The Orion Gazette
Dec 4- Dec 10
School Calendar
December
Dec 4 Garden Work Day 9-12
Dec 4 Holiday Parade in Downtown RWC
Dec 10 Holiday Social at Red Morton
Dec 15 at 4:30pm School Site Council
Dec 17: Parent Coffee during morning drop off (Myrtle entrance)
Dec 17 Early Release Day Grades k-5
Dec 17 School Spirit Day-Pajama Day
Dec 20-Jan 3 Winter Break NO SCHOOL
Jan 4 Classes Resume
Principal Katherine's December Message
At Orion Alternative, our school-wide culture includes opportunities throughout the day for reflection. This can include group reflection about a lesson or student lead discussions with classmates about the classroom norms, celebrations, and or needs.
I would like to invite our community to engage in December reflections:
As December gets underway, to what extent have you been able to experience light and joy?
When might you have opportunities for reflection and transformation this December?
Hometown Holiday Parade Saturday, Dec 4th
Join us in this wonderful Redwood City tradition. Both programs will be walking with Principal Katherine and our school community to celebrate the holidays and our community. ALL students and siblings are welcome. Wear red and join us!
It’s the official start to the holidays! Join your friends at Orion to celebrate the season and Redwood City by walking in the Hometown Holidays Annual Children’s Parade. Both the MI & Parent Co-Op programs will be walking together, and we hope to see the whole school there! We will meet to line up at 3:45 PM at 555 Middlefield Road between Bradford St and Veterans Blvd.. The parade will officially start at 4:30 PM on Broadway & Marshall; continue west on Broadway to Main Street. The parade will be completed around 5:30 PM. Children should be picked up at the “de-staging” area near Broadway & Jefferson. (A route map will be sent 2 weeks before the parade event)The theme of this year’s parade is Christmas In Toyland – As an Orion participant, please wear red! The parade is held rain or shine. Dress warm and layer clothing. Umbrellas may be used if necessary.
iSing@RWC Choir for girls!
School wide Core Values -
A small by a mighty group of individuals met on Nov 30 to begin to define our school-wide Core
values.
At our final meeting with our partner, Stephanie Rome from National Urban Alliance, our parent community will complete this work before teachers finalize the process with Orion staff on Dec. 14.
December 7
Join Zoom Meeting https://rcsdk8-net.zoom.us/j/5683805514?pwd=Mi83OW9Cb0VLNml6M1pjOUxoY0JBQT09 Meeting ID: 568 380 5514 Passcode: orion1 One tap mobile +16699006833,,5683805514#,,,,*440073# US (San Jose)
KIND
INCLUSIVE
RESPECTFUL
FUN
RESILIENT
Slide deck from the Parent Series Workshop: Supporting My Child with Anxiety
last month.
Stay posted for future parent workshops in the early Spring.
Volunteers are welcome back to Orion campus!
Volunteers will need to follow this process with the district’s Department of Human Resources. This includes both returning and new volunteers. The department of human resources will contact each volunteer once they are cleared to start volunteering.
If you’re not able to fill out the documents online, come by our office as we have print copies available. A new requirement is that all volunteers will need to be fully vaccinated.
We know that it’s been a bit of a wait, but we appreciate the understanding as our district was working to keep all of us safe following public health guidelines.
We’re excited to have you back!
Pronto Daremos La Bienvenida A Los Voluntarios En Nuestra Escuela
Nos emociona compartirles que los voluntarios, esas personas especiales que dejan huella con su ayuda, pronto podrán estar con nosotros durante el día escolar. El miércoles 10 de noviembre, nuestra Mesa Directiva acordó que ya es momento de que los planteles tengan de regreso a sus voluntarios y socios. Así que todos los voluntarios, padres, miembros de la comunidad y organizaciones, podrán ir otra vez a las escuelas a partir del 29 de noviembre.
Los voluntarios deberán seguir este trámite con el Departamento de Recursos Humanos del distrito. Esto aplica tanto para los voluntarios antiguos como para los nuevos. Si no puede completar los documentos en línea, venga a nuestra oficina y llene su copia impresa. Un nuevo requisito es que todos los voluntarios deberán estar completamente vacunados.
Sabemos que ha tenido que esperar, pero le damos las gracias por su comprensión. Nuestro distrito estaba trabajando para mantenernos a todos seguros siguiendo las indicaciones de las autoridades de salud pública.
¡Estamos emocionados de tener a los voluntarios de vuelta!
Buddy Classes
Our teachers have taken this beautiful tradition and created a new one by matching buddy classes across programs and grade levels as part of our work to continue to build a learning community with two unique programs on one school campus.
Grade 1 and Grade 4
Starship Corner
Hometown Holiday Parade Saturday, Dec 4th!
Join us in this wonderful Redwood City tradition. Both programs will be walking with Principal Katherine and our school community to celebrate the holidays and our community. ALL students and siblings are welcome. Wear red and join us!
Friends in Need Cash Drive
Please consider donating toward a cash gift for our Orion friends and classmates in need of extra support during this holiday season. Viktoria will be collecting funds and transferring them to Principal Katherine to disperse right before winter break. Please help, if you can!
@Viktoria-Gontcharova on Venmo
viktoria.gontcharova@gmail.com or 209-617-5390 on Zelle.
If neither of those work for you, let Viktoria know and we can find another way
Starship Corner
Please check out the attached newsletter for December!
READ-A-THON ENDS SUNDAY 12/5!
Keep logging your minutes during the final stretch of the readathon. There is still time for friends and family to contribute. Please reach out to family and friends and help us reach our goal!
Funds raised by Read-A-Thon will be used to fund STEAM education and other school enrichment.
Find out more information on the Starship Read-A-Thon or DoJiggy Read-A-Thon website.
Donate to Starship PTO
We need to raise $120k dollars this year for ALL of our exciting resources. We are registered with Benevity for easy company matching. Please check with your employer! Search for your company here . We encourage families to be as generous as possible and donations in any amount are welcome and appreciated! We hope to reach our Direct Drive goals by 12/31, make your contribution today!
Paypal Link for Donations:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9FCB6J6HWXUTC
Winter Holiday Social December 10th @ Red Morton
Join us at the park for a cozy cup of hot cocoa or cider and some holiday cheer. Visit with classmates and families and enjoy the nearby holiday light show. Bundle up and bring flashlight or light up accessories to brighten up the night.
Remember all parents, teachers and staff are automatically members of Starship PTO. Questions or ideas? Starship@orionschool.org