Welcome back and Happy New Year! I hope your winter break was filled with joy, rest, and meaningful time with loved ones. There is something truly special about the energy of a "fresh start," and seeing our students return today reminds me why we do what we do.
As we step into 2026, our focus remains on fostering a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child feels seen and supported. The second half of the school year is often where we see the most significant growth—both academically and socially—and I am so excited to witness what our students will achieve in the coming months.
Thank you for your continued partnership. We are honored to work alongside you to help your children thrive.
Warmly,
Mrs. Zeballos
Updates/Reminders:
🐝 2026 Orchard School Spelling Bee
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Time: 1:00 pm Location: MPR
We are so proud of all our students who participated in the first round of the spelling bee and those who have now made it to the Orchard School Spelling Bee! It takes a great deal of courage and dedication to stand on stage, and we can’t wait to cheer them on!
Information for Participants
Arrival: Students should report to the MPR on time to receive their number and take their seats.
What to Bring: A water bottle is encouraged, but please leave all notebooks and study materials with teachers before the competition begins.
Information for Families & Spectators
Attendance: Parents are welcome to attend!
Conduct: To help our spellers focus, we ask that all guests silence their phones and remain seated until the end of each round.
Parent/teacher Conferences:
Parent-Teacher Conferences are right around the corner! This is a great time to check in on mid-year progress and prepare for a successful spring term.
Our Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on:
Tuesday, January 20
Wednesday, January 21
Important Schedule Note: To accommodate these meetings, there will be an Early Dismissal (Wednesday Schedule) for all students on both conference days. Please ensure your child’s transportation/after-school plans are updated accordingly.
Folklorico Dance Program:
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Baile Folklorico program for the 2026 spring season! This program is a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore the rich history, vibrant music, and beautiful traditions of Mexican folk dance.
Whether your child is an experienced dancer or looking to try something new, we invite you to learn more at our Folklorico Information Night:
Date:Thursday, Jan 15th
Time: 2:45pm
Location: Room 40
Starting Arts Theatre Program:
We are thrilled to announce that we are once again partnering with Starting Arts to bring more music, dance, and theater to our students this spring! We believe that the arts are essential for building confidence, collaboration, and creativity.
To learn more about the upcoming program, registration, and how your child can get involved, please join us for a brief informational meeting:
When: Tuesday, January 13th @ 2:45pm and Tuesday, January 20th @ 12:45pm
Where: Room 25
Bruin Bucks and store:
🐾 Bruin Buck Store Update Our next shopping day is 1/30! Our Bruins have been doing an amazing job showing P (prepared), A (attentive), W (working together), and S (safe) around campus. Keep up the great work, students!
Community Schools Update:
Happy New Year! Our next Second Harvest food distribution will take place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 2:00-4:00 PM in the District Office Parking Lot. Families are encouraged to bring a cart or wagon to help carry groceries.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our Community Schools Lead for more information:
Ms. Saeteurn
msaeteurn@orchardsd.org
(408) 944-0388 x508
We look forward to seeing you there!
Tuesday, January 13th @ 2:45pm in room 25
Tuesday, January 20th @ 2:45pm in room 25
Holiday cheer is in the air!
This is a friendly reminder that today is an early release day, with dismissal at 12:35 PM.
We will then be closed for Winter Break from December 22nd through January 2nd, returning on January 5th.
We hope you enjoy a wonderful, restful break filled with joy, laughter, and special moments with loved ones. We look forward to seeing everyone in the new year!
Warm holiday wishes,
Mrs. Zeballos
December 8, 2025
Dear Orchard Families,
As we approach the end of the calendar year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your continued partnership and support. December is a month filled with learning, celebration, and reflection, and we are excited to share what’s happening across our school community.
We are incredibly grateful for your partnership, generosity, and spirit throughout the year. Our school shines brighter because of each of you. May your holidays be filled with peace, joy, and laughter, and may the new year bring wonderful opportunities for all.
Wishing you a festive and magical December!
Warmest regards,
Mrs. Zeballos
Updates/Reminders:
This month, students are engaging in fun and meaningful learning activities—from winter-themed stories and science experiments to art projects that brighten our hallways. Students are showing wonderful growth, curiosity, and creativity as we approach the midyear mark.
Winter Break reminder:
School will be closed from December 22- January 2 for Winter Break. We hope all of our families enjoy a restful, joyful holiday season. This is a wonderful time for students to recharge and return ready for a strong start in January.
With chilly days ahead here are some reminders:
-Bundle up! Please send students with coats, hats, and/or gloves.
-Label all winter items to help us return them quickly.
-If your family needs support with winter clothing, reach out—our community resources are here to help.
Keep the learning spark glowing during the holiday season:
-Read a favorite holiday or winter story together each night.
-Practice math by baking, measuring, or playing board games.
