CCiP 05-12 - Culver City Unified School District

Culver Currents
in print
“
MAY 2012 | FREE • Vol 2 No 4 • published by the Culver City Unified School District
If the leader has
a vision and is able to
implement it, then the
word “success” will be
the word used when
people refer to public
education.”
SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
page 2
Congratulations to
CCUSD Graduates
pages 8-9
Tribute to the Stars
page 10
A True Whale Tale
page 12
Points of Pride Issue
CCUSD’s principals and department heads
were asked to provide their Points of Pride
for this special issue of Culver Currents in
Print. Enjoy all of our schools’ successes
during the 2011-12 year.
CULVER CITY HIGH SCHOOL
U.S. News & World Report Ranks
Culver City High School Among Top 200
U.S. News & World Report has ranked
Culver City High School among the top
200 high schools in California in its 2012
rankings.
The rankings include data on nearly
22,000 public high schools from 49 states
and the District of Columbia. (Nebraska did
not report enough data to be included in the
rankings.).
U.S. News partnered with the Washington, D.C.-based
American Institutes for Research (AIR), which implemented
U.S. News’s rankings methodology. To determine the Best
High Schools national rankings, schools were first analyzed
at the state level in terms of how well students in each
school performed on state assessments, taking into account
the test scores of disadvantaged students (lowincome, Hispanic, and black), who tend to score
lower on tests.
High schools that made it through this analysis
were then eligible to be ranked nationally, in
terms of college readiness. U.S. News determines
the degree to which schools prepare students for
college-level work by analyzing student success
in Advanced Placement (AP) or International
Baccalaureate (IB) programs, both of which include collegelevel courses. U.S. News awarded more than 4,850 gold,
silver, and bronze medals to the top-performing schools.
Culver City High School ranked No. 176 in the state of
California and No. 917 in the nation.
SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE | BY PATRICIA JAFFE, SUPERINTENDENT
Children First – Teach Like A Champion
VISION
Dear CCUSD Staff,
Impressive, Professional,
Dedicated are all of the
words that describe you.
You are outstanding! This
is the personal vision that
I wrote when I became
superintendent. To
those of you new to the
education profession,
I hope that you realize
the importance of your
decision to become an educator. To those of you who
have been teaching for many years, I applaud you for your
dedication and excellence. To all support staff, thank you
for all that you do for the teaching staff, the students and
the parents. To my fellow administrators, never forget
what it means to be a teacher… you are “lead” teachers.
To all of the Culver City Community, thank you for
providing me with so many memories and so many friends.
~ Patti
CHILDREN FIRST—TEACH LIKE A CHAMPION
for 21st Century Teaching and Learning
Imagine a district where...
All members of the educational community understand that
the education of all students must be our primary focus…
Children First:
Teachers Teaching and Children Learning
All members of the educational community work together
for the common goal of making a learning/sharing
environment which is good for all students, staff, parents
and community—a collaboration.
A district which is student-centered and where teachers
work together, not in isolation. A district where subject
matter/grade level teaming is the core. Teachers work
together to address common core standards and to plan
interdisciplinary and cross-curricular units which stress
active participation, creativity, and higher level thinking
skills. Units provide experiences in cooperative learning
so that students learn to work with others. Authentic
assessment is integrated into the program – student
portfolios and exhibitions demonstrate the student’s
learning.
A district where students feel a sense of community.
Students know that they are responsible for their
environment and for their learning. Students learn to work
with students of different cultures and students with special
needs. They know that communication with different types
of people is an important part of life.
A district which is a trusting place, a personalized place,
and a place which instills values, especially, respect and
responsibility. Each school is a safe place where all
students can learn without fear.
A district in which the Internet and technology extend
into every classroom, office and library. Technology for
the 21st Century is a tool which is used by teachers and
students to promote learning and to prepare students to be
21st Century global citizens.
All in all, a district which is a partnership. No part or
member of a school, the district or the community should
work in isolation. Each school needs to be a studentcentered community in which the administration, staff,
students, parents and business interests work together for
the betterment of education. If the leader has a vision and
is able to implement it, then the word “success” will be the
word used when people refer to public education.
CCUSD Board of Education
President
Karlo Silbiger
Vice President and Parliamentarian
Katherine Paspalis
Clerk
Patricia Siever
Member
Laura Chardiet
The mission of the Culver City Unified School District, a diverse haven of excellence, is to
ensure that each student possesses the academic and personal skills necessary to achieve his/
her highest potential as a valued, responsible member of society by providing challenging,
personalized educational experiences in a safe, nurturing environment and by fostering a passion
for teaching and learning with committed parent and community involvement.
Email the Board Members at [email protected]
PAGE 2
Member
Nancy Goldberg
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
Information Technology
We have installed the first wave of the
district-wide wireless network, concentrating
initially on the High School and Middle
School. Culver City High School now
has almost 100% WiFi coverage while
the Middle School has focused coverage
in the classrooms most needing it, with
more to come as money can be raised. This
wireless system can also be rolled out to the
elementary schools as desired, with Lin Howe and La Ballona getting an
installation of limited coverage in the coming months.
This project is the next step in creating 21st century school sites with
wireless mobile devices in the classroom for teacher and student use.
Library Services
• Hiring three new
library media clerks
to
fill vacant positions
.
• Significantly incr
easing the number
of
students/classes se
rviced at the CCH
S and
CCMS libraries.
• Providing teache
rs and students with
needed textbooks
and library materia
ls in
an efficient and tim
ely manner.
• Running a smoo
th 2011-2012 CCH
S/
CCMS registration
with the help of ou
r expanded summer
volunteer program
student
.
