UPCOMING DATES

• 2/7- 3/6 Read-a-Thon "Reading Takes You Places"
• 2/8 7 pm Special Education Parent Council Meeting (virtual) (PSD)
• 2/9 7 pm Board of Trustees Meeting (PSD)
• 2/14 Valentines Day 
• 2/21-25 NO SCOOL- Ski Week (PSD)
• 2/28 - NO SCHOOL Students (Staff Development for PSD)

*Reminder- all Wednesdays are Minimum days (1:35 pick up). Fridays are Spirit Days (Wear your Ortega Otter t-shirts)! 

Hello Otters,

The big news in this week's Otter Town News is Read-A-Thon! Reading Takes You Places is the theme of this February 7 - March 6 school wide fundraiser and competition.  That's right! It starts this Monday! The Read-A-Thon committee set up prizes that can be earned by individual students, classrooms, or the whole school.  Requesting donations from friends, family, neighbors and co-works is easy to do this year through the use of the 99Pledges website.  Visit our Read-A-Thon webpage to learn more. 

I'm making one more push for volunteers to be solicitors and class project leads for Ortega's 2022 Basket Auction & Raffle.  There are 7 classes that do not have class project leads! If your child is in one of those classrooms, please consider volunteering.  Donations can also still be submitted. Read below for additional details. 

Your Otter Town News this week:

Ortega’s Read-A-Thon is back! This is a chance to foster a love of reading in students while raising funds to support Ortega.

Students will have 4 weeks to read and log their reading time. Pledges are due by March 11 in order to qualify for prizes.  

All donations will be collected through 99pledges. To get started, click on the 99pledges link below and search for your child's online pledge page. 

Your child's pledge page can be shared on social media, through email, or by text.   

Find detailed information about Ortega's Read-A-Thon, including minimum reading times, links to reading logs, timelines, and prizes, by visiting our website. 

It's Auction Time! Mark your calendar and plan to attend Ortega’s Annual Basket Auction & Raffle to be held at Ortega Elementary during our Open House on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

This year, our goal is to raise $30,000 to help fund garden science, art, physical education, and technology at Ortega Elementary! Reaching this goal depends on the generosity of families, friends, and community members. Please consider making a donation to this year's silent basket auction. Past donations have included:  

Solicitor and Class Project Lead Information

In order to have a successful auction, our fundraising coordinators are asking for each class to have at least 2-3 volunteers to help solicit businesses and 1 volunteer to organize their class project. Please note, some projects (especially at the kinder/TK levels) are already decided. You can check with your teacher to coordinate.

Please consider signing up to be a solicitor for your class OR be a class project lead and organize your class project to be on display and auctioned off at our Annual Auction.

For Solicitors: By having 2-3 volunteers per class each solicitor will only need to solicit 5 businesses. Volunteers will be contacted with business information and directions.

Solicitor link: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054CA5A92BA7FA7-ortega5

For Class Project Leads: Class projects have become a tradition at our school's auction. Parents who sign up to be in charge of their class projects will also be contacted with details and information.

Class Project Lead volunteer link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054CA5A92BA7FA7-ortega4 

Many hands make light work! Please consider being a volunteer for your classroom!  If you would like to help in other ways, please be on the lookout for future signups.

Thank you for supporting Ortega! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email at auction.coordinator@ortegapto.org 

Fundraising Spotlight: Box Tops For Education

No more clipping. No more sending Box Tops to school.

All you need is your phone!

Good evening Ortega Community,

I hope this email finds you healthy and well. Please read below for some updates:

Positive Pools

While COVID cases are finally starting to ease up this week, Ortega’s weekly round of pool testing on Wednesday did identify a class with a positive pool. We worked with Concentric this morning to rapid test the class with a positive pool and were able to identify positive cases. If you have a student in this class, you will receive further information from John Bartfield, Director of Student Services, regarding timelines and future testing. Feel free to call our Main Office at 650-738-6670 with any questions.

Volunteers

As Ortega continues to welcome volunteers back in a limited capacity, we ask that all interested in volunteering please stop by the Main Office to submit proof of vaccination and booster during the month of February. If you previously have provided proof of vaccination, please provide us updated information with proof of booster. We appreciate your support in keeping our school healthy and safe!

Safe Together at School

PSD recently updated our SAFE TOGETHER AT SCHOOL protocols to reflect changes recently made by CDPH, the most significant being the isolation period changing from 10 days to 5 days. This is a document with updated safety guidelines for quick reference. 

PSD Safe Together at School

Please contact our main office at 650-738-6670 should you have any questions.

Free At-Home COVID Tests

Have you ordered yours yet? Order HERE

Have a pleasant weekend and stay healthy,

Mr. Jackson

Ortega PTO's Guide to Masks  

Correct mask wearing is one of the best ways that Ortega families can protect our children from contracting or spreading Covid-19.  The CDC’s latest guidance (released on September 23, 2021) on Types of Masks and Respirators included a section on considerations for children.

The key take away from the CDC’s guidance is that the mask should fit and be worn properly no matter the material.  If a cloth mask is chosen, the thickness and type of the material should be considered (i.e. no see through material and no gaps). 

If you suspect that your child’s cloth mask is too thin or ill-fitting, Ortega school will supply students with a well-fitting disposable mask upon request.

Masks are available from all teachers or the Ortega Office. 

For extra protection use a disposable mask under a cloth mask (info below).

The CDC states: “Choose a well-fitting and comfortable mask or respirator that your child can wear properly. A poorly fitting or uncomfortable mask or respirator might be worn incorrectly or removed often, which would reduce its intended benefits. Choose a size that fits over the child’s nose and under the chin but does not impair vision.

