Message from the Superintendent

In this Message

• National Arts in Education Week

• Update on Vaccine Verification for Workers in Schools

• In Our Schools: Serrano, Nohl Canyon, Child Development Center, Homecoming Game Live Streams
• National Merit Semifinalists
• Learning Link
• California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS)
• 2022-23 Health and Safety Plan
• Employment Opportunities

Upcoming Events

• September 16: Live Stream of Orange High School Homecoming Game

• September 20: Back to School Nights - CDS, EDGE Academy, Independent Study, Home School K-8
• September 21: Back to School Night - Orange High School; Disciplina Positiva Phase 2: Three Essential Life Skills for Preschoolers
• September 28: Disciplina Positiva Phase 2: Three Essential Life Skills for Preschoolers
• September 29: Board of Education Meeting

Dear OUSD Community,

The arts are an essential part of a complete education, no matter if they happen in the home, school, or community. Students of all ages benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking, and creativity.

This week, we celebrated National Arts in Education Week by highlighting our Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) staff on OUSD's social media accounts. Each day, one of the California Arts Standards' five artistic disciplines was featured: dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts.

In case you missed it, please check out one of our social media accounts to "meet" some of our exceptional arts instructors: Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • LinkedIn

Passed by Congress in 2010, House Resolution 275 designates the week beginning with the second Sunday in September as National Arts in Education Week. During this week, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the country to tell the story of the impact of the transformative power of the arts in education.

Update on Vaccine Verification for Workers in Schools

The California Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that, effective September 17, the Vaccine Verification for Workers in Schools (Public Health Order 2022) is being rescinded.

This order, in place since August 2021, required school employees to either verify they were fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. Unvaccinated school employees will no longer have to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing as previously mandated by the public health order.

More information is available online at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Order-of-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Vaccine-Verification-for-Workers-in-Schools.aspx

Updated OUSD COVID testing clinic information will be shared as it becomes available.

Warmest Regards,

Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Serrano Elementary is proud to have a brand-new TK/Kindergarten playground! We are grateful for the partnership between the Serrano PFO and OUSD that has provided students with this needed upgrade! Students for years to come will benefit from this project.

Serrano’s playground reveal was a success, with families joining students and staff for songs and celebration!

Nohl Canyon Elementary students celebrated Patriot Day on September 9. During their assembly, they recognized 9/11 and the heroics of the first responders and military personnel.

Who is ready for a mud pie? The Child Development Center (CDC) is cookin’ up some delicious creations in our new mud kitchen. During the 2021/22 school year their parent group, Friends of the CDC, had the vision to create an outdoor play area for students that would promote well-being while teaching critical social and emotional skills, foster teamwork, and strengthen STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education.

To make that vision a reality, the CDC applied for and was awarded funding from P.E.A.C.E. (Peace Educators Allied for Children Everywhere), received a donation check from SA Recycling, and the CDC parent group raised additional funds and collected donations of old pots, pans, and utensils in an effort to build the new play area.

Children dug right in and began creating muddy treats together on September 12.

In case you missed it, El Modena High School beat Segerstrom 36-0 at their Homecoming Game on September 9. Great job, Vanguards! You can check out the game at https://youtu.be/OrB5Npbr94I

Orange High School’s game will be live streamed on September 16, followed by Villa Park High School’s game on October 7 and Canyon High School’s game on October 14. All four Homecoming games stream for free on the OUSD YouTube channel! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/OrangeUnifiedCA

On Wednesday, National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced the names of over 16,000 Semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

Congratulations to

• Sebastian Barretto, Canyon High School
• Jason Chon, Canyon High School
• Jordyn Kuo, Villa Park High School

High school juniors entered the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen for program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2023 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join nearly 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

Did you know that we offer Learning Link for children five and under? This free, drop-in program offers caregivers and their children uninterrupted time together to explore arts and crafts, building blocks, sensory tables, books, and so much more while creating memories that will last a lifetime. Learn more at https://www.orangeusd.org/child-development-services/preschool-state/learning-links

The State of California has made college more accessible for millions of children in the state with the launch of the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS). Automatically, every eligible low-income public school student in grades 1-12 in California will have a CalKIDS account created in their name with an initial seed deposit ranging from $500 to $1,500.

Money provided through the CalKIDS program can be used at eligible education institutions, including four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, technical schools, or accredited institutions. The program is administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, a California state agency that oversees ScholarShare 529, the State’s official 529 college savings plan. To learn more, please visit CalKIDS.org.

Please be sure to check out our 2022-23 Safety and Health-Driven Plan, which outlines what we have implemented to keep our students and staff healthy in the new school year.

Are you interested in a profession that makes a positive impact in the community? If so, please visit our website at www.orangeusd.org/jobs to view a vast array of employment opportunities that span from entry-level to upper management, classified and certificated. Join the Orange Unified family and Inspire our learners of today to be purposeful leaders of tomorrow.

Email: communications@orangeusd.org
Website: www.orangeusd.org
Location: 1401 North Handy Street, Orange, CA, USA
Phone: 714-628-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrangeUnifiedSchoolDistrictCA
Twitter: @orangeunifiedCA

We invite you to take a moment to follow Orange Unified on social media to receive the District’s latest news and announcements. Social media may also be a critical line of communication during emergencies and will be an excellent place for you to get up to date information: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube