Weekly Family Update #14
November 15, 2020
Principal's Message
Hello Falcon Families,
There is a lot of important information in the newsletter this week, but here are some key highlights:
- This week is ASB spirit week, I am excited to see you all dress up and participate!
- There is no school November 23-27 for Thanksgiving Break.
- The Book Fair ends tonight! Use the links below to support the library and find some new books.
- The Oak Valley Foundation Fall Fundraising Campaign is in full swing, see the information below on how you can support our Falcons.
- Please encourage your student to keep their camera on during instruction in Zoom meetings, our teachers miss seeing those smiling Falcon faces.
- Check out the reopening update and presentation below, it contains details about our plan and timeline.
Hello Falcons! The school year is flying by. Friday marks the end of our first trimester, we are officially 1/3 of the way through the school year and what an incredibly challenging school year it is.
Next week, November 23-27, school will be closed for Thanksgiving Break. During the month of November, each night at the dinner table, my family and I have been pulling a new topic out of a thankful jar that my kids made. Inside are little cards with topics like friends, books, nature, health, pets, etc. We all take turns and give an example of why we are thankful for that topic. This has been a great way for my young daughters to reflect on the importance of being thankful this time of year, especially during this pandemic where we are surrounded by an abundance of stress and the absence of normalcy.
One of the topics we discussed was school. While normally this is an easy topic, this year it is much more challenging and complex. I am thankful for the grit of your students to persevere during this pandemic. I am thankful for the 128 caring and devoted adults that have dedicated their careers to your children. I am so incredibly thankful for this school, this staff, and for all of your students, and I cannot wait for us get back to normal soon. I am thankful for the opportunity to be your principal.
I am so proud of the work of our students and staff have done so far this year. I hope you are all able to find time to rest and recharge over the break.
Thanks for all you do for our Oak Valley Community! Go Falcons!
Beaming with Falcon Pride,
Mr. Young
Principal
Oak Valley Middle School
New Announcements
ASB Spirit Week: Fall Festivities!
Fall Festivities Week ~ November 16 to 20
Monday the 16th:
Dress As Someone You're Thankful For
Tuesday the 17th:
Bring a “Feast” to Class (just a snack that will not distract you)
Wednesday the 18th:
Flannel Day
Thursday the 19th:
Wear your Favorite Football Teams Gear
Friday the 20th:
Sweater Weather (dress in your coziest outfit)
Best Buddies
Good news, Falcons! Oak Valley is starting a chapter of Best Buddies. Best Buddies is an international club that focuses on ending the social and physical isolation of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Because EVERYONE BELONGS AT OAK VALLEY. We are now one of more than 3000 chapters WORLDWIDE. We are looking for people who are friendly and eager to help foster friendships and community here at Oak Valley.
There will be a virtual informational meeting at lunch on Tuesday, November 17 from 12:25-12:50. Meet us in Mrs. Meyer’s virtual classroom at Meeting ID 960 0183 4248. The password is BUDDIES. You can find the invitation link here: https://powayusd.zoom.us/j/96001834248?pwd=VXVtZ0dwM2hDd2k1YmtDSVlTWjd5dz09
We look forward to having you join OVMS Best Buddies. See you on Tuesday at lunch!
PTSA/Shutterfly Fundraiser
If you’re getting ready to order your Holiday or New Years cards please consider using OVMS’s New Shutterfly Store Front to purchase custom photo cards or gifts. It’s super easy just enter through our custom OVMS Shutterfly Storefront at: http://ovms.shutterflystorefront.com.
With every purchase made through the storefront Shutterfly will give OVMS 8% of their profit. You must enter through this site in order for OVMS to benefit. You can also still log into your account and use coupons!
Reopening Information
Reopening Update
On Thursday November 12th, the PUSD School Board approved a plan for all PUSD middle and high schools to open on January 19th for students who opt for on-campus learning in a simultaneous teaching model (one lesson, two environments) with a hybrid schedule where students would be on campus two days a week, virtual two days a week, and will have one day of asynchronous learning/independent study. Students at Oak Valley who opt for on-campus learning will be divided into two groups and will be on campus either Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday. There will be no students on campus on Fridays. This model has been adopted by all secondary schools.
Moving forward we will finalize all of the necessary details to be prepared to open on that date. In the coming weeks I will provide more concrete details about the bell schedule, drop-off and pick-up process, safety protocols, etc. and continue to provide information in this newsletter. All families will also be resurveyed to determine your choice for school for this next phase, on-campus or remain virtual. This survey will come out after the Thanksgiving Break.
Many of your questions about what school will look like can be found in my live forum on Reopening Information, please see the link below. I have posted an FAQ on our website that is also posted below that answers many of the questions that have come up.
The simultaneous teaching model that the school board selected for all schools is explained in detail in the reopening presentation. This model means that teachers will be teaching virtual students via Zoom and on-campus students, who will still be on a computer in the classroom, at the same time. One lesson, two environments. The look and feel of school will be a continuation of what is happening right now, meaning that the way teachers are engaging with students will be same, Canvas, Zoom, digital assignments, etc, some students, however, will be in classrooms on-campus while this is happening, and other will be at home.
Students who opt to be on-campus will be utilizing a Chromebook to engage in their courses and interact with their virtual peers using Canvas and other digital tools. We will have a Chromebook distribution event for all OVMS students as we get closer to the reopening date. Students who opt to be on-campus will be on site two days a week and will be interacting with their classes digitally via Zoom just as they are now on the days when they are home.
More details will be included in the weekly newsletter and will also be posted on our website as we move forward.
Continuing Information
Book Fair - Ends Today!
Our Scholastic Book Fair end TONGIHT, November 15th! All purchases benefit Oak Valley and connect kids with new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more.
Enjoy these special online shopping features:
Over 6,000 items, including new releases, best sellers, value packs AND the NEW Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book #15!!
All orders ship direct to home
FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25*
All purchases support our school!
Visit our Book Fair Homepage and click “Shop Now” to get started: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/oakvalleymiddleschool5
Feel free to contact Katie Burns at katie.n.burns@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Happy reading!
*Free standard shipping is available on book-only orders of $25 or more, after all discounts are applied. Free standard shipping (books) must be selected during checkout. Orders containing products other than books are not eligible for this shipping promotion.
Oak Valley Falcon Foundation
Coming to an email box near you - the Falcon Fund 2020 Fall Fundraising Campaign!
Check your email for all the information you need, and be sure to look here and on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/oakvalleyfalconfoundation for more fun facts about the Foundation and our funding needs.
THERE WILL BE PRIZES! Donors prior to December 8th will have an opportunity to win restaurant gift cards, and even a set of Apple AirPods! Made your donation already? Don't worry - we'll include you in the drawings. More details on those opportunities coming soon... donate now at www.OakValleyFalconFoundation.com
Adopt A Family
November is Native American Heritage Month
Check Out Library Books
Falcons, the Oak Valley Library is available for you to check out books! You can request books from our in-house library collection to pick up from school on Thursdays and keep at home to read for two weeks before returning them. We will accept requests up until 2:00pm on Wednesdays for the following day.
Click HERE for more information and to submit your request.
Virtual Learning Resouces
PUSD Parenting Academy
Oak Valley Middle School
Email: coyoung@powayusd.com
Website: https://www.powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/MS/OVMS/Home
Location: 16055 Winecreek Road, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: (858) 487-2939