Monrovia School Superintendent's February Update

Dear Monrovia Unified School District community,

February's message arrives a little later than usual so we could focus our attention on the more immediate issues involving COVID-19. I am happy that the situation at Clifton Middle School has been resolved. We are not aware of any MUSD related exposure at this time, but will continue to provide regular updates as this does seem to be a fluid situation.

We started February with a celebration of our college and career readiness programs expanding at Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School. On Feb. 4, our Board of Education and Santa Fe unveiled a new Paxton Patterson Lab, which offers students hands-on instruction in audio communications, computer-aided drafting and design, computer graphics and animation, flight technology, health science, robotics, sports medicine, video production, structural engineering, and more. I am excited to hear about all of the wonderful academic experiences our students will have with the addition of this lab at Santa Fe!

Our students at Santa Fe also demonstrated their proficiency with computer coding at an Epic Build Showcase held for community members.

Our Hippie Bots robotics team students from Clifton Middle School were busy finalizing their robot and traveling to Barcelona, Spain to participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge Barcelona Championships. The Hippie Bots were also featured on California School News Radio, where they had the opportunity to discuss what led to their selection in this competition. We are so proud of the Hippie Bots and their accomplishments this season.

Black History Month was celebrated all February, and our students learned about the contributions from Black Americans throughout our history. Monrovia Unified hosted its annual Black History Art Festival on Feb. 20, which was an absolute success, and Wild Rose School of Creative Arts students delivered a captivating performance during their school’s showcase.

Toward the end of the month, the District held two Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) forums and a Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten (TK/K) Preview Night event. The LCAP forums were the culminating meetings which gave our community the opportunity to engage in dialogue and give input around the goals of the District, and provide feedback on how to carry the District’s mission and vision forward. Our TK/K Preview Night highlighted the District’s high-quality programs, such as coding, Spanish and Mandarin Dual-Language Immersion, music, art, and outdoor education.

I look forward to interacting with students and families at our upcoming open houses in March! Please join us as we celebrate the wonderful achievements our students have had this school year.

Read more about the great programs and events in Monrovia Unified and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katherine Thorossian,
Superintendent

Nominate An Older Monrovian As 'Older American of the Year'

The City of Monrovia, Community Services Department, is accepting nominations for the Older American of the Year Award.  This award is presented to a Monrovian 60 years of age or older, working or retired, and still actively involved in volunteer service in Monrovia. The purpose of this award is to honor and encourage older individuals to remain active in the community.

Nomination application must be returned by Friday, March 20, 2020 to the Community Services Department, 119 West Palm Avenue, Monrovia, CA  91016 – Attention: Tiffany Peterson. A committee will review the applications and select the award recipient by Wednesday, April 1, 2020.  Individuals submitting nominations will need to provide their name, address and phone number so staff may contact them if further information is necessary.

The City of Monrovia will recognize the Older American Award recipient at the following events:

Senior Recognition Luncheon
Date:                    Thursday, April 23, 2020
Time:                    11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location:              Monrovia Community Center, 119 West Palm Ave.

The 55th  Annual Older Americans Recognition Day Awards Program
Date:                    Thursday, May 21, 2020
Time:                    11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location:              The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Music Center Grand Hall, 135 North Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012

For additional information, please feel free to contact me at (626) 256-8233 or via e-mail at tpeterson@ci.monrovia.ca.us

Source: Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Tips for Businesses

The city has coronavirus tips for businesses:

• Actively encourage sick employees to stay home
• Emphasize respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees
• Perform routine environmental cleaning
• Designate a time to meet with your staff to educate them on COVID-19 and what they may need to do to prepare
• Use verbal salutations in place of handshakes and hugs
• Don't share utensils, cups or linens
• Stay six feet from others at public events

https://is.gd/rS4xJ6

- Brad Haugaard

Wine Walk; Youth Employment; Honoring Dr. Norma Sublett

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports:

~  The 4th Annual Old Town Monrovia Wine Walk will take place April 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. It is designed to support Old Town businesses. Explore Old Town businesses, sample wines and enjoy music. Spend $100 in Old Town in one shopping/dining experience and receive two pre-sale tickets for $35 each, a savings of $10. (Receipts must be presented when purchasing tickets from the Community Center, 3 Beauty Bar, Charlie's House, PrimeLending, Sauté, or Sunday's Old Town Bistro to receive discount.)

