- Tempe Union High School District
- COVID-19
Parent Letters - COVID-19
-
TUHSD 2.17.22 | Face Masks Now Optional Indoors
Dear TUHSD Families,
Over the course of this school year our community has come together to keep one another safe and healthy. We have also carefully followed the safety measures in our Health Mitigation Plan. As a result of our metrics being in a favorable position and in consultation with our TUHSD Governing Board, beginning Tuesday, February 22, 2022, face masks will be optional indoors on all TUHSD campuses. Some of our families will choose to wear masks indoors and some of our families will not. At this time, both scenarios are appropriate and both scenarios need to be honored.As a reminder, face coverings remain mandatory for students and staff on all school buses and District transportation, per a current federal order.
We strongly encourage all students and staff to continue to follow the recommended guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to fight the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. This includes, but is not limited to:- Taking advantage of vaccine opportunities, if you are eligible
- Practicing physical distancing to the extent possible
- Self-monitoring for signs of illness and staying home if you aren’t feeling well
- Practicing proper hygiene and being mindful of your own personal space
From the start of the pandemic, TUHSD has followed scientific data and evidence - this includes CDC guidance, consultation with MCDPH, vaccination events and awareness, monitoring of transmission levels in our communities, and successful implementation of our mitigation strategies. We will continue with this same approach. As we have seen throughout the past two years, it is important that we stay flexible in order to meet any challenge that may arise. This could include the use of face coverings indoors for a period of time should community spread become substantial or high, as defined by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH).
I appreciate your support and look forward to a positive and safe second half of this semester. Let’s end the school year strong!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
SuperintendentESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD,
En el transcurso de este año escolar, nuestra comunidad se ha unido para mantenerse seguros y saludables unos a otros. También hemos seguido cuidadosamente las medidas de seguridad en nuestro Plan de Mitigación de la Salud. Como resultado de que nuestras métricas están en una posición favorable y en consulta con nuestra Junta de Gobierno de TUHSD, a partir del martes 22 de febrero de 2022, las máscaras faciales serán opcionales en el interior de todos los campus de TUHSD. Algunas de nuestras familias optarán por usar máscaras en el interior y otras no. En este momento, ambos escenarios son apropiados y ambos escenarios deben respetarse.
Como recordatorio, las cubiertas faciales siguen siendo obligatorias para los estudiantes y el personal en todos los autobuses escolares y el transporte del Distrito, según una orden federal actual.
Recomendamos encarecidamente a todos los estudiantes y al personal que continúen siguiendo las pautas recomendadas por el Centro para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) para combatir la propagación de COVID-19 en nuestras comunidades.
Esto incluye, pero no se limita a:- Aprovechar las oportunidades de vacunación, si es elegible
- Practicar el distanciamiento físico en la medida de lo posible
- Controlarse a sí mismo para detectar signos de enfermedad y quedarse en casa si no se siente bien
- Practicar una higiene adecuada y ser consciente de su propio espacio personal.
Desde el comienzo de la pandemia, TUHSD ha seguido datos y pruebas científicas, lo que incluye orientación de los CDC, consulta con MCDPH, eventos de vacunación y concientización, monitoreo de los niveles de transmisión en nuestras comunidades e implementación exitosa de nuestras estrategias de mitigación. Continuaremos con este mismo enfoque. Como hemos visto a lo largo de los últimos dos años, es importante que nos mantengamos flexibles para enfrentar cualquier desafío que pueda surgir. Esto podría incluir el uso de cobertores faciales en interiores durante un período de tiempo en caso de que la propagación comunitaria sea sustancial o alta, según lo define el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa (MCDPH).Agradezco su apoyo y espero tener una segunda mitad positiva y segura de este semestre. ¡Terminemos el año escolar con fuerza!
Atentamente,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 1.14.22 – TUHSD | Superintendent Update - Week 2
January 14, 2022
Dear TUHSD Families:
As we end the second week of the semester, I want to provide you with an update on our COVID-19 metrics and emergency learning contingency planning. In addition to the troubling upwards trend of Maricopa County’s metrics (click here for County dashboard), the metrics for students and staff within our District are at an all-time high (click here for TUHSD dashboard).
I want to be very clear - we do not have any intention of returning to a District-wide virtual learning model. Any rumors you may have heard to that effect are untrue. However, it is our responsibility as a District to plan for the worst and expect the best. Just as we have emergency plans for fire incidents and lockdowns, it is critical that we are prepared to face this situation as well, should it arise.
At a District and site level, administrators have worked to prepare learning contingency plans for schools to shift their learning models to hybrid or fully virtual, if staffing levels fall below a certain threshold. If there is a shortage of staff available to provide instruction and/or transportation, for example, we would be fully prepared for a shift to virtual learning for a short period of time, whether that is with a program, a department or even with a particularly impacted bus route.
In the event that this occurs on your student’s campus, you would receive the appropriate communication and your student(s) would have links available in Schoology for them to access.
It is important to note once again that we do not have any plans of going back to virtual learning District-wide. The continuity of learning for our students is critical to their success. But failing to prepare for an emergency situation with appropriate learning transition plans would be irresponsible.
We appreciate your support during this time. Please stay safe.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD:
Ahora que terminamos la segunda semana del semestre, quiero brindarles una actualización sobre nuestras métricas de COVID-19 y la planificación de contingencia de aprendizaje de emergencia. Además de la preocupante tendencia al alza de las métricas del condado de Maricopa (haga clic aquí para ver el panel del condado), las métricas para los estudiantes y el personal dentro de nuestro distrito están en su punto más alto (haga clic aquí para ver el panel de TUHSD).
Quiero ser muy claro: no tenemos ninguna intención de volver a un modelo de aprendizaje virtual en todo el Distrito. Cualquier rumor que haya escuchado en ese sentido es falso. Sin embargo, es nuestra responsabilidad como Distrito planificar para lo peor y esperar lo mejor. Así como tenemos planes de emergencia para incidentes de incendio y cierres, es fundamental que estemos preparados para enfrentar esta situación también, en caso de que surja.
A nivel de distrito y sitio, los administradores han trabajado para preparar planes de contingencia de aprendizaje para que las escuelas cambien sus modelos de aprendizaje a híbridos o completamente virtuales, si los niveles de personal caen por debajo de cierto umbral. Si hay escasez de personal disponible para brindar instrucción y/o transporte, por ejemplo, estaríamos completamente preparados para un cambio al aprendizaje virtual por un corto período de tiempo, ya sea con un programa, un departamento o incluso con un ruta de autobús particularmente afectada.
En caso de que esto ocurra en el campus de su estudiante, recibirá la comunicación adecuada y sus estudiantes tendrán enlaces disponibles en Schoology para que puedan acceder.
Es importante señalar una vez más que no tenemos planes de volver al aprendizaje virtual en todo el Distrito. La continuidad del aprendizaje de nuestros estudiantes es fundamental para su éxito. Pero no prepararse para una situación de emergencia con planes de transición de aprendizaje apropiados sería irresponsable.
Agradecemos su apoyo durante este tiempo. Por favor, mantente a salvo.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 1.3.22 - TUHSD | Second Semester & Safety
Dear TUHSD Families,
I hope you and your student(s) had a good winter break, with opportunities to rest and renew. We look forward to a positive and successful second semester for all.
As we are seeing the initial impact of the COVID-19/Omicron surge in our area, I wanted to take a moment to address some concerns.
TUHSD is in a fortunate position because we have taken precautionary steps throughout this pandemic, via our health mitigation plan and contact tracing procedures, among other practices. Our Health Mitigation Plan (weblink) has been updated to reflect important information that the CDC released over the holidays, and our site admin teams, nurses, and contact tracers are all working hard to keep our school communities safe, as they have been from the beginning of the pandemic.
We remain confident in our ability to keep our students and families safe during this time. We all have a role to play and I ask that you continue to be mindful of the day-to-day procedures that have been put in place to protect your student(s). Please remember that masks are still mandatory in indoor settings. I also encourage you to take advantage of vaccine/booster opportunities, if eligible. As a district, we have held many opportunities for our families to become vaccinated and we will continue to make these opportunities available. The only way we will overcome this pandemic is if everyone does their part.
I am confident in the measures we have taken up to this point and we will continue to review the data as it becomes available in the coming days and weeks so that we can continue to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and families.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
SuperintendentESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD,
Espero que usted y su (s) estudiante (s) hayan tenido unas buenas vacaciones de invierno, con oportunidades para descansar y renovarse. Esperamos tener un segundo semestre positivo y exitoso para todos.
Como estamos viendo el impacto inicial del aumento de COVID-19 / Omicrom en nuestra área, quería tomarme un momento para abordar algunas inquietudes.
TUHSD se encuentra en una posición afortunada porque hemos tomado medidas de precaución durante esta pandemia, a través de nuestro plan de mitigación de la salud y procedimientos de rastreo de contactos, entre otras prácticas. Nuestro Plan de mitigación de la salud (enlace web) se ha actualizado para reflejar la información importante que los CDC publicaron durante las vacaciones, y nuestros equipos de administración del sitio, enfermeras y rastreadores de contactos están trabajando arduamente para mantener seguras a nuestras comunidades escolares, como lo han hecho desde el comienzo de la pandemia.
Seguimos confiando en nuestra capacidad para mantener seguros a nuestros estudiantes y familias durante este tiempo. Todos tenemos un papel que desempeñar y les pido que sigan siendo conscientes de los procedimientos diarios que se han implementado para proteger a sus estudiantes. Recuerde que las máscaras siguen siendo obligatorias en interiores. También le animo a que aproveche las oportunidades de vacunas / refuerzos, si es elegible. Como distrito, hemos tenido muchas oportunidades para que nuestras familias se vacunen y continuaremos haciendo que estas oportunidades estén disponibles. La única forma de superar esta pandemia es si todos hacen su parte.
Confío en las medidas que hemos tomado hasta este momento y continuaremos revisando los datos a medida que estén disponibles en los próximos días y semanas para que podamos continuar garantizando la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes, personal y familias.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 12.16.21 - TUHSD | Second Semester Mask Policy
December 16, 2021
Dear TUHSD Families,
As we begin the second semester of the school year, Tempe Union High School District will continue to require face coverings indoors at all of our school sites as well as the District Office.
Earlier in the fall, we were optimistic that we could begin the second semester with a mask optional policy. Ultimately, keeping students in class, and safe, with an uninterrupted learning experience is our top priority. When universal indoor masking is enforced, the CDC recommends that schools maintain at least three feet of physical distance between students to reduce transmission. If indoor masking is removed at this time, the distance is increased to six feet which would result in more students being required to isolate/quarantine and stay home when exposed, as contact tracing is conducted. Our priority is to maintain a continuity of programming for all instruction and activities.
Additionally, we have estimated that only 37% of our students are vaccinated, District-wide. Positive cases are occurring regularly on our campuses, and our District-wide COVID dashboard continues to be updated on a rolling basis as contact tracing is completed. Due to open enrollment laws in Arizona, TUHSD has students from well beyond our district borders, including areas with higher levels of community spread. Reviewing information from all enrolled zip codes is a key variable in our review of the data.
Finally, after reviewing the most recently available data from the Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County Department of Public Health, the metrics continue to place our District in the “High Transmission” category.
Report courtesy of Maricopa Department of Public HealthWhat this means:
- Face coverings will continue to be required indoors at all of our school sites
- Face coverings will continue to be required on school buses and District transportation, per a current federal order
- Face coverings are not required while outdoors
We strongly encourage all students and staff to follow all of the recommended guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to fight the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Taking advantage of vaccine opportunities, if you are eligible
- Practicing physical distancing to the extent possible
- Self-monitoring for signs of illness and staying home if you aren’t feeling well
- Practicing proper hygiene and being mindful of your own personal space
As always, for the latest updates, please visit our TUHSD Health & Safety page.
We will continue to closely monitor the metrics to find the right opportunity to make masks optional for our students, but for now, we believe that continuing to require masking indoors will help keep our entire community safe and ensure a consistent learning experience for our students. We appreciate your support and look forward to a positive and safe beginning to the second semester.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD,
Al comenzar el segundo semestre del año escolar, el Distrito de Escuelas Secundarias de Tempe Union continuará requiriendo que se cubran la cara en el interior de todas nuestras escuelas, así como en la Oficina del Distrito.
A principios del otoño, estábamos optimistas de que podríamos comenzar el segundo semestre con una política de máscara opcional. En última instancia, nuestra principal prioridad es mantener a los estudiantes en clase y seguros, con una experiencia de aprendizaje ininterrumpida. Cuando se aplica el enmascaramiento interior universal, los CDC recomiendan que las escuelas mantengan al menos tres pies de distancia física entre los estudiantes para reducir la transmisión. Si se quita el enmascaramiento interior en este momento, la distancia aumenta a seis pies, lo que resultaría en que más estudiantes se aislen / pongan en cuarentena y se queden en casa cuando estén expuestos, ya que se realiza el rastreo de contactos. Nuestra prioridad es mantener la continuidad de la programación de todas las instrucciones y actividades.
Además, hemos estimado que solo el 37% de nuestros estudiantes están vacunados en todo el distrito. Los casos positivos ocurren con regularidad en nuestros campus, y nuestro panel de COVID en todo el distrito se sigue actualizando de forma continua a medida que se completa el seguimiento de contactos. Debido a las leyes de inscripción abierta en Arizona, TUHSD tiene estudiantes de mucho más allá de las fronteras de nuestro distrito, incluidas áreas con niveles más altos de difusión comunitaria. Revisar la información de todos los códigos postales inscritos es una variable clave en nuestra revisión de los datos.
Finalmente, después de revisar los datos disponibles más recientemente del Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona y el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa, las métricas continúan ubicando a nuestro Distrito en la categoría de “Transmisión Alta”.
Informe cortesía del Departamento de Salud Pública de Maricopa
Lo que esto significa:
Se seguirá requiriendo cubrirse la cara en el interior de todas nuestras escuelas.
Se seguirán requiriendo cubiertas para la cara en los autobuses escolares y el transporte del Distrito, según una orden federal vigente.
No es necesario cubrirse la cara cuando se está al aire libreRecomendamos encarecidamente a todos los estudiantes y al personal que sigan todas las pautas recomendadas por el Centro para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) para combatir la propagación de COVID-19 en nuestras comunidades. Esto incluye, pero no se limita a:
- Aprovechar las oportunidades de vacunas, si es elegible
- Practicar el distanciamiento físico en la medida de lo posible
- Autocontrol para detectar signos de enfermedad y quedarse en casa si no se siente bien
- Practicar una higiene adecuada y ser consciente de su propio espacio personal.
Como siempre, para conocer las últimas actualizaciones, visite nuestra página de salud y seguridad de TUHSD.
Continuaremos monitoreando de cerca las métricas para encontrar la oportunidad adecuada para hacer que las máscaras sean opcionales para nuestros estudiantes, pero por ahora creemos que continuar requiriendo enmascaramiento en interiores ayudará a mantener a toda nuestra comunidad segura y garantizará una experiencia de aprendizaje constante para nuestros estudiantes. Agradecemos su apoyo y esperamos un comienzo positivo y seguro del segundo semestre.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 9.27.21 - TUHSD | Update on Face Coverings
Dear TUHSD Families,
Please be advised that Tempe Union High School District will continue to require face coverings indoors at all of our school sites as well as the District Office.
A court ruling earlier today determined that the Arizona ban on school face covering requirements is unconstitutional and will not go into effect on September 29 as previously announced. Although there will likely be an appeal to this ruling, for the time being, TUHSD will keep all safety measures in place, including masking indoors. Currently, both the Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County Department of Public Health metrics place our District in the “High Transmission” category, and we believe that continuing to require indoor masking will help keep our entire community safe, along with continuing to follow our District’s Health Mitigation Plan.
What this means:- Face coverings will continue to be required indoors at all of our school sites
- Face coverings will continue to be required on school buses and District transportation, per a standing federal order
- Face coverings are not required while outdoors
We strongly encourage all students and staff to follow the recommended guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to fight the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. This includes, but is not limited to:- Taking advantage of vaccine opportunities, if you are eligible
- Practicing physical distancing to the extent possible
- Self-monitoring for signs of illness and staying home if you aren’t feeling well
- Practicing proper hygiene and being mindful of your own personal space
We will continue to provide masks to any student who needs one. As always, for the latest updates, please visit https://www.tempeunion.org/
Health-Safety .
We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing a positive and safe school year.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD,
Tenga en cuenta que el Distrito de Escuelas Secundarias de Tempe Union seguirá requiriendo que se cubran la cara en el interior de todos nuestros planteles escolares, así como en la Oficina del Distrito.
Un fallo de la corte determinó hoy que la prohibición de Arizona sobre los requisitos para cubrir las caras escolares es inconstitucional y no entrará en vigencia el 29 de septiembre como se anunció anteriormente. Aunque probablemente habrá una apelación a esta decisión, por el momento, TUHSD mantendrá todas las medidas de seguridad en su lugar, incluido el enmascaramiento en el interior. Actualmente, tanto el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona como las métricas del Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa colocan a nuestro Distrito en la categoría de "Alta Transmisión", y creemos que continuar requiriendo enmascaramiento en interiores ayudará a mantener segura a toda nuestra comunidad, además de seguir cumpliendo el Plan de Mitigación de Salud de nuestro Distrito.
Lo que esto significa:- Se seguirá requiriendo cubrirse la cara en el interior de todos nuestros planteles escolares.
- Se seguirán requiriendo cubrimientos faciales en los autobuses escolares y el transporte del Distrito, según una orden federal vigente.
- No es necesario cubrirse la cara cuando se está al aire libre
Recomendamos encarecidamente a todos los estudiantes y al personal que sigan las pautas recomendadas por el Centro para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) para combatir la propagación de COVID-19 en nuestras comunidades. Esto incluye, pero no se limita a:
- Practicar el distanciamiento físico en la medida de lo posible
- Aprovechar las oportunidades de vacunas, si es elegible
- Autocontrol para detectar signos de enfermedad y quedarse en casa si no se siente bien
- Practicar una higiene adecuada y ser consciente de su propio espacio personal.
Continuaremos proporcionando máscaras a cualquier estudiante que las necesite. Como siempre, para obtener las últimas actualizaciones, visite https://www.tempeunion.org/
Health-Safety .
Agradecemos su apoyo y esperamos continuar con un año escolar positivo y seguro.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 9.20.21 - TUHSD | Sept. Update from Superintendent, Dr. Mendivil
Dear TUHSD Families,
Today marks the start of our eighth week of the school year - with only two weeks left until Fall Break. I know there have been bumps along the way but I am so pleased that our school year has progressed largely uninterrupted and that we have our students back on campus to learn.
That being said, over the past few weeks, it has become apparent that students are having challenges and complications with returning to a regular schedule. We know that there are long-term social and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the overall disruption to our lives. It is taking longer for students to become acclimated to being in school every day with all of their peers. We are seeing a higher number of discipline issues on campuses that are rooted in disrespect. We are also seeing a fundamental lack of respect for our teachers and staff. Behaving with integrity and treating others with kindness and dignity are important core values for Tempe Union.
I need your help. It is so important that we all come together and practice kindness and respect towards others, and remember the social and behavioral norms that are expected of all of us. As a reminder, our student handbook outlines our expectations for our students while they are on campus and participating in activities/athletics. Our number one expectation for our students is respectful behavior and to treat others with dignity, consideration and kindness.
Families and parents, you are the most important role model in your student’s life. Please let your children see you upholding these behaviors and core values. Our students look to the adults in their life to set a positive example and that includes all of us.
Please know that we understand how difficult the past year and a half has been for our families. We have resources available for you, including an upcoming series of workshops for parents in collaboration with the City of Tempe.
A brief survey has been developed to ensure that these workshops will best meet your needs. Please take a few moments to give us feedback so we can make sure that we are providing the best possible resources to you and your family.
Please click here to take the workshop survey.
When we demonstrate the expectations we have for our students, these challenging times will pass. I know we can achieve this when we work together. I know these have been, and continue to be, difficult times. We are all in this together.
Thank you, for all that you do.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
SuperintendentESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD,
Hoy marca el comienzo de nuestra octava semana del año escolar, con solo dos semanas para las vacaciones de otoño. Sé que ha habido obstáculos en el camino, pero estoy muy contento de que nuestro año escolar haya progresado en gran medida sin interrupciones y que tengamos a nuestros estudiantes de regreso en el campus para aprender.
Dicho esto, durante las últimas semanas, se ha hecho evidente que los estudiantes están teniendo desafíos y complicaciones para regresar a un horario regular. Sabemos que hay efectos sociales y emocionales a largo plazo de la pandemia de COVID-19 y la interrupción general de nuestras vidas. A los estudiantes les está tomando más tiempo aclimatarse a estar en la escuela todos los días con todos sus compañeros. Estamos viendo un mayor número de problemas de disciplina en los campus que tienen su origen en la falta de respeto. También estamos viendo una falta fundamental de respeto por nuestros maestros y personal. Comportarse con integridad y tratar a los demás con amabilidad y dignidad son valores fundamentales importantes para Tempe Union.
Necesito tu ayuda. Es muy importante que todos nos reunamos y practiquemos la bondad y el respeto hacia los demás, y recordemos las normas sociales y de comportamiento que se esperan de todos nosotros. Como recordatorio, nuestro manual del estudiante describe nuestras expectativas para nuestros estudiantes mientras están en el campus y participan en actividades / atletismo. Nuestra expectativa número uno para nuestros estudiantes es un comportamiento respetuoso y tratar a los demás con dignidad, consideración y amabilidad.
Familias y padres, ustedes son el modelo a seguir más importante en la vida de su estudiante. Deje que sus hijos lo vean defendiendo estos comportamientos y valores fundamentales. Nuestros estudiantes buscan a los adultos en su vida para dar un ejemplo positivo y eso nos incluye a todos.
Por favor, sepa que entendemos lo difícil que ha sido el último año y medio para nuestras familias. Tenemos recursos disponibles para usted, incluida una próxima serie de talleres para padres en colaboración con la ciudad de Tempe.
Se ha desarrollado una breve encuesta para asegurar que estos talleres satisfagan mejor sus necesidades. Tómese unos minutos para darnos su opinión para que podamos asegurarnos de que estamos brindando los mejores recursos posibles para usted y su familia.
