WPUSD eNews

August 14 - First Day of School

September 1 - Labor Day, No School

Email: kcallahan@wpusd.org

Website: wpusd.org

Phone: 916-645-6350

Board Meeting Highlights

• August 5 Highlights
• The Board approved a resolution formally declaring project savings from previously completed state-funded construction and modernization projects, and identifying updated high-priority projects where those remaining funds may be used.
• Carrie Carlson, WPUSD's CBO presented an update on the current budget.
• The Board has approved an agreement with WPTA to adjust the start and end times for Kindergarten classes at Twelve Bridges Elementary, beginning the day 15 minutes earlier to help reduce morning drop-off congestion, without changing instructional minutes or teacher work hours.
• The Board approved varying job descriptions and salary schedule adjustments.
• The Board held a discussion on Ethnic Studies as an elective and will be bringing the item back at the August 19 meeting.

• August 19, 2025 - District Office, Third Floor Meeting Room, 6:00pm

Miss a meeting? Click HERE to view them on our YouTube Channel

In This Section

🚨Annual Registration Update NEW!

All students attending WPUSD schools for the 2025-2026 school year must have their registration, emergency contact and health information reviewed and updated. Please ensure all required forms are complete and e-signed before the school year begins. This is required for all students on an annual basis.

The Annual Registration Update is accessible through your PowerSchool Parent Portal.

Information & Instructions
PowerSchool Parent Portal Log In Link

The Annual Registration Update Now Includes:

• Additional Services Survey
• Student/Parents Rights Annual Notification
• Residence Verification Form
• Technology Use and Waiver Agreements
• Student Health Insurance Option
• Photo Release Opt-Out
• Universal Free Meals and Funding Formula Data Collection

• Contact your child’s school office with any questions after they reopen on August 5, 2025.
• If you don’t have a Parent Portal account, you should have received an email or letter with setup instructions.
• Forgot your student’s Access ID/Password?
  • Contact your child’s school for assistance.
• For technical support with your Parent Portal account, email HelpDesk@wpusd.org
• If you forgot your username or password, use the 'Forgot Password' link on the log-in screen.

In This Section

🎒Back to School Information NEW!

🛴E-Scooter Reminder NEW!

👨🏻‍💻Safe Chromebook Use at Home NEW!

❌YouTube in the Classroom NEW!

💙The HUB: WPUSD Family Resource Center NEW!

👷Facilities Projects Update NEW!

🍌Plateful News NEW!

🏫Educational Services Information NEW!

🎓Portrait of a Learner

📣We're Hiring NEW!

Be on the lookout for information from your child's school site on upcoming dates to pick up schedules, find out who their teacher is, and more. This type of information will come from your child's school! If you did not receive communication from your child's school with this information, reach out to their school site.

Click HERE to for a full list of bell schedules for each site.

All things transportation happen through the District Office. Click HERE for bus pass applications and information on bussing. Not all schools offer transportation, please see the application to see if you qualify (if your child's school is not listed on the application, you do not qualify). We offer transportation to all families who live outside of our city limits and all students who are currently being overflowed.

NOTE: Bus routes and times are still being finalized and will be posted on the transportation page under 'Information'.

ALL students are offered a free breakfast and lunch daily! Our award winning food service program, Plateful is eager to serve our students for another great year ahead. Be sure to read more about what's happening in Food Service later in this newsletter. Menus are available now - you can find those HERE.

Click HERE for the full district calendar. This will tell you when breaks are, early release days and more!

This will vary depending on your child's school site. Typically, elementary families receive a weekly newsletter-style communication from the principal. Our middle and high schools typically communicate via email in a bi-weekly or monthly fashion - among the additional teacher and site notifications. All of our sites utilize our district communication platform called ParentSquare. You can find out more about how to download the ParentSquare app and use ParentSquare HERE. The District uses ParentSquare to communicate with families and staff in the event of an emergency.

Our middle and high schools utilize Schoology as a learning management system for all around academic and school information. For more information on Schoology, visit your child's school website or contact your child's school directly.

The safety of our students and staff is a top priority, always. We are consistently working to improve our safety protocols, enhance our safety drill effectiveness, and regularly collaborate with our local law enforcement to ensure we are prepared should an emergency occur. This summer, with Lincoln Police Department and Lincoln Fire Department, we held active threat training sessions which allowed for collaboration between agencies and enhanced our overall preparedness. We are thankful that our first responders share our commitment to maintaining safe campuses in WPUSD. You can find out more about our safety protocols on our website HERE.

As we head into a new school year, we want to remind families of the laws as well as our district policy surrounding electric scooters (e-scooters) as a mode of transportation to and from school. While e-scooters can be a convenient option, it's important that students operate them responsibly and in accordance with the law to keep themselves—and others—safe.

We continue to work alongside the Lincoln Police Department to educate students and families about safe e-scooter use and the laws that apply. Our shared goal is to raise awareness, encourage responsible riding, and prevent accidents before they happen.

