Hi Bruin Families,
We are always looking for ways to make our extracurricular activities even more exciting and rewarding for your students. To help us do that, we’ve put together a super quick survey. Your feedback will directly shape the activities we offer next term.
Please submit your responses by June 8th. Thank you so much for your time and for helping us create the best possible experience for our students!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevFNhpPY2AC8Hp0UxzsLXeWcH7uEpVQTqMRLhdPti6JRPpvg/viewform?usp=dialog
We are always looking for ways to make our extracurricular activities even more exciting and rewarding for your students. To help us do that, we’ve put together a super quick survey. Your feedback will directly shape the activities we offer next term.
Please submit your responses by June 8th. Thank you so much for your time and for helping us create the best possible experience for our students!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevFNhpPY2AC8Hp0UxzsLXeWcH7uEpVQTqMRLhdPti6JRPpvg/viewform?usp=dialog
End-of-Year Message from the Principal
The last day of school is Thursday, June 4, and it will be a minimum day.
Please note that Wednesday, June 3, will also be a minimum day. We wish all of our students and families a safe and enjoyable summer break!
Safety and Community Update
Dear Orchard Families,
At Orchard School, we are committed to maintaining a safe, transparent, and supportive environment for all of our students. With that commitment in mind, I want to share a brief and important update regarding an isolated incident that occurred on campus today.
One of our primary students experienced a severe emotional and behavioral crisis today, becoming highly dysregulated. Out of an abundance of caution, our staff immediately implemented safety protocols to ensure the well-being of the student, as well as the nearby classes.
The situation moved briefly to an outdoor area near the bike racks. Our Superintendent and Assistant Principal, who are both fully trained in specialized crisis de-escalation, immediately intervened. Working together, they were able to safely redirect the student and bring the situation to a peaceful resolution.
What You Need to Know:
All Students Are Safe: At no point was there an external threat to the school, nor was the wider student body in any danger.
Privacy & Compassion: To respect the privacy of the child and family involved, we cannot share further specific details. We appreciate your partnership in refraining from speculation.
Business as Usual: School routines resumed promptly following the incident.
We are incredibly proud of our staff's swift response and the expertise of our leadership team in handling this matter with both safety and empathy at the forefront. Thank you for your continued trust and support of our school community.
Sincerely,
Orchard School
Dear Orchard Families,
At Orchard School, we are committed to maintaining a safe, transparent, and supportive environment for all of our students. With that commitment in mind, I want to share a brief and important update regarding an isolated incident that occurred on campus today.
One of our primary students experienced a severe emotional and behavioral crisis today, becoming highly dysregulated. Out of an abundance of caution, our staff immediately implemented safety protocols to ensure the well-being of the student, as well as the nearby classes.
The situation moved briefly to an outdoor area near the bike racks. Our Superintendent and Assistant Principal, who are both fully trained in specialized crisis de-escalation, immediately intervened. Working together, they were able to safely redirect the student and bring the situation to a peaceful resolution.
What You Need to Know:
All Students Are Safe: At no point was there an external threat to the school, nor was the wider student body in any danger.
Privacy & Compassion: To respect the privacy of the child and family involved, we cannot share further specific details. We appreciate your partnership in refraining from speculation.
Business as Usual: School routines resumed promptly following the incident.
We are incredibly proud of our staff's swift response and the expertise of our leadership team in handling this matter with both safety and empathy at the forefront. Thank you for your continued trust and support of our school community.
Sincerely,
Orchard School
Please see the attached flyer for important information regarding our class promotion ceremony, including the date, time, location, and event expectations. We look forward to celebrating our students’ achievements with family and friends!
RAFT Summer Camp still has openings available! This is a great opportunity for students to stay engaged, learn new skills, and enjoy fun hands-on activities during the summer. Spaces are limited, so please register soon if you are interested. See the flyer for more information and registration details.
May Newsletter
May 8, 2026
Dear Orchard Families,
Welcome to a very busy and exciting May! This month is a true celebration of our students’ diverse talents and growth, starting with our vibrant Starting Arts performances and our campus-wide Arts Extravaganza. Beyond the arts, we are focused on preparing our students for the future through Middle School Career Day and prioritizing their well-being with essential Water Safety presentations. We also look forward to celebrating our students' hard work at the Tiki Dance and, most importantly, honoring our transitioning classes during our upcoming Promotion Ceremonies. Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate this action-packed "home stretch" and celebrate these major milestones together!
