Dear Egan Families,
Thank you to all of the parents and guardians who joined us for Back-to-School Night. It was so nice to welcome so many of you to campus, connect in person, and give you a glimpse into your student’s day at Egan. Our staff appreciated the opportunity to share more about their classes, routines, expectations, and the work ahead this year.
I also want to thank our PTA and LAEF representatives for being part of the evening and for their continued support of our students, staff, and school community. Their partnership makes a meaningful difference and helps strengthen the Egan experience for all of our Vikings.
Last week, Ms. Patiño and I had the opportunity to visit classes during PE to review school-wide expectations with students. We talked about what it means to live out our Egan philosophy: Be Here. Be You. Belong. We also had important conversations about how we treat one another and what harassment or bullying can look and feel like, especially when connected to race, religion, sexual orientation, or other aspects of identity. Our message to students was simple and important: every Viking deserves to feel respected, included, and safe at school.
As part of those conversations, we also talked with students about bike and e-bike safety. We know many of our students ride to school, and with the traffic on West Portola during arrival and dismissal, we want to make sure everyone is making safe and responsible choices. This is not about discouraging students from being independent; it is about helping them understand the responsibility that comes with riding to and from campus.
We reminded students that any bike or e-bike they ride to school needs to be street legal, age appropriate, and operated safely. Under California law, riders under 18 must wear a properly fitted helmet when riding a bicycle or e-bike. Students under 16 may not operate a Class 3 e-bike, which can provide pedal assistance up to 28 mph. Class 3 e-bikes are only legal for riders who are at least 16 years old.
We are also asking students to walk their bikes as they get close to campus, especially in the high-traffic along West Portola. Students are expected to follow all traffic laws, wear helmets, ride safely, and make sure their bike or e-bike is appropriate for their age. If a student rides unsafely, rides an illegal or age-inappropriate e-bike, or does not follow school safety expectations, they may lose the privilege of riding a bike or e-bike to school.
We ask families to help reinforce these expectations at home. We have had accidents in the past, and our goal is to be proactive so that every student feels safe arriving to and leaving campus each day.
Thank you again for your partnership and for helping us start the year with such positive energy. We are grateful for this community and look forward to a great year ahead.
Go Vikings!
Lisa Taormina
