Weekly Family Update #31
March 21, 2021
Principal's Message
Hello Falcon Families,
This past week was AWESOME! We are so excited to have some of our Falcons back on campus. This gives me such hope that next year all of our students can return to our beautiful campus and we can once again stand together in our quad wearing blue as one Falcon Family.
Good News Families! Last week, the Superintendent stated in her communication HERE that we are now able to move middle and high schools to the two-day-a-week Group A/Group B concurrent learning schedule beginning tomorrow Monday, March 22. That means that our families that have opted for on campus will be here two days a week! Awesome!
We will continue with our same 8:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m. bell schedule for both on-campus and virtual learners. You can view our schedule HERE. We are looking for parent volunteers to help us take temperatures and check students in each morning. If you would like to join us, use this link HERE. Thanks!
Students who attend school on campus will come two days a week according to the following schedule:
Cohort Group A: Monday/Tuesday
Cohort Group B: Wednesday/Thursday
Friday - Asynchronous - No students on campus
This puts such a smile on my face! How about some more fun? Tomorrow is the last day to buy a ticket for the PTSA sponsored Live Virtual Magic Show. You only need one ticket per family and once you book your reservation, you will receive a mystery box in the mail that you can’t open until the show, which is on April 1st. The box has surprises that coincide with magic show. This event sounds so fun, my kids are very excited. The last day to buy a ticket in Monday 3/22. The flyer is attached to this message and can also be found HERE.
Calendar Items:
Monday 3/22: Last day to purchase Magic Show Tickets HERE.
Monday 3/22: Last day to order your Julian Apple Pies to support our Falcon Performing Arts students HERE.
Wednesday 3/24: OVMS Falcon Foundation Dine Out Fundraiser at Filippn’ Pizza (Mmmm, pizza, I will see you all there!). The flyer is HERE.
We were so excited to welcome back some of our Falcons this past week and are also so grateful that we are able to support our virtual students who are at home. Thank you so much to this community for your continued support of our students during this difficult time.
Thanks for all you do for our Oak Valley Community! Go Falcons!
Beaming with Falcon Pride,
Mr. Young
Colin Young
Principal
Oak Valley Middle School
Schedule for the Week of March 22-26
New Information
PTSA Magic Show - Last Day to Bye Tickets is Tomorrow!
OAK VALLEY’S MAGIC SHOW-IN-A-BOX FUNDRAISER
When you book your family’s ticket to our one-of-a-kind fundraiser, you’ll receive a box in the mail you won’t open until showtime. During the live Zoom show, the surprises in the box make the magic happen in your child’s hands.
This fantastic show is presented by Scott Green, whose dozens of TV appearances include “Fool Us” with Penn & Teller. He’s also been the team magician for the Chicago Bulls.
One night only—Thursday, April 1 at 7 pm. 20% will be donated to Oak Valley PTSA!
One box is enough for an entire household, but you’re welcome to order one box per child. You can even invite friends and family to order a box and join the fun!
Purchase tickets at:
https://www.scottgreenmagic.com/private/oakvalley
It’s time for our Julian Apple Pie Sales fundraiser - Last Day to Order is Tomorrow!
It’s pie time! Oak Valley Music Boosters is kicking off its annual Julian Pie Fundraiser. Delicious fresh and frozen pies are $20 each. This year you can also purchase a pie for a front-line medical worker.
Why are we fundraising? With over six hundred students, our award-winning music program needs your help to fund a $16,000 sound shell, instruments, guest instrumentalists, accompanists and sheet music.
Please click here for more information and to place your order. All orders are due by Monday, March 22, and pie orders will be available for a drive-through pickup at Oak Valley on April 1 from 3-6pm.
Falcon Foundation Pizza Night Coming on Wednesday 3/24
Oak Valley Falcon Foundation - Dine Out Nights Coming Soon!
Not sure what to feed your family on those busy weeknights? Leave some of the meal planning to the Oak Valley Falcon Foundation. We've got Dine Out Nights coming your way. Proceeds from each benefit the Oak Valley Falcon Foundation and the funds support STEAM and other programming for all Falcons!
Save the Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 11:00 am-8:00 pm we will have our first Dine Out Night at Flippin' Pizza! The flyer is attached for additional information.
Questions about the foundation? Want to make a donation (it's not too late!)? Check out our website at www.oakvalleyfalconfoundation.com for more information.
Join AVID
The 2021-2022 AVID Elective application deadline is fast approaching!
Thank you to everyone who attended our AVID Info Family Night! For those of you who were unable to attend (or who'd like to go back and review some of the information presented), here is a link to the zoom recording, and here is a link to the presentation slides.
As stated in the presentation, acceptance into our AVID program is a three-step process.
- Intent: Students interested in moving forward will complete THIS GOOGLE FORM, which is our AVID application. This is due Tuesday, March 23rd.
