THE ORION GAZETTE
Week of March 25, 2019
LUNCHES DURING SPRING CONFERENCES - THANK YOU!!
AUCTION - THANK YOU!!
$40,000!! What an amazing accomplishment! A HUGE thank you to Jessica Bryski, Erika Vetter, Katie Comfort and Emma Johnson for the tremendous time, energy and heart you each invested in bringing this wonderful evening to life. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!
ORION STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING
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 was distributed to everyone in this past Friday's Folder. Please read our New Statement of Understanding, sign it and return it to school by Friday, March 29nd.
TRANSITION UPDATE
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 March 14th, the Gill/Orion Transition Team held its second 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 continue conversations regarding the transition process. At this meeting, a great deal of time was spent clarifying topics /issues from the last meeting that were still concerning to members. Dr. Baker sent out an email to both communities detailing the notes from the meeting. (He will continue to do so after each meeting).
On March 19th, Principal Rivera joined our PTO meeting. She enjoyed getting to meet more families and to learn more about the structure of our PTO. She will be joining us for our remaining PTO meetings.
On March 20th, Principal Rivera visited our school site and spent time in classrooms getting to know more about our Alternative Parent Participation program. We looking forward to having her join us every two weeks until the end of the school year.
Please note the following important next steps in the transition process:
1) March 28th - Principal Rivera will join us at our SSC Meeting. She will also join us for our remaining SSC meetings.
2) March 28th - 3rd Gill/Orion Transition Team Meeting
2) April 25th, - The John Gill community will host a STEAM Fair form 5PM - 7PM for both the Gill and Orion communities. I know our community is just as excited as the Gill community to spend some time together! An invitation/flyer will be coming soon form Principal Rivera.
ORION GIVES BACK
Our walk-a-thon is THIS FRIDAY, March 29th at 10:15. Please consider joining in the fun and volunteer to help out. We really need help at the corners and street crossings to keep everyone safe. We would like to know that you will be there in advance so we are sure we have the necessary coverage – a sign up reminder was sent home in your Friday Folder. It’s a lot of fun to see the children participate in something so meaningful and to cheer for them! Just sign up and come to the big yard between 10:00 - 10:15 and you’ll be assigned a spot.
We’ve had some amazing workshops, visitors and assemblies. Ask your child what s/he has seen and learned about and what it means to be a global citizen and to show compassion and give back to others.
Also, the donation jars are out in the classrooms and office and any amount is appreciated. A little goes a long way in Kenya, and these children have so little. See the bulletin board in the front hall for more information. We’ll see you next week!
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH AT ORION
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.
PARENT EDUCATION NIGHT - TRANSITIONS
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.
ORDER YOUR ORION YEARBOOK TODAY!
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
URGENT HELP NEEDED!!
MARCH/APRIL EVENTS
Kindergarten Tour
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2019, 08:30 AM
Orion Alternative School
ELAC Meeting
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019, 12:30 PM
Orion Library
SSC Meeting
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019, 01:45 PM
Orion Staff Room
Orion Walk - A- Thon
Friday, Mar 29, 2019, 10:15 AM
Orion Blacktop
FRIDAY, MARCH 29TH - NOON DISMISSAL
Spring Break: April 1st -April 5th
Kindergarten Tour
Friday, Apr 12, 2019, 08:30 AM
Orion Alternative School
Orion PTO Meeting
Tuesday, Apr 16, 2019, 07:00 PM
Orion MUR
Parent Education Night
Wednesday, Apr 17, 2019, 06:30 PM
Orion MUR
Fairytale Players Assembly
Thursday, Apr 18, 2019, 08:45 AM
Orion MUR
NO SCHOOL - FRIDAY, APRIL 19TH
ELAC Meeting
Thursday, Apr 25, 2019, 12:30 PM
Orion Library
SSC Meeting
Thursday, Apr 25, 2019, 01:45 PM
Orion Staff Room
STEAM Fair
Thursday, Apr 25, 2019, 05:00 PM
John Gill School
Orion Family Dance
Friday, Apr 26, 2019, 06:00 PM
Orion MUR and Blacktop
ORION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Email: jguaspari@rcsdk8.net
Location: 815 Allerton Street, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650-482-2412