Search Results

COVID-19 Info Links SVUSD SVUSD Return to School Flow Chart SVUSD Mask Guidance 2021-2022 SVUSD Reopening Plan COVID Dashboards OCHCA OCHCA Orders & Recommendations CDPH CDPH Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine CDPH Guidance for Schools K-12 CAPTA CAPTA COVID-19 Resources for PTA Leaders CAPTA COVID-19 Resources for Parents, Families & Educators Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19 FAQS Can PTA hold in-person activities? We CAN hold PTA events off campus or on campus after school hours (ex/outreach program/art club/etc), but limited on number of people that can attend (an RSVP system to confirm the number attending is highly recommended & you must work closely with your principal to ensure numbers meet SVUSD guidelines/protocols). Please work closely with your site administrator/principal on planning any events. Can we have PTA Programs on campus (art, STEAM lab, etc.)? We ARE allowed to have PROGRAMS on campus. However, the process for approval has changed. You must have site admin/principal approval first, then have it submitted to the district & reviewed by the SVUSD school board & approved in their meeting. This means things will take longer to get started. However, the purpose behind this is to keep our students safe. The board will be reviewing & ensuring that these outside programs are following the same SAFETY protocols as SVUSD. Are we covered by our insurance? Insurance will cover all events as long as they meet our insurance guidelines (when in doubt, call or email AIM & verify). However, per my email with AIM, “ Your policy has a pandemic exclusion. There is no coverage for covid no matter where you have the event.” Meaning no coverage will be provided for COVID related issues. It is extremely important that we are following any COVID protocols/guidelines outlined by SVUSD. Do PTA meetings have to be outside of school hours? Kids permitted? Yes, PTA meetings have to be outside of school hours if you want them to be held on campus. Outside of school hours, we CAN be on campus which is exciting. There cannot be children present at the meeting, however we PTAs can hire school site personnel during the meeting time to provide childcare in a separate room. They will adhere to all COVID protocols & safety measures for the children. One great takeaway from the past year, is that ZOOM is a great way to reach all families. Perhaps a good compromise is to have any late afternoon/evening meetings in person, while offering daytime meetings via ZOOM. I do think in person meetings have many benefits & it is important to have that connection in person at least some of the time. Will PTA volunteers be allowed on campus if approved by school administration? It is true that Visitors & Volunteers will be limited for the safety of our students. This does not mean there won’t be opportunities or needs throughout the year. Please work closely with your site administrator/principals to support these needs, while adhering to all safety protocols. Will PTA be permitted to make copies on campus? YES, volunteers can come on campus to make copies. Please have your volunteer make an appointment with the front office via email, prior to coming on campus. All Volunteers must wear masks at all times on campus. Events involving food? Does food have to be individually packaged? Can it be more buffet style? Ideally yes, food being individually packaged is preferred. However, if someone is masked/gloved & individually serving food, this is acceptable. Again, all must be approved by your site administrator/principal. During COVID-19 PTA can still... Spread positivity Advocate for our kids on many levels Keep parents informed as information gets shared with us. Please ask your school friends to join our SVPTA FB page https://www.facebook.com/SaddlebackValleyPTACouncil/ and Instagram @svptacouncil Ask parents to become PTA members & be a part of something BIGGER!!! Joining PTA gives you a voice, it connects you to resources for distance learning, mental health resources, it advocates important issues including Art, Special Education, Equity in Education & so much more!!! If your school needs a simple way for families to join virtually, use TOTEM which is CAPTA’s electronic membership platform.

Help strengthen our community & make an impact by joining one or more of our SVUSD school PTAs. Join PTA Today! Help strengthen our community & make an impact by joining one or more of our SVUSD school PTAs below. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Cielo Vista Elementary Del Cerro Elementary Del Lago Elementary De Portola Elementary Foothill Ranch Elementary Gates Elementary Glen Yermo Elementary La Madera Elementary Linda Vista Elementary Lomarena Elementary Melinda Heights Elementary Montevideo Elementary Olivewood Elementary coming soon Portola Hills Elementary Rancho Canada Elementary Robinson Elementary Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary Trabuco Elementary Trabuco Mesa Elementary Valencia Elementary Intermediate & High Schools Laguna Hills High School Los Alisos Intermediate Serrano Intermediate Trabuco Hills High School

