Orion Gazette
September 14-18
School Calendar
Sept 14 District English Learner Committee Meeting 5:30pm https://meet.google.com/mcr-rmoz-nps
Sept 17 School Site Council at 3:00pm via Zoom https://rcsdk8-net.zoom.us/j/86401042994?pwd=RkVvZmV3NDNWOE4yMmNXMnZSNUpZdz09
Sept 24 3:30pm Orion ELAC English Learner Committee
i-Ready Online Assessments for students and teachers
During the assessment period from September 21-October 2, some synchronous classes may end earlier to ensure adequate testing time.
Information for parents: English Video
Spanish. and handouts in both languages:
Technology Support and Online Learning Platforms
The District Office is available to help families with technology tools and information. The District Office, located at 750 Bradford St. in Redwood City, is open Monday-Friday, 9 am-4 pm.
Families with Questions About Recently-Issued Distance Learning Tools:
Families who have questions about their district issued devices can visit the District Office. This includes questions about how to operate the tools and if replacement materials are needed. We want to help you with any replacement as quickly as possible.
The District Office, located at 750 Bradford St. in Redwood City, is open Monday-Friday, 9 am-4 pm.
To request a hotspot, please contact:
Merced Ruiz at 650.482.2200 or email hotspots@rcsdk8.net
We thank you for your understanding.
RCSD Technology Department
Even if you already filled out a request online, please follow up with an email to Merced.
Orion Parents Appreciate the Staff
Wednesday Dozens of Flowers Arrived
Thank You Partners in Education
Starship PTO Corner
Starship Corner:
In the spirit of being part of the solution, there are several ways parents can get involved to support our kiddos this month. Look for committee sign ups on Konstella. Two opportunities we want to highlight this week are the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Bibliocarro Library program.
Mid-Autumn Festival
The MI program is planning a school wide mid autumn cultural event in celebration of the traditional Chinese moon festival on 10/2 or 10/3. Details TBA.
The Chinese moon festival is a celebration of a love story and a harvest celebration. Watch this short video to find out more!
Legend of the Moon Festival:https://youtu.be/EMMU1YJadzE
We hope to have volunteers across programs help produce thematic events as a school wide Chinese cultural celebration. Please email Kathrine Black at kat.anne.black@gmail.com to volunteer.
Congratulations Grade 2 Teacher Mrs. Kelly Hu and Mr. Hu - welcome Baby Anderson Zhan
Same Assembly Schedule this week - PE begins Sept 23
Coming in September 23 (Cross our fingers) : Live PE classes each Wednesday via Zoom
Grades 3-5 9:00-9:20
Grades k-2 9:40-10
The teachers will share the Zoom link for PE next Monday with students in the google classroom for grades 3-5 and in the class schedule in CLEVER for grades k-2.
For this week, teachers are sharing the PE Plus recorded lessons for the different grade levels in Clever.
Assemblies this week continued
Wednesday Schedule:
Grades k-1:
9:00-9:15 Principal Katherine
https://meet.google.com/ynd-jmkj-khc
10:00-10:15Librarian Christina Library
https://meet.google.com/hho-vmtn-xxr
Grades 2-3
10:00-10:15 Principal Katherine Link: https://meet.google.com/ynd-jmkj-khc
11:00-11:15 Librarian Christina Library https://meet.google.com/hho-vmtn-xxr
Grades 4-5
4-5 9:00-9:15 Librarian Christina Library Link https://meet.google.com/ynd-jmkj-khc
4-5 11:00-11:15 Principal Katherine Link: https://meet.google.com/hho-vmtn-xxr
School Site Council First Meeting of the Year Sept 17 at 3:00pm
The Orion School Site Council will begin the year with members from last year to revise budgets from last Spring to reflect Distance Learning needs and updated costs from vendors.
The agenda is attached to this Newsletter. All are invited to attend and listen.
There are a few open positions for both parents and staff this school year that will need to be filled through a school wide voting process. The School Site Council strives to have an equal balance of parents and staff from both the Orion Parent Participation and Mandarin Immersion programs. Elected parents/guardians and staff write and review the Single Plan for Student Achievement and allocate resources based on the SPSA. If you would like to learn more about the role of SSC, please join us for the first meeting.
The second meeting in October will provide a 30 minute training slide deck.
Orion School Library Distribution Begins this Week!!
LIBRARY BOOKS (and “Bibiocarro”)
Students can begin reserving library books through Alexandria (log into Alexandria through Clever,
and watch the video "How to search and place holds," ID and Password are the same for all RCSD apps). Librarian Cristina will pull them from the shelves, bag them, and make them ready for pick up. Included is a video with directions on how to search for titles and place holds. Students will be able to check out books every three weeks.
Watch "How to use library app" here.
Here is a brief overview of the rules:
- The maximum number of books a student can check out during any one cycle is 4.
- The maximum number of books a student can place a hold on is 5.
- I will bag books using PPE, and I will consolidate books orders to have one bag only for each family
- Any student who does not return books will have the number of books they can check out during the next cycle reduced to 1 (we are not charging late fees)
- Students must request books by noon on the Monday before the scheduled distribution dates. These upcoming dates are 9/14/2020, 10/5/2020, 10/26/2020, 11/16/2020, 12/7/2020. After 12 pm on these dates, any requested books will go to the next distribution cycle.
Book holds rules:
Kindergarten-second grade: Librarian Cristina will select fabulous books for each student; it will be two nonfiction books and two picture books. Parents are welcome to use the researcher to hold books for their children (especially for all the kids already reading chapter books).
Third-Fifth: students will use the Library app to put books on hold. If the books are not available (checked out), Librarian Cristina will select another book in the same genre.
Notices: I will send out an email informing everyone that their books are ready for pick up.
Distribution dates through December:
Pickup time: 12:00 am-4:00 pm
9/16/2020, 10/7/2020, 10/28/2020, 11/18/2020, 12/9/2020. Books can be picked up Wednesday afternoon, from 12:00 noon-4:00 pm on these dates.
How to pick up books:
Families can pull up on Avenue del Ora (where you picked up devices and classroom material) to have books brought to the car. Please have a piece of paper with your student's first and last name and grade level clearly visible. If you need to walk or bike, that's fine, but please make sure to socially distance. Everyone, please wear a mask.
You can text me or email to announce your arrival:
Librarian Cristina library phone: 650-7704071
Librarian Cristina library email: cryffel@rcsdk8.net
We want to organize a volunteer pickup service called "Bibliocarro," stay tuned, and please volunteer to help distribute books to our families.
Book return: books will be returned after three weeks and on the same day of the next pickup
Signup to become a Bibliocarro volunteer.