• Updating the El
Rincón Elementary
library with fresh
furniture.
paint and newer
• Establishing a 21
st century learning
environment for ou
providing access to
r students by
quality electronic
resources and by co
evaluating modern
ntinuously
educational tools th
at will facilitate le
arning.
Department of Special Education
• New programs for CCUSD – Fall 2012:
o bBlast – 5 hour intensive needs Pre-K
SDC Program at OCD
o Learning Center at CCMS
o Culver Connections – 18 to 22 years
Transition Program at Adult School
o Development of District Behavioral
RtI program: hiring of District
behaviorist and behavioral training
for district aides
o Opening of Occupational therapy
clinic (May, 2012) at Farragut
Voted Culver City’s Best Accountant for 2009, 2010 & 2011!
• Completion of Special Education SelfReview for 2010-2011
• Completion of Special Education
Disproportionality Review
• Completion of revised Student Study
Team and 504 processes and forms
• Organization of two parent trainings
in the area of behavior at District
Advisory Committee meetings
• Development of teacher training/
collaboration with UCLA Early
Childhood Instructional Programs
• SELPA/District development of SELPA
mental health department to replace
DMH AB 3632 mental health services.
Fiscal Services
Department
• We recently brought on board a new Director
of Fiscal Services, Sean Kearney in December
2011 (a position that had been vacant for a year
and a half). He comes from a private audit firm
and brings with him a highly motivated positive
mentality and a process and procedure driven
mindset.
• We are pleased to announce that Marilee Estioco
will be joining us as our Classified Payroll
Technician.
• We filed a positive second interim financial report
thanks to the conservative approach the district
has taken over the past several years.
• Our weekly staff meetings have encouraged
active participation and collaboration between
employees and continue to aid in creating
efficiencies and improving business processes.
• We re-evaluated and updated our payroll
processes that will continue to foster a
professional image of our department and
increase reliability and assurance throughout the
district.
2011
TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF
Culver Currents
in print
Please contact: Nancy Gerloff-Burne
310.985.1997 (cell) • [email protected]
PAGE 3
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
Food Services Department
• Once again we were invited to host a Central
Kitchen tour for FoodService Immersion
in March 2012. FoodService Immersion
conducts instruction for food service
professionals who don’t normally get out of
their corporate office to see what is going on
in “the real world”. This year’s attendees
included Rich Product Corporation, Lamb
Weston and Smuckers.
• Through USDA’s program “Chef’s Move to
Schools,” last spring we were matched with
Gretchen Zegarra, Executive Chef, Brotman
Medical Center, Morrison Management
Specialists. Chef Gretchen (pictured)
has visited elementary schools during
lunch throughout the school year. She has
highlighted “My Plate” and seasonal fruits
and vegetables on her visits and the students
have been very receptive. She gets them
excited about what’s for school lunch! We
will continue working together to develop
additional recipes for the 2012-13 school year.
• At the middle school and high school we
changed the way we serve things this year
and what we serve. New menu items include:
Breakfast Nachos and Fruit ‘n Yogurt Taco
PAGE 4
Wrap for breakfast; BYO Sub Sandwich and
Mex-it-Up Bowls for lunch. Students tell us
this is “the best and we should serve it every
day.”
• Being in constant search for new and
delicious foods, we are now serving Turkey
Breakfast Sausage and Bacon, Garden
Burgers and Sun Butter and Jelly Sandwiches.
We are also serving more and more whole
wheat/whole grain bread items. Kids are
eating Brussels sprouts, Sautéed Napa
Cabbage & Edamame.
• We ask – do you know where your Natural
Color Salad Bar grows? Our new produce
distributor, Sunrise Produce, has an extensive
Farm to School program which means our
fresh fruit and salad bars offer produce grown
on local California farms. Local farmers
from areas such as Oxnard, Fallbrook and
San Diego provide a wide variety of fresh,
seasonal fruits and vegetables at their peak of
flavor twice a week for students and adults to
enjoy daily.
• Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
for the 2012-2013 school year will be
available on-line July 2012.
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
La Ballona Elementary School
21st Century Learning with Technology
• All classrooms are equipped with interactive
whiteboard technology
Academic Achievement
• California Business for Education Excellence
Honor Roll School for 2011
• California Distinguished School, 2010
• API is 843
• API for all significant sub-groups at La Ballona is
above 800
Instructional Quality at La Ballona
• Instructional Quality Team Walk-Through Process
• M.I.N.D Institute – ST Math Program 2nd – 4th
Grade
Literacy
• Reading Is Fundamental Grant – book distribution
to students in pre-school – 3rd grade
• Young Storytellers Foundation, Grade 4-5
• Success Makers Club, Kindergarten – 5th Grade
• Literacy Training, Kindergarten – 5th grade
Teachers, Grades 2-5
Dual Language Program in Spanish
• Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
The Arts at La Ballona
• 5th Grade Ballroom Dance Recital
• Arts Integration Program – LA Music Center
• Symphonic Jazz Orchestra Music Program,
Kindergarten and 1st Grade
• M.I.N.D Institute Piano Keyboarding Classes
• We Tell Stories, Kindergarten – 1st Grade
Gardening and Nutrition
• La Ballona Organic Garden
• Growing Great – Nutrition Education Program
• Harvest of the Month
• La Ballona Student Council Green Club
Celebration of Cultural Diversity at La Ballona
• Fall Multi-Cultural Mask Parade
• Black History Program
• International Dinner and Dance Festival
Parent Education
• Latino Family Literacy Program
• Partners in Print Family Literacy Training
Extra Curricular Activities at La Ballona
• Student Council Newcomers Club
• La Ballona Mile Runners Club
• La Ballona Variety Show
• Math Olympiad
• La Ballona Science Fair
• La Ballona Education Partners’ Fall Festival
Culver City Middle School
MATH COUNTS – Culver City Middle School’s Math Counts team jokes
around after reaching the state competition for the second straight year.
