September 11, 2022

OCEAN K-12 Family Partnership Newsletter

OCEAN K-12 Alternative Learning Environment Logo
Here is what you will find inside this newsletter:


  • Classes Start Monday, September 12
  • Meals at School
  • Pick up, drop off & parking
  • Attendance
  • Volunteering
  • Living and Being Well Class - New Middle School Time
  • Student Assessments

Classes Start Monday, September 12

We are looking forward to seeing students starting Monday, September 12.


OCEAN class schedule


Questions about a student's schedule can usually best be answered by the conferencing teacher. All classes start this week except for LABWell. See below for more information.

Meals at School

If a student would like to get breakfast at school they may pick it up from the Blue Heron cafeteria from 8:10-8:25. OCEAN students should bring their breakfast to the OCEAN tent to eat.


Students who are staying for lunch should bring a home lunch or plan to get a school lunch from the cafeteria. Lunch is eaten outdoors in the OCEAN tent. Lunch is supervised on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for students staying for afternoon classes.


Students will need their 4 digit lunch code to get a school meal. Copies will be available at lunch from the office. To add money to a student lunch account cash or check can be brought to the OCEAN office. If you need to complete a free/reduced meals application stop by the OCEAN office for a copy.

Student Pick Up, Drop Off & Parking

Help make pick up and drop off a success. All students and families should access the OCEAN buildings from the orchard side of the school. Please do not walk across the playground area as there are often Blue Heron classes in that area during the school day. The parking closest to OCEAN near the orchard is reserved for OCEAN families and students. The fire lane behind the OCEAN office building is not a parking area.


Grades K-4

Students in grades K-4 should be picked up directly from the OCEAN classroom after class. Wait outside the room until class is dismissed. The teacher will release the student when they see their grown-up. If your student has permission to walk or bike home, or go home with another family please send them with a note.


Grade 5-12

Will be released at the end of class. If the student is waiting for pick-up they should wait in the waiting area near the fire hydrant (see map). If a student's ride does not come or they need to call home they should come to the OCEAN office.


Families picking up students should either park in a designated parking space, or wait in their car in the pick up and drop off area.


Families need to communicate with the OCEAN office if they are going to be late, or if the pick-up plan changes. Teachers are not always able to pick up voicemail and email in time for pick-up changes.

Big picture

Attendance

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.


Since OCEAN students have limited time each week in class with their teachers, regular attendance is even more important at our school. We expect students to attend all their scheduled class, and for families to excuse absences that are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances.


Daily attendance will be recorded by teachers, and families will receive a message letting them know that the student was absent. Automated messages should start after the second week of classes.


Absences from class need to be excused by a parent or guardian. Please email oceanattendance@ptschools.org or send your student with a note to the office the next day to excuse an absence.

Volunteering

We love adult volunteers at OCEAN. Throughout the year there are opportunities to work in the classrooms, attend field trips, or lead an enrichment class. All adult volunteers need to have complete the district application process. Any adult volunteering inside must also provide proof of COVID vaccination. If you plan to accompany your student on a field trip you must complete the secure volunteer application.


Living and Being Well Class - New Middle School Time

We are excited to be partnering with The Benji Project on an innovative year-round class entitled Living and Being Well (LABWell). In this class, we will explore techniques for staying grounded, in good times and tough times. We will also have the opportunity to engage with community members with varied life paths who have explored what Living and Being Well means to them.


The High School class meets in the Otter Lounge, OCEAN portable 902, on Thursdays, 10:30-11:45, and Fridays, 10:30-12, beginning the week of September 19. Some Fridays we will be arranging field trips, which may extend beyond that hour and a half time slot. We will provide plenty of advance notice for these. This class can meet credit requirements for health or an elective.


The Middle School class (grades 5-8) meets in the Otter Lounge, OCEAN portable 902, on Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30, beginning the week of September 19. Please note the change in day and time. This now allows students to register for BOTH robotics (on Wednesdays) and LABWell (on Tuesdays).


To find out more about this class, and to meet The Benji Project instructor, Heather McRae-Woolf, we are asking that all interested students sign up for a pre-meeting here:

https://calendly.com/labwell/30min


A parent or family member is welcome to attend this pre-meeting, as well. Additional questions can be sent to Heather at teachers@thebenjiproject.org.

Student Assessments

This year we will be completing a fall assessment to help us determine students who need additional math, reading, or writing support with our intervention team. If your student in grades K-8 did not get their assessment completed last week our intervention team will be scheduling a make up this week. Look for an email or phone call with the scheduled make up time.


High School Student Assessment, Friday 12-2pm in 902

Any high school student who has not yet completed their FastBridge fall assessment should plan to attend on Friday from 12-2pm to complete their assessment.


Intervention Schedule

The intervention schedule will start as soon as we complete the fall screening. Families and students will be contacted individually with their scheduled times for intervention for qualifying students. At October conferences assessment scores will be available for families and students to review and discuss at the conference.

Upcoming Events

2022-23 School Year

First Day of In-person Class - September 12

Picture Day - September 20 (Students without on-campus class on this day can come for photos)

OCEAN Family Resource Event (Includes new K-8 family intro session) - September 21, 5:30-7pm

ASB Bike-A-Thon - September 29 - 12:45-3pm

OCEAN Camp Out - ORCA Event - October 6-8

Picture Retake Day - October 24

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Non-discrimination statement

Port Townsend School District No. 50 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, immigration status, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:


Title IX Coordinator, Darrell Thomas, (360) 379-4548,dthomas@ptschools.org

Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Shelby MacMeekin, (360) 379-4366, smacmeekin@ptschools.org

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Darrell Thomas, (360) 379-4548, dthomas@ptschools.org

Port Townsend School District Learning Through A Sense of Place