Haga clic aquí para realizar la encuesta del taller.
Cuando demostremos las expectativas que tenemos para nuestros estudiantes, estos tiempos desafiantes pasarán. Sé que podemos lograrlo cuando trabajamos juntos. Sé que estos han sido y siguen siendo tiempos difíciles. Estamos todos juntos en esto.
Gracias por todo lo que haces.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 8.16.21 - Face Coverings Required at TUHSD | Message from Superintendent, Dr. Mendivil
TUHSD Families,
Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, August 17, 2021, the Tempe Union High School District will require face coverings indoors at all of our school sites as well as the District Office.
A court ruling earlier today determined the Arizona ban on school face covering requirements is not currently in effect, and school districts are able to exercise local control over safety mitigation strategies. As a result of the level of positive COVID cases we are seeing in our schools, along with the Arizona Department of Health Services metrics that place our District in the “High Transmission” category, we believe that taking this step temporarily will help keep our entire community safe, along with continuing to adhere to our District’s Health Mitigation Plan.
What this means:- Face coverings are required indoors at all of our school sites, beginning tomorrow
- Face coverings are required on school buses and District transportation, per a standing federal order
- Face coverings are not required while outdoors
We will continue to provide masks to any student who needs one. As always, for the latest updates, please visit https://www.tempeunion.org/
Health-Safety .
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Familias de TUHSD,
A partir de mañana, martes 17 de agosto de 2021, el Distrito de Escuelas Secundarias de Tempe Union requerirá que se cubran la cara en el interior de todas nuestras escuelas, así como en la Oficina del Distrito.
Un fallo de la corte determinó hoy que la prohibición de Arizona sobre los requisitos de cobertura facial escolar no está actualmente en vigor, y los distritos escolares pueden ejercer control local sobre las estrategias de mitigación de seguridad. Como resultado del nivel de casos positivos de COVID que estamos viendo en nuestras escuelas, junto con las métricas del Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona que colocan a nuestro Distrito en la categoría de "Transmisión Alta", creemos que tomar este paso temporalmente ayudará a mantener nuestra totalidad seguro para la comunidad, además de seguir cumpliendo con el Plan de mitigación de la salud de nuestro distrito.
Lo que esto significa:- Se requiere cubrirse la cara en el interior de todas nuestras escuelas, a partir de mañana.
- Este requisito se aplica a todos los estudiantes, todos los miembros del personal y todos los visitantes.
- Se requieren cubiertas para la cara en los autobuses escolares y el transporte del Distrito, según una orden federal vigente.
- No se requiere que se cubra la cara cuando se está al aire libre, sin embargo, los CDC recomiendan que, independientemente del estado de vacunación, las personas usen máscaras cuando estén en entornos al aire libre con mucha gente o cuando estén en contacto sostenido con otras personas.
Continuaremos proporcionando máscaras a cualquier estudiante que las necesite. Como siempre, para obtener las últimas actualizaciones, visite https://www.tempeunion.org/
Health-Safety .
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 8.6.21 - TUHSD | Update on Health & Safety - Message from Superintendent, Dr. Mendivil
Update on Health & Safety at TUHSD
August 6, 2021
Dear TUHSD Families,
The first week of school has brought our students back to campuses with the opportunity to reunite and re-engage with their teachers and friends. It is one of our top priorities that we build strong school communities where students can feel engaged and connected with their peers and teachers.
We must also acknowledge that we have seen a number of COVID-19 cases on our campuses. These cases are primarily due to household exposures and affect unvaccinated students and their families. Having our students in school is critical for their continued success.
Tempe Union takes the health and safety of our community very seriously and we are taking every possible measure to keep our students in school. We need our families to do the same.
As such, TUHSD expects that all students and staff will follow the recommended guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to fight the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, which directly impacts our schools, programs, and ultimately our students. This includes, but is not limited to:- Taking advantage of vaccine opportunities, if you are eligible
- Universal indoor masking by all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to our schools, regardless of vaccination status
- Practicing physical distancing to the extent possible
- Self-monitoring for signs of illness and staying home if you aren’t feeling well
- Practicing proper hygiene and being mindful of your own personal space
Following this guidance will be the best way to ensure that we are able to minimize spread in our communities, and that students will be able to continue with their academics, activities, and athletics.
We also ask our families to make themselves familiar with our Health Mitigation Plan. In light of our current COVID-19 metrics, we will review and monitor this plan on a continual basis to ensure the health and safety of our community. These measures do make a difference.
We continue to monitor levels of community transmission and report out weekly, in conjunction with data releases from the Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County Department of Public Health. We encourage you to visit our Health & Safety page, where the weekly reports are housed along with our District-wide COVID-19 dashboard, which tracks positive cases by school site. We will also be updating our COVID-19 FAQ page on a rolling basis so that families have an opportunity to have essential information at their fingertips.
It takes all of us working together to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our school communities. We appreciate your support and look forward to an excellent school year.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD,
La primera semana de clases ha traído a nuestros estudiantes de regreso a los campus con la oportunidad de reunirse y volver a interactuar con sus maestros y amigos. Una de nuestras principales prioridades es construir comunidades escolares sólidas donde los estudiantes puedan sentirse comprometidos y conectados con sus compañeros y maestros.
También debemos reconocer que hemos visto varios casos de COVID-19 en nuestros campus. Estos casos se deben principalmente a exposiciones en el hogar y afectan a estudiantes no vacunados y sus familias. Tener a nuestros estudiantes en la escuela es fundamental para su éxito continuo.
Tempe Union se toma muy en serio la salud y la seguridad de nuestra comunidad y estamos tomando todas las medidas posibles para mantener a nuestros estudiantes en la escuela. Necesitamos que nuestras familias hagan lo mismo.
Como tal, TUHSD espera que todos los estudiantes y el personal sigan las pautas recomendadas del Centro para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) para combatir la propagación de COVID-19 en nuestras comunidades, lo que afecta directamente a nuestras escuelas, programas y, en última instancia, a nuestros estudiantes. Esto incluye, pero no se limita a:- Aprovechando las oportunidades de vacunas, si es elegible
- Enmascaramiento interior universal por parte de todos los estudiantes, personal, maestros y visitantes de nuestras escuelas, independientemente del estado de vacunación.
- Practicar el distanciamiento físico en la medida de lo posible
- Autocontrol para detectar signos de enfermedad y quedarse en casa si no se siente bien
- Practicar una higiene adecuada y ser consciente de su propio espacio personal.
- Seguir esta guía será la mejor manera de garantizar que podamos minimizar la propagación en nuestras comunidades y que los estudiantes puedan continuar con sus estudios, actividades y atletismo.
También les pedimos a nuestras familias que se familiaricen con nuestro Plan de Mitigación de Salud. A la luz de nuestras métricas actuales de COVID-19, revisaremos y monitorearemos este plan de manera continua para garantizar la salud y la seguridad de nuestra comunidad. Estas medidas marcan la diferencia.
Continuamos monitoreando los niveles de transmisión comunitaria e informando semanalmente, junto con las publicaciones de datos del Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona y el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa. Lo alentamos a que visite nuestra página de Salud y seguridad, donde se encuentran los informes semanales junto con nuestro panel de control COVID-19 en todo el distrito, que rastrea los casos positivos por escuela. También actualizaremos nuestra página de preguntas frecuentes sobre COVID-19 de forma continua para que las familias tengan la oportunidad de tener información esencial al alcance de la mano.
Es necesario que todos trabajemos juntos para minimizar el impacto de COVID-19 en nuestras comunidades escolares. Agradecemos su apoyo y esperamos un excelente año escolar.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 7.29.21 - TUHSD | Welcome Back! Message from Dr. Mendivil
Welcome Back! 21/22 School Year
July 29, 2021
Dear TUHSD Families:
Welcome to the 21/22 school year! The first day of school is Monday, August 2 and we can’t wait to welcome our students back to campus. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all that you do to support your students in their academic and extracurricular endeavors. I know the past year and a half has been challenging at every turn, often in ways that we as a District might not have anticipated.
We are looking forward to the fresh start that this new school year offers and continuing to partner with you on the success of our TUHSD students. Please see below for important reminders for all families as we begin this new school year.Health & Safety Reminders
- As previously announced over the summer, all classes will be held on campus, in-person, Monday through Friday.
- Masks are optional. Although Arizona State Statute does not permit school districts to mandate mask wearing among school-age children, county, state, and federal health agencies strongly recommend the wearing of face masks to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and/or variants of COVID-19.
- The CDC released updated recommendations this week for schools. Tempe Union High School District takes the health & safety of our students and staff extremely seriously. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have relied on the guidance from the State of Arizona and Maricopa County. We will continue to do so to protect our school communities.
- Please see our Health Mitigation Plan for in-depth information on all of our health & safety procedures.
- My communications to families will continue to be housed on our Health & Safety page. I encourage you to check this page often, and make sure that you mark our domain (tempeunion.org) as “safe” so that you receive important messages from the District, your school principal, and others.
General Reminders
- Stay connected with us. We encourage you to follow the social media accounts for your school. News and information are often distributed through school social media accounts in addition to being emailed or announced on campus.
- We encourage families to reach out to us at parentinfo@tempeunion.org with any questions or concerns. Communications will be circulated to the correct department in order to ensure that you have the information you need.
I am excited for the possibilities that this upcoming school year holds. Thank you for all that you do to support Tempe Union and our schools.
Dr. Kevin Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD:
¡Bienvenidos al año escolar 21/22! El primer día de clases es el lunes 2 de agosto y estamos ansiosos por dar la bienvenida a nuestros estudiantes al campus. Quiero aprovechar esta oportunidad para agradecerle todo lo que hace para apoyar a sus estudiantes en sus esfuerzos académicos y extracurriculares. Sé que el último año y medio ha sido un desafío en todo momento, a menudo en formas que nosotros, como Distrito, quizás no hubiéramos anticipado.
Esperamos el nuevo comienzo que ofrece este nuevo año escolar y seguiremos colaborando con usted en el éxito de nuestros estudiantes de TUHSD. Por favor vea a continuación recordatorios importantes para todas las familias al comenzar este nuevo año escolar.Recordatorios de salud y seguridad
Como se anunció previamente durante el verano, todas las clases se llevarán a cabo en el campus, en persona, de lunes a viernes.
Las máscaras son opcionales. Aunque el Estatuto del Estado de Arizona no permite que los distritos escolares exijan el uso de máscaras entre los niños en edad escolar, las agencias de salud del condado, estatales y federales recomiendan encarecidamente el uso de máscaras faciales para ayudar a reducir la transmisión de COVID-19 y / o variantes de COVID-19. .
El CDC publicó recomendaciones actualizadas esta semana para las escuelas. El Distrito de Escuelas Preparatorias Tempe Union se toma la salud y seguridad de nuestros estudiantes y personal muy en serio. Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, nos hemos basado en la orientación del estado de Arizona y el condado de Maricopa. Continuaremos haciéndolo para proteger nuestras comunidades escolares.
Consulte nuestro Plan de mitigación de la salud para obtener información detallada sobre todos nuestros procedimientos de salud y seguridad.
Mis comunicaciones con las familias continuarán alojadas en nuestra página de Salud y Seguridad. Le animo a que consulte esta página con frecuencia y se asegure de marcar nuestro dominio (tempeunion.org) como "seguro" para que reciba mensajes importantes del Distrito, el director de su escuela y otros.
Recordatorios generales
Manténgase conectado con nosotros. Le recomendamos que siga las cuentas de redes sociales de su escuela. Las noticias y la información a menudo se distribuyen a través de las cuentas de las redes sociales de la escuela, además de enviarse por correo electrónico o anunciarse en el campus.
Alentamos a las familias a comunicarse con nosotros en parentinfo@tempeunion.org con cualquier pregunta o inquietud. Las comunicaciones se enviarán al departamento correspondiente para garantizar que tenga la información que necesita.
Estoy emocionado por las posibilidades que ofrece este próximo año escolar. Gracias por todo lo que hace para apoyar a Tempe Union y nuestras escuelas.
Dr. Kevin Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 6.16.21 - Summer Update + Upcoming Events
Dear TUHSD Families,
I am hopeful that this summer brings you much joy and relaxation with family and friends as we prepare for the upcoming school year. We held graduations at all of our campuses on May 20. In total, we celebrated nearly 2,700 graduates across the District that evening. An additional 15 graduates will walk after Summer Education Academy completes its sessions on June 30. I know we say it often but we truly can’t say it enough - we are so proud of our Class of 2021, and the dedication and perseverance that they showed through a highly unusual school year.
We continue to look forward to the 2021/22 school year, the promise of normalcy, and a return to regular school operations. Our metrics, like most of the state and nation, continue to improve. Weekly updates on our school metrics can be found online here.
As a result of improving metrics and increased vaccination rates, we will all share in the excitement for a full return to in-person classes, five days a week beginning August 2. A few key things to note about the 21/22 school year:- Masks will be optional.
- Tempe Union will continue to provide full and part time online learning through Tempe Union Online. Course offerings will be aligned with the quarter system to mirror the in-person “brick & mortar” educational structure. This will allow our families to have better content and grading alignment to their home school.
- Tempe Union will not offer a hybrid education option. Tempe Union Online is the exclusive online learning option available to our families, which is self-paced for the learner and with access to an online TUHSD teacher.
The summer months will see us once again partnering with Maricopa County Department of Public Health and Albertson’s to bring vaccine events to our larger community. These events will offer the Pfizer vaccine to youths over the age of 12, and any interested adults. Both Tempe High and Desert Vista will be hosting these events, and additional information and registration is available online here.
Our role as an educational institution is to provide our families with information so that individual family decisions can be determined. On Monday, June 21 at 6 PM, we will hold a virtual event with Dr. Edmond Baker to address common questions and concerns around the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Baker currently serves at the Medical Director of Equality Care Center and is also a Desert Vista parent. An event link will be shared soon on our website - please consider sharing this information with your personal communities and contacts as appropriate.
I hope that each and every one of you is able to rest and relax during this time. Enjoy the rest of the summer and be careful in this extreme heat.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD,
Espero que este verano les traiga mucha alegría y relajación con familiares y amigos mientras nos preparamos para el próximo año escolar. Celebramos graduaciones en todos nuestros campus el 20 de mayo. En total, celebramos a casi 2,700 graduados en todo el Distrito esa noche. Otros 15 graduados caminarán después de que Summer Education Academy complete sus sesiones el 30 de junio. Sé que lo decimos a menudo, pero realmente no podemos decirlo lo suficiente: estamos muy orgullosos de nuestra promoción de 2021 y de la dedicación y perseverancia que mostró a través de un año escolar muy inusual.
Seguimos esperando el año escolar 2021/22, la promesa de normalidad y el regreso a las operaciones escolares regulares. Nuestras métricas, como la mayoría del estado y la nación, continúan mejorando. Las actualizaciones semanales sobre nuestras métricas escolares se pueden encontrar en línea aquí.
Como resultado de la mejora de las métricas y el aumento de las tasas de vacunación, todos compartiremos la emoción de un regreso completo a las clases presenciales, cinco días a la semana a partir del 2 de agosto. Algunas cosas clave a tener en cuenta sobre el año escolar 21/22:- Las máscaras serán opcionales.
- Tempe Union continuará brindando aprendizaje en línea a tiempo completo y parcial a través de Tempe Union Online. Las ofertas de cursos se alinearán con el sistema de trimestres para reflejar la estructura educativa "física" en persona. Esto permitirá que nuestras familias tengan un mejor contenido y alineación de calificaciones con su escuela de origen.
- Tempe Union no ofrecerá una opción de educación híbrida. Tempe Union Online es la opción de aprendizaje en línea exclusiva disponible para nuestras familias, que es a su propio ritmo para el alumno y con acceso a un maestro de TUHSD en línea.
Los meses de verano nos verán una vez más asociándonos con el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa y Albertson's para llevar eventos de vacunas a nuestra comunidad en general. Estos eventos ofrecerán la vacuna Pfizer a jóvenes mayores de 12 años y a cualquier adulto interesado. Tanto Tempe High como Desert Vista serán los anfitriones de estos eventos, y la información adicional y el registro están disponibles en línea aquí.
Nuestro papel como institución educativa es proporcionar información a nuestras familias para que se puedan determinar las decisiones familiares individuales. El lunes 21 de junio a las 6 p.m., realizaremos un evento virtual con el Dr. Edmond Baker para abordar preguntas e inquietudes comunes sobre la vacuna COVID-19. El Dr. Baker actualmente se desempeña en el Director Médico de Equality Care Center y también es padre de Desert Vista. Se compartirá un enlace del evento en nuestro sitio web; considere compartir esta información con sus comunidades y contactos personales, según corresponda.
Espero que todos y cada uno de ustedes puedan descansar y relajarse durante este tiempo. Disfruta el resto del verano y ten cuidado con este calor extremo.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 4.19.21 - Today's Executive Order
Dear TUHSD Families & Parents,
As you may have heard, Governor Doug Ducey issued an Executive Order (webpage) earlier this afternoon rescinding a previous Executive Order regarding the wearing of masks in K-12 schools.
In accordance with TUHSD’s Governing Board policy JICA-R (webpage), item K, we will continue to ask our students and staff to wear masks during the school day and at all times when on District property. This measure also aligns with our District Health Mitigation Plan (webpage).
I know we all look forward to the day that we don’t have to wear masks anymore, but today is not that day. In order to finish out the school year strong, hold safe in-person graduation ceremonies, and continue to minimize community spread of COVID-19 on our campuses, we ask that you continue to adhere to the current mask policy.
Thank you,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias y padres de TUHSD:
Como habrán escuchado, el gobernador Doug Ducey emitió una Orden Ejecutiva (página web) a principios de esta tarde rescindiendo una Orden Ejecutiva anterior con respecto al uso de máscaras en las escuelas K-12.
De acuerdo con la política de la Junta Directiva de TUHSD JICA-R (página web), artículo K, continuaremos pidiendo a nuestros estudiantes y personal que usen máscaras durante el día escolar y en todo momento cuando se encuentren en la propiedad del Distrito. Esta medida también se alinea con nuestro Plan de Mitigación de Salud del Distrito (página web).
Sé que todos esperamos con ansias el día en que ya no tengamos que usar máscaras, pero hoy no es ese día. Para terminar el año escolar con fuerza, realizar ceremonias de graduación seguras en persona y continuar minimizando la propagación comunitaria de COVID-19 en nuestros campus, le pedimos que continúe cumpliendo con la política actual de máscaras.
Gracias,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 4.15.21 - Update from Superintendent
Dear TUHSD Families,
With just five weeks to go in the fourth quarter, we want to celebrate our students and their many accomplishments. Even with summer around the corner, our students have been keeping busy competing in athletic competitions, signing college commitments, and participating in extracurricular activities. I encourage you to follow your school site’s social media posts for the latest news about our students, their activities and accomplishments.
Although it can feel like the worst of the pandemic is now in the past, we are asking families to continue to be diligent about our health mitigation protocols (webpage), and to be careful of external behavior that may impact school operations.
The COVID-19 case dashboard for our schools can be found online (webpage) and lists current positive cases at each school site. Currently, each of our seven school sites has at least one active case. Our Health & Safety page (webpage) remains a clearinghouse for information on current metrics and other information that we are utilizing to make decisions during this time. Families can also review FAQ’s and watch our safety protocol video on this page.
As the school year ends, schools are planning in-person ceremonies for Graduation. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2021 and following the heath mitigation protocols will ensure that our seniors can have the opportunity to celebrate safely with their classmates and families.
I want to thank you for your hard work and support during this very unusual year. This has not been easy on anyone - least of all, our students and their families.
Be safe and be well,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
SuperintendentESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD,
Con solo cinco semanas para el cuarto trimestre, queremos celebrar a nuestros estudiantes y sus muchos logros. Incluso con el verano a la vuelta de la esquina, nuestros estudiantes se han mantenido ocupados compitiendo en competencias atléticas, firmando compromisos universitarios y participando en actividades extracurriculares. Te animo a que sigas las publicaciones en las redes sociales de tu sitio escolar para conocer las últimas noticias sobre nuestros estudiantes y sus actividades y logros.
Aunque puede parecer que lo peor de la pandemia ha quedado en el pasado, les pedimos a las familias que sigan siendo diligentes con nuestros protocolos de mitigación de la salud (página web) y que tengan cuidado con el comportamiento externo que pueda afectar las operaciones escolares.
El panel de casos de COVID-19 para nuestras escuelas se puede encontrar en línea (página web) y enumera los casos positivos actuales en cada escuela. Actualmente, cada uno de nuestros siete planteles escolares tiene al menos un caso activo. Nuestra página de Salud y Seguridad (página web) sigue siendo un centro de intercambio de información sobre métricas actuales y otra información que estamos utilizando para tomar decisiones durante este tiempo. Las familias también pueden revisar las preguntas frecuentes y ver nuestro video sobre el protocolo de seguridad en esta página.
Al finalizar el año escolar, las escuelas están planeando ceremonias de graduación en persona. Esperamos celebrar la Clase de 2021 y seguir los protocolos de mitigación de la salud garantizará que nuestros adultos mayores puedan tener la oportunidad de celebrar de manera segura con sus compañeros de clase y sus familias.
Quiero agradecerles por su arduo trabajo y apoyo durante este año tan inusual. Esto no ha sido fácil para nadie, y menos para nuestros estudiantes y sus familias.
Estar seguro y estar bien,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 3.26.21 - Clarification on Executive Order
Dear TUHSD Families:
Yesterday, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued Executive Order 2021-06. We understand that you may have questions about what this announcement means for TUHSD and our school sites.
This new executive order does not overrule or make any changes to Executive Order 2020-51, which addresses school operations, or the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) Emergency Measure 2020-04, which specifically requires face coverings in schools.
Governor Ducey’s Executive Order 2020-51 is still in effect. Section 5 states:
All school districts and charter schools shall develop and implement a policy to require face coverings, such as face masks or face shields, for all staff and students over the age of five until the Department of Health Services determines that face coverings are no longer necessary or recommended to contain the spread of the virus.