• Re-designated a “School to Watch!”
• Bell schedule change allows for 60 students
to receive intensive intervention 2 hours per
week working on Success Maker and gives
our GATE students enrichment opportunities!
• Success Maker available online to every
CCMS student so they can access from
home!
• Learning Center Model supports Special
Education students!
• ZAP! Intervention Program in full swing!
• Teachers are reading Teach Like A
Champion, blogging, and determining 3-5
Team “techniques” they will implement on a
consistent basis!
• Opportunities for teacher collaboration
increases – teachers observed peers three
times during the year during block period,
met to discuss, then presented during their
Department and Team meetings!
• “0” period expands to 6th, 7th, and 8th
graders – students enrolled in an “academic”
elective also take a traditional “arts” elective
by taking a “0” period PE class every day!
• Math Counts Team goes to State Competition
for the second time!
• MESA Team excels!
• Our after-school programs, sponsored by
Panther Partners, continue to grow including
the addition of baseball and lacrosse teams!
• Third Annual Jog-a-thon organized by
Panther Partners raises over $31,000 for
after-school programs!
• Five Family Reading Nights to Support
Parent Involvement of English Learners!
• “Golden Ticket” ID of English Learners
who scored “Basic” supported by targeted
instruction to get them to “Proficient!”
• Partnership with Pepperdine to tutor EL
students with project based instruction!
• AVID re-designation awarded!
• Arts Integration Partnership continues!
• Panther Partners wins $10,000 from the
“Glee Give a Note” competition!
• Young Storytellers to perform at Sony!
• Partnership with UCLA continues!
• PTSA raises over $70,000 for classroom
enrichment, computer lab, Wi-Fi, field trips,
science projects, new shelves for the library,
assemblies, Teacher Lounge renovation and
next year will help fund new flooring for the
back gym and iPad carts.
• Fifth Annual “College Night” presentation
and full use of our College/Career Center!
PAGE 5
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
Culver City
Council of PTAs
• The Culver City School PTAs sent three High School students – Cole
Chardiet, Kiran Chaggan, Nathan Mosher - and five parents – Heather
Moses, Megan Sali-Wells, Maggie Memmott-Walsh, Jody Reichel,
Brenna Guthrie to Sacramento to advocate for public education. They
met with legislators and lobbied for our schools.
• CCCPTA Gathered 420 plus signatures for the “Our Children, Our
Future” initiative which will be on the November ballot. We were 20%
above the target for Culver City thanks to the efforts of Jody Reichel.
• Under the leadership of Laura Chardiet, CCCPTA hosted a Grant writing
workshop held in November. Thirty attendees, representing all of the
schools, were guided through the process of applying for grants. This
is the first step in creating “Grant Writing Armies” at each Culver City
School. A grant writing yahoo group was formed to help grant writers at
each school share resources and potentially leverage grants for the district
as a whole. If you are interesting in joining this group contact Heather
Moses at [email protected].
• Council PTA hosted a very entertaining Honorary Service Award Dinner
and Installation on April 22nd at the Culver Events Center. Awardees
included “King Mom” Bonnie Wacker, “All for One” Dan O’Brien,
“Somewhere in Culver City” Leslie Gardner, “Citizen Centaur” Jerry
Chabola and “Gone with the Pension” Patti Jaffe. Thanks as always to
Mehaul O’Leary and Joxer Dalys for hosting the bar.
• Our School PTAs provided over $400,000 in funding for field trips,
assemblies, technology aides, campus beautification, Art consultants,
Music, Classroom Supplies, Computers, teacher grants and more!
Grace Church
Summer Programs 2012
Camps are 9am-1pm and $60/week except where noted
 MINI-MUSICAL JULY 2-6 AGE 4 TO 8 10AM-12PM $30
The littlest children learn a cute musical!
 CAMP ROCK JULY 2-6
AGE 4-8
1-3PM $30
Rock n’ Roll in this camp! Learn easy guitar and percussion.
3. SCIENCE CAMP JULY 9-13
AGE 8 & UP
Field trips and nature study!
4. NATIVE AMERICAN ART JULY 16-20 AGE 6 & UP
Creative arts and crafts with Ms. Lisa Skelley.
5. BEACH & BIBLE CAMP JULY 23-27 AGE 11 & UP
Training for VBS counselors and beach hang-out.
6. VACATION BIBLE CAMP 7/30 TO 8/3 AGE 4 AND UP
In a fun faith-filled week, kids learn how much God loves them!
7. MUSICAL THEATER “ANNIE, JR” AUG 6-17 9 &UP
Camp is 9am to 3pm. Performances on August 17, 18, 19, 25 & 26
Dancing, Singing, Acting, Team-building!
8. PARTY CAMP AUG 20-24 AGE 8 AND UP
Fun and art and camp!
AFTERCARE: 1-5PM
JUNE 28 TO AUGUST 27
Park, pool, DVDs, Wii, card games, puzzles, library, quiet time.
Grace Church, 4427 Overland Avenue, Culver City
Space is LIMITED!
Please register with Marina Tidwell
310-559-1027 or email [email protected]
PAGE 6
Culver City Adult
School
• We are ensuring
that Culver City A
dult
School is incorpor
ating 21st Century
Learning in our cl
assrooms. We urtil
ize
LCD projectors, Sm
artBoards, and
document cameras
in our curriculum,
and
all students utilize
the computer lab in
every core class as
part of instruction
and
testing.
• Our Summer Clas
ses 4 Kids program
is
bigger than ever th
is year and offerin
g
a wide range of pr
ograms. We are pr
oud to have added
Chinese Immersio
a new program for
n in partnership w
ith
Loyola Marymount
StarTalk. This sum
University and
mer our program w
ill provide enrichm
number of kids than
ent to a greater
ever before.
