Utopia ISD

All grade levels at Utopia ISD will be returning to face-to-face instruction on Monday, January 11th. Parents with specific questions concerning their students ability to return after a quarantine period please call (830) 966-1928.

The Jr. High Basketball game that is scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2021 in D'Hanis has been moved to Utopia. The game times will be: Girls A at 5:30pm Boys A at 6:30pm

Good afternoon everyone! To say that the first day back from winter break has been challenging would be an understatement, but once again the Utopia ISD family has overcome the obstacles and we are well on our way to getting over another hurdle and moving forward in a positive direction! As many of you are well aware, a significant number of the faculty, staff, students, and community members of Utopia ISD were affected by the COVID-19 virus over the winter break. After analyzing all of the information that our awesome faculty and staff gathered today, we determined that it will be best to continue with remote instruction for the PK through fourth grade classes for the rest of this week (January 4-8). There is only one teacher in those grades that is able to return before January 11th and there are not enough substitutes to be able to cover all of the classes. On the other hand, the vast majority of our fifth grade through twelfth grade students and faculty are healthy and able to return to face to face instruction. Therefore, students in these grades will return to on campus face to face instruction on Wednesday, January 6th. We will also be implementing some new procedures as well as reinforcing some of the existing protocols. A plan has been developed for checking students' temperatures when they come to school each day. Parents will still need to complete the COVID-19 certification for each of their students each day before sending them to school, but teachers will also check temperatures when the students arrive to their first period class. Please be aware that any student with a temperature or COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home. Options for returning to school will be explained by the school health professional upon pick up. Any student over ten years of age must wear a mask while in a school building and unable social distance (six feet). Students ten years of age and younger will be asked to wear masks when moving from one location to another and when exposed to students in other grade levels. Parents and guests will NOT be allowed in the school buildings during school hours. If a parent or guest needs to deliver something to a student or needs to pick up a student they must check in at the front desk and must be wearing a mask before being allowed in the building. Noon meals will still be allowed to be delivered to the campus. However, all meals must be delivered to the front desk and picked up by the student there. Students needing to pick up technology or anything out of the classroom or locker may call the front office at (830) 966-3339 to make arrangements. Concession stands at the basketball games will be suspended until further notice. Utopia ISD has been very fortunate that the COVID-19 virus has not affected us more that it has. However, with the occurrence of these cases over the winter break we are reminded that we are not immune to the effects of the outside world. We thank you for your continued patients and understanding while we take the precautions necessary to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community. Thank you, Michael Superintendent Utopia ISD

Utopia ISD will be in a remote learning setting today and tomorrow. Further detailed information will be released as soon as it is compiled. Thank you

December 16, 2020 This evening the administration at Utopia ISD was made aware of the fact that an employee of the district tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Upon learning of the positive test results the district followed the Texas Education Agency guidelines for close contact and contact tracing to determine what individuals in the district would be affected. Following the guidelines, it was determined that five faculty members and two students will require quarantine. At this time no further action is being taken to cancel or postpone any other activities. However, we will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments, if it becomes necessary. The safety of the faculty, staff, students, and community members will always be the first priority of the district. Once again, we appreciate your understanding and patience in these very uncertain and trying times. Thank you, Michael Derry Superintendent Utopia ISD

UPCOMING EVENTS at UTOPIA SCHOOL Elementary Christmas Program, Thurs 12/17 @ 6:30 in Gym A Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, Fri 12/18 Early Release, Fri 12/18 @ 12:55pm Christmas Holiday, Dec 21-Jan 1

Christmas program flyer

December 09, 2020 Today, at approximately 1:30 PM, officials at Utopia ISD were informed that a male student athlete at Comstock High School tested positive for the COVID-19 virus this morning. The athlete participated in the basketball game last night against the Utopia High School Buffalo boys’ basketball team. Following the close contact rules set forth by the Center for Disease Control all members of the Utopia ISD boys basketball team that participated in the game last night will be required to quarantine for ten days. This will mean that each of the boys will need to remain at home until Saturday, December 19th. All quarantined students will be moved to a remote learning setting. No other students were in direct contact with the source of the virus and at this time will not need to be quarantined. Utopia ISD will release any related information concerning this situation should any further developments occur. Please rest assured that the safety of the students and faculty are always of paramount importance to everyone at Utopia ISD and we take this situation very seriously. We will continue to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 virus and take any appropriate actions necessary to protect staff and students. We appreciate your understanding! Thank you, Michael Derry Superintendent Utopia ISD

Please be aware that Utopia ISD plans to conduct a LOCK DOWN drill on Friday, December 11, 2020 at approximately 1:00 PM. Please do not be alarmed if your student comes home and talks about the lockdown. It is only a drill and is required by the Texas Education Agency and is a normal part of each semester.

WOW do we have an AMAZING community or what? I published a request to sponsor a sophomore at HOBY Leadership camp and we now have sufficient funds to send 2 students!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to the generous donors who made this tradition possible during difficult times.

A big shout out and congratulations to Meagan Cole (grades 7-9) and Tyler Trammell (grades 10-12) for winning the Nueces-Sabinal-Frio Soil and Water Conservation District essay contest! Each student will received a check for $100 for their winning essay.

4-H will be serving Chili at Christmas in the Canyon starting at 5pm. Make sure to stop by and have some delicious Chili.

Don't forget about Christmas in the Canyon and Light up Parade is this Saturday, December 5th @ 6:15pm. All businesses and personal flats are welcome to participate. We will be lining up at the Water Plant at 6:15pm.

Attention 4-H and FFA members/parents: DEADLINE for Uvalde Co. Jr. Livestock Show entry forms for Ag Mechanics, Food Show, Rabbits, Angora Goats, Photography and Salsa is Monday, Dec 7 at 5:00pm at the Extension office. If you would like Mr. Dalrymple to take your forms to Uvalde, entry forms need to be delivered to him before 3:00 TODAY, Friday 12/4. Any forms not delivered before 3:00 today will be the contestants responsibility to deliver to Uvalde.

Every year a Utopia sophomore student is selected to attend the HOBY Texas-Capital Area Leadership Seminar which is scheduled for 6/11 - 06/13/2021 at University of Texas at Austin*, Austin, TX. We are normally allocated one spot on a scholarship which unfortunately this year has fallen away. We are looking for $395 to give a sophomore this wonderful opportunity. We welcome all donations big or small. Please contact Mrs. Kay akay@utopiaisd.net Thank you in advance! "HOBY's mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation. HOBY has provided transformative leadership development to high school sophomores for over 60 years, and now, more than ever, we're committed to continuing that tradition. When students participate in our State Leadership Seminars, they discover their leadership potential and learn how to make positive changes in their schools and community."

YMCA Basketball forms are due ASAP to Gini at Swiss Air or Karen in Superintendent's Office. If you have any questions, please call Gini Hobb's contact # 830-279-2795.

The opposing teams have cancelled the basketball games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, November 23rd and 24th.

From Ms. Reyes and the UISD cafeteria: Thursday we will be serving a Thanksgiving meal to students and staff only (due to Covid restrictions). On the menu: Turkey Ham Cornbread Stuffing Cranberry Sauce Mashed Potatoes w/ gravy Green Beans Dinner Roll Pie

Floral design will have flower arrangements and centerpieces available for Thanksgiving. They will range from $30.00 - $50.00 depending on the size. Pictures will be posted on Wednesday and Thursday.

Meat Up