AZDHS’s Emergency Measure 2020-04 is also still in effect. Section 1 states:
Each school district and charter school shall immediately mandate that masks are worn on school campus, on school buses, during school-associated activities, and while participating in or observing any school- associated athletic activities, by all students, faculty, staff, contractors and visitors.
In short, face coverings must continue to be worn on all TUHSD school campuses, buses and facilities.
Please visit our Health & Safety page at https://www.tempeunion.org/Health-Safety for all of the latest information on COVID-19, health mitigation protocols, and our school dashboard.
Thank you,
Tempe Union High School DistrictESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD:
Ayer, el gobernador de Arizona, Doug Ducey, emitió la Orden Ejecutiva 2021-06. Entendemos que puede tener preguntas sobre lo que significa este anuncio para TUHSD y nuestras escuelas.
Esta nueva orden ejecutiva no anula ni hace ningún cambio a la Orden Ejecutiva 2020-51, que aborda las operaciones escolares, o la Medida de Emergencia 2020-04 del Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona (AZDHS), que requiere específicamente cubrirse la cara en las escuelas.
La Orden Ejecutiva 2020-51 del Gobernador Ducey todavía está en vigor. La sección 5 establece:
Todos los distritos escolares y las escuelas autónomas deberán desarrollar e implementar una política para exigir que los cubrimientos faciales, como máscaras o protectores faciales, para todo el personal y los estudiantes mayores de cinco años hasta que el Departamento de Servicios de Salud determine que los cubrimientos faciales ya no son necesarios o recomendado para contener la propagación del virus.
La Medida de emergencia 2020-04 de AZDHS también sigue en vigor. La sección 1 establece:
Cada distrito escolar y escuela autónoma ordenará inmediatamente que todos los estudiantes, profesores, personal, contratistas y mientras participan u observan cualquier actividad atlética asociada a la escuela deben usar máscaras en el campus de la escuela, en los autobuses escolares y durante las actividades relacionadas con la escuela. visitantes.En resumen, se deben seguir usando cubiertas para la cara en todos los campus, autobuses e instalaciones escolares de TUHSD.
Visite nuestra página de Salud y Seguridad en https://www.tempeunion.org/
Health-Safety para obtener la información más reciente sobre COVID-19, los protocolos de mitigación de la salud y nuestro tablero escolar.
Gracias,
Distrito de escuelas secundarias de Tempe Union
-
Parent Letter 3.19.21 - Qualtrics Update
Dear TUHSD Students & Families:
We appreciate your diligence and adherence to our daily health check through Qualtrics throughout the past week. Due to continued technology challenges, and in order to expedite student entry to campus, we have decided to move away from Qualtrics at this time.
Beginning Monday, March 22, 2021, students will no longer receive a daily email. Instead, they will be asked three questions prior to entry to campus. These are the same questions that have been posted on campus and were asked during hybrid in-person days.
The questions are as follows:- In the last 14 days, have you a) traveled to and/or b) had contact with anyone who has traveled to restricted countries?
- Do you currently have a fever and/or symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g. new or change in cough, sore throat or shortness of breath)?
- Have you or a family/household member come into contact with an individual with COVID-19?
These questions will be posted at entrances and staff members will clear students to enter campus based on their answers.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this process. Thank you for the great first week!
Sean McDonald
Assistant Superintendent of District Operations, Safety and Student SupportESPAÑOL
Estimados estudiantes y familias de TUHSD:
Agradecemos su diligencia y adherencia a nuestro chequeo de salud diario a través de Qualtrics durante la semana pasada. Debido a los continuos desafíos tecnológicos y para acelerar la entrada de los estudiantes al campus, hemos decidido alejarnos de Qualtrics en este momento.
A partir del lunes 22 de marzo de 2021, los estudiantes ya no recibirán un correo electrónico diario. En cambio, se les harán tres preguntas antes de ingresar al campus. Estas son las mismas preguntas que se han publicado en el campus y se hicieron durante los días híbridos en persona.
Las preguntas son las siguientes:En los últimos 14 días, ¿ha a) viajado ay / ob) ha tenido contacto con alguien que haya viajado a países restringidos?
¿Tiene actualmente fiebre y / o síntomas de enfermedad de las vías respiratorias inferiores (p. Ej., Tos nueva o alterada, dolor de garganta o dificultad para respirar)?
¿Ha entrado usted o un miembro de su familia / hogar en contacto con una persona con COVID-19?
Estas preguntas se publicarán en las entradas y los miembros del personal autorizarán a los estudiantes a ingresar al campus según sus respuestas.
Agradecemos su paciencia y comprensión mientras navegamos por este proceso. ¡Gracias por la gran primera semana!
Sean McDonald
Superintendente asistente de operaciones, seguridad y apoyo estudiantil del distrito
-
Parent Letter 3.5.21 - Reminders for Return to Campus
Dear TUHSD Families,
As you know, Tempe Union will be returning to in-person learning on Monday, March 15. Below are some reminders to help make this a smooth transition for you and your student(s), no matter which learning choice you have elected.
In-Person Learning- The Learning Choice Survey was due on March 1. If you need to change your selection, you have until Friday, March 19 to contact your school site for necessary adjustments.
- Regardless of your learning choice selection, Wednesdays will remain asynchronous during the 4th quarter.
- Our District Health and Safety video has been updated to reference our current health and safety protocols. Please watch the video and familiarize yourself with the safety protocols put in place to protect our students and staff.
- Be sure to familiarize yourself with our new Qualtrics self symptom checker. The process is highlighted in the safety video, and an access link will be sent via email to all TUHSD students on Monday, March 15 in the early morning. The symptom checker must be completed every day to ensure admission on campus. Students can also set up text message reminders to complete the survey, after their first login.
- Our District Health Mitigation Plan is always available for reference and to familiarize yourself with our health and safety protocols.
- If you have not already done so, please complete the COVID-19 Parental Acknowledgement Form. Please download, fill out, and return it to your school site. You may also have your student bring it with them during the week of March 15.
Virtual Learning- The Learning Choice Survey was due on March 1. If you need to change your selection, you have until Friday, March 19 to contact your school site for necessary adjustments.
- Regardless of your learning choice selection, Wednesdays will remain asynchronous during the 4th quarter.
- Students can access teachers for support before and after school, during Academic Lab, and on asynchronous Wednesdays.
Additional questions? Please visit the FAQs on our Health and Safety page. If you have a question that is not answered in the FAQs, please direct all other questions to parentinfo@tempeunion.org. We will do our best to answer your question, and also update the FAQ’s as necessary.
We are excited to welcome back our students and to kick off a productive fourth quarter for all students. We hope you have a restful and safe Spring Break.
Thank you,
Tempe Union High School District
ESPAÑOLEstimadas familias de TUHSD,
Como saben, Tempe Union regresará al aprendizaje en persona el lunes 15 de marzo. A continuación se muestran algunos recordatorios para ayudar a que esta transición sea sin problemas para usted y su (s) estudiante (s), sin importar qué opción de aprendizaje haya elegido.Aprendizaje presencial
- La Encuesta de Elección de Aprendizaje vence el 1 de marzo. Si necesita cambiar su selección, tiene hasta el viernes 19 de marzo para comunicarse con su escuela para los ajustes necesarios.
- Independientemente de su elección de aprendizaje, los miércoles permanecerán asincrónicos durante el cuarto trimestre.
- Nuestro video de salud y seguridad del distrito se ha actualizado para hacer referencia a nuestros protocolos de salud y seguridad actuales. Mire el video y familiarícese con los protocolos de seguridad implementados para proteger a nuestros estudiantes y personal.
- Asegúrese de familiarizarse con nuestro nuevo verificador de síntomas propios de Qualtrics. El proceso se destaca en el video de seguridad, y se enviará un enlace de acceso por correo electrónico a todos los estudiantes de TUHSD el lunes 15 de marzo temprano en la mañana. El verificador de síntomas debe completarse todos los días para garantizar la admisión en el campus. Los estudiantes también pueden configurar recordatorios de mensajes de texto para completar la encuesta, después de su primer inicio de sesión.
- Nuestro Plan de Mitigación de Salud del Distrito siempre está disponible para referencia y para familiarizarse con nuestros protocolos de salud y seguridad.
- Si aún no lo ha hecho, complete el formulario de reconocimiento de padres COVID-19. Descárguelo, complételo y devuélvalo al sitio de su escuela. También puede pedirle a su estudiante que lo traiga durante la semana del 15 de marzo.
Aprendizaje virtual- La Encuesta de Elección de Aprendizaje vence el 1 de marzo. Si necesita cambiar su selección, tiene hasta el viernes 19 de marzo para comunicarse con su escuela para los ajustes necesarios.
- Independientemente de su elección de aprendizaje, los miércoles permanecerán asincrónicos durante el cuarto trimestre.
- Los estudiantes pueden acceder a los maestros para recibir apoyo antes y después de la escuela, durante el laboratorio académico y los miércoles asincrónicos.
¿Preguntas adicionales? Visite las preguntas frecuentes en nuestra página de salud y seguridad. Si tiene una pregunta que no se responde en las Preguntas frecuentes, envíe todas las demás preguntas a parentinfo@tempeunion.org. Haremos todo lo posible para responder a su pregunta y también actualizaremos las preguntas frecuentes según sea necesario.
Estamos emocionados de dar la bienvenida a nuestros estudiantes y comenzar un cuarto trimestre productivo para todos los estudiantes. Esperamos que tenga unas vacaciones de primavera tranquilas y seguras.
Gracias,
Distrito de escuelas secundarias de Tempe Union
-
Parent Letter 2.22.21 - Spring Learning Choice Survey
Dear TUHSD Parent:
As previously announced, we will offer the option to return to in-person instruction on Monday, March 15.
There are two options for you and your student(s) to choose from at this time:- Remain in virtual learning through the rest of the school year; or
- Return to campus four days a week for in-person instruction. At this time, Wednesdays are asynchronous.
- If your student intends to return to campus in March, you will be asked to fill out a COVID-19 Parental Acknowledgement and Disclosure Form. A link to this form can be found here. Completed forms should be returned to your school site.
Please click on the link below by Monday, March 1 to fill out the TUHSD Spring Learning Choice survey and share your plans with us.
Please use one of the following links to access the Learning Choice survey.Spring Learning Choice Survey - English
Spring Learning Choice Survey - Spanish
The survey will ask you to verify your student’s name, DOB, and ID number.
A few key things to remember:- You must fill out the Learning Choice survey by Monday, 3/1 at 5 PM.
- Your Learning Choice survey information will assist site leadership with their continued planning for a return to in-person learning.
- If you have more than one student enrolled in Tempe Union High School District, you will receive separate emails for each child and need to complete a survey for each one.
- If survey responses are not received, your student will be placed in the in-person learning model.
- There will be a grace period to revise your learning choice selection, if necessary, during the week of March 15.
- Additional information and safety procedures will be circulated directly by your school site.
Thank you,
Tempe Union Parent Communications
parentinfo@tempeunion.orgESPAÑOL
Como se anunció anteriormente, ofreceremos la opción de regresar a la instrucción en persona el lunes 15 de marzo.Hay dos opciones para que usted y sus estudiantes elijan en este momento:
- Permanecer en el aprendizaje virtual durante el resto del año escolar; o
- Regrese al campus cuatro días a la semana para recibir instrucción en persona. En este momento, los miércoles son asincrónicos.
Si su estudiante tiene la intención de regresar al campus en marzo, se le pedirá que complete un formulario de reconocimiento y divulgación de los padres COVID-19. Puede encontrar un enlace a este formulario aquí. Los formularios completos deben devolverse a la escuela.
Haga clic en el enlace a continuación antes del lunes 1 de marzo para completar la encuesta de TUHSD Spring Learning Choice y compartir sus planes con nosotros.Utilice uno de los siguientes enlaces para acceder a la encuesta Learning Choice.
Encuesta Spring Learning Choice - Inglés
Encuesta de Spring Learning Choice - EspañolLa encuesta le pedirá que verifique el nombre, fecha de nacimiento y número de identificación de su estudiante.
Algunas cosas clave para recordar:
- Debe completar la encuesta Learning Choice antes del lunes, 1 de marzo a las 5 p.m.
- La información de su encuesta Learning Choice ayudará a los líderes del sitio con su planificación continua para regresar al aprendizaje en persona.
- Si tiene más de un estudiante inscrito en el Distrito de escuelas secundarias de Tempe Union, recibirá correos electrónicos separados para cada niño y deberá completar una encuesta para cada uno.
- Si no se reciben las respuestas de la encuesta, su estudiante será colocado en el modelo de aprendizaje en persona.
- Habrá un período de gracia para revisar su selección de opciones de aprendizaje, si es necesario, durante la semana del 15 de marzo.
- Su escuela distribuirá directamente información adicional y procedimientos de seguridad.Gracias,
Comunicaciones con los padres de Tempe Union
parentinfo@tempeunion.org
-
Parent Letter 2.22.21 - Spring Learning Choice Options
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
It has been nearly one year since the global pandemic fundamentally changed our lives and we recognize how important education is to our students and our families. Not only does school provide an education for our students, but it also provides community, nutrition, counseling, creativity, enrichment, and resources. Our teachers, administrators, and support staff continue to work tirelessly to provide needed support for the students we serve.
As previously shared, we are preparing to welcome students back to campus for in-person learning starting Monday, March 15. We are hopeful that our metrics will continue to improve for a safe return.
From February 22 - March 1, families will select their desired learning model for Quarter 4. This information will help our sites prepare appropriately. If for some reason a family needs to change their learning model, they will be able to do so the week of March 15. After this week, no changes to the learning environment can be made.
Descriptions of each learning model are provided below to help families make a selection by March 1. You will receive a separate email with the survey link shortly.
In-Person Learning Model
Students who select In-Person Learning will attend classes in-person 4 days a week starting March 15, 2021. Other important information regarding this model:- Classroom environments will be designed to maximize physical distancing and all health mitigation strategies will be implemented.
- In-person instruction will vary based on the lesson each day, and will utilize safe collaboration and varied student engagement strategies to make learning interactive and connections meaningful.
- All students who have a district-issued laptop should bring them to school each day.
- Teachers will take daily attendance based on who is sitting in the classroom.
- Parents must complete the TUHSD COVID-19 Parent Acknowledgement Form for the in-person model. This is the same form used for hybrid learning in Quarter 2. If your child has not participated in in-person instruction this academic year, please sign and initial this form and return it to your campus.
Virtual Learning Model
Students who select Virtual Learning will attend classes virtually 4 days a week starting March 15, 2021. Other important information regarding this model:- Students will log in to their classroom link and have the opportunity to join the live classes virtually with their cameras on.
- Students will be able to listen to the student/teacher discussion that occurs in the classroom. Teacher expectations for engagement will vary by teacher, thus students must attend class and communicate with their teachers to understand and meet the course expectations daily.
- All coursework will be available in Schoology for students to complete with teacher support as in previous quarters.
- Students can access teachers for support before and after school, during Academic Lab, and on asynchronous Wednesdays.
- Teachers will take daily attendance based on who is attending (cameras on) in Google Meet/Zoom. The attendance form will be used on Wednesdays, but if you are experiencing internet issues, contact the school.
For all students the district will continue Asynchronous Wednesdays at this time. See below for a description.
- Asynchronous instruction and supplemental support provided by teachers will follow the posted schedule of the school.
- Afternoons are designated as early release for the content planning time for teachers.
- Students will complete a Google attendance form along with any assignments on these days. Students will have access to teacher instruction and support in the morning, following the posted bell schedule of the school.
Timeline for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4
February 22-March 1: Families select learning model for Quarter 4 by completing the survey. Those who have not completed the survey will have until March 19th to make or revise their selection.
February 28: Staff survey results shared
March 1: Teachers return to sites to work on campus to teach and prepare for student return
March 1-5: Principals meet with staff at sites to review health mitigation plan
March 5: End of Quarter 3
March 8-12: Spring Break
March 15: Quarter 4 begins for in-person and virtual models
March 15-19: Families may change their learning model during this window only. No changes will be made after this time.
March 23: AzSci (juniors)
April 2: No School
April 5: AzM2 writing (sophomores)
April 6: ACT State Testing (juniors)
April 8: AzM2 reading (sophomores)
April 13: AzM2 math (sophomores)
May 17-19: Final exams
May 19: Last day of school
May 20: Graduation
May 21: Last Day for Teachers
Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimada comunidad de Tempe Union,
Ha pasado casi un año desde que la pandemia global cambió fundamentalmente nuestras vidas y sabemos lo importante que es la educación para nuestros estudiantes y nuestras familias. La escuela no solo brinda educación a nuestros estudiantes, sino que también brinda comunidad, nutrición, asesoramiento, creatividad, enriquecimiento y recursos. Nuestros maestros, administradores y personal de apoyo continúan trabajando incansablemente para brindar el apoyo necesario a los estudiantes a quienes servimos.
Como se compartió previamente, nos estamos preparando para dar la bienvenida a los estudiantes al campus para el aprendizaje en persona a partir del lunes 15 de marzo. Tenemos la esperanza de que nuestras métricas continúen mejorando para un regreso seguro.
Del 22 de febrero al 1 de marzo, las familias seleccionarán su modelo de aprendizaje deseado para el cuarto trimestre. Esta información ayudará a nuestros sitios a prepararse adecuadamente. Si por alguna razón una familia necesita cambiar su modelo de aprendizaje, podrá hacerlo la semana del 15 de marzo. Después de esta semana, no se podrán realizar cambios en el entorno de aprendizaje. Las descripciones de cada modelo de aprendizaje se proporcionan a continuación para ayudar a las familias a hacer una selección durante la semana del 22 de febrero. Recibirá un correo electrónico por separado con el enlace de la encuesta en breve.
Modelo de aprendizaje en persona
Los estudiantes que seleccionen el aprendizaje en persona asistirán a clases en persona 4 días a la semana a partir del 15 de marzo de 2021. Otra información importante sobre este modelo:- Los ambientes de las aulas se diseñarán para maximizar el distanciamiento físico y se implementarán todas las estrategias de mitigación de la salud.
- La instrucción en persona variará según la lección de cada día y utilizará una colaboración segura y diversas estrategias de participación de los estudiantes para que el aprendizaje sea interactivo y las conexiones sean significativas.
- Todos los estudiantes que tengan una computadora portátil proporcionada por el distrito deben traerla a la escuela todos los días.
- Los maestros tomarán la asistencia diaria según quién esté sentado en el aula.
- Los padres deben completar el formulario de reconocimiento de padres de TUHSD COVID-19 para el modelo en persona. Este es el mismo formulario que se usó para el aprendizaje híbrido en el segundo trimestre. Si su hijo no ha participado en la instrucción en persona este año académico, firme y ponga sus iniciales en este formulario y devuélvalo a su campus.
Modelo de aprendizaje virtual
Los estudiantes que seleccionen el aprendizaje virtual asistirán a clases virtualmente 4 días a la semana a partir del 15 de marzo de 2021. Otra información importante con respecto a este modelo:- Los estudiantes iniciarán sesión en el enlace de su salón de clases y tendrán la oportunidad de unirse a las clases en vivo virtualmente con sus cámaras encendidas.
- Los estudiantes podrán escuchar la discusión estudiante / maestro que ocurre en el salón de clases. Las expectativas de participación de los maestros variarán según el maestro, por lo que los estudiantes deben asistir a clase y comunicarse con sus maestros para comprender y cumplir con las expectativas del curso a diario.
- Todo el trabajo del curso estará disponible en Schoology para que los estudiantes lo completen con el apoyo del maestro como en trimestres anteriores.
- Los estudiantes pueden acceder a los maestros para recibir apoyo antes y después de la escuela, durante el laboratorio académico y los miércoles asincrónicos.
- Los maestros tomarán la asistencia diaria según quién asista (cámaras encendidas) en Google Meet / Zoom. El formulario de asistencia se utilizará los miércoles, pero si tiene problemas con el Internet, comuníquese con la escuela.
Para todos los estudiantes, el distrito continuará los miércoles asincrónicos en este momento. Consulte a continuación para obtener una descripción.
- La instrucción asincrónica y el apoyo suplementario proporcionado por los maestros seguirán el horario publicado de la escuela.
- Las tardes se designan como salida temprana para el tiempo de planificación de contenido para los maestros.
- Los estudiantes completarán un formulario de asistencia de Google junto con cualquier tarea en estos días. Los estudiantes tendrán acceso a la instrucción y el apoyo de los maestros por la mañana, siguiendo el horario de timbre publicado en la escuela.
Cronograma para el trimestre 3 y el trimestre 4
22 de febrero al 1 de marzo: las familias seleccionan el modelo de aprendizaje para el cuarto trimestre completando la encuesta. Aquellos que no hayan completado la encuesta tendrán hasta el 19 de marzo para hacer o revisar su selección.28 de febrero: se comparten los resultados de la encuesta al personal
1 de marzo: los maestros regresan a los sitios para trabajar en el campus para enseñar y prepararse para el regreso de los estudiantes
1-5 de marzo: los directores se reúnen con el personal en los sitios para revisar el plan de mitigación de la salud
5 de marzo: final del tercer trimestre
8-12 de marzo: vacaciones de primavera
15 de marzo: comienza el cuarto trimestre para modelos virtuales y en persona
15-19 de marzo: las familias pueden cambiar su modelo de aprendizaje solo durante este período. No se realizarán cambios después de este tiempo.
23 de marzo: AzSci (juniors)
2 de abril: No hay clases
5 de abril: escritura AzM2 (estudiantes de segundo año)
6 de abril: Examen estatal ACT (juniors)
8 de abril: lectura AzM2 (estudiantes de segundo año)
13 de abril: matemáticas AzM2 (estudiantes de segundo año)
17-19 de mayo: Exámenes finales
19 de mayo: último día de clases
20 de mayo: Graduación
21 de mayo: Último día para los profesores
Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 2.12.21 - Survey Links
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
As previously shared, TUHSD invites you to participate in a brief survey and give your feedback on returning to in-person learning.
The survey is available in both English and Spanish; please click on a link below to take the survey. Please note that if you have more than one child enrolled in TUHSD, we ask that you fill out the survey for each student in your household.
TUHSD Parent Survey | ENGLISH
TUHSD Parent Survey | SPANISH
The survey is optional, but very important to our planning efforts. The survey links will be open until February 19, and all responses are anonymous.
