HERON SCHOOL FRIDAY FLYERWeek of May 31 - June 4

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER Breakfast/Lunch information

May 31

June 3

June 4

June 8

June 9

June 10

NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

PTSA Meeting - 6pm

Principal Coffee Chat 8:30 am on Zoom

6th Grade Parent Meeting - Preparing forMiddle School 5:00 on Zoom

8th grade Promotion - 3pm at Inderkum HS

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Minimum Day-Dismissal at 11:30 for MS, 11:40 for Elementary

Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria at7:50 a.m. Our NUSD Nutrition ServicesDept. will continue to hand out meals toall children 18 and under every day atHeron from 10:30-12:30. Meals includebreakfast, lunch, and supper. Studentsattending in-person cohorts will be ableto pick up a grab-and-go meal when theydismiss at 1:00.

MESSAGE FROM MS. WHITTENOur 8th graders are preparing for promotion nextweek, and we are sending them off with yard signs,class T-shirts, and a chance to “Kiss our 8th GradersGoodbye” with a special treat. The treat bags (withchocolate kisses) are $2 each and can be ordered hereby Friday, June 4th. ORDER HERE: KISS THE8TH GRADERS GOODBYE Thank you to ourPTSA for purchasing the yard signs and T-shirts forour 8th graders and DELIVERING them to all ofour students! What an amazing way to show ourHeron Flyer pride! 8th Grade Promotion will beheld at Inderkum High School at 3:00 onWednesday, June 9th. Each student is strictlylimited to 4 guests, so this event is not open to thepublic. Guests must be invited and on our list inorder to attend.

2021 - 2022 Student Athlete Program...sports are coming back!

We are excited to be offering our elementary and middle school athletic programs to our students nextyear! If your child may be interested in playing sports next year, the summer is the best time to make suretheir annual physical form is updated. Physical forms must be signed by a physician and submitted to theoffice in order for your child to play.

8th graders going to Inderkum and interested in the sports program, please complete the following link.

Interested in Inderkum sports for 9th graders

Heron 21-22 4th - 8th grade students

Physical Form 2021-2022

Spring Testing Updates

Each year in the Spring, districts and schools give a statewide test called the California Assessment of StudentPerformance and Progress (CAASPP) in grades 3–8. Last month in April, the California State Board ofEducation gave districts the option to use district tests instead of CAASPP, as long as they still measure statestandards and information is shared with parents/guardians and the community about how student(s)performed on the district test. Natomas Unified School District has decided to administer the followingdistrict test, in place of the CAASPP:

Grades 3-8

- English Language Arts (ELA): we will be using our curriculum end-of-year benchmark assessments fromWonders in grades 3 through 5 and StudySync for grades 6 through 8.

- Math: we will be using our curriculum end-of-year benchmark assessments in Go Math for grades 3 and 4and the CSU/UC Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP) assessment in grades 5 through 8.

- California Alternative Assessment (CAA): Teachers will administer the CAA to students who have thisassessment as a part of their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and who have returned to school in-person.This test does not have a remote option, and the state recommends that students who are eligible for theCAA and who have remained in distance learning do not come to the site for the purpose of taking theassessment. Therefore, we will not be providing this assessment to any of our students who are eligible forthe CAA and who have remained in Distance Learning.

- Science: The California Science Test (CAST) is not possible to give this year due to the pandemic, and noalternate test will be given instead.

To accompany our district assessments, NUSD will provide parents with a report that shows the outcomes ofthe assessments taken by their student(s). However, parents/guardians of students who take the CAA will stillreceive a score report provided by the state. This report, along with your student’s report card can be usedto understand their progress towards meeting grade level standards. We anticipate being able to providethe results of the assessments to parents/guardians during the summer, as we have in previous years withCAASPP.

For more information, please visit our school district website regarding assessments at:https://natomasunified.org/departments/rd/assessment-resources/

Health Education To Be Provided to 5th-8th grade students May 26-28 and 7th-8th June 1-4As we have in years past, we will be partnering with Mar Monte Planned Parenthood to providecomprehensive sexual health education to our 5th-8th graders this year at the end of May and early June.The program provided to our 5th and 6th graders focused on puberty and human development,self-esteem, and healthy relationships. Our middle school program will cover all of the topics required by theCA Healthy Youth Act, and will be integrated into their science classes. More detailed information has goneout to 5th-8th grade families, and an opt-out option has been provided. If you have any further questions in

the meantime, please feel free to email me at awhitten@natomasunified.org.

In-Person Cohort School Safety Reminders

● Be sure to screen your child for any COVID symptoms: Temperature (at or above 100.1degrees), cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sorethroat, new loss of taste or smell. If your child has any of these symptoms, do not send them toschool. They will be placed in our isolation room and monitored until a parent comes to pick themup.

● Your child will need a fully charged Chromebook or personal computer. Headphones with amicrophone will be provided, but your child may also bring their own. All otherinstructional materials needed for the day will need to be transported back and forthbetween home and school.

● Remember that at this time, parents are not allowed on campus. Students will need to bedropped off and picked up at the gates.

● Our SDC students will use the C Hallway (by their classrooms) as an entrance and be greetedby staff. This gate will only be accessible in the morning by our SDC students, but will beopen to everyone at dismissal

● If your child is walking or biking, please use the middle school gate, the Minden Gate or theHeron Park Gate. Reserve the Banfield Gate for car drop-off/pick up.

● If picking up in your car, please put the blue placard in the dashboard and stay in yourvehicle. We will get kids into cars as quickly as possible once you get up near the flag pole.

