Ohlone Family Connection
April 16, 2022
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This OFC is a bit chunky so I will keep this short and focus on my deep gratitude for our supportive community.
Thank you for the incredible book donations to increase representation in our class libraries. All of the books have been delivered. We will be distributing them to teachers and students next week. Thank you to our families and for the generous donation from our BIPOC group.
Thank you to of all of our parent volunteers and organizers for the successful book fair, the bonding school playdates, and our exciting school play performances. The buzz is back and Ohlone is having fun! Thank you to our PTA for always maintaining and supporting our community connections. It is so good to have everyone back on campus again.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. It is my 28th wedding anniversary today. My husband has planned a trip to Carmel and it's time to get in the car. I know, I know. If I'm only 28, how is this possible?
Happy Earth Week!
Dawn
Ohlone Principal
Coming Up Next Week
Earth Week!
Monday, April 18
9:00-9:45 - School Play Performance for Students
10:30--11:15 - School Play Performance for Students
Tuesday, April 19
6:30 p.m. - PAUSD Board Meeting
Wednesday, April 20
Lunch - Student Council Meeting
Saturday, April 23
9:00-1:00 - K/1 Farm Work Day - Everyone welcome!
On the Horizon
4/25 - PTA Executive Board Meeting, 8:30-10:00
4/25 - Site Council
4/26-4/28 - Staff Appreciation (thank you!)
4/30 - Spring Festival, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Next Ohlone Principal
Farm Staffing Update
Marieluise
Marieluise is retiring this year. This is definitely a significant loss for Ohlone, though I know we wish her well on this much deserved accomplishment. Not to worry though! You will still see Marieluise volunteering on the farm. She is forever Ohlone.
Carly
In addition to Marieluise leaving this year, I am sad to report that Carly will also be onto a new adventure next school year. Carly has been a bright light and an amazing addition this year. We have appreciated her dynamic lessons and connection with students. We will miss both Carly and Marieluise dearly.
Recruitment
So! Ohlone needs your help. If you have anyone who you think may be interested in a farm manager or farm science instructional assistant position, please let me know. The jobs will be posted next week. We are looking for someone with gardening and elementary education experience for the Farm Science Assistant position. Our farm manager should be comfortable around large animals and of course, love all things farm. The hours can be flexible.
Arts & Crafts Fundraiser for Iris
Student Council raised $258.75 through the arts and crafts fundraiser! The proceeds were donated to the Farm Council to put toward Iris' medical bills. Farm Council Chair, Jen DiBrienza took time out of her busy day to drop by during a Student Council meeting and to talk with and thank students. See pictures below!
Iris had her surgery and is back up on all fours and feeling good. Thank you Ohlone students!
Notification from COVID Clinic
If you have participated in the COVID Clinic testing, you may be receiving an email notification about insurance coverage from COVID Clinic.
Because the U.S. Heatlh Services Resources Administration (HSRA) funding related to COVID testing is coming to an end, COVID Clinic will now be requiring insurance information for individuals being tested.
The email from COVID Clinic will provide information and guidance for both insured and uninsured individuals.
NEXT YEAR'S SCHEDULE
Beginning next school year, we are moving to a new schedule that is in alignment with other elementary schools to ensure equity for students and staff. Please see the schedule below.
- K-3: 8:15-2:20 p.m. - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri
- 4-5: 8:15-2:45 p.m. - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri
- K-5: 8:15-1:25 p.m. - Wed
- Kinder Early Dismissal in Fall: 12:00 p.m.
PTA President, Where Art Thou?
Now, we need to find someone to fill her amazing shoes. Just think, you will have the opportunity to support to a new and fabulous principal! Please email me if you are interested. I will share a little and then have you speak with one of our PTA board members who can share the nitty gritty.
This is an amazing opportunity to support your school community. We cannot have a school PTA without a president. Please consider and email me today!
Farm Work Day, Sat. 4/23
Sign up here!
Class Placement
As you may imagine, there are many factors to consider in building diverse and well-balanced classrooms of learners. Please rest assured that we have each student’s best interest at heart.
