Message from Orange Unified

Upcoming Events

• November 1: Legislative Coalition Meeting
• November 7: Staff Development Day - No Students
• November 9: End of Trimester - Elementary & Middle School Minimum Day
• November 10: Veteran's Day (observed) - All Sites Closed
• November 16: Board of Education Meeting
• November 20 - 24: Thanksgiving Break

In this Message

• Message from Superintendent Gonzalez
• West Orange Awarded CSBA Golden Bell
• Employees of the Month
• Attendance Awareness Month Winners
• OUSD High Schools Receive AP College Board Honor Roll Status
• Yorba Middle School Celebrates First Annual TOROSTEAM Day
• Presentation of Flags at Parkside
• Walk to School
• Measure S Update
• Villa Park High School Measure S Phase 2 Topping Out Celebration
• OUPSF Car Raffle
• OUSD App

Dear OUSD Community,

We want to take this opportunity to remind our families about the importance of being aware of what your children are exposed to through print, broadcast, and social media, in addition to online content and though apps. It is important to be mindful of what is available through news and other media and monitor your child’s online activities due to the availability of potentially disturbing content, including violent and harmful material and other negative and/or age-inappropriate content.

The continuous availability of potentially harmful content on various social media platforms poses a significant threat to our children's social-emotional health. It can lead to feelings of fear, anxiety, and distress and can potentially desensitize them to violence.

Schools across the world are urging parents to safeguard their children online. To this end, we recommend the following steps:

• Review access to social media on your child’s devices - and do not allow them to access social media through your or others’ devices - to help mitigate their exposure to potentially harmful content.
• Emphasize the importance of online safety and responsible digital citizenship.
• Actively monitor your children's online activity and engage in open conversations about their digital experiences, including the potential dangers of online content.
• Encourage them to report any unsettling content they encounter.

We understand that navigating the digital landscape and protecting your children from these influences can be challenging. However, taking these steps can make a significant difference in preserving their emotional well-being.

We also encourage you to stay informed about the potential risks associated with various social media platforms. Together, we can empower our children to have the knowledge and skills needed to be good digital citizens with the ability to experience a safer online environment that can enrich their mental and emotional health.

Your partnership in this endeavor is invaluable, and we appreciate your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school.

Sincerely,

Ernie Gonzalez
Superintendent of Schools

Congratulations to West Orange Elementary for being awarded the prestigious California School Boards Association 2023 Golden Bell in the category of Curriculum and Instruction through the California Standards Implementation for their Mathematics Academy.

West Orange’s vision aligns with developing programs that address excellence in academics and leadership. Their school-wide focus and the systems they have developed and implemented have laid the foundation for their students to excel in mathematics. West Orange is entering year 3 of implementing the UC Davis C-STEM program school-wide, along with its math incentives, weekly challenges, festivals, and laser focus.

Throughout West Orange, the focus on mathematics has allowed students to be bold and try a problem or project that may initially seem complex. The impact on students is not merely on academics but on mindset. The goal at West Orange has been to ensure that students not only learn the necessary math skills but also develop the tenacity and determination to tackle difficult problems. For the 2022-2023 school year, 41% of students school-wide met and exceeded standards in mathematics, an 8% increase in math performance from the 2021-2022 school year.

The Golden Bell Awards Reception and Ceremony will take place on November 30 in San Francisco Union Square.

Congratulations to our West Orange Warriors and Principal Monica Murray on their recognition.

The "You’ve Got The EDGE" Employee of the Month Recognition program has been designed with the District's Core Values of integrity, equity, respect, and excellence in mind. Two awards are given each month during the school year to employees who exemplify one or more of the District’s core values. This month, the recipients of the "YOU'VE GOT THE EDGE" award are:

Lilyanne Werner

Teacher

Villa Park High School

Fernando Orozco Cortes

Custodian

Orange High School

Both Lilyanne and Fernando were surprised at their school sites with news of the recognition.

Villa Park High School Principal Dennis Mc Cuistion had this to say about Lilyanne:

“Lilyanne Werner is a highly valued teacher at Villa Park High School. She wears many hats on campus beyond teaching math and services the students with nothing but positivity and commitment. Her integrity shows in her efforts to support and continue to grow the AVID program and in her daily interactions with students, families, and her colleagues. She consistently goes out of her way to be a cheerleader for student success. Villa Park High School is fortunate to have Lilyanne as part of the Spartan family!”

Orange High School Principal Sheryl Anderson had this to say about Fernando:

“Fernando is committed and dedicated to his workday in and day out. He is always respectful to students and staff and goes above and beyond to meet their needs and expectations. Fernando takes great pride in his work and is a quiet leader. The students and staff know that they can count on Fernando, and his high-quality work and dedication help make Orange a safe and clean environment we all are proud of. Orange High School is honored to have Fernando representing as a Panther!”

