Dear Parents/Guardians,

Due to the alarming rates at which the COVID-19 virus is spreading throughout San Bernardino
County, PSA administration has decided that until further notice, PSA will remain online for
the remainder of the school year, which ends on June 3rd, 2021.

However, should anything change, we would like to provide you with some more information on
what will drive our decision-making. Since the beginning of the second quarter, teachers and
staff have collaborated on the safest way for school to reopen, and will continue to do so based
on State mandates and recommendations. On November 18th, PSA sent out a survey to
parents in order to gather additional information. The results of the 132 families who completed
the survey indicate that if and when it is safe to do so, approximately 48% of parents wish for
their children to return to campus in a hybrid format, and approximately 52% of parents wish to
keep their children at home, fully online. Administration also asked teachers and staff what their
preference is on this matter, and the majority of teachers and staff wish to remain online out of
concern for safety. It is understandable that even if deemed safe to return, many parents may
still want to err on the side of caution by remaining online. That choice will still be available even
if the campus opens back up.

We will continue to keep you all informed as the year progresses. Thank you for your continued
support, understanding, and patience. As we work through this together, remember that the
PSA staff is here for you! Please reach out to Jennifer Stickel at jstickel@psasb.us if you have
any questions. Emails may be sent to this address in both Spanish and English.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Stickel, Principal


Estimados padres/ guardianes:

Debido a los números alarmantes a los que el virus COVID-19 se está propagando por todo el
condado de San Bernardino, la administración de PSA ha decidido que hasta nuevo aviso, PSA
permanecerá en línea durante el resto del año escolar, que finaliza el 3 de junio de 2021.
​
Sin embargo, si algo cambia, nos gustaría brindarle más información sobre lo que impulsará
nuestra toma de decisiones. Desde el comienzo del segundo trimestre, los maestros y el
personal han colaborado de la manera más segura para que la escuela vuelva a abrir y
continuarán haciéndolo según los mandatos y recomendaciones del estado. El 18 de
noviembre, PSA envió una encuesta a los padres para recopilar información adicional. Los
resultados de las 132 familias que completaron la encuesta indican que, sí es seguro hacerlo,
aproximadamente el 48% de los padres desean que sus hijos regresen al campus en un
formato híbrido, y aproximadamente el 52% de los padres desean mantener a sus niños en
casa, totalmente en línea. La administración también preguntó a los maestros y al personal cuál
es su preferencia sobre este asunto, y la mayoría de los maestros y el personal desean
permanecer en línea por motivos de seguridad. Es comprensible que incluso si se considera
seguro regresar, es posible que muchos padres quieran pecar de cautelosos al permanecer en
línea. Esa opción seguirá estando disponible incluso si el campus vuelve a abrir.

Continuaremos manteniéndolos informados a medida que avance el año. Gracias por su
continuo apoyo, comprensión y paciencia. Mientras trabajamos juntos en esto, ¡recuerde que el
personal de PSA está aquí para ayudarlo! Comuníquese con Jennifer Stickel en
jstickel@psasb.us si tiene alguna pregunta. Los correos electrónicos se pueden enviar a esta
dirección tanto en español como en inglés.

Sinceramente,
Jennifer Stickel, Directora

 September 17, 2020
​
Dear Parents and Students,
I would like to provide everyone with an update on the reopening of PSA’s campus. The staff at PSA have been preparing for a reopening over the past couple of months, in hopes that we would be back on campus October 6th. However, because San Bernardino County is still on the “Purple/Widespread” COVID Tier, we will not be returning in October.


There are 4 COVID Tiers: Purple, Red, Orange, and Yellow. Purple means the county has a more widespread number of cases, and Yellow means the county has fewer numbers of COVID cases. Until San Bernardino County is out of the Purple, and in the Red Tier for the required amount of time, we are not allowed to return to campus. Visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/#reopening-data for more information.

Based on these conditions, we will remain “closed” and continue with distance learning until further notice. Ultimately, it is our goal to get our students back on campus as long as it is safe to do so. Once students are back, safety precautions will be taken very seriously in order to ensure a low-risk environment. Those who are not comfortable returning will be given the option to remain online.

​We will continue to follow the State Guidelines and keep our families informed as to when we may be able to return to campus. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.


