Superintendent's Community Update
Dear Albany Community,
Students and teachers started to settle into a routine this week as the school year began in earnest. Unfortunately, a few COVID cases were reported at Marin-Portland, Ocean View, and AMS. The Delta variant of COVID-19 is causing infections locally as well as nationally, especially in the unvaccinated population, which includes all children under 12 who are not yet vaccine-eligible. I spent the summer making sure that Albany schools would be prepared for this. Here, I will lay out what Albany Unified is doing, and what we need you, as the parent or guardian, to do to keep students in school.
One: The most important safety step for your family is to get vaccinated! If you are eligible please get vaccinated, right away. We have multiple locations right here in Albany that are ready and eager to assist! Vaccines are free and do not require insurance or identification. AUSD will host vaccination clinics shortly after a vaccine is approved for children under twelve to expedite getting our students vaccinated as soon as possible. For everyone twelve years and older, see this webpage for vaccine information and locations.
Two: If your student is showing symptoms, do not send them to school. Here is the CDC’s list of COVID-19 symptoms. Students at school should be healthy, but COVID-19 can cause asymptomatic infections, especially in the young. It is also possible that a student might be pre-symptomatic. Our safety measures: such as wearing masks all day, every day, indoors and outdoors, except when eating; improved ventilation; and increased hand hygiene; were designed to protect students and staff from infections, even when infections aren’t apparent.
Three: Provide your consent for COVID-19 pooled testing. Pooled testing will allow us to screen for invisible infections. This video of a second grader shows how the test will be self-administered. Please see this webpage for more information and links to the consent form. Also on that webpage is our AUSD Testing FAQ, a detailed document informing you about COVID tests and the protocols we are following in the event of a positive pooled test result. Note that pooled surveillance testing is not recommended for those who have been fully vaccinated.
Four: If your student is exposed, follow the appropriate guidance for either vaccinated or unvaccinated students. AUSD is following guidance from Alameda County Office of Education outlined in a handy flowchart available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Farsi. Briefly, vaccinated students do not need to quarantine, but should be monitored for symptoms. Asymptomatic, unvaccinated students exposed at school can have a modified quarantine, which allows them to remain in school during the quarantine period if fully masked and obeying all other safety protocols. Our county office of education will be providing additional guidance soon regarding quarantines and testing. For now, please be aware that supervised testing is available from many sources, including AUSD.
I am committed to keeping Albany schools open for in-person learning and have every confidence that we can do it. But this does not mean that there will be no COVID-19 cases. By acting responsibly as a school community, we can minimize the incidence of cases, and keep our students in class by staying vigilant on our safety measures, even when cases arise.
Board of Education Meeting and Health & Safety Town Hall Webinar
At the next Board of Education meeting, Tuesday, August 31, there will be a review and discussion of the AUSD COVID-19 protocols and implementation. Then on Wednesday, September 1, from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm, I will be hosting our second Town Hall webinar of the 2021-22 school year. This Health and Safety Town Hall will be a chance for you to be updated on the current situation at all schools, hear information about safety protocols, COVID-19 staff and student testing, and to ask questions. Please join us at the virtual Town Hall: https://ausdk12-org.zoom.us/j/95654323388.
My next Community Update will be on Friday, September 3.
Stay hopeful and encouraged,
Dr. Frank Wells
Superintendent of Schools
Albany Unified School District
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Actualización de la comunidad del superintendente: Seminario web sobre medidas de seguridad y salud y seguridad de COVID
27 de Agosto de 2021
Estimada comunidad de Albany,
Los estudiantes y maestros comenzaron a establecerse en una rutina esta semana cuando el año escolar comenzaba en serio. Desafortunadamente, se informaron algunos casos de COVID en Marin-Portland, Ocean View y AMS. La variante Delta de COVID-19 está causando infecciones a nivel local y nacional, especialmente en la población no vacunada, que incluye a todos los niños menores de 12 años que aún no son elegibles para la vacuna. Pasé el verano asegurándome de que las escuelas de Albany estuvieran preparadas para esto. Aquí, expondré lo que está haciendo el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Albany y lo que necesitamos que usted, como padre o tutor, haga para mantener a los estudiantes en la escuela.
Uno: El paso de seguridad más importante para su familia es vacunarse! Si es elegible, vacúnese de inmediato. ¡Tenemos varias ubicaciones aquí en Albany que están listas y deseosas de ayudar! Las vacunas son gratuitas y no requieren seguro ni identificación. AUSD albergará clínicas de vacunación poco después de que se apruebe una vacuna para niños menores de doce años para acelerar la vacunación de nuestros estudiantes lo antes posible. Para todas las personas mayores de doce años, consulte esta página web para obtener información y ubicaciones sobre las vacunas.
Dos: Si su estudiante muestra síntomas, no los envíe a la escuela. Aquí está la lista de los CDC de síntomas de COVID-19. Los estudiantes en la escuela deben estar sanos, pero COVID-19 puede causar infecciones asintomáticas, especialmente en los jóvenes. También es posible que un estudiante sea presintomático. Nuestras medidas de seguridad: como el uso de mascarillas todo el día, todos los días, en interiores y exteriores, excepto para comer; ventilación mejorada; y mayor higiene de manos; fueron diseñados para proteger a los estudiantes y al personal de infecciones, incluso cuando las infecciones no son evidentes.
Tres: Proporcione su consentimiento para las pruebas conjuntas de COVID-19. Las pruebas agrupadas nos permitirán detectar infecciones invisibles. Este video de un estudiante de segundo grado muestra cómo se autoadministrará la prueba. Consulte esta página web para obtener más información y enlaces al formulario de consentimiento. También en esa página web se encuentran nuestras Preguntas frecuentes sobre las pruebas de AUSD, un documento detallado que le informa sobre las pruebas de COVID y los protocolos que seguimos en caso de que el resultado de una prueba conjunta sea positivo. Tenga en cuenta que las pruebas de vigilancia agrupadas no se recomiendan para aquellos que han sido completamente vacunados.
Cuatro: Si su estudiante está expuesto, siga la guía apropiada para estudiantes vacunados o no vacunados. AUSD está siguiendo la guía de la Oficina de Educación del Condado de Alameda descrita en un práctico diagrama de flujo disponible en inglés, español, chino y farsi. Brevemente, los estudiantes vacunados no necesitan ponerse en cuarentena, pero deben ser monitoreados para detectar síntomas. Los estudiantes asintomáticos y no vacunados expuestos en la escuela pueden tener una cuarentena modificada , lo que les permite permanecer en la escuela durante el período de cuarentena si están completamente enmascarados y obedecen todos los demás protocolos de seguridad. Nuestra oficina de educación del condado pronto proporcionará orientación adicional con respecto a las cuarentenas y las pruebas. Por ahora, tenga en cuenta que las pruebas supervisadas están disponibles en muchas fuentes, incluido AUSD.
Estoy comprometido a mantener las escuelas de Albany abiertas para el aprendizaje en persona y tengo plena confianza en que podemos hacerlo. Pero esto no significa que no habrá casos de COVID-19. Al actuar responsablemente como comunidad escolar, podemos minimizar la incidencia de casos y mantener a nuestros estudiantes en clase manteniéndonos atentos a nuestras medidas de seguridad, incluso cuando surgen casos.
Reunión de la Junta de Educación y seminario web sobre salud y seguridad en el Ayuntamiento
En la próxima reunión de la Junta de Educación, el martes 31 de agosto, habrá una revisión y discusión de los protocolos y la implementación de AUSD COVID-19. Luego, el miércoles 1 de septiembre, de 6:30 p. M. A 8:00 p. M., Seré el anfitrión de nuestro segundo seminario web del Ayuntamiento del año escolar 2021-22. Este Ayuntamiento de Salud y Seguridad será una oportunidad para que usted esté actualizado sobre la situación actual en todas las escuelas, escuche información sobre los protocolos de seguridad, el personal de COVID-19 y las pruebas de los estudiantes, y haga preguntas. Únase a nosotros en el Ayuntamiento virtual: https://ausdk12-org.zoom.us/j/95654323388 .
Mi próxima actualización de la comunidad será el viernes 3 de septiembre.
Mantén la esperanza y el ánimo.
