Osterizer
May 2, 2021
Principal's Safety Message
On Monday, we will have the majority of our students on campus each day. We are thrilled to have everyone with us, but we want to be sure that everyone is safe during the day, as well as during drop-off and pick-up.
Traffic Safety
This will be a significant increase in the number of vehicles around campus each day, so please remember the following guidelines:
- Students may not cross the street in the middle of the block. If you are parked across the street, your child should walk to the intersection or in a crosswalk.
- Students should stay out of the parking lot unless accompanied by an adult.
- Students who are riding their bikes to school must walk their bikes as soon as they leave the public sidewalk. They may not ride in the parking lot or on school grounds.
Drop Off and Pick Up
- Drop off and pick up times are at 7:50 am and 12:00 pm. Children may only enter campus at their assigned gate and during the assigned times listed below.
- Children may not be on campus before and after school because we do not have supervision during those times.
- If your child is late for their assigned drop-off time, please accompany them to gate C (by the front office).
Miscellaneous Protocols
- Please consider walking your child to school. It's good for the environment and good for your body.
- All adults and students must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth. This includes drop-off and pick-up.
- Please leave all dogs at home during drop-off and pick-up.
- Parents, volunteers, and visitors may not enter campus with students. Please call the office if you need assistance.
You've all been incredibly patient and understanding as we work through all of these changes and yet another "pivot" - in a year full of them. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. We're excited to get more of your kids back at school!
NEW ZOOMER SCHEDULES BEGIN MONDAY, MAY 3rd
Students remaining in distance learning (Zoomers) will continue to receive a combination of live and asynchronous online instruction based on the minimum instructional minutes requirements per grade level: 180 minutes for TK and Kindergarten and 230 minutes for 1st-3rd grades, and 240 minutes for 4th and 5th grades. All Zoomers will attend Zooms within the 8:00-12:00 pm timeframe, with the exception of a few classes. Specific times will be shared with you by your teacher.
Staff Appreciation Week
Oster Science Fair
Oster Science Quiz Winners
We’d like to thank the parents, teachers and all those who encouraged students to participate in the quiz. Good luck on the next edition of the Cougar Science Quiz! The theme for May is: “Biology and Zoology.”
Remember if you’ve already enrolled, you don’t need to register again. If you’d like to try the quiz for the first time, the new links to register will be posted one week before the next quiz at: https://osterhsc.membershiptoolkit.com/csq
Oster Elementary 2021 Silent Auction
Silent Auction Basket Items are still needed! If your child attends school in person, there will be a collection box in each classroom. If your child is distance learning, drop off days will be on Mondays and Fridays in front of the office. The last day to collect items for the baskets will be May 7th.
TK/Kindergarten: Cooking at Home (ex: pasta, sauces, cookbooks, utensils, seasonings, etc)
1st Grade: Disney (ex: memorabilia, Disney items, movies, puzzles, etc)
2nd Grade: Sports (ex: items with local sports teams, hats, tickets, etc).
3rd Grade: Coffee and Tea (ex: gift cards, coffee beans or tea bags, mugs, etc)
4th Grade: Relaxation (ex: bath salts, skin care, candles, etc)
5th Grade: In the Garden (ex: seeds, plants, gardening tools, books, etc)
State Testing Update
The CAASPP tests have been used over the past few years to report student performance in English, math and science through the California School Dashboard; however, due to widely varying instructional and school reopening conditions around the state, those school accountability measures have been suspended for this school year.
Student data is still crucial to our knowing individual student needs and planning our learning acceleration efforts in the wake of the pandemic. Our district uses the Key Data Systems (KDS) test as our local benchmark in grades 3-8 in both ELA and Math. This year, students in grades 3-8 will take the end of year KDS test which will allow for measuring student growth in ELA and mathematics and satisfies the state’s accountability requirements for the current school year. The KDS test measures state standards and will provide more consistent individual student level data than we could expect to receive from this year’s CAASPP. Also, by using our local benchmark assessments for accountability purposes, the two weeks we would normally spend conducting state testing will be available for instruction time this year.
Additionally,
● Parents of grade 3-8 students will be receiving an individual score report showing their students results on the KDS. Each subject will be broken down into content areas which will show how students are performing in each assessed standards area.
● Summative and disaggregated testing results will be reported in the School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) by next fall.
Please note, the results from this test aren’t meant to tell the whole story. Your child’s scores are meant to be one of several indicators for both you and your child’s teacher to see how your student is progressing towards standards mastery. Along with the KDS, class assessments, report cards, and teacher’s observations are used together to form a complete picture of your child’s achievement. Students will be tested in ELA during the week of May 10. Students will be tested in math during the week of May 17.
If you have any questions, please contact your school site principal.
Sincerely,
Heather Scharer Heather Scharer
Director of Educational Services
Union Elementary School District
Dates to Remember
May 3: First Day of In-person Schedule Change 8-12 (M-F)
May 10: USD Board Meeting
May10-14: Staff Appreciation Week
May 13: HSC Board Meeting
May 21: Oster Spirit Day, Disney Day. (revised date)
May 31: Labor Day (no school)
June 3: Virtual 5th Grade Promotion via Zoom
June 4: Last Day of School
5th Grade Families
More information to come from 5th-grade teachers with individual times and activities.
DMS Cheer Try Outs
If your child is interested in trying out for the DMS cheerleading team next year, an information meeting is being held on Monday, April 26th. In-person tryouts will be held the week of May 10-14 at Dartmouth. (Tryouts are open to 5th, 6th, and 7th graders.)
Visit: https://sites.google.com/unionsd.org/dmscheer to register and receive the meeting link and tryout packet.
Coach Melissa
Dartmouth Middle School Cheerleading
Your Oster Home and School Club Board has the following open positions for the 2021-2022 school year:
Co-treasurers
Auditor
No experience necessary - we can train you!
Additionally, Oster is looking for Project Cornerstone leaders for the 2021-2022 school year.
If you are interested in any of these positions, or want to offer your help in other ways, please contact us at osterhsc@gmail.com
Yearbook
Amazon Smile
Please consider choosing Oster Elementary Home and School Club as your selected Amazon Smile charity. If you're not a member, consider joining this FREE giving program at smile.amazon.com to support your school.
Did you know Amazon Smile is now available for your mobile device? Open the app and find ’Settings’ in the main menu (☰). Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile on your phone. And thanks for supporting Oster!
Oster Elementary School
Email: taorminal@unionsd.org
Website: https://oster.unionsd.org/
Location: 1855 Lencar Way, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: 408-266-8121
Twitter: @OsterElementary