|
In This Issue...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distinguished Schools: Three Local Elementary Schools Rank in State’s Top 5 Percent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distinguished Schools: Three Local Elementary Schools Rank in State’s Top 5 Percent
Two PVUSD Schools, One in Live Oak Honored
By Michael Thomas
Every two years, the State of California honors exemplary elementary schools that achieve high academic standards in a rich learning environment that supports students from all backgrounds. On Apr. 25, this year’s Distinguished Schools were announced and among them were Bradley School and Valencia School in the Pajaro Valley Unified District and Green Acres in the Live Oak School District.
Of the State’s 5,000 elementary schools, 977 met the Academic Performance Index standard and completed the rigorous review, which includes site visits. Ultimately, just 377 won the award.
PVUSD North Zone Superintendent Gary Woods said that the contributions of parents and committed teachers are often the deciding factor.
“I really consider this a community award,” Woods said. “It’s not any one program, it’s how the school coordinates and focuses on student learning as a whole.”
He pointed out that both Valencia and Bradley have a large number of English language learners â€" about 20 percent of the student population. The Distinguished School standards look closely at how those students are being served, so the award is a real mark of accomplishment.
Bradley School Rewards Every Student
Bradley Principal Kathy Arola said that all subgroups, including disabled students and gifted students, improved in the Adequate Yearly Progress evaluation this year. Arola has a 20-year history with the school, as a parent, a teacher, and ultimately as Principal.
The grounds on Corralitos Road are home to 567 students this year, the highest enrollment since the building was built in 1951. But the school still finds a way to recognize every student.
“We have a great system to reward all kinds of student achievement â€" citizenship awards, science fairs, spelling competitions, the National Geography Bee,” Arola said.
Helping students at every step of the way is an active cadre of parents who assist in classrooms, drive for field trips, staff the Library League and conduct after-school enrichment programs.
Every student visits the technology lab at least once a week, where they learn keyboard and research skills on a slew of 34 modern computers.
“Parent fundraising efforts have allowed us to keep this program alive,” Arola said.
Valencia School Sees Big Jump in Test Scores
At Valencia School, home to 520 students this year, Principal Dianna Higginbotham heaped praise on teachers and parents for cultivating the learning atmosphere that brought the Distinguished School recognition.
“We are just proud and buttons are popping around here,” Higginbotham said. “This is our very first honor.”
Like Bradley, Valencia has a thriving technology department funded by parent fundraising. They’ve seen their API score jump by 53 points in three years, a sterling achievement by any district’s standards.
The number of English language learners at the school has declined in recent years to 80 or 90 students.
“One thing that benefits our English learners is they are in classes with very good English role models … teachers and students,” she said.
Above all, “We work really hard on being a caring community,” Higginbotham added.
She credited teachers Susan Murphy, Kim Flynn and Julie Page-Ales for spearheading the extensive application process for the award.
Green Acres Cultivates Bright Kids, Veggies Too
They say Green Acres is the place to be. This year it most certainly is. Principal Douglas Fritsch got a congratulatory phone call from State Superintendent Jack O’Connell on Monday, Apr. 24.
“It was very exciting. We knew we were well in the running,” he said.
Like Bradley’s Arola, Fritsch has a long history with Green Acres Elementary. In the late 1970s, when the school started its now globally-modeled Life Lab garden, Fritsch was the PE teacher.
“They said, I’m sorry, we have to take your playground,” he recalls.
These days, students have great facilities for recreation, but they also have a three-acre garden that is “a huge point” when it comes to awards, Fritsch says.
“Students have science garden training and have hands on involvement on a weekly basis,” he explained.
He credits the PTA organization for outstanding support. The group hosts fundraisers, but also does family gathering nights such as Art Night and Magic Night.
Over the past five years, the school’s Hispanic population has increased and nearly half the school’s students now have some Spanish language background. To keep the language lessons fresh for students of all levels, the English enrichment program involves rotating students to different teachers four times a day for different approaches to language learning.
The teachers, it goes without saying, are outstanding.
“All our teacher’s are highly qualified,” Fritsch said.
|