Welcome to SVPTA's Special Education page! We support parents of children with IEPs, 504 plans, and those seeking additional help for their child. Our mission is to foster inclusion in PTA activities, school events, and classrooms, benefiting all students. Contact your child’s school PTA Special Education Liaison for resources and guidance, and join our monthly SVPTA parent meetups to connect and receive support. Find your child’s school Special Education Liaison here: 🗂️ Liaison Directory by school Join our active Facebook Group: 👍SVUSD Special Ed Parents GET CONNECTED! Mail 🗓️ Special Education Parent Calendar: Meet-ups, Trainings, and Events 🔗 Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings for SVUSD – All welcome! PROGRAMS/EVENTS Coffee 📘 IEP Parent Handbook 🔗 IEP vs. 504 Plan 🔗 Special Education Rights Manual 🔗 SVUSD Special Education Page 🔗 CAC Page - Special Ed Community Advisory Committee for SVUSD IMPORTANT RESOURCES Star SVPTA Special Education Liaison Kris S. specialed@svpta.org

Join Our Board SVPTA is looking to add a Bilingual Liaison and Diversity & Inclusion Advocate to our board. If you are interested in either of these positions, please fill out the inquiry form below. First Name Last Name Email SVPTA School(s) that your student(s) attend Which position(s) are you interested in? * Required Bilingual Liaison Diversity & Inclusion Advocate Send Thank you for your interest! SVPTA President, Michele Sparks, will be in touch will you soon.

Distance Learning Read Aloud & Listening Story Time from Space Storyline Online (Stories read by Famous Actors) [PK-5th] Common Sense Media, The 25 Best Podcasts for Kids [All Ages] E-books & Online Reading Internet Archive (Open Library) Starfall [PK-3rd] Teach Your Monster to Read (requires parent login) [PK-1st] Wonderopolis [All ages] Scholastic Learn at Home [All Ages] Writing Read-Write-Think - Parent After School Resources [K-12] Story Bird (requires parent login) Story Jumper (requires parent login) Math You Cubed Math Tasks [K-12] Robert Kaplinsky Math Lessons [K-12] 3-Act Math Lessons [K-7] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Brain Teasers [6-12] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Interactive Math Games [PK-12] Open Middle Math Problems [K-12] Science California Academy of Science Webcams (all ages) Exploratorium - Read, watch, experiment (All ages) Monterey Bay Aquarium Webcams (all ages) Mystery Science (K-5) PBS Crash Course - Science and History/Social Science (9th-12th) PBS NOVA Wonders (6th-12th) San Diego Zoo Webcams (all ages) History/Social Science PBS Learning - News Depth [4th-7th] PBS Kids - Let’s Go Luna- Travel the World [K-2] PBS Kids - World Cultures [PK-5th] PBS - Above the Noise [6th-12th] PBS Learning - Crash Course - Science and History/Social Science [9th-12th] Visual/Performing Arts Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems Sketchbook Melody Prompts (9th-12th) PBS Art School (6th-12th) PBS Spark - Short videos of artists (Various ages) PBS Sound Field - Videos on all types of music (6th-12th) PBS Classical MPR Class Notes (1st-6th) English Language Development Biblioteca Virtual Infantil BrainPop en Español Colorín Colorado CommonLit Duolingo Khan en Español Nasa Ciencias en Español Newsela en Español Tween Tribune Español Take a Virtual Field Trip Museums with Virtual Tours Virtual Museum Tours 20 Virtual Field Trips to Take With Your Kids 33 National Park Tours You Can Take From the Comfort of Your Home San Diego Zoo Yellowstone National Park tour Planet Mars 360-degree tour Monterey Bay Aquarium live animal cameras Atlanta Zoo panda cam Houston Zoo webcams Georgia Aquarium beluga whale cam Farm Tours from FarmFood360 Experience Polar Bears on the Tundra Great Wall of China Boston Children’s Museum Virtual Tour Google Museum Collections 30 Virtual Field Trips 10 Tips for Parents Set up a daily family routine, including healthy eating and sleeping habits Provide a place and time at home for homework Check on assignments, homework and projects Talk each day with your child about his/her activities Promote literacy by reading to your child and by reading yourself Limit and monitor TV watching, gaming, social media and computer time Express high expectations and standards for your child’s learning Attend parent-teacher conferences, Open House and Back-To-School events Participate in decisions that affect your child’s education Tap into community resources with visits to a library, museum, zoo or theater and encourage participation in after-school clubs, sports and art activities