-Encourage journaling—students love writing about traditions, wishes, and winter fun!
*Please see Important Events and Sports Schedule on the attachment.
Check out the November Parent Newsletter!
School Site Council:
A school that operates a categorical program funded through the consolidated application (ConApp) is required to establish a school site council (SSC) if such program requires a School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) (California Education Code [EC] Section 65000[b]).
The SSC is required to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment, including an analysis of verifiable state and local data, provide recommendations related to the school’s Title I program, and participate in the development and approval of the school’s SPSA. The SPSA is a strategic plan that outlines specific and measurable goals at the school site with the intention of increasing student achievement. The SPSA should align with the local educational agency’s (LEA’s) Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) process as they both help support continuous cycles of action, reflection, and improvement.
In developing our School Site Council Team, we do need to elect our committee. Up to five (5) parents may we elected.
Please complete no later than Friday, November 7.
Hi Families!
Happy Halloween! Please see our flyer for information regarding Halloween Day at Orchard.
Halloween Parade: 8:30am on the Blacktop
Reminder: Oct. 31st is a minimum day (early release) for all students.
*Parents you may enter campus for the parade, but will need to sign in at the front office if you are staying to volunteer after the parade is over.
Dear Families,
As the weather begins to change, we want to remind everyone of the importance of safety during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Please take extra care to drive slowly, stay alert, and follow all posted signs and directions from staff. Our goal is to ensure that every student arrives and leaves campus safely each day.
We also want to share that we recently learned about the addition of a new bike lane near our school when it was installed last week. While we appreciate this added safety measure for students who bike to school, we understand it has changed traffic flow and impacted some drop-off routines.
Beginning on November 3rd, we will be opening the back gate near the playground as an entry point for our campus (Silk Wood Lane). We will be placing a staff member in that area to ensure the safety of our students entering campus.
We are actively working to maintain a safe and efficient process for everyone. Staff members are on-site each morning and afternoon to help guide traffic, support students, and ensure safety for all. We appreciate your continued patience, cooperation, and commitment to keeping our school community safe.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership.
Jeff Bowman, Ed.D, Superintendent Kristina Zeballos, Principal
Orchard School District Orchard School District
For more information and resources, you can visit:
Santa Clara County Office of Education - Click HERE
Family Preparedness Plan - (English) Click HERE
Plan de Preparación Familiar - ( Español) Click HERE
Our staff is here to support you and your family. Please contact the following staff members if you have any questions or need any guidance.
Dr. Jeff Bowman, Ed.D (Superintendent) 408-944-0397 jbowman@orchardsd.org
Mrs. Kristina Zeballos (Principal, Español) 408-944-0388 kzeballos@orchardsd.org
Mrs. Jasmin Sylvester (Assistant Principal, Español) 408-944-0388 jsylvester@orchardsd.org
Mrs. Julia Carrasco (School Counselor, Español) 408-944-0388 jcarrasco@orchardsd.org
Ms. Cassie Nelson (School Counselor) 408-944-0388 cnelson@orchardsd.org
🚶♀️🚴♂️ Join Us for International Walk to School Day!
📅 Tuesday, October 21st | 🕢 7:30–8:15 AM
Get your walking shoes (or bike helmets!) ready — Orchard is celebrating International Walk to School Day!
Earlier this week, our students enjoyed a visit from the San Jose Department of Transportation, who shared important reminders about traffic and bike safety.
🚸 Traffic Safety Tips
1. Always look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
2. Always stop at STOP signs and red lights.
3. Exit the car from the door closest to the sidewalk.
🚴 Bike Safety Tips
• Always wear a helmet when riding your bike.
• See and Be Seen
• Check your equipment.
Dear Orchard Community,
On Friday, September 15th, Orchard School District, with the Board of Education, received approval from the Santa Clara County Office of Education regarding the 2025-26 Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the 2025-26 Adopted Budget. These approved plans are necessary steps as Orchard has been able to navigate legislative changes, a decline in enrollment, an increase in special education costs, and a lower property tax increase, which directly impacts our funding.
For the approval, the Orchard had to refine expenditures, including reductions in accordance with the decrease in enrollment. We take our fiscal responsibility and compliance with the utmost importance, and we continually strive to work within our budget.
We wanted to share with the community some areas of our focus to continue to meet the needs of our community.
Orchard will continue to
monitor local property taxes
monitor Federal and State funding
monitor our attendance and attendance percentages
utilize grants and other funding options
We will continue to update you as new information is released, and we will share another formal update in December during our First Interim Budget Review. Our team is always available for questions, and please feel free to contact us:
Jeff Bowman, Ed.D, Superintendent, Orchard School District
Luis Gonzales, Chief Business Office, Orchard School District
With gratitude
Jeff Bowman, Ed.D
Superintendent
Orchard School District
Afterschool Program-Not affiliated with Orchard
