July 22, 2021

Dear Fullerton School District (FSD) Parents and Community,

We hope that you are having a great summer break and enjoying time with your children, friends, and family. 

Last week the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released updated COVID-19 requirements for K-12 schools for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.  COVID-19 health regulations are determined by state and county health officials, and schools/school districts are required to follow these in order to provide in-person instruction.

FSD is reviewing the new CDPH regulations to determine how it will impact the 2021-2022 school year which begins with students returning to school on Monday, August 16, 2021.  Listed below are some of the key components of the CDPH’s updated regulations which all schools and school districts, including private and charter schools, will have to implement in order to provide in-person instruction:

• California will continue to require masks to be worn by both students and adults in school settings when in the presence of students.  Regardless of vaccination status.  Masks are optional outdoors for students and adults in K-12 school settings.
• Schools and school districts must develop and implement local protocols to enforce mask requirements.  Students who do not meet one of the mask exception criteria and who do not comply with the universal mask wearing guidance may be placed in an alternative learning setting.
• Physical distancing is no longer required as a result of the universal masking requirements.  Without universal masking in place, physical distancing would limit the number of students in a classroom and not allow students to return to school everyday for the full school day.
• Schools and school districts must continue to implement mitigation and layered prevention strategies like increased ventilation, hand washing, respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and/or getting COVID-19 tested, contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, and regular cleaning and disinfection. 
• CDPH will continue to assess conditions on an ongoing basis and will determine if and when mask requirements can be updated.

This new information provides clarity on what is required for schools to reopen in California and helps FSD prepare for reopening on August 16, 2021.  The FSD team has been hard at work preparing for the 2021-2022 school year to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of students, staff, and families is at the forefront.

FSD will resume a traditional, full-time, on-campus learning model for the 2021-2022 school year while continuing to follow all guidance as set forth by CDPH and the Orange County Healthcare Agency (OCHA).  Students and families will also have access to alternate instructional programs in the fall including the Distance Learning program, or MyFSD Academy, the District’s homeschool program.

FSD appreciates your continued support and partnership as we review and implement the new CDPH guidance.  We also appreciate your understanding that the FSD School Board and District administration are not permitted to lessen or not implement the requirements all schools in California are under from the California Department of Public Health.  The CDPH has a “Contact Us” link for any questions you may have regarding this guidance which can be found at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/contact_us.aspx.

Please also see a recently released joint communication from the Orange County Department of Education and Orange County Public Health on mask requirements by clicking here.

Please be on the lookout for additional updates from FSD regarding the 2021-2022 school year.

Sincerely,

Robert Pletka, Ed. D.

Superintendent

Fullerton School District

May 18, 2021

Hello FSD Parents, Guardians and Teachers,

As of today, Orange County has moved to the Yellow Tier for COVID-related illnesses. This means that some of the restrictions for promotion events have changed, allowing us to modify some of the plans for 6th and 8th grade promotions based on the new guidelines. The promotion regulations from California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continue to provide very restrictive guidance, even more restrictive than other outdoor events. The district abides by the CDPH guidelines and is not able to change procedures based on changes announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Now that we have transitioned to the Yellow Tier, we can increase the number of attendees at our promotion events. Instead of “student plus two guests”, we can now accommodate “student plus four guests”. We still need to ensure that all attendees wear masks at all times during these events, and that all attendees pre-register per the guidelines.

Please register with your school if you have not already done so. Your sites will also be reaching out with information on how to register the additional family members for the events.

Thank you.

Hello Fullerton School District Parents and Guardians,

We hope this message finds you and your family well. We are excited to bring students back to campus, and have been implementing safety protocols and equipment as well as additional technology needed to ensure students in class and at home will have a great educational experience.

As our school and District leaders work diligently to prepare for our in-person opening on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, sites are working to place students into Hybrid and Five-Day learning groups on Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri (with alternating Wednesdays) cohort for in-class attendance. In order to ensure safety protocols are followed, principals need to know exactly who is in each group. To ensure a timely opening of on-site instruction and sufficient notification to families, all learning options will be final as of the close of school on Wednesday, September 30th. Any change requests for a child to move into either Hybrid or Five-Day that are submitted after that date will not be considered until October 26th. Change requests to move into Hybrid or Five-Day may take up to 10 days to complete. Students choosing to move from Hybrid or Five-Day into Distance Learning may do so at any time as long as the site principal and teacher are notified.  A move back to any on-campus learning option would only be considered after October 26th and will be subject to the 10-day implementation period. 

Parents who have chosen Five-Day or Hybrid will receive their Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri (with alternating Wednesdays) cohort schedule from their school during the week of October 5th. We are currently working to ensure that junior high school principals can place students based on course offerings. They will subsequently work with elementary school principals who will work to coordinate sibling cohort assignments when possible. Elementary principals are also working on ensuring combination classes are split on days by grade level, when possible.

As you may be aware, the State announced that in-person cohorts can be no more than 14 students. This announcement only applied to counties who were still in the “Purple” or “Tier I” status for COVID infection rates, and was meant to help begin bringing back small groups of special needs students. This does not apply to our return to school on October 13th, as currently Orange County is in the “Red” or “Tier II.” We will continue to follow state and local guidelines in order to bring students back safely and limit class sizes according to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

Thank you for your continued understanding as we work through this trying time together.