Thank you for participating.
Tempe Union High School District
Department of Assessment, Accountability & Research
ESPAÑOL
Estimados padres y familias de TUHSD:Como se compartió anteriormente, TUHSD lo invita a participar en una breve encuesta y dar su opinión sobre cómo regresar al aprendizaje en persona.
La encuesta está disponible en inglés y español; haga clic en un enlace a continuación para realizar la encuesta. Tenga en cuenta que si tiene más de un niño inscrito en TUHSD, le pedimos que complete la encuesta para cada estudiante en su hogar.
Encuesta para padres de TUHSD | INGLÉS
Encuesta para padres de TUHSD | ESPAÑOL
La encuesta es opcional, pero muy importante para nuestros esfuerzos de planificación. Los enlaces de la encuesta estarán abiertos hasta el 19 de febrero y todas las respuestas son anónimas.
Gracias por participar.
Distrito de escuelas secundarias de Tempe Union
Departamento de Evaluación, Responsabilidad e Investigación -
Parent Letter 2.12.21 - Planning Timelines + Surveys
Dear TUHSD Families:
The next three to four weeks will be extremely busy, with the 3rd quarter coming to a close, and spring break during the week of March 8.
We are currently in an information gathering phase, and want to update you on our planning for return to in-person instruction, and a timeline of what to expect over the next few weeks.
Friday, February 12- AM: Student surveys released for input. Students will take a brief (5 minute) survey during either a core class or Academic Lab, depending on the school site. The survey is anonymous and we are looking to gather their honest feedback around returning to school, and what is most important to them during this time.
- PM: Family/Parent surveys sent via email. Your feedback is very important as we continue to plan for in-person instruction. Please keep an eye out for the survey and promptly fill it out.
Monday, February 15
- President’s Day Holiday. We hope you enjoy a safe day off with your family.
Week of February 16
- TUHSD employees (teachers, administrators, classified staff) will receive their own survey early in the week, in order to solicit additional input from our employee base.
- A communication will be sent to TUHSD families mid-week, with additional information about the learning model choices for 4th Quarter.
Monday, February 22
- A learning model selection survey will be sent to TUHSD families as a follow up to the prior week’s communication. This is your opportunity to formally identify your learning choice for your child - returning to in-person learning or remaining in a virtual setting.
Additional information will be provided as we move through this time period, from either the District or your school site administration. We appreciate your participation in the family/parent surveys and your input during this important time of planning.
Thank you,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
SuperintendentESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD:
Las próximas tres o cuatro semanas estarán muy ocupadas, con el tercer trimestre llegando a su fin y las vacaciones de primavera durante la semana del 8 de marzo.
Actualmente nos encontramos en una fase de recopilación de información y queremos informarle sobre nuestra planificación para regresar a la instrucción en persona y un cronograma de qué esperar durante las próximas semanas.
Viernes 12 de febrero
AM: Encuestas de estudiantes publicadas para recibir comentarios. Los estudiantes tomarán una breve encuesta (5 minutos) durante una clase básica o laboratorio académico, dependiendo del sitio de la escuela. La encuesta es anónima y buscamos recopilar sus comentarios honestos sobre el regreso a la escuela y lo que es más importante para ellos durante este tiempo.
PM: Encuestas de familia / padres enviadas por correo electrónico. Sus comentarios son muy importantes a medida que continuamos planificando la instrucción en persona. Esté atento a la encuesta y complétela de inmediato.
Lunes 15 de febrero
Feriado del Día del Presidente. Esperamos que disfrute de un día libre seguro con su familia.
Semana del 16 de febrero
Los empleados de TUHSD (maestros, administradores, personal clasificado) recibirán su propia encuesta a principios de la semana, con el fin de solicitar información adicional de nuestra base de empleados.
Se enviará una comunicación a las familias de TUHSD a mediados de semana, con información adicional sobre las opciones del modelo de aprendizaje para el 4º trimestre.
Lunes 22 de febrero
Se enviará una encuesta de selección del modelo de aprendizaje a las familias de TUHSD como seguimiento a la comunicación de la semana anterior. Esta es su oportunidad de identificar formalmente su opción de aprendizaje para su hijo: regresar al aprendizaje en persona o permanecer en un entorno virtual.
Se proporcionará información adicional a medida que avancemos en este período de tiempo, ya sea del Distrito o de la administración de su escuela. Agradecemos su participación en las encuestas para familias y padres y sus aportes durante este importante momento de planificación.
Gracias,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente -
Parent Letter 2.4.21: Superintendent February Update - Follow Up
Dear TUHSD Families:
The information that was shared earlier this afternoon was intended to be a follow-up from last night’s Board meeting, and provide you with the overall timeline that was discussed as it pertains to bringing students back to campus in-person.
Please rest assured that we are continuing to look at different options to meet the needs of our TUHSD families. A virtual option will still be available; and more detailed information will be provided at a later date.
Our families are an important part of the stakeholder input process, and a survey will be sent out in the coming days to families to assess your needs at this time. Please be on the lookout for this communication.
Dr. Kevin Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Estimadas familias de TUHSD:
La información que se compartió a principios de esta tarde tenía la intención de ser un seguimiento de la reunión de la Junta de anoche y brindarle el cronograma general que se discutió en lo que respecta a traer a los estudiantes de regreso al campus en persona.
Tenga la seguridad de que seguimos buscando diferentes opciones para satisfacer las necesidades de nuestras familias de TUHSD. Una opción virtual seguirá estando disponible; y se proporcionará información más detallada en una fecha posterior.
Nuestras familias son una parte importante del proceso de participación de las partes interesadas, y en los próximos días se enviará una encuesta a las familias para evaluar sus necesidades en este momento. Esté atento a esta comunicación.
Dr. Kevin Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 2.4.21: Superintendent February Update
Dear TUHSD Families:
At last night’s Governing Board study session (click here for video), Board members discussed the currently available data points and planning efforts for transitioning back to in-person learning. Meeting attendees also heard from medical experts who advise the District.
As of today, we are planning for a return to in-person instruction, four days a week, beginning Monday, March 15.
The planning priorities for a safe re-opening for everyone are as follows:- Continue to follow public health metrics, provided weekly by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, and the Arizona Department of Health Services
- Continue collaboration with ASU and medical experts on our community health metrics to have the most up-to-date health metrics for focused planning
- Continue to follow our TUHSD Health Mitigation Plan and add the vaccination efforts as an integral part of the plan
- Continue to ensure teachers and staff take advantage of available vaccination
- Continue to gather input from our families, students, teachers, staff, and other stakeholders to include with our planning
We want to acknowledge that COVID-19 is still very much a reality. From the early days of the pandemic, your student’s health and safety has been our top priority. We also know how important it is for students to be learning in the classroom, with their peers, and our goal is to return to a traditional model of instruction as soon as possible. We believe the projected trajectory of our public health metrics will allow us to bring everyone back safely after spring break.
We have a comprehensive set of health mitigation protocols in place that we will ask our families and staff to be mindful of in order to keep our entire community safe so that we remain in-person with no interruptions. For example, there will still be daily health checks, mandatory face masks, and enhanced cleaning procedures. Going back to in-person learning is vital, and it is also a collective effort. We need parents, students, teachers, and staff to continue to be diligent about keeping one another safe.
At this point, we will ask you to plan on a return to in-person instruction on Monday, March 15. For now, our goal is in-person instruction four days a week, with Wednesdays remaining asynchronous. We will be watching very closely and monitoring weekly using all of our planning priority criteria listed above.
As additional information becomes available, it will be disseminated through your school’s administration.
Dr. Kevin Mendivil
SuperintendentEspañol
Estimadas familias de TUHSD:
En la sesión de estudio de la Junta de Gobierno de anoche (haga clic aquí para ver el video), los miembros de la Junta discutieron los puntos de datos actualmente disponibles y los esfuerzos de planificación para la transición de regreso al aprendizaje en persona. Los asistentes a la reunión también escucharon a expertos médicos que asesoran al Distrito.
A partir de hoy, estamos planeando volver a la instrucción en persona, cuatro días a la semana, a partir del lunes 15 de marzo.
Las prioridades de planificación para una reapertura segura para todos son las siguientes:
- Continuar siguiendo las métricas de salud pública, proporcionadas semanalmente por el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa y el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona
- Continuar la colaboración con ASU y expertos médicos en nuestras métricas de salud comunitaria para tener las métricas de salud más actualizadas para una planificación enfocada
- Continuar siguiendo nuestro Plan de Mitigación de Salud de TUHSD y agregar los esfuerzos de vacunación como parte integral del plan
- Continuar asegurándose de que los maestros y el personal aprovechen las vacunas disponibles.
- Continuar recabando opiniones de nuestras familias, estudiantes, maestros, personal y otras partes interesadas para incluirlas en nuestra planificación.
Queremos reconocer que COVID-19 todavía es una realidad. Desde los primeros días de la pandemia, la salud y seguridad de su estudiante ha sido nuestra principal prioridad. También sabemos lo importante que es para los estudiantes aprender en el aula, con sus compañeros, y nuestro objetivo es volver a un modelo tradicional de instrucción lo antes posible. Creemos que la trayectoria proyectada de nuestras métricas de salud pública nos permitirá traer a todos de regreso a salvo después de las vacaciones de primavera.
Contamos con un conjunto integral de protocolos de mitigación de la salud que les pediremos a nuestras familias y al personal que tengan en cuenta para mantener a toda nuestra comunidad segura para que permanezcamos en persona sin interrupciones. Por ejemplo, todavía habrá controles de salud diarios, máscaras faciales obligatorias y procedimientos de limpieza mejorados. Volver al aprendizaje en persona es vital y también es un esfuerzo colectivo. Necesitamos que los padres, estudiantes, maestros y personal continúen siendo diligentes para mantenerse seguros unos a otros.
En este punto, le pediremos que planee regresar a la instrucción en persona el lunes 15 de marzo. Por ahora, nuestro objetivo es la instrucción en persona cuatro días a la semana, y los miércoles permanecen asincrónicos. Estaremos observando muy de cerca y monitoreando semanalmente utilizando todos nuestros criterios de prioridad de planificación enumerados anteriormente.
A medida que se disponga de información adicional, se difundirá a través de la administración de su escuela.
Dr. Kevin Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 1.15.21 - January Superintendent Update
TUHSD Parents & Families,
I hope that the second semester is off to a smooth start for your students, and that your family is staying healthy and safe. During these first few weeks of January, we have continued to learn more about the vaccine rollout and the logistics involved for our education community. I want to update our families on these details, and provide some reminders on our continued areas of focus.
Our key priorities at this time are listed below. The foundation of all of our decisions rests on bringing students back to campus and resuming a normal routine for all in our community.
Public Health Metrics
We are complying with the recommendations provided through the collaboration of Governor Ducey and the Arizona Department of Health Services, which provide clarification on the recommended learning scenarios based on the overall risk level presented. Additional information on our current metrics, as well as information on how to interpret the weekly reports, is at the end of this message.
As you know, the current metrics, for our District and our wider East Valley community, are alarmingly high. The data currently indicates the need for fully virtual learning. This current spike can be traced back to the week between Christmas and New Year’s; and we anticipate that the metrics will continue to trend upwards for another few weeks. In addition to the metrics, we also look to other state-wide agencies and organizations, such as the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona School Administrators, for information to help guide our decisions.
Bringing Students Back to Campus
As we monitor the metrics, we are also hopeful. As soon as it is safe to do so - as indicated by the public health metrics outlined above - we will bring our students back to campus for in-person learning. A key addition to our Health Mitigation Plan is to ensure everyone involved with the education of our students is vaccinated as soon as possible. I know we all look forward to the day when we can resume our “normal” schedules and lives. Please rest assured that as soon as it is safe to return, we will do so. This goal is the underpinning of all of our decisions.
Safety and Health of Employees
A safe and consistent learning experience for your students is guided by our employees, and having our employee base receive the COVID-19 vaccine is a huge step towards reopening our schools. We are working closely with the appropriate state and local agencies, as well as our health insurance provider (Aetna) to offer the vaccine at our school sites to our employees. We are also working to open up our school sites as PODS (Point Of Distribution) so that our wider education community - including our Kyrene and Tempe Elementary counterparts - can receive the vaccine as well.
We have not yet been provided with specific dates and times for vaccination events yet, but I wanted to keep our community informed as planning continues.
As the vaccine rollout continues to unfold, we encourage both our families and our employees to stay mindful of being safe. Our Health Mitigation Plan is a good resource for our community to be reminded of these guidelines. Between the vaccine availability and mitigation behaviors, we are all hopeful that we can return to normal soon.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
ESPAÑOL
Padres y familias de TUHSD,
Espero que el segundo semestre haya tenido un buen comienzo para sus estudiantes y que su familia se mantenga saludable y segura. Durante estas primeras semanas de enero, hemos continuado aprendiendo más sobre el lanzamiento de la vacuna y la logística involucrada para nuestra comunidad educativa. Quiero actualizar a nuestras familias sobre estos detalles y brindarles algunos recordatorios sobre nuestras áreas de enfoque continuas.
Nuestras prioridades clave en este momento son las siguientes. La base de todas nuestras decisiones se basa en traer a los estudiantes de regreso al campus y reanudar una rutina normal para todos en nuestra comunidad.
Métricas de salud pública
Estamos cumpliendo con las recomendaciones provistas a través de la colaboración del Gobernador Ducey y el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona, que brindan una aclaración sobre los escenarios de aprendizaje recomendados en función del nivel de riesgo general presentado. A continuación, encontrará información adicional sobre nuestras métricas actuales, así como información sobre cómo interpretar los informes semanales.
Como saben, las métricas actuales, para nuestro Distrito y nuestra comunidad más amplia del East Valley, son alarmantemente altas. Actualmente, los datos indican la necesidad de un aprendizaje totalmente virtual. Este pico actual se remonta a la semana entre Navidad y Año Nuevo; y anticipamos que las métricas continuarán con una tendencia ascendente durante algunas semanas más. Además de las métricas, también buscamos en otras agencias y organizaciones estatales, como el Departamento de Educación de Arizona y los Administradores de Escuelas de Arizona, para obtener información que ayude a guiar nuestras decisiones.
Traer a los estudiantes de regreso al campus
A medida que monitoreamos las métricas, también tenemos esperanzas. Tan pronto como sea seguro hacerlo, como lo indican las métricas de salud pública descritas anteriormente, traeremos a nuestros estudiantes de regreso al campus para que aprendan en persona. Una adición clave a nuestro Plan de Mitigación de la Salud es garantizar que todos los involucrados en la educación de nuestros estudiantes estén vacunados lo antes posible. Sé que todos esperamos el día en que podamos reanudar nuestros horarios y vidas "normales". Tenga la seguridad de que tan pronto como sea seguro regresar, lo haremos. Este objetivo es la base de todas nuestras decisiones.
Seguridad y salud de los empleados
Nuestros empleados guían una experiencia de aprendizaje segura y consistente para sus estudiantes, y hacer que nuestra base de empleados reciba la vacuna COVID-19 es un gran paso hacia la reapertura de nuestras escuelas. Estamos trabajando en estrecha colaboración con las agencias estatales y locales apropiadas, así como con nuestro proveedor de seguro médico (Aetna) para ofrecer la vacuna en nuestras escuelas a nuestros empleados. También estamos trabajando para abrir nuestras escuelas como PODS (Punto de distribución) para que nuestra comunidad educativa en general, incluidas nuestras contrapartes de Kyrene y Tempe Elementary, también puedan recibir la vacuna.
Todavía no nos han proporcionado fechas y horas específicas para los eventos de vacunación, pero quería mantener informada a nuestra comunidad a medida que continúa la planificación.
A medida que se desarrolla el lanzamiento de la vacuna, alentamos tanto a nuestras familias como a nuestros empleados a ser conscientes de la seguridad. Nuestro plan de mitigación de la salud es un buen recurso para que nuestra comunidad recuerde estas pautas. Entre la disponibilidad de vacunas y los comportamientos de mitigación, todos tenemos la esperanza de poder volver a la normalidad pronto.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 12.17.20 - December Superintendent Update
Dear TUHSD Parents and Families,
As our first semester winds down to a close, my hope is that the holiday season will bring you opportunities for joy. We realize that learning virtually can be a less than ideal experience for everyone. I hope that we can also look to identify the many positives that have emerged. Our teachers developed new methods of delivering instruction to our students, and our students rose to the occasion. From our marching band students, to our dance programs, to our athletes continuing to excel, we are inspired every day by those in our TUHSD community.
We continue to carefully monitor the information provided by both Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services. We also have a partnership with Arizona State University to receive live data to help guide our decisions. Given the current public health metrics and projections for our district, we will begin the 3rd quarter in a virtual setting on Monday, January 4, 2021. These are difficult decisions to make but we are focused on the safety and well-being of our students, their families, and our teachers and staff.
One trend that public health experts have predicted - and the data in our area continues to tell us - is that there are large spikes in cases and community spread in the weeks following a holiday. Currently, we are experiencing a spike in cases that can be traced back to the Thanksgiving holiday. We have no reason to think that this will not be the same after Christmas, or New Year’s.
Tempe Union High School District as of 12/17/20. Courtesy of Maricopa County Department of Public Health.Our goal is to start the third quarter safely, and bring our students back in-person as soon as the metrics indicate it is safe for our community. We will continue to monitor the metrics and communicate plans for a return to in-person instruction in a timely manner.
Our amazing teachers and staff are focused on new ways to engage students and make this as positive of an experience as possible. As we know, student engagement continues to be a challenge. Teachers have been provided new strategies to enhance student connections in their classrooms when we begin instruction in January. We understand that this is not an ideal situation for our students and teachers. We are closely monitoring students who are struggling to help them to find success. Please reach out to your site administration if you have a student who is struggling - there are support systems in place to help. Additional information on student engagement and intervention efforts was presented at the December 16 Governing Board meeting. The presentation can be found online here.
We understand that this is a difficult time for so many of our families. As a reminder, there are resources online to assist you and your families, including a list of social emotional wellness resources (available here). Please make sure to utilize them, and reach out to the support teams at your school site for additional information and resources that are available in our community.
Thank you for your continued support and wishing you a very safe and happy holiday season.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
SuperintendentESPAÑOL
Estimados padres y familias de TUHSD:
A medida que nuestro primer semestre llega a su fin, espero que la temporada navideña les brinde oportunidades para la alegría. Sabemos que aprender virtualmente puede ser una experiencia menos que ideal para todos. Espero que también podamos identificar los muchos aspectos positivos que han surgido. Nuestros maestros desarrollaron nuevos métodos para impartir instrucción a nuestros estudiantes y nuestros estudiantes estuvieron a la altura de las circunstancias. Desde nuestros estudiantes de la banda de música hasta nuestros programas de baile y nuestros atletas que continúan sobresaliendo, todos los días nos inspiramos en nuestra comunidad de TUHSD.
Continuamos monitoreando cuidadosamente la información proporcionada tanto por el condado de Maricopa como por el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona. También tenemos una asociación con la Universidad Estatal de Arizona para recibir datos que ayuden a guiar nuestras decisiones. Dadas las métricas y proyecciones de salud pública actuales para nuestro distrito, comenzaremos el tercer trimestre en un entorno virtual el lunes 4 de enero de 2021. Tenga en cuenta que no tomamos esta decisión a la ligera y que continuamos enfocándonos en brindar calidad instrucción en el entorno virtual.
Una tendencia que los expertos en salud pública han predicho, y los datos en nuestra área continúan diciéndonos, es que hay grandes picos en los casos y en la comunidad en las semanas posteriores a las vacaciones. Actualmente, estamos experimentando un aumento en los casos que se remontan a las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias. No tenemos ninguna razón para pensar que esto no será lo mismo después de Navidad o Año Nuevo.Distrito de escuelas secundarias de Tempe Union a partir del 17/12/20. Cortesía del Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa.
Nuestro objetivo es comenzar el tercer trimestre de manera segura y traer a nuestros estudiantes de regreso en persona tan pronto como las métricas indiquen que es seguro para nuestra comunidad. Continuaremos monitoreando las métricas y comunicando planes para regresar a la instrucción en persona de manera oportuna.
Nuestros increíbles maestros y personal están enfocados en nuevas formas de involucrar a los estudiantes y hacer que esta sea una experiencia lo más positiva posible. Como sabemos, la participación de los estudiantes sigue siendo un desafío. A los maestros se les han proporcionado nuevas estrategias para mejorar las conexiones de los estudiantes en sus aulas cuando comenzamos la instrucción en enero. Entendemos que esta no es una situación ideal para nuestros estudiantes y profesores. Estamos monitoreando de cerca a los estudiantes que luchan para ayudarlos a tener éxito. Comuníquese con la administración de su sitio si tiene un estudiante con dificultades; existen sistemas de apoyo para ayudar. En la reunión de la Junta Directiva del 16 de diciembre se presentó información adicional sobre la participación de los estudiantes y los esfuerzos de intervención. La presentación se puede encontrar en línea aquí.
Entendemos que este es un momento difícil para muchas de nuestras familias. Como recordatorio, hay recursos en línea para ayudarlo a usted y a sus familias, incluida una lista de recursos de bienestar socioemocional (disponible aquí). Asegúrese de utilizarlos y comuníquese con los equipos de apoyo en su escuela para obtener información y recursos adicionales que están disponibles en nuestra comunidad.
Gracias por su continuo apoyo y les deseamos unas felices y seguras fiestas navideñas.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 11.20.20 - Shift to virtual learning beg. 11/30
Dear TUHSD Parents and Families,
As I previously shared with you, our District has been carefully monitoring the public health metrics made available by both Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services. These metrics have guided our decision making from the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning Monday, November 30, TUHSD will return to virtual learning. We remain mindful of our responsibility to keep our entire community safe - from students to teachers to staff and their respective families. Please know that we do not take this decision lightly and that we are continuing to focus on delivering quality instruction in the virtual environment. Additionally, Tempe Elementary and Kyrene have made decisions to return to virtual instruction as a result of their metrics, which we share. The level of collaboration with our sister districts has always been a priority, especially in situations like this one.
Report courtesy of Maricopa County Department of Public Health. Dashboard available here.
