I can’t believe it’s happening! We’re starting school on Monday. All of the intense planning is coming to an end, and it’s time to get busy with what we do best, educate your wonderful children. I want you to know we love your children very much, and we are committed to providing the best Distance Learning possible until health conditions change, and we can go back to school in person. I know this isn’t the start any of us wanted, but we are going to make the best of it, and I know we can do it with some patience and hard work!
If there is one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that I have to be flexible. I learned this when I was a new teacher, and I am reminded of it every day as a parent and a school administrator. I know it’s not easy, but I want to ask everyone to be flexible, kind, and understanding as we start the year. There will be some bumps in the road, but we will learn and adapt to whatever happens, always keeping our ultimate goal in mind; to provide high-quality education for every student in our District.
District Back to School Packet: Protecting the environment is essential to us, so we continue to reduce paper use. As a reminder, you no longer receive a printed packet of information and forms from us at the beginning of the school year. Critical information must be verified for every student each school year. To access necessary forms and information, visit our Aeries Parent Portal. In an emergency, and as we move into new learning models, it will be vital for us to communicate with you, and the portal is the place to let us know how to communicate with you. If you need any help or access to a computer, please contact your school for assistance.
Distance Learning: You should have heard from your child’s school by now regarding materials pick up for our Distance Learning program. Families should expect more time for students with online live instruction from a credentialed teacher, common structures across each school and classroom, staff professional development specifically for distance learning, and software enhancements.
UUSD Distance Learning Videos and Information:
Watch a video explaining UUSD Elementary Distance Learning.
Learn more about UUSD Elementary Distance Learning.
Watch a video explaining UUSD Secondary Distance Learning.
Learn more about UUSD Secondary Distance Learning.
Distance Learning Resource Videos for Parents and Guardians:
Watch a video about Google Classroom.
Watch a video about Google Meet.
Social-Emotional Health: If your child is having difficulty dealing with this stressful situation, don’t feel alone. Do not hesitate to reach out for help. For children in our Ukiah Unified schools, you can call your child’s school or e-mail the school counselors for support. View our Social-Emotional and Mental Health Resources. If you are experiencing a crisis, please call the Mendocino County Crisis Hotline at 855-838-0404, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Food Distribution: We are excited to offer free breakfast and lunch this year to every Ukiah Unified student, thanks to a California program. We hope you take advantage of this program so that every student can access healthy, nutritious meals.
Meals will be provided for all UUSD students ONLY every Wednesday at one location, Ukiah High School, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Children do not need to be present. Parents and Guardians who receive meals need to provide their child’s student ID number. If you do not know your child’s student ID number, you can find it on the Aeries Parent Portal.
Children should not pick up food during school hours. We must be able to put the food in the trunk or back of your SUV or truck; we can no longer put food in front or back seats. Please remember to wear a mask and practice physical distancing when picking up food.
Chromebook Insurance: We are offering Chromebook insurance to all UUSD families. $24 will cover a student Chromebook for 12 months. The deadline is September 18, 2020. Click here to apply for Chromebook insurance.
We are here for you and your family! Please do not hesitate to let us know what your needs are! Reach out to your school for more information, or call our District Hotline at 707-472-5003. Thank you for your patience, flexibility, kindness, and understanding. Let's keep working together to create fantastic learning opportunities for our children!