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Dear Ocean Shore Families, Happy Friday! We have had multiple classes attend field trips this week, including some overnight trips to Pt. Reyes. Welcome back to those who attended as chaperones or staff! It sure feels empty without all of our kiddos on campus, so I will be excited to have them all back. However, I know it was a wonderful experience, with another class attending next week. Here is a favorite picture I received. The image captures everything magical about a field trip: outdoor learning, cherished friendships and memories that will be cherished for years to come!  Reflections from my Office: As a staff, we talk a lot about how important our mindset is for everything we do. Our teachers care for one another, uplifting and supporting their colleagues everyday. In our staff lounge, I love reading their gratitude notes to one another on our “Staff Makin’ Waves” bulletin board. This includes the mindset of our students. Without a doubt, how kids feel when they enter our classroom has a dramatic impact on their learning capacity and stamina. The teachers and I have been sharing lots of strategies to support the social and emotional needs of our kids. This can be extended to the home, as many of you are invested in the same cause! A while back, a parent shared with me some incredibly useful feedback. The questions below are a great example of how specific praise can be more impactful than “good job.” When you are inclined to praise your child with “good job”, try some of this feedback instead! 1. Isn’t it great that your strong legs can help you run super fast? Praising the things a children can do with their bodies instead of noticing how it looks will help them appreciate, and strive for, a healthy lifestyle. 2. I love the color combo you’ve got going on today, it’s very creative! You can still compliment your children on their outfits when you focus on their creativity, rather than how pretty or handsome they look. 3. You are a kind person. Pointing out attributes like kindness, courage, and honesty will go far in building self-esteem. 4. I’m really impressed with how you solved/built/created that. Can you show me a thing or two?! Praise your children for their critical thinking and problem-solving prowess, and nurture their interest in all things STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math). 5. I think you are a great leader. One of the best things you can do for your children is show them that being a leader isn’t just “being bossy.” 6. I am proud of you. Because kids need to hear this from their parents. 7. Just be yourself. It’s enough. Children are constantly being told they aren’t enough, and it’s time to break the cycle. 8. Your ideas are important, and I want to hear them. Children need to know their ideas are awesome and worth sharing. 9. Your bright smile shows me how happy you are. They are smiling for a reason, and when you notice, it’ll make them even happier. 10. You can change the world. Because, they can! On another note, I recently viewed a short 2-minute video on You Tube from psychologist Andrea Macari reflecting on her child’s homework assignment that encouraged independence and prevents “over-helping” our kids. Let me know your thoughts! Parenting Video: youtu.be/skWEzbtQ4gs Parents Makin’ Waves: Congratulations to Julie Stock and Barbara Bruxvroot who were selected as the 2019 Elna Flynn Outstanding Volunteer Award! Our school staff community who has worked side by side with them for their years of endless hours of service to our school selected Julie and Barbara. They will be recognized as our Ocean Shore recipients on May 3rd at a special banquet, along with other volunteers from each school in our district. We are very proud of our nominees and look forward to celebrating their contributions to Ocean Shore School! Here is some background on the award and what this special recognition means: The Elna Flynn Outstanding Volunteer Award serves as peer recognition of outstanding volunteer activities within the Pacifica School District. First awarded in 1988, the Elna Flynn Outstanding Volunteer Award (EFOVA) is an annual celebration of those hard working individuals who freely volunteer countless hours in the name of education. The EFOVA recipients are announced and honored at the annual Spring Banquet of the Pacifica School District’s Parent Council. Elna Flynn (1930 – 1987) was the consummate volunteer. Not only did she volunteer her time while her four children were being educated in our school district, she continued to volunteer even after her youngest child graduated into high school. An active member of the PTA at Portola School, she served over the years in every possible capacity: from room parent, to library chair, to PTA president and every position in between. Elna Flynn expanded her volunteer service to include several years as president of the Laguna Salada PTA Council, a position that coordinated the activities of PTA programming for six schools. She also served in various volunteer positions for the Seventeenth District PTA, the coordinating body for all of San Mateo County. Congratulations, Julie and Barbara (2019 Elna Flynn Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients Pictured Below: Barbara (left) and Julie (right) From the Front Office: Missing Any Small Items? We keep small lost items in the front office (different than the lost