~ The city will offer its nine-week Youth Employment Services Internship again this summer. City staff from various departments, and staff of local businesses, will mentor the interns, giving them an inside look at the daily operations of local government and businesses. They will attend weekly professional development workshops and training on the topics of strengthening résumé, financial literacy and much more. The program is open to all high school students in Monrovia. At the end of the program, interns will develop a summer project to improve one area of the operation to which they are assigned. Contact the city for more information.


~ Monrovia ChangeMakers will honor former MUSD Educator and Principal, Dr. Norma Sublett, at its All-Member meeting on March 18, 6 to 8 p.m., at Mountainside Communion Church, at Colorado and Magnolia. If interested RSVP by March 15 to rdidio@charter.net.

- Brad Haugaard

Latest Monrovia Today Is Out

Here's the online version of the latest Monrovia Today magazine (https://is.gd/uDq4al). The paper version should be arriving in your mailbox shortly.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Launches Coronavirus Web Page

Monrovia now has its own Coronavirus web page. Topics:

• Prevention
• How We're Responding
• Resources
• Frequeently Asked Questions

https://is.gd/dJH5pZ

- Brad Haugaard

Stella - A Bed Dog, Hope You Don't Mind Sharing

Three-year-old Stella can't wait to find her person and bond with them for life. She may not be that dog who's chatting up strangers at a party, but she'd love movie night at home with her one and only. Getting invited into Stella's inner circle is an honor, and once you're there, she'll shower you with affection. Oh, and she's also quite the bed hog, so hopefully you don't mind sharing. When she gives you that sweet Stella look, you'll be willing to sleep on the couch for her (don't worry though, she'll leave you a sliver of space on the bed for cuddling).

The adoption fee for dogs is $140. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to their new home.

New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

- Brad Haugaard

Women's Evensong at St. Luke's

St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Monrovia will present its 13th  Annual Women's Evensong Invitational on Sunday, March 15, at 4 p.m. at the church, 122  S. California Ave. at Foothill Boulevard in Monrovia.

The free performance will spotlight the women's voices of the choir along with invited guest singers. St. Luke's Music Director Kent Bennett Jones will lead the ensemble.

An offering will be taken. Guests are invited to a wine and cheese reception in Guild Hall following the performance.

- Brad Haugaard

Car Chase Involves Home Invasion in Monrovia

A car chase from Riverside - that involved a home-invasion and assault in Monrovia - ended Saturday with a man being arrested on the 210 Freeway. https://is.gd/O2hTk4

- Brad Haugaard

TV Program to Feature Murder of Monrovia Mother and Daughter, Kelsey and Cecilia Meza

The TV program, In Pursuit, will feature the murder of Monrovians Kelsey and Cecilia Meza in the episode airing March 11 at 10 p.m. Details: https://is.gd/HGRqEY (Thanks to Carmen Martinez)

- Brad Haugaard

Shorter Hours at Movie Studio Grill

A notice posted at Movie Studio Grill says that due to “a lack of film content from the studios,” on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday the theater doors will open at 2 p.m. and the first showing will be at 3 p.m. New hours begin March 26. Thanks to Kelly Moran. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Free MAP Conference April 4

The Annual Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) Neighborhood Conference, Saturday, April 4, is a free, all-day event that is open to everyone: Free workshops, lunch, information fair, and health screenings. Lots more detail here: https://is.gd/H7s7yi

- Brad Haugaard

New Playground for Mayflower School; Superintendent Honored by Defense Department

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/cJPKB6) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~ Buying and installing new playground equipment for Mayflower School. Included: an Arch Climber, Rock Climber, Beanstalk Climber, and Ribbon Climber. https://is.gd/lXTunx

~ Contracting with Mission Paving and Sealing to remove and replace 8,996 square feed of asphalt at Santa Fe School for $39,500. https://is.gd/ei2KGC

