Posted on Sunday / September 18

In this week’s Family Update we share important updates regarding the removal of the mask mandate on DPAC campus, and new metal detecting procedures during morning arrival. We also want to highlight our active civics program as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and prepare for Get Out the Vote!

Many DPAC teachers started on Thursday, the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, with lots of rich information about the contributions the Hispanic culture has provided for everyone here in the United States. Ms. Munson, our Elementary School Civics Coordinator has made plans to ensure we “keep the celebration going, at least once a week,  allowing time for open discussions, research presentations, videos, read aloud books, arts and crafts, drawings, music and let’s not forget the delicious, tasty good Hispanic and Latinx food we can share in so many different ways with our scholars to bring awareness to this important culture here in America.” Thank you for joining in the celebration! If you have questions regarding any of the below articles please reach out to dpac_info@democracyprep.org

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Important Changes

Removal of Mask Mandate

Thank you to the nearly 300 families who participated in the Mask Mandate Survey! We took under consideration the results to the family/staff survey, health recommendations from trusted health agencies, and local school charter oversight guidelines to help guide our decision making. Beginning Monday, September 19th masks will be encouraged, but no longer required while on the DPAC campus. DPAC will no longer provide masks. The results of the survey were approximately 2 to 1 in favor of removing the mask mandate. We understand that many families did still have strong feelings in favor of keeping the mask mandate, thank you for sharing your input. We encourage everyone to still wear their mask as an optional personal safety precaution. This transition will keep us in compliance with local SPCSA, Nevada Department of Health, and CDC guidelines.  Masks are optional, however there are certain circumstances that will require mask wearing. Families will be responsible for providing masks for their scholars if required. DPAC will no longer purchase or supply masks. Masks are required if:

• If a scholar tests positive, please notify the school immediately, they will quarantine for 5 days and then continue to wear a mask on days 6-10.
• If a scholar or staff is symptomatic they may be assigned to wear a mask for 10 days by the DPAC Nurse
• If a scholar or staff is deemed a close contact to a positive case on campus, they will be required to wear a mask for 10 days.

Safety Procedures Upon Arrival

DPAC has implemented a new daily procedure upon arrival where all 6th – 12th grade scholars must pass a metal detector prior to entering campus. Please see THIS LETTER from Dr. Nash that went out on Thursday, September 15th outlining the rationale and detailing the new procedures. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

This Week’s Events 

Open House – Wednesday

We are excited to open the campus and the classrooms for an Open House on Wednesday, September 21st! This will be an opportunity to meet teachers and see your scholar’s classrooms. The event will go from 4:00 – 6:00pm, with main introductions in the gym and cafeteria occurring from DPAC leadership at 4pm and again at 5pm.  Following the introductions, families may visit their scholar’s classrooms for a brief presentation from their teacher.  Each teacher presentation ends with a Q&A session with the entire group.  This is not to be mistaken with Family Teacher Conferences, which will occur on November 10th.  Open House allows you to visit the classroom, meet your scholars teachers, and ask questions in a group setting.  Family Teacher Conferences will provide an opportunity to discuss  your scholar’s specific academic or behavioral updates in a 1 on 1 setting with teachers.

Homecoming Tickets On Sale This Week

Civics Update

Get Out The Vote (GOTV)

Voting is the most effective way to make your voice as a member of our society heard! It is a shared American freedom, but to exercise this basic right, we must be registered to vote! On this National Voter Registration Day, please consider taking one of the following actions::

• Visiting weall.vote/democracyprep to:
  1) Check your voter registration status and/or
  2) Register to vote
• Encouraging 3 friends or family members to vote!

The deadline to register to vote in our state is November 3rd, 2022. To learn more about absentee voting, visit: www.vote.org  To learn more about what’s on the ballot, visit: https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page

• All 435 House of Representatives seats and 35 Senate seats will be up for election.
• 36 states will vote for Governor.
• Altogether, 309 state executive offices — including Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, and more — are up for election across 44 states.
• 99% of elected positions up for election are at the state and local levels!

Thank you for taking the necessary steps to grow as an active citizen-scholar!

Supporting Scholars Beyond the Classroom

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