Cloth Masks: Cloth Masks can be made from a variety of fabrics and many types of cloth masks are available.
 

Wear cloth masks with:

• A proper fit over your nose and mouth to prevent leaks\Multiple layers of tightly woven, breathable fabric

• Nose wire

• Fabric that blocks light when held up to bright light source

Do NOT wear cloth masks with:

• Gaps around the sides of the face or nose

• Exhalation valves, vents, or other openings (see example)

• Single-layer fabric or those made of thin fabric that don’t block light

Disposable Masks: Disposable face masks are widely available. They are sometimes referred to as surgical masks or medical procedure masks.

Wear disposable masks with:

• A proper fit over your nose and mouth to prevent leaks

• Multiple layers of non-woven material

• Nose wire
   

Do NOT wear disposable masks with:

• Gaps around the sides of the face or nose (see example)

• Wet or dirty material

**Ways to have better fit and extra protection with cloth and disposable masks**

• Wear two masks (disposable mask underneath AND cloth mask on top)

• Combine either a cloth mask or disposable mask with a fitter or brace

• Knot and tuck ear loops of a 3-ply mask where they join the edge of the mask

  • For disposable masks, fold and tuck the unneeded material under the edges. (For instructions, see the following https://youtu.be/GzTAZDsNBe0external icon)

• Use masks that attach behind the neck and head with either elastic bands or ties (instead of ear loops)."

Source: Center for Disease Control “Types of Masks and Respirators”

Thank you for keeping our community safe!

As Ortega continues to welcome volunteers back in a limited capacity, we ask that all interested in volunteering please stop by the Main Office to submit proof of vaccination and booster during the month of February. If you previously have provided proof of vaccination, please provide us updated information with proof of booster. We appreciate your support in keeping our school healthy and safe!

-Principal Jackson

On-Campus After School Activities

Ortega's Winter 2022 On Campus After School Activities will be updated when additional programs are finalized.  The current activities include: 

• Kassirer Sports Tennis and Basketball
• Live The Dash Run Club 
• Spindrift School of the Performing Arts- Hip Hop
• Junior Chefs

Ortega Spirit Wear

Spirit Fridays are BACK! 

Dear Families,

Board Meeting on Wednesday

We have a board meeting this week with a number of important topics.  We will have a presentation on our mid-year update to our Annual LCAP as well as approval of the school safety plans.  There will be Board discussions on Summer School and communication.  Information will be provided on a potential project with the City of Pacifica and an update from our Working Group on Priorities and Funding.  The meeting will be held virtually- You can watch on Zoom or on Pacific Coast Television.  Access to the Board Agenda as well as the link to the meeting can be found on our website (pacificasd.org). 

Covid-19 Update

We are seeing a decrease in the number of student and staff positive cases of COVID-19.  This week we had 8 positive pools and 17 positive cases.   Pacifica School District Covid-19 Dashboard 

Staying Safe as Our COVID Cases Decrease

It is important that we continue to follow mitigation measures even as our numbers decrease.  On February 15th, California will reconsider the indoor mask mandate for the general public.  This is not likely to be applicable to school settings.  In California, masking in schools is determined by the California Department of Public Health.  Eventually, face coverings in schools will not be required.  For now, masking indoors in schools is required by CDPH.  Pacifica School District continues to recommend masks outdoors for students and adults in crowded settings as our numbers decline through the month of February.  

COVID Testing

Having the structure in place for testing following a positive case has been instrumental in limiting the transmission of COVID at school. Thank you to our families and staff for their amazing support at our schools.  Request for Consent for Covid-19 Testing 

Warm Regards,
Heather Olsen

Superintendent of Pacifica School District

Upcoming Events

February 9 @ 7 pm Board of Trustees Meeting

February 21-25 President’s Week- No School

IBL postponed Open House from March 24 to May 12th.

PSD School Calendar for 2022-2023

Pacifica School District Menus

Pacifica School District students are entitled to a free lunch breakfast and a free lunch during the 2021-2022 school year.  The Pacifica School District is asking that all families, regardless of earnings, fill out the Alternative Income Form found by clicking this link. 

Pacifica Education Foundation

PEF raises community- sourced funding that fuels programs to bridge the PSD budget gaps.  This year, PEF is adapting to the times by tripling the science & technology budget and helping raise funds to purchase chromebooks.  

THANK YOU for continuing to strengthen our community’s families by being a PEF member. We hope you value accessing our exclusive discounts while helping our local businesses remain in our community!

Pacifica United is excited to kick off our new InterLeague Rec Program for the upcoming Spring 2022 season for our U8 players (players born year 2015-2017). Players will get a chance to work with our Pacifica United professional soccer coaches along with parent volunteers as they learn the basic fundamentals of soccer. This is a great introduction to the world of Club soccer and we know it will be an enjoyable development experience for these youth players. 

The season will begin the 1st week of March 2022, with games beginning March 25th. Practice and Games will be held at Oceans High School Upper soccer fields. Teams will be co-Ed and practice 1 day a week (Wednesday) with 1 game per weekend (Saturday) for 12 weeks. **We will NOT host games on April 9, 16, 23 due to Spring Breaks. We will host an inter-league tournament at the end of the season. 

Registration Fee: $130 (includes a player t-shirt)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pacifica-united-sc-kids-academy-tickets-240362248957

For additional questions, please reach out to Nick Donati at Nick@pacificaunited.org or Tracey Macchi tracey@pacificaunited.org.