoming meetings as we strive to build a strong community that values diversity & inclusion and aims to provide all our students with a positive educational experience.

💖 SEPTA Support Group: December 17, 2024 at 9 - 11am

💖 SEPTA Support Group: December 19, 2024 at 6 - 8pm

💖 SEPTA Support Group: January 21, 2025 at 9 - 11am

SEPTA Support Group Meetings will be held at Stell Coffee & Tea Co, 1580 Barton Rd. Redlands

☕️ Coffee Chat: January 22, 2025 at 8:30am - 9:30am in the Redlands USD Board Room

🧒 SEPAC: February 20, 2025 at 5 - 6pm in the Redlands USD Board Room

To continue highlighting the importance of attendance, our Communications team has been visiting different sites and student groups to ask, "Why is School Cool?" 🤔 This month, we focused on the fall season and asked students, "What are you thankful for?" 🫶 Hear what they have to say:

Want to hear more from our students about "School is Cool?" Check out what our Crafton Elementary 😺 and Highland Grove Elementary 🐻 students shared with us previously:

• Crafton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2LVTPqonVA
• Highland Grove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kHTdZzn1uA

Redlands High School, Redlands East Valley High School, and Citrus Valley High School recently hosted their College Application Days, providing seniors with dedicated time and assistance to work on their college applications. ✍️ These events offered a supportive environment where students could navigate the often stressful and confusing application process with the help of school counselors, teachers, and staff. 🤲 Over 200 seniors at each school worked hard on applications ranging from our fantastic community colleges to prestigious universities across the country. 🗺️

A heartfelt "thank you!" to everyone who helped make these events such a success. 🙏 Special appreciation goes out to the teachers for encouraging seniors to participate and being flexible with their planning, allowing students to attend the workshops. 🧑‍🏫 The District college partners—including staff from local community colleges and universities—joined the schools during the workshops, providing one-on-one assistance and sharing their expertise on essay writing and financial aid. 🏫 A big thank you to Child Nutrition Services teams who provided delicious snacks and meals for students to enjoy as they worked on their applications. 🍕

Additionally, we are grateful to the recent graduates and volunteers who returned to help current students prepare for their next steps with patience and a positive attitude. 😄

These College Application Days truly showcased the collaborative spirit of RUSD schools and community. By working together, staff provided our seniors with the resources and support they needed during this important time. ⏳ Congratulations to all who participated. Look forward to seeing everyone at graduation! 🧑‍🎓

On November 20, the District celebrated the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) during the annual GIS Day event. The event, organized by the Educational Technology, Innovation, and Accountability Department, was livestreamed at Redlands East Valley High School and featured a fantastic keynote address by Gabe Schine. 👏 This event highlighted how GIS technology helps everyone better understand and navigate the world. 🧭

Zooming in from the East Coast, Gabe shared his unique perspective as both a firefighter 🧑🏼‍🚒 and GIS Analyst. 🧐 His expertise has been instrumental in the development of Watch Duty, an app providing real-time wildfire information to keep communities safe—a resource many relied on during the recent Line Fire. 🔥

Gabe shared his insights into the critical role GIS plays in emergency response and public safety. ⛑️ Students and staff had the opportunity to engage directly, asking questions and expressing their gratitude to Gabe and the team behind Watch Duty for their lifesaving efforts. 💪 This year's GIS Day event was a testament to innovation, education, and the power of technology to make a meaningful difference everywhere. 🌎

🔎 Looking for more photos from recent events? Check out our District Photo Gallery! Families can view and download photos from all events the Communications Department covers. 💾

Visit https://redlandsusd.smugmug.com/

The hour of coding is upon us!

Computer Science Education Week is on December 9th to the 15th! 📆 Students will have the opportunity to do several activities related to coding, engineering, and robotics. 🤖

A great way to explore computer science with your student is to check out www.code.org for some great activities! 🚀

🎬 RUSD's 3rd Annual Film Fest: Is your student interested in making videos, telling stories, or operating a camera? Well, they just might have a chance to see their creation on the big screen at Harkins Theater this April! 🎥 Click on the link if you are interested: bit.ly/Redlandsfilm2025

Finally, from all of us here in Innovation and Technology, we want to wish you a holiday season full of relaxation, rejuvenation, and time with loved ones. 💫

- Jamie Cortz, CTO

The District African American Parent Advisory Council (DAAPAC) aims to create a welcoming space for families, community partners, and school leaders to work together in supporting and uplifting our African American students. 💛 For more information on DAAPAC please visit the DAAPAC Information page on our district website! 🖥️

The District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) is a group of parents, staff, and community members that helps our district improve programs and services for English learners. 🤝 DELAC welcomes families of multilingual learners to learn more about how they can support their students. For more information please visit the DELAC Information page on our website!

The Redlands Unified School District invites parents of students with unique needs to join the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), where they can share ideas, collaborate with other parents, and help improve special education services together! 🙌

Save the dates for future in-person and virtual meetings: February 20, 2025 and April 17, 2025. 📆

Additionally, please join the Special Services Department for their Special Education Parent Coffee Chat from 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM. Meet at the Boardroom on January 22, 2025 and at the District Office Conference Room on April 16, 2025! ☕️

⌛️ After two terms of dedicated service as a Board Trustee, Jim O’Neill is retiring from his role and leaving behind a legacy of commitment to the Redlands Unified School District. 👴🏼 Throughout his tenure, Jim witnessed the remarkable efforts of administrators, teachers, classified staff, parents, students, and fellow trustees, all working tirelessly to ensure a safe, nurturing, and innovative environment for all students. 🤝

Jim expressed deep gratitude to his colleagues for their integrity, collaboration, and shared dedication to making student safety and success the top priorities. 🙏 He praised the teachers and support staff for their unwavering passion, professionalism, and impact on students’ futures, as well as parents and caregivers for their essential role in their children’s educational journeys. 👏 Above all, he recognized the students, whose potential inspires the district’s continuous pursuit of excellence. 🙌

"To the students, you are the future, and it is for you that we strive to build a better, more inclusive, and innovative education environment. We stand behind you and believe in your potential."

