PSD Update  August 13th, 2021

Dear Families,
 

Our first day of school is Wednesday, August 18, 2021.  We are looking forward to seeing your children next week. We have many plans in place at our school sites.  I am writing today in order to highlight some of the steps of our return to school plan.  The Return to School Plan can be found on the front page of our website at pacificasd.org.
 

The new information is this week we decided to do weekly testing of students through a pooled PCR testing process.  With a full return to school and an increasing concern about the Delta variant, testing will offer a consistent data point for schools and families.  As we quickly add this layer, parents will be provided a link to complete a form online, in order to  provide consent shortly after school starts.  (If parents do not consent to the testing, their children will not be tested.)
 

It is important to remind everyone about our 7 layers of safety.  Vaccinations for adults and students that are at least 12 years old will provide the greatest layer of safety.  Masks will be worn inside and in crowded outdoor areas.  We are changing the MERV 13 filters in our HVAC systems which are set to pull in 90 percent air from outside. Handwashing, staying home when sick, testing and contact tracing provide layers of protection for students and staff.
 

Our school plan is listed on the front page of our website (It will be updated soon to include the pooled PCR testing).   There is also information and a link for our Home School Independent Study for those not yet ready to return to in-person instruction. The Independent Study option has a deadline of Sunday, August 15th to complete the intent to participate.  (We understand that students with an IEP, requests for independent study must be discussed and considered with the student’s IEP team but please complete the intent to enroll by Sunday evening at 11:59 pm.) 
 

There is no longer a requirement for a daily health screening for parents to complete.  Parents are asked to monitor for the common symptoms of COVID-19 listed on page 6 of the plan. Please do not send a child exhibiting any symptoms of an illness to school.  If there is a COVID-19 exposure at school, the District will follow the flow chart on page 8.  There is a different response based on vaccinations.  For unvaccinated close contacts who do not have symptoms, students may remain in school if the conditions of modified quarantine are fulfilled.  
 

We are pleased that free breakfasts and lunches will continue this school year. All students may receive a free breakfast and free lunch each day.  We will eat outside to the greatest extent possible. 
 

If you have not yet done so, please consider opting into receiving text messages through our School Messenger system.  This will only be used if the information is urgent or a true emergency.
 

We have a lot of things that we are excited about this year (including Outdoor Ed for 5th and 6th graders). Look for messages from your principals and schools. We are very excited about the opening of school!
 

Do you need new sneakers for the new school year?  
 

Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is excited to announce a new local business partnership with Sports Basements.  Sports Basement is offering two special promotions for PEF members:
 

1. Sports Basement one-time membership fee of $25 waived to receive 10% off purchases!  PEF members can get this fee waived if they go to the Stonestown, San Francisco location, show your PEF membership card and the attached flyer (electronically or printed), sign up to be a Basementeer, and get 10% off of all purchases at any Sports Basement locations indefinitely.
    
2. Special Back-to-School Promotion at the Stonestown location of 20% off purchases!  From 8/13/2021 through 8/27/2021, PEF members can get an additional 20% of all purchases.  Combined with the 10% discount as a Basementeer (see #1 above), this means that you can get a total discount of 28% off of all things Sports Basement!  You’ll need to show them your PEF membership card and the attached flyer (electronically or printed).
    

If you are not a PEF member and want to be one, you can sign up right now at https://www.pacificaef.org/membership.  You can use the email with your temporary PEF membership card to access both Sports Basement promotions.
 

PEF Sports Basement Promotional Flyer 2021
 

Warm Regards,

Heather Olsen
Superintendent of Pacifica School District