Warmly,
Mrs. Zeballos
Orchard School Principal
Updates/Reminders:
CAASPP Testing:
It is that time of year! Our students have been working hard all year, and it is finally time for them to showcase what they’ve learned. The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) testing window is officially here.
These assessments help us understand how our students are growing and where we can provide more support. Our goal is to make this experience as positive and stress-free as possible!
📅 SAVE THE DATES
Our school’s specific testing window will take place from May 11th to May 15th.
Grades 3–8 & 11: Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and Math.
Grades 5th & 8th: California Science Test (CAST).
WAYS TO HELP YOUR STUDENT:
You don’t need to be a math or English expert to help your child do well! The best support comes from a prepared home environment.
Rest & Recharge: Ensure your child gets a full night’s sleep. A rested brain is a focused brain!
Brain Power Breakfast: A healthy breakfast with protein (eggs, yogurt, or nuts) helps maintain energy levels throughout the morning.
The "Fully Charged" Rule: If your student uses a school-issued device, please ensure it is plugged in and 100% charged every night.
Punctuality: Please ensure students arrive at school on time. Testing sessions often begin immediately after the bell, and late arrivals may have to wait for make-up sessions.
May 8, 2026
Dear Orchard Families,
Welcome to a very busy and exciting May! This month is a true celebration of our students’ diverse talents and growth, starting with our vibrant Starting Arts performances and our campus-wide Arts Extravaganza. Beyond the arts, we are focused on preparing our students for the future through Middle School Career Day and prioritizing their well-being with essential Water Safety presentations. We also look forward to celebrating our students' hard work at the Tiki Dance and, most importantly, honoring our transitioning classes during our upcoming Promotion Ceremonies. Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate this action-packed "home stretch" and celebrate these major milestones together!
Warmly,
Mrs. Zeballos
Orchard School Principal
Updates/Reminders:
CAASPP Testing:
It is that time of year! Our students have been working hard all year, and it is finally time for them to showcase what they’ve learned. The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) testing window is officially here.
These assessments help us understand how our students are growing and where we can provide more support. Our goal is to make this experience as positive and stress-free as possible!
📅 SAVE THE DATES
Our school’s specific testing window will take place from May 11th to May 15th.
Grades 3–8 & 11: Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and Math.
Grades 5th & 8th: California Science Test (CAST).
WAYS TO HELP YOUR STUDENT:
You don’t need to be a math or English expert to help your child do well! The best support comes from a prepared home environment.
Rest & Recharge: Ensure your child gets a full night’s sleep. A rested brain is a focused brain!
Brain Power Breakfast: A healthy breakfast with protein (eggs, yogurt, or nuts) helps maintain energy levels throughout the morning.
The "Fully Charged" Rule: If your student uses a school-issued device, please ensure it is plugged in and 100% charged every night.
Punctuality: Please ensure students arrive at school on time. Testing sessions often begin immediately after the bell, and late arrivals may have to wait for make-up sessions.
San José Public Library (SJPL) looks forward to connecting with schools, youth and families citywide to promote and encourage participation in our annual Summer Learning program, running from June 1 to July 31, with pre-registration soon under way May 1-31. Kick off another summer with a cool program to encourage reading, learning, literacy and just having fun!
Hi Orchard Families!
Please take a moment to check out our April 2026 Community Schools Newsletter highlighting all the amazing things happening through our Community Schools Program.
If you have not done so already, please provide your feedback on our Community Schools Survey to help us plan for next school year. Your voice is important to us!
English Survey: https://forms.gle/L6SmjQAUa9xnSB8S7
Spanish Survey: https://forms.gle/TWvqnbn4d2DTVFk47
Vietnamese Survey: https://forms.gle/gz1k8cMYLM8h7ge67
Thank you for your continuous support. We hope to see you all at our Orchard Carnival tomorrow from 3:30 - 5:30 PM for a fun community event with games, food, and fun!
Please take a moment to check out our April 2026 Community Schools Newsletter highlighting all the amazing things happening through our Community Schools Program.
If you have not done so already, please provide your feedback on our Community Schools Survey to help us plan for next school year. Your voice is important to us!
English Survey: https://forms.gle/L6SmjQAUa9xnSB8S7
Spanish Survey: https://forms.gle/TWvqnbn4d2DTVFk47
Vietnamese Survey: https://forms.gle/gz1k8cMYLM8h7ge67
Thank you for your continuous support. We hope to see you all at our Orchard Carnival tomorrow from 3:30 - 5:30 PM for a fun community event with games, food, and fun!
Hi Orchard Families
Starting Arts Presents Alice in Wonderland performed by Orchard School Students! Please see the attached flyer if you're interested!