Congratulations to Lilyanne Werner and Fernando Orozco-Cortes! We thank you for your dedication and devotion to the students of the Orange Unified School District.

Through the month of September, "Attendance Counts" month, our Student and Community Services Department tracked attendance for all schools. Each school was placed in a category of four comparable schools based on 22-23 attendance rates. Congratulations to the following sites:

Highest Attendance

Olive/Lampson (tie)

Cerro Villa

Villa Park Elementary

McPherson (Secondary)

Most Improved

Fairhaven

Cambridge

Running Springs

McPherson (Elementary)

This achievement reflects our families’ and students’ acknowledgment of the importance of regular student attendance. Winners were recognized with a trophy and a special lunch from Nutrition Services.

The College Board launched the AP School Honor Roll this year. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them on the path to college success. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness, including:

• 40% or more of the graduating class took at least 1 AP exam during high school.
• 25% or more of the graduating class scored a 3 or higher on at least 1 AP exam during high school.
• 2% or more of the graduating class took 5 or more AP exams during high school. At least 1 of those exams was taken in 9th or 10th grade.

We are excited to announce that three OUSD high schools were recognized in the first-ever AP School Honor Roll:

• Canyon High School - Silver Recognition
• El Modena - Bronze Recognition
• Villa Park - Bronze Recognition

Congratulations to these sites! We look forward to seeing our schools continue to be recognized for the college and career preparation that they provide.

Learn more at https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/scores/awards/school-districts-awards

On October 11, Yorba hosted their inaugural TOROSTEAM Day. The festivities began with an assembly with a Science Spectacular, followed by a variety of STEAM workshops throughout the rest of the day. Go Toros!

Elks Lodge 1475 and local veterans donated American flags for each classroom at Parkside Education Center as well as a big flag for the front of the campus during a ceremony on October 17. We applaud Principal Lucas, counselor Ms. Morlet, and Army veteran/teacher Ms. Duncan for securing this donation for their campus. Many thanks to the Elks and our community members for their partnership in support of our Parkside Titans!

International Walk to School Month takes place in October. It's an international month that raises awareness about the positive ways walking to school helps children and communities. The goal is to encourage more adults and children to walk to school together to raise awareness about:

• The importance of teaching children safe walking behaviors, such as how to cross streets and how to select safe routes to school.
• How easy and enjoyable walking is. Adults and children spend healthy, active time together doing the world's simplest exercise - walking.
• Taking specific steps to create more walkable communities, such as advocating for more crosswalks, sidewalks, crossing guards, and better driver behavior.

Thank you to our local law enforcement partners for their support during this annual event!

Measure S, a $288 million General Obligation bond to fund facility modernization and construction projects at our four comprehensive high schools, was approved by voters in November 2016. As a result, we were able to construct cutting-edge science centers on the campuses at Orange, Villa Park, Canyon, and El Modena High Schools during the first phase of the bond project. In total, this equates to just over 200,000 square feet of new teaching and learning space, including 71 state-of-the-art classrooms, that are currently being utilized by our students and staff.

We are now well into Phase II, which will provide additional campus improvements based upon individual site needs.

The modern, functional facilities and learning opportunities created by our Measure S projects serve as a testament to what is possible when our community works together.

A special thank you goes out to our taxpayers, who continue to fund the Measure S projects at our high schools. It’s been amazing to see these major projects come to life for the benefit of our students and the Greater Orange community.

The public is invited to celebrate the Measure S Phase 2 Topping Out for the Villa Park High School by signing the final structural beam and watching it get installed. This event marks a milestone in the building’s construction and brings us one step closer to completion. Please RSVP at https://forms.gle/drQUt58irphWbHgp6 if you’d like to join us for the festivities!

Orange Unified Public Schools Foundation is dedicated to transforming our community through public education. They provide teacher grants, support visual and performing arts programs, and are striving to create additional wellness spaces to enhance student success.

OUPSF is hosting its first major fundraiser and raffling off a 2024 Nissan Sentra. The winner will be announced on Friday, October 27, at Fred Kelly Stadium. OUPSF is working with parent groups and school booster clubs to sell tickets for $25 each or 5 for $100. Please visit oupsf.org/raffle for more information.

New for this school year is the OUSD App, which is available for download in the Apple App and Google Play stores. Free for our families, the app allows users to see District-level news and events as well as customize their experience by selecting their school(s) of choice to follow to receive news and calendar information directly to their phones. If you haven’t checked it out yet, please do.

• iOS (Apple): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/orange-unified-school-dist/id6446125598
• Android (Google): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.finalsite.orangeusdorg

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.

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