• The Culver City
Adult School hoste
d our first career fa
professionals from
ire in which 20
the community spok
e with our student
choices and pathw
s regarding career
ays. We had a larg
e turnout and the fa
the staff, students,
ire was appreciate
and the guest spea
d by
kers.
State and Federa
l Programs:
• This year the Stat
e and Federal Prog
rams office has be
with the sites to en
en working closely
sure compliance.
Based on an intern
findings at other di
al analysis relative
stricts, CCUSD is
to
working hard and
complying with sta
do
ing an excellent jo
te and federal prog
b
ram requirements.
• Testing has gone
well this year in th
at sites are followin
requirements by th
g all procedures an
e state. This year,
d
the State and Fede
has worked closely
ral Programs offic
with the sites to fin
e
d more effective an
perform the testing
d efficient ways to
processes and ensu
re test security.
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
El Marino Language School
Students: 24% of our 3rd - 5th graders identified
as GATE; 931 API, the highest API of any dual
language immersion program in So. California; 5th
Annual Math Olympiad - 1st place and 4th place in
Individual Competition, 2nd place overall in Team
Competition; Cross-Age “Buddies” program through
Caring Schools Communities.
English Learners (CEEL) has brought in academic
researchers and experts to assist Spanish Program
with K-12 curriculum planning; Trout in the
Classroom service learning; Arts Integration through
AIP; Symphonic Jazz Orchestra Artists in Residency
in grades 1 & 2; We Tell Stories Residency in grades
K & 1.
Parents: Taught GrowingGreat’s Nutrition
Program to students; implemented Walk N’ Roll
Wednesdays to promote alternatives to driving to
school; organized First Annual Bike Safety Festival;
Thursday morning “Club de lectura,” a parent-run
book club for students.
Facilities: GrowingGreat garden area; sound/video
upgrade for Auditorium
Staff: Mike Yamakawa, FLAP Curriculum Specialist,
presented at National Two-Way CABE Conference;
implemented first year of a peer coaching model
among teachers using the OPAL (Observation
Protocol for Academic Literacy) process, designed
to help teachers reflect on their teaching and improve
student learning.
$620,000 in Grants: K12 JLP/SLP FLAP grant;
CCEF grants for music, technology; CA Bike to
School Day grant
Instruction: First year implementation of
SuccessMaker Reading and Math Software; formal
partnership with LMU’s Center for Equity for
Public Recognition: Designated as a 2012
California Distinguished School, California Business
for Education Excellence Honor Roll school for 2011
Community Support: International Spanish
Academy support through the Education Office of
the Spanish Consulate; partnership with Okinawan of
America Association; Consulate General of Japan’s
donation of a Japanese cherry tree to commemorate
the 1912 planting of cherry blossom trees in
Washington, D.C.
Does Your Child
Love to Sing?
Culver City Council of PTAs Congratulates
our Honorary Service Award Recipients
Dan O’Brien, Bonnie Wacker and Leslie Gardner
and our Golden Oak Service Award recipients
Jerry Chabola and Patricia Jaffe
Thank you for all that you do for our schools!
PAGE 7
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIO N
Congratulations to This Year’s
CCUSD Graduates!
NATALIA
It seems like yesterday that you were
just a little baby—every day a new
and exciting discovery.
It’s hard to believe that the young
lady we see before us is that same
little girl. We are so proud of you and
all of your accomplishments.
As you prepare for high school and this exciting new step in your life, know
that our SUPPORT & LOVE for you
is unconditional.
Congratulations Grad!
"Life is a journey, not a destination…”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Love,
Mama, Jeff, Sebastian, Candy, and Pam
Congratulations to Eddie MacDonald
for promoting from Linwood E.
Howe’s 2012 5th grade class into
Middle School!
Nicholas Iverson,
5th Grade Graduation
from La Ballona Elementary
We are so very proud of you - keep
up the good work.
Congratulations Nicholas on your
graduation.
You are very much loved!
Mom, Hev and Rino
CONGRATULATIONS
PAGE 8
Great job! We love you!
Love, Mommy, Daddy & Kennady
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIO N
Sofia Doris Gonzalez
Lauren Boxer
You still look fabulous!
You’re growing up so fast and we
are all so very proud of you!
Congratulations to our 8th grade
graduate.
Then & Now
And now on to high school.
Love,
Mom, Dad, Grandma and
Grandpa, U. Joel and A. Anita, A.
Susan and A. Paula, U. Steven
and A. Anne, Owen and Emmett,
U. John and U. Matt
Happy 5th Grade Graduation!
Always go for Your DREAMS!!
Love you,
Mom, Dad, Ana, Lazaritin, & Grandma! XO
Congratulations, Lucas
Congratulations, Maggie
“The charm of fishing is that it
is the pursuit of what is elusive
but attainable, a perpetual
series of occasions for hope.”
From your first day of preschool
to your last day at El Marino,
you’ve made us so proud!
Keep pursuing!
Good Luck at CCMS!
Love,
Love,
Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad
Benjamin:
Elijah,
You have always been a great
friend & brother, scholar, all-star
sportsman & gentle spirit.
We are so proud of you.
Here’s to
We love you so much and couldn’t
be more proud of you.
Rocking
it out in Middle School.
Love & congratulations to you
from: Mom, Dad, Austin, Fielden,
Brighton, Nana, Kenny, Grandpa,
David, Grandma-Great y Todo la
familia Perez.
Love...
Mom, Dad, Zeke,
Roscoe and Rabbit
In Loving Memory of Jacob Olivarri, we salute the Class of 2012.
Enjoy this moment because it will never repeat itself!