Sincerely,
Jennifer Stickel, Principal

PSA Parents, Students, and Staff!
​
I never thought my “Back to School Blog” would be anything like this… distance learning, masks, and social distancing… this world seems to have changed overnight. At first, I thought this was just going to be temporary. I thought we would finish out last year online and resume being on campus at the beginning of this school year. But here we are, teaching and learning virtually. I have to say though, I am so proud of everyone for being able to overcome the challenges associated with this transition. Students are logging in on to all of their classes, being respectful and responsible during their zoom classes, and getting all of their work done. Our older students who have working parents are setting their alarms and getting up for classes on their own. Parents who are home with their younger students are encouraging their children and supporting the teachers. It’s been a pleasure to observe everyone’s efforts and teamwork. It seems that the new slogan these days is, “We’re all in this together.” We definitely are, and the staff at PSA are here to support our students and parents. Remember, you can reach out anytime!


Sincerely,
Mrs. Stickel

Dear PSA families,

Our last day of the 2019-2020 school year is on June 4th, 2020.  It has been a trying year for all of us, and all of us at PSA would like to take a moment to thank you for your dedication to your child’s academics.  We hope that you have a relaxing and healthy summer.  Below are some topics that we wanted to communicate with you about.

Graduation
Our class of 2020 will be having a drive-in ceremony on June 5, 2020 at 5 pm.  Families are limited to one car where they will get to park and watch their child walk across the stage and graduate.  The ceremony will be on our website for family members that cannot physically be there.  Check out the notices that went out on ParentSquare on May 18, 2020 for more information. This is a senior only event; others will be turned away. 

8th Grade Promotion
We will be having a virtual 8th grade promotion this year.  It will be a prerecorded video that you can view on our website or on the PSA YouTube. It will be posted on June 4th. Join us for the 8th grade zoom meeting on Thursday May 28 at 2 pm for more information. 

Summer school
If you are interested in summer school, you will need to register with Options for Youth at 909-515-8600 between the hours of 9am and 3pm, Monday thru Friday.  Summer school will be online and taught by PSA teachers.  It begins on July 1st and ends on July 28th. More information to follow if you have signed up for summer school.

Books and Chromebook Turn In
Students will return their chromebooks and textbooks on the following days:

• 12th grade:  June 15th between 10 am and 1 pm. Official transcripts and diplomas will also be available at that time for pick-up.

• Non-Returning students: June 16th between 9 am and 1 pm. (Chromebook and textbooks).

• All returning students:  June 16th between 9 am and 1 pm. You will be returning textbooks only.  * Keep your chromebooks until further notice. 

Uniforms
Uniforms can be purchased this year by going to https://sbpsa.quniform.com/. Your login is the home phone number that is on file in PowerSchool. Type in the number with the area code and no spaces, for example:  9093822211. If you are not sure what the number on PowerSchool is, you can call the front office at 623-562-0739 for assistance.  It is strongly recommended that you order your uniforms no later than July 1, 2020.  Please see our website at www.psasb.us for information on the uniform policy.

All 7th grade students for the 2020-2021 school year
Must show proof of their Tdap immunization before students can receive their schedule.

Registration
For the new school year we will be transitioning to online registration.  You will be able to complete the process by logging on to PowerSchool. Registration information must be provided before your child can receive their schedule for the 2020-2021 school year. More information to follow on how to complete the process.

2020-2021 School Year
The 2020-2021 school year for PSA begins on August 3, 2020.  As of now, we do not know if we will be having school online, in person, or in a hybrid format. Please complete the survey that was sent on May 26th on ParentSquare regarding the type of learning for the new year. As we receive information from the State, we will notify you via ParentSquare or on our Instagram and Facebook accounts.  


Thank you,

PSA Admin
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimadas familias de PSA:

Nuestro último día del año escolar 2019-2020 es el 4 de junio de 2020. Ha sido un año difícil para todos nosotros, y a todos en PSA nos gustaría tomar un momento para agradecerles por su dedicación a lo académico de sus hijos. Esperamos que tenga un verano relajante y saludable. A continuación hay algunos temas sobre los que queríamos comunicarnos con usted.

Graduación
Nuestra clase de 2020 tendrá una ceremonia en automóvil el 5 de junio de 2020 a las 5 pm. Las familias están limitadas a un automóvil donde podrán estacionar y ver a su hijo/a caminar por el escenario y graduarse. La ceremonia también estará en nuestro sitio web para miembros de la familia que físicamente no pueden estar allí. Consulte los avisos que se enviaron en ParentSquare el 18 de mayo de 2020 para obtener más información. Este es un evento exclusivo para grado 12; otros serán rechazados.

Promoción de Octavo Grado
Tendremos una promoción virtual de octavo grado este año. Será un video pregrabado que podrá ver en nuestro sitio web o en el YouTube de PSA. Será publicado el 4 de junio. Únase a nosotros para la reunión de zoom de octavo grado el jueves 28 de mayo a las 2pm para obtener más información.