Additional factors we have taken into consideration include:- TUHSD students in quarantine | While our positive case count has remained low, we have seen an increase in reports in the last two weeks and, as of today, approximately 915 students and staff have been isolated or quarantined due to possible exposure on campus.
- Substitute shortage | A growing number of staff are experiencing COVID-like symptoms due to flu, colds or other viruses. Staff are required to remain home with ANY symptoms, and we are having extreme difficulty securing substitute teachers for those classrooms. Soon, we will not have enough personnel to cover classes. Moving to contingency reduces the risk of teachers being out sick.
- Off-campus behaviors | So many of our families have been diligent about practicing good safety habits both on and off campus. However, we have seen multiple cases of students sent to school with symptoms or while awaiting COVID test results. These incidents put staff and other students at risk in addition to causing preventable school quarantines.
- Projection models | Current models predict exponential growth of COVID-19 cases over the next several weeks, projecting as many as 250,000 positive daily U.S. cases with 3,000-5,000 deaths per day. Higher community spread translates into higher positive COVID cases on campuses, higher counts of quarantine, and greater risk for everyone.
We know you will have questions, and as plans develop and are shared, we will do our best to answer them. This includes planning for athletics & extra curricular activities. Here are a few that we can currently address:
- How long will we stay in virtual mode? Our decisions are always guided by the public health metrics. We will continue to monitor the metrics, no matter what instruction mode we are offering, and bring students back to campus when the metrics indicate it is safe to do so again.
- What does this mean for my student who is currently in hybrid mode? Your student will shift to virtual instruction. Additional information on bell schedules and other specifics will be circulated next week.
- What does this mean for my student who is already in virtual mode? There will not be a substantial change for students who are already in virtual mode. They will see all of their classmates joining class from home. Additional information on bell schedules and other specifics will be circulated next week.
- What does this mean for my special needs or high-risk student? On-site support services will be made available for students who fall into priority categories, in compliance with the original Executive Order from Governor Doug Ducey. Please see here for more information about on-site support services and the students that qualify.
We understand that this is a difficult time for so many of our families. As a reminder, there are resources online to assist you and your families, including a list of social emotional wellness resources (available here). Please make sure to utilize them, and reach out to the support teams at your school site for additional information and resources.
Thank you for your continued support,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
SuperintendentEstimados padres y familias de TUHSD:
Como dije anteriormente, nuestro Distrito ha estado monitoreando cuidadosamente las métricas de salud pública disponibles tanto por el Condado de Maricopa como por el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona. Estas métricas han guiado nuestra toma de decisiones desde el comienzo de la pandemia de COVID-19.
A partir del lunes 30 de noviembre, TUHSD volverá al aprendizaje virtual. Seguimos conscientes de nuestra responsabilidad de mantener segura a toda nuestra comunidad, desde los estudiantes hasta los maestros, el personal y sus respectivas familias. Tenga en cuenta que no tomamos esta decisión a la ligera y que continuamos enfocándonos en brindar instrucción de calidad en el entorno virtual. Además, la Primaria Tempe y Kyrene han tomado decisiones para regresar a la instrucción virtual como resultado de sus métricas, que compartimos. El nivel de colaboración con nuestros distritos hermanos siempre ha sido una prioridad, especialmente en situaciones como esta.
Informe cortesía del Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa.Los factores adicionales que hemos tenido en cuenta incluyen:
Estudiantes de TUHSD en cuarentena | Si bien nuestro recuento de casos positivos se ha mantenido bajo, hemos visto un aumento en los informes en las últimas dos semanas y, a la fecha, casi 915 estudiantes y personal han sido aislados o puestos en cuarentena debido a una posible exposición en el campus.Escasez de sustitutos | Un número creciente de empleados experimenta síntomas similares a los de COVID debido a la gripe, resfriados u otros virus. Se requiere que el personal permanezca en casa con CUALQUIER síntoma, y estamos teniendo dificultades extremas para conseguir maestros sustitutos para esas aulas. Pronto, no tendremos suficiente personal para cubrir las clases. Pasar a la contingencia reduce el riesgo de que los profesores se enfermen.
Comportamientos fuera del campus | Muchas de nuestras familias han sido diligentes en la práctica de buenos hábitos de seguridad tanto dentro como fuera del campus. Sin embargo, hemos visto varios casos de estudiantes enviados a la escuela con síntomas o mientras esperaban los resultados de la prueba COVID. Estos incidentes ponen en riesgo al personal y a otros estudiantes, además de causar cuarentenas escolares prevenibles.
Modelos de proyección | Los modelos actuales predicen un crecimiento exponencial de los casos de COVID-19 durante las próximas semanas, proyectando hasta 250,000 casos positivos diarios en los EE. UU. Con 3,000-5,000 muertes por día. Una mayor propagación en la comunidad se traduce en casos de COVID positivos más altos en los campus, recuentos más altos de cuarentena y mayor riesgo para todos.
Sabemos que tendrá preguntas y, a medida que los planes se desarrollen y se compartan, haremos todo lo posible para responderlas. Esto incluye la planificación de actividades deportivas y extracurriculares. Aquí hay algunos que podemos abordar actualmente:
¿Cuánto tiempo permaneceremos en modo virtual? Nuestras decisiones siempre se guían por las métricas de salud pública. Continuaremos monitoreando las métricas, sin importar el modo de instrucción que estemos ofreciendo, y llevaremos a los estudiantes de regreso al campus cuando las métricas indiquen que es seguro hacerlo nuevamente.
¿Qué significa esto para mi estudiante que se encuentra actualmente en modo híbrido? Su estudiante cambiará a la instrucción virtual. La próxima semana se distribuirá información adicional sobre los horarios de las campanas y otros detalles.
¿Qué significa esto para mi alumno que ya está en modo virtual? No habrá un cambio sustancial para los estudiantes que ya están en modo virtual. Verán a todos sus compañeros unirse a clase desde casa. La próxima semana se distribuirá información adicional sobre los horarios de las campanas y otros detalles.
¿Qué significa esto para mi estudiante con necesidades especiales o de alto riesgo? Los servicios de apoyo en el lugar estarán disponibles para los estudiantes que caen en categorías prioritarias, de conformidad con la Orden Ejecutiva original del Gobernador Doug Ducey. Consulte aquí para obtener más información sobre los servicios de apoyo en el lugar y los estudiantes que califican.
Entendemos que este es un momento difícil para muchas de nuestras familias. Como recordatorio, hay recursos en línea para ayudarlo a usted y a sus familias, incluida una lista de recursos de bienestar social y emocional (disponible aquí). Asegúrese de utilizarlos y comuníquese con los equipos de apoyo de su escuela para obtener información y recursos adicionales.
Gracias por su continuo apoyo,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 11.20.20 - Preparation for a Return to Virtual Learning from Superintendent Mendivil
November 20, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents and Families,
As I previously shared with you, our District has been carefully monitoring the public health metrics made available by both Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services. These metrics have guided our decision making from the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning Monday, November 30, TUHSD will return to virtual learning. We remain mindful of our responsibility to keep our entire community safe - from students to teachers to staff and their respective families. Please know that we do not take this decision lightly and that we are continuing to focus on delivering quality instruction in the virtual environment. Additionally, Tempe Elementary and Kyrene have made decisions to return to virtual instruction as a result of their metrics, which we share. The level of collaboration with our sister districts has always been a priority, especially in situations like this one.
Report courtesy of Maricopa County Department of Public Health. Dashboard available here.
Additional factors we have taken into consideration include:- TUHSD students in quarantine | While our positive case count has remained low, we have seen an increase in reports in the last two weeks and, as of today, nearly 600 students and staff have been isolated or quarantined due to possible exposure on campus.
- Substitute shortage | A growing number of staff are experiencing COVID-like symptoms due to flu, colds or other viruses. Staff are required to remain home with ANY symptoms, and we are having extreme difficulty securing substitute teachers for those classrooms. Soon, we will not have enough personnel to cover classes. Moving to contingency reduces the risk of teachers being out sick.
- Off-campus behaviors | So many of our families have been diligent about practicing good safety habits both on and off campus. However, we have seen multiple cases of students sent to school with symptoms or while awaiting COVID test results. These incidents put staff and other students at risk in addition to causing preventable school quarantines.
- Projection models | Current models predict exponential growth of COVID-19 cases over the next several weeks, projecting as many as 250,000 positive daily U.S. cases with 3,000-5,000 deaths per day. Higher community spread translates into higher positive COVID cases on campuses, higher counts of quarantine, and greater risk for everyone.
We know you will have questions, and as plans develop and are shared, we will do our best to answer them. This includes planning for athletics & extra curricular activities. Here are a few that we can currently address:- How long will we stay in virtual mode? Our decisions are always guided by the public health metrics. We will continue to monitor the metrics, no matter what instruction mode we are offering, and bring students back to campus when the metrics indicate it is safe to do so again.
- What does this mean for my student who is currently in hybrid mode? Your student will shift to virtual instruction. Additional information on bell schedules and other specifics will be circulated next week.
- What does this mean for my student who is already in virtual mode? There will not be a substantial change for students who are already in virtual mode. They will see all of their classmates joining class from home. Additional information on bell schedules and other specifics will be circulated next week.
- What does this mean for my special needs or high-risk student? On-site support services will be made available for students who fall into priority categories, in compliance with the original Executive Order from Governor Doug Ducey. Please see here for more information about on-site support services and the students that qualify.
We understand that this is a difficult time for so many of our families. As a reminder, there are resources online to assist you and your families, including a list of social-emotional wellness resources (available here). Please make sure to utilize them, and reach out to the support teams at your school site for additional information and resources.Thank you for your continued support,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
Para Español:
Estimados padres y familias de TUHSD:
Como dije anteriormente, nuestro Distrito ha estado monitoreando cuidadosamente las métricas de salud pública disponibles tanto por el Condado de Maricopa como por el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona. Estas métricas han guiado nuestra toma de decisiones desde el comienzo de la pandemia de COVID-19.
A partir del lunes 30 de noviembre, TUHSD volverá al aprendizaje virtual. Seguimos conscientes de nuestra responsabilidad de mantener segura a toda nuestra comunidad, desde los estudiantes hasta los maestros, el personal y sus respectivas familias. Tenga en cuenta que no tomamos esta decisión a la ligera y que continuamos enfocándonos en brindar instrucción de calidad en el entorno virtual. Además, la Primaria Tempe y Kyrene han tomado decisiones para regresar a la instrucción virtual como resultado de sus métricas, que compartimos. El nivel de colaboración con nuestros distritos hermanos siempre ha sido una prioridad, especialmente en situaciones como esta.
Informe cortesía del Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa. Tablero disponible aquí.
Los factores adicionales que hemos tenido en cuenta incluyen:
Estudiantes de TUHSD en cuarentena | Si bien nuestro recuento de casos positivos se ha mantenido bajo, hemos visto un aumento en los informes en las últimas dos semanas y, a la fecha, casi 600 estudiantes y personal han sido aislados o puestos en cuarentena debido a una posible exposición en el campus.
Escasez de sustitutos | Un número creciente de empleados experimenta síntomas similares a los de COVID debido a la gripe, resfriados u otros virus. Se requiere que el personal permanezca en casa con CUALQUIER síntoma, y estamos teniendo dificultades extremas para conseguir maestros sustitutos para esas aulas. Pronto, no tendremos suficiente personal para cubrir las clases. Pasar a la contingencia reduce el riesgo de que los profesores se enfermen.
Comportamientos fuera del campus | Muchas de nuestras familias han sido diligentes en la práctica de buenos hábitos de seguridad tanto dentro como fuera del campus. Sin embargo, hemos visto varios casos de estudiantes enviados a la escuela con síntomas o mientras esperaban los resultados de la prueba COVID. Estos incidentes ponen en riesgo al personal y a otros estudiantes, además de causar cuarentenas escolares prevenibles.
Modelos de proyección | Los modelos actuales predicen un crecimiento exponencial de los casos de COVID-19 durante las próximas semanas, proyectando hasta 250,000 casos positivos diarios en los EE. UU. Con 3,000-5,000 muertes por día. Una mayor propagación en la comunidad se traduce en casos de COVID positivos más altos en los campus, recuentos más altos de cuarentena y mayor riesgo para todos.
Sabemos que tendrá preguntas y, a medida que los planes se desarrollen y se compartan, haremos todo lo posible para responderlas. Esto incluye la planificación de actividades deportivas y extracurriculares. Aquí hay algunos que podemos abordar actualmente:
¿Cuánto tiempo permaneceremos en modo virtual? Nuestras decisiones siempre se guían por las métricas de salud pública. Continuaremos monitoreando las métricas, sin importar el modo de instrucción que estemos ofreciendo, y llevaremos a los estudiantes de regreso al campus cuando las métricas indiquen que es seguro hacerlo nuevamente.
¿Qué significa esto para mi estudiante que se encuentra actualmente en modo híbrido? Su estudiante cambiará a la instrucción virtual. La próxima semana se distribuirá información adicional sobre los horarios de las campanas y otros detalles.
¿Qué significa esto para mi alumno que ya está en modo virtual? No habrá un cambio sustancial para los estudiantes que ya están en modo virtual. Verán a todos sus compañeros unirse a clase desde casa. La próxima semana se distribuirá información adicional sobre los horarios de las campanas y otros detalles.
¿Qué significa esto para mi estudiante con necesidades especiales o de alto riesgo? Los servicios de apoyo en el lugar estarán disponibles para los estudiantes que caen en categorías prioritarias, de conformidad con la Orden Ejecutiva original del Gobernador Doug Ducey. Consulte aquí para obtener más información sobre los servicios de apoyo en el lugar y los estudiantes que califican.
Entendemos que este es un momento difícil para muchas de nuestras familias. Como recordatorio, hay recursos en línea para ayudarlo a usted y a sus familias, incluida una lista de recursos de bienestar social y emocional (disponible aquí). Asegúrese de utilizarlos y comuníquese con los equipos de apoyo de su escuela para obtener información y recursos adicionales.
Gracias por su continuo apoyo,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente
-
Parent Letter 11.13.20 - Update on COVID-19 from Superintendent Mendivil
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
Based on concerns we are receiving from families and others in our community, I would like to reassure you that we are committed to our current model of hybrid learning. Throughout this pandemic, we have ensured that our decision making is guided by the public health metrics made available by both Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Although many of our surrounding communities are facing situations where they are “in the red” with the latest round of updates, we are fortunate that the areas where our students reside are still considered “yellow”, and safe to continue with the hybrid learning model that we have implemented. We will continue to be guided by these metrics, and although cases are on the rise in Arizona overall and two benchmarks have gradually increased for TUHSD, we consider ourselves fortunate that we have not yet had to consider a return to fully remote learning.
Recently, the State updated their guidelines which will allow us to continue in hybrid until we have hit “red” in all three tracked metrics, for two consecutive weeks. While we can’t be certain what the future holds, we are committed to continuing in our current model until the metrics dictate otherwise, and continuing to ask our families and community to be mindful of the safety measures that we have in place that protect us all.
TUHSD remains committed to implementing and following the safety measures in our Health Mitigation Plan to protect students and staff from exposure to COVID-19. We feel that the adherence to this plan is what has kept our community “yellow”. Our protocols include reminding students and staff to stay home when they are sick and mandating wearing face masks. Physical distancing rules are in place and high-touch surface areas are disinfected regularly. We also encourage frequent hand washing and hand sanitizer is readily available to students and staff.
Last month, in an effort to be transparent with our community, we launched a TUHSD COVID-19 dashboard (available here), which lists current, active COVID-19 cases by school. The dashboard is updated on a rolling basis as information becomes available. We hope that this has been an informative resource for you. It is also worth noting that the overwhelming majority of our current, active cases are a result of off-campus exposure, which indicates that the protocols in our Health Mitigation Plan have been successful in keeping our students and staff safe during this time.
In addition to the COVID-19 dashboard, we have a wide variety of resources available to you at this time, including a video outlining safety protocols (available here), a list of frequently asked questions (available here), and a list of social-emotional wellness resources (available here).
Next Wednesday, November 18, our Governing Board will hear an important COVID-19 update from our administrative team. The meeting will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel starting at 7 PM. I hope you are able to join us.
Thank you for your continued support,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 10.21.20 - COVID dashboard; study session
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
Last week, we began our hybrid learning model. The input we’ve received from our students and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we continue to look for unique ways to refine this model and engage our students during this time.
TUHSD remains committed to implementing and following the safety measures in our Health Mitigation Plan to protect students and staff from exposure to COVID-19. This includes reminding students and staff to stay home when they are sick and mandating wearing face masks. Physical distancing rules are in place and high-touch surface areas are disinfected regularly. We also encourage frequent hand washing and hand sanitizer is readily available to students and staff.
In an effort to be transparent with our community, we have launched a TUHSD COVID-19 dashboard (available here), which lists current, active COVID-19 cases by school. This dashboard will be updated weekly moving forward.
It is important to remember that COVID-19 is widely circulating in our area, and we ask that you continue to be vigilant and monitor for symptoms consistent with COVID-19. If your child is experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms consistent with COVID-19, believe they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or you think they should be tested for COVID-19, please keep your child at home and see your healthcare provider and/or get tested with a PCR test (nose swab). You can visit Maricopa County Department of Public Health or call the AZ COVID-19 hotline at 844-542-8201 for more information about testing options and availability in your area.
In addition to the COVID-19 dashboard, we have a wide variety of resources available to you at this time, including a video outlining safety protocols (available here), a list of frequently asked questions (available here), and a list of social-emotional wellness resources (available here).
The issues surrounding social-emotional wellness, especially during this pandemic, remain of critical importance to TUHSD. Our Governing Board is holding a study session tonight on this important topic. The session will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel starting at 5 PM - I hope you can join us.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 9.23.20 - Preparing for Return to Campus
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
We are moving closer to Tuesday, October 13 and I know our teachers and administrators share my excitement in having our students return to campus. Teachers are back in their classrooms today, and working to learn the safety protocols associated with this return to in-person learning. We have all been preparing for months for this moment and we look forward to starting this new phase.
As previously announced, we will begin our hybrid learning model on October 13. This means that students will be divided into two groups - A and B. Students from “A” group will attend in-person on Monday & Tuesday. Students from “B” group will attend in-person on Thursday & Friday. Students will learn in a virtual setting on the days they are not on campus, in addition to Wednesdays’, which will be virtual and asynchronous for all, in order to allow for cleaning in between the cohort groups.
Parents who wish for their students to remain in virtual instruction mode have that option. If you haven’t already done so, please fill out the Learning Choice Survey that was circulated last week. This survey is the opportunity for you to indicate your preference between hybrid or fully virtual learning. Links to the survey are available in both English and Spanish. We ask that you respond to the survey by 5 PM today.
A video outlining safety protocols can be found here. Please familiarize yourself with this video, and encourage your student to watch. Videos will also be made available with site-specific safety information. Please keep an eye on communications from your school principal or administrators for those links.
On Thursday, September 24, we will hold a virtual Governing Board study session on the topic of Athletics. I know this is a topic that is of interest to many, and I hope you can tune in to our YouTube channel and join us. The meeting will be streamed live beginning at 4 PM.
As I have previously shared, we are closely monitoring the metrics and data that are made available through both Arizona’s Department of Health Services, and Maricopa County’s Department of Public Health. We will continue to do so, and the data will continue to guide our decision-making process.
With a week and a half left in the first quarter, I know many of you are looking forward to Fall Break. If you have travel plans, be sure to review the U.S. State Department’s list of travel advisories. And whether you are traveling or not, I hope that you and your family have a restful and restorative Fall Break.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 9.8.20 - Additional Details on Return to School
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:
As I shared in my last communication, our teachers, administrators, and staff are looking forward to seeing your students on-campus again beginning the week of Tuesday, October 13. We know the past five months have been very difficult for everyone and that it is important to remain hopeful as we embrace the next phase of this “new normal.”
Preparations are well underway to ready our campuses to receive students. Here are a few of the next steps:- All teachers and staff report to their respective schools on Monday, September 21
- Teachers prepare their classrooms for students - identifying how they want to set up their individual classrooms to maximize blended learning instruction, positioning cameras, and the other underlying work of readying their spaces
- Briefings and other training for returning employees to fully understand the safety plan for their school site, as well as the TUHSD Health Mitigation Plan - DOCX
- Prepare students to learn new behaviors to help mitigate the spread of the virus through social distancing, face coverings, and regular hand washing
On October 13, we will start in a hybrid two days per week learning model. Students will be divided into cohorts by the last name, and attend school in-person on either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday. The other three days of the week will see learning conducted virtually. Wednesdays are also a deep cleaning day, to ensure that our campuses are fully cleaned in between each cohort of students. More information on a specific cohort assignment will be sent by your student’s school site.
We appreciate everyone who took the time to answer our Parent Needs Survey and we have factored this feedback into our planning and will make every effort to get as many students safely and socially distanced in classrooms as possible. The results of the survey will be posted on the Health & Safety section of our website this week.
All families in our District have choices - as many students who want to learn in-person, on-campus in a blended learning environment will be able to do so. And students/families who do not feel comfortable returning to campus have the choice to remain in a virtual instruction model through the end of the 1st semester. Additional information on the remaining virtual will be disseminated directly to you by your student’s school site.
I cannot stress enough how much we appreciate our students, families, and larger TUHSD community. Your feedback and input during our planning process has been vital, and knowing that we will be welcoming our students back to campus in just a few weeks is a tremendous relief to us all.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 9.4.20 - Return to Campus 10/13/20
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:
At the Governing Board Meeting this past Wednesday, information was shared regarding current health metrics for TUHSD which included zip codes within our boundaries as well as zip codes for our open-enrolled TUHSD families.
I am pleased that we continue to see a favorable trend in the metrics provided by our public health agencies. Like our sister districts Kyrene and Tempe Elementary, Tempe Union will begin instruction on October 13. I will share additional information next week, and please be on the lookout for specific information from your school site in the coming weeks as well.
Information was also shared during the Board meeting regarding examples of best practices for hybrid learning. TUHSD is considering the best model for our high schools while we prepare to bring students back to in-person instruction. Again, additional details will be forthcoming.
