School News Roll Call, Nov-Jan 2014-15
Transcription
School News Roll Call, Nov-Jan 2014-15
F E E R ® Education + Communication = A Better Nation Covering the Tustin Unified School District VOLUME 10, ISSUE 50 SUPERINTENDENT In Touch with TUSD The 2014-15 school year got off to a roaring start at Tustin Unified! Getting a school year off to a Gregory A. successful start for Franklin, Ed. D. 24,000 students, over 2,000 employees and 28 schools is a complex task that takes outstanding work from everyone in the organization. Besides the outstanding work that happened on each campus by teachers, principals, counselors and staff, I want to highlight some other outstanding projects. Over 780 teachers participated in the three-day Literacy Institute where elementary teachers focused on a balanced literacy approach – rigorous reading and writing instruction – and secondary teachers focused on raising the level of rigor, See Superintendent • Page 15 www.SchoolNewsRollCall.com NOVEMBER 2014–JANUARY 2015 “State of the Schools” Connects with the Community By Mark Eliot Director of Communications The Tustin Unified School District and Tustin Public Schools Foundation held their third annual State of the Schools Breakfast on September 22 in the Tustin High School Sports Pavilion. Over 330 people – administrators, staff, parents, city officials, business and community members – attended the event, which celebrated the accomplishments of TUSD and raised funds for the Foundation. The breakfast included an address by Superintendent Gregory Franklin about Tustin Unified’s learning and technology initiatives, the video debut of “TUSD Connect: A Year of Learning” and student musical performances. Tustin High School’s award-winning Dance Team gets into the swing of things. Tustin High’s Jazz Band, under the direction of Michael Fisk, and Tustin High Dance Team, led by coaches Kierstie Nielsen, Kaylee Uribe and Jon Aldanese, performed for the group. Tustin High ASB assisted with the decorations, set up and take down and VIP parking. The “Year of Learning” video can be seen on the TUSD Web site’s Home Page at www.tustin.k12.ca.us. Learning Laptops in Students’ Hands SAT Scores Higher than State and Nation By Mark Eliot, Director of Communications High school students at Beckman, Foothill, Hillview and Tustin are utilizing their new Toshiba laptops for optimal learning experiences in the classroom this school year. Since September, over 15,000 student iPads and Toshiba laptops were distributed to fifth- through 12thgrade students, while another 3,000 iPads are being used in kindergarten through fourth-grade classrooms – all funded through the Measure S program. In the photo to the right, Beckman students are seen working on their laptops during the first day of distribution. Each day, more than 22,000 devices are connected to the TUSD Students explore their new laptops. network. By Mark Eliot, Director of Communications The Tustin Unified School District has announced that its 2014 Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores continue to be higher than California and national scores. For the fifth consecutive year, the District also reported an increase in the number of college-bound seniors who took the SAT. High school students throughout the nation take the SAT each year. The test consists of math, critical reading and writing sections. The results are published by the College Board as part of the criteria used for admission to colleges and universities. Tustin Unified’s average math score of 554 continues to be well above the state average of 510 and national average of 513. The District’s average critical reading score of 536 is also above the state average of 498 and national average of 497. The District’s writing score of 545 is much higher than California’s score of 496 and the national average of 487. TUSD’s total mean score of 1635 significantly exceeded the state mean score of 1504 and the national mean score of 1497. For 2014, Tustin Unified students outperformed students in the nation by 39 points in critical reading and 41 points in math. District students averaged 49 points over the state average and 58 points over the national average in writing. During the 2014-15 school year, Tustin Unified will target instruction to increase the number of graduates who participate in higher level courses and complete UC/CSU entrance requirements. Inside: Schools pages 3—13 • Tustin Public Schools Foundation page 2 • District Services page 14 • Contest page 18 National Merit Scholarship Students page 15 • Orange County Department of Education page 19 Tustin Public Schools Foundation 150 El Camino Real, Suite 140, Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/832-6299 • www.tpsf.net Education + Communication = A Better Nation www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Dino Dash Raises Funds for School Grants By Makenzie Hirz, Event Assistant (FHS 2009) The successful 24th Annual Dino Dash Run, Walk, and Ride for Education was this past Sunday, November 2nd, 2014. Thank you to everyone who donated, participated, and volunteered in support of the Tustin Public Schools Foundation. We had children of all ages, families, and students come out for a day of fitness and fun. Proceeds from the event benefit all 28 local public schools within the Tustin Unified School District. Carol Burby Through these proceeds, the Tustin Public Schools Garrett Foundation is able to award Classroom and School Grants. The Executive Director Foundation’s Grant Program is designed to support education standards at individual schools and inspire effective teaching and learning. To celebrate the Foundation’s 25th anniversary, grants up to $3,000 are available per school for classroom or school-wide projects, books, teacher professional development, and more. For further information, go to www.tpsf.net. ® Covering the TUSTIN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Netragrednik Neta Madison Kay Coop Founder/Publisher FOUNDER/PUBLISHER: Kay Coop 562/493-3193 • [email protected] ADVERTISING SALES: Leslie Rawlings 714/856-9884 • Fax: 562/430-8063 [email protected] CONTENT COORDINATOR: Barbra Longiny GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Meshel Negrete COPY EDITORS: Lisa Brock, Kate Karp & Anna Zappia CONTRIBUTING CARTOONIST: Netragrednik by Neta Madison This issue includes articles about Walk to School Day, learning skills for fitness and a healthy lifestyle. In addition to academics the District is focused on healthy minds and bodies. Each issue Teresa Squibb, Director of Nutrition Services, brings you up to date on healthy dietary choices. That is especially important with the tempting holiday food. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. We are always mindful of the men and women in our armed forces. Our next issue is February 19, 2015... yes, 2015! Happy New Year! @SchoolNewsRC SchoolNewsRollCall SchoolNewsRollCall SCHOOL NEWS ROLL CALL, LLC P.O. Box 728, Seal Beach, CA 90740 562/493-3193 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Copyright © 2006, School News Roll Call, LLC Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited unless otherwise stated. Opinions expressed by contributing writers and guest columnists are their views and not necessarily those of School News Roll Call. This publication is privately owned and the right is reserved to select and edit content. The school district does not endorse the advertisers in this publication. 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Certificate LPCC Respecialization in Clinical Counseling Orange County Regional Center 1915 Orangewood Ave., Ste. 100 Orange, CA 92868 Credentials Mild/Moderate Disabilities Specialist Moderate/Severe Disabilities Specialist Multiple Subject Teaching Single Subject Teaching Preliminary Administrative Services Professional Administrative Services Now enrolling! Contact us today. apu.edu/orange | (714) 935-0260 [email protected] 16793 AZUSA | HIGH DESERT | INLAND EMPIRE | LOS ANGELES | MURRIETA | ORANGE COUNTY | SAN DIEGO | ONLINE 2 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Arroyo Elementary School 11112 Coronel Rd., Santa Ana, CA 92705 • 714/730-7381 Giving Back When you walk onto the Arroyo Elementary School campus, you can tell that there is much more to this school than academics. Arroyo is all about giving back to the community. This year, Arroyo has participated in a variety of activities to do just that. In September, students turned out at Peppertree Park to support pediatric cancer research at the second annual loom-a-thon. How excited students were to see the inventor of the Amy Fedderly popular rubber-band loom there to support the effort. Principal Students have also participated in additional events through Ripple Kids, Boy and Girl Scouts, and school-based activities. We’ve raised money for Orange County animal shelters and provided new socks and canned food for families in need. As the new principal, I am thrilled