As if everything around COVID-19 is not challenging enough, we started this school year with thunder, lightning, rain, power outages, a major gas leak, an earthquake, and fires all around us!  To say that our current situation is challenging would be a severe understatement. Our children have been handed a challenging situation. My heart goes out to our families and their children who have had to endure so much.

I traveled around the District in the first week to visit schools as they were handing out Chromebooks and materials. I was inspired by Nokomis Kindergarten Teacher Amber Walker’s Lemonade Stand! As new students arrived to pick up their back-to-school items in a way that no family has ever had to deal with before, they were greeted with a lemonade stand and the message that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade! How true this is! Our kids need all of us to pull together, provide stability during this uncertain time, and make lemonade out of these lemons we have been handed.  

Please reach out immediately if you need any help with Distance Learning. There is no question too small or insignificant; here is what you can do:

1. Contact your child’s teacher by phone, email, or through Google Classroom.
2. Contact your child’s school if you are unable to reach your child’s teacher.
3. Call our Distance Learning Hotline at 707-472-5003, and we will connect you with the right person or find the resources you need.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help with any social-emotional concerns. Call your child’s school, or e-mail the school counselors for support. You can find the contact information for counselors and schools at www.uusd.net under the Distance Learning tab. If you are experiencing a crisis, please call the Mendocino County Crisis Hotline at 855-838-0404, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

If any family is under quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19, please contact us for help. Ukiah Unified has bilingual Family Community Liaisons at each school to assist parents. Besides meals, learning, and social-emotional support, Liaisons can assist families under quarantine with many things, including access to local services and programs outside of Ukiah Unified schools. 

Thank you for helping us make the best of this tough situation for our children. Your positivity is appreciated! Thank you to our teachers who are working so hard to ensure our students are getting the best Distance learning experience possible. Thank you to our classified staff who have stepped up to take on new challenges with a smile and a can-do attitude. 

Thank you to our technology team for their hard work and dedication under challenging circumstances. Thank you to our maintenance, operations, and transportation staff for ensuring our campuses are ready to reopen safely. Four hundred gallons of hand sanitizer ready to go, 480 high-quality air purifiers, and hundreds of plexiglass barriers installed across the District are just a few of the spectacular preparations they have accomplished recently.

I want to give a massive shout out to the City of Ukiah, who stepped up again when we needed them by providing additional technical support to our students and staff. I appreciate them for always being a strong partner with us and supporting education in our community.

Ukiah Unified is here for your children and families during this uncertain time!  Speak up and let us know what you need to be successful with learning, or if you need social-emotional support. We’ve got your back. Contact your school or call our District Hotline at 707-472-5003 for help. Thank you for your kindness and positivity. Together we can inspire the children in our community and make a difference; let’s make lemonade for our kids!