Weekly Family Update # 2
August 23, 2020
Principal's Message
Hello Falcon Families,
It is Registration week, and that means I get to see the smiling faces of our Falcons. I have missed your kiddos so much. This week is our annual student Registration event. Registration will be a drive-thru event that will be different than our normal annual process. Students will be receiving their textbooks, a list of their classes, a Chromebook (** for those who requested one and for all 6th grade students, see below **) and some informational flyers.
We will not be doing school photos or ID cards at Registration this year. We will have school photos this year, we have them tentatively scheduled for later in the Fall. More information and dates will be sent out soon.
Students will only be receiving a list of classes at Registration. Student schedules with teacher names and periods will be released district-wide the day before school starts. Information on how access student schedules will be in next week’s newsletter. Please note, our enrollment is up and we are growing! That means that our classes are very full and there will most likely not be an opportunity to switch electives. We apologize for this, as I know there were some families wanting different electives during Virtual Learning. Our staff are preparing and collaborating and are designing an awesome elective experience for your students while we are Virtual Learning.
Attention All Families Tech Update! Last Spring PUSD announced that we are moving to a one-to-one computer device for all students in grades 3-12. That means that all Oak Valley Middle School students will be receiving a Chromebook.
Currently, we do not have enough for all 1,588 students. Last week a request survey was sent out to all families. We have received your requests and will have your Chromebook ready for you at Registration. All families that requested a Chromebook will need to fill out, sign, and turn in a Parent/Student Chromebook Agreement Form at registration. The form can be found HERE and we will also have copies at registration.
Please note: You will not be able to pick-up your device if you and your student have not filled out and signed the form.
We still have a large surplus of devices, so in addition to those families who requested a device, we will be passing out a Chromebook to ALL 6th Grade Students. All 6th grade families will need to fill out, sign, and turn in a Parent/Student Chromebook Agreement Form at registration to receive your device. The form can be found HERE and we will also have copies at registration.
Please note: You will not be able to pick-up your device if you and your student have not filled out and signed the form.
PUSD is expecting a large shipment of Chromebooks late next month. We will be prepared to give a device to all 7th and 8th grade students at that time.
But I have a MacBook, desktop computer, palm pilot, Apple IIGS, or other computer device at home, do I have to get a Chromebook? Yes and No. If we were not in a pandemic facing Virtual Learning, all students in grades 3-12 would have received a Chromebook at the start of this school year. Unfortunately, there is shortage of computers nationwide. Most families will be fine to use what you have at home while we are Virtual Learning, but moving forward, when all of this Covid stuff is over, students will be expected to bring their Chromebook back and forth to school each day like they would any other textbook or binder. This is an exciting change and one that benefit students greatly.
I look forward to seeing you all next week!!
Thanks for all you do for our Oak Valley Community! Go Falcons!
Beaming with Falcon Pride,
Mr. Young
Principal
Oak Valley Middle School
Important Registration Information and Details
Most families have completed the online registration document process last Spring. If you still need to turn in your PUSD Signature Verification Form (reminder: both you and your student need to sign this form!), and/or the Student Health Form (7th graders only), we will collect those at registration; as well as the 2020-2021 Student Chromebook Checkout Form.
We will be doing a drive-thru, a la promotion last year, textbook pick-up Registration process this year. Families will drive-thru the parking lot and pick-up the textbooks and other items.
All students will have the opportunity to exit their vehicle to take an optional picture in front of an Oak Valley Middle School backdrop/banner. Please note that only students will be allowed to exit the vehicle and families will need to remain in the car to snap a photo of their student. Banners will be on the passenger side of the car, so be prepared. This is optional, so if families do not feel comfortable exiting the vehicle, they will be able to bypass the picture area. We will have the banners along up on the fence in the parking for the first few weeks of schools for families that would like to come back at a later time and take a nice picture.
PTSA and the Oak Valley Falcon Foundation will be on hand as well.
Our ASB students will be selling Spirit Packs and collecting cans for their Annual Canned Food Drive to support Feeding San Diego
If you have more than one student that attends Oak Valley, please come on the date assigned to your youngest child.
Please make sure you have completed the online Continuing Student Registration process and forms via Synergy Parent VUE before coming to registration. If you have not completed this process, please use this LINK for more detailed information.
The schedule is below, if you are unable to attend on your assigned registration day, please contact Oak Valley Administrative Assistant, Deirdre Sheehy at dsheehy@powayusd.com.
Registration Map
Virtual Learning Bell Schedule
We have adjusted the start and end times of the day slightly to align with other schools in PUSD. Students will be engaged in a homeroom type class that will focus on social-emotional learning twice a week called Falcon Connections. Students will also have access to teacher office hours/tutorial where they can get extra help three times a week. Please note that this schedule may be adjusted as needed based on any new information and direction given from the district office.
As principals across the district were planning the Virtual Learning schedules, our focus was on designing a system that would allow for:
- Building belonging in classrooms/school communities
- Learner centered
- Social-emotional learning
- Longer blocks of learning time
- Proactive office hours/tutorials
- Letter grades for classes
- Live instruction and touch points throughout the day
- Whole group, small group and Independent learning in each class
- Following our normal site bell time schedule
There is still lots of work to do planing and training as teachers begin to return to work soon. I will be providing more information and details on our Virtual Learning plan as we approach the start of school.
ASB News
ASB Spirit Packs for Sale at Registration
Hello Oak Valley! This is your ASB with an important announcement.
We will be selling OVMS Spirit Packs at registration this year. This will be our only big fundraiser of the year since we are unable to hold our annual fun run, so we need your help and support! Each spirit pack is just $25 and includes a TON of OVMS swag! Please click on this LINK for more details and to preorder your very own Spirit Pack. You will be able to pay and pick up at our OVMS registration. Thank you so much for supporting our Associated Student Body and our Culture Building and Spirit Spreading plans for this year!
Canned Food Drive
ASB is hosting their Annual Canned Food Drive in conjunction with school registration next week from Tuesday, August 25th - Thursday, August 27th.
Open your heart, open your pantry, and share what you CAN by bringing two or more canned foods. Our dedicated teachers, staff, and volunteers will be collecting your generous contribution from your car on registration day.
All collected canned foods will benefit Feeding San Diego as we continue to help San Diegans who are facing food insecurity due to COVID-19.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and together we CAN make a difference.
One Can. Two Can. Who Can? You Can!
Oak Valley PTSA
Be sure to join Oak Valley PTSA! Joining is quick and easy and membership is only $20.00.
Please use this LINK link to join PTSA online.
Would you like to get involved? PTSA is helping support textbook pick up/drive through registration next week. Click the SignUpGenius LINK to volunteer.
Back to school means it is time to get your Oak Valley Spirit Wear! This year we have an online store that is open, fully stocked, and ready to go. We have new items this year. Get your Spirit Wear now by clicking this LINK.
A little encouragement to get our staff to join the PTSA!
Childcare Survey from PUSD
Greetings PUSD Families,
We are surveying our families to determine the necessity for childcare during virtual learning and when we are able to reopen schools. As we seek possible solutions to assist our families, we need to understand our families' needs. Please take a moment to complete this survey if you need childcare assistance. If you have more than one child who needs childcare, please submit a survey for each one.
You can find the link HERE.
Please submit this survey by Wednesday, August 26th.
Thank you,
Poway Unified School District
Incoming 6th Grade and New Falcon Welcome Video
Watch the video HERE.
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