
April 9, 2021 - The following information was sent to parents via email and phone dialer.
Dear GUHSD Parents/Guardians:
Today we are providing you with the following updates:
- COVID-19 DATA FROM MCDPH
- GUHSD GRADUATION INFORMATION
- SUMMER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
COVID-19 DATA FROM MCDPH FOR THE GUHSD COMMUNITY
Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) released updated data on April 8.
Cases per 100k people decreased from 60.43 to 57.89. The percent positive numbers increased from 6.97% to 7.54%.
It is important to continue following the mitigation measures in place. Wearing masks, staying home when sick, and following all the other recommendations will help us maintain in-person operations, keep cases low, and our community safe.
School Reopening Dashboard & Guidance
GUHSD GRADUATION INFORMATION
As previously announced, we are pleased to have the opportunity to hold in-person graduations at the Gila River Arena in May.
It is important to note that one of the contingencies of the agreement to hold our graduations at Gila River Arena is the possibility of having to change one of the graduation dates, should the AZ Coyotes hockey team make the NHL playoffs and have a game scheduled on either of our two graduation dates (see details below):
Monday, May 24th, 2021*
Apollo – Graduation 10:00 a.m.
Thunderbird – Graduation 12:30 p.m.
Glendale– Graduation 3:00 p.m.
Washington - Graduation 5:30 p.m.
Independence - Graduation 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 25th, 2021*
Cortez – Graduation 10:00 a.m.
Moon Valley– Graduation 12:30 p.m.
Greenway – Graduation 3:00 p.m.
Sunnyslope - Graduation 5:30 p.m.
*In the event of a scheduled NHL Playoff game at Gila River Arena on either May 24th or May 25th, the schools listed on that date will be required to move their graduation to Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
UPDATE: On May 8th we will know if the Coyotes make the playoffs.
We will update parents/guardians of the exact graduation dates/schedule on May 10.
There is additional information we would like to share with you now, as we continue preparing for our in-person graduation ceremonies:
- Per Gila River Arena, all students, staff, family members, and guests of the Arena will be required to wear a mask. Anyone that arrives without a mask will not be allowed entry into the venue.
- Per Gila River Arena, all attendees will be required to go through a security magnetometer. No handbags or purses will be allowed. (Bags for medical needs are allowed, but will be searched. Diaper bags smaller than 12 x 12 are allowed, but will be searched.)
- Per Gila River Arena, no balloons, noisemakers, or wrapped gifts will be allowed inside Gila River Arena.
- Per Gila River Arena, all guests agree to comply with the venue’s ejection policy. Those who refuse to abide by the venue’s health and safety protocols, including the required mask policy, will be ejected from the arena.
- Per Gila River Arena, a $10 parking fee will be assessed per vehicle. To offset this cost charged by the arena, GUHSD will be distributing graduation tickets to our graduates, free of charge.
- Schools will be distributing tickets to each graduate.
Additional information related to graduation will be provided to you by your teen’s school.
SUMMER ACADEMY OPPORTUNITIES
We are happy to announce that we are expanding our summer learning opportunities for students in grades 6-12. Not only will we offer classes to keep students on track to graduate, but we will also offer a number of engaging programs to expand learning and knowledge.
Free academic classes like Project SHARP, High School Prep, Honors Algebra 1, and Honors Geometry will be open to current eighth-graders. These classes are designed to prepare students for that important next step as they begin their high school careers.
Free summer camps will be available to current sixth and seventh graders. Programs like culinary, coding, engineering, fire science, sports, art, short stories, theatre, and music are among the camps we will offer.
More information, including a link for registration, will be forthcoming soon.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
As always, we remain committed to ensuring all students finish the year strong. Please feel free to contact our schools with any questions, concerns, or needs.
March 25, 2021 - The following information was sent to parents via email and phone dialer.
Dear GUHSD Parents/Guardians:
It has been great to welcome students back to campus. Students have done an amazing job transitioning back to in-person learning and we are so proud of them.
Today we are providing you with the following updates:
- COVID-19 DATA FROM MCDPH
- MASK MANDATE
- FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS
- COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
COVID-19 DATA FROM MCDPH FOR THE GUHSD COMMUNITY
Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) released updated data today, March 25.
The most recent numbers continue to decline for the GUHSD community. Cases per 100k people decreased from 64.10 to 42.36 and the percent positivity numbers decreased from 7.42% to 6.15%.
Source: School Reopening Dashboard & Guidance
MASK MANDATE
It is important to note that Governor Ducey's recent announcement relaxing COVID-19 restrictions for businesses does not affect schools.
AZDHS Emergency Measure 2020-04 is still in effect, requiring masks in all K-12 schools. Masking is one of the top mitigation strategies for safe in-person learning as recommended by the CDC.
PLEASE NOTE: Masks must be worn on school campuses, on school buses, and during school activities by all students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
In addition to masks, we will continue utilizing all GUHSD mitigation measures.
FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS
GUHSD continues to provide FREE breakfast and lunch for ALL students.
Breakfast and lunch are available daily at all our schools and will continue to be free for the remainder of the school year. Please contact your school’s cafeteria for more information.