to see this philanthropic attitude in action. I know that students can truly make an impact in their communities, and I can’t wait to see what they will come up with next! Arroyo fifth-graders Zoe Skinner, Grace Fischer and Teagan Prowell volunteer at the Loom-a-thon. Helping Families to Buy and Sell in North Tustin for More Than 35 Years. Arnold O. Beckman High School 3588 Bryan Ave., Irvine, CA 92602 • 714/734-2900 College Day 2014 Beckman High School’s goal is to ensure college and career readiness for our students. On October 15, Beckman hosted its first College Day for all grade levels. Freshmen took the College Board Readistep, a test that provides feedback on how well each student is performing in key academic areas. Sophomores and juniors took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), also the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Adele Heuer Program. Principal Seniors had the opportunity to attend workshops on collegelevel athletics, art schools, financial aid, career and technical programs, the community college transfer process, and application workshops for the University of California, California State University, and the Common Application for private colleges/universities. In addition, workshops were held on writing a personal statement and Naviance, an online program focused on college and career exploration. The workshops were presented by experts in the field, and the application workshops were led by Beckman’s four counselors. Beckman students attend workshops during College Day. 43rd Annual Jack & Jill Guild Open to the Public To Tustin Unified School District Families – We offer Discounts on the Sale of Your Property and Rebates on any Purchase “California Classics” Mike Knight Broker/Owner • DRE#00832944 (714) 544-4900 [email protected] • www.mikeknight.com REMAX REAL ESTATE ONE 12341 Newport Ave. Suite A-100, North Tustin, CA 92705 Covering the Tustin Unified School District Proceeds Benefit Friday, November 21, 2014 Tickets $50 – Includes lunch Home Tour: 10am – 5pm Boutique: 9am – 5pm Information & Tickets: www.JackandJillGuild.org November 2014—January 2015 3 Barbara Benson Elementary School 12712 Elizabeth Way, Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7531 Walk to School Day On October 8, Benson students and families participated in International Walk to School Day. We would like to thank a local church for welcoming the Benson families with a light breakfast and Deena Vela providing a Principal meeting place for everyone to meet and walk together as a community. This is a global event that involves communities from all over the world walking to school on the same day. This day represents our school’s mission and vision to create a fun learning environment, encourage healthy habits, advocate for a cleaner environment, promote safety, and most importantly, improving neighborhood connections and relationships. This was a great event that allowed Benson families to come together to make a difference. Way to go Benson Benson students Camila, Daniel and Cesar smile as they walk to school. Bears! Smile Back Dental Group C h u n z h u Yu , D . D . S . , I N C . Braces and Denstistry for Kids and Adults One doctor with a whole mouth approach to care and treatment! Dr. Yu focuses on a broad treatment approach. Straightening teeth is not enough. You need a healthy smile with no gum disease and no cavities. We watch and check for this on each visit rather than once every 6 months. Children’s dentistry allows us to monitor your baby/adult teeth early on and evaluate for straightening. Chunzhu Yu, D.D.S. USC Graduate with over 20 years experience • Convenient and Affordable • Insurance-DentiCal-Care Credit • Saturday Appointments Available 714-538-5877 1500 E Katella Ave., Suite L-Orange CA 92867 www.smilebackdentalgroup.com 4 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Benjamin Beswick Elementary School 1362 Mitchell Ave., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7385 Clinic in the Park Students from Beswick and Thorman elementary schools participated in the Clinic in the Park with their parents in October. Bobby Grich, retired Angels All-Star second baseman, attended and delivered a motivational talk to families on staying fit and eating healthy. Children received autographed pictures of Mr. Grich and had the opportunity to ask him questions about Eileen Delaney being a major league baseball player. Irene Thomas, community liaison at Beswick Elementary, Principal coordinated the trip during which families were able to access medical and dental services, referrals to community resources, child safety information and parent-education resources. Retired Angels’ player Bobby Grich signs autographs for Adan Ochoa, Milce Palacios, Jaime Ochoa and Angel Rodriguez. The October visit to the clinic was a huge success. After accessing services and participating in the health chat by Bobby Grich, students and their families toured the park’s farm where all the produce harvested is donated to the local food bank—another example of how community members work together to take care of one another. Columbus Tustin Middle School 17952 Beneta Way, Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7352 Supporting Student Success Columbus Tustin Middle School partners with many outside community organizations to help provide various student support and learning opportunities beyond the regular school day. These programs are made possible through the hard work of volunteers, donations, and our counselors who coordinate them. The Beyond School Walls program provides Bulldog students with 1:1 mentors from a local company. Each month a select Dean Crow group of students boards a bus to the company’s corporate office Principal to spend two hours in a structured individualized mentorship within the corporate world. Students work on topics that include financial literacy, career development, college planning, and team building. Girls Inc. volunteers meet with our students once a week for an hour after school throughout the first semester. This program seeks to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold. Girls Inc. gives students the tools and support they need to succeed, including trained professionals who can mentor and guide them in a safe, girls-only environment. Columbus Tustin also partners with the UC Irvine chapter of WYSE. The chapter brings university women onto the campus to meet with our students once a week after school for 16 weeks. This program helps empower our young women by providing the resources and support they need to make positive life choices and create community change. Columbus Tustin also partners with THINK Together to provide a daily after-school program. This consists of various academic and enrichment elements, as well as a healthy living component that features physical fitness, character education and nutrition education. A.G. Currie Middle School 1402 Sycamore Ave., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7360 Panthers Reach Out for Healthy Living At Currie, students continue to impress and exceed expectations. The talented staff and students have created a tremendous synergy that has resulted in unprecedented success at Currie Middle School. Currie recently had the honor of being named the only Title I High Achieving Middle School in Orange County, and our Erick Fineberg staff continues to push and challenge our students in rich and authentic ways. Recently, the eighth-grade Core classes looked at Principal the attendance rates of TUSD students and students across the nation. In doing so, they focused on critical areas of need for elementaryage students. Their research was put into practice by hosting the Health Faire for their third-grade fellow big cats, in which they educated groups of five students on an issue challenging a healthy lifestyle. Currie students overwhelmed their younger peers and the faculty with their thoughtfulness and informative lessons. It was an impressive showing and another example of the great work being doing by the Currie eighth-graders educate third-grade Thorman students teachers and staff at about child obesity and the dangers as part of the Health Fair. Currie. Foothill High School 19251 Dodge Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705 • 714/730-7464 Laptop Computers This is an exciting time at Foothill High School. Late in September, students received their very own laptop computers. These laptops, funded by Measure S, have already begun to transform the classrooms as a part of the Tustin Unified School District Connect initiative. In just three short weeks, we have seen students collaboratively creating presentations and Dr. Nick Stephany writing articles, finding information from primary sources on the Internet, and using spreadsheets to collect data and make Principal predictions. Teachers and students are excited by the potential these laptops hold. One of the biggest benefits of the laptop