Welcome back and Happy New Year! I hope you and your family enjoyed time together during the winter break. Maricopa Unified School District will extend the closure to in-person learning through Friday, January 29. In-person will resume on Monday, February 1.

During the Temporary In-Person Closure:

• MUSD teachers will continue to offer distance learning through Friday January 29. Teachers will provide additional information regarding access to online instruction.
• Grab and go meals will be available for pick up between 11-1, every day.
• Schools will provide an on-site Learning Lab for students who need a quiet, safe environment to independently engage in their remote classes during the school day. The Learning Labs are similar to a supervised study hall. Transportation is available. Please watch your email for details specific to your child’s school.
• ESS students who may require in-person learning (based on staff recommendations) will receive an email with additional information on Monday, January 11.
• You can view general updates to our COVID-19 Data Dashboard at www.musd20.org/covid19dashboard.

While we are in this current distance learning period, I want to encourage all parents to speak to your students regarding being prepared for class each day. Every student should approach distance learning by following the best practices listed below:

• Set up a dedicated learning area free of distraction. You should be at a desk of some kind, seated and prepared with all needed materials.

• Students should get up and prepare for the learning day as if they were reporting to in person school (bathing, hygiene, appropriate clothing, and eating a good breakfast). This will help you be successful as a student.

• Students need to join their teacher’s google classroom meets on time. They need to have their camera on and microphones off. Each student will have to demonstrate that they are present by acknowledging the teacher’s questions or directions.

• If your student is having connection issues, they should contact the teacher by email. Parents can also call the DWMS office for the same connection issues. There must be an attempt to let the teacher know that there is an issue, otherwise, your student will be marked absent for the class period.

• Be aware that students can turn in blank documents in Google Classroom. Final grades are recorded in our student management system, which you can access through ParentVue. If your student tells you they turned it in, but it is showing as a zero in the gradebook, it would be prudent to contact the teacher to verify that the work was completed and submitted.

Additionally, if you would like your student to attend our on campus Learning Lab during this period of distance learning due to unreliable internet at home or other needs, simply call the front office and our office staff will get you registered!

If your student is in need of their math or ELA workbooks, please swing by the DWMS front office for drive-thru pick up during normal office hours (9am-4:30 PM) on Monday 1/11 or Tuesday 1/12, or after school on Monday 1/11 from 4:30-6.

We have some new staff members joining us at Desert Wind! I would like to take a moment to introduce you to our new Prevention Counselor, Mrs. Rehema Stephens! We are all so excited to have her at DWMS and her expertise is going to advance us all in supporting our students. Mrs. Stephens' email is: rstephens@musd20.org. Mrs. Stephens is a California native, born and raised in the Bay Area. She has taught and counseled K-12 students over her 10 years in education and her passion for school counseling stems from a desire to see every student thrive in school. She works to support teachers and advocate for students. She previously worked in Kyrene School District, and she is SUPER excited to put her gifts to work here in the Maricopa School District!

We also have two teachers joining us, Ms. Rachelle Hughes and Ms. Tinisha Gammage. Ms. Hughes is teaching English Language Arts and Ms. Gammage is teaching ESS English Language Arts and Study Skills. Ms. Hughes joined us this week and Ms. Gammage is joining us next week. Ms. Hughes has experience teaching both social studies and ELA. Ms. Hughes is also a California native who has been living in Arizona since high school. Her passion in life is teaching and working with students and she is overwhelmed with joy to be Desert Wind and the Maricopa community.

We also welcomed two new paraprofessionals to our campus at the end of semester 1, Mr. Matthew Barron and Ms. Elizabeth Perry. Mr. Barron is new to Arizona and is joining us from Iowa. Mr. Barron is a former Marine and served in law enforcement for 22 years. He has three children and is an avid Iowa State Cyclone and Chicago Cub's fan! Ms. Perry is joining Desert Wind with 10 years of experience as a support staff member in Special Education. Prior to joining us, she was working with Pre-K students, so she brings a wide range of experience and knowledge to our campus.

Thank you,

Carlos Alvarado