Message from the Superintendent

In this Message

• CIF Playoffs
• Crescent Transitional Kindergarten Explores the World Outside
• Portola Middle School PREP Day
• Día de los Muertos
• Villa Park High School Featured on KTLA Channel 5 Morning News for School Spirit
• National Hispanic Recognition Award
• EDGE Community Partners
• Red Ribbon Week
• FREE Workshop for Parents & Guardians: Opioid Awareness and Naloxone Administration Presentation
• Teachers of the Year Honored at the Disneyland Resort
• Veterans Day
• Nominate an OC Parenting 2023 Top Teacher
• Employment Opportunities
• Family Night at Santiago Canyon College
• Running Springs Academy Accepting 7th Grade Interest Applications for 2023-24

Upcoming Events

• November 10: FREE Parent & Community Workshop - Opioid Awareness and Naloxone Administration Presentation; Special Education Parent Workshop; End of Trimester (Minimum Day for Elementary & Middle Schools)
• November 11: Veterans Day Observed – Non-Student Day
• November 14: Financial Aid Awareness Night at Santiago Canyon College
• November 15: Information Meeting: How to Become an OUSD Substitute Teacher
• November 16: FREE Preschool Parenting Class; Family Night at Santiago Canyon College
• November 17: Board of Education Meeting
• November 21-25: Thanksgiving Break
• November 29: Information Meeting: How to Become an OUSD Substitute Teacher
• November 30: FREE Preschool Parenting Class

Dear OUSD Community,

Citing record numbers of pediatric hospitalizations associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), local public health officials are encouraging Orange County residents to follow disease preventive measures, including staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands frequently.

Orange Unified continues to provide hand washing stations and hand sanitizer on all campuses.

RSV infections are common, and the virus is one of many to cause respiratory illnesses during cold and flu season. For healthy children, symptoms typically resemble a common cold, but RSV can lead to more serious conditions in babies and individuals with weakened immune systems or lung issues such as asthma.

Testing for RSV is only done on hospitalized patients, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA). The HCA advises seeking medical attention immediately if children show warning signs, such as having trouble breathing, having a persistent or high fever, looking or acting very sick, or dehydration. Families are encouraged to call their primary care provider or pediatrician before their visit.

For more information about RSV, along with prevention tips and how to get care, visit health.choc.org/guide/rsv.

Wishing all OUSD families good health as we head into the holiday season.

Warmest Regards,

Gunn Marie Hansen

Superintendent of Schools
Orange Unified School District

We are excited to announce that all four of our high schools made it to Round 2 of the CIF Playoffs!

Last Thursday, El Modena High School remained UNDEFEATED at 11-0 with a 15-14 victory at Fred Kelly Stadium. This is El Modena’s first 11-0 start since the 1982 season.

Last Friday, Canyon High School defied the oddsmakers (Calpreps) by defeating Colony High School on the road 35-21. Canyon is now 9-2.

Last Friday, Villa Park High School defeated Murrieta Mesa 42-7 at Fred Kelly Stadium to go to 6-5 on the season.

Last Saturday, Orange High School won their 8th straight game by defeating Huntington Beach High School 34-28 in an overtime thriller at Fred Kelly Stadium! Orange is now 9-2 on the season.

The Playoff system for CIF Football is based upon a computer rating system created by CalPreps that considers each team’s past season record, regular season performance, and strength of schedule. The rating system is one of equity and aims to create parity with the playoff contests. This methodology created the divisional structure and playoff matchups we see this season.

This week, the only game at Fred Kelly Stadium is Friday night at 7 p.m. as Canyon High School (9-2) hosts Etiwanda High School (6-5). Calpreps has Canyon at a current 29.5 rating vs. Etiwanda at a current 32.7 rating. Taking into consideration its overall record and strength of schedule, Canyon is the underdog this week again, this time by a three-point margin, 31-28 (last week it was one point).

As a reminder, we are using GoFan ticket sales for games at Fred Kelly this season. Sales links for home games are available on each high school’s website and social media accounts.

