Ohlone Family Connection
February 17, 2022
Love & Gratitude
Our Ohlone Black History PTA Committee is doing exceptional work and they have shared some great resources with families. Please see the links below and through eNews. I hope you find this helpful in your work at home as a family.
I wanted to express my deep gratitude for our parent volunteers who work on campus as well as those many parents behind the scenes who are working hard to bring back some of our beloved community events within the changing landscape that is Covid. It's feeling more and more like Ohlone again :).
We are happy to share that we are planning to hold our annual Spring (Harvest) Festival with Spring Fling in April. Fingers crossed that we will be able to have everything mostly business as usual. We will be following the CDPH guidelines and will shift our protocols if needed. We will also have our Book Fair (outside)! It has been wonderful to have the theatre buzz this week as the kids audition for our upcoming school play.
THANK YOU many times over to all of the families who have purchased books for our classrooms to help us build better representation in our class libraries. The support has been amazing! We are so appreciative and cannot wait to share these new titles with your children.
I am looking forward to spending time with my puppers and family during this extended 4-day weekend. I hope you get to unplug and soak up the sun and fun with your children.
Dawn
Ohlone Principal
Black History Month - Week 2: Artists, Musicians, & Writers
This week, we will focus on Black artists, musicians, and writers:
Our lives are enriched in such significant ways by the work of artists, writers, and musicians. The written word, visual arts, and music move us physically and emotionally to keep exploring the human condition. We hope you take some time this week (or every week) to listen to, read, look at some of your favorite artists - and seek out new books, songs, and works of art to explore!
Week 2 Black History Month Resources (Artists, Musicians, Writers)
Coming Up Next Week
2/18 - Local Holiday - No School
2/21 - Presidents' Day Holiday - No School
2/22 - PAUSD Board Meeting - 6:30pm
2/23 - Student Council Meeting (students)
2/26 - Virtual STEM Fair - 1:00-4:30
2/27 - Cudos Fundraiser - 11:00-5:00
On the Horizon
2/28 - PTA Exec Board Meeting - 8:30-10:00
2/28 - Site Council Meeting - 3:00-4:30
2/28 - CVC Parent Night on Zoom - 6:00-7:30pm
3/1 - Student arts and crafts due for Student Council Fundraiser
3/4 - PTA General Meeting - 8:30-9:30
3/11 - No School - Professional Learning Day for Staff
3/14 - No School - Local Holiday (and pi day)
3/16 & 3/17 - Student Council Arts and Crafts Fundraiser for Iris
Ohlone Times 12
Positive Steps
Positive Steps
The Ohlone Guides have completed a Positive Steps Project in the G building. After voting on affirming statements, teachers worked with Ohlone Guides to add these statements to stairs. It is fantastic that students get to remember that they are special, extraordinary, and brave people who are loved each time they walk up the stairs. We are planning to work on the second set of stairs next year and perhaps add more of these reminders to other areas on campus. I hope you enjoy the pictures!
Ohlone Guides at Work!
Virtual STEM Fair is Saturday, 2/26 1:00-4:30!
CVC Parent Night - February 28
Are you tired of asking your child how school was only to get “Fine" in response?
The Core Values Committee and Site Council are coming together to offer you a very special treat. Please join us via Zoom on February 28, 6:00-7:30pm and find out how your children experiencing school in their own words.
As part of our School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), Ohlone Site Council conducted a brief survey asking each child questions to get to the heart of how they feel while at school. This covers everything, from academics to social interactions, to their sense of belonging. Join Dawn, teachers from each cluster and fellow parents as we explore the results of the survey and put our hearts and minds together to brainstorm the next steps. A link will be available through Parent Square closer to the date. We hope to see you there!
rani and Krassi (CVC Chairs)
COVID-19 Updates
Given the dramatic decline in COVID-19 cases districtwide, we are making the following updates to our COVID-19 practices and protocols.
Contact Letters
We have resumed sending group contact letters to staff and students who shared the same indoor space with a confirmed positive case for 15 min or more over a 24hr period. Parents, guardians and staff may receive more than one notification for the same positive case due to a variance in class and work schedules.
Household Contacts
We are no longer required to follow the same household close contact protocol. A “household close contact” no longer needs to wait until the isolation period ends for the positive case in the home, before beginning their quarantine period. Quarantine period begins on Day 1 from exposure.
Proof of Test Results
Parents, guardians and staff are still required to share their positive test results with the school office or their immediate supervisor. Negative test results must be shared when returning to school or work.
Hand Sanitizer
Some families have expressed concern with hand sanitizer use and have reported some student’s hands becoming dry, cracked, red, and itchy due to skin sensitivity. Please know that the use of hand sanitizer is not a requirement and proper hand washing is always an option.
Masks and Face Coverings
Students and staff are no longer required to wear face coverings while outside at schools. Volunteers are still required to wear a mask at all times when on campus.
We anticipate more changes from CDPH and the State. New information and updates will be shared when released. Please see the 2/4 Superintendent's Update for information on masking and proactive discussions.
Cluster 3: Updated Guidance for Playing Instruments Outdoors
Please see the updated guidance for 4th and 5th grade students playing instruments outdoors:
4th Grade Recorders:
- Students may play outdoors without any distancing restrictions
5th Grade Band:
- Musician masks are optional when playing outdoors
- Bell covers are required when playing outdoors
- Students may play outdoors without any distancing restrictions
COVID- 19 Rental Assistance
Informational workshops about Santa Clara County programs that support families experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 related housing crisis. To attend the workshops, please register using the following links:
2/15 @ 6 PM - Taller en Español
2/22 @ 6 PM - English Workshop
2/25 @ 1:30 PM - Taller en Español
Room 16 Paper Town Community Project
Have a wonderful weekend!
Dawn
Email: dyoshinaga@pausd.org
Location: 950 Amarillo Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Phone: 650-887-7102