computers is the extension of classroom collaboration. Using programs such as Google Docs, students are able to collectively contribute to assignments without the boundaries of the classroom walls. Evidence and facts are available at the touch of a button, allowing students to spend less time on finding factoids and more time on collectively constructing knowledge and applying that knowledge to real-life situations. While the computers are great, they do not replace good teachers. Our teachers are spending hours upon hours designing sound lesson plans that actively engage students in their learning and supported by technology. The classroom standards have become more rigorous. As a result, our students are receiving a first-class education. In less than a month, we have started to see the potential that these computers can unlock. Covering the Tustin Unified School District Helen Estock Elementary School 14741 North. B St., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7390 Estock Eagles Walk to School The Estock Eagles laced up their walking shoes for our recent International Walk to School Day on October 8. Almost 150 families, students, and staff met at Peppertree Park and walked to Estock School. Two officers from the Tustin Police Department met the families at the park and escorted them on their walk, helping everyone safely cross the streets on their way to school. Our Beth Rabel Blackman scholars from Estock Elementary also made signs and banners to Principal carry on the walk to let the neighbors know the purpose of this activity. Walk to School Day is one component of our school’s plan to focus on the health and wellness of our student community. It was also the kick-off event for the Parent Teacher Association’s “Fire up Your Feet” campaign. Estock is also providing nutrition lessons during the day in cooperation with the Orange County Department of Education, by using a healthy snack and treat policy. It is even hosting a running club for Almost 150 students, families, and staff walked to students during recess! Estock Elementary for Walk to School Day on October. Use Coupon SCHOOL For Special Pricing Sick of Dirty, Smelly Trash Cans? Your Solution is Here! Wheelie Spotless Trash Can Cleaning Service Cleaned ~ Sterilized ~ Deodorized Call Now for your SCHOOL Special www.wheeliespotless.com 855.wheelie - 855.943.3543 BEFORE AFTER November 2014—January 2015 5 Guin Foss Elementary School 18492 Vanderlip Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705 • 714/730-7552 Student Council Elections, Fall 2014 Fall Student Council Elections took place in October. Fortyseven students in grades 3–5 participated in the election process. They campaigned with posters and gave speeches at a school assembly. We are excited to announce that Kevin Zayas will be our new president, and he looks Kelly Fresch forward to Principal working with 11 other students now through February to support the Guin Foss student body. They plan to sell holidaygrams, healthy snacks and pencils to raise money for their annual class donation. They also plan to make Red Ribbon Week a fun-filled event. They will provide support to the community with projects like a cannedfood collection, a toy drive and natural-disaster relief. In addition, they will determine Spirit Days for each month and be responsible for giving out rewards at Friday Flag Assemblies. As their advisor, I look forward to working closely with them as they grow as Thomas Mendoza, Sophia Suarez, and Kevin Zayas, leaders on campus! Candidates for President, with Advisor Mrs. Fresch. Hewes Middle School 13232 Hewes Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705 • 714/730-7348 Happenings at Hewes Over the summer our Hewes campus was rejuvenated with several exciting renovations. Five science classrooms were updated along with the art classroom and home economics. This work helps bring new life into these classrooms. It also gets them ready to further implement our 21st-century learning strategies for students. In alignment with TUSD Connect, these stress rigorous standards and engaging strategies that utilize Eric Kilian technology. Principal The Hewes PTA recently offered its students the opportunity to see a multimedia presentation by the Rachel’s Challenge program. This event focused on the importance of setting a “chain reaction of kindness” both in school and during our daily lives. In addition to setting and writing down goals, the program also helps to promote a positive learning environment where all students can feel welcome and included. Perhaps the most powerful part of this assembly was the optional training offered to students after school that will continue to create a culture of kindness and compassion. Over 150 students at Hewes volunteer for the Friends of Rachel Club. With assistance from the Tustin Public Schools Foundation, Hewes is proud to announce the launch of its new robotics program, which is run through our Science, Technology, Engineering and Math class (STEM). It has been amazing to watch our team problem-solve, plan, and write computer code to direct our robot as they get ready to compete against the other district middle schools. Go, Highlanders! 6 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Robert Heideman Elementary School 15571 Williams St., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7521 Reading Workshop It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Heideman Elementary School kindergarten and first-grade teacher Catherine Lien snapped a photo of one of her students during Reading Workshop, and I’ve been thinking a lot about what it’s saying. At the time this photo was taken, Ms. Lien’s students were spread around the room, reading independently. This photo then tells us that, on her own initiative, after encountering a Sean Lindsay challenge, she quietly rose from her reading spot, walked over to Principal the easel, and flipped to a chart that she remembered from a lesson. She is an independent problem solver. The photo also tells us that the reader is striving to independently apply a previously taught reading strategy. Ms. Lien could hear her whispering to herself as she went through the three questions, one by one. Then…success! She walked back to her spot and continued with her reading life. Heideman teachers are working hard to implement Reading Workshop. You can A young reader in teacher Catherine Lien’s see why. class shows independence. Hicks Canyon Elementary School 3817 Viewpark Ave., Irvine, CA 92602 • 714/734-1878 Earthquake Preparedness at Hicks Canyon On October 16 at 10:16 a.m. students, teachers, and staff at Hicks Canyon Elementary took part in the Great Shake out along with millions of other people worldwide. Earthquake drills like this are practiced as a way to plan and prepare for the possibility that an earthquake will occur when students are at school. Students are taught to drop, cover, and hold on. Cindy Agopian Once the simulation is complete everyone exits the building and heads toward our safe gathering place where all students are Principal accounted for. Then teachers and staff move into action, practicing in their assigned roles. Through planning, preparing, and practicing during practice drills such as this, Hicks Canyon students, teachers, and staff will know what to do when the Teachers Hillary Biehl and Jane Kjosen shaking begins. keep Hicks Canyon School safe. Hillview High School 15400 Lansdowne Rd., Tustin, CA 92782 • 714/730-7356 Job-Shadowing Program A very exciting program that we have at Hillview High School is our job-shadowing program. Students have the opportunity to spend the day with individuals who are currently working in occupations that interests them. Thanks to the hard work of Hillview teacher Laszlo Berzsenyi, students have been able to work alongside business people, Tim O’Donoghue cosmetologists, sports doctors, auto mechanics, computer technicians, fashion designers and chefs. Each quarter of the school Principal year, students have the choice of three different jobs to shadow. While at the job site, the students have a series of questions to ask the employees, such as education needed, salary, and pros and cons of the job. After visiting the job sites, students complete a reflection on their experience and are required to write a thank-you letter. Teacher, Laszlo Berzsenyi with Job Shadowing Students Lorena Rosales, Toni Goree, Ismaeil Acosta, Andrea Mejia and Daniel Richar Covering the Tustin Unified School District Ladera Elementary School 2515 Rawlings Way, Tustin, CA 92782 • 714/730-7505 Parent Involvement Is Critical to Our Success We are fortunate to have a high degree of parental involvement. Research supports that parental involvement is critical to school success. Schools that are highly effective share some common characteristics, among them strong teachers and leadership, high expectations, a positive school culture and climate, student feelings of belonging, and high levels of