The other playoff games are as follows:

• El Modena High School (11-0, 46.2 Calpreps rating) @ Bishop Diego, Santa Barbara (8-3, 43.5 Calpreps rating). El Modena is a one-point underdog, 28-27 per Calpreps. The game is at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
• Orange High School (9-2, 28.1 Calpreps rating) @ San Juan Hills, San Juan Capistrano (4-7, 27.1 Calpreps rating). Orange is a six-point underdog, 27-21 per Calpreps. The game is at 7 p.m. on Friday.
• Villa Park High School (6-5, 33.8 Calpreps rating) @ St. Francis High School, La Canada (8-3, 31.7 Calpreps rating). Villa Park is a four-point favorite, 38-34, per Calpreps. The game is at 7 p.m. on Friday.

We will know about potential games and times for next week after the conclusion of the contests on Friday and Saturday.

Congratulations to our football teams!

At Crescent Elementary, students explore the characteristics of living and nonliving things. They explore the habitats of living things and develop an understanding of what living things need to survive. Using PLTW (Project Lead the Way) binoculars, Crescent Transitional Kindergarten students explored the outside world to find living things. The students found many amazing animals!

We are proud to announce that Portola Middle School hosted its second PREP Day in partnership with the OUSD Career Technical Education (CTE) Arts and Media Entertainment (AME) Pathway. The day also aligned to celebrate Día de los Muertos through the arts. Las Estrellas Ballet Folklorico performed for the students of Portola in an all-school assembly.

Portola Middle School’s PREP days outline schoolwide learning outcomes to strengthen students’ college and career readiness. Schoolwide activities at the event highlighted site and District initiatives, including Verizon Innovative Learning (VILS), AVID, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

Read more at https://www.orangeusd.org/about-us/news/release-article/~board/2022/post/portolaprep-dia-de-los-muertos

In celebration of Día de los Muertos, several of our school sites held amazing celebrations that featured traditional cultural activities, including Aztec and Folklorico dancers.

KTLA Channel 5 Morning News featured Villa Park High School as their School Spirit Spotlight. There were four live broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The lead-in topic at 6 a.m. was to highlight KTLA Meteorologist and VPHS Class of ’85 Alumnus Henry DiCarlo, much to his surprise on live air.

Villa Park High School's ASB, Marching Band, Advanced Dance Company, Cheer, and Choir were all featured. Two programs highlighted were Juan Pablo Larios’ Spyder and eSports Labs. Mr. Larios, Athletic Director Tom Fox, and ASB President Jake Shcharber were all interviewed on live television.

The final morning feature was an interview with VPHS Principal Dennis McCuistion regarding the incredible school spirit, academics, arts, athletics, and community at Villa Park High School and in Orange Unified School District overall.

A special thank you to Villa Park Activities Director Shari Scott Sawyer for directing such an amazing production and representation of our fantastic school district!

The National Hispanic Recognition Program is one of several initiatives the College Board has undertaken to create pathways to college for underrepresented students. Working with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the National Hispanic Recognition Program identifies talented Hispanic students and connects them with colleges and scholarships.

Congratulations to Canyon High School’s Jonathon Romero for receiving the National Hispanic Recognition Award! Jonathon works hard to maintain his 4.8 GPA and obtain high test and AP Exam scores while also being in Canyon High School’s Marching Band.

Our Community Partnership Recognition honors the valuable partnerships that exist between community organizations and the District. On behalf of the Orange Unified School District Board of Education, we want to celebrate Orange Elks #1475 and Orange Emblem Club #418 with the OUSD EDGE Community Partnership Recognition. Both organizations have provided a myriad of opportunities that have enhanced and enriched the academic and social-emotional success of our students.

Their collaboration with our schools has provided students and their families access to needed school supplies, toiletries, and groceries. They also assist the District with developing our students to be more civically minded and engaged, as well as support efforts to educate our students about the negative impacts of drug and alcohol use.

In addition, their generous support over the years has enabled us to host a multitude of events for our Classified, Certificated, and Leadership staff that include recognition ceremonies and luncheons.