and found items such as clothing stored near the MPR). For example, these items would be things such as keys, key chains, jewelry, child sunglasses, ear buds, and even a Barbie Doll!). Describe the items you are missing, and we hope to return your lost item to you! Join the Conversation about the Future of Housing in Pacifica on Saturday, April 13th 9:30 am – 12:00 pm! Click HERE for more information about an upcoming invitation to gather as a community to engage in this important conversation at the Pacifica Community Center. Breakfast and childcare services will be provided. FROM THE PEF CORNER: The Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is taking education to new heights. They completely fund educational programs which exceed California’s core school standards; which our district budget cannot accommodate. Simply, PEF funds, advances, and protects a higher quality education for OUR students. Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/about-us. PEF SPONSORED PROGRAMS: - Elementary School Music Program - Middle School Band Program (Music Matters in Pacifica - MMIP) - Middle School Computer Science Program - Elementary School Slam Poetry Program (SPARC - Stage Performance + Rhythmic Culture - Poetry) - Professional Science Curriculum Development & Training For Teachers (Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)) Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/programs-c1ylq. GIVE BACK! PEF gives our children an enriched educational experience. Give back to PEF and don’t forget your employer sponsored donation matching too! Donate at http://www.pacificaef.org/how-to-give. UPCOMING PEF EVENTS: - DONATION WEEK: Mark Your Calendars - April 29th - May 3rd! Support our school by volunteering with PEF during the “School Competition” day, on May 2nd. - NEW MEMBERSHIP PLANS: Membership provides you tickets and/or discounted access to fun annual family events, supporter decals, and much, much more: https://www.pacificaef.org/membership - LISTEN & LEARN: PEF Ambassadors will be onsite at PTO events. HOW CAN I HELP? - Volunteers needed, sign up here: http://www.pacificaef.org/volunteer - Like & Follow PEF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificaEducationFoundation/ - Reach Out to our PEF Ambassadors, below:
NEXT WEEK HAPPENINGS! Thursday, April 4th: Drag Bingo at Longboard! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW for a fun adult night out next week - Thursday April 4 at the Longboard Lounge in Eureka Square. We will be playing Bingo, auctioning off a custom made surfboard, a bike, and good wine! Your ticket price of $40 will include one drink, burritos from Al Pastor Papi, and 3 games of Bingo. Get that babysitter and join us! All funds going to our PTO budget for 2019/2020 school year. See attached flyer. Get your tickets here Garden Clean-Up Day on Sunday, April 7th (10 am – 1 pm): Bring the family for a fun morning of helping to maintain our beautiful garden. This is a treasured place on our campus that does not exist without the care from our valuable volunteers! The rain has produced some wonderful growth that needs our attention. Hope you can join! UPCOMING EVENTS! MINIMUM DAY on FRIDAY 4/12! Spring Break: 4/15 - 4/22. School Resumes TUESDAY 4/23! Weekly Flyers: Dear Ocean Shore Families, Happy Friday! What a fun week at OSS! Our silent auction concludes tonight at 7:30! I hope see you at our Multicultural Night at 6 pm! Reflections from my Office: Today was a memorable day. I will never forget my first “Diversity Day” at Ocean Shore. Thanks to the efforts of our Diversity Leadership Group along with the coordination of our Vice Principal, Seva, the day was a huge success. So many times during the day I had that tingly, good feeling of being so proud of our community for the commitment we have to celebrating our diversity. Far too many times (and far too recent), hateful acts of crime, intolerance and inhumanity darken our world. Today was the opposite. We shined bright and took a stand for making difference for our world. Our students, staff, parent volunteers and presenters demonstrated our appreciation of the diversity that makes us one, beautiful community rich differences yet bind our commonality. Students were treated to an engaging story and music performance from Cascada de Flores who presented their Latin American Music and Bilingual Storytelling program. We all appreciated laughing, singing and dancing with the talented performers! Each grade level was led in age-specific panel discussions and programs such as a workshop led by SPARC Poetry’s Mike Taylor and the history of Hip Hop from Oakland’s Hip Hop for Change. I asked a few students about their perspective from the day. Here is what they shared; “It was really fun to dance! And the dancing Grandpa was really funny!” “I loved what Mika (our school psychologist) shared about new cultural experiences. She talked about a time when she stayed with a family who only eats with their hands and how this was different for her but she really liked the new experience. It meant a lot to me to hear it because I eat with my hands everyday! Everyone in my family eats with our hands.” “I learned that we are all really different and that also means we are very similar in the same way. Like how our families look different but we all have families.” “I learned about new cultures!” “ We never would have done this at my old school. Kids weren’t as nice