Summer Begins with Plans for New School Year

As you can imagine, plans are already in place for the next school year.

The 2020-2021 school year came to a close on June 4. What an unusual academic year it has been! Our staff learned new ways to educate and our students found new ways to learn. We began summer school at all grade levels on June 8 and will conclude with a graduation ceremony on July 15.

As you can imagine, plans are already in place for the next school year. Desert Sands Unified School District, unless otherwise directed by a public health order, will resume a traditional five-day per week scheduled for the 2021-2022 school year. The first day of school is August 18. Additional details on individual school start times, bell schedules, bus pickups, and general information will be sent to families prior to the beginning of school. Instruction will be in-person. The distance learning model as you knew it will be discontinued as students return to traditional in-classroom learning.

A virtual learning academy will be launched for the 2021-2022 academic year. More information will be available prior to the opening of online registration on August 1. Families should be advised that this option will require the student to transfer from their home school and become a student at the new virtual academy housed under Horizon School. In keeping with the commitment to our mission statement  “to inspire and nurture every student…one opportunity at a time”, this virtual academy will offer a comprehensive education from transitional kindergarten through high school. According to Principal Jose Ramirez, Ed.D., “The innovative program is a further commitment to provide educational programs that meet individual needs and academic abilities using an alternative approach to learning as well as allowing students to progress and graduate free of the constraints of a traditional campus.”

Additional information and the latest updates on the new virtual academy, the 2021-2022 school year, and public health guidelines are available on the DSUSD website www.dsusd.us. Superintendent Scott Bailey provides regular updates in his Super Seconds posts located on the homepage. Current flyers on all topics related to DSUSD students are found here. Parents are encouraged to take time during the summer months to update their personal information on ParentVUE or with their child’s school office team to ensure that messages from the school and district will be delivered successfully.

It is with great anticipation that the staff at Desert Sands Unified School District looks forward to Aug. 18 and the return to traditional in-classroom, five-day per week learning. Enjoy the summer.

Author’s note: Beginning next week, this column will feature the CTE (career technical education) programs of DSUSD. Each program will be featured in a once-a-week profile written by the teachers who are responsible for the programs.