Message from Orange Unified

In this Message

• AVID Senior Standout Night
• Measure S Phase II Update
• Celebrating our School Bus Drivers
• Drone League Interdistrict Competition
• Canyon High School‘s Video Production Students Once Again Awarded by Directing Change
• Palmyra Elementary Celebrates its 70th Anniversary!
• 2023 Exposition of the Arts – Save the Date!
• CIF Polls
• March/April Community Schools Newsletter
• Class of 2023 Senior Banners

Upcoming Events

• May 2: Special Education Parent Workshop; Sycamore ES Open House; Panorama ES Open House; Canyon Hills ES Open House
  
• May 4: Board of Education Meeting
• May 8: Exposition of the Arts
• May 23: California ES Open House; Nohl Canyon ES Open House; Villa Park ES Open House; Crescent ES Open House; Esplanade ES Open House
• May 29: Memorial Day - All Sites Closed

Congratulations to Brooklyn Duverne (El Modena High School), Theresa Perez (Orange High School), and Alina Davis (Villa Park High School) on being named OUSD AVID Senior Standouts of the 2023 school year!

AVID’s (Advancement Via Individual Determination) mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and success in a global economy. Regardless of their life circumstances, AVID students overcome obstacles and achieve success. They graduate and attend college at higher rates, but more importantly, they can think critically, collaborate, and set high expectations to confidently conquer the challenges that await them. Brooklyn, Theresa, and Alina are each Orange Unified students who exemplify that reality!

In November 2016, voters residing within OUSD’s boundaries approved Measure S, a $288 million General Obligation (GO) bond to fund facility modernization and construction projects at the District’s four comprehensive high schools (Canyon, El Modena, Orange, and Villa Park). With the bond’s passage, voters agreed to a $29 tax per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Due to prudent financial planning and increased overall property values, residents in OUSD’s boundaries were taxed only $25.55 per $100,000 of the assessed property value on their 2022-2023 property taxes. According to District records, this equals $24, 518,717 million in total taxpayer savings since 2017-18.

In June 2018, Orange Unified School District completed the sale of $188 million in General Obligation Bonds to fund Phase One of Measure S. A second bond sale, in the amount of $100 million, occurred in June 2022 to allow the District to move forward with Phase Two construction projects.

Learn more about Measure S at orangeusd.org/measure-s

Villa Park’s Measure S Phase II project includes the construction of a 36,000 square-foot, 18-classroom building in the footprint of the previous 500 building (the school’s former chemistry lab classrooms) and selected upgrades to the 100/200 building, including bathroom renovation, removal of older exterior staircases and the addition of a new passenger elevator.

Construction began in late November 2022 with the demolition of the former 500 Building and is continuing with grading and site preparation after a slight rain delay. Also added to the campus will be an updated storm drain system. Work on this complex underground drainage network commenced this March with the addition of a new pipe and a surface-level drainage channel constructed on the west side of campus.

The duration of construction is 20 months, with scheduled completion during the 2024-2025 school year.

Orange High School’s Measure S Phase II project includes the construction of a new 26,000-square-foot building to house student services and six classrooms. The new facility will be built in the footprint of the former 100/200 building.

Construction began in January 2023 with the demolition of the iconic administration and classroom building that has accommodated our staff and students since 1952 and continues with grading operations in preparation for the new building foundations.

The duration of construction is 20 months, with scheduled completion during the 2024-2025 school year.

El Modena High School’s Measure S Phase II project includes upgrades to all four two-story classroom buildings, modernization of building 800 to a career technical education hub, renovation of the current administration office, replacement of the existing student quad area, and new roofing over the campus’ central outdoor breezeway.

Construction began in March with selective demolition in the 800 building as well as the main quad. Completion of the project will be separated into four phases, with the modernization of the 800 building, quad replacement, and breezeway roofing all completed by the next school year. The second phase, including the renovation of the existing 400 and 500 buildings and the addition of a passenger elevator, will be also completed during the 2023-24 school year. The third and fourth phases, highlighted by the renovation of buildings 200 and 300 and the modernization of the administration/student services offices, will be completed in the 2024-25 school year.