We launched the Parent Needs survey this past Tuesday to solicit input from families on their desire to have their students return to school. We are reviewing preliminary results as the survey deadline draws to a close this evening, and will use the information to determine how we bring students back in a hybrid learning environment.
Thank you again for your input during this process. I know our teachers, staff, and administrators are all looking forward to welcoming students back to campus.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 8.28.20 - Update on Instructional Model
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:
Beginning next week, there will be some minor changes to our instructional model for students. We have received much feedback from both students and parents regarding the prolonged screen time currently required due to synchronous instruction. As a result, we are planning on adapting our instructional model to include asynchronous learning time, which will be independent learning time with students completing assignments and other work away from their virtual classes. Teachers were informed this morning.
Every Wednesday will be an asynchronous learning day for all content areas. This will reduce screen time for students and allow teachers to have additional planning time for their week and address other student needs.
Wednesday, September 2nd, will be our first asynchronous day. Teachers began circulating information and further instructions to their students today. This is what this means for their classes. In general, students will be required to log in to each class and submit attendance on the Google Form, as well as complete any assigned work or activities that may be posted in Schoology for the day.
We hope these changes will assist your students in a more seamless transition as we look to move into a hybrid instructional setting in the coming weeks.
Thank you,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil, Superintendent
Ms. Kim Hilgers, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
-
Parent Letter 8.28.20 - Information on Reopening Plans
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:
Earlier this week, our Governing Board held a study session on our District’s Health Mitigation Plan - DOCX. The plan was covered in detail and several options for safely returning to school were presented. If you were unable to join us, you can find the audio recording here.
In light of the study session, and updated metrics from our public health agencies released this week, I want to take this opportunity to highlight a few important items.
Based on the current available metrics, we are planning steps to safely reopen school for our students. In order to do so, we need to understand our community’s comfort level with returning to campus so that we can appropriately plan for the number of students that may be on campus at any given time.
A Parent Needs Survey will be circulated via email on Tuesday, September 1. We ask that you respond to this survey by Wednesday, September 9. The survey responses will assist us in planning a safe, hybrid approach to reopening our schools by understanding how many of our families will continue with virtual instruction or return to hybrid in-person instruction at school.
It is important to remember that the metrics provided by our state and county public health agencies are what is driving our reopening. At this time, the metrics are continuing to trend downwards. There were three scenarios presented at the study session this week - please click here for a PDF of the presentation.
Depending upon the metrics made available in the coming weeks, we anticipate that we would open in either a Scenario 2A (Slide 71) or a Scenario 2B (Slide 71) Hybrid Model sometime in later September. New information is released by the state/county each Thursday, and we will continue to evaluate that data and plan accordingly. We will also be reviewing the zip codes of our TUHSD families that are open-enrolled.
Finally, and most importantly, the other required component to reopening is a quality health mitigation plan. It is imperative that everyone involved with the education of our students - parents and families, teachers and staff, and students themselves - understand this plan and take it seriously. Once we reopen, following these safety protocols will be essential for us to remain open. Again, the District’s Health Mitigation Plan can be found here.
Thank you for your patience during this time. We know that these have been difficult times for our TUHSD family, and we are all looking forward to safely reopening our schools in the very near future.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 8.25.20: TUHSD | Gov Board Study Session
August 25, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents & Guardians:
As we begin the fourth week of school, I wanted to thank you for your dedication and perseverance. We know that this experience has not been an easy one, as your students began the school year in a virtual learning environment. While we have all had challenges over the past few weeks, there have also been many stories of resilience and creativity. Our teachers and staff have been thrilled to see their students return, albeit virtually for now. I know that our TUHSD family will continue to rise to the occasion during these difficult times.
This Wednesday at 5 PM, our TUHSD Governing Board will convene for a special study session. They will be reviewing and discussing our Health Mitigation Plan - DOCX, as well as the benchmarks and planning for returning to hybrid in-person instruction.
Both the Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County’s Department of Public Health have published data concerning the return to school. We are evaluating these data dashboards daily and more information will be presented during the study session regarding the impact of this information on re-opening our schools.
I am very encouraged that the data is trending in the right direction. If the data continues to trend downward, we would look to reopen our schools with caution and in a hybrid manner - with some students at school and some at home virtually. There are two components for reopening safely - a quality, detailed health mitigation plan; and meeting the benchmarks outlined by our public health agencies. Both are equally important for a successful reopening according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
As planning is underway for this re-opening, I want to reassure you that the safety of our students is always a top priority. As you will see on Wednesday night, the safety of both students and employees has been top of mind during all of our planning efforts.
If you have some time on Wednesday, I hope you can join us for the session. The meeting will be live-streamed on our TUHSD YouTube channel and the PowerPoint presentation will be available on the district website the following day.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 8.13.20: TUHSD | On-Site Support Services
August 13, 2020
TUHSD Families:
On Monday, August 17, our campuses will welcome students in need of on-site support services (services that cannot be provided virtually). These support services are part of Governor Ducey’s most recent Executive Order for schools and are for students who have a critical need for a specific service or resource. There will be limited space available on each campus due to the importance of optimizing the use of available staff and limited resources, as well as the critical health mitigation protocols that need to be implemented and maintained for safety.
Our students with the highest need were identified by school sites and prioritized with a weighted system. Ten priority categories were identified as follows: SpEd Level C/D students (self-contained programs); McKinney Vento students (homeless students); Students without access to WiFi or other technology at home; Title I and students eligible for free and/or reduced lunches; SEL (Social Emotional) High Concern students; ELL (English Language Learners) students; Foster care students; SpEd Level B students (Resource); SpEd Level A students (Itinerant services); Parent Request.
We understand there will be evolving student needs, and our administrators and school site teams are listening to parents and families in order to continually meet the needs of our students and families.
Prioritization Criteria
- SpEd Level C/D
- McKinney Vento
- No WiFi/Tech
- Title I
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) High Concern
- ELL
- Foster
- SpEd Level B
- SpEd Level A
- Parent Request
Parents/guardians will be required to acknowledge the COVID-19 Parental Acknowledgement and Disclosure Form by signing the form on or before the student's first day of attendance on campus. This form will be circulated by your school site administrators.
Specific locations have been identified at each school site to provide a safe space for TUHSD students to have remote access to classes and receive in-person support services as needed. Transportation and school meals will be provided. On-site service locations will be monitored by a TUHSD staff member (not necessarily a certified teacher), and instruction will continue virtually between students and their teachers.
Social distancing and appropriate safety guidelines will be observed in these on-site spaces at all times. Rooms will be limited to 10-15 students only, with assigned classrooms, specific entry and exit routes, temperature checks, and signage, and cleaning protocols in place. Additional safety details can be found in the TUHSD’s Health Mitigation Plan, which is available here - DOCX.
Follow up notifications and additional information will be sent by school sites to families who have been identified as being eligible for on-site services.
If your child does not fall into one of these priority categories, and you would like to request on-site services, please contact your academic counselor.
As a reminder, TUHSD’s first quarter is scheduled through Friday, October 2. We will remain in virtual instruction mode until our community has met the metrics for reopening as outlined by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The fall break is slated for the following week, with students and teachers beginning the second quarter of instruction on Tuesday, October 13.
Thank you,
Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 8.6.20: TUHSD | Resources + Governing Board resolution
August 6, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents and Families:
As we bring our first week of school to a close, I wanted to reach out to you with additional information and resources for you and your student.
Although there were many reports of a smooth and successful transition to virtual learning, we know that some of you are still facing technology challenges. There are a myriad of resources available to you via your specific school site. Please be sure to look at your school’s website, especially the “Student” or “Parent” pages, to find information and contact information to assist you during this time.
Last night, the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board voted 5-0 on a resolution to keep students in virtual mode for the duration of the first quarter, or until the metrics for reopening provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) can be met. The full resolution passed by the Governing Board is available to view here.
Health metrics are scheduled to be released by ADHS tomorrow, Friday, August 7. Once released, they are expected to provide additional guidance on the safe reopening of schools.
What this means in practical terms is that we will continue to monitor the health and safety of our wider TUHSD community, and look to these metrics to help guide us in our decision making. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have looked to public health experts and information to assist us in safe decision-making, and we will continue to do that. While we all hope to bring our students, teachers, and staff back to our school sites, we are also mindful of our responsibility to keep our community safe.
As a reminder, TUHSD’s first quarter is scheduled through Friday, October 2. Fall break is slated for the following week, with students and teachers beginning the second quarter of instruction on Monday, October 13. The full student calendar for the 2020-2021 school year is available here.
Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 7.17.20: Stakeholder Forum Update
July 17, 2020
TUHSD Students and Families:
We appreciate so many of you taking the time to submit questions and attend our Virtual Stakeholder Forum earlier this week. If you were unable to attend and would like to view or re-watch the program, it is available here on our YouTube Channel. Over 700 questions were submitted by parents, teachers and staff. While we were unable to answer all of them, we are continuing to update our FAQs on a regular basis. Information provided during the Forum has now been added to our FAQs and is available here.
The most common question after the conclusion of Tuesday’s Forum was - what happens if Governor Ducey moves forward to re-open schools on August 17th and I’m not comfortable with sending my student back yet? After internal discussion and continued planning, we have re-structured our In-Person model to accommodate this need.
If your student starts the school year in the In-Person remote/virtual mode (currently August 3 through August 17, but subject to change based on Governor Ducey’s Executive Orders) and you are not comfortable with sending your student back on the date ultimately identified by Governor Ducey as our physical return to school sites, you will have the option to keep your student in remote/virtual learning mode through the first semester or until you, as a family, are comfortable with the physical return to school for your son or daughter.
If you have pre-registered for the Tempe Union Online model, and would like to withdraw and switch to In-Person learning based on this new information, please click here and submit your information by Wednesday, July 22 at 5 PM.
Additional information on virtual freshman orientation and many other topics will be coming to you soon from your school principal/administration. As a reminder, our Return to School website continues to be updated on a rolling basis as information becomes available and is the best resource for our families looking for updated information.
On behalf of TUHSD administration and school leadership, we look forward to a very exciting and engaging year ahead. While we know that these are unusual times, we appreciate your input and engagement in order to make this a successful year for our TUHSD community.
Dr. Kevin J. MendivilSuperintendent
-
Parent Letter 7.14.20: Virtual Stakeholder Forum, 7/14/20 at 6 PM
July 6, 2020
TUHSD Families:As mentioned in communication last week, we will be holding a virtual forum on Tuesday, July 14 at 6 PM to answer questions about safely reopening the new school year for everyone. This event will be streamed live on our YouTube channel and we encourage you to join us virtually. Questions can be submitted in advance by using this link.
Our current options for the school year are outlined here. Our current FAQ's are available here, and will be updated on a rolling basis as information becomes available. Our Return to School webpage continues to serve as a clearinghouse for information and updates on the school year, and our Health & Safety page offers updated guidelines and information in regards to safety and parent communications. We hope you'll bookmark these pages and utilize them often.
Please save the date and plan to join us virtually on Tuesday, June 14.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 6.30.20: Update on delayed school start
June 30, 2020
TUHSD Families:
In light of Governor’s Ducey announcement and subsequent Executive Order yesterday, we want to reassure you that we continue to assess and plan for a safe, productive 20/21 school year for our students, teachers and staff.
There are still many unknowns about how the Governor’s order will affect the details of our current planning efforts. One thing that we know for certain is that in-person instruction will be delayed until at least August 17, 2020.
As a reminder, right now, TUHSD is offering two choices:- In-Person Model
- Five days a week, in-person
- No need to pre-register or take any additional steps at this time
- Online Model
- Full-time online instruction
- Pre-register here no later than Monday, July 13
Planning is still ongoing for the virtual Town Hall for parents. Additional information will be released as soon as it becomes available. We are also in the process of updating and supplementing our Return to School webpage and FAQ’s to accurately reflect the questions we have been receiving.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 6.29.20: Superintendent message on fall 2020 options
June 29, 2020
TUHSD Families:
We have been gathering communication from many of you around the reopening of our schools. The diversity of thoughts and concerns expressed by you, not surprisingly, also reflects the diversity we celebrate in our district. Information has been changing daily if not hourly.Last Wednesday, Governor Ducey released criteria for districts to follow in order to ensure budget stability as we reopen school this fall. We will continue to acknowledge the Governor’s newest guidelines and will make a shift in our planning and program offerings.
In response to this new information, we are planning for three options:-
five days a week of in-person instruction (In-Person Model)
-
exclusive full-time online option (Tempe Union Online)
-
a third option, the Virtual Learning Model, will be made available should schools be ordered to close again
We understand that many of our families will not feel comfortable with a full-time in-person option, and will opt for online learning. If you are interested in full-time online learning, we ask that you fill out a pre-registration form for Tempe Union Online by Monday, July 13 so that we can assess staffing needs.
Throughout the planning process, we have read your emails and listened to your concerns. The reopening proposal presented 12 days ago was based on information that is now unusable. Information regarding the status of COVID-19 in our state changes every day, and in many instances by the hour. The need to be flexible during these times is evident now more than ever.
Specifically the criteria that Governor Ducey released for funding eligibility stated: [Schools] must provide education in-person the same number of days per week that they did last school year. For schools that wish to offer a hybrid model with kids learning in the classroom on some days, and from home on other days, they can still meet the eligibility criteria as long as they offer free onsite learning for students who need a place to go during the day. This option will need to be available for the same number of days per week and open during the same hours offered during the prior school year before the COVID-19 closure took effect.
If at any point during the school year our state officials mandate we close schools again due to COVID-19, students enrolled in the in-person model will shift and receive their instruction virtually through our originally proposed Blended Learning Model (now re-titled Virtual Learning Model). We will continue to revise this plan should our students who attend school daily have to change and receive their instruction virtually for a period of time. TUHSD’s In-Person model allows for flexibility and prepares our teachers and students to shift into a Virtual Learning Model for a temporary period of time should a campus outbreak occur or should our state officials close schools.
Our Return to School landing page was created before this latest announcement, and will be updated accordingly with the information above in the coming week.
We are prepared for a variety of scenarios, but we need your help.We will be assembling an expert panel to answer your questions on how to keep our students safe with an in-person learning option. The discussion will be conducted in a virtual town hall format. The information we gather will continue to guide the decisions around optimal learning conditions for students. In the coming days, additional information on the town hall will be provided and a link will be available for you to submit your questions.
Please know that at every point these past months in planning, district and site leadership have put the health and safety of your child first and foremost. Information and conditions surrounding this unprecedented pandemic have been changing rapidly and will continue to change. We will continue to keep you informed as we release additional information for the fall.
Thank you,
Kevin J. MendivilSuperintendent
-
-
Parent Letter 6.22.20: Superintendent Message on School Reopening
June 22, 2020
Tempe Union Families,
Last Wednesday during a study session with the Governing Board, Tempe Union unveiled the first draft of a proposal to reopen our seven high schools for the 2020-2021 school year.
Parent and teacher feedback was essential to this planning process. We surveyed our families and accepted survey input through Tuesday evening (June 16) to ensure that as much feedback as possible could be included with Wednesday’s presentation. The survey was emailed out on Tuesday, June 9 and also posted on our social media accounts. It was left open for responses for seven days with a total of 6,251 parents responding.
It is important to note that the survey was concluded prior to Governor Ducey's announcement on Wednesday afternoon (June 17) of the increased number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona, which continue to rise. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor has encouraged us to make data-informed decisions. In constructing this proposal, we have carefully considered and adhered to guidelines from CDC, the Governor's Office and the Arizona Department of Health Services. The proposal is based on current best practices in combating the spread of COVID-19 which heavily focuses on social distancing (six feet rule), eliminating large gatherings of people, washing of hands, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures and the ability to quickly contact trace. The CDC has provided specific guidelines for reopening of schools which can be found here.
We all want our students back in a normal, healthy learning environment. These are not normal times. This is also not permanent. For now, we have to respond with what we know is going to be the best way to keep everyone involved with the education of our students safe and healthy. We understand that the 4th quarter online learning experience was less than ideal - all districts struggled with this for a variety of reasons. We have heard from you and this is an area where we feel we can make the biggest improvements to ensure our teachers and staff are prepared for more accountability with student learning outcomes and participation.
Our Teaching and Learning Department is working with content department teacher leaders and other certified staff to provide ways in which teachers will conduct virtual live experiences with their students on a daily basis. There will be clear student expectations for them to follow during this time and also clear expectations that will allow you to support greater student and teacher accountability.
Later this week, we will be releasing additional information and a dedicated webpage for the fall reopening. This will include FAQ’s for teachers/students/families and will serve as a clearinghouse for any new or changing information on plans for the upcoming year.
We appreciate all of the feedback we’ve received from our families and wider TUHSD community. This is a difficult time for everyone, and we are committed to doing the best we can to engage and educate our students, while also allowing for the appropriate safety measures. As our current situation changes day-to-day, we will continue to refine this proposal to ensure that it takes into consideration the continued feedback of our families, teachers and staff and with the health and safety of everyone.
Kevin J. MendivilSuperintendent
-
Parent/Student Letter 6.18.2020: Update on July graduation ceremonies
June 18, 2020
TUHSD Class of 2020 Students & Parents:
In April, we announced that planning was underway to look at the possibility of a modified, socially distant, in-person graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18.
After much discussion and feedback from our community and public health officials, we have determined that it is not safe or advisable to move forward with any in-person graduation ceremonies. Throughout the events of this spring, we have grounded our decisions in the data that was available to us at the time of each decision. As of today, the data does not support the idea of any kind of graduation gathering.
Yesterday, Governor Doug Ducey held a briefing where he advised that stricter measures would be enacted across the state in an attempt to mitigate a continued rise in positive COVID cases. Arizona, and Maricopa County in particular, are now considered national “hotspots” for new virus cases. Our top priority is keeping our students and their families safe, and unfortunately, the current situation makes it impossible to hold a safe, large gathering.
Additionally, Arizona remains in Phase 1 of reopening, which limits gatherings to less than 10 people. We are not able to secure a venue large enough to provide the social distancing that would be necessary for gatherings of this size. Venues that were contacted, such as ASU’s Desert Financial Arena, are not available for rental due to the current state-wide restrictions.
Although our current circumstances necessitate the cancellation of an in-person graduation, we want to continue to honor the strength and resilience of the Class of 2020. This has been a historical, unprecedented time and we know that our seniors will make their mark on the world in an equally historical and unprecedented way.
Kevin J. MendivilSuperintendent
-
Parent Letter 6.2.2020: Superintendent Message on planning
June 2, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
The 2019-20 school year is now officially behind us, and I hope that you are able to enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation over the next few months. I’m proud to share that our virtual graduations and senior send-off events were a great success, and under the unusual circumstances, they served as joyful celebrations and highlighted the tremendous accomplishments of our Class of 2020.
Planning for the future has been ongoing since the beginning of our school closure back in March. There are many unknowns, but we are considering a variety of priority options that would ensure the safety of those on campus, while also maintaining the educational experience. Some of our priorities include:- Health, safety and well-being of everyone involved with the educational experience of our students
- Designated in-person time for students with their teachers
- Maintaining the student’s schedule with little to no disruptions
- Reintroduce a sense of normalcy for student and teacher
- Maximizing student learning opportunities
Yesterday, the Arizona Department of Education released its roadmap on reopening schools in the fall. These guidelines will further clarify and assist us in planning and I anticipate that we will be able to release more detailed information to you on our TUHSD-specific plans later this month.
I want you to know that as we plan for different options for the school year, the safety of our students, teachers and staff, and ultimately, our TUHSD families, is our top priority. We place great value on the student-teacher interaction and its positive influence on the learning process. We are also prioritizing the comprehensive high school experience we all want to offer our students once again.
Next week, a survey will be sent to all TUHSD parents asking for your feedback around reopening in the fall. We will ask you to consider a variety of options and provide your input. Please keep an eye out for this email and be sure to respond. It is vital that our wider TUHSD community has a voice during this planning process.
Be safe and be well,
Kevin J. MendivilSuperintendent
-
Parent Letter 5.5.2020: Superintendent - Senior updates & End of the year check out information
May 5, 2020
Dear TUHSD Students, Parents & Families:
Planning has been underway for fun and creative ways to celebrate and commemorate the end of this very unusual school year. Additional information around virtual graduation ceremonies and end of year check-out procedures is below.
SENIORS
Special activities are being scheduled to celebrate the Class of 2020 graduation, including but not limited to, drive-in watch parties for graduation, celebration parades, and pick up opportunities for diplomas and yearbooks. Specific information will be forthcoming from your individual school, so please be on the lookout.
In general, we will ask the following of you during these activities:
- CDC, federal and state safety and social distancing guidelines will be in effect at all times.
- For drive-in activities, we recommend ONE senior per vehicle, along with any family members who wish to attend.
- Due to space constrictions in school parking lots, ONE vehicle per graduate will be allowed in the parking lot during activities.
- Due to the seriousness of the current situation, anyone who is out of their vehicle during activities will be asked to leave immediately.
- An RSVP system will be released by your school site. If you plan to attend activities, please take the time to RSVP so that we can anticipate attendance and plan accordingly.
- School activities will be supported by our SRO’s and local law enforcement.
ALL STUDENTS - END OF YEAR CHECK-OUT
Additional information will also be forthcoming from your school site around end of year check-out. Each school will have a safe, efficient process in place for students to return athletic gear, books (textbooks, library books), and pick up personal items from lockers, as needed. Specific instructions will be sent by your school’s principal or administration team - please read carefully and follow them closely.
All plans have been put into place to ensure that everyone participating is safe and following safety guidelines, while also making sure that the process is efficient and timely for all waiting. Again, information for your pickup timeframe and other details will be forthcoming from your school site.
In general, the following will apply to end of year check-out:
- Check-out will start with seniors.
- All faculty/staff will be wearing masks (and gloves, if handling items).
- We encourage you to bring masks for your pick-up. Masks will NOT be provided.
- All areas visited by students during pick-up will be sanitized on a daily basis as an additional safety measure.
- Pick-up will be timed in small groups to ensure ease of social distancing and to keep people from waiting in the heat.
- Fees will NOT be collected during pick-up. We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has been an extra hardship for many of our families, and we do not want to cause additional stress or worry. If you do have outstanding fees to pay, the online portal will be open for payments.
