ORINDA UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
NEWSLETTER
October 9, 2020
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Dear Orinda USD Families,
Next week, October 12-16, 2020, is Week of the School Administrator as recognized by the California Department of Education. In Orinda USD, we are incredibly fortunate to have an amazing team of Principals and Directors who work tirelessly to provide an excellent educational experience for all students. Please join me in thanking them for their outstanding leadership, particularly during these past seven months of the pandemic:
Principals: Kirsten Theurer (Del Rey); Tracey Lewis (Glorietta); Stacy Wayne and Maple Lai (OIS Principal and Associate Principal); Patsy Templeton (Sleepy Hollow), Jim Manheimer (Wagner Ranch)
Directors: Bobby Bardenhagen (Technology); Brian Inglesby, Ed.D. (Human Resources); Carrie Nerheim, Ed.D. (Student Services); David Schrag (Curriculum and Instruction); Stuart House (Facilities); Teresa Sidrian (Business Services - Interim)
The OPEN Plan has been updated as follows:
Health and Safety Section (reviewed by five medical doctors)
- A symptom decision tree has been added to screen all students and staff for potential COVID-19 symptoms. (p. 22)
- A quick guide has been added to use when someone has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. (p. 23)
Student Wellness and Support
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A document has been created that provides strategies for supporting students in areas such as self-awareness, optimistic thinking, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, goal directed behavior, personal responsibility, and decision making. (p. 25)
Facilities
- The District has ordered MERV-13 air filters for all classrooms and office spaces. (p. 29)
The OPEN Plan is a "living" document that will continue to be updated to reflect specifics about how Orinda USD is responding to COVID-19 as well as any changes in state and local requirements or guidance. To access the full OPEN Plan, click here or on the image posted at left.
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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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October 12-16: Week of the School Administrator
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October 12: Teacher Professional Development Day, Non-Student Day
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October 14: Superintendent Site Visit at Wagner Ranch
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October 20-23: Elementary Parent Conference Week; Minimum Days at Elementary Schools Only
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October 21: Superintendent Site Visit at OIS
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October 27: Coordinating Council Meeting
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October 28: Superintendent Site Visit at Del Rey
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November 11: Veteran's Day Holiday, No School
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November 12: Board Virtual Coffee (School Site To Be Announced)
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2020-21 Orinda USD Board School Assignments:
OIS: Liz Daoust
Del Rey: Cara Hoxie
Glorietta: Hillary Weiner
Sleepy Hollow: Jason Kaune
Wagner Ranch: Carol Brown
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The Board of Trustees took the following actions at their October 5, 2020, regularly scheduled monthly meeting:
- The Board enjoyed a STEAM presentation by 2nd grade Sleepy Hollow students.
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The Board approved Resolution #21-06 Sufficiency of Textbooks.
- The Board discussed and took action on the following Board Policies and Administrative Regulations:
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BP-AR 5116.1: Intra-District Transfer Open Enrollment
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BP-AR 6145: Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities
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BP-AR 6142.7: Physical Education and Activity
The Board discussed, but took no action on the following items:
If you would like information regarding future Board meetings, email Debbie Jamieson at djamieson@orindaschools.org.
Upcoming Events
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October 14: Special Board Meeting, 5:00 p.m.
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November 9: Regular Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
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Wellness Inclusion Student and Staff Equity (WISSE) Meeting
Orinda USD continues to deepen our diversity, equity, and inclusion work throughout the District. One central driver of this work is our Wellness, Inclusion, Student & Staff Equity (WISSE) group, a collaboration among our school site community coalitions and the District, which includes representative parents, school site staff, and district staff. The most recent WISSE meeting was held on October 7, during which an outline of the group's action plan for the 2020-21 school year was reviewed. Meeting highlights included a discussion about the school book clubs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The group is focusing on three main areas as part of their WISSE Action Plan:
- Developing a web page for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion which includes a list of links and resources for staff, parents, and students
- Planning a Parent Education series with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
- Continuing the process for all Orinda USD schools to be designated “No Place For Hate”
Additionally, the group engaged in important conversations about how we can address the upcoming November election in ways that support students and families who represent a variety of viewpoints. Resources are being developed and will be shared soon with teachers and parents/guardians so they can understand how better to support students through this time.
Oct 12th Professional Development Day
On Monday, October 12, Orinda USD is holding a district-wide Professional Development Day. Teachers will spend valuable time in the morning attending sessions focused on best practices and strategies for distance learning, and during the afternoon teachers will be collaborating in their grade level or departmental teams. The highlight will be a presentation from Nick Zefeldt, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction from the Contra Costa County Office of Education. Given all of the challenges of distance learning and the formidable workload for all of our staff, we are eager to have this vital time for everyone to learn and plan together.
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Thank you for the incredible support of our Orinda community! To date, we are near 60% of our $5 MILLION GOAL that supports academic and elective offerings this year at each of the six schools in our district.
In addition to soliciting support from current school families, ONE Orinda is expanding reach to the greater Orinda community as well, crafting a Business Partner Program to increase donations from businesses and realtors. In this challenging year, we will need to all pull together!