We are grateful to the Orange Elks #1475 and Orange Emblem Club #418 for their dedication and contributions that exemplify our District Core Values of Integrity, Equity, Respect, and Excellence!

Our school sites celebrated Red Ribbon Week during the last week in October. Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation. This year’s theme was Celebrate Life. Live Drug-Free.

Presented by the Orange City Fire Department, the community is invited to attend an Opioid Awareness and Naloxone Administration Presentation on Thursday, November 10, from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. in OUSD Board Rooms 1-3 (1401 N. Handy St., Orange, CA 92867).

For more information, please contact the Office of Student & Community Services at (714) 628-5424.

The Orange County Department of Education and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union sponsored the 2023 Orange County Teachers of the Year dinner celebration at the Disneyland Hotel. The evening featured student musical performances, pre-recorded statements from each of the honorees, and video tributes to the six county finalists. The masters of ceremony were actor William Allen Young and PBS SoCal producer Maria Hall-Brown.

The annual in-person dinner honored a total of 60 educators for their dedication and contributions to quality education, including our own Teachers of the Year,

Alejandra (Alex) Ayala – Nohl Canyon Elementary, Richard Ireland – Crescent Elementary, and Michelle (Missy) Goldman - Portola Middle School.

Congratulations to our Teachers of the Year!

Veterans Day, observed on November 11, is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served and the families who support them. The brave members of the United States Military have defended our nation for generations and uphold our values to serve a cause greater than ourselves. They have helped shape our history, and we honor their sacrifices as we reflect upon and celebrate our veterans.

There are many unique challenges veterans and their families face while in active service. Families may need to separate for long periods of time, move frequently, or experience anxiety as their loved ones put themselves in danger. After active duty, many veterans have a hard time adjusting to civilian life. Those who experienced trauma may need professional help to heal. This is why it is so important as a school community to support our veterans and their families not just on November 11, but every day.

Here are three ways we can offer support:

• Become a listening ear to veterans and their families. Let them know you are here for them and allow them space to talk about their feelings.
• If needed, provide them with the Veterans Crisis Line, available 24/7, by dialing 988 and pressing 1.
• Connect them to Care Solace, a mental health care coordination service provided by Orange Unified School District, for ongoing support. If you or a family member would like to use Care Solace to help you find a mental health or substance use treatment provider: Visit www.caresolace.com/ousdfamilies and either search on your own OR click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone; Call 888-515-0595. Support is available 24/7/365 in any language.

To all our veterans, we thank you for your service.

Do you have a teacher at your school who does more than educate students? Who gets students excited about learning, teaches life lessons, is valued by parents, peers, administration, and students, and whose classes consistently rank among the top in test scores? Nominate him or her to be honored by Parenting OC in our upcoming March 2023 Top Teachers issue!

More: https://parentingoc.com/2022/09/top-teacher-employee-awards-2023-nominations

Are you interested in a profession that makes a positive impact on our 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.

Substitute teacher positions are available immediately. This is a great position for any person with a bachelor’s degree who would like to help our schools while earning extra income. If you are interested, please apply on EdJoin at https://www.edjoin.org/Home/DistrictJobPosting/1627344.

Informational meetings about becoming an OUSD substitute teacher will be held on November 15 and 29 from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm in the Panther Lab (back parking lot at the District Office at 1401 N. Handy Orange, CA 92687). Please drop by and learn more about the rewarding opportunity to become a substitute teacher!

Santiago Canyon College (SCC) Family Night is back in person this year! It is on Wednesday, November 16, at 6:00 p.m.

This event is great for high school seniors and their families to be introduced to SCC’s dedicated faculty, counselors, club advisors, and coordinators. Each family will receive a folder filled with important information about what SCC has to offer. While we encourage students to register for the event, one does not have to register to participate.

Running Springs Academy has been identified as an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School.

Currently a K-6 school, Running Springs is now accepting interest forms for students who will be in seventh grade during the 2023-24 school year. Space is limited, and priority enrollment will be given to current 6th-grade Redhawks.

For more information about Running Springs Academy, please visit orangeusd.org/running-springs-elementary-school

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.

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