~  Contracting with McKinley Elevator Corporation for $34,500 to replace a wheelchair lift at Clifton Middle School. https://is.gd/0wBvrs

~ A staff report certifying that the district is "able to meet our financial obligations for the current and subsequent two fiscal years." https://is.gd/1TBeF3

~ Honoring its March Employees of the Month:

• Renee Dakin, Instructional Aide - Bradoaks ESA
• Erinn Dickinson, Teacher - Bradoaks ESA
• Maria De La O, Campus Assistant - Wild Rose SOCA
• Geovanna Loeza, Teacher - Wild Rose SOCA

Also, the board will congratulate Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian on receiving the Patriot Award from the United States Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

- Brad Haugaard

City Preps for Coronavirus

The City of Monrovia has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but is preparing, with tasks for each city office:

City Manager's Office

The City Manager's Office is responsible for preparing public notices, press releases and communicating on behalf of the City. At this time, the City Manager's Office is preparing to provide daily updates related to COVID-19 so Monrovians know where to get latest information.

In addition, the City Manager is designated as the City's Emergency Services Director. This means that in the event a Disaster Proclamation is necessary, the manager would request the City Council to make such a proclamation if Council is in session, or may issue the proclamation when out of session, provided Council formally adopts within seven (7) days. A Disaster Proclamation recognizes the existence of a local emergency and assists the City to mobilize resources and provide emergency response.

Personnel policies and procedures, as well as general updates to employees, are also provided by the City Manager's Office. Communicating effective training, hygiene and updates are important for our first responders, public works crews and hundreds of city employees to pursue a safe working environment.

Police Department

In the police department, the Dispatch Center is handling all emergency calls as it normally would. However, dispatchers are questioning callers and determining if a call concerns a person who may have signs or symptoms and risk factors for COVID-19. This query process is helpful in determining if other first responders, such as police officer or firefighters/paramedics, should prepare for a response by using personal protective equipment recommended for COVID-19. Staff is also preparing operational activities that could be necessary if a case is confirmed in Monrovia in addition to preventative measures such as supplying vehicles/equipment with personal protective equipment and training.

Fire Department

The Fire Chief is designated as the Deputy Emergency Services Director and is largely responsible for field operations during emergency events. The department has equipped vehicles with necessary supplies and is providing coordination, training and distribution of information about the event. They coordinate with healthcare providers in the area to ensure that if someone is exposed to COVID-19, that proper communication happens between the City and agencies that need to be involved, including healthcare providers, the CDC and other regional authorities.

Public Works Department

Currently, Public Works staff is ensuring all public facilities are functioning as they normally would during regular business hours. They are working hard to ensure sufficient hand soap and paper towels are available in all locations and that trash services are being collected.

According to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the risk for contracting COVID-19 still remains low in LA County; however, all are encouraged to practice social distancing strategies that limits exposure to others who may be ill. Implementing social distancing strategies is as simple as having verbal salutations in place of handshakes and hugs, not sharing utensils, cups and linens and staying six feet apart from others at public events.

To further prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, it is recommended that all "high-touch" surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, trash cans, phones, remote controls, keyboards, tablets and bedside tables are frequently cleaned and disinfected. When cleaning, use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered product that cleans (removes germs) and disinfects (kills germs). As always, please follow the instructions on the labels of cleaning products and disinfectants.

The City is operating in a "business as usual" context although we have made small enhancements/changes to some of our operations to address COVID-19. The City will continue to remain vigilant and committed to providing updates, information and advisories from our local, state and federal public health agencies as they become available. These updates can be seen on our website, and social media platforms: Facebook and Twitter. The next regularly scheduled update will be on Monday, March 9.

To stay up-to-date with accurate information on COVID-19, those in LA County can call 211, or view the following websites:

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Cases Dashboard
COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment
Source: https://is.gd/9138aW

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Ikonicks

Lunch at the new Ikonicks Burgers, on the east side of Myrtle near Lime. Got “The Alpha,” a two slider meal for $9. I got the Greek lamb and the Dry-Aged Beef. Also a beer for $6. Very tasty. 

- Brad Haugaard