HOLA Families Newsletter Feb. 14th
Holbrook Language Academy
Message from Principal Orellana
I hope you had a nice weekend!
As you know one of our Pillars of Dual Language Education is to foster sociocultural competence. For this reason, our HOLA staff works relentlessly on highlighting all cultures and heritage. The month of February is a month when we highlight and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to US history, and culture. Below you have some resources to address these contributions as a family.
Tips to remember:
- Black History is American History
- Every day is Black History day
Resources for Parents:
https://www.pbs.org/parents/black-history-month
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/black-history-month-is-over-now-what
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/dos-and-donts-of-teaching-black-history
District Wide Celebration:
On February 23rd we will have a district-wide celebration about Black History. See the picture below with more details.
Dual Language Education: As a team of educators, paraprofessionals and support staff, we are committed to fostering dual language education so that students are bilingual, biliterate , with high academic achievement with global citizenship skills. This is only possible when families and our staff work together on fostering opportunities for our Jets: a BIG Thank You for your continued commitment to Dual Language Education.
Important News! We are starting our English Learners Proficiency Assessment of California (ELPAC). This assessment is very importante for our Emergent Bilingual students as it measures their growth in language proficiency and helps us identify students who meet the reclassification criteria.
Next week, students in TK, K and 1st grade will be assessed on ELPAC.
TK, K and 1st grade Families:
- Make sure your child has plenty of hours to sleep each night
- Provide a healthy breakfast and snacks daily
- make sure your child comes every day to school and on time.
The TK, K and 1st grade students will be assessed on a 1:1 basis by three trained certified staff. Given they are assessing several students, the test administration will start next week and continues until March.
Second grade individual tests will begin as soon as TK, K and 1st grade students are tested.
3-8th grade students will be assessed on March 14th, 15 and 16th.
Please, speak with your child about the importance of this test as an Emergent Bilingual Student and as a friend of an Emergent Bilingual Student. Our classes are cheering on each other to motivate students to do the best on the test. We welcome Home Posters or cards to motivate students on this special occasion.
Read below some other announcements and important information.
#WeAreHolbrook #SomosHolbrook
Have a great week!
- Principal Orellana

#WeAreHolbrook #SomosHolbrook #HOLAseis #HOLAproud
School Updates
CARES:
On March 13, our teachers will have a Professional Development day and there won't be any classes.
Our CARES program will be offering an Enrichment Day from 8:00am-4:45pm. Students are not required to stay the whole time but the program will be available from 8:00-4:45.
Sign-ins are on a first time, first serve basis. All students (even already enrolled in CARES students must sign in for this enrichment opportunity). We have 80 spots available.
Use the QR code listed in the flyer below.
TK and K registration:
We have a new process for registering incoming TK and K students. It is as follows:
Use the district website: www.mdusd.org Departments: Student Services
New Student Enrollment for the
2023-2024 School Year*
1. FIND Your Resident School
- To locate your resident school, use our School Finder
2. REVIEW the following before enrolling your student
- Age Appropriate Placement
- Immunization Requirements
- Documents for Address Verification
- Other Required Documents
3. APPLY online
- Please print your Aeries Online Enrollment summary upon completion
- Currently attending TK students do not need to complete Aeries Online Enrollment. Your student will be pre-enrolled at their school of residence
- Previously enrolled students do not need to complete Aeries Online Enrollment. Contact your school of residence with the required documents
TK (Birthdates between: September 2, 2018 - April 2, 2019) and Kindergarten Students
We will be serving families in order of their arrival. Families MUST complete online enrollment (AIR) AND either bring or upload all required documents (birth certificate/passport, immunizations, 2 forms address verification, and parent's ID) to complete the process.
- TK and Kinder student will be registering centrally through the Enrollment Center. Please see the calendar below for your resident school's dates.
- The Enrollment Center is located at 1026 Mohr Ln, Concord, CA 94518
- TK assignment will be based on your school of residence's cluster as well as the number of students enrolled.
- TK Cluster list is available here
- La lista de grupos sitios de TK está disponible aquí
- Before signing up for an appointment please ensure that you have completed steps 1-3
Any family who is interested in our HOLA Two Way immersion Program, must attend on the date of the resident school to register and indicate their interest to be part of HOLA. When parents indicate their preference (Holbrook Language Academy), Student Services staff will provide you with information on how to request a transfer to HOLA.
Transfer Requests:
Elementary Grades K-5 (including Dual Immersion Program transfer requests):
February 10, 2023 - April 1, 2023
The process has been shared in our school website as well.
TK and K Informational Night: We will be hosting another information night about our amazing program on February 16th at 5:00 pm at Willow Creek Center (1026 Mohr Lane, Concord, CA, 94520). If you have a child who is an incoming TK or K student, you are invited to join us. Please, share this information with any family or friend who has a TK or K student so they can join us to learn about our amazing program and school community.

HOLA Secret Garden Grant information
As part of its goal to make homes – and hometowns – better for all, Lowe's announced it is accepting nominations for the second year of Lowe's Hometowns, a five-year, $100 million impact program and the company's largest-ever commitment of its kind. Now through Feb. 20, people across the country are invited to nominate projects for the opportunity to receive a Lowe's Hometowns grant and help revitalize their communities.
Lowe's Hometowns will complete nearly 1,800 projects in 2023 through grant funding, engagement with local construction professionals and volunteer support from Lowe's associates. This includes 100 signature projects chosen from consumer nominations and nearly 1,700 community impact projects selected through Lowe's stores, supply chain locations and store support centers.
Eligible project types include rebuilding or renovating the following:
- Neighborhood housing and shelters
- Local facilities that serve community members, including food pantries, senior citizen centers and youth clubs
- Outdoor community spaces, including gardens and playgrounds
- Cultural preservation, such as theater and memorial renovations
- Facilities dedicated to skilled trades education
We invite you to nominate our school for this grant. All the information you need for the nomination is in the picture below. Click on the following link to do the nomination:
https://corporate.lowes.com/our-responsibilities/lowes-hometowns
Thank you for helping our school!

PFC News
HOLA Jet Families!
Feb 16: Dine and Donate at Old Spaghetti Factory
Todas Santos Plaza from 5-9PM
Feb 16: Due date to register for the Science Expo
Flyers were sent home with students with information. It will take place on March 3rd as part of Fitness Week)
Coming Soon!
Feb 27- March 3: Fitness Week (Mind and Body)
This will be a a whole week of fun promoting healthy choices, wellness and activities to exercise your mind and body. Watch for Details!
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow us! Stalk us! Get up to date and fun information and photos, share yours, ask questions and more on all of our social media platforms!
https://www.facebook.com/holbrookpfcclub
Any questions or if you would like to join in on the fun of being on the PFC, please reach out! We would love to hear from you! Holbrookpfcweb@gmail.com.
With love and gratitude,
The PFC



📆 Upcoming Events
February 7- PFC Meeting at 6:00 pm in Room 20 (and on zoom)
February 6-10- Middle School votes for two student representatives for SSC (History in the making!!)
February 13th: School Site Council (SSC) and Public Hearing on Safety Plan at 3:00pm in Room 20
February 16th- TK and K Dual Language Informational Night at 5:00pm at Willow Creek Center
February17-20 School Recess
Holbrook Language Academy
MDUSD Language Magnet School