The document describes our Orion Alternative School Program, the importance of our Voluntary Parent Participation Hours, the logistics of our Voluntary Parent Participation Hours and a description of and a consent to enroll in our Alternative School Program.

In addition, as part of our new Voluntary Participation Guidelines, we will no longer be tracking volunteer hours, so there is no need to turn in hours sheets for the remainder of this year. However, THE FOUNDATION OF ORION'S SUCCESS IS THE COLLECTIVE VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION OF FAMILIES. To keep this foundation strong, we request that families volunteer 72 hours per year.

This new document will be distributed to everyone in this Friday's Folder. (I have also attached a copy of the document at the bottom of this newsletter.) Please read our New Statement of Understanding, sign it and return it to school by Friday, March 22nd.

The transition of the Orion Alternative Parent Participation Program to the Gill campus for the 2019-2020 school year is underway. Principal Rivera, myself, District Leaders and Parent Leaders form both school sites will be working together to provide a smooth transition for both the Gill and Orion communities. There is much to be done but thankfully we have time do it! As always, I will keep you all updated on our progress.

On February 28th, the Gill/Orion Transition Team held its first meeting . At this meeting, school transition facilitators from the San Mateo County Office of Education provided the leadership teams from both John Gill and Orion (Principals, SSC Teams and PTO Groups) an opportunity to come together to begin conversations regarding the transition process. Dr. Baker sent out an email to both communities detailing the notes from the meeting. (He will continue to do so after each meeting). It is clear form the notes that there are many logistics to finalize, but the transition team got off to a great start!

Please note the following important next steps in the transition process:

1) March 14th, - 2nd Gill/Orion Transition Team Meeting

2) March 28th - 3rd Gill/Orion Transition Team Meeting

2) In the spring, events will be scheduled for our kiddos and families to visit the Gill campus and have some fun with the Gill community. (Dates and times TBD)

Orion celebrates National Nutrition Month in March! Make sure your kiddo stops by the table outside the office each week in March to check out the topic and activity about nutrition and wellness. Take the quiz to be in to win a fun prize each week.

Reminder that Orion’s “Go West" Auction is happening, and it is not to be missed on March 16, 2019 from 6pm-11pm at Devil’s Canyon Brewery in San Carlos. Donations are being accepted and tickets are available at www.orionauction.org Questions? Email auctionteam@orionschool.org

Amy McCain from Soul Shoppe will be with us that evening to provide guidance and strategies for helping our kiddos and ourselves navigate the feelings involved in times of uncertainty. We hope you will join us!

Childcare will be provided for a limited number of kiddos. YOU MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE FOR CHILDCARE. TO SIGN UP, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E4BA5A9238-babysitting

A little more about Soul Shoppe...

Soul Shoppe’s mission is to create big-hearted bully-free schools

where every child is "free to be" themselves, where kids show

compassion, empathy and respect. They deliver year-round

in-school programs that help students and teachers make

problem-solving fun and help students learn better, get along

better, and take care of their feelings and problems on their own!

At a Soul Shoppe Parent Night, we share the tools we teach to

children at school, and some very effective secret parent tips to

ensure that your home and school are places where children

actively contribute to a positive environment, and can

independently resolve conflicts.

We're really excited about this year's Orion yearbook. Why? Because we get to capture all the great things that happen at Orion. Order your yearbook today -- and for the first time, you have the option to customize YOUR child's book with two free pages that capture your own kiddo's photos and memories. You can start here to customize. The personal pages are totally optional, so if you just want the more traditional yearbook, that's okay, too.

Whichever you choose, you can click here to purchase a yearbook for $16.00. You can also call (877) 755-8733 to order a yearbook.

And for every yearbook purchased, our yearbook publisher, TreeRing, will plant a tree. All yearbooks are printed on recycled paper.

Customized pages and yearbook order deadline is April 12, 2019. Questions? Email yearbook@orionschool.org

Thanks!

Orion Yearbook Team