Our School

Meet Our Principal

Mrs. Caryn Jasich

“Welcome to Old River! Old River School is committed to developing all students to be self-motivated learners and productive, responsible and compassionate members of an ever-changing global society. Our highly qualified staff foster meaningful relationships with students, parents, and the community while providing a relevant and rigorous curriculum. We believe in an inclusive environment that encompasses a growth mindset. We are determined to support students through personal and character development opportunities. We believe in ALL students and know that our students will be college and career ready, globally competitive, and citizens of strong character.”

Fun Facts:

Mrs. Jasich comes from a large family with four sisters and one brother.
She once walked 60 miles from Santa Barbara to Malibu to raise money for breast cancer research!
In her free time, she enjoys yoga and spending time with her son and daughter.

Little girl concentrating on iPad at school

Our Mission

Old River School is committed to developing all students to be self-motivated learners and productive, responsible and compassionate members of an ever-changing global society. Our highly qualified staff foster meaningful relationships with students, parents, and the community while providing a relevant and rigorous curriculum in facilities that advance teaching and learning.

Our Vision

Curriculum & Instruction

Students will receive standards-based instruction
All students will reach Proficient or Advanced on the California Standards Test
Students will be provided differentiated instruction
Student needs will be met through frequent monitoring of progress and use of flexible groupings
Professional Learning Communities (PLC) will be established and maintained at each grade level
Response to Intervention Model (RtI) will be implemented as needed
Instructional time is valued and protected
Research-based strategies/materials will be utilized

Character Education

All staff will promote and maintain a supportive and nurturing environment
The district-adopted CHARACTER COUNTS! program will be implemented
Parent involvement will be welcomed and encourage
Diversity is accepted and appreciated

Tools to Reach Highest Potential

All staff will ensure the physical and emotional safety of all students
All staff will be highly qualified
Incentive programs will be in place to recognize students’ strengths and achievements
Schoolwide behavior management plans will be established and maintained
Allocation of school funds will be aligned to mission and vision statements
Parent education will be provided to support ongoing classroom instruction
Stakeholders’ (SSC, ELAC, PTA, staff, community) input will be encouraged and valued

Students walking at a school breezeway carrying iPads

School & Home Compact for Achievement

What is a School-Home Compact?

A School-Home Compact for Achievement is an agreement that parents, students, and teachers develop together. It explains how parents and teachers will work together to make sure all our students reach grade level standards.

Effective compacts:

Link to goals of the school improvement plan.
Focus on student learning skills.
Describe how teachers will help students develop those skills using high quality instruction.
Share strategies parents can use at home.
Explain how teachers and parents will communicate with regard to student progress.
Describe opportunities for parents to volunteer, observe, and participate in the classroom.

Jointly Developed

The parents and staff of Old River School developed this School-Parent Compact for Achievement. Meetings are held each year to review the Compact and make changes based on student needs. Parents are welcome to contribute at any time. If you would like to volunteer, participate, or observe in the classroom, please contact the school.

Building Partnerships

Your support and input are valued and instrumental in helping our students succeed! Opportunities for involvement include:

Back-to-School/Parent Night
PTA Meetings – Monthly
Parent Workshops
Open House
School Site Council Meetings
Title I and English Learner Advisory Council
Student Productions
Awards Assemblies
District Sponsored events
Community School Meetings

Community Schools

Community schools strengthen partnerships between families, schools, and the community by providing support services, encouraging family involvement, and promoting shared responsibility for student success

District Goal

By June 2027, 90-100% of all students will perform at grade level or higher and upon graduation meet the requirements for entrance into the UC and CSU system.

School Goals

By June 2027, we will continue to increase the number of students reaching proficiency in mathematics and reading.

Reading Focus

Develop life-long reading and comprehension strategies, which will increase proficiency in state testing and meet our critical reading focus.
Encourage and foster students’ interest in reading a variety of fictional literature and nonfiction texts.
Determine the meaning of, comprehend, and appropriately utilize academic vocabulary in speaking and writing.

Mathematics Focus

Integration of technology to enrich day to day learning, intervention and authentic assessment.
To have students explain their mathematical reasoning that supports their problem solving strategy.
Use current student data and assessments to inform math instruction, identify areas of need, and support differentiated learning.