Best wishes,
The Olivarri Family
Proverbs 19:21
Ecclesiastes 3
PAGE 9
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
CULVER CITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION | BY LESLIE ADLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CCEF Astounds With Tribute to the Stars
A fantastic evening! A
fabulous celebration! So
much fun! That’s what
people have been saying
about The Culver City
Education Foundation’s
14th Annual Tribute to
the Stars held on Friday,
May 11. Our second
year at the historic Sony
Pictures Studios was a
resound success. A crowd
of over 450 in attendance
included parents, teachers,
administrators, classified
employees, and supportive
community members.
The evening began
with a wine and cheese
reception. Guests
mingled— sipping wine,
sampling cheeses, and
previewing the Live Auction Baskets while
student jazz combos from Culver City
High School’s Academy of Visual and
Performing Arts (AVPA) played classic
jazz standards.
After the reception, everyone filed into
the Cary Grant Theatre where awards were
presented to the Teacher of the Year, Kari
Fretham and Classified Employee of the
Culver City Middle School
Parent Teacher Student Association
Congratulates
Allison Brush
CCEF Volunteer of the Year
Thank you Allison for all you have given to our PTSA
PAGE 10
Year, Anissa McCullen. A few
very special supporters of our
schools were also honored;
Superintendent’s Award to The
Fineshriber Family Foundation,
and the CCEF President’s Award
to Cathy Hession of The Carol
& James Collins Foundation.
The extraordinary Volunteers
of the Year from each of our
schools were also recognized. It
is always fantastic to hear about
the inspiring activities in our
schools and to shine a light on
the amazing people who make
them happen.
Afterwards, everyone exited
to Sony’s Main Street to get the
Street Party going, choosing
their dinners from a fabulous
array of Kobe beef sliders, pizza,
grilled cheese, ravioli, chili,
chicken meatballs, kale salad, cookies,
brownies, macaroons, an ice cream sundae
bar, chocolates and so much more. In recent
years Culver City eateries have developed
quite a fine reputation, and everyone at the
Tribute could taste the food and agree.
When the DJ took over, the dance floor
started rocking. A strolling magician
amazed all with his sleight of hand rope,
coin and card tricks. A balloon artist
made wonderful one-of-a- kind corsages
and hats. And through it all, guests were
stopping by the photo booth and taking
home mementos of this magical evening.
In these hard budgetary times, when
every spare cent we have is going to our
kids and our schools, you may wonder how
the Ed Foundation managed to make this
remarkable night sparkle.
The efforts and teamwork of Tribute
Event Co- Chairs, Lise Friedman and Paula
Wilson, plus our trustees and volunteers
were, of course, crucial to the event’s
success. Everyone associated with this
event was incredibly generous: from the
business community who donated auction
items and the fabulous food to the awards
and event sponsors, including Association
of Classified Employees-Culver City,
Culver City Federation of Teachers, Equity
One, Inc., LA Urban Homes, Playa Vista,
Rotary Club of Culver City, See’s Candies,
Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Runyon
Group, The Willows Community School
and Tower Insurance Associates. The
success also came from our award winners
who have been performing feats of wonder
at our schools year in and year out and
from the attendees— parents, teachers,
administrators, classified employees and
community members, who opened their
wallets to purchase auction items and make
donations.
Happily, the magic didn’t end that night.
All next year, money raised by CCEF’s
Tribute to the Stars, will be funding grants
that will enliven and enrich our children’s
education. If you’re reading this but
didn’t have a chance to join us this year
for the Tribute, don’t worry. You can still
contribute to the magic at our schools
by making a donation to the Culver City
Education Foundation. Just visit www.ccef90230.org online, or call (310)
842-4220 x4212. CCEF will welcome your
donation and membership.
Lastly, we would not be able to put on
such a marvelous party without the support
of Sony Pictures Studios. Thank you for
being such a great Event Sponsor!
Looking forward to seeing everyone at
next year’s annual Tribute to the Stars.
SHINING STARS – Pictured, clockwise from
top left, Ann Murakami, left, President of Rotary
Club of Culver City presents the Rotary Club
of Culver City Classified Employee of the Year
Award to Anissa McCullen, center, along with
Leslie Lockhart, CCUSD’s Director of Human
Resources. Sibyl Buchanan, left, of Playa Vista
presents the Playa Vista CCEF President’s
Award to Cathy Hession. Janice Pober,
Senior Vice President for Corporate Social
Responsibility at Sony Pictures Entertainment
presents the Sony Pictures Entertainment
Teacher of the Year Award to Kari Fretham.
photos by Craig Ferré
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
El Rincon Elementary School
State of the Art Science Lab
CCEF Science Lab Grant
STEM Night
Annual Science Fair
SuccessMaker Club
Career Day
Student Council
Growing Great Garden and Nutrition Program
Olweus Anti-Bullying
Cultural Diversity
Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Annual Black History Month Celebration
Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest Winner 2011/2012
Reading Buddies
Young Storytellers
Book Pals (through Screen Actors Guild)
Cougar Chorus
Symphonic Jazz Orchestra Music Center Program/1st and 2nd Grades
La Ballona Wetlands Field Trips Grades 1 – 5
Audubon Society Program
STAR After School Enrichment Program
STAR Rock Band Performance at the House of Blues
Mad Science After School Enrichment Program
TGA Golf Program
And through our wonderful PTA:
The Animal Guys Kinder Assembly
Peterson Automotive Museum 2nd Grade Field Trip
George C. Page Museum/La Brea Tar Pits 2nd Grade Field Trip
Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage 2nd Grade Field Trip
Eco Station Field Trip 3rd Grade
San Fernando Mission Field Trip 4th Grade
Riley’s Farm 5th Grade Field Trip
Griffith Park Observatory 5th Grade Field Trip
Broadstage Theater Santa Monica 5th Grade Field Trip
Kindergarten and New Student Welcome Picnic
Jog-A-Thon
Family Movie Night
Scholastic Book Fairs
Family Reading Night Luau
Student Dances
Lin Howe PTA
Proudly Honors Our
2012
Honorary Service Award Recipients
Our nine recipients were chosen because of their continued service to
our school and to our students. Their continued support and efforts
ensure that Linwood Howe students thrive and have unique
opportunities to learn and grow.
