In this Message

• Campus Safety Update
• Orange High School Building Farewell Tour
  
• California iInspire Academy Celebrates Continuing Apple Distinguished School Status
• VAPA Students Perform at Community Fundraiser
• Free Online Tutoring
• Addressing the Opioid Crisis & Fentanyl Poisonings in Orange County
• Dual Immersion Pathway Survey
• Universal Prekindergarten Meeting
• Orange Elks Lodge #1475 Annual Christmas Basket Program
• Nominate an OC Parenting 2023 Top Teacher
• Employment Opportunities
• 2022-23 Health and Safety Plan

Upcoming Events

• December 9: Chapman Hills Elementary STEM Lab Celebration
• December 14: Board of Education Meeting
• December 15: High School Minimum Day; Orange High School 200 Building Farewell Tour
• December 19 – January 6: Winter Break

Dear OUSD Community,

It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through this school year and almost into 2023.

As next week’s Board of Education meeting approaches, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Trustee, Madison Miner (area 4), and congratulate Kris Erickson (area 5), Rick Ledesma (area 7), and Andrea Yamasaki (area 1) on their re-elections. On behalf of the Orange Unified School District and Trustees, I would also like to thank Kathy Moffat for her 22 years of dedicated service on our school board and countless years as a volunteer on our campuses.

The December meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 14. During this annual organizational meeting, the Board of Education will elect its officers, set the calendar of regular meetings for the calendar year 2023, and designate its Board representatives.

Around 1 p.m. on December 8, Orange High School went into a lockdown and OUSD campuses near OHS went into a "shelter-in-place" for approximately an hour following an altercation between two students at Orange High School that resulted in a non-life-threatening injury. The victim was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

OUSD campuses have been cleared as safe by OPD.

Orange Unified is working closely with the Orange Police Department. As of the morning of December 9, the armed student was arrested and booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall, authorities said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call OPD at 714-744-7444 and reference Orange High School.

Phase 2 of Measure S is underway, with the demolition of the 500 building at Villa Park High School beginning in December and the demolition of Orange High School’s old administration building taking place in January. Phase 2 project bids for El Modena and Canyon High Schools are expected to be placed on the agenda for Board review in January and April, respectively.

For more information about our Measure S projects, please visit https://www.orangeusd.org/measure-s

California iInspire Academy commemorated its third consecutive recognition as an Apple Distinguished School today with a schoolwide ribbon-cutting celebration. Those in attendance included representatives from local and state government, District leadership, and California iInspire Academy students, staff, and community members.

California iInspire Academy is one of only 689 schools in 36 countries to be identified with the prestigious “Apple Distinguished” honor. The school was first awarded Apple Distinguished status for the 2017-2019 term and then again for 2019-2022.

Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence that use Apple products to inspire creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. They showcase innovative uses of technology in learning, teaching, and the school environment and have documented results of academic accomplishment.

Top vocalists from six OUSD elementary campuses performed "This is Me" at the GOCAT (Greater Orange Community Arts Theatre) Gala. This was a fundraiser event for the building of a state-of-the-art performing arts venue for use by the Orange community.

The students performed under the direction of music teacher Emily Burkhart, who said, “I'm so proud of them and the important message they shared to be true to who you are and to be proud of it!”

In addition, the Orange County Department of Education has developed a resource to share with families called Five Things Families Need to Know About Fentanyl and Fake Pills. This resource is available in multiple languages and formatted as a printable one-page PDF and multi-image social media post. It is available at link.ocde.us/fentanyl as part of a Fentanyl Toolkit that will continue to grow as additional resources are developed and translated.

We are currently considering the addition of a fourth dual immersion pathway for our students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. We have developed a Dual Immersion Task Force, which has developed a short survey to help guide the decision-making process. Please complete the survey at https://forms.gle/ft1Gh8QQFp8K4Jzj8 to help inform the development of our new pathway.

For more information on the Orange Unified School District’s Dual Immersion Programs, please visit: https://www.orangeusd.org/enrollment/new-enrollment/immersion-programs

Are you interested in a profession that makes a positive impact on our 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.

Please be sure to check out our 2022-23 Safety and Health-Driven Plan, which outlines what we have implemented to keep our students and staff healthy in the new school year.

Our community showcases will take place at our four comprehensive high schools and feature the elementary and middle schools within each Slice Family. Community members are also welcome to tour the new Science Center at each site.

The dates and times are as follows:

• Villa Park High School—Feb. 1 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. with elementary and middle from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
• El Modena High School—Feb. 8 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. with elementary and middle from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
• Orange High School—Feb. 15 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. with elementary and middle from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
• Canyon High School—Feb. 22 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. with elementary and middle from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

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