Dr. Frank Wells
Superintendente de Escuelas
Distrito Escolar Unificado de Alban
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总监的社区更新：COVID 安全措施和健康与安全市政厅网络研讨会
2021 年 8 月 27 日
亲爱的奥尔巴尼社区，
随着学年的正式开始，学生和老师本周开始适应日常生活。不幸的是，马林-波特兰、Ocean View 和 AMS报告了一些 COVID 病例。 COVID-19 的 Delta 变体正在本地和全国引起感染，特别是在未接种疫苗的人群中，其中包括所有 12 岁以下尚未接种疫苗的儿童。我整个夏天都在确保奥尔巴尼学校为此做好准备。在这里，我将阐述奥尔巴尼联合大学正在做什么，以及我们需要您作为家长或监护人做些什么来让学生留在学校。
一：对您的家人来说，最重要的安全步骤就是接种疫苗！如果您符合条件，请立即接种疫苗。我们在奥尔巴尼有多个地点准备好并渴望提供帮助！疫苗是免费的，不需要保险或身份证明。 AUSD 将在批准用于 12 岁以下儿童的疫苗后不久开设疫苗接种诊所，以加快让我们的学生尽快接种疫苗。对于 12 岁及以上的所有人，请参阅此网页以了解疫苗信息和位置。
二：如果您的学生出现症状，请不要将他们送到学校。这是 CDC 的COVID-19 症状清单。在校学生应该是健康的，但 COVID-19 可能会导致无症状感染，尤其是在年轻人中。学生也有可能出现症状前。我们的安全措施：如整天、每天、室内外都戴口罩，吃饭时除外；改善通风；并加强手部卫生；旨在保护学生和教职员工免受感染，即使感染不明显。
三：同意 COVID-19 合并测试。汇集测试将使我们能够筛查隐形感染。这个二年级学生的视频展示了如何自我管理测试。请参阅此网页以获取更多信息和同意书的链接。该网页上还有我们的 AUSD 测试常见问题解答，这是一份详细的文件，向您介绍 COVID 测试以及我们在汇总测试结果为阳性时遵循的协议。请注意，不建议对已完全接种疫苗的人进行汇总监测测试。
四：如果您的学生被暴露，请遵循针对已接种疫苗或未接种疫苗的学生的适当指导。 AUSD 遵循阿拉米达县教育办公室提供的指南，该指南以英语、西班牙语、中文和波斯语提供的便捷流程图概述。简而言之，接种疫苗的学生不需要隔离，但应监测症状。在学校暴露的无症状、未接种疫苗的学生可以进行修改后的隔离，如果他们完全戴口罩并遵守所有其他安全规程，则允许他们在隔离期间留在学校。我们的县教育办公室将很快提供有关隔离和检测的更多指导。目前，请注意监督测试可从许多来源获得，包括 AUSD。
我致力于保持奥尔巴尼学校对面对面学习的开放，并完全有信心我们可以做到这一点。但这并不意味着不会出现 COVID-19 病例。通过作为学校社区负责任地行事，我们可以最大限度地减少病例的发生率，并通过对我们的安全措施保持警惕，即使出现病例，也可以让我们的学生留在课堂上。
教育委员会会议和健康与安全市政厅网络研讨会
在 8 月 31 日星期二举行的下一次教育委员会会议上，将对 AUSD COVID-19 协议和实施进行审查和讨论。然后在9 月 1 日星期三晚上 6:30 - 8:00 ，我将举办 2021-22 学年的第二次市政厅网络研讨会。此健康与安全市政厅将让您有机会了解所有学校的当前情况，听取有关安全协议、COVID-19 教职员工和学生测试的信息，并提出问题。请加入我们的虚拟市政厅：https ://ausdk12-org.zoom.us/j/95654323388 。
我的下一次社区更新将在 9 月 3 日星期五进行。
保持希望和鼓励，
弗兰克·威尔斯博士
学校总监
奥尔巴尼联合学区
Students Wanted for District Planning Committee
Are you interesting in gaining leadership experience and helping to improve equity and achievement at Albany High? The Board of Education is looking for two students to join the AUSD Student Achievement Committee.
The purpose of the Student Achievement Committee is to:
Serve as the advisory body for the District’s Local Control and Accountability Plan development process.
Review student achievement metrics and recommend strategies to close equity and opportunity gaps.
Review social emotional/mental health metrics and recommend strategies to close equity and opportunity gaps.
Please see the information notice on the District website if you are interested in applying.
The first day of AHS classes is Tuesday, August 17th!
Welcome back, Cougars! We hope you are having a great summer.
Opening day and Freshmen orientation are on Thursday, August 12th. Appointment times for each grade are here.
Don’t forget that we have a new bell schedule this year. You can find it on our website homepage here.
Due to Covid-19, everyone at AHS will wear a mask this school year until further notice. All people will wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.
AUSD is currently having issues with our communication system. Back to school communications will be sent out by Principal McNally as soon as possible.