and accepting. They made jokes about people being different.” “This day was really awesome. I wish we could have the speakers come back again.” These were some of the many captured moments from the day: Staff Makin’ Waves: Our staff is working to get prepared for an extraordinary event that is quickly approaching… Oceans 411! I enjoyed joinging our staff for a planning meeting that was led by some of our teachers who are educating and facilitating the logistics for this grand event. Sheila, Michelle and Sophie are leading us through the preparations in spectacular way. We look forward to sharing this event with you soon! From the Front Office: Cleaning out closets? Thank you for your clothing donations! We are still looking for gently-used shoes! Boys shoes: sizes 13 & 1 in particular, as well as any other sizes for boys and girls! FROM THE PEF CORNER: The Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is taking education to new heights. They completely fund educational programs which exceed California’s core school standards; which our district budget cannot accommodate. Simply, PEF funds, advances, and protects a higher quality education for OUR students. Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/about-us. PEF SPONSORED PROGRAMS: - Elementary School Music Program - Middle School Band Program (Music Matters in Pacifica - MMIP) - Middle School Computer Science Program - Elementary School Slam Poetry Program (SPARC - Stage Performance + Rhythmic Culture - Poetry) - Professional Science Curriculum Development & Training For Teachers (Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)) Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/programs-c1ylq. GIVE BACK! PEF gives our children an enriched educational experience. Give back to PEF and don’t forget your employer sponsored donation matching too! Donate at http://www.pacificaef.org/how-to-give. UPCOMING PEF EVENTS: - DONATION WEEK: Mark Your Calendars - April 29th - May 3rd! Support our school by volunteering with PEF during the “School Competition” day, on May 2nd. - NEW MEMBERSHIP PLANS: Membership provides you tickets and/or discounted access to fun annual family events, supporter decals, and much, much more: https://www.pacificaef.org/membership - LISTEN & LEARN: PEF Ambassadors will be onsite at PTO events. HOW CAN I HELP? - Volunteers needed, sign up here: http://www.pacificaef.org/volunteer - Like & Follow PEF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificaEducationFoundation/ - Reach Out to our PEF Ambassadors, below:
NEXT WEEK HAPPENINGS! Point Reyes Field Trip: We wish our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders well on this exciting field trip as they venture off to Point Reyes! UPCOMING EVENTS! Spring Break: 4/15 - 4/22 . School Resumes TUESDAY 4/23! Weekly Flyers: Dear Ocean Shore Families, Happy Friday! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful week as we welcome this gorgeous warm weather to our weekend! Next week is an exciting opportunity for parents! It is our Spring Auction! Support Ocean Shore School by bidding on items including priceless experiences with our Ocean Shore staff. CLICK HERE to see the items. I hope to see you all NEXT WEEK FRIDAY 3/22 for an important event happening at Ocean Shore (Diversity Day and Multicultural Night)! See the details below or CLICK HERE!  Reflections from my Office: How many times have you asked your child after school, “How was your day?” While children’s response to this question vary, it is likely their day was impacted in some way from an adult at school. The people working at our schools make the relationships for our kids matter. Their day-to-day encounters are enriched by the guidance and encouragement they receive from staff. At Ocean Shore, this is exactly the experience our kids have every single day. Teachers often stand out when kids recall an average day at school. They love their teachers, and enjoy telling their parents a small moment from the day that resonated with them personally. In other cases, they interact with adults who guide them outside of the classroom. Our custodian, school office staff, cafeteria staff, yard supervisors, library aide and so many more know each child. As a collective staff, we are on a first-name basis with our kids, something we pride ourselves on because it matters greatly. Whether in a classroom or walking to lunch, kids know our adults are invested in them at every moment. One such example of this is our library-aide, Barbara Bulat. Barbara is the kind of employee who cannot be valued by a number of hours she is assigned to work. It is her practice in the programs she creates for kids and her lasting relationships with our little ones that make the difference. Last week was another example of her impact on our kids. She organized the event with the support of many valued volunteers. From advertising, organizing, and helping kids find the perfect book, she can be found giving her best effort to get our kids enthralled with books. Reading matters – and she models this for our students. Not to mention, in between these duties, she facilitates a thriving reading intervention club for our emerging readers. Pretty awesome! While our library is a treasured, safe place for kids when they visit weekly with their class, the doors are always open to kids during their recess and lunchtime. Make no mistake, the library at these social times is anything but