- Interview: AVID teachers will review the applications and schedule interviews with students on Friday, March 26th during asynchronous learning time.
- Commit: Students offered a spot in our AVID program will complete a commitment form to officially place them in the AVID elective next year!
Please email our AVID teachers with any questions!
Ms. Varela Beltz: zvarelabeltz@powayusd.com
Ms. Dorn: cdorn@powayusd.com
Ms. Lemieux: jlemieux@powayusd.com
Help! We Need Water!
If you would like to donate a case of water to help those students who forget or who need a refill, please drop one off at the Welcome Center any time during the week.
Thanks so much for your support!!
Celebrate Women's History Month
Every year March is designated Women’s History Month by Presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. The theme for 2021 National Women’s History Month is “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.” Join us as we honor the achievements of Women.
Did You Know? Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week
According to the National Women History Museum, Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.
This week I encourage all families to visit the National Women's History website, which is hub for links to so many different resources. Art exhibits, events, links to other museums, pictures, and teachable lessons. You can visit the website HERE. There is so much to explore!
Join us as we learn about, champion, and celebrate, what makes us uniquely different as individuals and what binds us together as one Falcon Family. This is what makes us exceptional Falcons.
Upload Photos for Yearbook
Click the image above to upload your photos
Thanks so much for all of your generous donations to our OVMS, D39, and DNHS sponsored food drive for the 4 Community Care Food Bank.
Continuing Information
Intradistrict Transfers
For students who live in another school district and would like to attend a PUSD school, PUSD will accept Interdistrict Attendance Permit requests for the 2021-2022 school year starting February 1, 2021. Please note that the document must first be signed by your district of residence before it is submitted to PUSD.
Decisions on transfers are made by the Student Attendance and Discipline Office, not Oak Valley Middle School staff.
Caring Connections Counseling (CCC)
Continuing Schedule and Reopening Information
On-Campus Students Reminders
For our families that are returning to campus. Please read over our Reopening Plan and Family Handbook carefully. There is lots of important information and reminders in those documents. All on-campus students must return a signed PUSD Health and Safety Agreement in order to be on campus. This form can be found HERE. We will be collecting these forms as students are dropped off and will have blank copies available in the Welcome Center if families need.
Here are some key reminders:
1. Please make sure you return the PUSD Health and Safety Agreement Form when you drop off your student. You can find the form HERE.
2. Do not drop off your student and leave, we must take student temperatures before you drive away.
3. All students must come to school each day with a fully charged Chromebook.
4. All students will need to bring with them each day headphones, any needed school supplies, PE appropriate clothing (on the day they have PE), water bottle, independent reading book, and a packed lunch.
5. Students must wear a clean mask each day. We recommend bringing a second mask on the day they have PE.
6. In the morning, we will begin taking temperatures and letting students into campus after 8am.
7. Students who are on campus will go to their connections teacher for both connections and office hours. They will be able to zoom into to any classroom to ask questions. Students can also use this time to finish up work.
Learning Preference Change Request
We appreciate your patience.
PE for On-Campus Students
Welcome Back Falcons!
The PE team is so excited to have students coming back to campus – We have missed you!
Some information for an easy transition:
Students will not be dressing out in the locker room or using PE clothes. All Falcons must come to school dressed in appropriate athletic attire and tennis shoes on their PE days in order to receive credit for the daily activities.
Things you might want to send with your student on PE days are:
1. Extra face mask
2. Water bottle
3. Hand sanitizer
4. One warm days, a hat/visor, and sunscreen.
Weekly Bell Schedule and Monthly Calendar
Our weekly schedule started after Winter Break. This schedule should be much simpler and easier to follow for students.
Please see the attached weekly bell schedule HERE and below.
There is also a new monthly calendar attached HERE and below. We will follow this same weekly schedule pattern for the reminder of the year, unless the School Board changes our current school model, with the exception of a few weeks where we have to adjust for holidays. Please look at both of these documents closely.
Asynchronous Fridays
Asynchronous Fridays are a day for students to work independently and for teachers to have time to prep, grade and collaborate as seen in the details presented at the last Board Meeting (bulleted below) as well as work with students needing support. This is still a work in progress and staff will continue the conversation to adjust as we move forward.
For Students:
· Review and preview work from the week to deepen learning
· Review feedback and complete corrections
· Independent learning time
· Reduce screen time
· Additional support time with peers and staff
For Teachers:
· Provide timely feedback to students; including grades
· Review assessments and plan based on student needs
· Complete required COVID attendance tracking
· Collaboration
· Professional learning
· Office hours to provide support to individual student
Parent Academy
Oak Valley Middle School
Email: coyoung@powayusd.com
Location: 16055 Winecreek Road, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: (858) 487-2939