August 13, 2021
Dear Dunham Families,
I am very excited to welcome everyone to the 2021-2022 school year! I hope everyone enjoyed their summer break and was able to recharge and make some special memories. It’s hard to imagine that it has been almost seventeen months since we have been able to have all of our students back full time.
It is my pleasure to serve as the Superintendent/Principal for our Dunham Community. While we continue to navigate our way through the COVID-19 pandemic we are extremely excited to begin the school year, taking steps towards normalcy.
We do anticipate that there will be changes to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines throughout the year, and we will communicate pertinent health, safety, and educational updates to our families as we receive them. On this note, I am happy to share with you the most recent update. At morning drop off, parents are welcome to walk their student(s) to their classroom doors. Unfortunately, it is only to the door but this is an upgrade from not being able to get out of the car. We have been instructed by the County Health Department to not have parents stay or linger on campus at drop off. We anticipate drop off and pick up to be closer to “normal” besides these few things.
I am happy to share that this school year, we will be able to offer a free daily lunch for each student. This is exciting news! Each morning teachers will ask their students who is ordering lunch for that day. I have been asked questions about how lunch time will work. We have limited outdoor seating, so lunch for most will be in our Community Room. The new guidelines do not specify a specific amount of space while eating indoors but recommend as much spacing as possible. Dunham plans to increase our spacing as well as ensuring increased ventilation during lunch.
Dunham will not be doing health screening as students come onto campus in the morning, but we ask you to do health screenings at home. If anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, or your child(ren) has symptom(s), do not send them to school. Please make arrangements to keep them home and call the school office. Teachers and staff will be monitoring student health symptoms to protect the class and school community. A daily health screening checklist is attached below.
Also, attached below, you will find the most recent update from the State and County for school COVID-19 scenarios and the most current quarantine protocols, please look them over.
We are off to a great start. Our office staff has been working diligently to prepare for the upcoming year and our custodian has spent the summer meticulously cleaning our classrooms and shared spaces. We have had several summer construction projects that are nearing completion that have brought wonderful improvements to our beautiful campus. I have been impressed with the passion and commitment of our staff as they plan and prepare for your child(ren).
Together, our Dunham Community continues to remain flexible and resilient and I know we will keep moving forward. On behalf of our School Board, teachers, and support staff who serve our students here in the Dunham School District, we look forward to working with you throughout the year to ensure the success of all of our students.
Sincerely,
Daniel Hoffman
Superintendent / Principal
Dunham Elementary School
Click To View: Daily Health Screening Checklist
Click To View: Updated COVID-19 School Scenarios and Quarantine Protocols
