VCOE: Schools to Prioritize Safety Upon Return from Winter Break

Distance Learning Not Currently Permitted by State

As Ventura County students prepare to return from winter break amid increasing COVID-19 cases in the community, local school leaders are taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of students and employees.

While some colleges and universities have announced plans to revert to distance learning temporarily, this is not an option for Pre-K-12 schools. The State of California does not currently permit Pre-K-12 schools to offer distance learning and expects all schools to keep their doors open for in-person instruction. Schools do provide an independent study option that allows students to learn from home. But unlike distance learning, it must be requested individually by families and is not intended to serve large numbers of students.

“The Ventura County Office of Education is continuing to work closely with Ventura County Public Health and our local school districts to ensure the safety of students and staff,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “A major effort is underway to expand optional COVID-19 testing for students so we can reduce the chances of the virus spreading at school. Many school districts have been working diligently during the winter break to distribute home test kits to families, and we expect a greater supply of kits to be available soon.” Free testing is also available at locations throughout Ventura County: https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/coronavirus-testing

In addition to expanded testing, local schools are taking a variety of other safety measures. These include enhanced ventilation, mandatory indoor masking, and teaching outside when possible. Ventura County’s increasing vaccination rate and the high percentage of school employees who have been fully vaccinated provide another layer of protection.

Families can help by ensuring that their students are vaccinated, testing children for COVID-19 if they may have been exposed or are presenting symptoms, and keeping them home when they are ill. The COVID-19 vaccine has been proven safe and effective and is currently available at no charge for children five and older. The COVID-19 booster is now available for everyone 16 years old or older and may be approved for younger kids in the near future. Information about where to get vaccinated in Ventura County is available at https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information.

About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.

An Important Welcome Back Message From Superintendent Schieferle [English/Spanish]

December 30, 2021

Dear FUSD Staff and Families,

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were spent surrounded by family, friends and loved ones. This holiday season is an opportunity to pause and reflect on what we are thankful for in our lives. Personally, I am grateful for my health, family and for the opportunity to lead our wonderful school district. I am thankful for our passionate educators, dedicated support staff, and for our administrative team for their continued leadership. Above all, I am grateful for our resilient students and supportive families. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we continue to adapt to these constantly changing times.

As we prepare to return to school on January 3, 2022, we must be extra vigilant in doing our part to keep ourselves and those around us safe. Here’s what each of us can do to limit the spread of COVID-19 and support healthy and safe schools:

✓  If your child has been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, please keep your child home, and notify the school. A district nurse will provide direction on necessary protocols.

✓  All staff and students are required to prescreen at home each day using the FUSD COVID-19 Daily Self-Screening Tool. If staff or students have any COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home, and notify the school. The prescreening tool can be found on the FUSD website. https://www.fillmoreusd.org/apps/news/article/1479086

✓  As required by public health mandate, all students and staff are required to wear a mask while indoors. We encourage students and staff to wear a mask outdoors when in crowded spaces, however it is optional at this time.

✓  We highly encourage all families to test their child for COVID-19 prior to returning to school. Testing is not required, but we have found that early detection is vital to preventing the spread within our schools.

•   The Fillmore Middle School Testing site is open from 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Monday to Saturday. This testing site is not operated by FUSD.

•   Additional testing sites can be found at the California for All website at Https://covid19.ca.gov/ and the “Find Testing Near You” link, where you can search by address, city, county, or ZIP code for a testing site.

✓  Beginning January 10th, additional testing sites will be made available to staff, students, and the community at FUSD campuses.

•    Mobile PCR testing will be available at all elementary sites on the following days:

•  Rio Vista School- Mondays, 1:00-3:15 p.m.

•  San Cayetano School-Wednesdays, 1:00-3:15 p.m.

•  Mountain Vista School- Fridays, 1:00-3:15 p.m.

•  Piru School- Tuesdays, 2:00-3:15 p.m.

