Weekly Rewind: Desert heat records, defunding the police, building new school
From dreading desert heat to celebrating Somerton s first high school
DESERT SOUTHWEST (KYMA, KECY) - So while temperatures are rising, it is happening very slowly. The hottest day for Yuma, ever recorded was July 1995, at an impressive 124 degrees. Therefore, no, we are not setting records year after year, but generally speaking, the trend is most definitely upwards.
The earliest day Yuma ever reached 100 degrees was back in March of 1916; and the latest in the year it has ever stayed in the triple digits was October 1959. But the greatest number of 100 degree days happened just last year. 148 Days exceeded 100 degrees, in 2020.
Newhall School District board members voted unanimously Tuesday to ask the California Department of Public Health to provide new face-covering guidance to give the district discretion over whether to make masks optional.
The motion comes on the heels of a number of districts that have had to answer questions from families and staff about the mask policies that will be in place for the coming year.
As of Thursday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and California Department of Public Health did not specifically request distancing between students while in the classroom, but did require masks indoors.
The motion approved by the Newhall district’s governing board formally requests that the district be given discretion to decide its own optional mask-wearing policies, saying that it would give “voice to the desires expressed by many district teachers, families and students.”
“It’s been a long time since I went back to school, like actual school,” Mendoza said.
“Very excited because I’m going to make new friends and get new teachers,” chimed in Berny Maqueo, who will begin at Eastlake Middle School on Wednesday.
“I’m OK with everything, but if it would have been normal, that would have been cool,” Maqueo added.
While the schools will reopen for students that wish to return to in-person learning, students will still be required to wear face masks.
“I’m fine with that but the mask, if it’s hot, it’s going to be hard to breathe,” said rising sixth-grader Kyra Madrigal. “I kind of wish it was, like, back to normal. We could sit by our friends, sit by whoever we want.”
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This is the July 19, 2021, edition of the 8 to 3 newsletter about school, kids and parenting. Like what you’re reading? Sign up to get it in your inbox every Monday.
The back-to-school checklist this year is far weightier than new backpacks, binders and tennis shoes. For many parents, concerns about learning loss, growing uncertainties about the Delta variant and school safety rules are also part of the discussion.
I’m Paloma Esquivel, a reporter with The Times education team, filling in for Sonja Sharp. This week I had the opportunity to talk with U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about a number of issues, including what he thinks should be foremost on the minds of anxious parents as the new academic year approaches. I want to share part of his conversation with you.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Chief Probation Officer Dr. Adolfo Gonzales announced this year s annual Probation Service Week is taking place July 18th to July 24th, 2021 to honor probation professionals who support the rehabilitative process of individuals under their supervision and care.
Rancho Camulos Museum is launching a new visitor experience, Last Sundays at the Landmark, at the Rancho Camulos National Historic Landmark starting Sunday, July 25.