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Communications

communicatons

 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

The Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District’s (DCJESD) Department of Communications is committed to providing urgent and resourceful information to staff, parents/guardians, students, and community members. The goal is to increase awareness and communicate major announcements, policy changes, district, student, and staff achievements, and essential DCJESD activities.

The Communications Department is vital in managing all internal and external communications, ensuring clear and compelling messaging across various platforms. This includes fostering connections with community partners to enhance collaboration and engagement. The team is responsible for videography and community relations, promoting positive interactions, and showcasing district initiatives. Additionally, the department oversees media relations, managing press inquiries and crafting media responses, including press releases. The department also manages the district's website and social media accounts, leveraging these tools for marketing and community outreach. In times of crisis, the communications department is crucial in developing timely responses to inform and reassure staff, parents/guardians, students, and community members.

Renee Balderas

  
 

 

 

Renee Balderas
Chief Communications Officer
rbalderas@dcjesd.us
916-770-8851

Michelle POntes

Michelle Pontes
Communications Technician
mpontes@dcjesd.us
916-770-8818

Dry Creek Storytelling

 

Dry Creek Storytelling

The Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District Communications Team has taken storytelling to a new level, producing videos highlighting our district, schools, staff, and students. 

Video Library

PARENTSQUARE COMMUNICATIONS

parentsquare

DCJESD uses ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number. We encourage parents to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified.

This user-friendly tool enables schools to share important updates, announcements, and events through various formats, including text messages, emails, and app notifications. Parents can easily access information about their child's school activities, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events, fostering a stronger connection between families and the school community. With ParentSquare, school staff, and parents can engage in one-to-one and group messaging with real-time language translation.

Here’s what you can do with ParentSquare:

  • Receive messages from the school via email, text or app notification 
  • Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6pm 
  • Communicate in your preferred language
  • Comment on school postings to engage with your school community
  • Direct message teachers, staff and other parents
  • Participate in group messages
  • Sign up for parent-teacher conferences
  • Sign forms & permission slips, sign up to volunteer and more all from your desktop or mobile device

ParentSquare Posts

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS AND SAFETY

DCJESD has a crisis communications plan that includes utilizing ParentSquare to provide important information and emergency alert notifications to families and staff, primarily through email, text, and app notifications. To ensure you receive the most accurate information on a crisis, please log into the Aeries Parent Portal and verify your contact information. You must be identified as the student's Educational Rights Holder to update contact information.

CRISIS COMMUNICATION METHODS

DCJESD staff, parents/guardians, and community members can expect to receive communications during and after a crisis via the following:

CRISIS SITUATIONS

Families can expect to receive communications for the following incidents:

  • Lockdown
  • Threat against campus
  • Weapon on campus
  • Gas Leak
  • Fire
  • Air quality
  • Excessive heat
  • Flooding
  • Power outage
  • Police activity near campus

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How and when will I be notified of a crisis at my child’s school? 

Clear communication and understanding are crucial in an emergency. The means of immediate notification for a school emergency will vary depending on the nature of the crisis event and the potential or actual impact on students' safety. Please note that not every incident will result in a notification, as the response will depend on the severity and nature of the situation. Every situation must be assessed based on multiple factors to determine the appropriate notification response.

How can I receive timely and accurate notifications from my child’s school?

As a reminder, DCJESD relies on ParentSquare for all school communication, including general and emergency messaging, primarily through email, text, and app notifications. To ensure you receive the most accurate information on a crisis, keep your contact information updated with schools on your child’s Aeries Parent Portal. 

We highly encourage parents and guardians to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified and the preferred language translation to receive messaging.

SAFETY

DCJESD takes pride in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, which is our top priority. The district has a comprehensive crisis plan, and district administrators work closely to monitor and update plans regularly. Our schools also have security measures to ensure the well-being of students and staff, including:

  • Visitor check-in procedures.
  • Locked doors after the start of the school day.
  • Surveillance cameras.

DRILLS AND PREPAREDNESS

Practicing safety drills is essential for ensuring the preparedness of students and staff in our schools. At the elementary level, fire drills are conducted monthly, while middle schools hold them quarterly to reinforce safety protocols. Additionally, lockdown barricade drills are performed three times a year, and earthquake drills are conducted at least twice annually. 

Following each drill, school sites typically send home a message to families, informing them that the drill was a practice exercise, helping to alleviate any concerns and keeping parents informed about the safety measures in place.

MEDIA RELATIONS

The Communications Department is committed to promptly addressing all media inquiries. Please direct all media inquiries to:

Renee Balderas
Chief Communications Officer
rbalderas@dcjesd.us
(916) 770-8851

Our district is committed to providing accurate, reliable, and timely information to the public per Board Policy 1112. We recognize that effective communication is essential in fostering transparency and trust within our community. We are dedicated to cultivating strong media relations, understanding that collaboration with journalists enhances our ability to keep the community informed and engaged. Together, we strive to ensure that every community member has access to the information they need to stay connected and informed.

SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES

connect with dry creek

Comments Policy

We welcome you and your comments to the Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District's (DCJESD) social media pages.

The purpose of our social media sites is to share news and information about DCJESD. We encourage questions and comments, but please note this is a moderated online discussion site and not a public forum. Community-contributed content on the page is the opinion of the specific author and does not represent DCJESD.

DCJESD abides by Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, and the District asks its fans and followers to do the same. DCJESD reserves the right to delete posted comments and images that are:

• defamatory, pornographic, proprietary, harassing, libelous, or may be considered hostile; 
• spam or include links to other sites; 
• clearly off-topic; 
• advocate illegal activity; 
• promote particular services, products, or political organizations; 
• infringe on copyrights or trademarks.

Please note that the comments expressed on this site do not reflect the official opinions and positions of the DCJESD or the DCJESD Board of Trustees.

Facebook encourages all users to utilize the "Report" links when they find abusive content. DCJESD thanks you in advance for your contributions to the District’s Facebook, Instagram, and X pages, and for your help in creating a safe and vibrant online community.

View our District-Sponsored Social Media Policy

View our District-Sponsored Social Media Regulation