Parent Letter

~Douglas Pagels

Happy Sunday Ochoa Families,

Last week, we recorded our first full week of school in the books. On Friday, we hosted a school-wide climate assembly that I like to call Good Decisions. I spoke with students about setting goals for the year (quarterly), developing a plan to ensure they achieve their goal and to think about what they might do differently if they fall shy of their goals. We discussed school expectations and how our number one job as staff is to keep students safe. Student safety is paramount as we are responsible for our students both on the way to school and on the way home.

Remember: Students should arrive between 8-8:15AM daily; those with a zero period PE class will arrive by 7:15AM. On Mon, Tues, Thur, Friday, students will dismiss at 3:05PM; every Wednesday they dismiss at 1:30PM. Please see bell schedule linked below.

PE Teachers will let students know in advance, when they will begin to dress out for PE. Please find the link to purchase PE clothing below. Be sure to enter your student's first and last name before finalizing the order so as not to create a delay in distribution. PE clothing will be distributed to your student through their PE classes. If you prefer to make your purchase in cash, you or your student can stop by the main office to do so.

Families, already, we are experiencing lots of calls to remove students for visits to the doctors, dentist etc. We know that emergencies arise but if at all possible, please schedule these appointments for after school so as not to disrupt student learning. One more consideration, our school loses funding, when students are not in attendance. ADA is a key factor in school funding, and can impact educational programs and services. For example, increased student attendance can result in more funding for classrooms, and ADA funding can also determine the flow of grants for vital programs.

Finally, some student schedules have been modified over the last week. These changes are a direct result of math placement and student change requests that we have tried to honor. This week forward, we anticipate minimal disruptions and believe schedules are now close to where they need to be. We ask for your patience during this time as we want to make this a smooth transition for our students.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

-Principal Rowe-Andrews

Could your student benefit from homework support? Some social time with friends in clubs? Please contact Mr. Ryan Edmonson at RE2216@husd.us, to enroll in the YEP program.

Ochoa has a nice sized garden and we are looking for families who might be willing and able to help us plan to revitalize it. Currently, we are growing grapes, apricots, pomegranates, and apples. Our Site Based Decision Making Team has been discussing the possibility of creating a garden to table home economics program for our students. If you or someone you know might be able to offer some expertise in this area, please reach out to Principal Rowe-Andrews or Ms. Hiester, Family Engagement Specialist.

We would love to hear from you.

Annual Update (English & Español) Parents and students can obtain information about their student’s attendance, assignments (due, completed, missing), teacher email addresses, and student schedules at the start of the school year. Note: If there have not been any changes to your phone, email, home address, emergency contacts, etc., you must still access this form and validate the information as accurate for the 2024-25 school year.

REMEMBER: SAVE AFTER EACH STEP AND SUBMIT AT THE END

All students are required to have the Tdap immunization prior to attending as a 7th grader. If your 7th or 8th grade student has not yet had their tdap, please note this must be done prior to attending the first day of school. UPLOAD IMMUNIZATION RECORD

Here are a few clinics offering immunizations for students:

Alameda County Immunization Clinics (English)

Alameda County Immunization Clinics (Spanish)

Free and Reduced Application - Click Here!

The lunch application provides all Ochoa students with free lunch, and the more families who complete it, whether eligible or not allows us to gain funding for various programs that we are able to provide to our students. *All families are asked to complete.

Benefit Your Family

• Free school breakfast and lunch
• Possible discounts for home utilities, such as cable, internet, phone, etc.
• Discount on fees associated with applying to college
• Discount on fees for academic tests

Benefit Your School

• Provide increased funding for schools - More funding to support students
• Help support funding for computers and technology
• Help provide equipment grants to improve meal quality

Acceptable Use of Technology Form

Preparing students for college and career in a global society, requires the integration of technology in the classroom. Students will receive CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) Training to ensure they are aware of safety measures when using technology. Please read and sign this form to show that you understand and have explained to your student the most appropriate ways to use school technology.

A. Ochoa Student Handbook 2024-25 (Read and Sign with your student)

A1. Sign the Handbook_2024-25

B. Ochoa Discipline Policy_2024-25 (Read and Sign with your student)

C. Ochoa Parent Involvement Form (Read and Sign)

Our Youth Enrichment Program also known as Y.E.P. is our after school program, run by our Site Coordinator Mr. Ryan Edmonson. Please click the link to sign up/register (English/Español) . Click the gold link below to sign up.

Does your student require public transportation? If you would like to apply for a free AC transit card for your student please click the link below. This is not transportation specific to students with IEPs, but is available for ALL students.

PE clothing will be available through our online store beginning this week. Check this link below after Monday. *If you prefer to pay for PE clothing with cash, you may do so in the main office beginning August 19th.

SCHOOL SUCCESS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO GOOD ATTENDANCE. Ochoa strives for a 98+% attendance rate for our students each year. Poor performance in the classroom is often the result of poor attendance. If students are to achieve maximum value from their middle school education, 100% attendance is the goal. Did you know that the state of California only allows students to be absent, with *valid excuse for less than 10% of the year?

*valid excuses for absences from school are:

• Illness or quarantine
• Medical, dental, or optometry appointments

• Religious Requests, upto one per quarter with prior written notice and approval
• Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family

California law requires all students 6 to 18 years old are required to attend school on time and regularly. Cal. Ed. Code § 48200.

A child is habitually truant if, without valid excuse, they are:

• Absent for three days in a single school year,
• Absent or tardy more than 30 minutes three times in a year,
• Any combination of the above. Cal. Ed. Code § 48260(a).

A child is chronically truant if they have missed 10 percent of the school year. Cal. Ed. Code § 48263.6.

Parents must Report Absences-Please call us!: All absences must be cleared by a phone call or a note within 72 hours of the absence from a parent/guardian to the attendance office (510 723-3130 extension 43111). When absences are not cleared in this manner the family can expect to receive a call from our office or automated phone system.

Students should plan to arrive to school each day between 8 and 8:15AM, unless they have a zero period class. Students with a zero period PE class must arrive at school daily no later than 7:15AM. The first bell rings at 8:20AM and students must be in their seats or on their PE numbers by that time. Even if a student arrives "just 1 minute late," they legally must be marked tardy according to the law. Help us to achieve our daily and annual attendance goals this year and help us to get to 98% or better.

Website: https://ochoa.husd.us
Location: 2121 Depot Road, Hayward, CA
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