Superintendent's Weekly Update Aug. 24, 2022
Dear WJUSD Families, Staff, and Community,
We are off to a great start of the school year! Thank you to all our staff, families, and students for working together to kick off the year on a positive note.
By working together, we will continue to make a positive impact for our students!
The following are this week’s updates:
- Getting Safely to and from School
- Volunteers
- Field Trips
- Data Confirmation
- Superintendent Meet and Greets
- WJUSD in the News
- Board of Trustees Update
Respectfully,
Elodia Ortega-Lampkin
Superintendent
Getting Safely to and from School
The safety of our students and staff is always our number one priority. Unfortunately we had an incident this week with one of our students being struck by a vehicle after school. Families were immediately notified and the student is receiving medical care. This is a reminder to please drive with caution in school areas and talk to your students about traveling safely to and from school.
Please see safety tips below:
Dropping off kids at school
Put your phone away:
Driving while distracted increases the potential for accidents. Keep your phone down to keep everyone safe.
Driving while distracted increases the potential for accidents. Keep your phone down to keep everyone safe.
Don’t cut the line:
Line cutting can cause tempers to flare. Be patient and wait your turn to help make the process smoother for everyone.
Line cutting can cause tempers to flare. Be patient and wait your turn to help make the process smoother for everyone.
Follow speed limits:
There is a lot of traffic during pick up and drop-off times and sometimes kids may step off the sidewalk into oncoming traffic. Driving the speed limit gives you more time to react and avoid harm.
There is a lot of traffic during pick up and drop-off times and sometimes kids may step off the sidewalk into oncoming traffic. Driving the speed limit gives you more time to react and avoid harm.
Avoid double parking:
Even if you’re running late, if you have to get out of your car to walk with your child, it’s better to circle the block to avoid blocking the flow of traffic.
Even if you’re running late, if you have to get out of your car to walk with your child, it’s better to circle the block to avoid blocking the flow of traffic.
Prepare ahead of time:
Let’s face it. Parents and guardians are busy! Anything you can do to double-check that your child has everything they need for the day BEFORE leaving the house can go a long way.
Let’s face it. Parents and guardians are busy! Anything you can do to double-check that your child has everything they need for the day BEFORE leaving the house can go a long way.
Walking to school
Look both ways and use crosswalks:
Teach kids to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Then remind them to continue looking until safely across. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
Teach kids to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Then remind them to continue looking until safely across. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
Make eye contact with the driver:
Don’t assume that the driver has seen you. Even if the walker has the right of way, teach kids to make eye contact with the driver so they are aware of each other.
Don’t assume that the driver has seen you. Even if the walker has the right of way, teach kids to make eye contact with the driver so they are aware of each other.
Eyes up, phones down:
Teach kids to put phones, headphones, and devices down when crossing the street. Being distracted by technology while walking is a major cause of accidents.
Teach kids to put phones, headphones, and devices down when crossing the street. Being distracted by technology while walking is a major cause of accidents.
Walk in a group:
A group of students is more visible to a driver and it provides more safety from someone who may intend to do harm.
A group of students is more visible to a driver and it provides more safety from someone who may intend to do harm.
Be visible:
Remember, drivers may not be able to see you well. Wear bright-colored clothes and if it’s dark or hard to see, carry flashlights or wear reflective gear.
Biking to school
Wear a helmet that fits properly:
Put your helmet flat on your head. If it moves when you shake your head, you need to tighten your helmet or get a smaller one.
Put your helmet flat on your head. If it moves when you shake your head, you need to tighten your helmet or get a smaller one.
Plan your route and try it out:
Work with your child to pick a safe route to school and practice riding the route together. Choose streets with minimal traffic and lower speeds. Look for routes where you can ride separate from traffic using a path or bicycle lane.
Work with your child to pick a safe route to school and practice riding the route together. Choose streets with minimal traffic and lower speeds. Look for routes where you can ride separate from traffic using a path or bicycle lane.
Be visible:
Wear bright or reflective clothing and use bike lights, especially when riding early in the morning or when it starts getting dark.
Wear bright or reflective clothing and use bike lights, especially when riding early in the morning or when it starts getting dark.
Follow the rules of the road:
Talk to your student about the rules of the sidewalk or road. Teach your child to follow simple, smart cycling rules, including: Ride on the right side of the road, in the same direction as traffic, and obey all traffic signals and stop signs.
Talk to your student about the rules of the sidewalk or road. Teach your child to follow simple, smart cycling rules, including: Ride on the right side of the road, in the same direction as traffic, and obey all traffic signals and stop signs.
Volunteers
Volunteers are now allowed back on campuses and in classrooms, although in a limited capacity.
While we’re excited to allow the return of volunteers, we realize we must do so cautiously and responsibly to ensure the safety of our students and staff. In that regard, we are limiting the number of volunteers at this time and require volunteers to meet the following requirements.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact your school principal to get your application process started.
