Message from the Superintendent

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In this Message:

• National School Counseling Week 2021
• OCDE 2021 School Counselor Advocate Awardees
• Facilities Updates
• Educational Services Equity Task Force
• CDC Preschool (Parent Pay) Now Enrolling
• LCAP Survey
• School Messenger SMS/Text Messages
• Orange County Youth Town Hall: Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being Through Resiliency and Community Connection

Upcoming Events

• February 11: Board of Education Meeting
• February 12 – 15: Presidents Day Holiday
• February 17: Villa Park High School Showcase
• February 24: Orange High School Showcase & Richland High School Showcase; Educational Services Equity Task Force
• February 25: Placeholder Board of Education Meeting
• March 3: OC Youth Town Hall: Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being Through Resiliency and Community Connection

Dear OUSD Community,

While COVID-19 infection rates are on the decline in Orange County, we continue to work with public health agencies to maximize the health and safety of our students, staff, and community.

This month, we are pleased to have begun offering weekly COVID-19 testing to staff. All employees are strongly encouraged to participate in this voluntary surveillance testing program, which has been recommended by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the school community, further strengthening the health and safety measures established in the Safety and Health-Driven School Reopening Plan.

Next week, we will also begin offering voluntary weekly testing for current 9-12th grade OUSD students. Students under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Additional information is available on our website.

Earlier this week, Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) Superintendent of Schools Al Mija​res announced that OCDE partnered with OC Health Care Agency to distribute vaccines to teachers and educational support staff as soon as availability expands to the education sector. However, supplies remain a hurdle to offering a precise timetable.

Any individual interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine should register at Othena.com and download the free smartphone app from the Othena website. Appointments are currently being scheduled for eligible individuals who registered in Othena on January 15.

To view a list of those who are eligible to receive a vaccine, visit the OC Health Care Agency’s website: https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/phased-approach-vaccine-distribution.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership to help keep our students, staff, and community healthy.

Warmest Regards,

Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Orange Unified School District

This week is National School Counseling Week 2021, “School Counselors: All in for All Students,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). National School Counseling Week focuses public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

Congratulations to Cerro Villa Middle School parent volunteers Nicol Jones and Kathryn White for being named OCDE 2021 School Counselor Advocate Awardees! Thank you for your support of our students. Learn more:

Canyon High School’s Gymnasium Renovation is in the final stages of completion. The gym has received new entry doors, renovated restrooms, drinking fountains, upgraded bleachers, new floor markings, and customized wood floor stain. A new BOSE sound system has also been installed, as well as upgraded scoreboard control wiring, new A/V components, and lighting controls.

The Educational Services Staff invites interested students and parents to join the Educational Services Equity Task Force. This task force aims to identify actions to meet the OUSD Strategic Initiative 3.3: Engage in a growth mindset to provide culturally relevant environments that attend to the needs of the whole child, including academic, social-emotional, and behavior support. Learn more by clicking here.

Orange Unified School District’s Child Development Center currently has full-time openings for 3- and 4-year-olds. For more information, please call 714-628-5412.

Today is the last day to provide input on our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). Your feedback is crucial to help guide the LCAP for the 2021-2022 school year. If you have not already done so, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts.

If you are interested in receiving SMS messages from the District, please send a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. Messages can be opted-out of at any time by replying with “Stop”. To learn more, please click here.

Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being Through Resiliency and Community Connection

SAVE THE DATE! On March 3, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., a countywide town hall with parent, youth, and community organizations will convene to share information about the impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health and provide a platform for schools, families, and students to dialogue about OC resources that can address stressors and promote mental health among students in our community. Click here to learn more.

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