Lili Glassman - 2nd Grade Teacher
Arnold Sosa - School Custodian
Anissa McCullen - School Secretary
Ellie Dawson - Parent Volunteer
Meera Ichharam - Parent Volunteer
Mary Richardson - Parent Volunteer
Ann Treleven - Parent Volunteer
Anthony Amezquita - Student Volunteer
Marina Farberov - School Psychologist
Culver City Middle School
PTSA
takes pride in announcing its
2012 Honorary Service Award Recipients
Honorary Service Awards:
Eric Foster, Jon Pearson, Howard Behnken,
Sue Procko, Amy Shimoda, Brenna Guthrie,
Tracy Davis, Shele Blaisdell, & Joan Salvaterra
Very Special Person Awards:
James Sparling & Allison Brush
Continuing Service Awards:
Larry Weiner & Leslie Gardner
We thank you all for your commitment, generosity & dedication.
Your service helps to make our school a better place to learn and grow.
PAGE 11
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
Culver City Park High School
We, the staff and students of Culver Park High School and Independent Study School, are
extremely proud of our many accomplishments. Not every student fits the mold of a traditional
high school program. Culver Park provides alternative opportunities for students to be successful
and graduate, on time. As one of our senior students aptly stated, “Culver Park is a life saver!”
We couldn’t have developed a better description of our mission, if we had written it ourselves.
The following is a partial list of our Culver Park, Points of Pride, in alpha order:
TOP STUDENTS – (Top) Scholarship Award winners Kameron Lyons, Edgar
Munoz, Sweet Hope Camacho and Arnold Jeronimo. (Bottom) Students joke
around with Culver Park High School Principal Rosie LaBriola, right.
California State ROP Silver Award Winner (Michael Burke)
Community Tutoring Volunteers
Community Vocational Education Program (CVE)
Counseling Interns
Culver City Community Scholarship Winners (Arnold Jeronimo, Kameron Lyons, Edgar Munoz)
Drug & Alcohol Group and Counseling Program
Field Trips
Flexibility of learning opportunities
Frequent Credit Checks for High School Graduation
Great Office Staff Who Stay Connected With the Students
Hardworking Teachers
HeART Project (Art and Leadership Program)
Improved Attendance
Increased Student Tolerance and Acceptance of Others
K-9 Connection Project (Students Train Shelter Dogs for Adoption & Learn Leadership Skills)
Margaret Fujisawa (College Counseling & CPHS Volunteer of the Year)
Mini Student Study Team Meetings
Men’s Counseling Group
On-line Attendance and Attendance Reporting
Our Very Own Campus
Preparation for CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam)
Regional Occupational Program (ROP-Students Gain Experience in the World of Work)
Sony Mentoring & Leadership Program
Student Board of Education Representative
Student Council & Council Activities
Student Presentations
Student Support for El Marino Festival
Student Vegetable Garden
Students Who Graduate by the End of Their Junior Year
Teachers, at CPHS, Do Daily After-School Tutoring
Todd Siegal Scholarship Award Winner (Sweet Hope Camacho)
Toys for Tots Collection
UCLA Doctorial Candidate Volunteer
Valentines for Veterans Program
Volunteer Photographer for Year Book Pictures
Year Book Published by Our Own Staff & Students
Weekly Staff Meetings
Women’s Counseling Group
LA BALLONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BY MARGARET COLEMAN
La Ballona Second Graders Experience A True Whale Tale
About 115 La Ballona second grade
students were given a rare opportunity
recently when they boarded a school bus
and were driven to – the movies! The
film, The Big Miracle, was the fact-based
account of how in 1988 three California
gray whales, injured and trapped under
ice near Barrow, Alaska, caused an
international media frenzy. Called The
Story of the Three Whales in the second
grade reading anthology, this popular
nonfiction selection in the “Kindness”
unit focuses on the plight of the whales,
telling the bitter sweet account of how the
two adults survived, while the baby whale
apparently did not. In real life, factions
that would normally be at odds, such as the
American and Russian governments (still
emerging from the Cold War), oil moguls,
PAGE 12
Green Peace and the native Innuits, joined
forces to try to rescue the three struggling
whales. Some facts were changed to make
the material more accessible (the Innuit
names for the whales were changed to
Fred, Wilma, and Bambam, for example),
but the film story remains true to life, and
the students were entranced.
La Ballona teacher Donna Bernal came
up with the idea for the field trip when
she heard of the film’s imminent release.
On her own time over a weekend, Mrs.
Bernal contacted the manager of the
Culver Pacific Theater, convincing her to
change the movie’s original screening time
to accommodate the school bus driver’s
schedule. The La Ballona Booster Club
had already made a commitment to pay
for the tickets, bought at a discount price
that applied to the teachers’ and parent
volunteers’ tickets, as well. As with the
three whale’s story, time was of the essence
as no one knew how long the movie would
play in the Culver Pacific Theater. As
mirrored in the film, somehow everything
came together. Bessy Reyna, the food
services coordinator at La Ballona, agreed
to let second graders lunch early that day,
the sole bus driver agreed to make two runs
to transport everyone, and soon 115 wiggly
second graders were being corralled into
the Pacific Theater’s spacious lobby.
