Dear IUSD Community,
As we head into the winter break and prepare to usher in the New Year, it is a time of reflection and gratitude for our partnership with the Irvine Unified School District community, which has spanned 50 years since the District was unified in 1972. On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff, talented students, engaged parents and guardians, and passionate community partners for your collaboration and support of our schools and students.
While this is a wonderful time of the year, it can also be busy and stressful. If needed this winter break, please visit our Prevention and Intervention and Counseling webpages. Both sites provide mental health and wellness resources and links to community services, including Care Solace, a free and confidential service that connects families to outside mental health services. These sites also include information about the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System, the 988 crisis text and phone lines, and academic services such as Paper, which is a free 24/7 online tutoring service that may be helpful for students after the winter break when studies resume.
Also, please see our news article, “Tips for Practicing Self-Care During the Holidays,” featuring Sunny Shen, our Director of Prevention and Intervention and Connie Jacobs, our College and Career Readiness Coordinator. To view our recent Mindful Monday videos that include tips for supporting resilience, finding balance, practicing gratitude, kindness, self-care, time management to reduce stress, and how to access mental health supports and resources when needed, visit iusd.org/MindfulMondays.
I am honored to be your superintendent and look forward to all that we will achieve together in the New Year. Best wishes for a happy holiday season and we hope you will find many moments of joy and rejuvenation with family and friends.
Sincerely,
Terry L. Walker
Superintendent of Schools
Irvine Unified School District