Escuela de Verano
Si está interesado en la escuela de verano, debe de registrarse en Options for Youth al 909-515-8600 entre las 9 a.m. y las 3 p.m., de lunes a viernes. La escuela de verano será en línea y será enseñada por maestros de PSA. Comienza el 1 de julio y termina el 28 de julio. Más información a seguir si se has inscrito en la escuela de verano.

Entrega de Libros y Chromebooks
Los estudiantes devolverán sus chromebooks y libros de texto en los siguientes días:

12 ° grado: 15 de junio entre las 10 a.m. y la 1 p.m. Las transcripciones y diplomas oficiales también estarán disponibles en ese momento para ser recogidos.

Estudiantes que no regresaran a PSA: 16 de junio entre las 9 a.m. y la 1 p.m. (Chromebook y libros de texto).

Todos los estudiantes que regresan: 16 de junio entre las 9 am y la 1 pm. Solo devolverá libros de texto. * Mantenga sus Chromebooks hasta nuevo aviso.

Uniformes
Los uniformes se pueden comprar este año visitando https://sbpsa.quniform.com/. Su nombre de usuario es su  número de teléfono que está en el archivo de PowerSchool. Escriba el número con el código de área y sin espacios, por ejemplo: 9093822211. Si no está seguro de cuál es el número en PowerSchool, puede llamar a la oficina principal al 623-562-0739 para obtener ayuda. Se recomienda que solicite sus uniformes antes del 1 de julio de 2020. Consulte nuestro sitio web en www.psasb.us para obtener información sobre la política de uniformes.

Todos los alumnos de 7º grado para el año escolar 2020-2021
Debe mostrar prueba de su vacuna Tdap antes de que los estudiantes puedan recibir sus clases.

Registro
Para el nuevo año escolar haremos la transición a la inscripción en línea. Podrá completar el proceso iniciando sesión en PowerSchool. La información de registro debe ser proporcionada antes de que su hijo/a pueda recibir sus clases para el año escolar 2020-2021. Más información a seguir sobre cómo completar el proceso.

Año escolar 2020-2021
El año escolar 2020-2021 para PSA comienza el 3 de agosto de 2020. A partir de ahora, no sabemos si tendremos escuela en línea, en persona o en un formato híbrido. Complete la encuesta que se envió el 26 de mayo en ParentSquare sobre el tipo de aprendizaje para el nuevo año. A medida que recibamos información del Estado, le notificaremos a través de ParentSquare o en nuestras cuentas de Instagram y Facebook.

Gracias,

Administración de PSA

March 5, 2020

Public Safety Academy Families,

​National news coverage concerning the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has sparked conversations and questions from families in regards to the health and safety of our students and staff, and we would like to share the following information with you.
​
Public Safety Academy is focused on ensuring the wellbeing of students and staff by working closely with local, state, and federal public health agencies, which are providing us with frequent updates and guidance. As you may be aware, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently urged schools to prepare for possible 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks in the United States. While the CDC’s announcement has generated concern among families, it is important to note there is still a very low health risk to the general public in California, with no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission in the United States.

In addition, as a school we are well prepared for a potential outbreak, having experience preventing regular illnesses like the flu and common cold. While it is important to take steps to be prepared, we reassure our school community that the current threat is low and there is no cause for panic. We continue encouraging common-sense precautions to prevent the spread of germs and illness. These include frequent hand washing, sanitizing surfaces regularly, encouraging staff and students to cover their nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing, and encouraging staff and students to stay home when sick. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure our students remain healthy and continue learning in a safe and welcoming environment.

Additional Information and Resources

● Feb. 26 guidance from California Department of Education
● Centers for Disease Control Information
● Our ReadySBCUSD website now has Coronavirus information at
http://www.sbcusd.com/ReadySBCUSD
● Loma Linda University Medical Center informational briefing on Coronavirus
https://vimeo.com/391565225?ref=fb-share


Sincerely,
Jennifer Stickel, Principal

Happy new year! For January’s blog I’ll share some hilarious and interesting predictions that were made decades ago about the year 2020.

• In 1966, a scientist by the name of Arthur C. Clarke believed that houses of the future would be able to hover above the ground and fly anywhere on the earth.
• In 1951, Popular Mechanics predicted that everyone would have at least one personal helicopter.
• In 1900, John Elfreth Watkins Jr., the curator of mechanical technology at the Smithsonian Institution, predicted that in the 21st Century "there will be no C, X, or Q in our everyday alphabet. They will be abandoned because they are unnecessary." He insisted that we would communicate using condensed words that were spelled how they sounded.
• Michael J. O'Farrell, founder of The Mobile Institute, wrote a book in 2014 that predicted that by the year 2020, people would be able to communicate via telepathy and that we would also be able to move via teleportation. He described 2020 as the beginning of the "Nanomobility Era.”
• In 1966, an article in Time magazine explained that in the 21st century, machines would be doing most of the work that humans did in the 1960’s. With the inventions of all these machines and robots, no one would have to work and everyone would be rich. Wouldn’t that be nice!?

