Superintendent - Dr. Marcy Guthrie
Chawanakee Unified maintains high expectations through rigorous and relevant learning opportunities while developing personalized student experiences by building positive relationships and resiliency.
While you were away, our team has been busy. As soon as students left for summer break in June, our team got to work preparing for the 2022-23 school year.
- Each school site campus had at least one summer project completed by our maintenance and operation team or contracted vendors.
- The human resources team has hired over 50 employees since last spring.
- The information and technology team cleaned, labeled, and prepared every student device.
- Our nutritional services team has prepared for the new requirements to the free universal meals that continue this year.
- School psychologists, behaviorists, special education teachers, the school nurse and health clerks have prepared support schedules, trainings for staff, reviewed and revised health and safety requirements and protocols.
- Bus routes have been revised for efficiency and our buses and drivers have participated in their annual certifications and inspections.
Our team is excited to start a new school year. In addition to the tasks accomplished above, district and site leaders established this year’s theme, “Everything with Intention”. In that spirit, the following are intentionally prioritized the for the 2022-23 school year:
Safety
Safety of our students and staff is our top priority. In addition to our use of the Raptor Visitor Management System, last spring we added Raptor’s Emergency Response System. Our partnership with the Madera County Sheriff’s Department and collaboration with other emergency service agencies has strengthened. We appreciate and value the services provided by our District School Resource Officer.
Standards-Based Best First Instruction
Our focus is to continue to build on what makes education rigorous! Our recipe ingredients include: Two heaping cups of standards-based best first instruction and Project Based Learning with a dash of intentional student engagement, a teaspoon of a wide variety of co-curricular programs baked in a dish of relationships and relevance. Last spring, students and parents told us they desire new and different activities and programs. We heard you.
COVID-19
As we learn to live with COVID-19, the CDC guidance continues to evolve and we adjust and adapt. Indications are that COVID-19 requirements will be relaxed for schools but can change based on local conditions. Each school site is certified to provide rapid testing. The Primary Health system allows parents/guardians to give permission to test your child once for the year. For students in grades TK-8, school personnel will contact parents/guardians prior to administering a rapid test, even if the annual permission to test has been authorized for the year.
Thank you in advance for your continued collaboration and partnership in the education of your child.
Here’s to a wonderful school year!
Dr. Marcy Guthrie, Superintendent