SVPTA Council offers many programs to benefit our units. Please click on the individual tabs for further information. Step by Step Programs & Events Approval Process Some approvals can take up to 2 months. Please plan your events and programs with a realistic timeframe. 1 STEP 1 Check the AIM insurance guide to make sure the event or program is allowed. * Please NOTE that some items that are approved by AIM are not allowed on SVUSD school campuses - like bounce houses and petting zoos. Check with your school office manager if you have questions.* 2 STEP 2 Connect with your Principal to discuss and get approval for the event or program 3 STEP 3 Discuss at your executive board meeting and vote to recommend: event or program adding a line item to the budget, if needed any contracts to be signed ** Contracts should only be signed for events or programs taking place off campus or before or after school. All events or programs happening during school hours must be signed by SVUSD. ** 4 STEP 4 Once the event o r program h as been recommended for approval, at a general meeting vote to: approve event or program & adding a line item to the budget, if needed release funds approve any contracts to be signed ** Contracts should only be signed for events or programs taking place off campus or before or after school. All events or programs happening during school hours must be signed by SVUSD. ** STEP 5 Most events or programs now require SVUSD approval. Follow the quetions below to find out what you need to make this happen. 5 Is your event or program happening at your school? YES NO, but students will attend during school hours NO & after/before school or with adults only Go to the next question No further action is needed from SVUSD, but additional PTA insurance rules must be followed: STEP 6 Obtain a Hold Harmless Agreement and Evidence of Insurance from each vendor, concessionaire or service provider that is used. OR Choose a vendor from the CAPTA approved list of vendors . These vendors may be used without requiring any additional insurance information or the Hold Harmless agreement. STEP 7 Once approved and funds have been released at a general meeting you can sign the contract ( view the proper way to sign contracts ) and pay the vendor directly. Go to the next question When is your event or program happening? DURING SCHOOL BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL STEP 6 Work with your school office manager to get this event or program approved. They will give you details on what is needed and if your vendor has a blanket contract for the year. !! IMPORTANT !! Do NOT sign any contracts or pay the vendor directly. This all needs to be handled by the district. STEP 7 You will need to gift the payment for the event or program directly to the school district. Create a Fiduciary Agreement to be sent with a check written out to SVUSD and give them both to your office manager to send. For vendor payment, the office manager should submit an invoice to Accounts Payable in Fiscal Services after services have been rendered in order for payment to be issued to the vendor. If the vendor has any questions about payment, have them contact your office manager. STEP 8 Once your event or program has been approved at a SVUSD Board of Education meeting, your school office manager will receive a copy of the signed contract and you can schedule your event or program. View approvals from SVUSD Board of Education Meetings STEP 6 Download this AIM form . Fill in your PTAs info at the top and add Saddleback Valley Unified School District under "Additional Insured Information." Print and sign (electronic/ typed signatures not accepted) and email a scanned copy to capta @aim-companies.com . Have them email you a copy of the Certificate of Insurance with the addition. This will be good for the entire year. STEP 7 Email agreements@svusd.org to fill out a facilities request form. These vendors have already been approved BUT yo u must email agreements@svusd.org with your event info - date and time and a copy of the Certificate of Insurance from Step 6. STEP 8 Obtain a Hold Harmless Agreement from each vendor, concessionaire or service provider that is used. OR Choose a vendor from the CAPTA approved list of vendors . These vendors may be used without requiring any additional insurance information or the Hold Harmless agreement. STEP 9 Once approved and funds have been released at a general meeting you can sign the contract (view the proper way to sign contracts ) and pay the vendor directly.

Funding SVUSD Budget TBD Prop 28 Monies TBD One-Time Funding TBD Grants TBD

On February 6, 2025, the school board made the difficult decision to close San Joaquin Elementary at the end of this school year. As students prepare to move to new schools in the fall, we want to ensure they have a positive and memorable send-off. Help Us Support San Joaquin Elementary Students! On February 6, 2025, the school board made the difficult decision to close San Joaquin Elementary at the end of this school year. As students prepare to move to new schools in the fall, we want to ensure they have a positive and memorable send-off. SVPTA is raising funds to help provide a special end-of-year celebration for San Joaquin students and to purchase t-shirts from their new schools for all 220 students. These efforts will help ease their transition and give them a sense of community as they begin this next chapter. Please consider donating to show your support for these students during this time of change. Every contribution makes a difference!

