Jensen Ranch
November 24, 2019
Jensen Jaguar Families!
5th Grade Families, please take special note of the California Healthy Kids Survey information below. We are asking for your positive permission for your 5th grader to take part in this survey that takes place every two years and the results impact our site and district-level goals and ultimately program funding. A parent survey for all families will go out next Sunday. Your input and family participation are greatly appreciated.
We will hold our first English Language Advisory Council (ELAC) meeting this Tuesday, 11/19 from 6-7 pm in the library. This meeting is open to all families but will focus on our English Language Learners. Our November PTA meeting will follow.
We are going to have a very special guest on Tuesday. Maasai Warrior and Elder Sabore Ole Oyie will be leading two assemblies for our students in the afternoon. Our fabulous PTA has agreed to fund this opportunity for our students. We will hold two assemblies for our students to teach them about his community and his work. He has a non-profit program called Sabore's Wells that raises money to not only build water wells but support the building of schools throughout the Maasai community. Women and girls are responsible for the collection of water, which would often take their entire day, leaving no time for anything else. The water collected was impure and often disease-ridden, also creating a further impact on communities. Through Sabore's non-profit organization, he is building wells and schools so that women and children can get an education and live in healthier communities. Sabore is a wonderful, engaging presenter and very down to earth. He brings Africa to life!
Here is a link to his non-profit in case you would like to learn more:
Please take a look through the Round-Up to ensure you are aware of all the upcoming activities and events at Jensen this month and in our community. Later this month, we will be asking for grade levels to make specific food donations to the Castro Valley Community Outreach, a local community organization that helps local families in need. All donations will occur the week before Thanksgiving break.
Some Updates/Reminders:
- 11/18-11/22 Castro Valley Community Outreach Food Drive - all week long
- 11/18-11/22 Kindness Challenge Activities continue
- Mon., 11/18 CV Community Alliance Unity Walk 6-7:10 pm at CVHS Art Center
- Tues., 11/19 ELAC Mtg. 6-7 pm
- Tues., 11/19 PTA Mtg. 7-8 pm
- Wed., 11/20 SSC 3:15-4:30 pm
- Wed., 11/20 Castro Valley Community Alliance Poetry and Art Slam 6-8 pm
- Fri., 11/22 Spirit Day-Stuffed Animal Day
- Fri., 11/22 1st Trimester reports cards go home
- 11/25-11/29 No School-Thanksgiving Break
Please save the following links:
School Website https://jensenranch.cv.k12.ca.us/
Jensen PTA Website http://jensenranchpta.us/
Facebook @lisamacleanprincipal and @JensenRanchPTA
Twitter @JensenJaguars
In Partnership-
Ms. MacLean, Principal
Jaguars in Action: November 12-15
Be the "I" in Kind!
Guide Dogs Assmebly
Friday Recess Dance Party
5th Grade Families-California Healthy Kids Survey
Dear 5th Grade Families,
We are requesting permission for your child to be a part of our school’s California Healthy Kids Survey sponsored by the California Department of Education. This important survey will help provide data to improve the school learning environment, academic achievement, and the health and wellbeing of our youth It includes questions on the supports provided to children; school connectedness, climate, and safety; and risk factors such as violence and substance use.
Student participation is voluntary and anonymous. Your child does not have to take the survey. No names or any other identifying information is connected to the answers except for the name of the school.
Student participation requires that you grant your permission in writing by returning the permission form (attached below). A hard copy of the permission form will also come home with your child's report card. We hope you will encourage participation so that your child’s opinion and knowledge can be part of the information gleaned from the survey.
Your positive permission slip is due back to the school no later than Tues., Dec. 3rd. The California Healthy Kids Survey will take place in your child's class during the week of December 9th.
If you have any questions, please contact me directly.
If you wish to view the survey, you may do so at the school office or on-line www.cv.k12.ca.us.
Regards,
Ms. MacLean
November is Indigenous People/Native American Heritage Month
During November, we will be recognizing Indigenous Heritage Month, still widely known as Native American Month. This is a time to honor the indigenous peoples of the earth and the nations' first peoples, who inhabited the land prior to the United States becoming a nation.
Castro Valley Unified School District serves students with indigenous heritage and honors the cultures and backgrounds that students and families offer the rich fabric of a learning environment. Therefore, if any of our Jensen family members would like to share your Indigenous culture with us at school, we welcome your involvement! Please reach out to your child's teacher or Principal MacLean.
