Message from the Superintendent

April 23, 2021

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In this Message

  • Graduation
  • Athletics
  • Thank you to Our Community Partner, CHOC
  • In Our Schools
  • CARES Child Care Program is Currently Enrolling for Fall
  • Registration is Open for Preschool
  • Job Opportunities


Upcoming Events



Dear OUSD Community,


As we continue to plan for the 2021-2022 school year, we ask that you kindly fill out the Instructional Model Commitment Form indicating what model you prefer for your student(s). Models for the 2021-2022 school year include:



It is important to note that Educational Services Leadership will only consider the transfer from one model to another at the trimester or semester if space is available. Please indicate your instructional model preference by Friday, April 30, to help us plan efficiently. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Graduation

At this time, graduations continue to be planned for June 9 and 10 at Fred Kelly Stadium. Given our present tier on the Orange County COVID-19, each graduate will currently be allowed two attendees, and the event will be live-streamed. Depending on Orange County’s tier, when graduations are scheduled, the number of attendees permitted may be adjusted accordingly. Elementary and middle school promotion details will be shared with families from their children’s school site leaders.

Athletics

In order to better serve our families, we have updated our policies to allow each student-athlete two attendees from their household, including minors. Previous guidance allowed for two spectators age 18+ only. As Orange County eases up on COVID-19 restrictions, we will adjust the number allowed to align with public health guidance.

I would like to thank the OUSD staff and community for your ongoing support and patience as we work to expand the opportunities we can offer while being mindful of the safety and health protocols we still need to follow to continue to lessen the spread of COVID-19.


Warmest Regards,

Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Orange Unified School District

Thank you to Our Community Partner, CHOC

Thank you to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) for their donation of N95 masks for our schools. We appreciate their partnership and support and are thankful for the wonderful gift of PPE. CHOC and OUSD are great partners in our Orange Community!

In Our Schools


This week, Cerro Villa Middle School was redesignated as a 2021 California School To Watch and Model Middle School for high performance in Academic Excellence, Developmental Responsiveness, Social Equity, and Organizational Structures and Processes. This recognition wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and support of our teachers, staff, and Viking community. We are so thankful for their ongoing dedication and commitment to making Cerro Villa the excellent school that it is. The recognition celebration is available online at https://www.leagueofschools.org/e3

We are proud to announce that McPherson Magnet School had several students compete and earn awards at the Orange County Science and Engineering Fair. The competition was held virtually this year.


Led by Kayee Conrad (2016 OCSEF Teacher of the Year) and Shannon Duncan, McPherson students’ projects won the county competition in the following areas, with some students moving on to the state competition:


  • Abigail Barnes (8th grade) 1st place, Physical Product Science
  • Vivian Dang (7th grade) 1st place, Earth Science/Physical Science
  • Sophia Cabrera (8th grade) 3rd place, Biological Product Science
  • Sophia Wein (6th grade), 3rd place, Earth Science/Physical Environment
  • Ben Astor (8th grade), special monetary award by Broadcom Coding with Commitment
  • Dylan Platfoot, (7th grade), special monetary awards by the American Chemical Society and Los Angeles Society of Petroleum Engineers
  • Luke Bennett (7th grade), OCSEF Lon Isenberg Memorial Award



The projects that went to the county level were initially judged by community members who are actively engaged in science and work for companies such as NASA, Broadcom, Beckman, Disney, and Chapman University at McPherson’s virtual science fair in March. The McPherson science fair competition focused on communication skills and each student’s ability to convey project ideas and discoveries.


McPherson Magnet is a K-8 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Magnet School in the Orange Unified School District. For information about McPherson, please follow them on Twitter @mcphersonmagnet or visit their website: https://mcphersonhome.meteormail.net/home
OCDE Article: OC students take home top honors at OCSEF

Orange County students take home top honors at annual science and engineering fair

The OUSD Mandarin Immersion Program (MIP) was recently featured in the April edition of Villa Park: The Hidden Jewel Magazine:


“MIP students enter the program in kindergarten at Fletcher Elementary School before continuing through Cerro Villa Middle School and Villa Park High School. Now in its ninth year, students from the first MIP cohort are in their freshman year at Villa Park High School. The program begins as a 50/50 model (with half of the instructional time conducted in Mandarin) and the course sequence changes through high school. In the first few years, the students learn Mandarin through language arts, music, and math. By high school, students expand their Mandarin skills in classes such as international business. Students will also test for California’s Seal of Biliteracy..."


Read the full article at by CLICKING HERE.

CARES Child Care Program is Currently Enrolling for Fall

Fall Registration is now open for the 2021/22 school year. Please register on Eleyo. If you are new to Eleyo you will need to create an account first before you can register. The registration fee of $100.00/$200.00 max per family will be due and billed on Monday, August 2. August (pro-rated) and September tuition will be due and billed on Wednesday, August 18 (the first day of school). Please register as soon as possible. Space is limited at each location: https://ousdcds.ce.eleyo.com/


Summer camp registration opened on Monday, April 19.

Registration is Open for Preschool

Registration for the Early Learning Center’s Preschool Program began on Tuesday, April 20. The ELC Preschool program is offered at Cambridge, Esplanade, Fairhaven, Olive, Lampson, Palmyra, and Sycamore Elementary Schools, with Spanish immersion available at California Elementary and Jordan Academy.


For information and program qualifications, please call 714-628-5577.


Parents can also register students for the Child Development Center’s award-winning Preschool Program. The preschool curriculum includes a variety of activities to stimulate and promote curiosity, learning, and social development. Teachers present a well-developed curriculum using the Preschool Learning Foundations, Preschool GLAD, and Connect4Learning to help in the areas of social and emotional development, English-language development, early literacy skills, early writing skills, print awareness, children’s literature, and early math and science skills presented in a nurturing and developmentally appropriate environment.


Please call 714-628-5360 for more information on how to register your child for this opportunity.


Space is limited in each program, and students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Job Opportunities

Orange Unified School District is gearing up for its spring recruiting and hiring initiative. Are you interested in a profession that makes a positive impact in the community? If so, please visit our website at www.orangeusd.org/jobs to view a vast array of employment opportunities that span from entry-level to upper management, classified and certificated. Join the Orange Unified family and Inspire our learners of today to be purposeful leaders of tomorrow.

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OUSD’s COVID-19 Dashboard

As of January 2021, any student-athlete who is positive for COVID-19 and is on campus during their infectious period is included on the OUSD Dashboard, even if they are in 100% distance learning.

Connect with Us

We invite you to take a moment to follow Orange Unified on social media to receive the District’s latest news and announcements. Social media may also be a critical line of communication during emergencies and will be an excellent place for you to get up to date information: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube