Dear Parents and Staff,

Today is supposed to be the last day of a ten-day hot spell.  We all can’t wait to get back to temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s.  During the extreme heat and corresponding Spare the Air days, students were kept indoors when the temperatures reached the 90’s and/or the air quality was poor.  If classrooms or other spaces did not have air conditioning, the students and staff were temporarily moved to spaces that were.  After school sports and activities were moved indoors, moved to a later time or rescheduled/canceled.  I sent a comprehensive list of the precautions taken during excessive heat events to our families on September 6. 

There are three important events happening in the next week:

South Valley Middle School Community Open House, Saturday, September 10, 10 am-12 pm
There will be an Open House at the new South Valley Middle School campus from 10:00-12:00 tomorrow.  Phase 1, the classroom wing, is completed and occupied and we would like to show it off to the community.  Please join us for the community open house on the new South Valley Middle School campus for a tour of the classroom buildings other parts of the completed project.  The campus open house is scheduled for Saturday, September 10, from 10 am-12 pm.  We will have guided tours, coffee and pastries.  All are welcome.

GUSD Family Resource Fair, Wednesday, September 14, 5-8 pm at the District Office
On Wednesday, September 14, 2022, the first ever GUSD Family Resource Fair and Flu Shot/COVID vaccine clinic will be offered from 5:00-8:00 p.m.  This event will provide families with help in accessing the Aeries Parent Portal, learning how to use the ParentSquare app, onsite fingerprinting and other assistance to complete the volunteer clearance process, information from our Child Nutrition Department, Transportation and After School programs, information about our specialized programs, giveaways, food, and much, much more!  In addition, 20 community partner agencies will join us to provide resources and support for our families.  This event is open to all GUSD families and is free to attend.

Upcoming Vaccine Clinic at the District Office, Wednesday, September 14, 5-8 pm
Safeway is hosting a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine (primary and booster) clinic in partnership with our Family Resource Fair at the District Office on Wednesday, September 14, from 5-8 pm.  This clinic is for people ages 3 and older. Appointments are recommended and can be booked here.  You can download the required consent form attached to this message and bring it with you to your appointment.  Those who are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine should bring their CDC vaccine card.
Important Reminders for families

Update and confirm your digital emergency card in the Aeries Parent Portal

It is important that each school year families update their contact and other information using the Aeries Parent Portal.  Gilroy Unified School District uses digital emergency cards for all students.  Parents and/ or guardians must update (if needed) and confirm the information on their student’s emergency card each school year, even if none of the emergency information has changed. 

Please access the Aeries Parent Portal using this link: gilroyusd.asp.aeries.net/student  to log in to your account with the email address you have on file with GUSD. You may reset your password if needed.  You may also access this process through the Aeries App on your phone.

When you log in, select “Home” and you will see a notification for the "Student Data Confirmation" process:

**It will be at the bottom of the page if you are using the new Aeries Portal style.**

Please complete this online process as soon as possible.  There are 7,000 students in our District without confirmed emergency contact information in Aeries.

The Aeries Parent Portal login page also has links to several help documents for this process.

If you need any support with this process, please contact your child's school.  Help with the Aeries Parent Portal will also be available at the Family Resource Fair on September 14, from 5-8 pm, at the District Office

Child Nutrition and Meal Service Applications due September 28. 
All meals on our campuses are free for all students in GUSD for the 2022-23 school year. However, GUSD must still encourage families to complete the federal meal applications to ensure our District can continue receiving critical funding for programs. Applications should be completed by all GUSD families should complete a meal application either electronically or via paper (English/ Spanish), even if you think your family doesn’t qualify for services.  These applications help to provide almost $3 million in vital funding to our District, which supports educational programs for all students.

Students and families who qualify for the program can receive reduced fees for AP tests, reduced fees for the City of Gilroy Recreation Programs, and other support.  All families in our District should complete this application by September 28.  You can complete an online application or download and print a paper application attached to this message.  Applications have also been sent home with students.  Meal applications will be available at the Family Resource Fair on Wednesday, September 14, from 5-8 pm at the District Office. 

Gilroy Garlic Festival Night of Football and Flame-up event, September 30

The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association will present an abbreviated menu of Festival food at the football game between Gilroy High and Christopher High on Friday, September 30.  Proceeds from Gourmet Alley will go to each school.

1. Pre-purchase tickets to the football game online.   Food is only being sold inside the stadium and you must have a game ticket to enter.
2. Visit the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association Booth at Christopher High School on Friday, September 30 to purchase food items. Food sales will start at halftime of the JV game.
3. The menu on September 30 includes:

• Pepper Steak Sandwiches-- $15  
• Sausage Sandwiches-- $15
•  Garlic Fries--$10
• Three pieces of Garlic Bread-- $5

4.       Enjoy your food during the game, or bring it home to enjoy later!

I hope to have the chance to see many of you tomorrow at South Valley Middle School.  Our staff is looking forward to showcasing parts of the new campus to our community.  And we can’t wait to welcome you to the District Office on September 14.  Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s educational journey.

Take care of each other,

Dr. Deborah A. Flores, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Gilroy Unified School District