● If you are waiting outside to pick up your child, please must a mask and practice socialdistancing

● Please do not cross the parking lot if you are walking with your child (or worse, have yourchild cross the parking lot to meet you on the street!) The crosswalks on either side of theparking lot must be used

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me at awhitten@natomasunified.org. Iknow there is a lot of new information, and I am happy to help! You may also find our Link to FAQsfrom Special Edition Principal Coffee Chat helpful.

Recorded Information Session on Larry G. Meeks Virtual AcademyIf you are interested in learning more about NUSD’s new Virtual Academy, but were unable toattend the information session, you can find the link to the recorded session here.

Heron School COVID-19 Safety Protocols and ProceduresI highlighted many of our COVID safety protocols in the parent letter that was sent out last week, but Iwanted to make sure you were all aware that our full COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Procedures andcorresponding video are available in our Digital Backpack. You can find the full document here:https://natomasunified.org/covid-19-general-information/covid-safety-procedures-guideline-school-site-plans

Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council UpdateWe have 3 parents, Beth Mahony, Theresa Gallagher, and Meredith Smith, who serve as Heron’srepresentatives on the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council. They meet with Superintendent Chris Evansand other members of the Chief Academic Office to receive district updates and provide parent input. They

wanted to have a way to share the important information they receive with all of our families, so eachmonth, we will send out an update from these parents, just to help keep you informed. Here are their notesfrom the most recent meeting.

Superintendent’s Parent Advisory CouncilMeeting UpdateMay 19, 2021

At this month’s meeting, the district presented information on the following topics:

1. AR 0100: Administrative Regulations - Theory of Actions for Student Success

Newly adopted regulations which outline a plan of action for NUSD to continue and expand its focus ondiversity (of students, families, and staff) in the district, with the goal of improving representation so that students“see themselves” in what they are learning. Although not a comprehensive list, some of the areas of focus willinclude:

-Professional Development focused in Trauma Informed Practices (as we recover from the pandemic)-Anti-Racist/Anti-Bias Training and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Classroom Management-Restorative Practices-development of an Ethnic Studies Course at the high school level-development of a culturally responsive literacy plan with investments in diverse supplemental materials-a promise to engage parents and students to represent diversity within NUSD

2. LCAP (Local Control & Accountability Plan)NUSD is seeking feedback on the draft of the 2021-2024 LCAP. All stakeholders are invited to provide

feedback until the deadline of June 7, 2021. Please click here to read and give feedback:https://natomasunified.org/seeking-feedback-on-draft-2021-2024-local-control-accountability-plan/

3. Budget UpdateThe district has approximately $27 million in Federal Pandemic Response Funds to be used for the 2021-22

and 2022-23 school years. Since these are one-time funds, NUSD is being very strategic about how funds areallocated to make sure they are not used for ongoing expenses. Items that will be covered with these fundsinclude:

-Technology: continued refreshes of chromebooks and hotspots for students and staff-Physical Health and Social Emotional Support: including items like continued COVID testing, mobile

health clinics, and health fairs-Mental Health Services-Continuation of the Virtual Tutoring and Wellness Center-Funding for the 18 Month Learning Recovery Plan including extended summer programs-Funding for newly passed Administrative Regulations (see above)-one-time funds for the start up of the new Cosmetology CTE Pathway (coming in 2022)-funding for extra staff to support 18 Month Learning Recovery, including Teachers on Special Assignment,

Social Workers, and IT techs

NUSD Bullying Prevention Newsletters for Families

NUSD provides a bi-monthly Bullying Prevention newsletter in order to provide an ongoing support forbullying prevention topics and resources. Please click on the link below to check out the 6-12 SecondaryVersion and the K-5 Elementary Version

Bullying Prevention Newsletter (V1, Issue 6) (Secondary Version)

Bullying Prevention Newsletter (V1, Issue 8)

Free COVID-19 Testing on TuesdaysCOVID-19 Community Testing is now available for NUSD staff, students, and families on Tuesdays, nowthrough December. Sign-up in advance for a speedy check-in! Walk-ins accepted.

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.[Lunch break: 1 - 2 p.m.]

Click here to schedule an appointment. For additional testing sites throughout Sacramento County, clickhere.

Heron 5-Day Elementary Schedule (Effective 4/12/21)

8:00-8:15 AM Student Arrival on Campus- Report to Classrooms

8:15-10:00 AM Concurrent Instruction (In-person and At-Home Learners)

10:00-10:20 AM 20 Min. Snack/Second Breakfast Recess Break (Times will be staggered by grade level)

10:20-11:50 Concurrent Instruction

11:50-12:10 20 Minute Recess (Times will be staggered by grade level)

12:10-1:00 1st-6th Concurrent InstructionTK/Kinder: Distance Learning Independent Work with Support From Teacher

● Teachers may spend more time here with in-person students and be available when practicalto assist distance learning students on Zoom

1:00 Student Dismissal; Grab and Go Lunch

1:00-1:35 Teacher Lunch

1:35-2:08 TK/Kinder Teacher Prep

1:35-2:25 1st-6th Grade Teacher Prep

2:25-2:55 Voluntary Paid Office Hours

Heron 5-Day Middle School Schedule (Effective 4/12/21)

8:00-8:05 AM Student Arrival on Campus-Report to Classrooms

8:05-8:50 Period 1

8:55-9:40 Period 2

9:45-10:30 Period 3

10:35-11:20 Period 4

11:20-11:55 Lunch

12:00-12:45 Period 5

12:50-1:35 Period 6

1:35-2:35 Teacher Office Hours, Small group learning, and Individualized support