•   A PCR Testing Kiosk will be permanently housed at the Fillmore High School stadium parking lot Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

✓  We also anticipate receiving supplemental at-home testing kits provided by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) during the week of January 10th. We will provide more information as we receive.

✓  When possible, get the COVID-19 vaccine or booster if you haven’t done so. The vaccine is now available for everyone five and older.

I am grateful for all that we have accomplished together. We will continue to improve our services and offer additional academic and mental health supports for our students and families this school year. I ask that we continue to work together, be solution oriented, and communicate with one another to continue to move our district forward. Our students are counting on us!

Respectfully,
Christine Schieferle,
Superintendent

***

30 de diciembre de 2021

Estimados miembros del personal y las familias del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Fillmore:

¡Feliz año nuevo! Espero que hayan pasado sus vacaciones rodeado de familiares, amigos y seres queridos. Esta temporada navideña es una oportunidad para hacer una pausa y reflexionar sobre aquello por lo que estamos agradecidos en nuestras vidas. Personalmente, estoy agradecida por mi salud, mi familia y por la oportunidad de liderar nuestro maravilloso distrito escolar. Estoy agradecida por nuestros educadores apasionados, personal de apoyo dedicado y por nuestro equipo administrativo por su liderazgo continuo. Sobre todo, estoy agradecida por nuestros estudiantes resilientes y familias comprensivas. Gracias por su paciencia y flexibilidad mientras seguimos adaptándonos a estos tiempos en constante cambio.

Mientras nos preparamos para regresar a la escuela el 3 de enero de 2022, debemos estar más atentos al hacer nuestra parte para mantenernos seguros a nosotros mismos y a quienes nos rodean. Esto es lo que cada uno de nosotros puede hacer para limitar la propagación de COVID-19 y apoyar escuelas saludables y seguras:

✓    Si su hijo/hija ha estado expuesto a una persona que dio positivo en la prueba de COVID-19, mantenga a su hijo/hija en casa y notifique a la escuela. Una enfermera del distrito proporcionará orientación sobre los protocolos necesarios.

✓  Se requiere que todo el personal y los estudiantes realicen una evaluación previa en casa todos los días utilizando el cuestionario de salud para la autoevaluación diaria COVID-19 del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Fillmore. Si el personal o los estudiantes tienen algún síntoma de COVID-19, quédese en casa y notifique a la escuela. El cuestionario de salud de preselección se puede encontrar en el sitio web del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Fillmore. https://www.fillmoreusd.org/apps/news/article/1479086

✓   Como lo requiere el mandato de salud pública, todos los estudiantes y el personal deben usar una máscara cuando estén adentro. Animamos a los estudiantes y al personal a usar una máscara al aire libre cuando estén en espacios llenos de gente, sin embargo, es opcional en este momento.

✓    Animamos a todas las familias a que examinen a sus hijos/hijas para detectar COVID-19 antes de regresar a la escuela. No se requieren pruebas, pero hemos descubierto que la detección temprana es vital para prevenir la propagación dentro de nuestras escuelas.

•   El sitio de pruebas de la escuela intermedia Fillmore está abierto de 12:00 pm a 8:00 pm, de lunes a sábado. Este sitio de prueba no es operado por el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Fillmore.

•   Se pueden encontrar sitios de pruebas adicionales en el sitio web California for All en Https://covid19.ca.gov/ y en el enlace "Find Testing Near You", donde puede buscar por dirección, ciudad, condado o código postal para un sitio de prueba.

✓  A partir del 10 de enero, se pondrán a disposición del personal, los estudiantes y la comunidad sitios de pruebas adicionales en las escuelas del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Fillmore.

•   La prueba de PCR móvil estará disponible en todos los sitios de primaria en los siguientes días:

•  Escuela Rio Vista- lunes, 1:00-3:15 p.m.

•  Escuela San Cayetano-miércoles, 1:00-3:15 p.m.

•  Escuela Mountain Vista: viernes, 1:00-3:15 p.m.

•  Escuela Piru: martes, 2:00-3:15 p.m.

