Oster Newsletter
December 13, 2023
Independent Study Contracts and Requests
At this time of year, it’s essential to highlight the significance of regular school attendance as outlined by California law. It's crucial to your child's education journey to ensure they receive consistent learning opportunities and comply with attendance regulations.
Per California law, absences from school are considered excused under certain conditions, such as illness, medical appointments, or observance of religious holidays. Please note that vacations during school days are generally only considered excused if they fall within designated school breaks.
If you're planning an absence for reasons other than medical reasons, where travel is necessary, following the school's procedure and policy for requesting an Independent Study Contract is essential. This ensures your child's absence is appropriately managed without affecting their academic progress.
When planning a trip that requires your child to be absent from school for 3 to 14 days, parents can request a short-term independent study contract. To facilitate this arrangement, the school policy requires at least two weeks' notice before the planned absence. To initiate this process, please reach out to Mrs. Beagle in the front office via email.
Adhering to this notification timeline is critical. Failure to inform the office at least two weeks before the trip might result in your child being marked unexcused for their absence. This process ensures educational continuity for your child and compliance with our attendance policies.
Your cooperation and understanding in following these procedures are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding absences or the Independent Study Contract, please don't hesitate to contact the front office. USD attendance policy is outlined in the Parent Handbook on page 5.
Energy Drinks at School
After careful consideration and in alignment with our commitment to promoting a healthy and safe environment for all students, we have made the decision to prohibit the consumption of energy drinks during the school day.
We understand that energy drinks have become increasingly popular among young individuals; however, recent studies have shown potential adverse effects associated with their consumption, particularly among adolescents. These effects may include increased heart rate, disrupted sleep patterns, heightened anxiety, and difficulty concentrating, which can significantly impact a student's overall well-being and academic performance.
To ensure the well-being of our students and create a conducive learning environment, we believe it is in their best interest to disallow the consumption of energy drinks during school hours and at school-sponsored events.
We kindly ask for your support in reinforcing this policy at home and discussing the importance of making healthy beverage choices with your child. Encouraging alternatives such as water, natural juices, and other non-caffeinated beverages will help maintain their energy levels without the potential risks associated with energy drinks.
Thank you for your continued support in fostering a safe and healthy environment for our students to thrive.
Oster’s Glow Party Wrap
THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who made Oster’s Glow Party 2023 a success and for all of the students, families and staff who came together in community to celebrate - we enjoyed yummy food, festive music, wild dancing, fun games, holiday arts & crafts, face painting and even played in SNOW!
Check out photos in HSC’s Facebook or Instagram and upload any you’d like to share here!
Oster School Spirit Day: Wednesday, December 20th
Yearbooks are still available!
There are still some yearbooks available for sale. If you have not yet ordered one and would like to avoid the end-of-the-school-year rush, or worse, miss out on getting your hands on one, please visit the Balfour Site to order yours today!
Kick off the holiday season by joining us for a relaxing evening of painting with your loved ones.
Paint and create wonderful memories (and even gifts!) with your loved ones this holiday season. With our talented Paint Night instructor, Tim Daszko, as your guide, see masterpieces come to life together with your children. No experience necessary, and we'll provide all the supplies so you don't have to worry about a thing! Holiday snacks and dinner will be provided + a raffle for prizes of handcrafted items created by local artists and fun gifts. (Purchase at $1 a ticket during the event)!
Date/Time: 12/16/22 (Saturday) from 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Location: Dartmouth Middle School Cafeteria
(5575 Dartmouth Dr., San Jose)
After 12/1:
Member: $35 (includes dinner and 1 raffle ticket)
Sponsor: $40 (includes dinner and 2 raffle tickets)
Space is limited. Get your tickets before we sell out!
Purchase Tickets from the button, QR code below or from
Registration for the 2024-2025 school will open on February 1, 2024
Parent Orientation and Registration Information for New Families for the 24/25 School Year
Oster will host a parent orientation meeting for new incoming families to Oster. This meeting is intended for parents new to Oster who will have a student (s) enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year.
During the meeting, you will join the principal, Mrs. Taormina, office staff, and health clerk for an informational presentation on the registration process, our grade level curriculum, and on-site Extended Care options. At the end of the presentation, we will take a brief tour of the campus, including short classroom visits.
RSVP for Orientation and School Tour
For parents who are interested in attending the orientation we are asking you to please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. The orientation meetings and school tour will be held on Wednesday, December 13th and Thursday, January 11th from 9:00-10:00 am.
Unfortunately, we cannot allow children to attend the meeting nor participate in the classroom visits. Please be sure to make the appropriate childcare arrangements on the day that you will be attending the orientation meeting.
Frozen Friday
A favorite Oster Tradition, Frozen Friday, happens each week! Stop by after school on Fridays outside the cafeteria to purchase a frozen treat and hang with friends! All treats are $1 or $2. Small bills are appreciated or we can take ApplePay! OR, purchase a Frozen Friday Card here!
Sign up to Volunteer! This is a great opportunity to get involved with HSC & Oster’s connected community and only takes an hour or so on Friday afternoon!
Stay up to date on all the latest Home & School Club News!
Register your Membership Toolkit by visiting www.osterhsc.org!
Get Involved! Check out the variety of volunteering options at: www.osterhsc.org/sign_ups.
Like & Follow:
Facebook @OSTERHSC
Instagram @OSTERHSC1855
December 21-January 3: No School, Winter Break
School Resumes, Thursday, January 4, 2024
Join the Union School District Team!
Get a full or part time position (Teaching, Instructional Assistant, Office, Food Service, and Extended Care positions). Apply today on EdJoin.
Become a noon duty aide. Contact the front office for more information.
Oster Elementary School
Principal: Lisa Taormina
Email: taorminal@unionsd.org
Website: https://oster.unionsd.org
Location: 1855 Lencar Way, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: 408-266-8121