CLICK HERE to learn how to customize this newsletter’s appearance by accessing contrast, font size, and language customization options.

In this Message

• In Our Schools
• Employee of the Year Celebration
• Graduation 2021
• Job Opportunities
• CARES Child Care Program is Currently Enrolling for Fall
• Registration is Open for Preschool

Upcoming Events

• May 25: Open Houses – Esplanade, Fairhaven, Nohl Canyon, Prospect, Running Springs, Sycamore
• May 28: Elementary Minimum Day
• May 31: Memorial Day Holiday
• June 1: Open House – Chapman Hills
• June 3: Board of Education Meeting
• June 9: Middle & High School Minimum Day
• June 9 & 10: High School Graduation Ceremonies
• June 10: Last Day of Instruction/Minimum Day

Dear OUSD Community,

It is a busy and exciting time as we rapidly approach the end of the school year. While we look forward to our graduation and promotion ceremonies in the coming weeks, we were proud to honor our 2021 Employees of the Year, including Orange County Teacher of the Year Ingred Shine, at Fred Kelly Stadium this past Wednesday.

Due to the retirement incentive offered that will save the district $8.38 million over the next five years, we will also be celebrating a remarkably large group of 187 OUSD retirees on June 2. This strategy guarantees the district will generate these savings during these uncertain budget times. While we will miss our retiring friends and colleagues, we wish them all the best as they transition to a new chapter in their lives.

Planning for the 2021-2022 school year is also underway. Models for the 2021-2022 school year include:

• Option 1: Traditional in-seat classroom instructional model, 5 days per week
• Option 2: Full day virtual instruction through the OUSD EDGE Virtual Academy
• Option 3: OUSD Home School (Grades K-8) or Independent Study (Grades 7-12)

Students will be able to transfer from one model to another during the trimester or semester change if space is available.

To help students mitigate learning loss over Summer Break, we have partnered with Santiago Canyon College to make their "College for Kids Summer Program" available for all Orange Unified students AT NO COST TO FAMILIES. This incredible opportunity will accelerate progress to close learning gaps and provide students in grades K-12 with access to rigorous, fun, interactive, and engaging enrichment opportunities in four different formats to meet our students' learning needs:

• REMOTE LIVE- Students will use an online platform to meet instead of a classroom.
• ONLINE- This class is 100% online and there is not a set class time.
• IN PERSON- Participants are required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.
• REMOTE BLENDED 2 (ONLINE + IN PERSON)

In addition, the Educational Services Division has been working to provide Expanded Learning Opportunities for students using funding from the state. Information from last night’s Board of Education Meeting is available online by CLICKING HERE.

Congratulations to Imperial Elementary for being named a Common Sense Media School! Common Sense Schools are committed to deep implementation of the Common Sense Digital Citizenship Curriculum. Earning the Common Sense School badge is a symbol of Imperial’s dedication to helping students think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

Palmyra Elementary students participated in Social Emotional Learning activities as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. Students demonstrated teamwork by helping one another make their very own stress balls, participated in small group activities, and making calming tools during an SEL lesson.

Villa Park High School held their 15th annual French Wedding this past Saturday, with all participants following public health guidance. The festive event, complete with flowers, a cake, and traditional wedding attire, was conducted completely in French. Villa Park High School Principal Ken Miller, Ed.D., walked “bride” Jaretzhi Reyes down the flower-petal-lined aisle to groom Meena Salib. In order to be selected, Jaretzhi and Meena have been in French class for at least four years and have 4.0 GPAs. The French Wedding event is the brainchild of Madame Pazargadi, who has been passionately teaching French at VPHS for 15 years.

High school graduation ceremonies will take place on June 9 and 10 at Fred Kelly Stadium. Each graduate will be allowed four attendees, and tickets indicate the assigned seating area for each family. In addition, the event will be live-streamed for public viewing.

Following current public health guidance, all attendees must wear masks as per CDPH Face Coverings Guidance and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other attendees at all times, other than with household members such as when they are in their own vehicles. Attendance must be limited to school staff, graduates, household members, and family members. Attendees must abide by travel limitations as indicated within the current CDPH Travel Advisory. Persons who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 (e.g., due to age or underlying conditions) should be discouraged from attending. Individuals who are sick or in isolation or quarantine must remain at home.

Elementary and middle school promotion details will be shared with families by their children’s school site leaders.

Fall Registration is now open for the 2021/22 school year. Please register on Eleyo. If you are new to Eleyo you will need to create an account first before you can register. The registration fee of $100.00/$200.00 max per family will be due and billed on Monday, August 2. August (pro-rated) and September tuition will be due and billed on Wednesday, August 18 (the first day of school). Please register as soon as possible. Space is limited at each location: https://ousdcds.ce.eleyo.com/

Summer camp registration opened on Monday, April 19.

Registration for the Early Learning Center’s Preschool Program began on Tuesday, April 20. The ELC Preschool program is offered at Cambridge, Esplanade, Fairhaven, Olive, Lampson, Palmyra, and Sycamore Elementary Schools, with Spanish immersion available at California Elementary and Jordan Academy.

For information and program qualifications, please call 714-628-5577.

Parents can also register students for the Child Development Center’s award-winning Preschool Program. The preschool curriculum includes a variety of activities to stimulate and promote curiosity, learning, and social development. Teachers present a well-developed curriculum using the Preschool Learning Foundations, Preschool GLAD, and Connect4Learning to help in the areas of social and emotional development, English-language development, early literacy skills, early writing skills, print awareness, children’s literature, and early math and science skills presented in a nurturing and developmentally appropriate environment.

Please call 714-628-5360 for more information on how to register your child for this opportunity.

Space is limited in each program, and students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.