•   Un quiosco de pruebas de PCR estará alojado permanentemente en el estacionamiento del estadio de Fillmore High School de lunes a viernes de 10:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m.

✓  También anticipamos recibir pruebas caseras suplementarias en el hogar proporcionados por el Departamento de Salud Pública de California (CDPH) durante la semana del 10 de enero. Proporcionaremos más información a medida que la recibamos.

✓  Cuando sea posible, obtenga la vacuna COVID-19 o un refuerzo si no lo ha hecho. La vacuna ahora está disponible para todas las personas mayores de cinco años.

Estoy agradecida por todo lo que hemos logrado juntos. Continuaremos mejorando nuestros servicios y ofreciendo apoyos académicos y de salud mental adicionales para nuestros estudiantes y familias este año escolar. Les pido que sigamos trabajando juntos, que estemos orientados a las soluciones y que nos comuniquemos entre nosotros para seguir haciendo que nuestro distrito avance. ¡Nuestros estudiantes cuentan con nosotros!

Respetuosamente,

Christine Schieferle,
Superintendente 

We are so proud of our Warriors!!

Today marked the last day of the second quarter here at Sierra. We are so proud of our Warriors. Each student brings their own story to us and allows us a chance to be a part of it. It is a privilege to serve our students and clear a path to success for them to take charge of. Today we celebrated our students many successes. We have mixed feelings about our students who are returning to FHS in January. To those 23 determined students we say:

We are proud of your accomplishments and sad to see you leave our family. You will "Always be a Warrior, and are also Forever a Flash!"

Important Message From Superientendent Schieferle

Dear FUSD Community,

We are aware of rumors circulating on social media, specifically TikTok, threatening violence at schools nationwide on December 17. While these threats are unsubstantiated and do not mention Fillmore Unified Schools nor any Ventura County schools, FUSD is taking extra safety measures around our campuses tomorrow, December 17. Ensuring that schools are safe places for students and staff to learn and grow will remain the top priority. We have a strong partnership with our local police department and are working together to ensure increased police presence in and around our school campuses tomorrow. We also have counselors at each of our school sites available for students who would like to speak to someone.

Despite the recent increase in inappropriate social media activity across the country, we are grateful that the vast majority of students do the right thing every day. We ask that families continue to talk with their children and emphasize the key points below.

  • Schools take every threat seriously, and schools are safe places.

  • It is essential that students do not re-post items like this as it creates a cycle of fear and complicates the investigation.

  • Students may face possible suspension and/or expulsion for making threats, along with potential legal consequences.

Sharing this information is not meant to frighten our families but rather to keep you informed and to work together as a community to keep our students safe and to keep the lines of communication open. Students who see or hear anything concerning during school hours should report it to a school staff member. Anyone who obtains information after hours should notify local law enforcement.

Thank you,
Christine Schieferle, Superintendent
Fillmore Unified School District

Grab and Go Meals for ALL Children 18 years and younger [English/Spanish]

Grab and Go Meals for ALL Children 18 years and younger

Pick up Monday from 10:00 am -12:00 pm

Monday, December 20 & Monday, December 27

Meals will include 5 days of breakfast, lunch and supper to take home.

Students will only be able to visit any one school and receive one 5-day meal kit per child per week.

Pick up sites are:

Fillmore Middle School OR Piru Elementary School

Please support the child nutrition program in our schools by participating.

Comida de “Agarrar y Llevar” para TODOS los niños menores de 18 años

Se podrán recoger los lunes de 10:00 am -12:00 pm

Lunes 20 de Diciembre y Lunes 27 de Diciembre

Las comidas incluirán 5 días de desayuno, almuerzo, y cena que se pueden llevar a casa.

Los estudiantes solo podrán visitar una escuela y recibir una bolsa de comida por niño por semana.

Los sitios de recoger son:

Fillmore Middle School O Piru Elementary

Por favor apoye el programa de nutrición infantil en nuestras escuelas con su participación.

Our students deserve to have a beautiful campus!