For several of the excited students, this
was the first time they had stepped foot
inside a movie theater. For others, movie
theater “frequent flyers,” they wondered
why no was serving them popcorn or
slushies. For all, adults and children
alike, the film caught them off guard
when the baby whale failed to surface and
was presumed dead. Advance press had
suggested this part of the story would be
soft-pedaled, but it certainly was not. There
was hardly a dry eye in the house when
the Innuit whaling chief sang a traditional
prayer for baby Bambam. Thankfully
the Russians, with their huge ice breaker
barge, breached the massive ice wall and
the movie ended happily with the two adult
whales emerging from beneath the ice bank
and swimming towards freedom. All in
all, a trip that La Ballona second graders,
parent volunteers, and teachers will not
soon forget.
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
FARRAGUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BY PRINCIPAL LYNN EBORA
Farragut Foxes Celebrate A Great Year
As we prepare to wrap up the 2011 –
2012 school year and send our little Foxes
on their way to a much deserved summer
break, we can take pride in what we have
achieved. This has been an extraordinary
year for Farragut Elementary! Of course
we have our parents, students, and staff to
thank for this as they generously shared
their time, creativity, energy, and talent.
To start the year, our parents and
kindergarten teachers welcomed the new
batch of cubs with a picnic at the front
lawn. This was soon followed with many
activities that our parents meticulously
planned. At our annual Fall Festival,
Farragut families shared fun-filled moments
to raise funds for our programs. We
displayed our creativity and enthusiasm, as
we became ghouls, superheroes, villains,
princesses, and other famous characters in
celebration of Halloween. We all tried our
luck at the Beach Blanket Bingo Night and
were inspired by the cool jobs our parents
shared with us during Career Day. We
cheered our students as they participated in
Jog-a-thon. We enjoyed arts and crafts and
music during Community Arts Day. And
for one night, parents and staff left our little
Foxes behind and got dressed to the nines
during the ArtWorks! Gala.
Our year would not have been complete
without our Student Council, Choir and
Bells, field trips, and assemblies. The
students enjoyed spirit days when they
came to school in their pajamas, brought
their favorite stuff animal, or had crazy
hair. Each grade level’s teams went on
great field trips to places such as San
Juan Capistrano Mission, House of Blues,
Topanga Canyon, and L.A. Zoo.
In addition to all these exciting events is
the rich arts program we provide. We have
Do Re Mi for our kindergarten, Symphonic
Jazz Orchestra for 1st and 2nd grade,
Storytelling for 3rd grade, L.A. Opera for
4th grade, and American Folkdance for
5th grade. We also have many classrooms
participating in the Arts Integration
Program through the Music Center.
Through all these, we made a
successful bid for the 2012 California
Distinguished School Award, which
provided an unprecedented excitement
and collaborative efforts among all
members of the Farragut community. The
beautification campaign led by our PTA
leaders was impressive and the successful
site validation visit, which showcased our
talented staff and students, helped secure
this prestigious award.
As this school year ends, we congratulate
our fifth graders who are moving on to
middle school. Thanks to Ms. Huour,
Ms. Manglinong, and Mrs. Roberts for
providing them the tools they will need to
tackle new challenges along the way. We
send them best wishes as they forge a new
adventure.
FOX FUN – Students at Farragut Elementary
School enjoy some of the school’s many
activities throughout the year. Pictured are,
clockwise from top, the schools annual Fall
Festival, Beach Blanket Bingo Night, the annual
Jog-A-Thon and students performing as L.A.
Opera artists teach them their roles as chorus
members in The Prospector, a charming gold
rush opera by Lee Holdridge and Richard
Sparks based on Puccini’s The Girl of the
Golden West.
PAGE 13
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
Culver City
High School
• Identified as a top 200 California high school by
U.S. News and World Report earning their Silver
Award..
• Over 900 Advanced Placement exams
administered this year.
• 50% of the student body is enrolled in at least one
Honors or AP class.
• Arts programs garner awards, honors, recognition,
and scholarships for participating students.
• Competitive sports program is home to league
champions in girls basketball (undefeated),
baseball (undefeated), swimming (undefeated),
and golf (undefeated). We are also proud of our
2011 CIF Finalist Football Team, and 2012 CIF
Semi-Finalist Girls Basketball Team.
• Competitive Robotics Team competes
internationally.
• School-wide Wi-Fi installed for improved internet
access across campus.
• Blended learning models with interactive online
curriculum in 15 subject areas.
• Phase one of Regional Occupational Facility
renovations include Culinary Arts facility
renovations, film production studio, and new
computer lab.
PAGE 14
Maintenance, Operations
& Transportation Department
Work Orders:
• 2,897 Completed – July 1, 2011 to April 17,
2012
Transportation:
• 495 Field Trips Assigned and Completed – July
1, 2011 to April 17, 2012.
• 81 Special Needs Children - Daily transportation.
• 36 Home to school students – Daily
transportation.
Site Improvements:
• Replace swingset and install rubber surfacing at
Farragut kindergarten playground.
Repairs:
• Roof replacement @ El Marino rooms 6-15.
• Roof replacement @ Middle School rooms 130,
132 & 134.
• Roof repair @ High school Library.
• Remove and replace damaged wall @ El Rincon.
• Continued Field Renovations @ Lin Howe, El
Marino and High School.