Orange County Department of Education guidance on face coverings published September 11, 2020

Internet Disruption Message - Aug. 25, 2020

Tech Message - August 10, 2020

Dear Fullerton Community,

On behalf of the Fullerton School District staff, we thank you and your family for your support and appreciate your commitment to educating your child in the Fullerton School District. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the 2020-2021 school year.

School Year Start Under Current COVID-19 Mandates

In accordance with orders from the California Department of Public Health and the Governor’s recent mandates, the Fullerton School District will begin the school year on August 11, 2020 with a Distance Learning Model. The Fullerton School District will be offering an enhanced online FSD 360° Distance Learning Program that will incorporate the following:

• Classroom Instruction: 

• • • Live interaction with teachers and classmates with synchronous and asynchronous learning
    • Rigorous content aligned with state standards

• Daily Tracking of Attendance and Participation: 

• Regular attendance checks
• Monitoring of participation and interaction with learning
• Positive reinforcement to engage students

• Academic Support and Enrichment:

• • • Academic intervention will be offered to students performing below grade level and for students with learning loss
    • Distance Learning accommodations and modifications made for students with special needs through Individualized Education Plans
    • G.A.T.E. Instruction 
    • Enrichment opportunities through supplemental resources

• English Language Development for English Learners: 

• • • Integrated and designated ELD for English Learners, continued assessments of English language proficiency

• Social Emotional Supports: 

• • • Support from our mental health staff and counselors
    • Social Emotional Learning lessons

School sites will follow traditional grading practices, report cards, and systems that reflect classroom assignments and assessments. In the coming week, please refer to the district website to learn more about how FSD plans to provide high quality online instruction through a personalized and robust Distance Learning instructional model.

Transition After Clearance from Local Health Agency

While we offer distance learning during the state mandated school closure, we are making safety enhancements to meet Covid-19 guidelines for when we reopen. Additionally, we are working with our local health department for guidance as we monitor the local Covid-19 numbers. In the meantime, we are asking you to start thinking about different school options that will be available when we reopen our schools. 

When Orange County is removed from the Covid-19 California Watch List for 14 consecutive days and resultant clearance from the Orange County Healthcare Agency is received, FSD schools will transition to offer different learning models for students. After transitioning from Distance Learning to on-site instruction, the Fullerton School District will offer three different learning models based on state guidelines under Stage 2 of the CA Roadmap (https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/.) Parents will be asked to choose one option that best meets the needs of their child and family. The fourth program option, MyFSD Academy/Homeschool, will start at the beginning of the school year on August 11, 2020. In order for parents to begin the MyFSD Academy at the start of the school year, parents will need to enroll their students into the MyFSD Homeschool by August 7, 2020. Visit the MyFSD Academy website for enrollment forms by going to www.fullertonsd.org, clicking Parents, then clicking MyFSD Academy.

Option 1: Five-day at School Learning Model

• Students will be provided in-class core instruction 2 full days per week and select Wednesdays.
• Monday and Thursday OR Tuesday and Friday in-class core instruction
• On select Wednesdays, a combination of in-class and asynchronous learning (typically alternating Wednesdays)
• Students will be with their elementary grade-level/jr. high assigned teacher(s).
• The other approximate 2 and a half days, students will receive Extended Learning opportunities with on-site educational activities.
• May include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Art, outdoor activities, Social Emotional Learning, Project Based Learning, and academic interventions with support staff 
• In order to be placed in the Extended Learning Program, parents must enroll their children.

Option 2: Hybrid Learning Model

• Students will be provided in-class core instruction 2 full days per week and select Wednesdays.
• Monday and Thursday OR Tuesday and Friday in-class core instruction
• On select Wednesdays, students will receive a combination of in-class and asynchronous learning (typically alternating Wednesdays)
• Students will be placed in this program by default if parents do not select another option. 
• Students will be with their elementary grade-level/jr. high assigned teacher(s)
• On the non-student attendance days, students will be provided with asynchronous independent activities, such as Project Based Learning. Students will be using online resources at home to apply knowledge and reinforce skills learned during in-class core instruction days.

Option 3: Independent Study (100% Virtual Instruction)

• Students will be assigned to an FSD teacher, who will provide distance learning.
• Students living within their school’s boundary area will be guaranteed enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year. 
• For students on intra-district and inter-district transfers, we will follow FSD’s regular transfer protocols.
• A trimester/semester commitment to the program is recommended. 
• At the end of the trimester/semester, students may reconsider options 1 or 2 contingent upon space at their site. 
• If space is not available at the home site, parents will be provided with the choice to have their child attend school at district sites that have space in classrooms offering options 1 and 2.

All learning models incorporate full English Language Arts (ELA) and math instructional standards, with support to our English Learners through integrated English Language Development (ELD), along with integrated social science and science. Changes to state and local guidelines may result in changes to learning model options. 