quiet. Kids are laughing, researching, and talking about books together. The energy is magnetic. It is a vibrant place for kids during their play time and it exists entirely because a devoted staff member and team have created a special place for kids to explore learning. These experiences are told to parents when they get home from school, so I’m told from parents. This is how elementary and middle school should be – safe, happy and fun. From the Ocean Shore School Library: Thank you to everyone who supported our library by purchasing books at the book fair, donating money and volunteering time to help. The proceeds go directly to book purchases and library supplies. We are very grateful to be part of such a supportive community. Thank you! - Barbara and Renee Staff Makin’ Waves: One of our cherished classrooms is our special education room. Inside you will find devoted employees who are serving the various needs of our students. Cynthia is one of our district behaviorists. Her heart is bigger than words can describe, and her students adore her loving, playful and supportive approach with everyone she encounters! She provides leadership and service to students and staff on a daily basis. Our school is so fortunate to have her radiant smile and presence, enriching the lives of our children every single day! Diversity Day is Next Week! What is Diversity Day? Celebrate Diversity Day is coming up next Friday, March 22! This year we have our full day of activities at school, and the Diversity Leadership Group is also hosting OSS’s Multicultural Family Night Celebration that evening. Celebrate Diversity Day (CDD) and the Diversity Leadership Group (DLG) were born over 10 years ago out of an act of discrimination. A family would not allow their student to drive on a field trip with a parent who happened to be a Lesbian. The reaction from the OSS community was swift ~ The Diversity Leadership Group was created and planning for the first Celebrate Diversity Day at OSS got underway. Originally created and implemented by one intrepid parent volunteer, CDD has evolved from an event primarily celebrating Family Diversity to honoring the unique cultural, familial and gender diversity at Ocean Shore. We now have a dedicated team of DLG members who organize the day and activities, and are supported by the administration, staff and PTO. On Celebrate Diversity Day the entire school experiences an assembly ~ this year we will be having Cascada de Flores present their Latin American Music and Bilingual Storytelling program. In addition to the assembly, each grade has age-appropriate programs presented by parent volunteers, teachers, and professionals from outside the school community. To complement these activities, this year our 4th and 5th graders will experience a workshop on Privilege and Intersectionality with SPARC Poetry’s Mike Taylor and our Middle Schoolers will experience activities centered around the history of Hip Hop with Oakland’s Hip Hop For Change. We invite you to come check out Celebrate Diversity Day for yourself! Attend the assembly, visit the classrooms, donate an item for our potluck to feed our volunteers, staff and presenters, and ask your students what they experienced that day when they get home. And, of course, bring the whole clan to Ocean Shore’s Multicultural Family Night happening that evening, March 22, from 6-8 in the MPR. If you want to contribute food, music or crafts from your heritage for the evening event, please contact [email protected]. Here’s to celebrating Ocean Shore’s diverse population and nurturing acceptance and respect for our differences EVERY DAY! From the Front Office: Are You Interested in Serving on the District Workforce Housing Committee? Pacifica School District is developing the former Oddstad School into Workforce Housing to provide below market rate rent and help our employees mitigate the high cost of housing in the Bay Area. The Workforce Housing Committee will typically meet once per month (the first Wednesday of the month from 3:30 to 5:00 pm). The purpose of the committee is to have representation from interested stakeholders to guide the project and assist with communication to stakeholder groups. Two community members representing parents and the greater Pacifica community will be selected by the Board of Trustees. The deadline for applications is March 22nd. If you are interested in applying to be on the Workforce Housing Committee, please submit the application to Susanne Campos at [email protected]. If you have questions regarding the Workforce Housing Project, you may direct them to Josie Peterson at [email protected]. The application can be found at: https://www.pacificasd.org/files/user/1/file/PSD%20Workforce%20Housing%20Oversight%20Committee%20Application%20and%20ByLaws.pdf Cleaning out closets? Thank you for your clothing donations! We are still looking for gently-used shoes! Boys shoes: sizes 13 & 1 in particular, as well as any other sizes for boys and girls! FROM THE PEF CORNER: The Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is taking education to new heights. They completely fund educational programs which exceed California’s core school standards; which our district budget cannot accommodate. Simply, PEF funds, advances, and protects a higher quality education for OUR students. Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/about-us. PEF SPONSORED PROGRAMS: - Elementary School Music Program - Middle School Band Program (Music Matters in Pacifica - MMIP) - Middle School Computer Science Program - Elementary School Slam Poetry Program (SPARC - Stage Performance + Rhythmic Culture - Poetry) - Professional Science Curriculum Development & Training For Teachers (Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)) Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/programs-c1ylq. GIVE BACK! PEF gives our children an enriched educational experience. Give back to PEF and don’t forget your employer sponsored donation matching too! Donate at http://www.pacificaef.org/how-to-give. UPCOMING PEF EVENTS: - DONATION WEEK: Mark Your Calendars - April 29th - May 3rd! Support our school by volunteering with PEF during the “School Competition” day, on May 2nd. - NEW MEMBERSHIP PLANS: Membership provides you tickets and/or discounted access to fun annual family events, supporter decals, and much, much more: https://www.pacificaef.org/membership - LISTEN & LEARN: PEF Ambassadors will be onsite at PTO events. HOW CAN I HELP? - Volunteers needed, sign up here: http://www.pacificaef.org/volunteer - Like & Follow PEF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificaEducationFoundation/ - Reach Out to our PEF Ambassadors, below:
NEXT WEEK HAPPENINGS! Monday, March 18th: Live Scan Service Available at Ocean Shore! Click HERE for information and sign-up options posted HERE: Friday, March 22nd: Diversity Day at Ocean Shore and Evening Silent Auction. On this day we focus on learning about different kinds of families, different cultures, and different identities. This year, we are introducing a new event. On Friday night from 6-8 PM, we will be hosting a multicultural night. There will be food and live entertainment from different cultures. Come join us to celebrate the different cultures represented in the Ocean Shore population! Multicultural night will also be the last chance to bid on any items from our Spring Auction. Bidding begins on Monday, March 18. Bidding ends at 7:30 on March 22. Come join us! WHAT IS DIVERSITY DAY!? UPCOMING EVENTS! Spring Break: 4/15 - 4/22 . School Resumes TUESDAY 4/23! Weekly Flyers: Dear Ocean Shore Families, Happy Friday! This morning, the staff of Ocean Shore was treated to a lovely surprise from our PTO members. We arrived to our staff lounge to find a gorgeous spread of a lovely breakfast brought in by many parents. It brightened our day! The food was creative, delicious and comforting, and gave our staff a chance to feel appreciated and feast as a staff family. I walked by the staff lounge, and the room was full of our hard-working staff laughing and enjoying the time together. Special breakfasts like the one we had today brings us all together - thanks to our parents and their generous efforts. We have happy teachers, a happy staff, and consequently, happy kids! Reflections from my Office: This week concluded our 2nd trimester. Our teachers have been working hard to review student work samples, assessments and reflect on their academic, social and emotional development over the course of the last few months. I can assure this is an incredibly timely process as our staff is very thorough to provide our home to school team with evidence and information that reflects an accurate portrayal of each student’s individual growth. Be sure to reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions or feedback. In the fall, I shared with you these reminders about how to reflect on your child’s report card and communication with the school. Celebrate Effort: Upon receiving their report cards, I always reminded my students as a teacher that their effort mattered as much as their achievement – and sometimes even more. What an important life lesson we can teach our children. What you put into something is just as meaningful as what you take from it. Ask Questions: At your parent-teacher conference, take time to inquire about what academic standards are expected of your child at this point in the year. Have your child self-reflect on their progress this 1st trimester. Report Cards of 2019: You might notice that the report card your child brought home is different than the report card you received as a child. It is normal to feel a little confused! To help you better understand your child’s report card, please refer to the district website, “Elementary Report Guide for Parents.” Please see the link here: https://www.pacificasd.org/files/user/1/file/Report%20Card%20Guide%20for%20Parents.pdf Another reflection from last week was last Friday when I had the opportunity to visit the kindergarten classrooms to read books for “Read Across America Day” in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. It was the highlight of my day! I recommend you take an opportunity to read to your child, or your child’s classroom (even older kids love this more than they will admit!). There are beautiful books with powerful messages, and what a great way to spend 20 minutes. Find time after drop-off or at the end of the day to read story to your child’s class – it will be worth it! Here are some pictures from my experience:  Students Makin’ Waves: Congratulations to 7th grader, Isaiah Sneed! Isaiah received recognition at the 2019 San Mateo County Office of Education STEM Fair and earned 2nd place! He represented our school and community of Pacifica very well with top honors and now has an opportunity to continue competing even with a trip to