Is your child struggling? When your school-age student is struggling, it can be difficult to figure out what is going on and what to do. We have gathered some resources on this site that we hope you’ll find helpful. Do you suspect that your child might have a disability or learning difference? When your child has difficulties learning or participating in school activities, he or she may have a disability. Learning differences or disabilities can emerge or be identified at any time. Issues are commonly identified around Kindergarten age, but learning disabilities are often identified much later. Red flags that your child may have a disability that impacts his or her ability to access education include (but are not limited to): difficulty reading, writing or spelling, difficulty with math, refusing to go to school, difficulty getting along with teachers or other students, difficulty following directions or paying attention in class, difficulty with transitions, or physical conditions that make it difficult for the student to learn, sit or participate in school. First Steps If you suspect that your child may have a disability or learning difference, here are some good first steps: Talk with your child’s teacher. (The teacher should also notify parents if there has been a noticeable gap in academic performance, possible learning difficulties, or problems with attendance or behavior, but if they haven’t it doesn’t mean there’s not a problem). Talk with your child’s doctor. They may refer you to appropriate specialists or suggest other interventions. Call the Selpa SOC SELPA Director, Rae Lynn Nelson (949) 580-3394 RaeLynn.Nelson@svusd.org Talk with another parent. The PTA has parent volunteers who can help with navigating the process while respecting your privacy. (Please note that we are not experts and cannot provide medical advice.) Contact Us: specialed@svpta.org Possible next steps The teacher may suggest trying some strategies in the classroom or ask that a Student Study Team (SST) evaluate your student’s academic, behavioral and social-emotional progress. The SST may propose additional strategies. If progress is still a concern the SST may recommend an assessment to determine eligibility for special education and related services. Some families may also choose to have a private assessment. Important: You as the parent can also request an SST evaluation at any time. You don’t need to wait for the teacher or school administration to propose this. You can also request that an assessment for eligibility for special education be done at any time. The assessment process does not have to be initiated by the school. How to request an assessment.- https://youtu.be/GoBSv0FdPYo Learning More To effectively advocate for your child you need to learn about your child’s needs. It is also important to learn about the process and your rights as a parent. There many good resources, testimonials and simulations online like Understood , AutismSpeaks , Disabilityrightsca.org , Undivided and many others. You can also read the SELPA Parent Handbook . Don’t despair! The right intervention or support can be different for every child and can take time and patience to identify. SVPTA Special Education Liaison Kris S. specialed@svpta.or g

SVUSD School Board Trustee Candidate Forum This is a recording of the livestream of the 2024 SVUSD School Board Trustee Candidate Forum that took place on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 from 7-8 pm in the Saddleback Valley School District Board Room. The Forum was sponsored by the Saddleback Valley Council of PTAs and was moderated by the League of Women Voters. **This recording is intended for viewing purposes only. It may not be downloaded, altered, redistributed, or used in any form without explicit permission. Any unauthorized editing, reproduction, or use of this content is strictly prohibited.** Trustee Area 2 Candidates Scott Miller Candidate Questionnaire Candidate Statement from OC Registrar of Voters Michele Sparks Candidate Questionnaire Candidate Statement from OC Registrar of Voters Other Trustee Area Candidates Voters in Trustee Areas 2, 3, and 4 will be selecting a SVUSD School Board Trustee. View the trustee areas. *Invitations were sent to all 6 candidates to participate however, one candidate from Trustee Area 3 and another from Trustee Area 4 were unable to attend the forum. As the National PTA Toolkit advises, “If it is a two-candidate race and only one agrees to attend, you should not go forward with your forum.” Therefore, the forum will only continue with the candidates from Trustee Area 2. Trustee Area 3 Michelle O'Brien - Candidate Questionnaire Suzie Swartz - Candidate Questionnaire Trustee Area 4 Amanda Morrell - Candidate Questionnaire Michael Stannard - Candidate Questionnaire We kindly ask all forum attendees to abide & respect these rules: There will be no substitutes or stand-ins for the candidates No campaign banners, signs, literature, handouts, buttons, tee shirts, or other campaign paraphernalia will be allowed in the debate hall until after the forum has concluded The audience will be asked to refrain from applauding or in other ways demonstrating support or nonsupport for a candidate Candidates will be introduced by full name. Thereafter, "Mr." and "Ms." will be used. The candidates will remain seated at all times during the debate The candidates will not use props, but may bring notes and use a note pad and pens for taking notes during the debate Time limits on responses will be strictly observed. A timekeeper will hold cards, visible to the speaker, indicating how much time remains. When the "stop card" is shown, the speaker must end his/her speech within 10 seconds. The moderator will have the responsibility for enforcing time limits. The moderator also will have the authority to interrupt the proceedings to enforce the ground rules and format that were agreed to by the candidates. The moderator will read the questions The moderator may restate the question The candidates will not interrupt one another No flash cameras and no motor-driven cameras will be used during the debate other than those authorized by the sponsors Candidates are invited to remain after the conclusion of the forum to speak with audience members Candidates will be asked to have their cell phones turned off & not on their person

