Message from the Superintendent
Reimagining OUSD Schools Task Force Update
June 5, 2020
OUSD Parents and Community,
As we enter into the last week of school, I know there are many questions surrounding Orange USD’s plans for Fall. As mentioned in my last correspondence, multi-department teams have been focusing on plans to return to site-based instruction when the new school year begins. We are planning to reopen our schools on August 19 for students and staff with their safety, as our most immediate concern. This, as I have stated before, is fluid in nature and must be based, barring any changes, to current guidelines from the CDC, OCHA, and CDPH guidelines released today.
As a public government agency, we are required to follow federal and state health care guidelines. The Orange USD school reopening plan is dynamic in nature and based on the current guidelines and will be updated as needed given any new local, state, or federal criteria identified for schools opening during the COVID19 pandemic. Many of the health and safety changes needed to open schools will also be dependent on the budget support from State and federal sources.
While the Reimagining Schools Task Force is working to ensure a successful start of the 2020-21 academic school year, high school athletics and childcare programs are scheduled to be open during the summer and more details about dates and times will be forthcoming. and in accordance with the CDPH guidelines released today.
The Reimagining Schools Task Force which includes teachers, administrators, mental health professionals, and other certificated and classified staff have been researching numerous instructional models for elementary and secondary classrooms. Models are being analyzed based on the following criteria:
- Aligned with our OUSD Core Values of Integrity, Equity, Respect & Excellence
- Aligned with the OUSD EDGE Four Focus Areas: Excellence in Academics &. Leadership, Dedicated & Engaged Communication, Genuine Wellness & Safety, and Efficient Utilization of Fiscal Capital
- Grounded in culturally relevant research that focuses on teaching and learning
- Equity for all students with an emphasis on our English learners, Students with Disabilities, and our Homeless/Foster Youth
- Intervention and support plans
- Classroom configuration options that maximize the health and safety of our students and staff.
- Informed data gathered from stakeholder surveys
Below is a brief synopsis of the various Scheduling Modalities that are being analyzed, in the case that social distancing guidelines are still in place and a full return to a traditional school model is not feasible:
Classroom Instruction with Optional Blended Learning
- Blended learning model that is geographically neutral
- Teachers facilitate their traditional classroom both with students present in the classroom as well as with students who have chosen a virtual online option
- Both sets of students receive the same live instruction (Students can be participating virtually, entirely at home, or can be at school.)
- Additional assistance is provided via support staff
· A/B Cohorts
- 1/2 of students report on “A” days (M/W)
- 1/2 of students report on “B” days (T/TH)
- Friday is focused on planning, professional development, and student interventions
· AM/PM (Elementary Only)*
- 1/2 students report in the morning
- 1/2 students report in the afternoon
· Odd/Even (Secondary Only)
- Students go to their Odd classes 1x a week and their Even 1x a week but for a double period.
· Alternating Weeks
- Group A attends in person on week 1,3,5
- Group A attends online on week 2, 4, 6
- Group B attends online on week 1, 3, 5
- Group B attends in person on week 2, 4, 6
We are aware that there will be families who are not comfortable returning to school under any of the above-noted models. For these families, the following personalized options will be available all year:
- K-12 Homeschooling through Parkside Education Center: Homeschool opportunity where parents serve as the instructor with support from an OUSD teacher who sets up learning schedules with virtual and in-school opportunities provided weekly or monthly
- 7-12 Independent Study: Independent study opportunity providing the flexibility of instruction guided by OUSD teachers and supported with daily, weekly, or monthly check-ins virtually or in-person
- 9-12 OUSD EDGE Virtual Academy: New online learning opportunity with virtual and in-class weekly meetings with credentialed teachers.
Childcare and summer programs will also be guided by current guidelines from the CDC, OCHA, and CDPH guidelines released today.
The task force encourages all families that haven’t already, to fill out the Family Survey, which will enable you to provide your critical and necessary input. This survey will enable the Educational Services team to determine how many families prefer a 100% online model. The Family Survey can be accessed by clicking here.
I appreciate everyone's diligence and hard work as we navigate this dynamic situation together and look forward to welcoming students and staff back onto our campuses in a mindful, responsible way.
Sincerely,
Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Family Survey
A short poll was sent out earlier this week, which many have experienced technical difficulties with. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. Please fill out our Family Survey to provide feedback. We understand this is a dynamic situation and that your opinions may change. Any information you can provide us with will be appreciated.
The survey will remain open through June 11 – the last day of school – to allow as many families as possible to have access. If you have not yet provided feedback, please do so by clicking here.
Celebrating Our Seniors
Community Celebration: June 11, 6 pm
Virtual Graduations, June 11, 6:30 pm
Victory Lap: June 13, 9 am
Dignitaries and OUSD Staff will cheer for our Class of 2020 as they drive around the Orange Plaza. To adhere to social distancing guidelines, we ask that no spectators gather. The event will be live-streamed by the City.
We are going to have each school stage off-site prior to the event. Orange Police Department will assist in the event with street closures and escort through the route. The route will be south on Shaffer, west on Chapman, and south on Glassell.
- Orange HS Graduates will meet at Orange HS in the parking lot at 8:45 am for a 9:00 am departure.
- El Modena H Graduates will meet on the soccer field at 9:00 am for a 9:15 am departure.
- Canyon HS Graduates will meet at the Chapman University athletic parking structure at 9:15 am for a 9:30 am departure.
- Villa Park HS Graduates will meet at Orange HS at 9:30 am for a 9:45 am departure.
Participants must display a special flyer to be provided during the staging events.
Guidance for Victory Lap Attendees
• Vehicles must:
- Be fully enclosed.
- Only contain members of the same household.
• Vehicle occupants must:
- Not exit the vehicle except to use the restroom.
- Wear a cloth face covering when any vehicle windows are opened
- Keep personal items such as food, flowers, signs, and graduation caps in the vehicle.
• Persons experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever of 100° F or above, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, chills, headache, muscle pain, or a new loss of taste or smell) may not participate and must stay home. Participants should self screen shortly before and during the car line celebration.
• Persons at higher risk for severe COVID-19 are recommended to stay home.
Celebrating our High Achievers
Student Board Member Recognition
Connect with Us
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
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