Our Warriors now have some fancy new tables and chairs to enjoy as they eat lunch together. They reported that the chairs are comfortable and the tables are the perfect size. Our students deserve to have a beautiful campus! More great things to come this school year! (ps. Notice these California kids thinking its a cold day and shivering when it is 65 degrees out! We are spoiled here in Fillmore!)

SHS Warriors volunteered to assist at our Heritage Valley Independent Studies Holiday Card Extravaganza!

Yesterday our SHS Warriors volunteered to assist at our Heritage Valley Independent Studies Holiday Card Extravaganza! HVIS students made cards for the Greenfield Care Center for Seniors. The joy and compassion in the air could be felt by all! Our school community is a family that lifts and supports each other and this great town we call home!

Responding to Social Media Threats and Bullying

Dear FUSD Community,

Please see the message below from Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Cesar Morales regarding social media threats and bullying across Ventura County.

We ask all families to have conversations with their children regarding social media use and report any inappropriate activity to school personnel. The safety of our staff and students are our number one priority and we take all threats and bullying incidents seriously. Additionally, when we are made aware of any inappropriate social media sties, we immediately notify the social media platform administrators and law enforcement, as appropriate. We are also very fortunate to have counselors at all our school sites and a new Wellness Center with a licensed social worker at Fillmore High School. Let’s continue to work together, build relationships, and strengthen our school environments so students feel safe, cared for, and supported.

Thank you,
Christine Schieferle, Superintendent

Responding to Social Media Threats and Bullying

Across the country and here in Ventura County, schools are seeing a concerning increase in students making inappropriate and potentially dangerous posts to social media, particularly on Instagram. These posts have included threats of violence and embarrassing pictures of students and staff members who didn’t know they were being photographed. In some cases, students create accounts that fraudulently appear to represent their school.

Just yesterday, a social media threat created a significant disturbance at Oxnard High School and led to the suspension and arrest of the student suspected of posting it. With help from the Oxnard Police Department, the Oxnard Union High School District determined the threat was not credible. However, the disruption it created for students, staff and families is very real, as are the consequences students can face when they are caught engaging in inappropriate social media activity.

“Students need to understand that posting threatening and harassing material to social media is no joke,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “I urge all parents to talk to their children about this issue and explain that inappropriate online behavior can have serious consequences in the real world. Working together, educators and families can help ensure that schools are safe and supportive places for students to learn and grow.”

Schools do report inappropriate and fraudulent accounts to the social media platforms, but there is often a delay before they are taken down, and sometimes they are not removed at all. Here are some steps that parents, guardians and caregivers can take to help address this problem:

Be aware of your child’s online activity; they may have multiple accounts on the same platform.

Remind students that while they may feel anonymous online, their identity can be revealed through technological means and if other students report them.

Let students know that they should inform a trusted adult if they’re aware of inappropriate social media activity.

You can find additional tips on talking to students about social media from Common Sense Media at www.commonsensemedia.org/social-media.

It’s also important for families to be aware of their school and district’s authorized social media sites. The Ventura County Office of Education has created a list of the official social media accounts for all of the county’s 20 school districts, which is available at www.vcoe.org/vc-districts.

Link to Ventura County Office of Education Press Release https://www.vcoe.org/news/ArticleID/4976/Responding-to-Social-Media-Threats-and-Bullying

Our thoughtful student's planned a surprise birthday party for Mr. Chavez all on their own

Our thoughtful student's planned a surprise birthday party for Mr. Chavez all on their own. If you could only hear their giggling as they snuck in the piñata and balloons you would know that they had a great time coordinating this for one of their 4 favorite teachers. Mr. Chavez brings life to our literature and law courses.

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Fillmore Unified School District Families,

On behalf of Fillmore Unified School District, we wish all of our students and families a Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful to have our staff and students back to school in-person and for the support of our wonderful community.

We hope your Thanksgiving break is filled with family, friends and loved ones.

With gratitude,
Christine Schieferle, Superintendent