Science and Social Studies Focus

The science and social studies departments will incorporate more written reports with projects and labs in support of the non-fiction targets of the common core standards and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Science will assign research-based projects that involve experimentation and investigation.

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At School

The Old River staff will work with students and their families to support students’ success in reading and math. Some of our key connections with families will be:

Communicate regularly with parents regarding current academic programs and be accessible to parents/guardians to discuss questions and/or concerns.
Provide materials and information to help parents support the school’s academic program.

Offer Parent Workshops:

Literacy – Provide parents with strategies and resources on how to read with or listen to their child read and interact with text.
Math – Provide parents with strategies and resources on how to help their child solve real-world math problems in a variety of ways.

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At Home

Old River Elementary School staff joined parents to develop ideas about how families can support students’ success:

Discuss and review my child’s schoolwork nightly and contact the teacher with questions and/or concerns. Make appointments as needed, especially after the first progress report.
Read and use the classroom materials and information to support learning at home.
Read with or listen to your child read every day. Attend the family literacy workshops and use the strategies learned to improve your child’s literacy skills.
Involve your child in solving real-world math problems every day. Attend the family math workshop and use the strategies learned to improve your child’s mathematical skills. Ask
about homework, reading requirements, and iReady reports.

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Student Responsibilities

Old River School students know the importance of being responsible. A responsible student will come to school every day on time, prepared, and ready to learn. To make connections between learning at home and at school, students will:

Take home, review, and discuss schoolwork and materials nightly with parents/guardians.
Ask for help when they have trouble with their schoolwork.
Participate in classroom discussions and group work.
Read to/with and discuss the text with an adult for 20-30 minutes every day.
Use strategies learned in class to solve real-world math problems.
Update iPad Regularly and come to school with it fully charged.
Complete 2 or more i-Ready lessons in BOTH math and reading weekly.

As teachers, parents, and students, Old River Gators will exemplify and model the Six Pillars of Character, everywhere and all the time!

Engagement Policy

Old River Elementary School recognizes that parents and guardians are their children’s first and most influential teachers. We believe that continued parental involvement in a child’s education contributes greatly to student achievement and conduct. This Parent and Family Engagement Policy is an integral component of our school plan to promote a meaningful partnership between the school and the home.

Part 1: General Expectations

OLD RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGREES TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

The school will jointly develop with parents and distribute to parents the Parent and Family Engagement Policy that the school and parents of participating children agree to uphold.
The school will notify parents about the School Parent and Family Engagement Policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, will distribute this policy to parents in English and Spanish.
The school will revisit the School Parent and Family Engagement Policy yearly to meet the changing needs of parents and the school.
The school will make the School Parent and Family Engagement Policy available to the local community through a web site link.
The school will adopt the School-Parent Compact as a component of its Parent and Family Engagement Policy
The school will provide accessibility and opportunities for parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory students.

The school agrees to be governed by the following definition of parental engagement, and will carry out programs, activities and procedures in accordance with this definition:

Parental engagement means the participation of parents, including those with disabilities and/or with limited English proficiency, in regular and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring –

Parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning
Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education; including the School-Parent Compact
Parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child
The carrying out of other activities, such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA.

Community schools create a support system by uniting families, the school, and the community as partners in student success, providing support services, enrichment opportunities, and family engagement.

Family-School Partnerships – Involve families in decision-making and workshops to strengthen trust and communication.
Support Systems – Provide on-campus access to health, social, and academic resources.
Shared Learning Responsibility – Unite families, staff, and the community to support academic growth, behavior, and attendance.
Inclusive Environments – Create welcoming spaces that promote dialogue, cultural awareness, and respect.

Part 2: Policy Implementation

Old River Elementary School will take the following actions to involve parents in the joint development and joint agreement of its Engagement Policy and its schoolwide plan, if applicable, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way under section 1118(b) of the ESEA:

Title I Parent Team Meetings will be held to create, review, and improve the Engagement Policy and the School-Parent Compact yearly.
Parents will have the opportunity to discuss and share ways to improve the Title 1 Program.
Parents will have the opportunity to complete a survey about our Title 1 Program each year.
Parents will be provided, if they request, an appointment for regular meetings.

