Parent Letter

“People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.”

~F. M. Alexander

Happy Sunday Ochoa Families,

Welcome to our Sunday, Parent Letter. Here you will find many updates about parent meetings, as well as school and district events. At times this letter may be lengthy just because we want to keep you well informed. Please do take the time to review all of the information each week.

Last week we held our first Site Based Decision Making Team (SBDM) meeting of the year. Thank you to the families who were in attendance, we appreciate your participation. If you have items that you wish to add to our agenda for the 9/15 meeting, please use the link below. This week, we will be doing a call for Parent nominees for both our Site Based Decision Making Team (SBDM) and School Site Council (SSC) "PARENT" positions. You may click the links below to nominate yourself or someone you know.

Clink the blue links to nominate yourself or others below:

• Site Based Decision Making Team Nominations_2026 (1-2 parents needed)
• School Site Council _ Nominations_2026 (2-3 parents needed)

Remember to check the Calendar at a Glance, at the very bottom of this letter as there are district meetings and holidays that will impact our schedule. For example: on 9/7, we observe the Labor Day Holiday and there is no school and on 9/8 we have a district-wide minimum day so that teachers may complete required mandated training and professional learning. Students dismiss at 1:30PM.

Last Call... make all necessary updates here Annual Student Information Update for this school year. This information is important so that we may have the most current information about your student, particularly in the event of an emergency of any kind. Please see STEP#1: SIU below if you have not already done so.

Ochoa is in need of a new marquee, please forgive its unsightly appearance. Stay tuned for information to help us fundraise for a better way to keep you all informed and in the loop.

Last week our coaches held open gym and try outs for Volleyball and Cheer. Final rosters will be posted this week. Flag football is up next! As we prepare to open the athletic season for students, please read our district/school policy on athletic programs below.

Thank you all for your anticipated cooperation and I sincerely look forward to opportunities to connect with you all this year.

Warmly submitted,

~Ms. Rowe-Andrews, Principal

Please join us, ALL fathers and father figures as we celebrate the impact you all have on students each day.

REQUIRED: ⭐ Step #1: Annual Student Information Update (SIU)

Student Information Annual Update (English & Español) Parents and students can obtain information about their student’s attendance, assignments (due, completed, missing), teacher email addresses, and student schedules at the start of the school year. Note: If there have not been any changes to your phone, email, home address, emergency contacts, etc., you must still access this form and validate the information as accurate for the 2026-27 school year.

REMEMBER: SAVE AFTER EACH STEP AND SUBMIT AT THE END

Click here to watch the video (SPANISH)

Click here to watch the video (ENGLISH)

REQUIRED: 🏥 Step #2: TDAP Proof of Vaccination

All students are required to have the Tdap immunization prior to attending as a 7th grader. If your 7th or 8th grade student has not yet had their tdap, please note this must be done prior to attending the first day of school (August 17th) . UPLOAD IMMUNIZATION RECORD

Here are a few clinics offering immunizations for students: (TBA)

Alameda County Immunization Clinics (English)

Alameda County Immunization Clinics (Spanish)

*If previously provided, you may skip this step.

REQUIRED: 💻 Step #3: Acceptable Use of Technology (AUP)

Preparing students for college and career in a global society, requires the integration of technology in the classroom. Students will receive CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) Training to ensure they are aware of safety measures when using technology. Please read and sign this form to show that you understand and have explained to your student the most appropriate ways to use school technology. Click the green button below to complete.

REQUIRED: ⭐ Step 4: Other Required Forms

(click the blue links below)

A. Ochoa Student Handbook 2026-27 (Read and Sign with your student)

B. Ochoa Discipline Policy_2026-27 (Read and Sign with your student)

C. Ochoa Parent Involvement Form_2026-27(Read )

D. Cell Phone Policy 2026-27 (Read and sign)

Final Step: Sign to Acknowledge you agree HERE

⏰ Step #5: Y.E.P~ After School Program Sign Up📚 ⚽ 🍳

There are spaces left in our YEP program, do not miss out...Our Youth Enrichment Program also known as Y.E.P. is our after school program, run by our Site Coordinator Mr. Ryan Edmonson.

Please click the link to sign up/register (English/Español) . Click the green button below to sign up.

*YEP FREE after school support for students M,T,Th,F from 3:15-6PM and Wed. from 1:30-6PM

Do you have a student who might be interested in playing middle school sports? No experience is needed, please complete the linked athletics interest form below. The year begins with Volleyball and Flag Football, both are coed and Open Gym and Try outs for Volleyball and Cheer begin this week.

Families, when students are attending the games as both athletes and spectators, we must make a few requests:

First and foremost, we want to remind you that the responsibility of the school athletics program in addition to exposing students to multiple sports, it is to teach students discipline, sportsmanship, responsibility, and accountability. *Families, please remember to model the pro-social behaviors that we want and expect to see from our students athletes when attending our games and other school functions. Parents you are our student's first teachers.