Washington D.C! He was required to demonstrate his project by speaking with the public and judges, which he did very well! Our teachers, Beccy and Sophie, were an influential part of his success with thier encouragement and preparation! Congratulations, Isaiah! From the Front Office: Are You Interested in Serving on the District Workforce Housing Committee? Pacifica School District is developing the former Oddstad School into Workforce Housing to provide below market rate rent and help our employees mitigate the high cost of housing in the Bay Area. The Workforce Housing Committee will typically meet once per month (the first Wednesday of the month from 3:30 to 5:00 pm). The purpose of the committee is to have representation from interested stakeholders to guide the project and assist with communication to stakeholder groups. Two community members representing parents and the greater Pacifica community will be selected by the Board of Trustees. The deadline for applications is March 22nd. If you are interested in applying to be on the Workforce Housing Committee, please submit the application to Susanne Campos at [email protected]. If you have questions regarding the Workforce Housing Project, you may direct them to Josie Peterson at [email protected]. The application can be found at: https://www.pacificasd.org/files/user/1/file/PSD%20Workforce%20Housing%20Oversight%20Committee%20Application%20and%20ByLaws.pdf Cleaning out Closets? We Are Looking for Gently Used Children’s Clothing for the Office! When kids slip in mud, get wet, have accidents, etc. we like to have an abundance of clothes the kids can change into, wear home, then return at their convenience. The following would be greatly appreciated! Boys shoes: sizes 13 & 1 in particular, as well as any other sizes
Illegal Parking Around Campus: I ask for your support in following legal driving and parking regulations around our campus. Please be mindful of where you park, no matter how long you intend to park! Your “”just real quick” parking compromises the safety of others, breaks traffic laws, and inconveniences others – especially handicapped or parents with strollers. When you park on the curb: You block the ability of our small children and parents with strollers or wheelchairs to safely arrive to school. Parents have been observed parking on the curb on Manor. Please be advised we will solicit the police to help remind drivers to abide by parking laws. When you park in a staff parking spot: You have prevented your child’s teacher or staff member from arriving to school. As with any office or medical facility, please respect the designated parking places for our staff that arrives at ALL HOURS of the day. This is especially important for field trip departures. Please do not park in the parking lot when awaiting a field trip. When you park in a loading zone during drop-off: You cause a backup of cars waiting to drop off their child, adding unnecessary time to the drop-off time and potentially causing students to be tardy. This also creates a safety hazard as parents attempt to weave around your parked car, which is an illegal violation of parking standards for a loading zone. FROM THE PEF CORNER: The Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is taking education to new heights. They completely fund educational programs which exceed California’s core school standards; which our district budget cannot accommodate. Simply, PEF funds, advances, and protects a higher quality education for OUR students. Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/about-us. PEF SPONSORED PROGRAMS: - Elementary School Music Program - Middle School Band Program (Music Matters in Pacifica - MMIP) - Middle School Computer Science Program - Elementary School Slam Poetry Program (SPARC - Stage Performance + Rhythmic Culture - Poetry) - Professional Science Curriculum Development & Training For Teachers (Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)) Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/programs-c1ylq. GIVE BACK! PEF gives our children an enriched educational experience. Give back to PEF and don’t forget your employer sponsored donation matching too! Donate at http://www.pacificaef.org/how-to-give. UPCOMING PEF EVENTS: - DONATION WEEK: Mark Your Calendars - April 29th - May 3rd! Support our school by volunteering with PEF during the “School Competition” day, on May 2nd. - NEW MEMBERSHIP PLANS: Membership provides you tickets and/or discounted access to fun annual family events, supporter decals, and much, much more: https://www.pacificaef.org/membership - LISTEN & LEARN: PEF Ambassadors will be onsite at PTO events. HOW CAN I HELP? - Volunteers needed, sign up here: http://www.pacificaef.org/volunteer - Like & Follow PEF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificaEducationFoundation/ - Reach Out to our PEF Ambassadors, below:
NEXT WEEK HAPPENINGS! Tuesday, March 12: PTO Executive Board Meeting (7-9 pm) OSS staff lounge UPCOMING EVENTS! Friday, March 22nd: Diversity Day! Weekly Flyers: Dear Ocean Shore Families, Hello! I hope you had a wonderful midwinter break. Kids have been swapping stories about their experiences with epic snow in Tahoe, playing on the beach in our own backyard here in Pacifica, or just sleeping (this was as a common thread from our middle school kiddos!). I enjoyed a wonderful trip to see my brother and family in London. My niece and nephew proudly gave me a tour of their school, which of course included showcasing their favorite space – the playground. My London experience was lovely – from a day trip to the coast and countryside to touring Kensington Palace – it was memorable and worth the jetlag when I returned! Reflections from my Office: We returned this week with several special events occurring, as is often the case at Ocean Shore! Tuesday launched the Coral Café – a tradition at Ocean Shore! Thanks to the support of many dedicated volunteers and teachers like Sheila, the students were treated to an exciting preview of what is to come with Oceans 411. I had fun stopping by the science lab. It had been transformed into an interactive, engaging marine exhibition where kids were introduced to the theme of this year’s Oceans Week – coral reefs. As I was walking with a kindergarten class into the Café, a little girl looked at me and exclaimed, “Principal Julie! I love the Corral Café! Have you been before? They have the BEST FOOD. It is my favorite place to eat!” I smiled and asked her if was referring to the Coral Café in the Science Lab which we were about to enter. She replied, “Oh yes! Of course! It is so tasty, I am so excited!” How precious. Another reflection from this week was the roll out of our safety drill. I was incredibly impressed with how well our students and staff enacted the “Secure Campus” and “Lockdown Barricade” drill. We began with a “Secure Campus” which meant students were safely inside their classroom with doors locked, attendance taken and instruction resumes. However, it is likely that a situation such as this would require the need to elevate the level of security. Following this first drill, we elevated the protocol to a “Lockdown/Barricade”. After quickly accounting for every child, teacher, staff member and parent volunteer, Seva and I did a thorough inspection of campus while the students were in lockdown with our local law enforcement partners such as Captain Spanheimer. It was impressive to see how quickly the school transformed into a ghost town. The halls and rooms were silent, blinds were drawn and not one person was visible or heard. Frankly, it was quite eerie. However, the silence was a poignant, calming reminder that the children were tucked away and out of sight from the passerby view. I was proud of our team’s effort with the initial drill and eager to continue training and bettering our practices. While inside the classrooms, many students took the opportunity to practice responding in a safe manner with their teacher. Given the seriousness of this topic, this is not easy to achieve. I applaud our staff for guiding the students with such grace and expertise. Here are a few pictures of them during the activity. Some students read quietly, and our kindergarteners enjoyed “Lollipops for Lockdowns” which was a fun – and calming – way for students to practice a drill that can be a little bit scary. Here are a few images from the day. Earlier in the year, I shared a link to these resources. They are helpful tools for adults to help them guide children to understanding trauma and other difficult topics. I hope they are useful for you and your family: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/aftermath.aspx http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/talking-to-children.aspx A Message from the Ocean Shore Vara Family: Chris, Kendra, Andrew, Jack, and Ellie This last month has been filled with downs and ups for us. On January 16th, we were told that our son, Andrew, had a brain tumor. We were in disbelief. He had the brain tumor, and yet it seemed like our brains were not working very well. When the OSS community found out, lots of people offered help. We were grateful, but we also had no idea what help we needed. Our ability to think logically and to remember everything was instantly impaired. The OSS family didn't wait to be asked. You -- all of you -- just scooped us up into your arms and did things for us that we did not know we needed. Your texts, your emails, your cards, your Team Blue clothes, your support, your Caring Bridge messages, and your delicious, comforting meals, buoyed our family and made us feel nurtured during a time when we've really needed that more than we knew. Last week, Andrew's doctors told us that the tumor was benign and probably won't recur. The doctors said the only long-term effect of his having had a brain tumor is that he will need regular MRIs. But that's not the only long-term effect. Finding out the real meaning of how a school becomes a family -- that's a long-term effect, too. We will never forget how you all took care of us. Your generosity will forever be part of our family story. Staff Makin’ Waves: On Thursdays, our staff hosts “Treat Day” which means we divide up the days and brings treats. Some days designated teachers bring treats, and other days it is a potluck. It is a wonderful reflection of how tightly woven our staff is as a family. They know that food and good conversation bring people together. This is the case on most days – especially Thursdays – in the staff lounge. Yesterday, our teacher Virginia noticed our potluck needed some extra items. During her precious “free” time before school, she ran over to the store to get pizzas. Thinking of others before herself is something our teachers do on a regular basis and Virginia did just that yesterday by getting extra food. I also noticed her in the late afternoon, long after the kids went home and she had spent time after school helping students, cleaning up the food and kitchen from the treat day. We are so lucky to have teachers like Virginia at Ocean Shore! Students Makin’ Waves: The winner of the Oceans 411 T-shirt design contest is 5th grader, Lila Waters. 