Famous Native Americans
Susan LeFlesche Picotte (1865 - 1915)
Susan LeFlesche was the very first Native American in the United States to receive a medical degree as a doctor! She was part of the Omaha tribe where her father was the chief. Susan earned a scholarship to attend the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, one of the few colleges that allowed women to study medicine and she graduated as valedictorian of her class. She returned to Nebraska to serve as a physician and advocate for her people. While she served all on her reservation, not everyone accepted her diagnosis and skills because she was a woman. Her advocacy helped her build the first hospital in her area before her death in 1915.
Maria Tallchief (1925-2013)
Born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief in Oklahoma, Maria's father was a member of the Osage tribe. She and her sister took dance lessons and eventually, Maria was drawn to ballet. She overcame discrimination against her Native American heritage to become a world-renown ballerina. One of her best-known roles was as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She was a prima ballerina for the New York City Ballet and was the first American to perform in the Bolshoi Theater in Russia. Once retiring from the ballet, Maria and her sister opened the Chicago City Ballet. Tallchief was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the U.S. government.
Fred Begay (1932-2013)
Fred Begay, of Navajo and Ute heritage, was born in Colorado to Navajo healers who were teaching him to follow in their path. Fred Begay's path though led him to become a nuclear physicist. Fred did not learn English until he was 10 years old and throughout his schooling with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he was trained to be a farmer. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the Army and served in the Air Force in Korea. Upon returning home, he began farming on his family farm. He went on to study at the University of New Mexico where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in physics and eventually earned a Ph.D. as a nuclear physicist. He had a 30-year fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory laser program and taught at both Standford and the University of Maryland.
Castro Valley Outreach Food Drive is 11/18-11/22
Castro Valley United Against Hate November Activities
Special Events this Week:
Unity Walk
Monday 11/18 6:00-7:10 PM
Begins at the CVHS Arts Center
Poetry Art Slam
Wednesday 11/20 6:00-8:00 PM
@ The Small Town Society
For more information on the CV Community Alliance Click Here.
Public Charge Rule
On August 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security amended federal regulations known as the public charge rule. The changes to the existing rule, effective October 15, 2019, will make it more difficult to apply for permanent residency or earn a visa if an applicant is dependent on government aid such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, housing assistance, and Medicaid.
It is important to know that the Child Nutrition Programs are not public benefits. Please continue to complete meal applications and alternative meal forms.
Seeking Additional Jensen Representatives for CVUSD Committees
At Jensen Ranch and CVUSD, we have a number of opportunities for parents to get involved and have an impact by providing input on district policies and practices. Each school sends representatives to these meetings. I want to thank a number of our Jensen families for stepping up and getting involved at our broader level in our school community.
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC): Rep. Humma Sheikh
- The District has established a functioning District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) to advise on programs and services for all EL students in the district. Responsibilities and roles are similar to the ELAC but on a larger level.
- Time & Place: 6:15-7:30 p.m. @ Canyon Middle School Library
- Meeting Dates: 9/18 (@ DO), 10/9, 1/8, 3/11, 6/10 (@ DO)
Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Committee: Rep. Venkatesh Mysore
- The LCAP is a tool for local educational agencies to set goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet those goals to improve student outcomes. It is detailed and specific with concrete action plans and outcomes. This committee will provide assistance in the creation of our next LCAP.
- Time & Place: 6:00-7:30 p.m. @ the District Office
- Meeting Dates: 10/22, 12/4, 2/11, 4/2
Strategic Planning Committee: Rep. Gio Welch
- The CVUSD Strategic Plan is a document that sets the direction, goals, and mission of the district. This committee will discuss our progress towards this vision.
- Time & Place: 4:00-5:30 p.m. @ Castro Valley High School
- Meeting Dates: 9/24, 11/20, 2/5, 4/29
Equity Task Force: Rep. Humma Sheikh
- Equity is a priority of CVUSD. We regularly reflect on the impact of our actions and take steps to ensure all students receive the supports they require to be successful. This committee will discuss concepts of equity and what the district is doing/can do in the future to best support our diverse population.
- Time & Place: 3:45-5:15 p.m. @ Castro Valley High School
- Meeting Dates: 10/16, 1/15, 3/18, 5/13
Second Step
As part of our PBIS supports, Castro Valley elementary schools use the Second Step program to address:
- Social-Emotional Learning
- Bully Prevention
Child Protection
Second Step is a program rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to encourage children to thrive. More than just a classroom curriculum, Second Step’s holistic approach helps create a more empathetic society by providing education professionals, families, and the larger community with tools to enable them to take an active role in the social-emotional growth and safety of today’s children.
You are encouraged to access the Second Step document below for more information on the ongoing lessons and to support your child's learning at home!
Independent Study
Please click the link to review the updated CVUSD board policy on independent study.
- Independent studies must be 5 days and no more than 10 days.
- No Independent Studies are granted during the first 10 days of the school year.