We appreciate your patience and feedback as we have navigated this process to find the safest options for our students during this challenging time. Whether it be commemorating our accomplished Class of 2020, or ensuring that students can pick up their personal belongings, our administration and schools always strive to put our students first.
Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 4.28.2020: Summer Education Academy
April 28, 2020
Dear Parents,
Summer Education Academy (SEA) Update
The spread of COVID-19 has necessitated changes in the way we teach, but it does not change our desire to continue learning or the importance of doing so. We know as precautions are taken to ensure the safety of our communities, we must be proactive to keep learning on track for everyone at every level. As a result, the format of SEA has changed from face-to-face to online.
- Registration for Online Summer Education Academy will open on Wednesday, April 29th.
- All registration will be online, including payment. Please check the district website for available courses, and registration procedures/forms. (Teaching & Learning / Summer Education Academy)
- Students will be able to begin classes Monday, May 4th.
- The deadline for registration is Thursday, May 21st.
- Students may only register for one course at a time, but may add a second course if/when their first course is completed, assuming this is within the registration timeline.
- All courses must be completed by June 26th (including the final exam which will be taken online and virtually proctored).
Should you have any questions, please contact Jermaine Whitaker at 480-839-4222.
Kim Hilgers
Assistant Superintendent Teaching & Learning
-
Parent Letter 4.22.2020: Class of 2020 Graduation
April 22, 2020
Dear TUHSD Class of 2020 and Parents:
During the past six weeks, we have spoken with and heard from hundreds of students, parents and others in our community on the topic of graduation. Understandably, from those individuals who shared options to consider, an in-person event was preferred by the majority. We are very mindful of honoring and protecting the experience of our seniors, while also balancing the safety needs that are required of all of us during this unprecedented time.
After much discussion and consideration, we have decided on a dual approach to 2020 graduation. First, we will hold virtual ceremonies on the original graduation dates of Wednesday, May 20 for Compadre Academy and Thursday, May 21 for all six comprehensive schools as we would for any typical school year. Second, planning is underway for modified, in-person ceremonies to be held on Saturday, July 18.
Our reasoning for two ceremonies is that there are students who will be unable to participate in a postponed ceremony in July, due to commitments to work, military, or other obligations that may start earlier in the summer. The July 18 date was suggested by students to accommodate the work schedules of parents and families, which I found to be very thoughtful. A virtual ceremony on the original planned date in May will be comprehensive and inclusive of all, regardless of what comes next for students. It will also provide a sense of closure to the four years of hard work that our seniors have achieved.
We understand that a modified in-person ceremony is the experience that many seniors are looking forward to, and we want to be able to provide that, as long as safety guidelines allow. While we are aware that we live in Arizona and what that may mean for weather in July, planning is underway for a safe modified in-person ceremony that would take into account the social distancing and other safety measures that the CDC, and State of Arizona and Maricopa County public health agencies have put into place during this time. We will be looking to Governor Ducey’s next announcement - anticipated for April 30 - to guide our planning. In the meantime, we will be working creatively to make this event about our students and still ensure a safe, comfortable experience for families.
Additional information on both the virtual and modified in-person ceremonies will be released as it becomes available in the coming weeks. This decision became less difficult to make when we centered our thinking around our seniors. Under these extreme circumstances, we know we will not be able to satisfy everyone, but please understand that our efforts are to make this hallmark event special for your senior. In the meantime, we want our TUHSD families to be aware that we intend to fully celebrate the Class of 2020, and we ask that you save the dates above to celebrate our seniors.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 4.13.2020: Class of 2020 seniors & parent announcements
April 13, 2020
Dear TUHSD Class of 2020 and Parents,
We know that many of you have questions around graduation and recognition for our wonderful Class of 2020 seniors. While there are still many unknowns that will affect our planning, we are working with student representatives from each of our campuses to develop a plan for graduation in place. We continue to evaluate different possibilities that would allow us to celebrate our seniors and their accomplishments while also keeping our students and families safe. This could take shape in a variety of ways, and we have had many creative ideas proposed. As soon as we have additional information to share, we will update you.
In the meantime, there are many ways that we are recognizing our seniors. Currently, all high school stadiums have their lights turned on for twenty minutes each evening, beginning at 8:20 PM (20:20 in military time) to honor our Class of 2020. We are also creating yard signs for every one of our seniors. Signs will be ready in the next few weeks and are a way for our students to be recognized within their individual communities. More information about yard signs and delivery/pick-up will be made available by your school site - please watch for additional communication from your principal or administration team.
Many of you have reached out with questions on yearbooks. All yearbook orders are still being placed, but production timelines have been affected by COVID-19. Yearbook delivery timeframes will vary from school to school, but please rest assured that orders are being placed. Again, please watch for communication from your principal or administration team for specific information.
Cap and gown orders and other graduation accessories are also being fulfilled through Jostens, with final timeline and pick-up information varying by school. You will be contacted by your school site with additional information once dates for pick-up are identified.
Although our current circumstances necessitate these extreme measures, and this spring is looking very different than how we anticipated, we look forward to recognizing our senior Class of 2020 in a myriad of ways. We know that our TUHSD community will stay strong and positive as we navigate these unprecedented times together.
Be well and be safe.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil, Superintendent | TUHSD
Dora Samson, Principal | Compadre Academy
Nate Kleve, Principal | Corona del Sol High School
Mike Deignan, Principal | Desert Vista High School
Sarah Tolar, Principal | Marcos de Niza High School
Mayra Arroyo, Principal | McClintock High School
Tomika Banks, Principal | Mountain Pointe High School
Kate Glenn & Art Lebowitz, Co-Principals | Tempe High School
-
Parent Letter 4.9.2020: Teaching & Learning, grading during COVID-19
April 9, 2020
Parents,
Districts across Arizona, and across the nation, have struggled with determining how to assign grades during this unprecedented time. We have thoughtfully looked at a variety of options that would be easiest for teachers to implement and align to current grading practices, while not penalizing students because of these unforeseen circumstances. We are sharing information regarding Tempe Union’s grading during school closure.
Any student enrolled in courses during the 3rd quarter shall not be penalized for the school closure. Students who do not have the opportunity to engage in their instruction by making up work or completing assignments shall be given the grade posted in 3rd quarter.
Any make-up work submitted for the 3rd quarter will be recorded in the 3rd quarter in Synergy. Teachers have the discretion to determine which work students are allowed to make-up.
Students’ 4th quarter and semester grades will be the students’ 3rd quarter posted grade. Students may earn weekly improvement points by completing the lessons and assessments assigned in Schoology. The rubric for earning points is as follows:
Weekly Improvement Points
- 0 - The student did not engage in distance learning, no assessment submitted.
- 1 - The student approached the requirements for the assessment. Student shows a minimal level of understanding of the essential standards measured on the weekly assessment.
- 2 - The student met the requirements for the assessment. Student shows C or higher level of understanding of the essential standards measured on the weekly assessment.
Tempe Union Online Classes
More information will be sent out in future communications about current Tempe Union Online courses.
Virtual College Exploration Week April 20-23
Juniors can register now and choose from 96 sessions from over 300 Arizona, national, and international colleges and universities. Sessions will provide tips from admissions officers and other information to assist with the college exploration and application process. Register here: https://www.strivescan.com/ virtual/
Important to Monitor Child’s Engagement
Finally, please monitor your child’s engagement in-class activities so that they don’t disengage from learning. It is important for their success that students continue to engage and complete all assignments to support their learning for the next school year. Thank you for your continued support as we transition to this next phase of learning.
Kim Hilgers
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
-
Parent Letter 4.7.2020: Schoology accounts
April 7, 2020
TUHSD Parents & Families:
Schoology is the online learning management system that all Tempe Union teachers are currently using to deliver a variety of classroom lessons, assignments, homework and other teaching activities. All students already have a Schoology account, and parents have the ability to create a Schoology account to view classroom content.
To create your Parent Schoology Account, please use this *code: Note that you will not see a code on this webpage. Each parent will receive a unique code based on their ParentVue account. Please check the email that was sent directly to your email on file. Thank you.
LOG-IN INSTRUCTIONS
1. Go to www.schoology.com
2. Click “Sign up” and choose “Parent.”
3. Enter the code provided above and follow the prompts. The code will connect you to your student’s classes and teachers. If you do not see a code in the field above, please contact SchoologyParentHelp@tuhsd.k12.az.us to receive your code.
4. Helpful Hint: Your student may be able to help you set up your account. Successful students have engaged and informed parents!ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Instructions on how to create an account
For additional information on Schoology or creating an account, please visit www.tempeunion.org/schoologyforparents.During this unprecedented time of school closures, teachers will utilize Schoology in a variety of ways. Parents will see different types of content for each class. For questions about content in a particular class, please contact that teacher. Once you have created an account, you may also download the Schoology App on your mobile device.
Thank you,
TUHSD Parent Communications
-
Parent Letter 4.6.2020: Superintendent, Prom cancelled
April 6, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents, Families and Students:
After careful consideration, and in response to the statewide closure of schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, it is with regret that we announce that the Spring 2020 Prom events scheduled at all of our TUHSD schools have been cancelled.
We recognize how special this annual tradition is, especially to our senior class, so please know that this decision does not come lightly. Our top priority is to ensure the safety and health of our students and staff. At this time, there is not a successful way to carry on with these events and keep our students and teachers safe. We are not taking into consideration the possibility of a rescheduled prom over the summer break.
If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to the Assistant Principal of Activities at your respective school site.
In addition to Prom, we know that many of you have questions around graduation. We continue to evaluate different possibilities that would allow us to celebrate our seniors and their accomplishments while also keeping our students and families safe. As soon as we have additional information to share, we will update you.
We are sorry that the current circumstances necessitate these extreme measures, but we know that our TUHSD community will stay strong and positive as we navigate these unprecedented times together.
Be well and be safe.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil, Superintendent | TUHSD
Dora Samson, Principal | Compadre Academy
Nate Kleve, Principal | Corona del Sol High School
Mike Deignan, Principal | Desert Vista High School
Sarah Tolar, Principal | Marcos de Niza High School
Mayra Arroyo, Principal | McClintock High School
Tomika Banks, Principal | Mountain Pointe High School
Kate Glenn & Art Lebowitz, Co-Principals | Tempe High School
-
Parent Letter 3.31.2020: Teaching & Learning, Schoology, Dual Enrollment, other Academic programs
March 31, 2020
TUHSD Parents & Families,
As we continue to focus on the academic needs of our students, staff, and community there are the social/emotional needs that are equally as important to monitor. The anxiety during the time of a pandemic is triggered by the unknown. With the uncertainty, many students are feeling the losses each day--contact with friends, athletics/activities that they enjoyed, and the other typical routine events that were very much a part of our daily life.
As we think about the academic needs of our students, let’s also consider the social/emotional needs of our children. They need time to understand what is happening, and to cope with the things that are changing: their stability has been disrupted.
As a mother and educator, I understand the pressure we are all under. All of you are doing your very best to help support Tempe Union in our desire to continue the teaching/learning process. Just as we feel pressure to know how to homeschool in a very short period of time, we also know that you are doing everything you can to keep your families safe.
How can we help each other? As we focus on student learning and helping families adjust to the new normal, you can focus on their social/emotional well-being. Together we can get through these trying times and become stronger and more connected than ever before.
Closure of Schools
Governor Ducey announced yesterday the decision to close all schools for the remainder of this school year. We are disappointed by the news, but will do our best to serve our students in an online environment. I understand that students and parents have questions or concerns around grading, final exams, and finishing the school year strong. We will communicate what we know at the present time. We may not have an answer for you right away, but know that we will communicate again as soon as we do.
Focus on Learning
We will be entering Phase 2 of our Distance Learning Plan from March 30-May 20. Teachers will be communicating to your child the learning, practice, and how feedback will be given. All Tempe Union High School teachers will have new essential online learning opportunities posted to their Schoology courses. Teachers will post updates, announcements and assignments in Schoology regularly. Students are asked to check their Schoology and TUHSD Gmail accounts on a daily basis. We will provide more information regarding how teachers will report student progress, how grades will be determined, and graduation in the near future. As you have in the past, please continue to monitor your child’s engagement during the closure of schools. Reach out if your child needs additional support during this time at home. We have resources for families, students, and parents. You can find these resources, as well as updated information on the following links:
Frequently Asked Questions page
Student and Parent Online Access FAQ
Social & Emotional Wellness/COVID-19 Resources
Schoology Update
We are aware that there have been some intermittent issues with Schoology’s platform. They are aware of it and are working on it. We will continue to monitor this.
Request for Print Materials
If your student has been unable to log onto Schoology to take advantage of the resources being posted online, we will assume that they need paper copies of materials. Materials are being assembled and will be mailed to your home address. Alternative arrangements can also be made for pick-up. Our focus will be on the 4 core areas: English, Math, Social Studies and Science. Students will not receive feedback on their practice.
Virtual Discussions/Meetings
Teachers will be using Google Hangouts Meet, WebX, and Zoom video conferencing tools to interact, connect, and present information. This is an example of the “new norm”. Students and teachers continue to familiarize themselves with online learning.
To help guide our students, we have created Student Expectations for Working Online in Tempe Union. This guide outlines our expectations for students as they conduct themselves in online learning opportunities. In addition, we have this Student and Parent Online Access FAQ to address specific questions related to online access.
Dual Enrollment Clarification
Rio Salado College has communicated to the Tempe Union High School District that students will need to keep up with the online work that will be provided by their Dual Enrollment teacher(s). Rio Salado will work with TUHSD teachers to ensure that students who successfully complete the dual enrollment coursework will earn their college credit.
AP Coursework
The College Board is committed to providing support, flexibility, and solutions during this crisis. Overwhelmingly, students want to take their AP Exams. In response, College Board is providing online learning and AP Exams available for all students. Teachers have also created live classes on YouTube for student use. More information will be coming on April 3rd from the College Board on the structure of AP tests.
Tempe Union Online Classes
Tempe Union Online classes (which include TOUL, Evening School, Compadre Online, and Online Summer School classes) are continuing as normal, with the exception of final exams. Information on how students will be able to complete final exams (at home) will be shared with students and parents in the next few weeks. All students, regardless of when they began the course will have until June 19, 2020 to complete all courses activities.
Kim Hilgers
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
31 de marzo de 2020
Padres y familias de TUHSD,
A medida que continuamos enfocándonos en las necesidades académicas de nuestros estudiantes, el personal y la comunidad, hay necesidades sociales / emocionales que son igualmente importantes de monitorear. La ansiedad durante el tiempo de una pandemia es provocada por lo desconocido. Con la incertidumbre, muchos estudiantes sienten las pérdidas cada día: contacto con amigos, deportes / actividades que disfrutaron y los otros eventos de rutina típicos que formaron parte de nuestra vida diaria.
Mientras pensamos en las necesidades académicas de nuestros estudiantes, consideremos también las necesidades sociales / emocionales de nuestros hijos. Necesitan tiempo para comprender lo que está sucediendo y hacer frente a las cosas que están cambiando: su estabilidad ha sido interrumpida.
Como madre y educadora, entiendo la presión a la que todos estamos sometidos. Todos ustedes están haciendo su mejor esfuerzo para ayudar a apoyar a Tempe Union en nuestro deseo de continuar el proceso de enseñanza / aprendizaje. Así como sentimos presión por saber cómo educar en el hogar en un período de tiempo muy corto, también sabemos que está haciendo todo lo posible para mantener a sus familias seguras.
¿Cómo podemos ayudarnos unos a otros? A medida que nos enfocamos en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes y ayudamos a las familias a adaptarse a la nueva normalidad, puede enfocarse en su bienestar social / emocional. Juntos podemos superar estos tiempos difíciles y volvernos más fuertes y más conectados que nunca.
Cierre de escuelas
El gobernador Ducey anunció ayer la decisión de cerrar todas las escuelas por el resto de este año escolar. Estamos decepcionados por las noticias, pero haremos nuestro mejor esfuerzo para servir a nuestros estudiantes en un entorno en línea. Entiendo que los estudiantes y los padres tienen preguntas o inquietudes sobre la calificación, los exámenes finales y terminar el año escolar con fuerza. Comunicaremos lo que sabemos en la actualidad. Es posible que no tengamos una respuesta para usted de inmediato, pero sepa que nos comunicaremos nuevamente tan pronto como lo hagamos.Centrarse en el aprendizaje
Entraremos en la Fase 2 de nuestro Plan de aprendizaje a distancia del 30 de marzo al 20 de mayo. Los maestros le comunicarán a su hijo el aprendizaje, la práctica y cómo se le dará retroalimentación. Todos los maestros de Tempe Union High School tendrán nuevas oportunidades esenciales de aprendizaje en línea publicadas en sus cursos de Schoology. Los maestros publicarán actualizaciones, anuncios y tareas en Schoology regularmente. Se les pide a los estudiantes que revisen sus cuentas de Gmail de Schoology y TUHSD diariamente. Proporcionaremos más información sobre cómo los maestros informarán el progreso de los estudiantes, cómo se determinarán las calificaciones y la graduación en el futuro cercano. Como lo ha hecho en el pasado, continúe monitoreando la participación de su hijo durante el cierre de las escuelas. Comuníquese si su hijo necesita apoyo adicional durante este tiempo en casa. Tenemos recursos para familias, estudiantes y padres. Puede encontrar estos recursos, así como información actualizada en los siguientes enlaces:Página de preguntas frecuentes: Frequently Asked Questions page
Preguntas frecuentes sobre el acceso en línea para estudiantes y padres: Student and Parent Online Access FAQ
Bienestar social y emocional / Recursos COVID-19: Social & Emotional Wellness/COVID-19 Resources
Bienestar social y emocional: Social & Emotional WellnessActualización de Schoology
Somos conscientes de que ha habido algunos problemas intermitentes con la plataforma de Schoology. Son conscientes de ello y están trabajando en ello. Continuaremos monitoreando esto.
Solicitud de materiales impresos
Si su estudiante no ha podido iniciar sesión en Schoology para aprovechar los recursos que se publican en línea, asumiremos que necesitan copias en papel de los materiales. Los materiales se están ensamblando y se enviarán por correo a su domicilio. También se pueden hacer arreglos alternativos para la recogida. Nuestro enfoque estará en las 4 áreas principales: inglés, matemáticas, estudios sociales y ciencias. Los estudiantes no recibirán comentarios sobre su práctica.
Debates / reuniones virtuales
Los maestros utilizarán las herramientas de videoconferencia Google Hangouts Meet, WebX y Zoom para interactuar, conectarse y presentar información. Este es un ejemplo de la "nueva norma". Los estudiantes y los maestros continúan familiarizándose con el aprendizaje en línea.
Para ayudar a guiar a nuestros estudiantes, hemos creado Expectativas de los estudiantes para trabajar en línea en Tempe Union. Esta guía describe nuestras expectativas para los estudiantes a medida que se comportan en oportunidades de aprendizaje en línea. Además, tenemos estas Preguntas frecuentes sobre acceso en línea para estudiantes y padres para abordar preguntas específicas relacionadas con el acceso en línea.
Aclaración de doble inscripción
Rio Salado College se comunicó al Distrito de Escuelas Secundarias de Tempe Union que los estudiantes necesitarán mantenerse al día con el trabajo en línea que proporcionará su (s) maestro (s) de Matrícula Dual. Rio Salado trabajará con los maestros de TUHSD para garantizar que los estudiantes que completen con éxito los cursos de doble inscripción obtengan su crédito universitario.Curso de AP
El College Board se compromete a brindar apoyo, flexibilidad y soluciones durante esta crisis. Abrumadoramente, los estudiantes quieren tomar sus exámenes AP. En respuesta, College Board ofrece aprendizaje en línea y exámenes AP disponibles para todos los estudiantes. Los maestros también han creado clases en vivo en YouTube para uso de los estudiantes. El 3 de abril llegará más información del College Board sobre la estructura de las pruebas AP.
Clases en línea de Tempe Union
Las clases en línea de Tempe Union (que incluyen las clases TOUL, Evening School, Compadre Online y Online Summer School) continúan normalmente, con la excepción de los exámenes finales. La información sobre cómo los estudiantes podrán completar los exámenes finales (en casa) se compartirá con los estudiantes y los padres en las próximas semanas. Todos los estudiantes, independientemente de cuándo comenzaron el curso, tendrán hasta el 19 de junio de 2020 para completar todas las actividades del curso.
Kim Hilgers
Superintendente Asistente de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje -
Parent Letter: 3.30.2020: Superintendent, 2019-2020 school year closure
March 30, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
Earlier this morning, Governor Ducey and Superintendent Kathy Hoffman announced that schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year. Click here for the statement from the Governor’s office.
We know this announcement is disheartening at best for everyone and it will bring up a multitude of questions for our families and students. As we continue to plan and coordinate with our district administration and state officials, we thank you for your continued patience. Your child’s safety and health is our top priority, and we want you to rest assured that we will continue to work hard to minimize the impact related to their education.This announcement also allows us to plan with focus and intention for your child’s learning experience and while exclusive online learning isn’t necessarily the best learning for all students, we are going to make the best of it for TUHSD students. Here’s what we do know: the remainder of the school year will look different for our students but our teachers and school administration have been working hard to ensure that students have the resources they need, and access to online learning opportunities. We understand the Schoology platform was inconsistent at times today and our understanding is that it will be fully up and running by tomorrow. Updates on Teaching & Learning will be sent to parents tomorrow. Please continue to encourage your students to check their Gmail account and Schoology account daily - and we also recommend turning on notifications so they can stay in touch with their teachers during closure.
Many of you have reached out to ask questions about your seniors, and our plans for graduation. We are extremely mindful of the impact of this closure on our seniors, and we are exploring multiple ways that we can creatively and virtually celebrate the Class of 2020 and their achievements. Each school’s administrative team will be involving the ideas of our seniors to make this a meaningful and celebrated experience for them and for you. As the ideas begin to formalize, more information will be made available soon.
RESOURCESMany of our families have utilized our meal pick-up service - available to anyone 18 & younger, regardless of if they are a current TUHSD student. Lunch for the current day and breakfast for the following day continues to be available from 11 AM to 1 PM at four locations: Mountain Pointe High School, Marcos de Niza High School, McClintock High School, and Tempe High School.
