The Orion Gazette
Oct 25-Oct 29
School Calendar
October
Oct 25 Principal Campus Advisory
Oct 27 Bring Your Decorated Pumpkin from Home Contest
Oct 27 School Site Council via Zoom 4:30-5:45pm
Oct 29 Students and staff dress up for Halloween
Oct 29 Mandarin Immersion Adviosry
Oct 29 5-7pm PTO Halloween-Dia de los Muertos Picnic at Red Morton
November
Nov 1 & 2 Dîa de los Muertos
Nov 3 Coffee with Principal Katherine
Nov 5 Make up picture day
Nov 11 Veteran's Day - No School
Nov 12 Trimester 1 Ends
Nov 13 Author Illustrator Fair virtual
Nov 19 Early Dismissal Day before Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov 22 & Nov 23 All Day Virtual Parent-Teacher conferences no school for students
Nov 24-26 Thanksgiving Holiday - No School
A Message from Principal Katherine
This past week, after being out on sick leave for three weeks I was finally able to visit nearly all classrooms and witness the magic of elevated student voice and the empowerment of learners. In grade three and five math classes, I saw students applying concepts and skills directly from the math standards, students were engaged creatively and shared a lot of laughs collaborating with their classmates.
In the Mandarin Immersion classes, teachers are teaching exclusively in the target language during Mandarin instruction and they solicit regular input from students about academic areas.
Students are communicating about science concepts in Mandarin.
The transition back to in-person learning has not been without obstacles. Many students are finding their voices as learners and collaborators. Centering their voices and empowering them is where we will continue to put our energy.
Halloween Fun at School Oct 29
We will not be hosting a parade at this time.
Costumes will need to be appropriate for an active school day that allows for movement.
In order to keep everyone safe and comfortable, please ensure your child follows costume guidelines:
- No pretend weapons of any kind including swords, guns, knives, etc.
- No inflatable costumes
- Costumes need to allow for safe movement during the school day including PE
Principal Advisory Council
Purpose: Staff, families, and students collaborate and advise Principal Katherine about campus-wide needs.
Guests are invited to attend and listen to the advisory council discuss school-wide core values shared across both programs this month.
Join Zoom Meeting https://rcsdk8-net.zoom.us/j/5683805514?pwd=Mi83OW9Cb0VLNml6M1pjOUxoY0JBQT09 Meeting ID: 568 380 5514 Passcode: orion1
Monday, Oct 25, 2021, 03:15 PM
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Thank you parents and students
Organic soil
Saturday
Saturday in the Garden
Hand Tools in the garden
Videos and Updates from the Maker Space
Take a look at what Orion students are discovering during lunchtime in the Maker Space
Orion Parent Workshops for Supporting Elementary Age Children Social Emotional Health and Development
Based on parent survey responses, Orion parents are interested in parent workshops in the areas of:
- Supporting my child with his/her anxiety
- Parent Empowerment (Setting rules, improving communication, etc.).
Starting in November, Diane will host a two-part series of bi-monthly parent workshops, both in English and Spanish. The first topic to be covered will be Supporting my child with anxiety.
An invitation with dates, times and zoom link will be shared in the newsletter next week.
Diane Gutierrez, Orion's full-time mental health counselor provides on-site counseling services to Orion students.
In our school program model, we also focus on universal access. What does this mean?
Ms. Gutierrez supports every classroom with age-appropriate social-emotional lessons in collaboration with the classroom teacher. Some of the themes Ms. Gutierrez will focus on during the year are:
- Kindness
- Inclusion
- Trauma-informed reflection
- Restorative circles
School Site Council
Join Zoom Meeting
https://rcsdk8-net.zoom.us/j/86314843406?pwd=YWNmSWd4M2htZnBscWc5WWtZZUQ1QT09
Meeting ID: 863 1484 3406
Passcode: orion1
Guests are invited to listen to the member discussions. There will be no open agenda at this second SPSA meeting.
