Back To School In Mission Viejo: 2021-22 School Calendar

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Back-to-school planning has already begun with calendars available to help parents prepare for the first day back to school at the Saddleback Unified School District.

Heading into the upcoming school year, some dates are subject to change as the coronavirus pandemic nears its year-and-a-half point. Students have the opportunity to opt for Independent Study off-campus, however, school officials say they are looking forward to the majority of students returning to campus.

During the ongoing pandemic, the Saddleback Unified School District school board is turning to state and CDC guidance for protecting students, as well as parent intervention in advance of the school year.

At Saddleback Unified School District, there should be no confusion when it comes to keeping students, teachers and support staff safe on campus.

There will be masks indoors at every elementary, middle and high school in the district, according to district spokesperson Mark Perez. Sanitization stations are in place, as well as bottle filling stations rather than water fountains. There will not be temperature checks at the gate or desk shields in the classrooms, and parents are asked to conduct self-checks at home before arriving on campus, he says.

It will be as "normal as possible" for students, according to Perez. Outside of the classroom and indoor spaces, masks will not be required on any campus.

Back to School, The New Normal

As far as secondary students, athletes will take to the fields, and sporting events will take place as normal, according to Director of Secondary Education James Newton. Homecoming, clubs, social events and proms are also expected.

"We recognize that those activities are important, and we look forward to students reengaging with campus life at the secondary school level," Newton told Patch. "Expect normal activities to return, from club rush to dances and carnivals." Even more than that is a realization that the majority of high school sophomores have only spent the first semester of their freshman year on campus.

"At the high schools, there will be increased staffing to support students and make sure they are on track to graduate," Newton says. That support staff will help students develop good study habits, as students can meet independently or in small groups before school, at lunch or after school.

Overall, parents can expect support from the school district at every level with the mental and physical health of the students, Perez says, and they hope for parent flexibility and understanding as the year will be "fluid."

State public health officials have suggested that schools find alternative educational opportunities for students who are excluded from campus because they will not wear a face covering, according to the state public health officials in an emailed statement. That opportunity exists at Saddleback USD.

This year, once again, there will be meal programs for families. Expect to learn more in the coming days about free and reduced meals for families that need assistance.

As for student health, the district is in communication with Dr. Clayton Chau, and the Orange County Health Care Agency, and will monitor any positive student, teacher or administrator cases with contact tracing.

"Should your student become quarantined, there is a strategy in place so that they can continue to be supported outside of school," he says. "We want to educate our parents on what support exists, and emphasize that we are coming off a very different time away from the classroom. What is most important is that we develop relationships between students and teachers, support staff and students, and see that we all play an important role in education this year."

Here is the list of dates to know for the 2021/22 school year:

Saddleback Unified School District

• First Day: Aug. 16
• Labor Day: Sept. 6
• Veteran’s Day: Nov. 11
• Local Holiday: Nov. 12
• Non-School Recess Days: Nov. 22-24
• Thanksgiving Holiday: Nov. 25-26
• Winter Break: Dec. 20 - 31
• Martin Luther King Day: Jan 17
• President’s Weekend: Feb. 18 & 21 (Friday, Monday)
• Spring Break: April 11 -15
• Memorial Day: May 30
• Graduation Day: June 2, 2022
• Last Day: June 2, 2022

See and download your full district calendar here.