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
Linwood E. Howe Elementary School
Academic
• During School- Continuing
o Teachers working in Professional
Learning Communities
o Math Olympiads, Grades 4-5
o Teachers trained in Supplemental
Singapore Math Strategies
oAssemblies
o Standards-Based Field Trips
o Egg Drop
o Instructional Aides
• After School- Continuing
o Enrichment Classes
o Homework Help Classes
o Science Fair
o SuccessMaker Computer
Intervention
• New This Year
o Technology in ClassroomsSMART Boards in 3 classrooms
and document cameras in ALL
classrooms
o SuccessMaker Computer Program
Intervention
Enrichment
• During School- Continuing
o Big Buddies
o Student Council School Spirit Days
• Before/After School- Continuing
o Book Fairs
o Enrichment Classes such as self
defense, Lego Engineering, and
keyboarding
• New This Year
o Free Golf Classes
Character Education
• Continuing
o Character Counts!- monthly trait
focus and awards assemblies
o Service Learning Projects- Trout in
the Classroom and Ballona Wetlands
• New This Year
o Peer Pals- Reverse Mainstreaming
Program Focusing on Social Skills
and Disabilities Awareness
Environmental Awareness
• Continuing
o Safe Routes to School Grant Funded
(nearly $450,000)
o School-Wide Recycling Program
• New This Year
o Hiking Vikings- Walk to School
Fridays
o Green 5 Pilot School
o “Green Seats” in every classroom to
support recycling efforts
Arts Education
• Continuing
o Arts Outreach Committee (Parents)
o Choir weekly, Grades 3-5
o Instrumental Music, Grades 3-5
o Partnership with The Music Center,
Grades 2-5
o Partnership with Symphonic Jazz
Orchestra, Grades 1-3
o We Tell Stories, Grades K and 1
o Young Storytellers Foundation
o Actors’ Gang
• New This Year
o Free after school art projects
Family Activities
• Continuing
o Daily Morning Assemblies
o Buckaroo Bash Dinner and Dance
o Silent Auction: Adult Evening
Fundraiser
o Fall Carnival
o International Dinner
o Family Movie Nights
o Campus Beautifications
Parent Involvement and Education
• Continuing
oPTA
o Linwood E Howe Boosters
o English Learner Advisory
Committee (ELAC)
o School Site Council
o Anti-Bullying Subcommittee
o Latino Family Literacy Project
o Math Classes for Parents
o Volunteers in classrooms
• New This Year
o Computer Classes for Parents
o Guest Speaker at PTA Meetings
LIN HOWE ACHIEVEMENTS – (Top) Grace Jacobsen and Daniel Rodriguez showing off evidence
of our “greening” efforts, including our Hiking Vikings trophy, made of repurposed materials.
(Above left) Fifth-grade students working on SuccessMaker computer program. (Above right)
Kindergarteners Arlene Gutierrez, Keenan Carter, Dustin Penchansky, Addie Free, and Miles Facher
showing off their Dr. King artwork.
PAGE 15
END OF YEAR POINTS OF PRIDE SPECIAL EDITION
Office of Child Development
• “Recognition and Response Intervention for Preschool
Students.” Recognition & Response (R&R), which is
based on Response to Intervention (RTI) school-age
model, is an emerging practice in early childhood
education. R&R’s key components are the same as
RTI. They include systematic screening, progress
monitoring, the use of multiple tiers of increasingly
intense interventions, and a problem-solving process
to aid in decision-making. The goal of Recognition
& Response is to create high quality (general and
special education) early childhood classrooms in
which teachers have a good understanding of early
childhood development and curriculum, administer
periodic universal screening for all children and use
research-based interventions, along with progress
monitoring for individual children who show signs
of developmental/learning difficulties. All preschool
teachers and instructional
assistants have participated in
training geared toward final
integration of R&R techniques
and screening into preschool
classrooms. By having general
education preschool teachers
with a strong understanding of
child development and special
education preschool teachers
with expertise in interventions,
we hope to yield positive results
for all children by bringing
these two groups together. This
strategy will hopefully reduce the number of children
referred for assessment and identified for special
education at the preschool and elementary levels.
• “Preschool Science Fair.” The preschool staff at
the Center for Early Education (CEE) Preschool
site decided to work together during the months
of February and March focusing much of their
instruction and lessons around the subject of science.
As a result, students were able to explore, investigate,
hypothesize and discover what science and scientific
experiences are all about, while teachers connected
this learning to the State Preschool Content Standards.
To conclude this two-month journey through the
world of science, the staff held a “Family Science
Fair,” on Saturday, March 24th. This gave students the
opportunity to showcase what they had been learning
through our hall of exhibits. It also gave parents and
other audiences a chance to participate in hands on
activities that immersed them (as it did our students)
into the world of science.
• School-Age Program “Arts for All.” Several OCD
After School Sites coordinated their efforts to
integrate Art Education as a part
of the extended enrichment of the
after school program. The children
learned about many different
artists, art styles, art techniques
and skills. They explored creative
materials and learned how to create
and design their own original art
pieces. The culmination of this
educational excursion was an
amazing Art Show Gallery, hosted
by students and staff, for family
and friends.
•
This year, all of the OCD
classrooms “Went Green.” Through a fully funded
energy efficiency grant provided by the California
Preschool Energy Efficiency Program (CREEP) and
Southern California Edison, we were able to convert
all the lighting fixtures in all of our classrooms
and offices to energy saving, efficient alternative
fluorescent lighting. While the initial eligibility
criteria was for preschool, the grant was extended to
include our after school classrooms as they are located
on K-5 elementary campuses, within a district who’s
community embraces the philosophy behind “Going
Green.”
• We would like to celebrate our 3rd year of being
able to host our “Family Fun Festival.” This event,
sponsored by the Office of Child Development in
conjunction with our Parent Advisory Council,
was for all students and families currently enrolled
(approximately 893 students) in the Office of Child
Development, Preschool and After School Programs.
What made this event so special is the fact that we
were able to give back to our families who have
supported us by making this a TOTALLY FREE
EVENT. The festivities offered game booths with
prizes, face painting, sack and three legged races,
bouncers, obstacle courses, entertainment and food
galore, including hot dogs, chips, drinks, snow cones
and more.