Dear IUSD Community,
On behalf of the IUSD Board of Education and District leadership, we wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving and hope you enjoy the break. We are truly grateful for our students, staff and families, who have been our steadfast partners as we continue to navigate these unchartered waters together. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for the grace, commitment, adaptability and flexibility you have demonstrated.
We would also like to thank you for your diligent efforts to help keep our schools safe. Our staff and students continue to follow guidelines and protocols on our campuses and parents continue to support these important efforts, which are making a difference. According to the California Department of Public Health and other health experts, schools are not the source of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, due to effective mitigation strategies. For more information and ways you can help keep our schools safe and open, please see the following resources:
- California Department of Public Health Travel Advisory
- California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Resource Page
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Page
- Orange County Health Care Agency COVID-19 Resource Page
- IUSD’s Opening and Safety Planning Webpage
- IUSD’s COVID-19 Resource Page
If your holiday plans include travel, please continue to monitor and follow all CDC and California Department of Public Health guidelines, including their recently issued travel advisory, which states, “Persons arriving in California from other states or countries, including returning California residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.” While this is not mandatory, it is recommended to help prevent the transmission of the virus in our community and schools. If your student or a member of your household experiences COVID-19 symptoms, do not send your student to school and contact your physician for next steps.
As has been our practice during this unprecedented time, IUSD will continue to work closely with the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency and will keep our community informed as we have new information. In the meantime, thank you again and best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving break.
Sincerely,
Terry L. Walker
Superintendent of Schools
Irvine Unified School District