Pre-Enrollment 

In anticipation of the clearance from the local health agency and in preparation for reopening of schools, parents will be asked to choose a model to pre-enroll their students. An email will be sent to the primary parent’s email address in the student’s PowerSchool account. You will be choosing your option through the Annual Information Review (AIR) process. That information will be coming to your email soon. You will need to enroll each student in your household separately. Your choice is not permanent and the information will be used to staff our schools appropriately. Paper enrollment forms will be available at the school sites offices. Students who have not enrolled in one of the options or the MyFSD Academy Homeschool will be placed into the Hybrid model by default.

For any questions regarding Distance Learning, please contact Educational Services at 714-447-7709 or at fsddistancelearning@myfsd.org.  We are committed to providing students with quality instruction through flexible learning models. We look forward to a healthy and safe start of the new school year!

Sincerely,

Robert Pletka, Ed.D. 

Superintendent

Dear Fullerton School District Parents, Staff and Community Members,

The Fullerton School District is sending out this communication to all parents, staff and community members in order to share with our community that Governor Newsom has just announced that schools in counties (like Orange County) on the state monitoring list will be reopening with Distance Learning only. As a result, Fullerton School District schools will be reopening with Distance Learning only on August 11th.  More information will be provided at a special board meeting on Monday, July 20th at 4pm. 

We want to provide our parents, students, and community with our health and safety plans that will be in place when the district is eventually allowed to re-open for in-classroom instruction at some point during the 2020-2021 school year. The Fullerton School District is committed to ensuring that all students and staff are kept as safe as possible and that measures are put into place so that students and staff feel comfortable and safe when returning to school/work.  The Fullerton School District has met, reviewed, discussed, and received input and feedback into the health and safety measures from our employees, parents, and community stakeholders.  These health and safety measures are pending Board approval prior to implementation.

The measures that will be put into place are based upon the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) document, “COVID-19 Industry Guidance: School and School-based Programs”, and the Governor’s current executive orders.  This document and the Governor’s executive orders provide schools with health and safety guidelines for reopening.  As you are aware, this is a constantly evolving situation and if the conditions related to COVID-19 change, some or all of the health and safety guidelines may change.  Outlined below are COVID-19 related health and safety guidelines that will be put into place before the start for in-classroom instruction for the 2020/2021 school year pending Board approval:

• Face Coverings will be worn by all staff and students indoors and outdoors.  Exceptions will only be provided for individuals with medical conditions, mental health conditions, or disabilities.  Face shields with drapes will be available as a face covering option for employees.
• Social Distancing measures will be put into place in the different physical environments at school.  “Distancing Dots” will be placed on the ground in line areas, the number of desks will be reduced in classrooms and appropriately spaced apart. Hallway and gates will be used by smaller numbers of students at the same time and incidental contact will be avoided.
• Screening Procedures will be put into place for all students and staff as they arrive to work/school in the morning.  All students and staff will have their temperature taken with a “touchless” device and secondary screening and hydration processes will be in place.
• Increased Hygiene will be reinforced and put into daily school routines including: increased hand washing for 20 seconds with soap and water (portable hand wash stations will be located throughout campuses) or the use of approved hand sanitizer when hand washing is not feasible, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and avoiding touching of the nose, eyes, or mouth.
• Intensified cleaning, sanitation, and ventilation will be put into effect at all schools and work locations.  High-touch items will be cleaned and sanitized daily.  Classroom and students work areas will be cleaned and sanitized when a new group of students will be using the location.  School-approved EPA listed disinfectant products proven to eliminate the COVID-19 virus will be utilized.  HVAC filters will be changed out with MERV-13 filters and outside air will be drawn in to improve air circulation.
• Stay home when sick will be promoted and encouraged with all students and staff in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.
• Student meals will be eaten in the classroom or location that is the student’s “home base” for the day.  Food items will be packaged and handed to students by District staff wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Limit student gatherings by posting the maximum number of students in any one location based on social distancing guidelines.  Line-up and waiting procedures meeting social distancing guidelines will be put into place.
• School buses will be seated with one student/family per seat.  Buses will be cleaned and sanitized between routes and when different students are seated on the bus.  Students will be temperature screened prior to getting on the bus.
• iPads and students devices will be sanitized when they are repaired or replaced using a UV light sanitizing device.
• No sharing of classroom materials and supplies will be put into place as students will use their own set of materials and supplies. Any items that must be shared will be properly sanitized between uses by different students.
• Training will be provided to all students, staff, and parents on COVID-19 signs and symptoms, preventing the spread, and proper health and safety measures.

These health and safety measures are just an overview of the guidelines provided for by the CDPH and that we discussed with our employee, parents, and community stakeholders.  More detailed and specific information will be forthcoming regarding each of these health and safety guidelines and what you can expect.  Please know that FSD will continue to communicate with you regarding the constantly evolving and changing COVID-19 situation.

FSD has more information available to our parents and community regarding our long-term full-time distance learning programs on our website at www.fullertonsd.org.  Please refer to our COVID-19 Update and Guidelines webpage for the latest information.

Thank you FSD parents and community for your continued support and understanding during these difficult and uncertain times.  We hope that you are enjoying a safe and healthy summer and you have found time to relax, rest, and spend time with family and loved ones.