parental involvement. Derek Pinto When parental Principal levels of commitment are maximized, students heighten their own efforts and exceptional results usually follow. Ladera’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has played a critical role in shaping high expectations and providing positive contributions toward an inclusive and welcoming school culture for all of our Ladera Leopards. The PTO has been instrumental in creating opportunities for parent participation with committees that range from family restaurant and fun nights to Art Masters and Book Fairs. These precious moments provide quality time for parents and their children, and serve to forge a deeper, Parent Janice Lee and Kristin Schechter, meaningful connection to school co-vice presidents of fundraising; and experiences and student success. PTO Co-President Carmel Cox are involved volunteers at Ladera. November 2014—January 2015 7 C.C. Lambert Elementary School 1151 San Juan St., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7457 Lions LOVE Literacy! Balanced Literacy is in full force on the Lambert Elementary School campus. With the Reader’s Workshop approach you will see readers…everywhere! They are at desks, under desks, on pillows, lying, sitting…all cozied up to some good books and practicing deeper reading strategies they are learning from their hardworking teachers. Reading fluency and stamina levels are growing daily. Deanna Parks Reading isn’t limited to the classroom either. Books are being Principal shared at the lunch tables with laughs galore. Literacy continues with the workshop model in writing, shared reading, where all eyes are on the same text, and interactive read-alouds, where students are learning reading strategies, fluency and expression, to name a few things. Ricardo Gonzalez said, “You can choose your own books, and they are way more interesting!” Steven Valencia added, “You get way more into the story!” Gone are the days of round-robin reading, and here to stay is deeper thinking in books of interest that foster a Students in Nancy Estrada’s fourth-grade class love of reading! are consumed with reading. Loma Vista Elementary School 13822 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705 • 714/730-7528 Our Parents Go Above and Beyond Our Parent-Teacher Organization and our Loma Vista Dads group are the best! They go above and beyond to make our school an amazing place for children to learn and grow each day. Their fund-raising efforts provide students with educational enhancements such as art programs, books for the school library and teachers’ classroom libraries, laptop computers, and field trips, to name a few. Katy Sheyka Thanks to these two groups, we recently celebrated the Principal completion of technology upgrades to our multipurpose room (MPR), turning it into a digital learning center. This space will be utilized for student collaboration supported by technology and much more. During the recent heat wave, fifth-grade students utilized the MPR to engage in yoga for physical education. The lesson was delivered via technology, which increased student engagement and made learning fun. We are incredibly grateful to our parents for their unending support of our Loma Vista Cougars! Fifth-graders enjoy Yoga in the newly-upgraded multipurpose room. www.1888study411.com 8 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Myford Elementary School 3181 Trevino Dr., Irvine, CA 92602 • 714/734-1875 Engaging Student Readers One way Myford Elementary is focusing on rigorous standards and engaging instructional strategies is by the use of the guided reading component of Balanced Literacy. Students are assessed using “running records,” a system that moves them from Level A (early kindergarten) to Level Z (above fifth grade). The teachers can then target their independent and instructional reading Rena Fairchild levels and help move them along the continuum. As we have been leveling all of our books, we quickly realized Principal that we needed to have more of them in order for the students to read voraciously at their individual levels. Our generous parents and amazing Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) have been instrumental in helping build up our classroom libraries! As some of these instructional practices may be new or unfamiliar to our parents, we will be holding several parent workshops this year. We offered the first one on October 30. The subject matter focused on guided reading and what an independent reading level means. Our parents also learned about the importance of the children reading Fifth-grade students volunteer during their lunch recess “just right” books. to books labeled and out to the classrooms. W.R. Nelson Elementary School 14392 Browning Ave., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7536 Our Researchers Study the Effects of Pollution For the tenth year in a row, Nelson fifth-grade students were invited to participate in the Ocean Institute’s Kids’ Conference on Watersheds held annually in Dana Point. The program involves two field trips to the Ocean Institute, both funded by local corporations. During the first trip, students learn about pollution’s effect on our local oceans and how the watersheds in the area all lead John Laurich to the ocean. They go out beyond the Dana Harbor jetty on the Principal Ocean Institute’s Sea Explorer to take water samples. For many of our students, this is their first time on a boat in the open ocean. Boys and girls then spend time in the Institute’s lab dissecting fish. Nelson fifth-graders Victoria Cruz, Jesus Garcia, Edwin Moran, Niko Friel, Akemi Nakachi and Carlos Diaz aboard the Ocean Institute’s Sea Explorer. Students learn that by preventing pollution in the watersheds, they are preserving our oceans for future generations. They return to Nelson and develop a research project designed to reduce pollution in their watershed. In January, classes return to the Ocean Institute to attend the Kids’ Conference on Watersheds to present their findings. Covering the Tustin Unified School District Dr. E FREE Custom Sports Mouthguards for kids 17 and under FREE Orthodontic Consultations including Panoramic X-ray 714-832-9151 • Evening hours to accommodate children participating in after school sports • Great incentive programs to keep our patients motivated during treatment • Flexible payment plans available including no money down 1252 Irvine Blvd., Tustin, CA 92780 (Conveniently located near Lone Star Steak House) www.tustinbraces.com November 2014—January 2015 9 Orchard Hills School Peters Canyon Elementary School 11555 Culver Dr., Irvine, CA 92602 • 714/430-2078 26900 Peters Canyon Rd., Tustin, CA 92782 • 714/730-7540 Technology Support FRIENDS Club is Making An Impact At PCE Orchard Hills School is forging ahead with the TUSD Connect principles of rigorous standards and engaging strategies, supported by technology with the help of a generous grant. The grant will fund technology support at both Orchard Hills School and Beckman High School. Lauren Steinmann has joined the Orchard Hills staff and will be coaching nine fellows at the site. In Rich Montgomery addition, Mrs. Steinmann will provide ongoing staff trainings and technology and curriculum support. Mrs. Steinmann has taught Principal in Tustin Unified for ten years and served as a TUSD Digital Learning Coach for the 2013-2014 school year. In addition to the iPads that have been distributed to students from TUSD, the training, collaboration, and support from our Digital Learning Coach will ensure that Orchard Hills’ staff and students are prepared to be 21st century learners! Orchard Hills digital learning coach Lauren Steinmann (second from left) helps teachers Kim Gullo, Cori Johnston, Alison Bruner, Liz Root, Christy Platt and Lawrence Arriaga prepare their students to be 21st century learners. FRIENDS is an acronym that stands for Facilitating Relationships and Interactions in Everyday Naturally Developing Situations. Now in its third year, the FRIENDS Club at PCE pairs children with varying exceptionalities with typically developing peers to form relationships and build empathy. Each fall, fifthgrade students apply to become FRIEND Mentors and are Brooke Carreras selected by a committee Principal of special education teachers and therapists. With the support of our special education staff, the mentors and mentees meet every Friday for lunch, and then spend time having fun together. Recently, the FRIENDS Club met for some “Parachute Pandemonium.” FRIENDS Club members played games with a large parachute, running under it, bouncing bean bags, and keeping the parachute suspended while hiding inside. The scholars bonded and a collective, “Not yet,” was heard when it was time for the meeting Students in the FRIENDS Club play “Parachute Pandemonium.” to end. 