District News

When new viruses surface, it is important to stay informed. Reports about the new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, have heightened awarenss about ways to avoid infection. Campbell Union School District and public health officials are closely monitoring developments.

Fortunately, many of the good health habits we use to prevent the spread of other communicable illnesses—flu, common cold, stomach virus—can also reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

To date, there are no confirmed cases in California, and there is low risk to Santa Clara County residents, unless they recently traveled to Wuhan or were in close contact with someone who was ill who recently traveled in that area. 

Recommended Precautions

As we do during every cold and flu season, we encourage everyone to take these common-sense precautions:

• Promote hand hygiene among students and staff through education, scheduled time for handwashing, and availability of soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Teach and encourage proper cough etiquette—cough or sneeze into a tissue, sleeve, or arm (do not use hands).
• Perform routine surface cleaning. (Our custodial staff cleans surfaces routinely.)
• Encourage students and staff to stay home when they are sick.
• Those who have a fever at school should go home and stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

In the unusual event that a child or staff member is identified who recently traveled from Wuhan, China and has symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath, he or she would be sent home and the school would contact the Public Health Department for additional guidance. The Public Health Department is monitoring the situation. They will advise us of any additional recommendations, which we will pass along to you. 

Monroe Middle School, together with Campbell Union School District and the Santa Clara County Office of Education, offers 8th graders the opportunity to earn the Pathway Award Towards the Seal of Biliteracy.

The Seal of Biliteracy takes the form of a seal that appears on the transcript or diploma of a graduating senior and is a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions. Our middle school students can earn the the Bilingual Pathway Award, recognizing significant steps towards developing biliteracy through their school years. 

A letter with more details went out in November. If your child is interested in earning the award, it is not too late. Please email pvelazquez [at] campbellusd.org (Mrs. Velazquez), cmcavoy [at] campbellusd.org (Ms. McAvoy), or dkilpatrick [at] campbellusd.org (Mrs. Kilpatrick) for details.

“Design thinking is an approach to teaching core academics that will develop our students’ skills as collaborative, innovative, self-directed, empathetic critical thinkers who can be successful in their yet-to-be-defined future,” says Shelly Viramontez, Superintendent of Campbell Union School District (CUSD).

Design thinking, a process for empathy-based creative problem-solving, is spreading to classrooms across the district. While it is a primary focus of the district’s new Campbell School of Innovation, more teachers in other schools also are using it. Over the past year, nearly 25% of the district’s more than 380 teachers have experienced the design thinking process and how to incorporate it into their lessons.  (See related story about first-grade teacher Megan Delaye.)

“Students are becoming more energized about owning their learning, and their teachers are seeing student achievement rise as they incorporate more of these relevant problem-solving projects into their instruction,” says Kami Thordardson, CUSD’s Director of Innovation & Digital Learning. She says CUSD Equity Coaches have been working this year with teachers from several schools, both groups and individuals, and all teachers had the option to participate in a design project through the district wide library design project last year.

“We’re preparing students for jobs that haven’t even been imagined yet,” says Viramontez. “Design thinking is one of the ways we can educate students to their highest potential.”

Plan a visit to learn more about your neighborhood school! Schools schedule tours in January and February to coincide with the Open Enrollment period.

Registration will be online for elementary or middle school.  Our school finder link will help you see which is your attendance area school.

More answers are available on Enrollment web page, and our Enrollment Staff is happy to help you and are available by phone, email, and in person Monday through Friday (except holidays).