AUSD Summer Safety Video
The District Office and the Board of Education produced the following video to encourage everyone to stay safe this summer:
Due Date for Books and Chromebooks is Friday, June 18th
Happy summer!
Keep summer reading and textbooks for placement testing in August but ALL OTHER BOOKS should be returned by this Friday to the Book Room.
It helps to have all of these items now, so we can determine what textbooks need to be replenished, and what needs to be repaired before the next school year
Book Room hours are posted here. Thank you! Contact Ms. Pope for any questions at ppope@ausdk12.org.
AHS Theatre's Student Production June 17-19th
Join two bachelors, Jack and Algernon, in the town and the country as they lead double lives to escape the ridiculous social responsibilities of the Victorian era. Two women fall in love with Jack and Algy’s alter egos, both conveniently named Earnest, and chaos ensues! Come for the muffins, stay for the mixups and mayhem… it’s a WILDE story!
The Importance of Being Earnest airs June 17-19th, and tickets are on sale now!
Last Chance to Pick Up or Purchase Yearbooks
All pre-purchased yearbooks must be picked up at the Book Room on Monday or Tuesday of this week.
After that, the remaining books will be released for sale. If you already bought a book and are unable to pick it up on Monday or Tuesday this week, please email Juliet Radford at jradford@ausdk12.org and a book will be set aside for you to pick up later in the week.
Still want to purchase a yearbook? You may do so starting on Wednesday this week.
Summer Food Service For Those in Need
Hello AUSD Families,
As the school year comes to a close, my staff and I at the Albany School Food Project want to thank you for your support this past school year. We are grateful for the many kind words of appreciation, and help from our volunteers.
Through the summer months, the federal government is allowing us to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to all children 18 years old or younger, regardless of income levels. Our summer food service program runs from Monday, June 14 to Friday, August 13. Picking up meals is easy and convenient. We distribute grab and go meals on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Albany High School multipurpose room, 603 Key Route Blvd. from 11:30 to 1:30. Multiple meals will be served on those days to provide food for 7 days a week. Simply tell us how many children under 18 are in your household and we'll provide the appropriate number of meals.
Beginning Friday, June 18th at Albany Middle School, FREE grab and go meals (breakfast and lunch) will be available to morning session summer school students at the time of dismissal. For students staying on campus for the afternoon session, free lunch will be available to eat onsite, and grab and go breakfast meals will be available for those students to take and eat at home before coming to school in the following days. The Albany Middle School grab and go meal distribution will end on the last day of summer school, Friday, July 16th. We highly encourage you to visit only one distribution site, as duplicate meals are not allowed. This helps us ensure there are enough meals for all children. Thank you for your cooperation.
The high school and middle school locations will both be closed on Monday, July 5 for the Independence Day holiday.
At our Albany High School location we will continue to offer families La Farine and Firebrand Artisan Breads day-old bread and pastries brought to us by The Daily Bread Project, while supplies last. On Fridays, we offer grocery bags with a variety of shelf-stable food items provided by the Alameda County Food Bank, while supplies last. We will continue with our free, fresh, choose-your-self produce food bank provided by Berkeley Food Network from 11:30 to 12:30 on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. (June 25, July 9, July 23, and August 13)
Free school meals can help you stretch your own household food budget, save time, and provide your child with sound nutrition and a sense of normalcy. The USDA reimburses us for each meal, so the more meals we provide, the better off our district will be this year and next. Please help us stay financially healthy this year and next by picking up school meals each week.
Anyone looking for a summer job or a volunteer opportunity? The AUSD School Food Project can use your help! For summer jobs, please contact Executive Chef Sabina Feinberg at 510-558-2608 or sfeinberg@ausdk12.org. Days and hours can be flexible. Sign up here for volunteer opportunities.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions. Happy summer!
Sabina Feinberg
AUSD Executive Chef
Summer Reading Recs
Are you looking forward to summer? We sure are! Stop by the AHS Library and pick up some books for your summer reading. We're open every day for the next two weeks from 12-4. Check out up to 10 books before June 11th, and keep them for the summer. Want some suggestions? Check out this fabulous website we've made: http://bit.ly/AHSreads2021
Hope you can stop by and find some great books to read. The AHS Library will be open every school day from 12-4, until June 11th.
If you’d like to print out the lists —>
AHS Virtual Art Show
Click here to view the 2021 Virtual Art Show!
Congratulations to all these creative students on their hard work in the visual arts.