COMMUNICATIONCommunications are being sent regularly by our principals, counselors, teachers, and others. Please take a moment to ensure that you are receiving emails - if not, please email parentinfo@tempeunion.org with your updated information. Communication is also being posted regularly on our social media channels, and online. Here are a few pages to bookmark and check regularly:
-
TUHSD COVID-19 update page: https://www.tempeunion.org/
health-safety -
FAQ’s for students, parents, and employees: https://www.tempeunion.org/
Page/4242 -
TUHSD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
TempeUnion/ -
Resources for social/emotional wellness: https://www.tempeunion.org/
COVID-19-Social-Emotional- Wellness
We thank all of our TUHSD parents, families, students and teachers as we all work together to navigate this unique set of circumstances that we find ourselves living through. Most of us have never experienced this level of disruption and uncertainty in our lifetime and it is important now more than ever, that we come together as a TUHSD family and rely on one another. Please be safe and be well.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
-
Parent Letter 3.24.2020: Teaching & Learning, Online Learning, Schoology support
March 24, 2020
Parents,
Families are being asked to adapt everyday right now, more than ever imaginable. We as educators are also being asked to adapt and we are incredibly appreciative of your support as we collaborate to ensure a different type of learning for your student(s) in the coming weeks. Just one recent example of our collaboration was those of you that brought your student(s) to our sites on Saturday to secure a laptop so that your son and/or daughter can actively engage in ongoing learning. It was nice to see you with your students and additional evidence of the commitment we are all making to ensure our students continue to learn.
Last week and this week, we are in Phase I of our journey. Teachers reached out to their students and provided them with resources that were enrichment in nature and not graded. Next week, as we move to Phase 2 of our journey, teachers will provide more specificity regarding student learning, their practice and how they will provide feedback. I have added some information to foster collaboration between teacher and student and also an article from Edutopia that we found enlightening: https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-through- pandemic-mindset-moment
This is an emotionally challenging time for many of our teachers/students. They may feel lonely and isolated. As we think of ways to encourage interaction between students, teachers and parents, please remind your student to:- Check their TUHSD email and courses in Schoology daily. Teachers may post updates or announcements in Schoology regularly. Announcements can be viewed at the top of your course (above the course content) and Updates can be viewed from the left-hand navigation.Schoology Directions for Students - Accessing Schoology
Schoology Access for Parents - Creating and Using Your Parent Account
Parent Support for Getting a Schoology Access Code
Accessing Your Parent Schoology Account
Troubleshooting Student Login Issues
For additional support: Student and Parent Online Access FAQ
Parents: Set Up Your Schoology Notifications so you get regular reminders on whatever device(s) you are using. Add your mobile device to your notifications, if desired.
- Engage in the lessons. Teachers are creating online learning lessons and practice opportunities. Teachers will be posting their assignments by 9:00 a.m. Monday morning each week. These assignments will be due at midnight the following Sunday. This will be consistent across all teachers and all schools.
- Utilize Google Hangouts Meet. Teachers will be communicating their timeline for providing feedback, and will be posting their virtual online hours in their Schoology course. Teachers will be available to students online to answer student questions and facilitate student discussion.
- Check the TUHSD Student or Parent webpage for useful directions and tips for supporting your student with online learning tools.
Student Expectations:
- Log into your Tempe Union High School District Gmail account daily to view and respond to communication from your teachers.
- Log into Schoology every day to read any communication from your teachers in Announcements or Updates.
- Set your Schoology notifications so you get regular reminders on whatever device(s) you are using. Add your mobile device to your notifications, if desired.
- Complete your assigned work throughout the week so all assignments are complete and ready to submit/turn in by midnight Sunday evening.
- Attend your teacher’s Virtual Office Hours to ask questions or share any needs or concerns.
- If unique circumstances prevent you from carrying out any of the requirements above, you must communicate with your teacher in a timely fashion.
Dual Enrollment Courses:
Rio Salado College has communicated to Tempe Union High School District that students will need to keep up with the online work that will be provided by their Dual Enrollment teacher. As of March 23rd, Rio Salado College Dual Enrollment Instructors will have temporary access to the online college version of the in-person course that they are teaching. This will ensure students have some level of continuity by providing college-level resources and materials. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
AP Courses:
The AP program is developing resources to help schools support student learning during extended closures, as well as a solution that would allow students to test at home. For the 2019-20 exam administration only, students can take a 45-minute online exam at home. Please visit the following website for new updates and course-specific exam information: https://apcentral.
collegeboard.org/about-ap/ news-changes/coronavirus- update All AP students and teachers will be able to draw from the free online resources provided to every AP classroom. Additional resources will be made easily accessible to AP students and teachers through computer, mobile phones and other devices. Beginning March 25, students can attend free, live AP review courses, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. https://apstudents.
collegeboard.org/coronavirus- updates#free-ap-classes State Testing (AzM2, AIMS Science, CTE, and ACT):
As of March 16th, 2020 the Arizona Department Education’s Assessment division is working closely with the testing vendors on the schedule for extending and/or delaying Spring 2020 assessments. Additionally, ADE is working with the U.S. Department of Education to submit a waiver if that is allowable. As future information becomes available it will be shared on the ADE Assessment website.
Special Education:
If you are the parent of a student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in our District, please watch for a separate email from Kathy Minard, Director of Special Education that will outline how we will be providing your student’s free and appropriate public education (FAPE).
IB Testing:
The International Baccalaureate made their official announcement on March 23rd that the May 2020 exam session will no longer be held. This is the first time they have ever done this and it will affect thousands of schools worldwide. We are working with the IB to support our students during this developing situation. If your child is an IB student, please contact Suzanne Pachuta or Michael Cooper at Tempe High School for additional information. Please visit the following website for current updates and news tied to the IB test: https://www.ibo.org/news/news-
about-the-ib/covid-19- coronavirus-updates/ Online Courses in Progress:
Tempe Union Online (TUOL) classes that students began prior to March 6, 2020 are still active in Schoology. These include Tempe Union Online and Evening School classes. Students are encouraged to continue to work on these courses, and now have access to all course content, quizzes, and tests, which can all be completed online at home. Moving forward, we are working to determine the process for students to take final exams for these courses, and will communicate this to students and parents as soon as a procedure is decided upon. If you are unable to access or need a quiz reset, please reach out to your Online Teacher or Jess Portillo, jportillo@tuhsd.k12.az.us.
Summer School Registration/Classes:
Currently, we have halted registration for all district summer school classes, both in-person and online. For students who registered prior to March 6, 2019, for online summer classes, these will begin on March 27th as scheduled, and their teachers will reach out to them about starting their classes in the next week. For all other students, we are working to determine an updated plan for summer education and will communicate this to all students and parents. Students who have already registered for in-person summer classes will be contacted directly as soon as a new plan is in place. Information regarding the district’s summer education options will be updated regularly on the district’s website as well. https://www.tempeunion.org/SEA
Updates for College Admission Events, Dates, etc:
As a service to students and families, The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) is providing this online tool as a central resource for information about changes in college admission events, deposit dates, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. https://www.nacacnet.org/
college-admission-status- coronavirus Finally, thank you for your support and encouragement. Our teachers, administrators, and support staff are working together to enter course content, clean facilities, provide food to our students, and conduct other essential functions for the district. As a community, we are working together through this unprecedented challenge and keeping the needs of our students at the forefront of everything we are doing. Again, that you for your continued support in this endeavor.
Kim HilgersAssistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
-
Parent Letter 3.23.2020: Superintendent, Laptops, Online Resources
March 23, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
With a full week of school closures behind us, I would like to thank you all for your patience and support during this time. We are navigating uncharted waters of school closures and at-home learning due to COVID-19, and I understand the hardships that this may place on your families. On Friday, March 20, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Department of Education announced that they have extended Arizona school closures through Friday, April 10, 2020. As information that may impact your student is made available, we are updating our FAQ section of the website: https://www.tempeunion.org/Page/4242.
LAPTOPSWe understand that there still may be families who do not have access to a computer at home, or that the current situation means that student access to the family computer is restricted due to parents working from home. Last week, we distributed close to 1,500 laptops to those that needed them, over the course of two days.
We will be holding a third laptop distribution day on Thursday, March 26 from 10 AM to 6 PM at Mountain Pointe High School and McClintock High School. If you still need a laptop, please use the links below to sign up for a pick up time. Please note that laptops issued by TUHSD are intended for students who may not have any other access to a computer at home during the school closure. These laptops do not have special programs installed and all students may access their Gmail and Schoology accounts from any computer that has internet access. Additionally, if you have already checked out a laptop but are experiencing technical difficulties, please sign up for a time slot to receive assistance and/or trade in for a new laptop.
McClintock: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084babad28a1f49-tuhsd
Mountain Pointe: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084babad28a1f49-tuhsd2ONLINE RESOURCES
The TUHSD Teaching & Learning Department will continue to work with our Department Leads and teachers so that instructional resources are provided to your students during this time of closure. Communication with more details will be forthcoming from Teaching and Learning and most certainly, communication from your child’s teachers should be ongoing. It is inspiring to see how students and teachers have worked together to continue the learning process during these difficult circumstances. Please encourage your students to check their Gmail account and Schoology account daily - and we also recommend turning on notifications so they can stay in touch with their teachers during closure.
MEALSMany of our families have utilized our meal pick-up service - available to anyone 18 & younger, regardless of if they are a current TUHSD student or not. Lunch for the current day and breakfast for the following day continue to be available from 11 AM to 1 PM at four locations: Mountain Pointe High School, Marcos de Niza High School, McClintock High School, and Tempe High School.
In closing, we thank all of our TUHSD parents, families, students and teachers as we all work together to navigate this unique set of circumstances that we find ourselves living through. Should there be any changes in federal, state or local recommendations, we will communicate that to you. Please be safe and be well.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 3.17.2020: Teaching & Learning, Internet Access
March 17, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:
With the closure of school for at least two weeks (March 16 - March 27), the Teaching & Learning Department is working to put together resources for students. Teachers will notify students as soon as these resources are available within their Schoology courses. While there are still many unknowns during this unprecedented time, our hope is that it can still be a productive one for learning.
To access Schoology: Go to this link https://tempeunion.schoology.com/. Use your Tempe Union login and password to login to Schoology.
Please encourage your students to take advantage of these opportunities to continue their learning. Should you need access to a laptop, students will be able to pick up laptops on Thursday, March 19 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the District Office (500 W Guadalupe Road, Tempe). Students will be required to sign an agreement and login to the computer at this time. They will be asked to return these devices upon returning to the classroom or by June 19, 2020.
In addition, COX Communications is providing free Internet until May 15. Parents can apply here: https://www.cox.com/ residential/internet/ connect2compete.html
Century Link is also offering reduced-cost Internet. For more information, visit: https://www.centurylink.com/ aboutus/community/community- development/lifeline.html
Additional information on all other issues, including state and national testing, can be found at: https://www.tempeunion.org/COVID-FAQ. These FAQ’s will be updated on a regular basis as more information becomes available.
District leadership continues to work with the appropriate state and federal agencies for direction on when schools might reopen, and we are working on contingency plans in case of closure beyond these two weeks. We will continue to communicate with students and families regularly, and appreciate your commitment to working collaboratively to impact our students in positive ways during this timeframe.
Kimberly Hilgers
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning
17 de marzo de 2020
Estimados padres y familias de TUHSD:
Con el cierre de la escuela durante al menos dos semanas (16 de marzo - 27 de marzo), el Departamento de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje está trabajando para reunir recursos para los estudiantes. Los maestros notificarán a los estudiantes tan pronto como estos recursos estén disponibles dentro de sus cursos de Schoology. Si bien todavía hay muchas incógnitas durante este tiempo sin precedentes, nuestra esperanza es que aún pueda ser productivo para el aprendizaje.
Para acceder a Schoology: vaya a este enlace https://tempeunion.schoology.com/. Use su nombre de usuario y contraseña de Tempe Union para iniciar sesión en Schoology.
Aliente a sus alumnos a aprovechar estas oportunidades para continuar su aprendizaje. Si necesita acceso a una computadora portátil, los estudiantes podrán recoger las computadoras portátiles el jueves 19 de marzo de 9:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. en la Oficina del Distrito (500 W Guadalupe Road, Tempe). Los estudiantes deberán firmar un acuerdo e iniciar sesión en la computadora en este momento. Se les pedirá que devuelvan estos dispositivos al regresar al aula o antes del 19 de junio de 2020.
Además, COX Communications proporcionará Internet gratis hasta el 15 de mayo. Los padres pueden presentar su solicitud aquí: https://www.cox.com/residential/internet/connect2compete.html
Century Link también ofrece Internet de costo reducido. Para obtener más información, visite: https://www.centurylink.com/aboutus/community/community-development/lifeline.html
Puede encontrar información adicional sobre todos los demás temas, incluidas las pruebas estatales y nacionales, en: https://www.tempeunion.org/COVID-FAQ. Estas preguntas frecuentes se actualizarán periódicamente a medida que haya más información disponible.
El liderazgo del distrito continúa trabajando con las agencias estatales y federales apropiadas para obtener instrucciones sobre cuándo podrían reabrir las escuelas, y estamos trabajando en planes de contingencia en caso de cierre más allá de estas dos semanas. Continuaremos comunicándonos con los estudiantes y las familias con regularidad, y apreciamos su compromiso de trabajar en colaboración para impactar a nuestros estudiantes de manera positiva durante este período de tiempo.
Kimberly Hilgers
Superintendente Asistente de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje
-
Parent Letter 3.16.2020: Superintendent, COVID-19 closure through March 27
March 16, 2020
Dear TUHSD Families:
Since we last communicated with you, Governor Ducey and State Superintendent Hoffman announced the closure of all Arizona public schools until at least March 27, 2020. With the knowledge that our TUHSD schools will be closed for at least these two weeks, if not more, planning is underway to continue to provide our students with learning opportunities and access to critical services. We continue to monitor this situation day-by-day and all planning and implementation will be guided by input from the appropriate state and federal agencies.
ACADEMICS
Many parents have inquired about the possibility of remote learning or online classes. One of our top priorities is that learning continues for our students. Our Teaching & Learning department is working on a range of remote learning opportunities for students. A list of specific resources will be released in the next few days.
Testing will be impacted by the state-wide closures as well. If your student was scheduled to take the SAT exam on Saturday, March 14, they should have received information directly from the College Board on a rescheduled date. Information on other testing, including the AzM2 test, will be released to families & parents as soon as it becomes available.
ATHLETICS
All competitions, practices, physicals, and any other gatherings or events pertaining to athletics have been cancelled through March 28, 2020. This follows our commitment to maintain the CDC-recommended social distancing practices and also takes into consideration guidelines issued today by the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA). More information will be released as soon as it becomes available.
OTHER EXTRACURRICULARS/EVENTS
Until otherwise announced, all extracurricular activities, student (and staff) travel, special events, and other gatherings are cancelled.
MEALS
Beginning Wednesday, March 18, meals will be available for pick-up at three of our school locations (Mountain Pointe, Marcos de Niza, Tempe High) from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Anyone under the age of 18 will be able to pick-up two meals at a time for themselves: lunch for the current day plus breakfast for the following day. Students must be present in order to receive meals - everyone that wants a meal must be present in order to receive food. Should there be additional need for a fourth site to distribute food, that will be communicated to our families immediately.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL RESOURCES
This is an unprecedented time in recent history and we are highly aware of the emotional and mental toll that this situation can take on our students, families, teachers, and staff. The following links from the National Association of School Psychologists on maintaining normalcy and countering stigma and racism may be helpful as you navigate conversations with your student.
Please be aware that this is a rapidly changing situation, with many unknowns. Our current efforts are focused on designing the next two weeks to be safe and fruitful for our students and families. Our goal is to communicate clear, consistent communication to you so that you can make the best decisions for your students. As information is made available to us from state agencies and other authorities that may require preparation and planning for closure that is greater than two weeks, we will update our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and website at: https://www.tempeunion.org/ health-safety. A list of FAQ’s will be posted to our website later today and will be updated regularly.
Thank you for your continued care, kindness, and support as we work together through this unprecedented time.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 3.13.2020: Superintendent, COVID-19 school closures
TUHSD Parents and Community Members:
As a district, we have been monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely since we last reached out to you. The information and guidance regarding the COVID-19 virus has been changing daily, leaving families, students and employees to worry about how to protect their loved ones while still carrying on daily routines. With the large amount and varying information available, we want to assure you that Tempe Union High School District Administration has been evaluating the situation on a day-to-day basis in order to be thoughtful and strategic in our decision making as it will impact our students, families, teachers, and staff.
During this situation, we have been relying on the expertise and information from Governor Doug Ducey, Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman, and Director of Arizona Health Services Dr. Cara Christ. Armed with the information provided by that group, we were confident that the preventative and precautionary measures that TUHSD had already taken – such as circulating best practices with hygiene, deep cleaning of all school sites and the District Office, and being proactive in ordering cleaning supplies for classrooms – would allow us to receive students on Monday morning. We have also been mindful of student and staff travel and had monitored those individuals accordingly. We were also planning for excessive absences due to those who may have traveled, continuity with programming, and practicing social distancing measures. With all of the above, we were confident in starting back to school on Monday, March 16.
Yesterday, TUHSD Administration participated in a conference call with Governor Ducey, Superintendent Hoffman and Dr. Christ. The information they provided confirmed that all of our precautionary measures were up to par, and that we were making the right decision for our students to resume school on Monday. With Arizona classified as a “mild risk” area, and prevention measures underway, the clear message from this call was that the best environment for students would be at school.
However, in light of recent announcements for school closures – including our feeder schools at Kyrene School District and Tempe Elementary School District – TUHSD will close our schools to students beginning Monday, March 16, 2020. Because we work in a collaborative, tri-district manner, we feel that this is the best decision for our students, families, teachers, and staff.
At this time, we will be monitoring the closure of our schools on a daily basis to make the best determination for when school might resume. All school activities, athletics, and events will be cancelled until further notice. If we have information or reason to believe that we can resume with athletic practices, competition, and other extracurricular activities, we will communicate with students, coaches, and sponsors.
Our students are always our biggest priority. It is never a positive thing to interrupt the learning process and the continuity of programming within our schools. But we understand the necessity at this time in responding to the community spread of COVID-19.
We urge you to take this opportunity to practice social distancing and other containment measures that are being advised by our public health agencies. We want to ensure that these school closures and the disruption of the learning process proves to be worth the effort.
Additional information regarding plans for staffing, continuity in meal programs, and other FAQ’s will be released on Monday, March 16. All information sent to parents, community members, and other groups will be made available on our website at: https://www.tempeunion.org/health-safety.
The TUHSD Governing Board, district administration, teachers and staff are passionate about providing a safe learning environment for our students and staff. Tempe Union schools will reopen when we are confident that COVID-19 virus exposure is reduced and we can ensure a safe learning environment for everyone. Should you have any specific questions, I encourage you to reply to this email and we will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding school closures or prevention regarding the COVID-19 virus.
Thank you for your continued care, kindness, and support as we work through this unprecedented time.
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent, TUHSD
-
Parent Letter 3.3.2020: Superintendent, plan of action
March 3, 2020
Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,
As first shared with TUHSD families and staff on January 27, site and district administration have been closely monitoring developments on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In light of recent developments, we wanted to make you aware of the latest information from Maricopa County’s Department of Public Health.Maricopa County has created a dedicated webpage with information on Coronavirus. This is the best source of information for any developments or announcements impacting our region.
We know that many families have travel plans over spring break. We urge you to take the utmost caution when traveling and suggest consulting the CDC’s website for the most up-to-date information on countries where travel has been restricted.
TUHSD Plan of ActionAt this time there are no identified cases in our Tempe Union High School District community. We are following Maricopa County’s preventative recommendations for schools, which include enhanced cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs.
With that guidance, TUHSD will be conducting enhanced cleaning above and beyond our normal procedures. The goal is to do this work over spring break to minimize classroom disruption. We take these precautions to ensure a healthy learning environment for every student.
Supplies of hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes, and facial tissue will be available in all TUHSD classrooms this week. Hygiene reminders will be posted in classrooms to ensure that students are aware of the precautions they can and should be taking on a daily basis.
The best strategy against COVID-19, or any other respiratory virus, is prevention. Here are measures we can all take:- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick, and keep sick children home as well.
- Cover your cough or sneeze, then immediately discard any tissues.
- Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces.
As with any communicable disease, this will be handled on our campuses under the guidance of Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH). If a confirmed case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) was
present on one of our campuses, the ensuing plan would be determined by MCDPH along with input from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
We will continue to provide updates with developments that could impact our families or schools. Updates will be sent to you using School Messenger. If you change your email address or contact information, please notify your child’s school office of the change to ensure that you can stay informed.
Information that is sent to parents will also be available online at TUHSD’s Health & Safety website. Additionally, administration at each school will have the most current information at any given time. If you have questions, we encourage you to contact your school directly.Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent
-
Parent Letter 1.28.2020: TUHSD Communications, Healthy habits
Dear TUHSD Parents,
It has come to our attention that there are rumors of coronavirus on our campus. Please rest assured that no student or staff member has reported to your school's Administration that they have been exposed or infected.
The following information was sent yesterday to all TUHSD Families and is a good refresher on prevention for the kind of viruses that can occur at this time of the year.This is a good time to review preventative measures we can all take to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as the flu:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick, and keep sick children home as well.
- Cover your cough or sneeze, then immediately discard any tissues.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
According to AZDHS, at this time the risk to the general public is believed to be low. We will keep you updated with any developments that could impact our families or schools.
Thank you,
TUHSD Communications
-
Parent Letter 1.27.2020: TUHSD Communications, preventative measures
Tempe Union Families:
As you may know, flu season activity is higher than normal this year, and the Arizona Department of Health Services recently confirmed a non-severe case of Coronavirus in Arizona.
This is a good time to review preventative measures we can all take to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as the flu:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick, and keep sick children home as well.
- Cover your cough or sneeze, then immediately discard any tissues.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
According to AZDHS, at this time the risk to the general public is believed to be low. We will keep you updated with any developments that could impact our families or schools.
Thank you,
TUHSD Communications