8th graders, Ruby Folber's and Maggie Menigo's designs will be on the Oceans411 booklet. 7th grader, Sarah Betschart's and and 5th grader Katherine Tran's designs will be made into posters. Congratulations to all the artists! From the Front Office: Next Week Oceana Blvd. Paving Project: Please note that next week Oceana Blvd will be getting repaved and therefore there will not be any street parking. Please also be aware there may be delays though the street will remain open. In light of this, next week the gate on Monterey Road will be open (only at the start of school) to allow for students to enter campus as an alternative to using the main entrance on Oceana Blvd. Cleaning out Closets? We Are Looking for Gently Used Children’s Clothing for the Office! When kids slip in mud, get wet, have accidents, etc. we like to have an abundance of clothes the kids can change into, wear home, then return at their convenience. The following would be greatly appreciated! Boys shoes: sizes 13 & 1 in particular, as well as any other sizes
You Tube Videos Being Dubbed Over: A reminder to be careful about what your child is watching online – anytime – and especially on You Tube. Parents have reported that innocent children’s videos and shows are being dubbed over with scary images and messages. As with anything, it is important to consider viewing any online images together as a family or in a public space in your home so that children can have appropriate guidance utilizing their digital citizenship and presence. Remember to check out these great resource for parents: Common Sense Media (click HERE). SPRING BOOK FAIR IS COMING! Dates: Friday, March 1st – Friday, March 8th
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=oceanshoreschool1 Thank you for your continued support! Barbara and Renee Volunteers Needed! We need help: Set Up: Friday, March 1, from 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Shift workers (2 hour increments) to help run the fair for its duration. Sign-up sheets are posted in the Parent Hallway. Breakdown: Friday, March 8th 3:00-5:00 p.m Thank you very much for your support!! FROM THE PEF CORNER: The Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is taking education to new heights. They completely fund educational programs which exceed California’s core school standards; which our district budget cannot accommodate. Simply, PEF funds, advances, and protects a higher quality education for OUR students. Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/about-us. PEF SPONSORED PROGRAMS: - Elementary School Music Program - Middle School Band Program (Music Matters in Pacifica - MMIP) - Middle School Computer Science Program - Elementary School Slam Poetry Program (SPARC - Stage Performance + Rhythmic Culture - Poetry) - Professional Science Curriculum Development & Training For Teachers (Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)) Learn more at http://www.pacificaef.org/programs-c1ylq. GIVE BACK! PEF gives our children an enriched educational experience. Give back to PEF and don’t forget your employer sponsored donation matching too! Donate at http://www.pacificaef.org/how-to-give. UPCOMING PEF EVENTS: - DONATION WEEK: Mark Your Calendars - April 29th - May 3rd! Support our school by volunteering with PEF during the “School Competition” day, on May 2nd. - NEW MEMBERSHIP PLANS: Membership provides you tickets and/or discounted access to fun annual family events, supporter decals, and much, much more: https://www.pacificaef.org/membership - LISTEN & LEARN: PEF Ambassadors will be onsite at PTO events. HOW CAN I HELP? - Volunteers needed, sign up here: http://www.pacificaef.org/volunteer - Like & Follow PEF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificaEducationFoundation/ - Reach Out to our PEF Ambassadors, below:
From the Diversity Leadership Group: Are you a member of a Multi-Racial and/or Multi-Faith family and would like to share your story!? The Diversity Leadership Group is hoping to find a few families who would be interested in talking to our students about your experiences at home, at school, and in the world on Celebrate Diversity Day (CDD). CDD is taking place on Friday, March 22. Timing is flexible. If you are interested in participating, please contact Lissin at [email protected] NEXT WEEK HAPPENINGS! MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE NEXT WEEK TUESDAY – FRIDAY! A reminder that we have minimum day schedules next week for parent-teacher conferences! Next Week: Spring parent teacher conferences! Teachers will coordinate a conference time with you should the feel the need to meet. Check with your child’s teacher to coordinate! Monday – Friday: BOOK FAIR! Evening Events Next Week: Monday 3/4: Environmental Action Committee (EAT) meeting in library 6 - 8 pm. Thursday 3/7: Diversity Leadership Group (DLG) meeting in library 6 - 8 pm. UPCOMING EVENTS! Friday, March 22nd: Diversity Day! Weekly Flyers: |
Jeanne BellingerPrincipal of Ocean Shore. Check back here for weekly updates and messages from the principal. Archives
June 2022
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