Under California Vehicle Code 407.5(a), an e-scooter is defined as any two-wheeled device with handlebars and either a floorboard or a seat, powered by an electric motor. Here are a few key legal requirements from Vehicle Code 21235:

• Riders must have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit

• E-scooters cannot be operated on sidewalks

• No passengers are allowed

• Riders under 18 must wear a helmet

In addition, schools are responsible for supporting student safety during travel to and from campus. Due to an increase in e-scooter-related incidents—some involving serious injuries—we are making the following changes:

• E-scooters are not allowed on elementary and middle school campuses

• High school riders must have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit to use an e-scooter

With many families considering new transportation options at the start of the school year, we encourage you to review these safety rules and legal requirements before allowing your student to use an e-scooter. Together, we can start the year off safely.

We’re excited to share that our district’s internet filter system now offers a free parent app for both iPhone and Android called GoGuardian Parent. We’re currently in the process of setting it up and will be sending out a separate email soon with step-by-step instructions on how to download and use it.

This app gives parents and guardians helpful tools to promote safe and responsible internet use at home on district-issued devices, including the ability to:

• View your child’s browsing activity

• Block specific websites

• Pause the internet temporarily

• Set schedules for when the internet can be used

Important notes:

• Parents cannot unblock any websites that the district has already chosen to block.

• These tools will only work outside of school hours (e.g. evenings, weekends).

We know many families have asked for more control over online use without having to take away the device entirely — this app is designed to provide just that.

Stay tuned for more details coming soon by email!

Starting in the 2025–26 school year, student access to YouTube will be blocked on district devices.

This wasn’t an easy decision. While YouTube does have valuable educational content, it also contains a lot of inappropriate or distracting material. Despite using top content filters, we found too much harmful content was still getting through — and the platform is growing quickly, with hundreds of hours of video uploaded every minute.

Many school districts in California have made similar decisions, and we believe this change is the right step to keep students safe and focused.

What this means:

• Students will no longer be able to access YouTube.

• Teachers will still have access and can share specific, approved videos with students in a safe, controlled way.

We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us create a safer online environment for students.

The Hub is hosting a free vaccine clinic for families who need school-required immunizations on August 11th & 12th. Call us at 916-434-3760 to schedule your appointment. Let’s get ready for a healthy school year—together!

The Food Services Department upgraded kitchen equipment at GEMS, including new ovens and a tilt skillet. To support this, the kitchen received electrical, plumbing, and flooring improvements, along with new wall and floor finishes.

The Board recently approved a district-wide solar project to help reduce utility costs and support the upcoming addition of electric buses. Several campuses will receive solar carports and EV charging stations, while all schools will benefit from upgraded, energy-efficient lighting.

Solar and EV construction will begin this year and next at:

• TBHS

• TBMS

• TBE

• LHS

• Foskett Ranch

• Transportation Yard

The EV charging stations will be open to the public for a fee, generating additional revenue for the district. More to come on this, but we are excited to get this project going this school year!

Join us for a one-day-only celebration breakfast to kick off the new school year! On Thursday, August 15, we’ll be serving up a Breakfast Banana Split featuring creamy local Greek yogurt—because the first day back deserves a sweet start!

Have menu ideas or feedback? Don’t hesitate to reach out anytime — we would love to hear from you! Email us at plateful@wpusd.org.

The Ed Services and Site Admin Team are excited to get the new year underway. As we look to the first 6 weeks of school, we are focused on building relationships within our community. In our primary grades, we are also rolling out the new Early Literacy Reading Screening tool (RDRS) in grades K-2, continuing implementation of UFLI in grades K-3 to support early reading skills, and introducing an exciting new Social Science curriculum (called Studies Weekly) in grades K-5. At the secondary level, we are focused on providing quality instruction, thoughtful intervention, and opportunities for student voice, choice, and agency that leads to success in and out of the classroom and prepares students for college and career readiness! Welcome back to school!

WPUSD is hiring! Check out our current job openings at https://www.edjoin.org/wpusd. Be sure to share the Edjoin link with those who may be looking for employment!

Some of our current available positions:

• Instructional Aide - Creekside Oaks
• School Clerk II - Twelve Bridges Elementary (TBE)
• Health Clerk - TBE
• District Office Receptionist
• Special Education Teacher *SIGNING BONUS*
• Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Teacher *SIGNING BONUS*
• Bus Driver
• Campus Monitor - Various Sites
• Paraprofessional - Various Sites
• Various Coaching Positions
• Substitutes
• Many More!

Volunteering at schools helps build a stronger sense of community and support for students, showing them that their education matters. It also allows families and community members to play an active role in shaping a positive, welcoming school environment. Even small contributions of time can make a big difference.

Click here for information on how to become a volunteer!

Here's where you can find quick links to frequently searched items.

Website: www.wpusd.org
Location: 600 6th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, CA, USA
Phone: 916-645-6350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WPUSD/
Twitter: @WPUSD

Wondering where our past newsletters are camped out? 🏕️ Click here.

See ways we can improve our monthly newsletter? Let us know here!

Did you actually get this far through our newsletter? Thank you! We appreciate you!