OUHSD Newsletter
October 11, 2021
Sharing the latest news and information from the Oroville Union High School District.
What's Happening in OUHSD
Exploring Nature on the LPHS Campus: Students in Ms. Leih's and Ms. Regnerus' team taught Biology class at LPHS visited the nature reserve at the back of their campus to work on nature journaling. Students got to practice field biology observation and communication skills.
It's Spirit Week at OHS: It was pajama day on Monday and the lunchtime activity was balloon toss.
Meme Day: It was Meme Day at OHS during Spirit Week. Brenda and Jessy from the counseling office joined in the fun.
Crepes Anyone? Students in Ms. Bowers' Culinary I class at LPHS learned how to make crepes.
Practical Math Lesson: Students in Mr. Lewis' Math 1B class at LPHS are working on an Argument Driven Inquiry lesson, which is focused on exploring multiple levels of thinking and calculating volume as it relates to the cost of renting a moving truck and storage space.
New Outdoor Education Class at PHS: Students in Mr. Lund's Outdoor Education class at PHS went on a field trip to the Forebay. They learned about water safety for paddle boarding and kayaking.
Team Building Activity: Students in Mrs. Bruce's Math 1B class at LPHS worked on a team building activity of making 3D shapes with string.
Checking in with the T-Bird Fans: Dr. Collins visited with students in the stands during a recent football game.
Vaccine Mandate Information
Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a student vaccination mandate which would require COVID-19 vaccinations for both public and private California students and staff once the vaccine is fully authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for each respective age group. This sudden announcement has generated many questions, some which we can answer now, and some which we can answer when more information becomes available.
When does the mandate go into effect? According to the Governor’s announcement, the mandate could take effect July 1, 2022 for students in grades 9-12, as well as staff, for the 2022–23 school year. Should the COVID vaccine receive full FDA approval for youth ages 12–15 before January, then it is possible that this requirement will go into effect in January 2022.
Who is involved in the decision-making process? We realize there are many in our community who are very concerned about this development and others that support the decision. As a district, we are obligated to implement and follow state Health and Safety Code requirements, laws and regulations, and the vaccination requirement, which falls under sections 120325 - 120380 of the California Health and Safety Code. Our school board, district administrators, principals, teachers and staff are not involved in this process or decision-making. The California Department of Public Health will initiate the rulemaking process and write regulations which will address details surrounding the requirements such as the process and scope of medical and personal exemptions. Public comments to the California Department of Public Health will be established in Sacramento. If you have opinions that you would like to share about this new regulation and/or provide input on the rulemaking process associated with this new mandate, please direct those to the California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/contact_us.aspx
Please do not submit exemption requests to schools or the district at this time. We will follow up with additional information regarding exemptions once more information is available from the CDPH.
Due to the likely implementation date, we have time to understand the announcement and the eventual guidance. We will share further information with you as details emerge, and we are currently developing a frequently asked questions page about vaccinations on the COVID-19 page on our website. We will continue to keep you apprised of the latest developments as we receive more information from the California Department of Public Health.
Boys & Girls Club Offering Free Annual Membership During the Month of October
The Boys & Girls Club of the North Valley is offering free ANNUAL memberships for students if their packet is turned in during the month of October. Transportation is provided from the middle schools and they offer fun activities, including sports and group games, daily snack and supper, social emotional learning and tutoring.
Recent & Upcoming Tik Tok Challenges
We want to express gratitude to families for talking with their students about last month’s “Devious Licks” Tik Tok Challenge. As a result of that challenge, we have had to close bathrooms, have spent over $4000 to replace or repair damaged or stolen items, as well as numerous hours of time for our maintenance department.
We want to alert you to a new set of Tik Tok challenges that are being publicized, and are greatly more disturbing than the previous one. These involve battery, sexual assault and other physical harm to and violation of students and teachers. We would like to ask you to again partner with us in informing your student about the incredibly serious nature of and consequences of participating in these challenges. For example, a “slap your teacher on the backside” challenge is considered battery, per the Education Code, and a student participating in this will be suspended, recommended for expulsion and referred to law enforcement. Other challenges involve grabbing an individual's body parts--including sexual organs--kissing or otherwise touching someone without their consent, making sexual advances, and more, and each of these are considered sexual assault. Sexual assault carries more serious consequences than battery, including criminal prosecution.
Our schools intentionally plan fun activities, spirit days and more in order to make our schools fun places for students to learn and to socialize. Our PBIS awards system rewards students for making safe, responsible and respectful choices. We know that students need these fun activities just as much as they need to learn, and these Tik Tok challenges may appeal to the risk-taking rush and reward that some students are seeking, but they are also mean-spirited and dangerous.
We were hoping that these Tik Tok challenges would come to an end, and hopefully, the alert about these upcoming challenges is just rumor and these will not come to fruition. However, we need to err on the side of caution and alert families and our staff when there is a situation that could put our students at risk, and we also know that our families play an important role in helping to reinforce appropriate behaviors and choices at school. We thank you for talking with your student about refraining from participating in these challenges and the consequences if they do.
Athletics Round Up
Our schools’ athletic schedules can be found on their websites. Schedules are subject to change due to air quality and/or COVID-19 quarantines:
Join the OUHSD Family!
Looking to find a fulfilling and meaningful job, or do you know someone who is?
We are actively hiring in a variety of positions that we want you to join. We seek individuals who reflect our student diversity, have a passion for excellence, a vision to inspire and positively impact others in their learning, and a love of community to see students grow as learners and citizens. Start your journey in joining the OUHSD community by applying for a position today.
In addition to offering competitive pay, the OUHSD also pays full health benefits for people working 6 hours/day.
Substitute Teachers
School Psychologist
English Teacher
Custodian (8.0 hrs./day (x2))
CTE Graphic Design/Engineering Teacher
Food Services Administrative Secretary (3.9 hrs./day)
Transportation Department Lead
Bus Driver Trainer (6 hrs./day)/Bus Driver (2.0 hrs./day)
Para-Educator I at Independent Study (7.0 hrs./day (x2)
Para-Educator I at PHS (8.0 hrs./day)
Para-Educator I at LPHS (8.0 hrs./day (x2))
Para-Educator II at LPHS (8.0 hrs./day)
ATC Para-Educator (6.0 hrs./day (x4))
Bus Driver (6/0 hrs./day)
Courier (6.0 hrs./day)
For more information and to apply go to: https://www.edjoin.org/ouhsd (Please check EdJoin regularly as new postings will be added as positions become available). If you have specific questions please contact Chello Metcalf at cmetcalf@ouhsd.net or (530) 538-2300, extension 1117.
About OUHSD
Oroville Union High School District prepares approximately 2,400 9-12 grade students for their futures through our two comprehensive high schools, continuation high school, community day school, and adult school in the greater Oroville community.
Our district is a close-knit community where every student and employee knows and cares for each other in a safe, nurturing and supportive environment. Through using upgraded technology, providing equitable educational opportunities for every student, and supporting academic and career technical educational options, we have a passion to ensure that each student will have a goal and be college- and career-ready, so that they are prepared for the workplace and an economically competitive society.
Email: pblaney@ouhsd.net
Website: www.ouhsd.org
Location: 2211 Washington Avenue Oroville, CA 95966
Phone: (530) 538-2300
Facebook: facebook.com/Oroville-Union-High-School-District-972885232749005/
Twitter: @OUHSDSUPT