While Jim bids farewell to his role as a trustee, he looks forward to remaining an engaged community member, confident in RUSD’s bright future and continued accomplishments. We thank Jim O’Neill for his outstanding service and unwavering support of “Excellence in Education.”

The Redlands Educational Partnership donated $106,000 to support schools, teachers, and students across RUSD. 👏 REP President Jennifer Moore, REP Board Members Mallory Mudge and Linda McCloud, Mathnasium Redlands Member Jack Barton presented the news at the November 12 Board of Education meeting. 📣

💵 This year, 12 principals received grants of up to $2,500 each, empowering them to address specific needs and implement impactful programs at their schools, such as revitalizing their school gardens. 🌱 Additionally, 24 schools were awarded teacher grants of up to $500, providing educators with resources to bring creative and enriching ideas to their classrooms, such as supplies for STEM projects. 🔬

🎉 The District is proud to share that three of our schools—eAcademy, Franklin Elementary, and Judson & Brown Elementary—have earned the prestigious title of Common Sense Media Certified Schools! ✅ This recognition highlights their dedication to equipping students with the tools they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. 🧑‍💻

To achieve this certification, these schools implemented a comprehensive digital citizenship program that emphasizes critical online skills. 🌐 Students learned about essential topics such as online safety, protecting their privacy, communicating respectfully, and managing screen time. 💻 Educators also partnered with families by offering workshops and sharing resources, creating a bridge between classroom learning and healthy technology habits at home. 🤝

The benefits of this achievement for our students are profound. 💪 They are now better prepared to recognize and avoid online risks, such as cyberbullying or misinformation, and have developed a stronger sense of balance when it comes to technology use. ⚖️ Additionally, they’ve gained confidence in using digital tools to explore, learn, and express themselves creatively. 🖼️

We are incredibly proud of the educators, staff, and families at eAcademy, Franklin, and Judson & Brown for their hard work and commitment to helping our students thrive in today’s digital landscape. 👏 Together, we’re building a generation of informed, responsible, and empowered digital citizens. 🙌

📢 We are currently accepting nominations for both classified and certificated employees who have consistently gone above and beyond in their roles. Whether it's a dedicated teacher 🧑‍🏫 who inspires students daily, a compassionate paraprofessional 🤲 who provides invaluable support, or a dependable bus driver 🚌 who ensures the safe transportation of our students, we want to hear about these exceptional individuals! If you know someone who deserves recognition for their outstanding contributions, please click the link and submit your nominations. 🗳️ Let’s come together to celebrate the remarkable individuals who continue to shine and make a positive impact throughout our district. 🙌

Follow these steps:

• 🌐 Go to https://jointotem.com/ca/pta/fifth-district-pta/redlands-council
• 🔍 Search and click on your student's school on the list
• ✅ Click "Join Now" and follow the steps on the next screen!

PTA supports their school sites through fantastic initiatives for families and students! 🍎

Visit our School Site Volunteer information page: https://www.redlandsusd.net/school-site-volunteer-information

A few things you can do as a School Site Volunteer:

• 📝 Help teachers in classrooms
• 🚌 Chaperone field trips
• 🎟️ Help PTA with events during the school day and so on!

Together, we pave the way for a brighter future for our children and community! ✨ 🙌 🎓

Staying informed is key to a smooth school year (for everyone!). Outlined below are ways the district as well as school sites will communicate with you.

🏢 District Communication

The District will send monthly newsletters, letters from the Superintendent, and updates through ParentSquare containing important information and various action items. ParentSquare is also an app you can download on your phone and set up your personal communication preferences. Seeing too many emails? You can adjust your notification preferences to digest mode and only receive one email from both your child(ren)'s school and the district in one readers digest format (click here to see how!). You can also enable text and push notifications (which we recommend in case of emergency). 📲

In an effort to effectively and efficiently communicate with our staff, families, and community members, the Redlands Unified School District has adopted an electronic flyer communication tool, Peachjar. If you have any questions regarding this new digital flyer service, please email peachjar@redlands.k12.ca.us 🍑

The District also uses social media to share positive stories and happenings throughout the district, in addition to important dates and reminders. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn! 📱

🏫 School Site Communication

School site communication varies depending on site and grade level. However, all sites will send out either weekly or monthly newsletter-style communication through ParentSquare. For questions related to school site communication, please reach out to the site directly!

📲 ParentSquare Resources

Here is a link to more information and resources related to ParentSquare. See the contact information below for assistance with your ParentSquare account.

We post new positions regularly! Join our school community by applying here, or share this link with someone who may wish to apply. Call Human Resources at (909) 307-5300 with any questions.

Website: www.redlandsusd.net

Location: 20 West Lugonia Avenue Redlands, CA 92374

Phone: (909) 307-5300

Facebook: facebook.com/RedlandsUSD

Instagram: instagram.com/redlandsusd

X (Formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RedlandsUSD

YouTube: youtube.com/RedlandsUSD Media

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/redlandsusd

Photo Gallery: redlandsusd.smugmug.com

Redlands Unified School District, as a unifying agent of several unique communities rich in local history, culture, and tradition, is committed to preparing students to become productive participants in a diverse, multi-cultural, democratic society through quality education, high expectations, flexible programs and innovative partnerships. Our students will be empowered with the knowledge and commitment necessary to confront the challenges of our changing world, as they become the leaders of the 21st century.