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.
Class of 2021 Senior Graduation Updates
Commencement Ceremonies at SoFi Stadium
We are excited to announce that our District will be holding in-person graduations for our senior graduates at the Performing Arts Theater at the SoFi Stadium on Saturday, June 19, 2021. We are extremely grateful for our partners, Mayor James Butts, the City of Inglewood and SoFi Stadium, for making this event possible. Specific details for each high school commencement ceremony will be shared as soon as they are finalized. Hosting graduation ceremonies at SoFi Stadium is a fitting culmination of the hard work and dedication of our amazing students as they transition into their next chapter. Congratulations to our Class of 2021!
Senior Graduation Photos
To Parents and Guardians of our graduating seniors: Our District would like to acknowledge all of the achievements of our seniors with a special recognition. We would like to include a photo of each of our graduates that will be displayed on our website and social media platforms. It is not required to have a professional take their senior portrait; however, there are some image specifications that must be considered when submitting photos. Please click here to review specifications and to submit your senior’s photo.
IUSD Summer School
Summer School applications are now open for grades K- 8 and high school! If you are interested in having your child(ren) attend summer school, please complete the applications linked below. Submit one form for each child in your household who will be attending summer school online or in-person. Applications are due by Friday, May 28, 2021. Parents will be notified by June 4, 2021 regarding admittance in the summer school program.
Please click on the following grade levels to access the corresponding summer school application:
Grades K – 8th Summer School Application
High School Summer School Application
IUSD Mask Guidelines
On May 14, 2021, the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines stating that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks in most places. While this is exciting news, Inglewood Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) have NOT changed the current mask mandate to reflect the new CDC guidance. Students, employees and visitors, with or without COVID-19 vaccination, are required to wear a face mask at all times when on District grounds. In addition, Wellness Aides and other assigned personnel will conduct an entry screening consisting of “screening questions” and “temperature checks”. Anyone who declines a wellness screen, refuses to wear a mask, answers “yes” to any of the screening questions, or has a body temperature of 100.4℉ or higher will not be permitted on any IUSD facilities. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain the safety, health and well-being of our staff and students as our top priority.
Girls Conference: Amplifying Our Girls’ Voices
The Inglewood Teachers Association (ITA) and Instructional Leadership Core has collaborated with IUSD to host a virtual 2-day Girls Conference for high school aged students on May 28, 2021 and June 4, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. This event consists of a series of workshops, panels, and performances designed to inspire and support girls to reach their greatest potential and goals. Some of the themes will include civic engagement, health and wellness and the secrets of navigating community college and technical careers. Participants will have an opportunity to hear from students, District leadership, community partners, and more! To register for this virtual event, please click here.
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
In honor of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we would like to highlight Asian-Americans who have made significant contributions throughout American history. This week we celebrate AIDS researcher and physician, Dr. David Ho. Born in 1952, in Taichung, Taiwan, Dr. David Ho moved to Los Angeles at the age of 12. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the California Institute of Technology, he obtained his medical degree from Harvard University-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Dr. Ho’s contributions toward the advancement of medicine has been extremely impactful, as he came into contact with some of the first reported cases of what was later identified as AIDS and has been a frontline AIDS researcher ever since. In addition, he most recently conducted coronavirus research. To learn more about Dr. David Ho, click here. Please visit our social media for highlights of other AAPI heroes during the month of May.
Grocery Kits Distribution Update
Our District is providing free Grocery Kits every Wednesday at the following sites: Bennett-Kew, Inglewood HS, La Tijera and Woodworth-Monroe and we will begin distributing every Friday starting May 28th at: Centinela and Worthington Elementary Schools to all children ages 18 and under. Food distribution hours are at 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The kits contain 5 days of breakfast, lunch and snacks, including a gallon of milk and fresh bulk produce. The kits may include various grocery items each week such as eggs, cheese, cherries, apricots, peaches, avocados and cucumbers. For more information, please contact the IUSD Food Services department at (310) 680-4870.
IUSD Mental Health Resources
Morningside High School has created an online Calming Room where families and students can access a list of resources that promotes resilience and wellness. Some of the resources include visual relaxation and sound, healthy eating, goal setting, fitness and more. To access the Calming Room, please click here.
Please click here to access a presentation on social and emotional well-being and mental health resources shared at the May 12th Board Meeting. For immediate Mental Health support or services, please contact the following:
For students or families, please contact your school’s counselor or Student Support Services at (310) 419-2798.
For employees, please contact Employee Assistance Services for Education (EASE) at (800) 882-1341.
For a list of additional resources, please click here.
We are encouraging staff, students and the Inglewood District community to wear lime green on Fridays to display solidarity for Mental Health Awareness Month!
Lessons from the Field with LACOE Superintendent Dr. Debra Duardo
On May 11th, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Superintendent, Dr. Debra Duardo, had the opportunity to tour Hudnall Elementary and observe how IUSD is safely approaching in-person learning with an emphasis on social and emotional development. To watch a highlight video of Dr. Duardo’s visit at Hudnall Elementary, please click here.
City Honors International Preparatory School Students Win 3rd Place at the Annual Project Echo Business Plan Competition
Our District would like to congratulate City Honors International Preparatory School (CHIPS) 9th grade students and founders of “L Desserts”, Leslie Martinez, Yolanda Becker, Louie Campo, Gloria Enilolobo, and Lauren White, on winning 3rd place in the Products category at the 17th Annual Project ECHO Business Plan Competition on May 16, 2021. More than 200 teens from 35 different high schools participated in this year’s virtual competition. Congratulations to our future entrepreneurs on this extraordinary achievement! To learn more about Project Echo, including ways to be a part of the next Business Plan Competition, please click here.
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
