The Orion Gazette
September 20-September 24
School Calendar
September
Sep 24 Picture Day for grades 3-5
Sep 24 Ice Cream Social
Sep 28 6:30-8 pm Community Dialogue "Building a Positive Schoool Culture Part 2" via zoom
Sep 29 9:00am Virtual Principal Coffee
Sep 29 English Language Advisory Committee via Zoom
Sep 29 4:30pm School Site Council via Zoom
October
Oct 8 Spirit Day "Crazy Hair Day"
Hispanic Heritage Month
Our teaching staff has access to an expansive list of resources which they use in the classroom throughout the school year to bring relevant study connections and home culture and identity to the school.
Colorin Colorado Hispanic Heritage Month
By far the most influential Spanish language literacy program at Orion School is Los Dichos. Los Dichos program was created for Spanish-speaking parents to become more involved in their children’s education and instill a sense of positive cultural identity in their children. Los Dichos volunteers are trained in Spanish by a bilingual/bicultural volunteer in the principles of positive youth development, including the importance of parent involvement in education. Los Dichos volunteers read specially selected bilingual books in the classroom (or via Zoom during pandemic times) and lead activities and discussions about topics including tolerance, family pride, peaceful conflict resolution, and other important values.
Stay tuned for future Los Dichos lessons and parent training with parent volunteers.
The impact of Los Dichos is threefold:
- Parent volunteers become empowered to better support their children’s academic success and to form more positive connections with all youth in the community.
- By leading a lesson in Spanish, the volunteers demonstrate that their language and heritage are valued in the classroom, helping build a positive cultural identity for their children and their Latino classmates.
- All students in the class learn the same positive lesson and develop greater appreciation and respect for the culture of their Latino classmates, promoting greater cultural competence and tolerance throughout the school community.
Orion's Outdoor Learning Spaces Coming Soon this Fall! Volunteer Help is needed.
Thanks to San Mateo County, Orion school has been awarded a grant to improve and update our garden valued at $19,000. We are working in partnership with Each Green Corner to have a sustainable garden. To learn more about our new partner, visit:
https://www.eachgreencorner.org/
The scope of the project includes composting bins, improved raised garden beds, an outdoor sink, outdoor classroom materials, raised stumps, additional storage shed, and some plants.
The vision for the garden and outdoor areas is not only an interactive garden space but also two separate outdoor learning spaces.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Orion community, the project will also include the following outside of room 26 area.
- 25 Dwarf Fruit Trees estimated at $125.00 each, totals to $3,125.00
- 17 native pollinator plants estimated at $25.00 each, total to $425.00
Below are the links for the workdays; the tasks get easier as we progress. The first workday is more heavy lifting and not a great family one. The second and third workdays, Oct 23 and 24 will have tasks for ages 5+.
Oct. 2nd is a heavy workday and not great for families. https://eachgreencorner.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=24591&
Oct. 23rd: https://eachgreencorner.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=24592&
Oct. 24th: https://eachgreencorner.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=24593&
Happy Moon Festival which falls on 9/21 this year!
Let's Make Mooncakes!- English Read Aloud for Bridge Level
Español – Foro de padres #13 De Regreso a la Escuela y la Socialización de los Hijos
The Sequoia Healthcare District sponsors a Parent Forum only for Spanish-speaking parents in our community. This forum will address some issues that may worry parents about their schools.
This is an amazing resource for Spanish-speaking parents and the topics are culturally sensitive and attuned to the Latinx mindset and mental health approach.
Español – Foro de padres #13
De Regreso a la Escuela y la Socialización de los Hijos
Edwin Fernandez, LCSW, One Life Counseling Center
Michelle Remond, Enlace Comunitario, Distrito Escolar de Redwood City (RCSD)
Martes, 21 de septiembre de 2021, 5:30pm - 6:30pm, Evento en vivo (seminario web)
Enlace de zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83585314580?pwd=YzVzdUdaME93eDB2N0l5VW15QXlRQT09
Muchos estudiantes han estado expuestos a traumas, interrupciones en el aprendizaje, aislamiento físico y desconexión de la escuela y sus compañeros, lo que afecta negativamente su salud mental, académica, y funcionamiento en general.