The three goals for all RCSD schools are:
Goal 1 By June of 2024, every student in the RCSD will receive high-quality, grade-level instruction and appropriate social-emotional supports designed to meet their needs in an inclusive and supportive environment through the implementation of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework. Goal 2 By June of 2024, each English Learner (EL) student will progress by a minimum of one level on the ELPAC each school year, with every EL student meeting the criteria for reclassification within 5 years of enrollment in the RCSD. Goal 3 By June of 2024, each RCSD student will make at least one year’s growth in ELA and Math, for each year of enrollment in the RCSD. Students currently scoring more than 1 year below grade level in ELA and/or Math will make 1.5 years of growth each year to accelerate progress and close the opportunity gap.
Wednesday, Oct 27, 2021, 04:30 PM
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5th Grade Outdoor Education for Orion in February 2022
Date: February 14-February 18
Cost: Approximately $530 per student
Parent information link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cgEaYehhQj5fUJY8_-w6p-z8QS2IJwFM8fPREhh-peE/edit?usp=sharing
Starting in November more information will be shared with students and families about 5th grade outdoor education.
Orion Alternative Yearbooks for Sale for the 2021-22 School Year - Add your photos
Starship Corner
10/24
Key Dates: Include Boo Grams, Pumpkin contest, picnic and newsletter fliers.
10/29 Halloween Picnic
10/27 Pumpkin Carving Contest
11/13 Author Illustrator Event
11/15 Read-A-Thon begins
Celebrate Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos this month with these spirited events!
Coming up: READ-A-THON!
Starting on November 15th, we will be holding our second Read-A-Thon, to begin the Monday after our Author-Illustrator Fair!
As we enter a season of thanksgiving and celebration, we wanted to encourage our students at Orion Alternative Mandarin Immersion to celebrate reading. It is a school-wide event that provides family and friends with an opportunity to give directly to our school while promoting literacy and education. Our goal is that through the encouragement and support each of our students receives from family, friends, teachers, and classmates, they will develop and foster a love of reading for many years to come.
Bonus -- the money helps fund their STEAM education and other school activities as well! A wonderful gift for grandparents and extended family to give is the gift of school enrichment for all kids. We want every student to participate! More details to follow in the next 1-2 weeks!
Rescheduled: All Hallow’s Eve Social 10/29 5-7pm @ Red Morton
Feliz Dia de los Muertos! Come in costume, bring a picnic dinner, and join in the fun with a scavenger hunt and other activities!
Send Boo-Grams to your child and their class!
There is still time! Chase away those ghoulish spirits by sending a Boo-Gram to your child and/or your child's class! Students will love the little treats (jack-o-lantern clementines and other small delights) delivered directly to their classroom on Friday, October 29. There is a suggested $2 donation for each Boo-Gram! Send just one, five, or twenty. Order here All funds go directly to Starship PTO to support school-wide events and enrichment. Trick or treat!
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=A6TUWWW993TJ6
Pumpkin Carving Contest 10/27
We are thrilled to bring back our school tradition of the Halloween Pumpkin Decorating contest. Students can bring their pumpkin "entries" to school on Wednesday, October 27 and line them up on the stage where pumpkins will await judging! Prizes will be awarded in categories such as (1) Most Creative, (2) Most Spirited, (3) Best Carved Pumpkin, (4) Best Painted Pumpkin (5) Funniest Pumpkin, (6) Spookiest Pumpkin and (7) Best All Around.
Starship Corner
Check out our website for important links and updates
Donate to Starship PTO
See Flyer below for more detail about our Fundraising this year! We need to raise $120k dollars this year for ALL of our exciting resources. Your donations make it possible. Starship Orion is a 501(c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS with EIN 94-3179780. We are registered with Benevity for easy company matching. Please check with your employer!
We suggest donation levels that fit your family's budget. We encourage families to be as generous as possible and donations in any amount are welcome and appreciated!
Paypal Link for Donations: https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2207235
Check out https://starshiporion.org/important-links/
Remember all parents, teachers and staff are automatically members of Starship PTO. Questions or ideas? Starship@orionschool.org