Message from Orange Unified

In this Message

• State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond Honors “Read Across America” Week by Reading to Students at Jordan Academy
• Principal for a Day
• National Merit Scholarship Finalist
• Now Enrolling for 2023-2024
• Opportunity for incoming 7th-grade students!
• Athletics Update
• Importance of SBAC Testing
• California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA)

Upcoming Events

• March 21: West Orange ES Open House; Handy ES Open House; Olive ES Open House; Fairhaven ES Open House
• March 23: Portola MS Showcase/Open House; Yorba MS Showcase/Open House; El Rancho MS Showcase/Open House
• March 24: Minimum Day - High Schools
• March 27 – 31: Spring Break - No School

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond visited the Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science to join students, parents, and teachers in celebrating Read Across America Week.

The Orange Unified School District celebrated Principal for a Day throughout its campuses on Thursday, March 2. This year’s event partners a business leader or community member with a school principal and allows the participant an opportunity to observe a glimpse of a principal’s daily responsibilities. The purpose of the program is to foster relationships within the community and to share the outstanding work of OUSD teachers, students, and staff.

The District is pleased to offer this program and wishes to thank the following business and community leaders listed below for their participation in the Principal for a Day program:

• Anaheim Hills: Sinan Kanatsiz, Chapman 50 founder, Kcomm.com, imanetwork.org
• California: Daniel Gonzalez, Retired Chivas USA Soccer Player, current Soccer Coach
• Cambridge: Leslie Sorrells, President of Assistance League of Orange
• Canyon Rim: Courtney Morinello, Olympic Gold Medalist/Canyon Rim Parent/OUSD Alumni
• Chapman Hills: Katy Vandermost/Child Creativity Lab
• Crescent: Brian Sanders, Vice President of Ball Park Operations (Angels Stadium)
• Esplanade: Frank Tucker, Orange Unified Public Schools Foundation & Donor
• Fairhaven: Krista Lopez, Bridge Community Church
• Fletcher: Mike Pelly, Vice President, Dean of Enrollment Chapman University
• Handy: George Gutierrez, Campfire Afterschool Program Director
• Imperial: Alexandra Guzik, Anaheim Hills Jewelry and Coin
• La Veta: Susan Fasano, Nearpod
• Lampson: Kim B. Nguyen, Garden Grove City Council Woman
• Linda Vista: Sarah Piazza, Discovery Education
• McPherson: Lorianne Ferry, Program Manager, Disney
• Nohl Canyon: Tom Kisela, Retired Chief of Orange PD; current City of Orange City Manager
• Olive: Amy Freese, Department Chair of Education, Santiago Canyon College
• Palmyra: Edgar Garnica, Youth Centers of Orange, Director of Programming
• Panorama: Wendy Yamagishi, Anaheim Ducks
• Prospect: Marcia Vidal, LEGO
• Running Springs: Drew Zinser, Corporate Partnerships, Angels Baseball
• Serrano: Jon Whiddon, Villa Park Little League President
• Sycamore: Dan Slater, Mayor of Orange
• Taft: Christina Kendler, Community Foundation of Orange
• Villa Park Elementary: Edward J. Carter, Rotary Club of Villa Park
• West Orange: Bryan Sanchez, AYA Coordinator
• Cerro Villa: Robbie Pitts, Mayor of Villa Park
• Portola: Eddie Carillo, Head Coach Chapman University, Men's Soccer & Portola Alum
• Yorba: Neil Houlihan, Head Coach Chapman University Cross Country and Track and Field
• Canyon: City of Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken
• El Modena: Frank Tucker, Orange Unified Public Schools Foundation
• Orange: Brian Hayward, Television Color Analyst for the Anaheim Ducks
• Richland: Mike McCormick, owner of Grocery Outlet & Susan Galvan, Assistant City Manager for the City of Orange
• Villa Park High School: Jose Vargas - Vice President of Continuing Education - Santiago Community College
• Parkside: Nicol Jones - Villa Park Council Member

Click here to view the "Principal for a Day" gallery: https://www.orangeusd.org/about-us/2023-principal-for-a-day

Congratulations to Villa Park High School senior Jordyn Kuo, who has been recently named National Merit Scholarship Finalist. This distinction places her in a group of more than 15,000 students representing less than one percent of U.S. high school graduating seniors. She now has an opportunity to earn one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarships.

Give your child the Orange Unified EDGE! orangeusd.org/enroll

If you missed any of our PreK-12 Showcases and would like to book a personal tour of one of our schools, please complete the interest form or call Dr. Ken Miller at 714-628- 4350.

Incoming 7th-grade students have the opportunity to attend a new class added at Running Springs Academy! Students in this program will have the full middle school experience in addition to smaller class sizes, the option to enroll in CARES (before and after school enrichment), earn high school credits in Spanish 1 and 2, and attend an International Baccalaureate school. Space is limited! To learn more, please call 714-281-4512.

Did you know that we have a YouTube channel? Check out our videos featuring programs throughout the District, Board Meetings, school highlights, Measure S progress, graduation ceremonies and more at https://www.youtube.com/OrangeUnifiedCA

Baseball

Division 1—Villa Park HS, #4

Division 4—Canyon HS, #1

Boys’ Lacrosse

Division 3—Canyon HS, #1

Softball

Division 1—Villa Park HS, #5

Division 2—Canyon HS, #3

Boys Volleyball

Division 1 & 2—Canyon HS, Top 24 Watchlist

Each year, high school juniors participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessment. This assessment measures progress in math and language arts in grades 3-8 and 11 and is important for students because it is used for course placement for students admitted to the CSU (California State University) system.

Students on the path to obtaining the Seal of Biliteracy must pass the CAASPP for English language arts administered in grade eleven, at or above the “standard met” achievement level.

For more information, please visit https://www.orangeusd.org/departments/educational-services/secondary-education/college-career-readiness/college-admission-requirements or speak to your child’s high school counselor.

The California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) of 2016 requires school districts to ensure that students receive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education at least once in high school (grades 9-12) and once in middle school Grades 7-8).

State law allows parents/guardians the right to opt their students out of comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education. Comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education are not taught in OUSD elementary schools.

You can learn more about comprehensive sexual health education on our website at https://www.orangeusd.org/departments/educational-services/k-12-curriculum-gate/content-areas/comprehensive-sexual-health-education

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