ORINDA UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
NEWSLETTER
March 15, 2019
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2018-19 OUSD Classified Employees of the Year from L to R: Cheryl McNair (GL), Mary Brakefield (DO), Dung Diep (SH), Michelle Brobak (DR), and Keli Cooper (OIS). Not pictured: Celia Cornejo (WR) and Mike Lent (M&O).
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Dear OUSD Families,
Next Wednesday, March 20, is the Vernal Equinox, or first day of Spring. On this date, the length of day and night is nearly equal. Spring is a time of growth and renewal. I hope that each of you enjoys time for rejuvenation with your children, family, and friends during our upcoming Spring Break on April 1-5. Our OUSD teachers, staff, and administrators look forward to making the remaining weeks of this school year memorable and filled with meaningful opportunities to grow and learn for our students.
2018-19 Classified Employees of the Year
During Monday’s meeting, the Board of Trustees honored our 2018-19 Classified Employees of the Year from each school, the District Office, and Maintenance and Operations (M & O). Classified employees are the unsung heroes of our schools because their work is often conducted behind the scenes. Our classified employees include school secretaries and clerks, instructional and special services assistants, custodians, library technicians, maintenance and operations personnel, technology assistants, occupational therapists, and personnel at the District Office.
The following honorees were nominated and selected by their peers to represent their site because of their outstanding job performance, work ethic, and commitment to teamwork. Here are the 2018-19 Orinda Union School District Classified Employees of the Year:
- Del Rey: Michelle Brobak, Secretary
- Glorietta: Cheryl McNair, Secretary
- Sleepy Hollow: Dung Diep, Head Custodian
- Wagner Ranch: Celia Cornejo, Inst. Assistant
- OIS: Keli Cooper, Secretary
- M & O: Mike Lent, Maintenance Craftsman
- District Office: Mary Brakefield, Payroll Technician
To read more about each honoree and learn who was selected as the Orinda Union School District Classified Employee of the Year, click
here
.
OrindaCares Service Learning Project for OUSD Elementary Students Benefitting Paradise Students and Staff - Volunteers Needed
OrindaCares (a collaboration among OUSD, Mindful Littles, the City of Orinda, Miramonte High School, and the Orinda Rotary) is working with our elementary school students to create and assemble 300 Peace Kits to distribute to families and teachers affected by the Camp Fire in Paradise. We need volunteers to help facilitate these projects at our OUSD schools from March 18th-25th. Can you give an hour or two of your time to help with this important mindful service learning opportunity? The volunteer sign up can be found
here
.
Thanks for your support!
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As always, I welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions on any topic related to our OUSD schools.
Sincerely,
Dr. Carolyn Seaton
Superintendent of Schools
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- March 20: OUSD Board Del Rey Site Visit, 8:30 -11:00 a.m.
- April 1-5: Spring Break - No School
- April 11: Parent Education Event: Facing History/Raising an Upstander, 6:00-7:30 p.m. (Del Rey)
- April 15: Regular School Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
- April 17: OUSD Board OIS Site Visit, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
- April 18: OUSD Board Coffee, 8:15-9:15 a.m. (Sleepy Hollow)
- April 24: OUSD Board Wagner Ranch Site Visit, 8:30-11:00 a.m.
- April 25: Del Rey and Sleepy Hollow Open House, Minimum Day for Sleepy Hollow and Del Rey only
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2018-2019
OUSD Board School Assignments:
OIS: Jason Kaune
Del
Rey: Hillary Weiner
Glorietta: Carol Brown
Sleepy Hollow: Cara Hoxie
Wagner Ranch: Liz Daoust
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The Board of Trustees took the following actions at their March 11, 2019, regularly scheduled monthly meeting:
- The Board appointed Maple Lai as Associate Principal at OIS, beginning July 1, 2019.
- The Board recognized the OUSD Classified Employees of the Year: Michelle Brobak (Del Rey), Mary Brakefield (District Office), Cheryl McNair (Glorietta), Michael Lent (Maintenance and Operations), Keli Cooper (OIS), Dung Diep (Sleepy Hollow), and Celia Cornejo (Wagner Ranch)
- The Board approved the Contra Costa SELPA Local Plan
- The Board approved the Second Interim Budget Report
- The Board approved Resolution 19-08 Entering Election Results
- The Board appointed 8 members to the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
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Character Education March Focus: Integrity
Schools across the District are focused this month on our theme of Integrity, which we define as:
- Being strong enough to do what you know is right.
- Knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing the right thing, even when it’s hard.
Some examples of integrity that teachers have shared with kids include:
- If a friend asks to copy your homework, explain that it is not the right thing to do.
- Telling your feelings without blaming others, exaggerating the truth, or hurting someone else’s feelings.
School site activities focused on Integrity have included: citizenship awards for Integrity at OIS, using specific books at all sites to teach important lessons about doing the right thing, student assemblies and other school-wide events that celebrate acts of Integrity, and students who have demonstrated their own Integrity in class and at school.
Read more
for information on District STEAM programs and inspiring teacher training in the area of writing instruction.