Hope these gave you a laugh as well as some hope for future possibilities…maybe by the year 2030??
Have a joyful January!
 
Sincerely,
Mrs. Stickel

​Principal’s Blog, December, 2019
 
PSA Parents, Students, and Staff!
For my December blog I thought I’d write about 3 inspirational people with whom I’d like to spend the holiday break. The first person I would choose is Jane Goodall because she is one of my heroes. For those of you who may not know about Jane Goodall, she is a primatologist, which is a scientist who studies primates. She is an expert on chimpanzees. She studied them for over 55 years, mostly in their natural environment in Tanzania. I’d love to spend time with her, because chimpanzees are some of the most intelligent and interesting animals, and I share her adoration for them.
The second person I would like to spend the holiday with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is such an obvious choice—I mean, who was more compassionate, brave, and assertive in his convictions during the 1950’s-1960’s? His “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most inspirational of all time. I would want to be in the presence of someone who saw human beings for what they are—simply, human beings, regardless of the color of their skin. I would like to talk with him about how far we have come with civil rights and race relations. I think he would be proud of our progress.
The third person I would like to spend time with is Stephen Hawking. Hawking was a genius! I could spend hours with him learning about physics and outer space. He would probably have to explain things over and over to me because he’s such a complex thinker, but, I’d love to try to learn more about outer space and other topics that he was an expert in!
These are just a few people I find interesting and intriguing…. Who would YOU like to spend the holiday break with? (Besides family and loved ones of course!)
Have a Wonderful Winter Break!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Stickel

PSA Parents, Students, and Staff,

For my October blog I’d like to discuss college and career readiness. When many of our teachers were in middle and high school, there was a big push for college-readiness. With today’s generation, there is still that push, but additionally, there is a growing push for career-readiness. Career technical education plays an important role in engaging student interest in a variety of career pathways. PSA is striving to increase our career technical education courses.

This year we have added a Cybersecurity course for our high school students. This course is offered off-campus at the new “County ROP Cybersecurity Center.” We have 23 students in the course this year who are learning about how to protect internet-connected systems from cyberattacks and unauthorized access to data centers and other computerized systems. In addition to our new Cybersecurity course, we have added a Protective Services course, where students are learning about career opportunities and skills needed to be a correctional officer. This year our Dispatch class has been a-g approved, so it is recognized as an approved college-readiness elective course. 

As of this school year our career pathway courses include those listed above, as well as the following: Fire Science, Emergency Medical Response, Police Academy, Administration of Justice, Law and Justice, English 9: Bullets of Truth, English 10: Reading, Writing, Law and Public Safety, English 11: Literacy, Advocacy and Public Services, and 12th Grade Government and Cybersecurity.

It is our hope that by offering these courses, students will gain interest in public safety service careers and pursue these careers after graduation.
 
—Mrs. Stickel, Principal

Hello PSA Parents, Students, and Staff!
We are off to a wonderful start to the 2018-19 school year and the students are doing great! This year, one of our main focuses will be to improve student achievement school-wide. We have made some changes this year with regard to our Advisory classes, so that all of our students are receiving extra instruction in Math and English.

Parents can also help out at home to improve skills in these areas. Some things parents can do to support your child are as follows:

Math Skills: Purchase flashcards for multiplication and division. Even high school students sometimes need a refresher with these basic skills. Just 15 minutes a night of flashcard practice can make a big difference. Kahn Academy and IXL Math are two free online resources for math skill development as well. Have your child log-on and practice a little each night. (*IXL Math is for Math I students only).

English Skills: The best way to improve reading and writing skills is to read frequently. Ask your child to read a little each night from a book or magazine of their choice. If they have reading assignments for homework, have them read aloud to you or explain to you what the reading was about after they are finished. Being able to talk to you about what they have read helps them to internalize the concepts. Thirty minutes of reading each night is recommended. Additionally, you can read over their written work. For example, read over an English essay and tell them about sections you really like. 

Ask your child to put away the electronic devices while they work on homework. Once they are finished with their homework, practice some math and/or reading for thirty minutes or so. From start to finish, homework and skills practice should take a couple of hours, give or take, depending on the grade level. After that, they will still have plenty of time for phones and video games. But remember, school always comes first!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Stickel, Principal