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS 16 AND OLDER
Registration at Arizona’s state-operated COVID-19 vaccination sites in Maricopa county opened to all Arizonans 16 and older on Wednesday.
For more information about the vaccine, including how to make an appointment, visit azhealth.gov/findvaccine or call 1-844-542-8201.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
We want to thank you all - our incredible students, families, and faculty/staff - for your partnership and consistent adherence to the mitigation strategies. This has helped to make our transition to in-person learning smooth and successful.
We remain committed to ensuring all students finish the year strong. Please feel free to contact your school with any questions, concerns, or needs.
March 12, 2021 - The following information was sent to parents via email and phone dialer.
Dear GUHSD Parents/Guardians:
Today, we are providing updates for the following:
- COVID-19 DATA FROM MCDPH
- A RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING ON MARCH 22
- REMOTE LEARNING FROM HOME
COVID-19 DATA FROM MCDPH FOR THE GUHSD COMMUNITY
Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) released updated data on March 11. You will notice that the information the county is now sharing has been modified to only include the cases per 100k people and percent positivity numbers.
The numbers continue to decline in both categories. For the GUHSD community, cases per 100k people decreased from 85.28% to 76.24% and the percent positive numbers decreased from 9.64% to 7.6%.
School Reopening Dashboard & Guidance
A RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING ON MARCH 22
GUHSD is excited to welcome students back on campus beginning March 22, 2021. Below are links to the updated in-person learning information:
REMOTE LEARNING FROM HOME
Parents/guardians who are not yet comfortable with a return to in-person learning will be able to request that their teen(s) continue learning remotely from home.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Next week is Spring Break for our schools (March 15-19). We hope you have a safe and relaxing break, and we look forward to seeing everyone when we return to in-person learning on Monday, March 22.
March 5, 2021 - The following information was sent to parents via email and phone dialer.
Dear GUHSD Parents/Guardians:
Today, we are providing updates for the following:
- COVID-19 DATA UPDATE FROM MCDPH
- A RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING ON MARCH 22
- REMOTE LEARNING FROM HOME
- GRADUATION
COVID-19 DATA UPDATE FROM MCDPH
Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) was prepared to release a new data dashboard reflective of the Centers for Disease Control community transmission levels. However, due to the changes in the data time period included in the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) school dashboard and in light of the Governor’s Executive Order issued on March 3rd, the map and corresponding reports we have shared each week were not updated.
MCDPH does plan to update the school dashboard and web page content to align with that of ADHS soon.
More information regarding this announcement can be found here: School Reopening Dashboard & Guidance
A RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING ON MARCH 22
As announced last week, GUHSD will be welcoming students back to campus on March 22, 2021. Below are important reminders for the transition back to in-person learning.
- Beginning March 22, students will be following this bell schedule.
- Students will attend school five days per week.
- Classes will begin each day at 8:30 a.m.
- Wednesdays will still remain an early release day.
Note: Classes will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
- Students, as well as faculty/staff, will be required to wear a mask while on campus. Visitors will also be required to wear a mask while on campus.
- All mitigation strategies will be fully implemented and strictly enforced.
Over the next week, schools will be communicating additional details, such as safety protocol expectations, schedules, transportation, meal service, etc.
REMOTE LEARNING FROM HOME
Parents/guardians who are not yet comfortable with a return to in-person learning will be able to request that their teen continue learning remotely from home.
GRADUATION
We are pleased to announce that we will be having in-person graduations at the Gila River Arena. The venue is located at 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale, AZ.
As you know, the venue where we usually hold graduations is not hosting events at this time. We attempted to secure State Farm Stadium, as other districts have used it for graduation, but there were not any dates available for us.
There are only a few venues available that can hold a large crowd while complying with social distancing guidelines. We are pleased to be able to have such a venue available for the Class of 2021.
Although we were able to schedule graduations at Gila River Arena for the regularly scheduled graduation dates, there is a possibility that a graduation date could be moved from Monday or Tuesday to Wednesday.
It is important to note that one of the contingencies of the agreement to hold our graduations at Gila River Arena is the possibility of having to change one of the graduation dates, should the AZ Coyotes hockey team make the NHL playoffs and have a game scheduled on either of our two graduation dates (see details below).
We wanted to provide you with this information now so that you can plan accordingly. The following are the dates and times for graduation:
Monday, May 24th, 2021*
Apollo – Graduation 10:00 a.m.
Thunderbird – Graduation 12:30 p.m.
Glendale– Graduation 3:00 p.m.
Washington - Graduation 5:30 p.m.
Independence - Graduation 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 25th, 2021*
Cortez – Graduation 10:00 a.m.
Moon Valley– Graduation 12:30 p.m.
Greenway – Graduation 3:00 p.m.
Sunnyslope - Graduation 5:30 p.m.
*In the event of a scheduled NHL Playoff game at Gila River Arena on either May 24th or May 25th, the schools listed on that date will be required to move their graduation to Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
We look forward to closely working alongside students and families as we begin our transition back to in-person learning.
You will be receiving more information from your local school next week. Please reach out to your teen’s school if you have any needs at this time.
We will provide you another update next week.