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Chu, DDS Northwestern University, Doctor of Dental Surgery American Dental Association, California Dental Association Irvine Blvd. 5 (Between Marshalls & Lamppost Pizza) (714) 544-2944 • 17381 17th Street • Tustin 10 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Pioneer Middle School Red Hill Elementary School 2700 Pioneer Rd., Tustin, CA 92782 • 714/730-7534 11911 Red Hill Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705 • 714/730-7543 Maximizing Student Academic Potential Tracey Vander Hayden Principal Building Skills for Fitness The Pioneer Middle School Wildcats are on the move. As a nationally recognized Professional Learning Community Middle School, Pioneer recently hosted 21 middle school teachers, counselors and administrators from across the country to see the Pioneer faculty and students in action. This collaborative day allows other middle schools to have a “peek preview” of the dynamic systems and structures that Pioneer has integrated into its daily schedule to support all students in attaining our mission: Maximizing every student’s academic and personal responsibility. If you come onto Red Hill’s campus on a Thursday, you will see our field bustling with activity. That’s because for the past three years our PTA and community have been investing in the “FIT Thursday” program. The PTA has fund-raised through its jog-a-thon to purchase equipment and hire teachers for FIT. We now have two PE Will Neddersen teachers who work with parent volunteers to help organize different training circuits and activities for the development of Principal skills and sportsmanship. The students are broken up into groups which rotate through the various activities. Our FIT teachers show students how to first establish goals and then set up new ones. The teachers have also partnered with various organizations to bring some of their coaches and players out to work on skills in the different sports. Red Hill’s students look forward to their FIT Thursdays! Pioneer students participate in annual “Club Rush.” In addition to sharing Pioneer’s best practices that support student learning, Pioneer hosted its annual Club Rush, where 23 student-created and teachersponsored clubs are now a part of the Wildcat community. Weekly club meetings create connectedness between our students, which is critical during middle school years. A special thank you to all of our teachers who take time from their schedules to host the club meetings. Go, Wildcats! Fourth-graders work with Lacrosse coaches during FIT Thursday. 505-3903 (714) 13175 Jamboree Rd. Voted in Top 5 in So. California Open Every Day 12 noon to 9:00pm WE DELIVER! Delivery $3 Extra • $15 Minimum Order • Drivers Keep Tips Limited Delivery Area Mon & Tues Special Large One Topping Pizza 1299 $ Not valid with any other discount With coupon Expires 1-31-15 (Next to Rite Aid in the Ralph’s/ Tustin Ranch Plaza) www.firstclasspizzatustin.com We Do Catering! Large Party Discounts FAMILY SPECIAL ONE LARGE 1-TOPPING PIZZA & X-Large 2 Item Pizza, Large Salad & 2 Liter Soda 1 ORDER OF SPAGHETTI WITH MEATBALLS Feeds up to 6 people 2499 $ Not valid with any other discount With coupon Expires 1-31-15 Covering the Tustin Unified School District 1999 $ Not valid with any other discount With coupon Expires 1-31-15 November 2014—January 2015 11 Jeane Thorman Elementary School 1402 Sycamore Ave., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7364 Embracing the Challenge The Thorman Elementary School Panthers are off to a great start this school year. The teachers and staff have embraced the Common Core State Standards and for the second year of implementation have made tremendous strides in implementation. Staff has done great work to improve not only the quality but the relevance of their instruction to their Erick Fineberg students’ lives. One visit to Thorman classrooms and you see high levels of Principal student engagement, from students learning critical skills to ensuring their success as they prepare for a job that likely does not exist today. Teachers have challenged students to go beyond the foundational skills and explore the world around them, tackling issues that affect their daily lives. Student engagement and learning continues to grow and develop every day. We are all so proud of our teachers and students for the hard work and willingness to learn and challenge one another each day. Two Thorman students collaborate as they work to solve a project-based problem in math. Tustin Memorial Academy 12712 Browning Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705 • 714/730-7546 Family Involvement is Everywhere Tustin Memorial Academy offers a multitude of ways for parents and families to be involved and feel welcome at school. We recently held a week-long celebration of books, which included a fun family evening of reading. Students came dressed in their pajamas and the stage was decorated to resemble a living room. TMA staff took turns as the “Celebrity Readers” and shared their Wendy Hudson favorite stories with children. Geronimo Stilton was on-hand to greet families, as well! Three times a year we host “Lunch Principal with Dads” where more than 100 fathers arrive on campus armed with blankets, beach chairs (and usually lunch!) to picnic with their children. Parent cooking classes, father-daughter dance, son appreciation night, kindergarten afterschool co-op program, and our dad’s H.E.R.O.E.S. group are just a sampling of the ways parents can be involved with their child’s education. At TMA, our families are our partners and we strive to create opportunities for them to Teacher Kaye Potsdam reads to a captive feel included. audience at Family Reading Night. 12 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Tustin High School 1171 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7414 AVID National Demonstration School Tustin High School has been named an AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) National Demonstration School! As a National Demonstration School, Tustin High School will host schools from all over the world as we serve as a model for program implementation. The AVID program has grown to serve over 550 students who are on a college track and will continue their learning at colleges Christine Matos all over the country. AVID is the foundation of Tustin High’s Principal college-readiness system, in which students are challenged with rigorous coursework, participate in inquiry-based learning, and serve as role models for their peers. The AVID site team is instrumental in ensuring that all students at Tustin High have the opportunity to attend college. The graduating class of 2014 was accepted to over 25 different universities and earned approximately $2 million dollars in scholarship and grant money. It’s an exciting time to be a Tiller! Tustin High AVID students display their pride. Tustin Ranch Elementary School 12950 Robinson Dr., Tustin, CA 92782 • 714/730-7580 The iPads are Coming! Tustin Ranch Cool Coyotes anxiously awaited the arrival of our iPads for classroom use. Teachers have integrated the use of this technology as one of the many engaging strategies used to involve students in learning and working with rigorous standards. We are ready for another exciting year of learning! Some great apps to download for school children on their device for educational use are Lexia Core 5, Front Row Ed., Tracy Barquer Educreations, any QR code reader, and a book reader (feel free Principal to download ebooks), chatterpix, sushimonster, cursive practice, mad libs, and wonderopolis to name a few. Most public libraries have a free app to check out and read books on the device. Tustin Ranch held a Family Night at the Katie Wheeler branch of the public library to learn how to check out and “borrow” ebooks from the Orange County public library too. School librarian Kathy Pasmore checks out devices to fifth-grade students. C.E. Utt Middle School Marjorie Veeh Elementary School 13601 Browning Ave., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7573 1701 San Juan St., Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7544 Attitude, Commitment and Achievement Dean Jennings Principal Elections and a Poster Contest The Utt Middle School Falcons celebrate their awesome Attitude, Commitment, and Achievement (ACA)! Over 180 students were recognized this October for their outstanding display of these core values. Once a month, each teacher rewards three students for each of their classes—one for attitude, one for commitment, and one for achievement—with ACA bracelets for demonstrating one of our core values. Our students show great pride in their ACA bracelets. Over the course of the year, they will attempt to earn all three. Leadership students Hannah Abdelhadi and Will Carlen-Jones supervise a game of Water Balloon Hot Potato with Kyle Jennejohn. In addition to students thinking they are “cool” to wear, the bracelets are invitations to participate in the fun ACA activities organized by our leadership class. This October, ACA winners have participated in water balloon