Happy New Year and Welcome Back Ukiah Unified! I hope you were able to unplug and unwind over the holiday break. We all know how challenging 2020 has been for our children, and I want to thank everyone for the patience, love, and understanding we received during this time. I look forward to a successful and productive 2021. 

Over the break, I was inspired by a video produced by our superb Ukiah High School Jazz Ensemble. Students individually recorded their musical parts and provided selfies with personal holiday messages. UHS Instrumental Music Teacher Audrey McCombs mixed them together for a fantastic recording of the holiday classic Silver Bells. The music is lovely, and the students wrote personal messages about things they are thankful for, many of them highlighting family members, teachers, and music. It was heart-warming to see so many students thankful for our teachers. Watch and listen as the UHS Jazz Ensemble performs Silver Bells! 

Although COVID numbers continue to be in a surge, we continue to plan to open to in-person instruction as soon as conditions allow us to do so safely.  I am happy to report that education staff is in the next vaccination tier for California.  Vaccinating our staff will help move us toward reopening.  Next week, I will do a comprehensive update on where things stand with our reopening. 

Counseling and Social-Emotional Support:  Please reach out if your child needs support. For children in our Ukiah Unified schools, please call your child’s school or e-mail the school counselors for help. You can always view our Social-Emotional and Mental Health Resources here. If you are experiencing a crisis, contact the Mendocino County Crisis Hotline at 855-838-0404, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

UUSD COVID Response Website: Visit our website for extensive information about our eventual return to In-Person Instruction. This site is updated as conditions, guidance, and plans change. View the site here: https://sites.google.com/uusd.net/uusdcovidresponse/

UUSD Health & Safety Guidebook: Check out our guidebook to learn about health and safety protocols for our eventual return to In-Person Instruction.  View the guidebook here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cOo_yS7pBZPxYt-bc-JG4tG5vGqy_0OQ/view?usp=sharing

Please continue to get information from official UUSD channels like my weekly communications, at www.uusd.net. Thank you so much for your patience, love, and understanding as we start 2021!