Weekly Family Update # 22
January 17, 2021
Principal's Message
Hello Falcon Families,
We understand that students are dealing with trauma on multiple levels right now. As a school, we recognize it is important to be sensitive and aware that there are various reactions to the events taking place. As public educators, it is essential that we foster conversations and support our students and their needs, while also understanding how challenging this can be. Many of these conversations are difficult to have with our children. I have had some difficult conversations related to recent events with my own family. We are here to support our families and students. Attached HERE are some resources from San Diego County Office of Education to help young people during challenging times.
On Thursday January 14, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provided updated school reopening guidelines HERE that do not allow PUSD middle and high schools to reopen while the county is in the Purple Tier. The School Board discussed this at length last week on Thursday, January 14th, at the Board meeting. Based on those new guidelines, our middle and high schools can now only reopen five days after San Diego County returns to the Red Tier. More details can be found at PUSD reopening website HERE.
Everything we have prepared will just hold for the next few weeks. As we get closer to the possibility of opening, and as I get more concrete details, I will update families with any new developments and reopening information.
This is a reminder that there is no school on Monday as we celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service? The purpose of this day is to encourage all Americans to volunteer to help improve our communities. It is a "day on" not a "day off."
While I encourage families and students to get some much needed rest this weekend, I also encourage all Falcons to use this National Day of Service to better our neighborhood. Decorate your sidewalk with some positive messages of love in chalk, help your neighbor by mowing their lawn, or send some donuts down to the fire station. For more information about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the National Day of Service in his honor, or if you are looking for some ideas for how you can give back, please check the link HERE. Use the hashtag #ovmsfalcondayon on social media so we can all see your good work Falcons!
I am so grateful for this community of families that have come together in times of crisis to uplift and support each other.
All my best to you and your family.
Upcoming Dates:
Monday 1/18: No School MLK Holiday. As a result of no school on Monday, our weekly schedule will shift (see graphic below). Tuesday 1/19 will be an odd day with periods 1, 3, 7 and Connections. Students will begin Tuesday in their 1st period class at 8:30am. There is no asynchronous Friday this week.
Friday 1/29: No school, Professional Growth Day for all middle and high schools. There will be no school or work assigned on this day.
Thanks for all you do for our Oak Valley Community! Go Falcons!
Beaming with Falcon Pride,
Mr. Young
Principal
Oak Valley Middle School
New Information
Book Donations In Memory of Mrs. Chiu
In memory of Mrs. Chiu, our ASB students have created a Wishlist of children's books through Amazon. We will be collecting these books to honor her and work to spread her legacy of light and love to others. All of the books that we receive will be labeled with an honorary bookplate and then donated to Rady's Children's Hospital.
The link to the wishlist can be found HERE.
The collection window will close on February 1st. Our OVMS ASB thanks everyone in our community for their support and love.
OVMS Art Corps--Volunteers Needed!
We hope to offer three lessons per class over that time period, so we hope to have several volunteers in each class. You do not need to have an art background. Art Corps lessons are being modified to be delivered via distance learning, and we plan on a brief orientation (virtual) as soon as we collect the names of all interested parent volunteers and finalize the modified program details. Please sign up if you are interested in learning more: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C45AEAB2FA7FB6-ovms7
Reflections
Congratulations to Ella H, Gloria Z and Mandy W., their group dance has received an Award of Excellence and moved up to the state level--congratulations!
PTSA thanks you for supporting the Reflections Program.
PTSA General Association Meeting
Please join us for our next General Association meeting on January 27th 2021 at 7pm.
Agenda and Zoom information will be sent out through Totem to all PTSA members.
It's not too late to join the PTSA, please use the link below:
Thank You,
Oak Valley PTSA
Order Your Yearbook
You may have asked yourself, “Is yearbook still happening this year?” Yes it is! There’s never been a more interesting year to document than 2020-2021. Make sure you reserve a copy today! Online payment plans are available. And thanks for your help in contributing photos, captions and stories along the way.
Last day to order personalization is January 29, 2021!
(Please be sure you select Oak Valley Middle School in San Diego).
8th Grade Dedications Close Soon!
8th grade dedication ad sales are coming to a close. These dedications go in the back of the yearbook and can be any size from 1/8th of a page to a full page.
The deadline to submit is Friday February 5th. For directions and more information, please visit the Oak Valley website and click on the orange box that says "Buy your 8th grade dedication here" to complete the order!
If you have questions, you can contact the yearbook advisor Rhea
Dawn Smith at rdsmith@powayusd.com.
Continuing Information
Chromebook Distribution For Students Returning to Campus
Students will need to turn in these forms at the library in exchange for a Chromebook.
The form can be accessed below and can also be found on the PUSD website HERE.
Asynchronous Fridays
Asynchronous Fridays are a day for students to work independently and for teachers to have time to prep, grade and collaborate as seen in the details presented at the last Board Meeting (bulleted below) as well as work with students needing support. This is still a work in progress and staff will continue the conversation to adjust as we move forward.
For Students:
· Review and preview work from the week to deepen learning
· Review feedback and complete corrections
· Independent learning time
· Reduce screen time
· Additional support time with peers and staff
For Teachers:
· Provide timely feedback to students; including grades
· Review assessments and plan based on student needs
· Complete required COVID attendance tracking
· Collaboration
· Professional learning
· Office hours to provide support to individual student
New Weekly Bell Schedule and Monthly Calendar
Don't forget, we started our new Weekly Schedule after Winter Break. This schedule should be much simpler and easier to follow for students.
Please see the attached weekly bell schedule HERE and below.
There is also a new monthly calendar attached HERE and below. We will follow this same weekly schedule pattern for the reminder of the year, unless the School Board changes our current school model, with the exception of a few weeks where we have to adjust for holidays. Please look at both of these documents closely.
Don't forget, because of the holiday, students will start Tuesday morning in their 1st period class at 8:30am.
Continuing Reopening Information
Parent Academy
Oak Valley Middle School
Email: coyoung@powayusd.com
Website: https://www.powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/MS/OVMS/Home
Location: 16055 Winecreek Road
Phone: (858) 487-2939