The Orion/Mandarin Gazette
March 9-March 13
RWC Librarian Armando
Math Games Every Thursday
Special Guest Teacher Linda
School Calendar
March
Mar 9-Mar 13 Early dismissal all week at 1:30 for parent-teacher conferences:kinder at 1:00
Mar 17 6:30-8:30pm Parent Meeting with Seeds of Change to review survey results
Mar 19 8:15-8:45 Kindergarten SEAL Parent Gallery Walkthrough
Mar 20 NO SCHOOL - Holiday in Liu of Lincoln's Birthday
Mar 21 School wide auction - Orion Alternative and Mandarin Immersion - proceeds support all students at school
Mar 24 8:30-9:30am Coffee with Superintendent Dr. Baker
Mar 25 8:45-9:30 Current Grades 3 and 4 Parents invited to tour grades 4-5 classes in group tour
Mar 26 1:45-3:00
Mar 27 School Spirit to Celebrate Month of Courage "Be a Superhero-Dress like a Superhero"
Mar 29 Campus Clean Up
Mar 30-April 2 Orion School Teacher Appreciation
April
Apr 3 Early Dismissal for grades 1-5 at 1:30. All kinder on early bird schedule 8:15-1:00
Apr 6-Apr 10 Spring Break - No school
Coronavirus (COVID-19 novel): Keeping the RCSD Community Updated
At school, teachers bring students to the bathroom at the start of each recess and lunch break. Teachers are teaching young students good hand washing practices again by modeling during circle time, showing kid friendly videos with songs and chants. The facilities department is wiping down classroom tables daily and teachers and parents are allowed during this time to use Lysol wipes. Picnic tables are cleaned daily by our hard working custodian, Jesus before school. He is also making extra rounds to ensure the soap dispensers are full.
Thanks to our dedicated parents and our facilities department, portable hand washing stations will be provided near the portable classrooms starting this week.
Hand washing Lesson
Ohlone Culture Comes Alive
Student Store
Community Survey - Orion and Mandarin Immersion - We Want to Hear From You
Dear Community,
We have experienced a lot of change this year by bringing our innovative and unique programs all on one campus. The benefits for the students far outweigh the challenges we have experienced. The children, families and staff have experienced multiple different perspectives, learning styles, languages, cultures, ethnic, racial and social economic diversity. Your children lead richer lives by experiencing this diversity at an early age. Our campus truly reflects Redwood City.
All of this rapid change has not come without challenges. Some of our parent leaders and staff have worked with an outside organization, Seeds of Change, to put forth a parent and staff survey that will guide our next steps together. The survey is intended to give voice to all of our different communities that are learning, working, and collaborating here on the Orion campus.
To learn more about Seeds visit https://www.seedscrc.org/
We ask the each family to complete one survey. It is available in electronic form, both in English and Spanish or paper version. The paper version is at attachment to this newsletter. Extra copies will be available in the front office and with our REACH coordinator, Onika Tarver in the MUB from 2:30-6:00pm each day.
The survey is due by Thursday, March 12 by 3:00pm.
We will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, March 17th from 6:30-8:30pm in the school cafeteria to review the results. Limited school age child care available.
The Starship Corner - The Parent Teacher Organization
Starship Corner: We had a great meeting last week with lots of updates and a great discussion about funding priorities for next year, Meeting Minutes linked here. Here are the key takeaways for the week.
Dad's Night at Ghostwood brewery is March 12th @ 6:30. This is a parent social and a fundraiser!
Family Social at Devil's Canyon, March 27th 5-8pm
Spring Campus Clean up March 29th. Join us to help freshen up the school grounds and gardens. Signups coming soon!
Teacher Appreciation Week will be March 30-April 3rd. We will shower our teachers with acts of kindness. Details coming soon!
Look for a letter in the folders this week summarizing our current budget and spending projections.
Next Starship Meeting will be April 1st, we'll review the first draft of next year's budget and priorities.
Every parent, teacher and staff member is a part of Starship! Questions or ideas: email starship@orionschool.org.
School wide Auction March 21 for Both Mandarin Immersion and Orion Alternative Communities
Starship's Auction on March 21st will take place at Devil's Canyon. The auction is Starship's largest fundraiser, supporting key programs like PE, Field Trips and Soul Shoppe. The night includes a silent and live auction, with fantastic items to bid on, such as Principal for a Day and a dedicated School Parking Spot! Families and Staff are encouraged to contribute to the auction by donating specific items or activities. We hope that teachers and staff will also attend and we ask parents to help sponsor tickets so they can join the fun! Get your tickets, sponsor a teacher or submit a donation here. https://www.orionauction.org/?fbclid=IwAR10frn3p3bfxWE4wTqGqUKnKWfz0B1RHoY5uXoafJDw4XRjKR0aFdYkzWo
The school and parent leadership are monitoring information from Public Health about public gatherings and will keep the community updated regarding any changes to school events.
Grade Level Classrooms Open to Tour
Our staff wants to provide families the opportunity to see the next grade level coming for
2020-21 during the SEAL Family Gallery and student demonstration for grades k-3. Grades 4/5 will host a tour with Principal Katherine. Please take note of the following dates. The SEAL (Sobrato Early Academic Language) Parent engagement opportunities are for both the CURRENT grade level families and the rising grade level for next year. Parents can see the complex content, language and meet teachers in an authentic setting. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending this short yet educational opportunity.
Current kinders only: March 19 8:15-8:45am
Current 1st Grade and current kinder families: March 12 1:30-1:50
Current 2nd Grade and Current 1st Grade families: March 25 8:15-8:45
Current 3rd Grade and Current 2nd Grade families: March 13 8:15-8:45a
Current 3rd & 4th Grade: 8:45-9:30 Tour grades 4 and 5 classrooms March 25
Drama After School
I am excited to announce the after school drama program is open for registration!
Use this link to register your kiddo's http://rwcyt.org/outreach
K-2 will be on Fridays 2:30-3:30
3-5 will be Mondays 2:30-3:30