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ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CENTER

A wide variety of educational opportunities

Weekly Superintendent Update 10.29.26

Posted Date: 10/29/26 (04:05 PM)

Dear Sierra Unified Community, 

As we move deeper into the school year, I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of one of the most valuable partnerships in education: the partnership between our schools and our families. 

Parent-teacher conferences are an important opportunity to dig in and dig deep into student learning. These conversations allow parents and teachers to work together to celebrate student successes, identify areas where additional support may be needed, and develop a clear understanding of how we can help every student reach their potential. 

While grades and progress reports provide a snapshot of how a student is doing, conferences offer an opportunity to look beyond the numbers. We hope you asked questions and learned about your child’s strengths, where they may be struggling, and what specific skills they need to develop. We hope you were able to talk with your child’s teacher about what you can do at home to reinforce classroom learning and how we can work together to ensure continued growth. Thank you to all the parents who attended these important meetings.

This is the time of year when the learning happening in our classrooms is especially important. The habits, foundational skills, and academic progress students develop now will influence their success throughout the remainder of the year and beyond. We want our students to be challenged, supported, and actively engaged in their learning. That requires all of us to dig in, look closely at student progress, and be intentional about the next steps.

At Sierra Unified, our commitment is clear: Every Student Reaching Their Potential—Every Day. Thank you to our families and teachers for working together to make that commitment a reality.  When we communicate openly, address challenges early, and celebrate growth along the way, our students benefit.

 Friday Night Lights: The Mountain Bowl

We also want to wish our Sierra High School football team the very best of luck as they take on Yosemite tomorrow night in the Mountain Bowl! 

After winning their last two games in a row, these young men have given us plenty to be proud of. Their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to one another are paying off on the field. Football teaches lessons that extend far beyond the scoreboard: teamwork, discipline, resilience, and the importance of showing up for one another. We are incredibly proud of the effort these student-athletes continue to put forth. They represent Sierra with pride, and we look forward to seeing our community come together to support them.

Good luck, Chieftains! Let's bring that Mountain Strong spirit to the Mountain Bowl! 

Measure U: Modernization Update

Mark Wilson Construction is scheduled to begin work on Classrooms 19-25 on November 19-25 on November 2, 2026!

To accommodate the restroom renovations, students and staff have been notified and redirected to the Tunnel restrooms in the adjacent building. To help make the transition as smooth and safe as possible, clear signage and additional supervision with be provided.

During this phase, students, and staff may see construction workers, heavy equipment and hazardous materials abatement teams wearing full protective suits. All hazardous materials will be handled in accordance with safety requirements, with a third-party professional monitoring the process to ensure safety and compliance.

Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and cooperation as we continue making improvements to our campus! We look forward to the refreshed learning spaces and facilities these projects will bring.

We are a small community with a tremendous amount of heart, and when we work together, there is no limit to what our students can accomplish. 

Mountain Strong!
Dr. Lori Grace
Superintendent, Sierra Unified School District