The duration of construction is approximately 30 months, with scheduled completion early in the 2025-2026 school year.

Canyon High School’s Measure S Phase II project consists of the renovation of the old science lab classrooms in building 400 into standard classrooms. It also includes the removal of 16 portable classrooms from the site.

Construction will begin in June 2023 and is expected to take one year to complete to be ready for students by the start of the 2024-25 school year.

The Board of Education officially proclaimed April 25, 2023, as “School Bus Drivers’ Day” in Orange Unified School District. Each year, the fourth Tuesday of April is designated as National School Bus Drivers’ Day. This day originated in California in 2009 to draw special public attention to school bus drivers for their services to our school children.

OUSD is pleased to participate in this observance and welcomes the opportunity to officially recognize and commend the District’s school bus drivers for their continued excellent service to our students!

Over 70 students from six different schools in Orange Unified participated in the inaugural interdistrict Drone League Competition against students from Del Norte School District in Crescent City as they live-streamed their competitions.

Students from California, Cambridge, Crescent, Fletcher, Prospect, and Taft Elementary Schools exhibited their manual and autonomous drone flying skills by coding their flight paths through an obstacle course. The theme was Mission to Mars, and the challenge was to fly their drones around obstacles to pick up “core samples” and return to home base. Students were scored on their ability to code, navigate the course, and work as a team.

This event was the culmination of 20 weeks in which students followed a curriculum created by Woven Learning to learn how to navigate, create code, and further their understanding of careers in drone programming.

Plans are already underway for next year’s competition.

Directing Change is a statewide video competition that encourages students to create public service announcements about Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Matters. These 60-second films require students to learn about the warning signs for suicide and how to offer support for a friend or to focus on encouraging young people to get help and support peers with mental health challenges.

Canyon High School’s Video Production classes have participated in the PSA contest every year over the past nine years, and several students have taken home statewide awards each year. The following students were selected as winners for their films this year:

3rd Place

“Nothing to be Ashamed Of”

Filmmaker: Katelyn Gooneratne (Grade 9)
Advisor: Alex Graham

Honorable Mention

“End the Stigma”

Filmmaker: Peyton Hoffman

Advisor: Alex Graham

Honorable Mention

“Starting Line”

Filmmakers: Jaden Men, Ivan Chang, and Jordan Haddadin

For more information, please visit directingchangeca.org

Congratulations to Palmyra Elementary on celebrating its 70th Anniversary! Community members, alumni, former principals, and staff were present to celebrate this wonderful milestone. There was also an opportunity to view old photos, yearbooks, and more in the STEAM Lab. Go, Palmyra Pintos!

On the morning of May 8, Trustees, principals, and community members will judge student work at the Exposition of the Arts in the Board Rooms at the District Office at 1401 N. Katella in Orange. Later that day, from 4 – 7 p.m., the board rooms will be open to parents, students, and community members to view the open gallery.

Here are the latest CIF Polls released for our high schools with ranked teams:

Canyon HS

Baseball--#5 Division 4

Boys Lacrosse--#4 Division 3

Softball--#10 Division 2

Boys Volleyball--#16 Division 1/2

Villa Park HS

Baseball--#11 Division 1

Softball--#12 Division 1

Villa Park High School’s CIF-SS Academic Championship teams, Baseball and Softball, were honored on the field at Angel Stadium on April 24, prior to the Angels vs. Oakland A’s game. In addition to team recognition, each team received a banner commemorating their Championship. This is Villa Park High School’s 8th and 9th CIF Academic Championships in the last six seasons of sport and the 11th and 12th CIF Academic Championships for Orange Unified School District. Go Spartans!

Celebrate your senior's accomplishments with a custom banner! Banners will be on display at Fred Kelly Stadium during our graduation ceremonies and can be picked at a later date.

All proceeds from your purchase help support educational programs and initiatives through Orange Unified Public Schools Foundation’s grant program. Don't miss this chance to show your support for the Class of 2023 and our local schools! Order your banner for $100 at https://order.prepressgroup.com/tdgraphics/

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

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.

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

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