Important Links National PTA Website National PTA One Voice Blog California State PTA Website Fourth District PTA Website Saddleback Valley Unified School District Website MyPTEZ.com Website CAPTA Tool Kit

PTA Grants National PTA Grants Deadline October 1st For all Grades and Ages PTA Healthy Minds , Sponsored by the New York Life Foundation and The Allstate Foundation This program is for all grades and ages. 100 local PTAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 in funding. Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement , sponsored by the family of Mary Lou Anderson This program is for all grades and ages. Two local PTAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 in funding. PTA Wellness Fairs , sponsored by Walmart This program is for all grades and ages. 40 local PTAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 in funding PTA Connected: The Smart Talk , sponsored by Norton This program is for all grades and ages. 40 local PTAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 in funding. All programs must be completed by the end of March 2024. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go! , supported by AT&T This program is for elementary schools. 150 local PTAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 in funding. To be considered, PTAs must hold their programs in-person. At-home programming will not be supported. STEM + Families Propelling Our World , sponsored by Huntington Ingalls Industries This program is for elementary schools. 40 local PTAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 . ELEMENTARY OR MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA Connected: Be Internet Awesome , Sponsored by Google + YouTube This program is for elementary and middle schools. 50 local PTAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 in funding . MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL PTA Connected: Build Up and Belong , sponsored by Discord This program is for high schools. 25 local PTAs/PTSAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 in funding. HIGH SCHOOL P TA Connected: Build Up and Belong , sponsored by Discord This program is for high schools. 25 local PTAs/PTSAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,250 in funding. CAPTA Scholarships Deadline Octo ber 15h Continuing Education Scholarships The scholarship must be used January 1 – December 31 following the year of award; proof of your enrollment and completion of coursework must be provided to California State PTA by June 1. Scholarships are available for: School staff members (teachers, counselors, nurses and staff) & PTA volunteers Graduating High-School Senior Scholarships Graduating high-school seniors are eligible to apply for the Volunteer Service Scholarship and the $500 Dr. Ralph E. White Scholarship for medical-field education. CAPTA Grants Deadline Octo ber 15h Parent Education Develop and implement parent education programs and projects in such areas as health, child development, child abuse prevention or parenting skills. Programs or projects must be sponsored by the PTA applying for the grant. Program grant ideas include parent-resource centers, seminars and workshops, forums for parents of children with special needs and information on preparing healthy meals. Cultural Arts Develop and implement student-centered cultural arts programs which complement the California State PTA’s commitment to a quality arts education. The programs and projects should focus on expanding the students’ awareness and appreciation of the field of cultural arts and/or enriching and enhancing arts education programs and must be sponsored by the PTA applying for the grant. Program grant possibilities include performing arts assemblies, arts communications brochures, demonstrations, storytellers, read-a-thons and docents. Outreach Translation Translate PTA written materials and oral presentations in an effort to involve every member of the school community. Presentations or materials must be sponsored by the PTA applying for the grant. The California State PTA may use these translated materials when appropriate. Copy of the translated material must accompany the evaluation report. Program grant possibilities include translating written materials into other languages, providing translations at meetings and events, offering school community activities, enhancing partnerships and engaging non-English-speaking families. Healthy Lifestyle Develop, promote and implement programs, projects and activities that will improve the overall health of children and adults. Program grant possibilities include classes, health fairs, awareness events, walking/running programs, sun safety initiatives and depression awareness efforts. Please refer to the Insurance Guide for approved activities.