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Raising an Upstander: Exploring Diversity through the Power of Stories and Books
Prejudice and intolerance often arise through a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. For over 40 years,
Facing History and Ourselves
has helped teachers, students, and parents to learn about prejudice, discrimination, and intolerance so they can prevent it in the future. Join us for an interactive workshop about the stories our children hear and read and the impact that literature has on the development of empathy and identity. We will share ideas for how parents can help their children develop a passion for reading by navigating the world of books that reflect the diversity of our modern society.
All are welcome to join us for this powerful presentation. Here are the details:
- Date: Thursday, April 11, 2019
- Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- Location: Del Rey Elementary School
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Spotlight on Maple Lai
New OIS Associate Principal
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The OUSD Board of Trustees and OIS Principal Stacy Wayne are thrilled to announce the hiring of Ms. Maple Lai as the next Associate Principal of OIS. Ms. Lai first joined OUSD in 2008 as a fourth grade teacher at Wagner Ranch Elementary. She quickly assumed teacher leadership roles such as grade level lead for Reading and Writing Workshop, beginning teacher support mentor, and District math chair. Last year Ms. Lai left OUSD to be the Assistant Principal of a K-8 school in the Dublin Unified School District. When the Associate Principal position at OIS was publicized, she eagerly applied.
OUSD received 54 applications for the OIS Associate Principal position, and 9 of those applicants were selected to interview. The interview panel included a student, teachers, staff, parents, administrators, and Board Members. This panel recommended Ms. Lai and two additional candidates for the second round of interviews. Throughout the interview process, Ms. Lai distinguished herself as
highly knowledgeable about best practices in pedagogy
and a champion for all students. She is the perfect choice for OIS’s next Associate Principal.
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Del Rey enjoyed an amazing assembly featuring the AXIS Dance Company on March 12th. As a pioneer of integrated dance, AXIS creates opportunities locally and abroad for people with disabilities to engage in dance by championing access, inclusion, and equity for people with disabilities both in dance and in the wider community. AXIS is respected for its integrity on all levels of its artistic, engagement, and advocacy programs.
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Upcoming Events
:
- March 21: Parent Education Event - Facing History, 7:00 p.m.
- March 29: Spring Sing: Grades: K, 2, 4 @ 9 a.m., Grades 1,3,5 @ 10:30 a.m.
- April 18: Del Rey Talent Show
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On March 1st, Glorietta celebrated Read Across America. The school enjoyed a school-wide pajama day, read in, and buddy activities across the campus. On March 4, during Glorietta’s monthly assembly acknowledging Empathy classroom winners, Glorietta had a special kick-off assembly with Mad Science for the upcoming Science Fair on March 20th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The community is invited to come see the children’s projects and interact with over a dozen science exhibitors. There will be food trucks, live animals, slime making, and so much more!
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Upcoming Events
:
- March 18-21: Kindergarten Welcome Days - Minimum Day schedule for Kindergarteners
- March 18-19: Orinda Cares Peace Kit making with Buddy Classes/Mindful Littles
- March 20: Science Fair Night, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
- March 29: Spring Sing
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Sleepy Hollow is in the middle of a marvelous "March Madness" month. Sleepy Hollow is also practicing being honest, fair, and kind each day as we focus on the character trait, Integrity, this month.
At the beginning of March, Sleepy Hollow teachers received amazing professional development from reading and writing workshop consultant, Tara Thomas. Building on previous work with Tara in January, work continued with developing strategies to support the growth and independence of a writer.
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Upcoming Events:
- March 21: School Site Council Meeting, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
- March 22-23: School Musical - Seussical (MPR)
- March 28: Spring Sing! K/2/4 at 9:00 a.m.; 1/3/5 at 10:30 a.m. (MPR)
- April 9-11: STEAM Expo
- April 11: STEAM Expo Open House, 5:30-8:00 p.m. (MPR)
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5th grade teacher Alex Wise has left Wagner Ranch to begin her maternity leave. Wagner Ranch is very fortunate to have Sean O’Connor to serve as a long term substitute for the remainder of the year. Sean is an Orinda resident who, after a career in the commercial real estate industry, is pursuing a long held enthusiasm for learning by entering the world of education.
On February 26th, Wagner Ranch’s Student Council visited the CCC Food Bank to learn more about what happens with the food that we and others donate.
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Upcoming Events
:
- March 14-15: Orinda Cares Ponderosa Elementary Service Project
- March 14-15: Culmination of float your boat challenge
- March 27: Spring Sing
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March at Orinda Intermediate School began the annual Diverse Abilities Awareness Week (DAAW). During this week, 6th graders participated in a variety of activities that presented challenges that some individuals face every day, including differences in learning styles, auditory and visual processing, sensory integration, and physical capacity. This experiential learning opportunity allowed students to gain a better understanding of diverse abilities and how we can truly appreciate and celebrate differences.
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Upcoming Events
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- March 19: OIS Site Council, 3:45 p.m.
- March 22: Parents' Club Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
- March 22: End of 3rd Quarter
- March 25: First Day of 4th Quarter
- March 28: Science Night, 6:30 p.m.
- April 25-27: Bulldog Theater's Footloose: The Musical
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Hooray for Spring and sunshine! As we head into the final months of the school year, EFO is pleased to report that it is getting close to meeting the EFO fundraising goal for 2018-2019, but still needs everyone's support to maintain their commitment to OUSD for the current year. If you haven't made your contribution yet, please go to
EFO’s website
and donate today! Thank you to all who have already contributed - if everyone gives, everyone wins!
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