• Please review these expectations with your students.
• Students and families attending school events are expected to uphold the appropriate conduct of sportsmanship at all times.
• Student athletes are required to maintain a min. of 2.0 GPA; counselors review weekly
• Students not in attendance at school for the day are not authorized to attend.
• All student athletes and spectators, may arrive to the games 15 minutes prior; there is no adult supervision before that time. *unless specified by the coach in attendance. Ex: game starts at 3:30PM, arrival time is 3:15.
• All student attendees must be picked up promptly after the game ends to ensure their safety.
• Students on suspension may not attend any school events or be on any school campus during a suspension.
• Students who did not attend school may not attend or participate in any school related event activity or sporting event.
• Two-sport athletes have a responsibility to complete what they started. This is a commitment expected in high school, collegiate, and professional sports programs. If your student is enrolled in multiple sports, remind them if they are to continue, they must finish what they started with the current season.

YEP's Bridge to College program is the only program in California - and possibly, the nation - designed to provide college & career exploration to HUSD students beginning in the 7th grade through 12th grade. In partnership with Chabot College, instructors provide courses, directly after school, to expand students’ college-level mindset and prepare for college-level work and instruction.

Bridge to College allows students to complete college courses while they complete middle school and high school. Courses offered every Spring and Fall. The course and books are free!

If you have any questions, please contact your school YEP site Leader:

Norma Dib ~ 510.723.3857 ~ ndib@husd.k12.ca.us

Does your student require public transportation? If you would like to apply for a free AC transit card for your student please click the link below. This is not transportation specific to students with IEPs, but is available for ALL students.

SCHOOL SUCCESS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO GOOD ATTENDANCE. Ochoa strives for a 98+% attendance rate for our students each year. Poor performance in the classroom is often the result of poor attendance. If students are to achieve maximum value from their middle school education, 100% attendance is the goal. Did you know that the state of California only allows students to be absent, with *valid excuse for less than 10% of the year?

*valid excuses for absences from school are:

• Illness or quarantine
• Medical, dental, or optometry appointments

• Religious Requests, upto one per quarter with prior written notice and approval
• Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family

California law requires all students 6 to 18 years old are required to attend school on time and regularly. Cal. Ed. Code § 48200.

A child is habitually truant if, without valid excuse, they are:

• Absent for three days in a single school year,
• Absent or tardy more than 30 minutes three times in a year,
• Any combination of the above. Cal. Ed. Code § 48260(a).

A child is chronically truant if they have missed 10 percent of the school year. Cal. Ed. Code § 48263.6.

Parents must Report Absences-Please call us!: All absences must be cleared by a phone call or a note within 72 hours of the absence from a parent/guardian to the attendance office (510 723-3130 Ext. 43111). When absences are not cleared in this manner the family can expect to receive a call from our office or automated phone system.

Monday, August 31, 2026

• Call for nominations for SSC
• Volleyball Tryouts, 3-4:15PM

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

• Volleyball Tryouts, 3-4:15PM

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

• College Day; Wear College Gear
• Faculty Mtg, 1:45PM

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Friday, September 4, 2026

• School Spirit Day; Wear Black & Gold

Looking Ahead

Monday, September 7, 2026

• Labor Day Observed, No School

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

• District-Wide Minimum Day; students dismiss at 1:30PM (Mandated Training for Staff)

September 10, 2026

• Local Curriculum Council (LCC), 3PM

September 18, 2026

• Million Fathers & Father Figures March (AM Drop off)~Donuts for Dads

Students should plan to arrive to school each day between 8 and 8:15AM, unless they have a zero period class. Students with a zero period PE class must arrive at school daily no later than 7:20AM. The first bell rings at 8:26AM and students must be in their seats or on their PE numbers by that time. Even if a student arrives "just 1 minute late," they legally must be marked tardy according to the law. Help us to achieve our daily and annual attendance goals this year and help us to get to 98% or better.

Ochoa Middle School is accepting new students. That's right click the link below to learn more about school choice in the Hayward Unified School District.

Here are program offerings at Ochoa Middle School:

1. Advanced Math: (Algebra/Geometry/Compression) *for eligible students

2. S.T.E.A.M. related Instruction with our CELI Climate Program

3. English Language Development & Progress Monitoring (ELD)

4. Visual & Performing Arts Programs: Art, Intro to Architecture, Choir, Band, Guitar, Orchestra and Piano

5. High Interest Electives: Computer Applications, Financial Literacy, Home Economics, Leadership and Student Government

College & Career Readiness Programs: AVID & Puente

6. Sports: Volleyball, Football, Cheer, Soccer, Softball and Basketball

7. Clubs: various

Website: https://ochoa.husd.us
Location: 2121 Depot Road, Hayward, CA
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