volleyball, water balloon basketball, and water balloon hot potato during their lunch break. Congratulations, Utt Falcons! Keep soaring high with your excellent attitude, commitment and achievement! Congratulations to our newly elected Student Council officers: Eduardo Reyes and Beyonce Rojas, co-presidents; Scarlett Lozano, vice president; Itzy Torres Lua, secretary; Isela Trinidad, treasurer; and Josue Menjivar and Isabella Arias, publicity chairs. Under the guidance of advisor Elizabeth Catron, these officers and student council members will help organize a canned-food Ryan Bollenbach drive during Thanksgiving and a toy drive during the winter holidays. The leaders will also decide on our Spirit Days and lead Principal our Friday Flag Ceremonies. The Dino Dash Poster Committee had the difficult challenge of selecting one winner per grade level from over 150 entries. All of the students who entered the contest did an excellent job, and their drawings will be displayed throughout the campus. Congratulations to the following students who were the winners of the Dino Dash Poster Contest: kindergarten, Emily Diaz; first grade, Princesa Rizo; second grade, Ruby Nguyen; third grade, Student Council: Riley Carabio; fourth grade, (b) Isela Trinidad, Josue Menjivar, Eduardo Reyes; Nissy Alvarado; and fifth (f) Scarlett Lozano, Isabella Arias and Beyonce Rojas; not pictured: Itzy Torres Lua. grade, Itzy Torres Lua. History Made Easy! Museum-like setting makes learning history easy. World Geography American History World History Government Economics Grades 4th – 12th Public/Private Schools Homeschoolers Hands-on Learning One-on-One or Groups Call for tutoring during Winter Break! By Appointment • (562) 852-5242 • 225 Main Street, Seal Beach www.TargetedHistoryTutoring.com For a matter as serious as drivers education you only want the best Winter Break Special $285 Drivers Ed AND Behind the wheel! (Must present this ad) Since 1997 DMV Lic. #3483 Se Habla Español Online driver education courses Ask about our group discount SANTA ANA 714-973-6369 1621 E 17th St N MISSION VIEJO 949-682-6227 28752 Marguerite Pkwy #12 gncdrivingschool.com Covering the Tustin Unified School District November 2014—January 2015 13 Technology in TUSD Schools Tustin Unified School District 300 South C St.,Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7301 Ext. 306 Business Services Tustin Unified School District 300 South C St.,Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7301 Ext. 302 Supporting Future-Ready Classrooms Construction Continues Since September, the Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) Informational Technology (IT) Department has been hard at work supporting technology. By mid-October, over 15,000 electronic tablets and laptops were distributed to fifth- through 12th-grade students, while another 3,000 electronic tablets are in kindergarten through fourth-grade classrooms. Each day, more than 22,000 devices are connected to the TUSD network. To support this large number of devices, the new data center Crystal Turner at Tustin High School is coming online. Once fully operational, Assistant Superintendent the data center is designed to provide the necessary connectivity Administrative to meet student and staff technology demands created by Services Measure S, ensuring the optimal learning environment for students. Beyond devices and the data center, new classrooms at Orchard Hills School, Hewes and Pioneer Middle Schools, and Foothill and Tustin High Schools received audio-video upgrades, including interactive projectors or boards, document cameras and voice amplification. TUSD IT supports future-ready classrooms, ensuring teachers, staff and students are ready for next generation teaching and High school students use their learning. new laptops in the classroom. Educational Services Tustin Unified School District 300 South C St.,Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7301 Ext. 309 Supporting New Teachers The Tustin Unified School District is excited to welcome many new and highly qualified teachers this year. For those who are new to the profession, our Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program (BTSA) can provide opportunities for obtaining help and support from a mentor teacher. Our new teachers can receive ongoing training in a wide variety of areas, such as technology application, differentiation, Kathie Nielsen Common Core, classroom management, formative assessment and more. Chief Academic The goal of this two-year program is to support our new Officer teachers by strengthening the foundation of their instructional and learning strategies. They will now be able to examine effective classroom instruction in a job-embedded system of support and professional growth. The program is also a meaningful pathway to help fulfill requirements for the California Clear Multiple Subject, Single Subject, and Education Specialist Credentials. Our BTSA teachers are deeply involved in their learning. Their mentorsupport providers are now assisting them to help refine and enhance their skills all New teachers and support providers year long! participate in collaborative training. 14 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Anthony Soria Chief Financial Officer The modernization of the science labs at Hewes Middle School, and the 300 building at Tustin High School, is now complete. The refurbished classrooms were ready in time to help kick off the new school year. Each project entailed the renovation of five classrooms, including new utilities, flooring, lighting, ceilings, dry wall, paint, windows, furniture and state-of-the-art technology. The Hewes project also includes new lab sinks, counters, and prep spaces. Construction on the Beckman Humanities Building is also now underway, and steel assembly will begin this fall. The project is on track for completion in late spring, and will be open for student/staff use at the start of the 2015–2016 school year. Other projects completed this summer include the English Learning relocation (EL Center), Foothill High library remodel, lighting retrofits at Arroyo Elementary School and Columbus Tustin Middle School, parking lot expansions at Lambert and Nelson elementary schools, along with asphalt, flooring, painting, mechanical and roofing upgrades at various sites. Refurbished classroom at Tustin High School. Nutrition Services Tustin Unified School District 300 South C St.,Tustin, CA 92780 • 714/730-7301 Ext. 342 What’s on the Menu? Teresa Squibb Director When planning our menus, I look at these factors: •Do the students like it? My goal is to provide not only healthy choices but choices students like. •Does it meet our state and federal requirements – the National School Lunch program is required to provide five food components and meet nutritional requirements. •How processed is the meal item? When possible, we make our entrees from scratch and have incorporated vendors who only use organic and less preservatives. •What is the cost of the meal item? Cost is a factor; Nutrition Services is a self-funding department. Here are a few of the many new meal items we have added this year: •Elementary – homemade chili with quinoa, cheese raviolis with basil marinara. •Middle – homemade enchiladas, homemade lasagna with whole grain pasta. •High – daily BBQ’s carne asada and freshly made salmon burgers, lemon chicken over couscous. We are serving all natural chicken – no hormones. High school students enjoy freshly made salmon burgers. TPSF Celebrates 25th Anniversary National Merit Scholarship Students Tustin Mayor Al Murray presents a city proclamation for TPSF’s 25th anniversary to Founding Board Member Linda Jennings, Foundation President Margie Sepulveda and TUSD Board Member Jonathan Abelove at the annual TUSD/TPSF State of the Schools Breakfast. Superintendent • From Page 1 engagement and literacy in their content areas. Thanks to the many teacher-leaders within Tustin Unified who led and/or facilitated seminars and sessions. The sign of a true professional is that no matter how expert they are, they continue to learn and hone their practice. This defines the TUSD faculty. Thanks to Educational Services Coordinator Stephanie Yang who facilitated the institutes. The District Maintenance and Operations Department worked Gregory A. Franklin, Ed. D. with our architect and contractors to ensure the remodeled science labs at Hewes Middle School were ready for teachers and students by the first day of school. The new labs were funded by Measure S that was passed by the community in November 2012 and focused on better preparing students to enter science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. The Information Technology Department did an outstanding job of preparing classroom and student technology for the new school year. Work teams went through every classroom to test and tune-up classroom equipment throughout the summer, and teams of IT staff and Digital Learning Coaches are