To apply to be a volunteer you will need:
- A completed volunteer form (with attached vaccination card, if applicable)
- Negative tuberculosis (TB) results attached to volunteer form
- Fingerprinting (fee waivers will be available for families who meet income eligibility)
- Be fully vaccinated OR have a negative COVID test within 7 days of your volunteer date
Fully vaccinated means a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines. Booster shots are not required to be fully vaccinated.
For those who choose COVID testing, the test may come from COVID Clinic or another testing provider or be a home rapid test. To submit a home COVID test kit result, volunteers must take a picture of their test results that includes their name and the date the test was taken (written on the test itself or on a piece of paper included in the picture) and submit that to the school site when they sign in for their volunteer duties.
Field Trips
At this time field trips will be allowed at your principal’s discretion. There are no COVID restrictions in place for venues or activity types. Parents are allowed to chaperone field trips as long as they have been cleared through the District Volunteer Form and clearance process. (This is subject to change as state and local health conditions and guidelines are updated).
Principals need to submit the appropriate Field Trip Request form for the desired field trip to Educational Services prior to the trip taking place.
Complete Your Data Confirmation
Reminder for families to update your phone numbers, emergency contacts, health information, and more for your students attending WJUSD. An active parent portal account is required to complete this data confirmation by Wednesday, Aug. 31. Please contact your school office for help with this process.
Superintendent Meet and Greets
You are invited to attend a Superintendent Meet-and-Greet event this year. This is another opportunity to connect with Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin, get updates about our school District, and share your hopes and dreams for your students.
All times are 6 - 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Whitehead Elementary School
Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Lee Middle School
Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Freeman Elementary School
Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Douglass Middle School
Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Tafoya Elementary School
WJUSD in the News
Enjoy these media stories of our schools, students, and staff in the news!
Spring Lake Elementary’s final classrooms unveiled
“I’m thrilled to have a completed project on time before the new school year begins so our students can fit right in with their teachers on day one.”
Spring Lake Principal Stacey Falconer
"This is such a major milestone that will allow us to serve a full TK-6 slate. That is something we have been building toward for a long time."
WJUSD Board President Jake Whitaker
“This was very exciting, definitely more exciting than the past few years because we are getting back to some sense of normalcy. We are starting the school year returning to in-person with fewer restrictions, making it very nice for our students, staff and the community.”
At the Aug. 23 Board of Trustees meeting, the Board:
The next Board meeting is on Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. unless posted otherwise on the Board meeting agenda.
WHS Principal Peter Lambert
“Today’s focus is just building those relationships with kids and families. We want families to feel supported and welcomed at Freeman.”
Freeman Principal Eddie Gonzalez
“The first day of school is my favorite day just because it’s fresh and everyone is eager. Staff are excited to see each other. Students are excited to see their friends and teachers.”
Douglass Principal Tina Morel
“We are so thankful for all the volunteers that help make this event possible. Many of our families look forward to this yearly event.”
Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin
“I will be attending MIT, majoring in computer science and molecular biology. It’s a field where I can apply my interest in computer science and applied math to understand biological systems."
Ayantu Tamene, 2022 Pioneer High School Co-Valedictorian
"I will be attending Westmont College in the fall to study mechanical engineering. During college, I hope to study abroad to expand my understanding of other cultures."
Andres Olvera, 2022 Pioneer High School Co-Valedictorian
Board of Trustees Update
At the Aug. 23 Board of Trustees meeting, the Board:
- Reviewed a staff update on the safety committee and general safety plans.
This update included highlights on how our District prepared for this school year, our plans for our ongoing practices, and our next steps. This supports District Goal 2: Meet Social-Emotional and Academic Needs.
- Reviewed the School Resource Officer (SRO) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The Board directed staff to renegotiate the MOU with feedback from the Board. The MOU is a contract between the City of Woodland and WJUSD for implementing SRO’s on our school campuses from 2022 - 2025. This supports District Goal 2: Meet Social-Emotional and Academic Needs.
- Approved a resolution in support of school safety and protecting our students and staff.
The Board approved Resolution 1-23, which calls for increased school safety; helps increase awareness and accountability on safe firearm storage; and directs our Superintendent to work with the District Safety Committee to review safety matters Districtwide. This supports District Goal 2: Meet Social-Emotional and Academic Needs.
- Approved the Board self-evaluation priority focus areas.
The Board conducted a Self-Evaluation on July 28, 2022 and they have updated their priority focus areas.
- Approved a provisional intern permit for an education specialist credential.
This Board action allows our District to hire a Special Day Class teacher at Zamora Elementary serving students from kindergarten through 2nd grade with a Provisional Intern Permit, which meets the requirements of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). This supports District Goal 2: Meet Social-Emotional and Academic Needs.
- Reviewed a new job description for supervisor of nutrition services operations.
The Board reviewed a new position and new job description for Supervisor, Nutrition Services Operations. This position will provide leadership over the day-to-day nutrition services operations and support the development of food service staff.
- Approved Resolution Allowable Under AB 361: Brown Act Teleconferencing
This action allows the Board to conduct or attend Board meetings virtually due to safety and health issues related to COVID.
The next Board meeting is on Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. unless posted otherwise on the Board meeting agenda.