- No Independent Studies are granted for the last 15 days of the school year.
- A minimum of 10 days prior notice is required to request an Independent Study. An Independent Study form must be completed no less than 10 days prior to the requested Independent Study.
- Students granted Independent Study will be expected to complete daily written assignments in all subject areas which are due the first school day following the end of the contract.
CVUSD Board Recognized Months
September: Attendance Awareness Month
Sept./Oct.: Hispanic Heritage Month
November: Indigenous People/Native American Heritage MonthFebruary: African-American History Month
March: National Women’s History Month
May: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
June: Pride Month
Year-Round: Character Ed, School Safety, Bully Awareness, Arts Education
We support and encourage all students and families in the sharing of their cultural heritage with the Jensen community. Please communicate with your child's teacher or the principal if you have something you would like to contribute.
Jensen Ranch PTA Updates
Dear Jensen Ranch Families,
Our November PTA is this Tuesday night from 7-8 p.m. Childcare will be available. Your input is valuable so we hope to see you there! If you have not yet become a PTA member, please do so. This allows you to vote and have a voice in our programs.
For questions email jensenranchpta@yahoo.com
JRE PTA Board 2019-2020
Become a PTA Member!
Become a voting member of the Jensen PTA! The cost is $20 per person and your membership affords you the right to vote on critical programs and events run by the PTA at our association meetings. PTA members can also serve as program chairs and board members.
https://jointotem.com/ca/castro-valley/jensen-ranch-pta/join/register
Jensen PTA Good Eggs Fundraiser
A new fall fundraiser is coming to JRE beginning October 1st! For the first time, our school is partnering with Good Eggs, an online grocery marketplace, that delivers fresh local produce, school lunch, dinner essentials, and much more, right to your doorstep! JRE will even earn 5% back on every order placed in the months of October and November! There are also bonuses for new families who sign up! Visit schools.goodeggs.com today and enter our school code: jensen2019
Shop now, shop often, and please share Good Eggs with your friends and family!
Jensen Ranch Yearbooks On Sale
Potential Parcel Tax Measure
Click Here to Access the CVUSD Local Funding Page for More Information
High-Quality Education
Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) provides an excellent education that prepares students to graduate ready for competitive colleges and 21st-century careers. This is possible thanks to strong academic programs, excellent teachers, high-performing students and a supportive community.
Planning for the Future
As we look to the future, we know we cannot rely on the state to provide the level of funding our schools need. Our District is among the lowest funded in Alameda County and has already made $1.8 million in ongoing cuts in the past two years. Additionally, the Bay Area is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, and many of our teachers live right here in Castro Valley. By retaining and attracting the highest quality teachers, we can improve student achievement and continue providing an excellent education to students.
Potential Local Funding Measure
To provide dedicated funding for our schools to support programs and teachers, the Castro Valley Unified School District Board of Education is considering placing a local parcel tax measure on an upcoming ballot. Although no final decisions have been made, a measure may cost $96 per parcel per year and generate $1.5 million annually for six years.
Funds from a measure could:
- Retain and attract highly qualified teachers
- Preserve strong academic programs in reading, writing, science, technology, engineering, arts and math
- Prepare students for college and careers
- Support the health and well-being of all students
- Keep schools clean and well-maintained
Fiscal Accountability Provisions of Potential Local Measure
- All revenue from the measure would be spent right here in our District to support local schools and could not be taken away by the State
- A citizens’ oversight committee and annual audits would ensure that all funds are spent as promised
- No funds could go to administrator salaries
- Seniors would be eligible for an exemption from the cost
Mark Your Calendars!
2019-2020
**Castro Valley Outreach Food Drive All Week Long**
11/18-22 CV United Against Hate Week
Mon., 11/18 Unity Walk - see flyer
Tues., 11/19 ELAC Meeting 6-7 p.m., library, children are welcome
Tues., 11/19 PTA Meeting 7-8 p.m., library, childcare available
Wed., 11/20 United Against Hate Poetry & Art Slam -Smalltown Society next to Trader Joes
Fri., 11/22 1st Trimester Report Cards Sent Home
11/25-11/29 No School-Thanksgiving Break
12/23-1/3 No School-Winter Break
Early Release Fridays @ Noon for all students each Friday!
Check the online school calendar for updates by going to the Jensen Ranch school website.
About Us
Secretary Jeanine Disher
Attendance Yasmin Habib
Email: lmaclean@cv.k12.ca.us
Website: https://jensenranch.cv.k12.ca.us/
Location: 20001 Carson Lane, Castro Valley, CA, USA
Phone: (510) 537-6365
Facebook: facebook.com/lisamacleanprincipal/
Twitter: @JensenJaguars