descending on campuses to help with the deployment of student technology. TUSD’s Information and Instructional Technology team has done outstanding work! The Digital Learning Coaches hosted a kickoff for their new Technology Fellows and have already begun offering trainings and coaching on every campus in the District. We know adult learning requires follow-up refreshers to ensure new strategies are fully adopted. The Digital Learning Coaches play a crucial role in the TUSD Connect initiative to ensure technology is being maximized to boost student learning. The Tustin Public Schools Foundation (TPSF) sponsored student teams from each of the District’s six middle schools in a robotics class at their Summer Academy. These teams of students have formed the core of a robotics team at their respective middle schools. The students learned design, engineering principals, programming, problem solving and teamwork. They are off to a great start thanks to their STEAM teachers and TPSF! This is only a partial list of the really outstanding work that is being done throughout Tustin Unified. Again, many thanks to the teachers, administrators and support staff who contributed to our fast and successful start to the school year. It’s turning out to be a great year! Go TUSD! Covering the Tustin Unified School District By Mark Eliot, Director of Communications Nearly 70 students in the Tustin Unified School District have been selected as either 2015 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists or Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Over 1.4 million juniors in nearly 22,000 U.S. high schools entered the National Merit Program by taking the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last year. Tustin Unified’s National Merit Semifinalists are among 16,000 high school seniors who will compete for approximately 7,600 Merit Scholarship awards worth about $33 million. They were selected based on their scores in the SAT/ NMSQT. The top scorers in each state, representing less than one percent of those competing, are selected as semifinalists. TUSD’s National Merit Semifinalists are: Bryan Cai, Shyam Chandrasekar, Jeffrey Chen, Julie Cho, Katrina Duong, Connor Hass, Hamza Khan, Charles Lin, Katherine Lo, Jennifer McCleary, Melinda Nguyen, Vivien Nguyen, Shahn Thaliffdeen and Aaron Yu, seniors at Beckman High School; and Daniel McNamara, a senior at Foothill High School. Merit Scholarship finalists, based on high academic standards, personal activities, a student essay, school and community recommendations, and SAT scores, will be announced next spring. The District’s National Merit Commended students are: Nikki Aflatooni, Rahul Agarwal, Stephanie Aliaga, Daniel Botts, Austin Chiang, Jay Choi, Vanessa Chou, Kevin Chu, Michelle Chuang, Casey Chung, Megan Chung, Summer Davis, Noreen Farsai, Aiofe Galvin, David Han, Paul Hwang, Michael Jang, Nikhil Khare, Vikram Khare, Isaac Ki, Min Kim, Rachel Kim, Cameron Lee, Charleen Lee, Brandon Leung, Amy Li, Gina Li, Patrick Lin, Nathan Long, Noah McMillen, Amy Montoya, Amir Nourishad, Jason Ong, Emre Ozen, Sara Park, Dean Phan, Mira Pranav, Mayu Tanaka, Ryan Teng, Ajay Wahid, Annie Wang, Allison Yang, seniors at Beckman High School; Lorien Bandhauer, Elizabeth Bloor, Kishanee Haththotuwegama, Kimberly La, Sarah Lehman, Matthew Marano, Thomas Spencer, Kelly Sullivan, Alec Telson, seniors at Foothill High School; and Sasha Cheechov, a senior at Tustin High School. These students are among approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. They placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Board of Education James Laird President Francine Scinto Vice President Lynn Davis Clerk Jonathan Abelove Member Tammie Bullard Member Mark Eliot Director of Communications & Public Information 300 South C St., Tustin, CA 92780 • (714) 730-7339 For the latest news and information, visit the TUSD Web site: www.tustin.k12.ca.us Follow us on Twitter: @TUSDschools and @SuptFranklin “Like” us on Facebook: TUSDschools November 2014—January 2015 15 Note-ables Love Bug Are you a Beluga Grad? If Raffi was part of your childhood, you are. You dug into the meaning of “Baby Beluga” and had a great time singing “Down by the Bay.” And if you’re not one, here’s your chance to get a midlife diploma and mentor the children in your life. Raffi Cavoukian, known by his first name, is bridging the near generation gap he created by not issuing a children’s CD in the last 12 years. Love Bug honors children and the world they live in; the collection is an extension of Raffi’s social-change Kate Karp movement, Child Honoring, as well as his desire to create environmental awareness and action as a team of humans. Worldly wise and socially and environmentally conscious, Love Bug pays lip service to causes only through what comes out between Raffi’s own lips. 16 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com All songs are meaningful and tuneful; they’re instructive for children and therapeutic for adults. “Mama Loves It” sings about teamwork beginning in the home. The instrumental “Pete’s Banjo” honors Pete Seeger, one of Raffi’s social inspirations. “Seeing the Heart,” like a Zen parable, is interpretable through intuition only, and “Water in the Well”—well, surely a teachable moment for our drought-parched state. And “Turn This World Around” brings it all together. Raffi’s music is gentle and at the same time serious about the planet, both in leaving it for children and for children doing their part to preserve it. They, too, will be adults someday. Discover Raffi’s Child Honoring philosophy at www.raffinews.com/. Kate Karp is an editor for School News Roll Call and a freelance writer and editor. Parent To Parent SPANISH Avoid Holiday Stress Make plans now if you’ll be traveling for the holidays. If flying, mail your gifts early; shop online and have them shipped directly to the recipients or perhaps complete small gift buying once you reach your destination. If online shopping is preferred, be sure to read the fine print before making final decisions as many include handling fees. Additionally, be sure to check out other important terms like their return policy. Try to come up with a reasonable budget and stick to it. Look for in-house specials at Jodie Lynn various stores and check to see if online coupons and specific deals can also be used during sale dates at the physical storefront. Save time by organizing a gift list by colors, sizes, manufacturer names and even the names of stores. Avoid last minute shopping as it can lead to poorly thought out purchases that neither you nor the recipient will appreciate. Keep and file every receipt since we never know what will happen once a product is in the hands of a child. Mail your holiday cards early to ensure they arrive before the holiday, rather than after. Get the kids to help address envelopes and put on stamps. Depending on how many you are mailing, it might be best to do this in steps so the kids will view it as a kind of holiday game instead of a chore. Always plan your dinner ahead of time by going to the store with either the recipe or a list of the exact items needed for each dish. If it’s one that uses heavy cream or other fat-laden ingredients, scan a conversion chart for healthier substitutes or check the internet to find more information. Doing a little each day will help alleviate stress for yourself and your family. “Saturday Fun” Winter Camp Dec. 6th, 13th and 20th Bonjour! Hola! Arf! Children ages 5 – 10 will have a blast learning about another country’s language & traditions in the winter through: Jodie Lynn is an award winning, internationally syndicated family/health and education columnist and best selling author. Her column Parent to Parent™ (www.ParentToParent.com) has been successful for more than 15 years. She is a regular contributor to several sites and has written four books and contributed to three others, one of which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She has authored several books including Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer), Having Doing, and Surviving it All! and Syndication Secret—What No One Will Tell You! Check www.ParentToParent.com for details on new radio talk show, Inside Parenting Success. On The Run Train to Race Participation in road-running events has grown enormously in the past decade. Just about every 10K, half-marathon, and marathon event staged in Southern California has a record number of participants each year. In the early 1990s, long-distance running lost popularity as indoor gym workouts seemed to take hold as the primary workout activity of middle-aged Californians. But that trend has reversed, and more people than ever are taking to the roads for jogging Dr. Doug Richie workouts. In addition, many jogging enthusiasts are targeting a specific running event to train for. This is a positive trend because training goals can be established based upon a single upcoming 10K or marathon race. Increased length of training runs and greater intensity of workouts are motivated by the goal of a successful race planned in the future. Sometimes, overzealous training for a race can lead to injury. Planning a long-term training schedule requires knowledge and experience. Fortunately, there are wonderful resources available to the novice runner to help train for long-distance race. Several charitable organizations, such as the Leukemia Society, offer year-round clinics for people wanting to train for marathons while raising money for worthy causes. Also, many specialty running-shoe stores have clinics and running clubs that offer advice and coaching free of charge. Dr. Doug Richie is a sports podiatrist who has practiced in Seal Beach for 32 years. He is president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and serves as a medical advisor to U.S. A. Track and Field. 