Your child’s current teacher is well-versed in their learning and social-emotional profile. They are able to articulate your child's needs for the next grade level. Teachers and specialists provide suggestions for placement that will create balanced classes. Taking all of this into consideration, I have responsibility for the final class placement decisions.
Please understand that we cannot take requests for specific teachers. We have a strong and remarkable team of educators who are able to meet the needs of all of our students. If you have had a teacher in the past for an older child and see a need for a different educational experience for a younger sibling, we will try our best to accommodate your preference. Please communicate this to your child’s current teacher.
Unfortunately, we are unable to promise placement for families who would like their younger child in the same class as their older child was previously in. We can consider this preference request after learning profiles, behavioral needs, and social-emotional needs are taken into consideration in creating balanced classrooms. Please communicate such a preference to your child’s current teacher.
Class placements will be emailed home just before school begins. Please be sure to complete your enrollment survey (see below) to avoid delay in getting placement information.
Ohlone: Enrollment Survey 2022-23 - Due 4/22
This is the time of year when PAUSD and we here at Ohlone start planning for the upcoming school year. Information about student enrollment is an essential part of our planning.
We certainly hope you will all be back in August. Please fill out this short Enrollment Survey regarding your plans for the 2022-23 school year by Friday, April 22nd, 2022.
Your child’s class placement at Ohlone will NOT be released until you notify us of a definite decision and fill out the appropriate paperwork. If you want us to contact you again at a later time, please note this under comments. Thank you for your time and cooperation!
End of Year Assessments
- April 18-29 - Shaywitz Dyslexia Screener (Kindergarten)
- April 18-29 - Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project (Grade 5)
- April 19-May 20 - CAASPP (Grades 3-5)
- April 25-May 27 - Reading - Benchmark Assessment System (K-5)
Cluster 3 Trades Day 4/25
Spring Festival - 4/30
Please sure to read the Ohlone eNews for important information and calls for volunteers and donated materials. We look forward to seeing students strut their talent for Spring Fling!
Mark your calendars: Saturday, April 30th, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
K-12 Youth Art Show - 4/21
Emerging: Creative Minds Persevere
Thursday April 21st from 4:30-7:00
PAUSD’s art students, art teachers, and art programs have all persevered! This show evidences our hearts and minds fully engaged in art making. We have all emerged from quarantine and distance learning to embrace in-person art making with absolute enthusiasm. The K-12 Youth Art work reflects the creative thought, vision, skill, and commitment from a year unlike any other: the 2021-22 school year.
This year, our teachers and students have worked to rebuild and grow creative dexterity and aesthetic understanding. PAUSD has helped students learn new skills in a variety of media and focused on practices supporting equity within our content. Focus was also given to SEL (Social Emotional Learning) experiences, with special emphasis on providing students with ongoing opportunities to explore their personal experiences as the basis for art making. Our students’ artistic stories are the blueprint of who they are and where they‘ve come from. A statement by the artist Ai Wei Wei speaks to our journey this year: “Life is art. Art is Life: I never separate it.”
A reception will be held on Thursday, April 21st, 4:30-7:00 PM at the Cubberley Community Center, “I” Building for our student artists and their friends and families.
Thursday April 21st from 4:30-7:00
5:00-5:30pm Paly Pop Acapella Groups: FolkBeats & Vikapella
5:30pm Remarks
6:00-7:00pm Gunn Senior Jazz Combo
The show will also be open from 11am-5pm on April 23-24, April 30-May 1, and May 7th. We hope to see you there!
Kelly Martin
Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator
Right At School Program
Registration for Right At School's 2022/23 programs is now open. Please see the flyer below.
An important note: If families register before the end of the school year, you will lock in the current pricing. Once summer hits, tuition rates will slightly increase.
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind
7:00 – 8:15 pm (PST)
Free - Registration
Join renowned author and child development expert Dr. Dan Siegel, based on his bestselling book, The Whole-Brain Child. Dr. Siegel will explore practical skills for promoting a child’s well-being and guiding them to focus their attention in ways that lead to a flexible, flourishing mind and compassionate, rewarding relationships.
Dawn
Email: dyoshinaga@pausd.org
Location: 950 Amarillo Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Phone: 650-887-7102