Dear Orchard Families, or in French, “Bonjour!

In a few weeks, the Orchard sailboat will start to enter the fall season.  I am sure we all look forward to cooler weather and to a time when the trees gently let go of their colorful leaves.  Actually, I can’t wait to eat a delicious apple pie from the farms of Apple Hills. Enjoy the remainder of the summer!!

As the School Principal, I welcome you again to the Orchard School. Every day, I see the children entering the school with joy, excitement, and willingness to learn as their teachers greet them each morning with a handshake. A few things that are happening at our school:  

Read more ...

Read more ...

On the first Saturday in May, two eighth grade classes not only marked the arrival of spring by dressing in white, weaving flower headdresses, and dancing with bright ribbons around a maypole, but also marked and celebrated their long-standing community here at Golden Valley River School. Usually there is just one maypole and one eighth grade class dancing.  However, this year, the River School was fortunate to have two maypoles, one for each graduating eighth grade class, to celebrate, dance, and weave around in front of the school’s community.

Read more ...

On Tuesday, December 13th at 7:35pm, the San Juan Unified School District approved the charter renewal petition for the Orchard School. Two years ago the district staff did not recommend approval and so Orchard was given only two years as a compromise to prove itself. That changed on Tuesday night when the superintendent and staff recommended a five-year renewal and the board put it on its consent agenda. It was a unanimous vote!

Read more ...