562/493-2451 Covering the Tustin Unified School District Calisthenics Dance Crafts Songs Stories Holiday Recipes & more...all in the target language. Only Morning Section available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Snacks included in tuition) REGULAR CLASSES STARTING IN JANUARY 714-864-4680 langokidsirvine.com Bacchus Office Park, 9070 Irvine Center Drive, Suite #135 November 2014—January 2015 17 Holiday Special New Students Only 6 Weeks for $99 includes free uniform (with this coupon) • Gigantic Indoor Inflatables • 100% Private Bounce Stadiums • 100% Private Party Rooms • Ultimate Safety & Fun • We Plan Your Party With You • We Clean Up 100% Our Martial Arts Programs Can Help Build: • Confidence • Self-control • Respect • Self-discipline Yong-In Martial Arts (714) 505-3264 Call or go online to reserve your special event today! (714) 744-5867 • BounceU.com/Orange 428-A W. Katella Ave., Orange, CA 92867 1100 Irvine Blvd. • Tustin CA 92780 (In the RALPHS center at Newport and Irvine.) College 4 Less Hedging College Costs Hedging is also a practice that every investor should know about to protect their portfolio. People hedge to protect themselves against an unforeseen event. They buy car insurance to hedge against the negative event of an accident. Unfortunately, it doesn’t keep the undesirable event from happening, but it can reduce the impact it has on our lives. There are a variety of insurance products on the market today. Some will help you fund the cost of college while protecting your Susan D. students’ ability to get financial aid. Other types are designed solely Marshall for protection. We all know college costs are outrageous. You must start early if you plan to fund college with life insurance and there are other strategies that can add to your success in the amount of cash you are able to accumulate. Two other important components regarding life insurance that can protect your family to consider are: How inexpensive it is to have life insurance on yourself so in the event you are not around, your child can still continue and complete their education. The other is that if you are going to take loans against your home, a 401(k), or co-sign on a loan for your student it may be prudent to have life insurance on the student. It’s very inexpensive to purchase and this could help reduce the financial impact it could have on the family in an already unthinkable situation. Life insurance, disability insurance and other types of insurance may be a relatively small price to pay to protect your dreams and your family’s financial future. Make sure you meet with a qualified life insurance agent and find out how affordable it can be. Look for products that offer living benefits. My recommendation is to go to an agent who has the ability to offer products from several companies. You will be more likely get the product that is right for you and your loved ones. Susan both educator and advisor specializes in college planning. She helps families save for and pay for college. If you have questions you would like answered in a future article contact her at [email protected] or on her Web site at www.college4less.com Curious George Goes to the Zoo—Word Search Contest Rules!!! One word in the list is NOT in the word search. When you have completed the word search, one word will be left and that word you email to: [email protected] (Please put TUSD in subject line) Entries must be received by December 31, 2014 From the correct entries one name will be drawn to win a $20 gift certificate redeemable at Barnes & Noble. Amazing Animals Climbed Curious Danced Fun George Giraffe Headquarters Hippo Leaves Park Party Rhino Water Wild Wonderful Zoo Zookeeper Congratulations to Jayden Shah and Kiran Khurram Winners of the September Word Search Contest! Our contests are sponsored by Barkate Orthodontics 18 www.schoolnewsrollcall.com A special thank you to Jayden Shah for this Word Search! Orange County Department of Education 200 Kalmus Drive, Costa Mesa CA 92628 • 714/966-4000 • www.ocde.us Inside the Outdoors José was struggling in school. He knew he needed to complete his core classes to graduate from high school, but could not imagine how he would ever need those skills outside of school. José needed an experience that would help him grasp the connection between classroom learning and real life. Recognizing that hands-on lessons would make the difference for students like José, his teacher signed-up for Orange County Department of Education’s (OCDE) Inside the Outdoors field program. As part of Dr. Al Mijares the field program experience, José performed water quality tests Superintendent and biological studies in the foothills of the Cleveland National Forest. He used science to identify plants, mathematics to document results from experiments, and language arts to record his observations. José felt successful and inspired to learn more. Jose’s situation is not unique. The evidence is clear: Project-based learning creates a platform for academic success. In the book Getting Ready for College, Careers, and the Common Core, author David Conley shares that “in many cases, learning never goes beyond what and how,” so students often lack the ability to conceptualize how to apply what they have learned to real life situations. Conley contends that activities that encourage students to engage actively in learning and provide them with opportunities to process and integrate what they have learned are more effective and sustainable. Hands-on activities allow students to develop deeper learning skills that connect knowledge (what) and procedures (how) to the appropriate conditions (when) and concepts (why). For José, that meant figuring out which science, mathematics, and language arts skills he needed to use to find and articulate what he discovered during his field studies. Deeper learning is an essential element to college and career readiness. The mission of OCDE is to ensure that all students are equipped with the competencies they need to thrive in the 21st century. We achieve our mission by providing students with hands-on learning opportunities through programs such as Inside the Outdoors. An important part of OCDE’s portfolio since 1974, Inside the Outdoors offers a variety of programs. •Field Programs: Daylong STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) outdoor education K-12 programs that use nature’s classroom to bring textbook lessons to life •Traveling Scientist: hour-long classroom programs that engage K-12 students in a variety of hands-on labs •Service-Learning: In-depth multiple experience programs that allow students to apply what they have learned to community-based action projects •Teacher Trainings: Webinars and in-person trainings that provide teachers with strategies to integrate Common Core Standards into classroom lessons •Community Programs: STEM-focused family activities designed to support student college and career readiness and parent engagement Inside the Outdoors’ programs support Common Core and other relevant academic standards, as well as 21st century skill development. I invite you to learn more about engaging Orange County students in Common Core experiences through an Inside the Outdoors program. For additional information, visit www.insidetheoutdoors.org or contact Stephanie Smith at 714.708.3885 or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.ocde.us/EdTech. Make the World Your Classroom. When children get a hands-on science education at an early age, we all benefit. Inside the Outdoors offers a wide range of science-based programs for your students. WWW.INSIDETHEOUTDOORS.ORG Covering the Tustin Unified School District 714.708.3885 November 2014—January 2015 19 Barkate Orthodontics Proudly Supports Our Local Schools and Dedicated Teachers! Newport Beach 2131 Westcliff Drive, Suite 200 Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 722-9010 Ladera Ranch 800 Coporate Drive, Suite 260 Ladera Ranch, CA 92694 (949) 365-0700 www.BarkateSmiles.com San Clemente 1031 Avenida Pico, Suite 202 San Clemente, CA 92673 (949) 481-8900