Osterizer
January 9, 2022
Message From Mrs. Taormina
The return from winter break was not without challenges. Given the trend with the COVID surge, we are seeing an increase in positive cases. This past week, we had many students, teachers, and staff who were home isolating. Because of this, I did have to adjust staffing when there were not enough substitutes to cover classes. We will likely continue to have staffing shortages for the next few months, so we appreciate your patience as we continue to pivot the different challenges each day brings.
With the staffing shortages, myself, district administrators, and credentialed staff from other positions in the District are committed to covering classes when a substitute cannot be found so that student learning continues.
With the newly updated isolation guidelines for COVID positive cases, students and staff members testing positive for COVID may return on the sixth day. If they have no symptoms and produce a negative clinical antigen test (no at-home kits) on the fifth day, and must continue to wear a mask at all times for an additional five days. This change is consistent with the CDC guidelines and has been approved by the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together for all of our students. As information changes, I will keep you apprised and thank you again for trusting us with your children.
COVID Dashboard
The District will continue to maintain a Dashboard of COVID-19 positive cases through the rest of the 2021-22 school year. The dashboard includes a weekly case count of students and staff by school site. To recieve an update on Oster's weekly reported cases, please click on the link below.
The District dashboard is published each Friday at 5pm and can be located on USD's COVID-19 Information page at https://www.unionsd.org/about/covid-19-response#h.m61isujeu3an
Oster Silent Auction
Mark your calendars! Our annual Silent Auction is approaching. Our Silent Auction will be live from January 24-28.
More information will be distributed in the coming weeks, but we are beginning to prepare our grade-level gift baskets.
Beginning Wednesday, January 12, we will start collecting items for our Silent Auction gift baskets. Each grade level will have a specific theme, and they are as follows:
TK/Kindergarten: The Young Chef (ex: pasta sauces, cookbooks, utensils, etc).
1st Grade: Outdoor Activities (ex: Nerf toys, yard games, etc).
2nd Grade: Creativity at Home (ex: PlayDoh, art supplies, crafting kits, etc).
3rd Grade: Date Night In (ex: seasonings, kitchen tools, olive oils, etc).
4th Grade: Disney (ex: memorabilia, Disney items, movies, puzzles, etc).
5th Grade: Gift Card Tree (ex: gift cards to restaurants, stores, experiences, etc)
Please bring your donations to your child's classroom where they will be collected. The last day to bring in items for the baskets will be January 21.
Oster's Chef's Night Out with Sushi Confidential
We are back to school and have a unique Chef's Night Out event this month with Sushi Confidential! Here are the details:
When: January 10-14, all day during business hours (that's right! You will have an entire week to choose which day works best for you to dine at Sushi Confidential and support Oster! This includes lunchtime and happy hour!)
Where: Sushi Confidential in downtown Campbell - 247 E. Campbell Ave.What: 20% of sales will be donated to Oster Elementary
You can place your order over the phone or in person for take-out. Dine-in is also available. Online ordering will not be available at this time. Third-party delivery services are not accepted. Please bring in the flyer when ordering to ensure your order is included in our fundraiser.
Let's support Oster while indulging in some delicious sushi and Japanese food! Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, as well as lots of choices for the kids!
Go Cougars!
Kindergarten Orientation for the 2022-2023 school year will be Thursday, January 27 at 6:00 PM. If you have another child who will be joining us next school year, or you have friends or neighbors with incoming TK/kindergarteners please let them know about this event. A link to sign up is on our website and listed below. Kindergarten registration begins February 1, online.
To confirm your attendance, all attendees must pre-register by filling out the Google Form below.
The HSC Meeting for Wednesday, January 12 has been postponed. A new January meeting date will be posted soon.
Education Fund Drive Winner Announcement!
After three months of collecting and counting your generous donations, a winning class with the most participation has been determined! The lucky winner is Ms. Pascucci-Luevano's first-grade class - they have won a pizza party! Congratulations!
Our Education Fund is still accepting donations all throughout the year, so if you would still like to donate you are more than welcome to do so at https://osterhsc.membershiptoolkit.com. Thank you to all the families who have donated and supported Oster Elementary!
Go Cougars!
Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Calling all Oster Thespians! A live, in-person production of Schoolhouse Rock starts February 2.
Characters from Schoolhouse Rock show a new teacher how to win his students over with imagination and music. Memorable songs such as “Just a Bill,” “Interjection” and “Conjunction Junction” bring his lessons vividly to life.
The goal is to rehearse and perform in-person, but if the cast needs to quarantine for any amount of time, we will hold virtual rehearsals during the quarantine time period. If we get to the performances and are not allowed to have an audience, we will record/live stream the show for the community.
General Information:
Grades: 3rd-5th
Start Date: February 2, 2022
Rehearsal Days/Times: Wednesdays, 1:30pm-3:00pm AND Fridays, 2:45pm-4:15pm
Mandatory Tech Rehearsals: April 25-27, 2022 (3-4 hours after school)
Mandatory Performance Dates: April 28 and 29, 2022
Cost: $325
Register at: https://www.startingarts.com/product/spring-22-oster-schoolhouse-rock/
1/10 USD Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm
1/14 Staff Development Day (No School for Students)
1/17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
1/19 School Site Council Meeting @ 3:00 via zoom
1/27 TK/Kindergarten Parent Orientation Night @ 6:00 pm via zoom
Grapefruit COVID Testing
The Grapefruit Community testing hubs are located at Dartmouth and Union Middle School. The community testing sites are open daily and into the evening.
Click here for the times and walk-in/appointment options for Dartmouth MS.
Click here for the times and walk-in/appointment options for Union MS.
Please understand that if you use the testing Hub, due to demand, the lines have been longer than usual, as is the case at many local testing sites.
In addition to the testing Hubs weekly Covid testing will continue in 2022 during the school day as an additional measure for our students and staff. USD is still committed to providing this additional support during the school day and if you would like to sign up your child for weekly no-cost COVID PCR testing through Grapefruit click the link below to sign up. Oster's testing day is every Friday.
If you would like your child to receive free weekly COVID testing at Oster please fill out the form below.
Free Breakfast Snack and Lunch @ Oster
Did you know California schools are offering free meals to students all year? It's true! For more information and menus, please click on the link below.
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OSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Website: https://oster.unionsd.org/
Location: 1855 Lencar Way, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: (408)266-8121
Twitter: @OsterElementary