Message from Dr. Garcia » Dr. Garcia Message to Community Regarding 2021-2022 School Year (7/30/2021)

Dr. Garcia Message to Community Regarding 2021-2022 School Year (7/30/2021)

July 30, 2021
 
Dear EMCSD Community,
 
Welcome back! I am so excited to welcome you back to school in person! We are aware of the challenges these times have brought our community and have worked tirelessly throughout the summer to address the anticipated needs of our children - academically and emotionally. I have renewed hope and anticipation for El Monte City School District’s 2021-22 school year, and I would like to take this opportunity to share some of our plans with all of you.
 
When we safely reopened in Spring 2021, we felt so much joy seeing our students, families, and peers. Together, we proved that we could safely provide in-person instruction by following all the COVID-19 safety protocols. We will use the momentum of a successful Spring and Summer session when we welcome our students back to campus. The first day of school is Wednesday, August 25, 2021, and we will be returning full in-person instruction five days a week. Attached to this message, you will find our 2021-22 District Calendar.
 
In anticipation of the first day of school, The El Monte City School District is committed to the health and safety of our students, staff, and families. We will continue to follow the latest COVID-19 safety protocols outlined by the State and Los Angeles County for the 2021-2022 school year as we welcome back all of our students and staff. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released a K-12 COVID-19 School Guidance for the 2021-22 school year and features a Mask Mandate that outlines mask requirements on our campuses. These include:
 
  • K-12 students are required to mask indoors, with exemptions per CDPH face mask guidance.
  • Adults in K-12 school settings are required to mask when sharing indoor spaces with students.
  • Persons exempted from wearing a face-covering due to a medical condition must wear a nonrestrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it.
  • Face covering requirements are mandated for all school buses and any vehicle affiliated with the district used to transport students, staff, or teachers to and/or from a school site or school-related activity.

All of our classrooms have medical-grade “High-efficiency Particulate Air” (HEPA) dual filters and an ample supply of PPE and sanitation products. We are partnering with a health provider to provide asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for students and staff. More information on the safe reopening of the 2021-22 school year will be shared in the coming weeks. For current guidance from the California Department of Public Health, please click here or visit CDPH.ca.gov.

We will be offering an Independent Study Program for students who are unable to return to in-person instruction. If you would like information regarding our District’s Independent Study program, please call (626) 453-3741.
 
The El Monte City School District is proud of our effort to keep our community safe throughout this pandemic. We encourage everyone to follow all COVID safety guidelines and receive vaccinations if they are eligible. We have a COVID-19 vaccine clinic available today, July 30, for anyone ages 12 and up from 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Cortada School. No appointments are necessary, and the clinic is located by the staff parking lot at 3111 Potrero Ave, El Monte, CA 91733. For information on other available vaccine sites, click here or visit emcsd.org/COVIDVaccineResources/
 
We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer break, and we look forward to seeing everyone on August 25! I am confident that we will provide the BEST educational experience for our students that embodies the human spirit and prioritizes their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the District Office at (626) 453-3700.
 
Kind regards,
 
Dr. Maribel Garcia
Superintendent