Dear Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) Staff, Students, Families and Community:
In our continued commitment to serving our community and providing current information, we have some important updates in this week’s message.
IUSD School Reopening Updates
The safety of our students, staff and community continues to be our top priority. Critical to the reopening of our schools is an accurate accounting of staff and students who will return to in-person instruction so that we can transition to our hybrid program reopening. Families will be offered two instructional delivery options. Option 1 is the Virtual Model where families can opt for their child to remain at home in the current 5-day virtual program, while option 2 is the Hybrid model where families can choose for their child to transition to a hybrid model, which will include both in-person instruction at school 2 days per week and virtual distance learning at home 3 days per week. Please note that your selection of instructional model for your child will apply through the end of this school year. For planning purposes, changes between instructional models will not be allowed.
The deadline to complete the IUSD School Reopening Model Selection Form expired on March 24, 2021. If you haven’t completed the form, it is highly important that you please complete the form as soon as possible to select your instructional delivery preference for your child. Please note if no response is received for your child, the default will be for your child to continue learning online.
Spring 2021 State Assessment Town Hall for Parents & Guardians
Inglewood District’s Educational Services Department, held a Virtual Town Hall for parents and guardians on March 23 to review the Spring 2021 State Assessments for students in grades 3-8 and 11th and 12th. Information on the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, the California Science Test, the Summative English Language Proficiency Assessments and more was be provided. During the Virtual Town Hall, parents and guardians found out which assessments their child will take this spring and determine the best ways you can help your child prepare.
Celebrating Women’s History Month
In honor of Women’s History Month, we would like to highlight some phenomenal women who have made significant contributions to sports, science, arts and politics. This week we celebrate animal rights activist, Dr. Jane Goodall.
For more than 60 years, Dr. Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking work has protected chimpanzees from extinction and redefined species conservation to be reflective of the local people and environment. Dr. Goodall was born on April 3, 1938 in London, England and her fascination with animals began at an early age. Not long after graduating, Dr. Goodall was hired as secretary in South Kinangop, Kenya at the Coryndon Museum in Nairobi, where she studied prehistoric remains of early humans and vervet monkeys. In 1960, Dr. Goodall traveled to Tanzania, Africa, with the goal of studying chimpanzees at close range. After many failed attempts she established a non-threatening pattern of observation, where she would appear at the same time every morning on the high ground near a feeding area. Within one year the chimpanzees allowed her to move as close at 30 feet.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation, where their focus is to protect chimpanzees from extinction and prevent deforestation in areas across Africa. In 1991 she co-founded Roots & Shoots, a global outreach program that invites young people to inform the world about conservation efforts. It is through this same program that she inspires thousands of young people to take action in their own lives and communities. Dr. Goodall is considered one of the world’s greatest primatologists. Thank you, Dr. Goodall, for your unwavering passion for protecting the planet and ecosystem. To learn more about Dr. Jane Goodall, please click here.
Temporary Modified Schedule Extended
Our District’s modified work schedule will be extended through April 16, 2021. We appreciate your patience as we make every effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and prioritize the health and safety of our staff and school community. The temporary modified scheduled is as follows:
School Sites and District Offices will remain closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
School Sites and District Offices will continue to operate on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
L.A. Promise Fund Internship
The Los Angeles Rams and the L.A. Promise Fund has partnered to create a paid 3-week virtual internship program for Morningside, City Honors and Inglewood High School incoming sophomores, juniors and seniors. The summer program includes virtual training to prepare interns for potential career opportunities, professional development workshops on office culture and etiquette, diversity, equity and inclusion, case study discussions and more. In addition, L.A. Promise Fund will provide ongoing coaching to ensure the internship placement is successful, all while students earn college credit. To apply for the internship program, please click here. Applications are due no later than March 28, 2021.
Virtual 3-Day Football Camp
The Los Angeles Rams are excited to celebrate diversity within sports through their 3-Day Virtual Football Camp, with drills led by professional female football players. The camp will focus on football fundamentals, specific positional skill refinement, and a character discussion to inspire hope, perseverance and passion. The free, 3-Day camp begins March 29, 2021 through March 31, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. Applicable grade levels include 1st grade through 8th grade and 9th through 12th. Please click here to register no later than March 26, 2021.
USC Young Researchers Program
Applications for the University of Southern California 2021 Young Researchers Program (YRP) are now open! YRP is a six week summer program designed to increase involvement among students who are traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This unique opportunity creates a network of support for high school seniors transitioning to college and future careers through virtual mentorship, workshops and STEM speakers from NASA, the National Institutes of Health, USC, UCLA, Stanford, UC Irvine, Intel, Google and many more! The application deadline is May 15, 2021 and the program begins June 28, 2021. Please click here to apply and find additional information on eligibility requirements, applications details and important dates.
Thank you staff, parents, students, and community members for your ongoing support and commitment to the success of our district.
#WeAreInglewoodUnified
Sincerely,
Erika F. Torres, Ed.D., MSW
County Administrator