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Del Rey students and teachers are deep into subject matter as we begin October. The first units of study are wrapping up and we are seeing beautiful, written narratives, and solid thinking across the curriculum. Meals are now being offered for through Boonli/Sodexo and picked up at Del Rey. Families are now enjoying an alternative to preparing every meal at home. If you are interested in this delicious new opportunity, Go to delrey.boonli.com for details. Ordering is open to ANYONE! Please spread the word to others in our neighborhood and community.
Parent conferences begin the week of October 19th. These are designed to be goal setting conferences and a place to talk about student strengths and areas of growth to target. Teachers are scheduling meeting times now.
Del Rey is looking forward to a Halloween Car Parade on October 30 where students and families will have the opportunity to dress in costume and drive through Del Rey to see staff members and each other. Del Rey is always looking for ways to continue our traditions in modified ways while in distance learning.
Upcoming Events:
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October 30: Halloween Car Parade
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As a part of our character trait work and to honor the life story of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Principal Lewis has been zooming with classrooms to read aloud several beautiful children's books that tell her story and celebrate her life’s work. Students have asked insightful questions and have marveled at RBG’s accomplishments, her perseverance and her ‘growth mindset’. During these difficult times, her life reminds us all that we can all keep going no matter the challenge.
The full OUSD School Board visited the Glorietta campus on September 30th to see distance learning in action. Board members were impressed with the high energy teaching and the level of student engagement over zoom. While the work is incredibly hard, Glorietta teachers have created high quality learning spaces during distance learning. A Virtual Book Fair is underway and through the dedication of our Library Assistant, Anne Lowell, Glorietta's library will be open for circulation of our fine collection! Students can reserve online and pick up their books on Fridays. While Halloween won’t be quite the same this year, Glorietta Gophers are excited about the upcoming Halloween Drive Through event scheduled for Friday, October 30. We’ll start that week with a live School Assembly on October 26 to kick off “Spirit Week” during the remainder of the week and cap it off with the Drive Through Parade.
Upcoming Events:
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October 15: GL Coordinating Council Meeting, 3:00 p.m.
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October 26-30: Spirit Week; October 26 Assembly; October 30: Halloween Drive Through
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November 5: GL Coordinating Council Meeting, 3:00 pm
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Sleepy Hollow students LOVE to read and they are super excited for the opportunity to check books out from our very own library. Students will get to check up to three books out online, to be picked up from school. In addition to checking books out from our library, Sleepy Hollow just finished a virtual Book Fair. More books for Sleepy Hollow students to enjoy!
Principal Templeton continues to join classes every other week for a few minutes of special "T Time". A variety of activities including read alouds as well as other fun ways to connect with each class. Classes continue to work hard and sometimes the hard work is celebrated by inviting students to attend a Zoom class session wearing a funny hat, a costume, or the favorite choice -- pajamas! It's a great way to have fun while working hard.
Our teachers were treated to a visit from the OUSD School Board on Wednesday, October 7. School Board Members had a chance to see what teaching from a distance looks like and saw the magic that happens outside of the video frame.
Upcoming Events:
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October 8-16: Learning Garden Visits
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October 13-26: Diverse Abilities Awareness Week
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Wagner Ranch recently kicked off its first ever virtual Book Fair with the theme of “A Reading Adventure Awaits!” Book purchases will provide students with great literature for their at home libraries and help Wagner Ranch enhance its school libraries as well.
Wagner Ranch’s student council, under the leadership of Mrs. Manese and Ms. Campbell, produced a virtual flag salute which was enjoyed by the entire student body on Monday, Oct. 5.
Wagner Ranch held the first of two Photo Days on October 5. As students awaited their turn, they had the opportunity to say a well distanced hello to classmates and their teachers. The second photo day will occur on October 19.
Upcoming Events
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October 14: School Board Visit
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October 19: Picture Day 2 of 2
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October 26: 4th and 5th Grade Virtual book talk with Author Brandon Mull
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October 30: Halloween Car Parade
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The first general meeting of the school year for the OIS Parents' Club was held via Zoom on September 17. Dr. Seaton, David Schrag, and Board VP Liz Daoust joined the parent community to provide updates regarding distance learning, Orinda USD initiatives, and the budget. Chairperson Chipp Ferguson, president Hollie Hire, and parliamentarian Sonya Grover introduced important proposed modifications and updates to the OISPC bylaws, such as the inclusion of ONE with regard to fundraising and the redesignation of board positions to include Vice President of Community and Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The OIS Leadership class, under the guidance of teacher Kendra Hodder, continued to promote a sense of community this past month with spirit days, which included Tie Dye Day and Sports Day. Students were encouraged to dress according to the theme or in OIS gear, and classes were awarded points for participation. In addition to spirit events, the students organized a Kahoot game for Sports Day and helped reinforce Orinda USD's monthly theme of Respect by creating a video shared during Advisory. The focus of this month's charitable work for the Leadership class was the West Coast Wildfire Relief Fundraiser, with all money raised going to California Fire Foundation’s Fire Relief Program.
Upcoming Events:
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October 9: End of First Quarter
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October 13 and 15: Counseling Office Hours, 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
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October 15: OIS Parents’ Club Meeting, 10:00 a.m.
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