Una manera de regresar a la nueva normalidad y apoyar a los estudiantes a adaptarse a esto es apoyándolos en el regreso a la escuela y ayudándoles a socializarse de una manera segura. En esta charla, compartiremos consejos para ayudar a nuestros hijos a sentirse más seguros en la escuela y socializándose.
¡Padres y cuidadores bienvenidos! Entrada gratis. El Foro de Padres es una iniciativa del Sequoia Healthcare District, en asociación con RCSD y The Parent Venture.
Preguntas? Póngase en contacto con Charlene Margot, MA, cofundadora y directora ejecutiva de The Parent Venture, cmargot@parentventure.org o Michelle Remond, RCSD, Enlace comunitario, mremond@rcsdk8.net, texto 650-218-7853
Expanded Covid Testing at Orion School Site Begins this week
Primary Health Registration link: https://my.primary.health/l/redwoodcity This registration link is exclusive for students.
Pre-registered students will be tested once during the week, either on a Monday or Wednesday.
Parents will receive notifications from Primary Health via email or text message.
Orion Family Community Building Events Sponsored by the PTO
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Stafford Friday evening for a fun filled evening celebrating at the Mid Autumn Festival. Children made their own beautiful lanterns, enjoyed moon cakes and listened to a bilingual story about the festival. A wonderful time was had by all. A huge thank you to the committee for hosting such a special evening.
Ice Cream Social This Friday 9/24 5-7pm!
Join us for another Fun Friday evening this Friday at Red Morton next to the Magical bridge playground. Bring a picnic and mingle with other families while kids can enjoy a sweet treat and play as the sun goes down. We hope to see you all there!
Starship Corner
9/24 Ice Cream Social 5-7pm Red Morton Park
10/7 Starship PTO Meeting
Starship Meeting Recap: Thanks to everyone who attended last Thursday's Starship PTO meeting. We covered a lot of information and are looking forward to a fun and busy year. Steam Teacher Bryan Howell joined us for a wonderful presentation and we hope to have another STEAM info night soon.
Here are the slides, and minutes from last week’s meeting, including the complete presentation from Teacher Bryan.
Remember to check out our website for important links and updates
Donate to Starship PTO
See Flyer below for more detail about our Fundraising this year! We need to raise $105k dollars this year for ALL of our exciting resources. Your donations make it possible. Starship Orion is a 501(c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS with EIN 94-3179780. We are registered with Benevity for easy company matching. Please check with your employer!
We suggest donation levels that fit your family's budget. We encourage families to be as generous as possible and donations in any amount are welcome and appreciated!
Paypal Link for Donations: https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2207235
Traffic Volunteers Needed
To keep the drop off and pick running smoothly parent volunteers are needed. Please sign up on Konstella for the Safety Traffic Committee and sign up for a traffic duty spot here.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e2j4BK8l8RBG2QudIqZkL_q-jOBsc_HrkJhF3asPoKc/edit#gid=0
Join the Halloween Committee!
Halloween is around the corner and we want to make this year extra festive for our students. We will have to modify our traditional Halloween Carnival given the current limitations but there are lots of ways we can make the season fun. Please sign up on Konstella to join the planning committee and look for school wide signups coming soon.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities
Please see Konstella for sign ups! https://www.konstella.com/cd/KU7S9V
Pick up your volunteer form in the school office. Email questions Jsandoval@rcsdk8.net
Here are the steps to getting cleared if you are not yet, or need TB test updating
Volunteer Requirements https://www.rcsdk8.net/Page/9629
Remember all parents, teachers and staff are automatically members of Starship PTO. Questions or ideas? Starship@orionschool.org