District News

Did you know that the kindergarten students who are counted in Census 2020 will be high school seniors the next time the Census is done in 2030?

Because an accurate census count benefits our schools and community, Campbell Union School District’s Governing Board adopted a resolution in support of US Census 2020. Our schools have been provided with activities for students to learn about the importance of being counted and being a part of the Census 2020. 

Information from the US Census is used to establish federal funding for local communities, health care facilities, social services and public schools. It impacts housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy. We are glad to partner with the US Census Bureau to provide awareness and education around its purpose. 

Invitation to Be Counted

Please join CUSD in being "counted" in Census 2020. Invitations to respond to the 2020 Census will be delivered between March 12-20. Once you receive that invitation, you can respond online, by phone, or by mail.

The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.

Learn more online: 

English 
Spanish 

When new viruses surface, it is important to stay informed. Reports about the new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, have heightened awarenss about ways to avoid infection. Campbell Union School District and public health officials are closely monitoring developments.

Fortunately, many of the good health habits we use to prevent the spread of other communicable illnesses—flu, common cold, stomach virus—can also reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

To date, there are no confirmed cases in California, and there is low risk to Santa Clara County residents, unless they recently traveled to Wuhan or were in close contact with someone who was ill who recently traveled in that area. 

Recommended Precautions

As we do during every cold and flu season, we encourage everyone to take these common-sense precautions:

• Promote hand hygiene among students and staff through education, scheduled time for handwashing, and availability of soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Teach and encourage proper cough etiquette—cough or sneeze into a tissue, sleeve, or arm (do not use hands).
• Perform routine surface cleaning. (Our custodial staff cleans surfaces routinely.)
• Encourage students and staff to stay home when they are sick.
• Those who have a fever at school should go home and stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

In the unusual event that a child or staff member is identified who recently traveled from Wuhan, China and has symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath, he or she would be sent home and the school would contact the Public Health Department for additional guidance. The Public Health Department is monitoring the situation. They will advise us of any additional recommendations, which we will pass along to you. 

“Design thinking is an approach to teaching core academics that will develop our students’ skills as collaborative, innovative, self-directed, empathetic critical thinkers who can be successful in their yet-to-be-defined future,” says Shelly Viramontez, Superintendent of Campbell Union School District (CUSD).

Design thinking, a process for empathy-based creative problem-solving, is spreading to classrooms across the district. While it is a primary focus of the district’s new Campbell School of Innovation, more teachers in other schools also are using it. Over the past year, nearly 25% of the district’s more than 380 teachers have experienced the design thinking process and how to incorporate it into their lessons.  (See related story about first-grade teacher Megan Delaye.)

“Students are becoming more energized about owning their learning, and their teachers are seeing student achievement rise as they incorporate more of these relevant problem-solving projects into their instruction,” says Kami Thordardson, CUSD’s Director of Innovation & Digital Learning. She says CUSD Equity Coaches have been working this year with teachers from several schools, both groups and individuals, and all teachers had the option to participate in a design project through the district wide library design project last year.

“We’re preparing students for jobs that haven’t even been imagined yet,” says Viramontez. “Design thinking is one of the ways we can educate students to their highest potential.”

In this season of giving and kindness, Superintendent Viramontez sends this special message of thanks to all of the families, community partners, employees and volunteers who support our students and schools.

The Winter Break is Dec. 23, 2019 through Jan. 3, 2020.

We look forward to seeing you all when school resumes on Monday, January 6th.