Starting Arts Presents Alice in Wonderland performed by Orchard School Students! Please see the attached flyer if you're interested!
Dear Parent/Guardian:
There are many ways to measure your child’s learning. Your child’s teacher uses report card grades, classroom work, teacher observations, and end-of-year statewide test results to get a complete picture of your child’s learning. Each year, students participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Your child will take the following tests, depending on their grade level or instructional program:
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math, required tests in grades 3rd–8th
California Science Test (CAST), a required assessment in grades 5th and 8th
Physical Fitness Test (PFT), a required assessment in grades 5th and 7th
There are many ways to measure your child’s learning. Your child’s teacher uses report card grades, classroom work, teacher observations, and end-of-year statewide test results to get a complete picture of your child’s learning. Each year, students participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Your child will take the following tests, depending on their grade level or instructional program:
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math, required tests in grades 3rd–8th
California Science Test (CAST), a required assessment in grades 5th and 8th
Physical Fitness Test (PFT), a required assessment in grades 5th and 7th
You are invited to: Come visit your child’s classroom and see what they have been learning on April 16 at 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm.
Who: Middle School Families
When: April 16th
Where: The Event Center
Time: 5:30pm
Join Ms. Hanna, the principal of Independence High School, for a short presentation during our Open House to help our middle school students prepare for their transition to high school. She will also include time for a Q&A session.
When: April 16th
Where: The Event Center
Time: 5:30pm
Join Ms. Hanna, the principal of Independence High School, for a short presentation during our Open House to help our middle school students prepare for their transition to high school. She will also include time for a Q&A session.
April 10, 2026
Dear Orchard Families,
I hope this message finds you well. As we move forward in the school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and partnership. Our school community thrives because of the strong connection between home and school, and we are grateful for all you do to support your children’s learning and growth.
This month brings many exciting events for our students and families. As Spring Break wraps up, we hope your family has enjoyed a restful and refreshing time together. We look forward to welcoming you to Open House, where you can celebrate your child’s learning and explore the great work happening in our classrooms. We’re also excited about our upcoming Bike Rodeo, which promotes safety in a fun way, along with several field trips that offer meaningful, real-world learning experiences for our students.
Be sure to read through this newsletter for important dates and additional details. We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
Warmly,
Mrs. Zeballos
Dear Orchard Families,
I hope this message finds you well. As we move forward in the school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and partnership. Our school community thrives because of the strong connection between home and school, and we are grateful for all you do to support your children’s learning and growth.
This month brings many exciting events for our students and families. As Spring Break wraps up, we hope your family has enjoyed a restful and refreshing time together. We look forward to welcoming you to Open House, where you can celebrate your child’s learning and explore the great work happening in our classrooms. We’re also excited about our upcoming Bike Rodeo, which promotes safety in a fun way, along with several field trips that offer meaningful, real-world learning experiences for our students.
Be sure to read through this newsletter for important dates and additional details. We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
Warmly,
Mrs. Zeballos
Join us for Coffee with the Principal!
Come connect, ask questions, and enjoy a cup of coffee with the principal.
April 16th in the Library @ 8:15 AM
We look forward to seeing you there!
Come connect, ask questions, and enjoy a cup of coffee with the principal.
April 16th in the Library @ 8:15 AM
We look forward to seeing you there!
Spring Break April 6th- 10th.
Please check lost and found.
Bike Rodeo!
On Thursday, April 16th, we will be hosting a Bike Rodeo (4-5PM) before Orchard's Open House (5:30-6:30 PM).
During and after the event, we will have a food truck and some info tables set up for families to check out prior to Open House. The food truck will be here from 3:00 - 6:00 PM. This will be a great opportunity for students to practice what they learned in a safe environment before heading to classrooms to celebrate their hard work with their families.
On Thursday, April 16th, we will be hosting a Bike Rodeo (4-5PM) before Orchard's Open House (5:30-6:30 PM).
During and after the event, we will have a food truck and some info tables set up for families to check out prior to Open House. The food truck will be here from 3:00 - 6:00 PM. This will be a great opportunity for students to practice what they learned in a safe environment before heading to classrooms to celebrate their hard work with their families.
Orchard Carnival!
Orchard students and families are invited to join us for fun community event at our Spring Carnival, featuring games, dancing, delicious food, and so much more. We can't wait to see you there!
All Students must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian.
Orchard students and families are invited to join us for fun community event at our Spring Carnival, featuring games, dancing, delicious food, and so much more. We can't wait to see you there!
All Students must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian.
March Spirit Week information!