Old River Elementary School will take the following actions to distribute to parents of children participating and the local community, the Engagement Policy:

A hard copy of the school’s Parent and Family Engagement Policy will be available to any parent when requested.
The Engagement Policy will be posted on our official school website for the community to view.

Old River Elementary School will review yearly and update periodically its Engagement Policy to meet the changing needs of parents and the school:

A team meeting will be held yearly to review and/or update the Engagement Policy. The Fall Information Meeting will review the Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure.
Fall meeting with survey regarding dates, times, and topics.

Old River Elementary School will convene an annual meeting to inform parents of the following:

That their child’s school participates in Title I
About the requirements of Title I
Of their rights to be involved in:
- Parent and Family Engagement Policy
- School-Parent Compact
- Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure
Invitations emailed home in English & Spanish and posted on social media
Dialer callers in English and Spanish and at convenient times for parents
Parents are highly encouraged to attend parent functions
Parents are encouraged to take the LCAP survey yearly, to voice their opinions

Old River Elementary School will hold a flexible number of meetings at varying times, including child care:

Invitations will be sent home in English and Spanish
Spanish translation will be provided at parent functions.
Parent surveys will be given to determine parent interest needs.
The school will provide information about Title I programs to parents of participating children in a timely manner.

Old River Elementary School will provide to parents of students a description and explanation of the curriculum being used, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet:

Please contact your child’s teacher or counselor if you need assistance with curriculum, grades or any other concerns regarding your child’s academics and progress.
This will also be discussed at the Title I Informational Meeting.

Old River Elementary School will provide parents the opportunity to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children:

Informational meetings
SSC – School Site Council
PTA Meetings
Annual Title I Meeting
District LCAP Survey

Part 3: Shared Responsibilities for High Achievement

Old River Elementary School will strengthen the capacity of both the school and parents to promote meaningful parental involvement. This will foster effective collaboration among the school, parents, and the community to enhance student academic achievement. The school will achieve this through the following activities:

Needs Assessment Survey taken by parents (conducted by Title I)
Parent input through team meetings (conducted by Title I)
Parental requests (conducted by Title I)
Varied/multiple meeting times (conducted by Title I)
PTA Meetings (conducted by the PTA board members)
Encouragement to attend “Back To School” night and Open House (conducted by the staff and principal)
Principal’s newsletter which is distributed in Spanish and English

Old River Elementary School will incorporate the School-Parent Compact as a component of its Parent and Family Engagement Policy:

Both policies will be reviewed at the meetings held for Title I parents
Both policies will be displayed on our school website
Both policies will be available in the school office.

Old River Elementary School will, with the assistance of its district, provide assistance to parents of children served by the school in understanding topics, such as the following:

The State’s academic content standards
The State’s CAASPP proficiency levels
The State and local academic assessments including alternate assessments
The requirements of Title I
How to monitor their child’s progress
How to work with educators
Results of the annual Title I review – These various topics will be addressed at the Title 1 Informational Meetings and through Parent Education throughout the year

Old River Elementary School will, with the assistance of its district, provide materials to help parents work with their children to improve their children’s academic achievement, through:

Parent brochures/newsletters
Parent education
Parent meetings and school functions
Parental input on desired parent education training

Old River Elementary School, with the assistance of its district and parents, educate its staff, in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners.

Staff Meetings
Professional Development
Professional Literature
‘Q’ Parent Connect Online System
Parent Square Communications

Old River Elementary School will, to the extent feasible and appropriate, take the following actions to ensure that information related to the school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities, is sent to the parents of participating children in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats upon request, and to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand:

All parent invitations and information will be translated into Spanish.
All parent invitations will be emailed home and posted on social media.

Part 4: Adoption

This Parent and Family Engagement Policy has been developed jointly with, and agreed on with, parents of children participating in Title I, as evidenced by Nicole Russell Hernandez.

This policy was approved and adopted by Old River Elementary School’s School Site Council at the May 2026 meeting and will be in effect for the 2026-2027 school year. The policy will be available school-wide to all parents of students through our website.

It will be made available to the local community. Notification to parents of this policy will be in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provide a copy of this policy to parents in a language the parents can understand.