Message from the Superintendent

In this Message

• 2021-2022 Safety and Health-Driven Plan
• Messages from the Superintendent
• Board of Education Meeting Update
• First Day of School Printables and Social Media Stickers/Frames
• LCAP and COVID Relief Funding Community Input Form
• Free Meals for All Students
• Ways to Connect
• Job Opportunities

Upcoming Events

• August 18 – First Day of School
• August 19 – Board of Education Meeting
• September 6 – Labor Day Holiday
• September 9 – Board of Education Meeting

Dear OUSD Community:

As we prepare to welcome students to our campuses and classrooms this week,

I would like to remind you that our 2021-2022 Safety and Health-Driven Plan, detailing the educational options and steps we are continuing to take to promote wellness and prevent the spread of illness on our school campuses, is available in its entirety on our website. A few of the plan highlights include complimentary breakfast and lunch for all students during the 2021-2022 school year, supplemental outdoor handwashing stations, improved ventilation district-wide, and three instructional options to meet the diverse needs of our families:

• Option 1 - traditional in-seat instruction, five days per week
• Option 2 - full-day virtual instruction through the OUSD EDGE Virtual Academy (grades TK-12)
• Option 3 - OUSD Home School (Grades K-8)/Independent Study (Grades 7-12).

Families choosing either option 2 or 3 have the right to request a pupil-parent-educator conference meeting before enrollment to review the academic program delivery, student support, enrollment process, specific academic expectations as well as the withdrawal process for that particular program. All requests for students with disabilities will be considered on an individual basis; please contact your school administrator to discuss the process. We are still accepting new students at orangeusd.org/enroll, and data confirmation through the Aeries Parent Portal is available for continuing students.

In case you missed my summer updates, exciting things continue to happen throughout the District. The Educational Services Division has been working to provide Expanded Learning Opportunities for students using funding from the state, and facilities continue to be revitalized and updated district-wide. In addition, Measure S Phase 1 construction will be wrapping up soon, with the STEM Complexes at Canyon, El Modena, and Villa Park High Schools set to open in 2022. We are very excited to see these projects come to life for our students and community.

As a friendly reminder, this week’s Board of Education Meeting will be live-streamed for public viewing on August 19. This will allow for the final configuration of the newly installed audio and video equipment needed to facilitate simultaneous live-streaming while hosting a meeting that is open to the public. The meeting agenda and links are available on the OUSD website at https://www.orangeusd.org/departments/board-of-education/agendas.

We are pleased to share that the public will once again be able to attend Board of Education Meetings in person beginning September 9. Staff is currently working on the logistics needed to implement the most recent health and safety protocols for meetings due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, including the enforcement of social distancing inside the board rooms and the ability to support overflow streaming outside of the board rooms in case there is the need to accommodate a large crowd.

It truly takes a village, and I am incredibly proud of the enhanced educational programs and student opportunities we continue to provide, despite the challenges we have faced and mindful of the health and safety of our students, staff, and community. We look forward to welcoming all students back for in-person instruction on August 18!

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

BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2021! To help commemorate the start of the new school year, we are sharing FREE First Day of School printable signs that families can download from our website: orangeusd.org/day-1-printables.

Please feel free to share a photo of your student on their first day of school and send it to day1@orangeusd.org for a chance to be featured on our website and social media! We can’t wait to celebrate the start of the new school year!

You can also check out our custom stickers on Instagram to add to your stories, as well as IG and Facebook frames – just search for OUSD or your school name.

Due to federal waivers issued by the USDA, Nutrition Services will be serving breakfast and lunch free of charge to all enrolled students for the entire 2021-2022 school year. Meal Applications will not be collected this year, however, school funding depends on parent completion of an online Alternate Funding Application. OUSD encourages all families, regardless of income status, to complete the Alternate Funding Application to maximize the amount of money the district receives from the state. Only one Alternate Funding Application is needed per household. If you have any questions please call Nutrition Services at 714-997-6354.

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: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

You can also subscribe to the OUSD Master Calendar on Google at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=myorangeusd.org_va2n797ts4adrug5eebkbkiq7s@group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Los_Angeles

If you have unsubscribed from School Messenger at any point and would like to receive these valuable emails, please contact your school site.

Orange Unified School District is gearing up for its Spring recruiting and hiring initiative. Are you interested in a profession that makes a positive impact in 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.

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

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