First published in the Aug. 18 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
By Wendy Sinnette
Superintendent
La Cañada Unified School District
Welcome Back to the 2022-2023 school year! I hope you have enjoyed the summer break.
Each year the June through early August time frame seems to fast forward even more quickly than the last. Despite the quick pace of summer, I am so happy and excited to be beginning a positive and productive new school year together.
Our areas of focus for the 2022-2023 school year continue to be the delivery of robust and rigorous academics, partnered alongside programs and services to ensure that students and staff experience a positive sense of belongingness and wellness at their schools or workplaces.
The complexities of the last three years makes this dual charge a challenging one, but more important than ever.
In one way or another, it appears that everyone has experienced some impacts from the uptick
in COVID test positivity during the summer months. Thankfully, the last report from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (DPH) saw the numbers stabilize and actually decline,
preventing DPH from ordering an indoor mask mandate. But, it still underscores the fact that we have three main tools to help us stay healthy and COVID-free, i.e. masking, testing and being fully vaccinated and boosted. With that in mind, LCUSD strongly encourages indoor masking.
Also, LCUSD has required testing and test result attestations by all students and staff on Sunday (8/14) before the first day of school and on Monday (9/5) prior to the return from the Labor Day weekend. Two at-home COVID rapid antigen tests are being provided to each student
and staff member. All of our efforts in response to Covid this school year will be centered upon keeping students and staff in-school, teaching and learning.
The summer has been busy at the District Office and on our school campuses. The Human Resources Department hired over 26 new certificated staff members and, although still in process, they are working to fill over 30 classified positions. administrative staff new hires include Adam Almeida and Jennifer Nebor to LCHS as assistant principals, Amy Marcoullier to PCR in her new role as principal, and Melissa Greenwood — who joins cabinet as the assistant superintendent of business and operations. Please join me in welcoming all of our new and returning staff members.
Construction continues to reach milestones and scheduling deadlines at both PCR and LCHS.
The classrooms in the new buildings at PCR on the upper campus opened this school year and are state of the art. Modernization construction is currently underway for all of the other permanent classrooms. The South Campus redesign project at LCHS continues to progress, with the new pool and aquatics facility scheduled to open by mid-October at the latest.
Thank you for being an essential part of the LCUSD Community. I am grateful to you for your unique contributions that make LCUSD a learning community committed to personal growth and academic excellence. I feel infinitely fortunate to work alongside you and appreciate our efforts as a community to provide a world-class education to our students and a climate of care and belongingness for all those who are a part of the LCUSD community.
