Inside this issue:
- Message from the Superintendent
- Registration open for SRVUSD Summer Enrichment Program
- District seeks members for new Facilities Advisory Committee
- Donna Kenyon is SRVUSD's Teacher of the Year!
- SRVUSD named to College Board's AP Achievement List
- Information regarding SRVUSD's "Transitional Kindergarten" Program
- SRVUSD students excel at Tri Valley Science and Engineering Fair
- Reminder - Whooping Cough Booster Shot now required
- Student Recognition Project Breakfast to air on CCTV in April
- Be a "Friend of the Foundation!"
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Important Dates:
4/4-8 - Spring Break - no school
4/12 - Board of Education Meeting, 7PM
4/19 - STAR Testing begins
4/26 - Board of Education Meeting, 7PM
4/29- Deadline for Summer Enrichment Early-Bird Registration
From the Superintendent
April 1, 2011
Dear Staff, Parents and Community Members,
I wish that what seems to be happening in Sacramento was an April Fool's Day joke, but it does not seem to be. It appears that the tax extension measurethat would have kept funding for education close to the current level will not be on the June ballot. What this will mean to public education is yet to be determined but it is clear that it will not be good news, although I acknowledge that there was no guaranteethe tax extension would have passed had it been voted on in June. The predictionsfor per-student reduction in funding range from a low of $330 to a high of $900 (or more). With our district having 30,000 students it is quite easy to do the math. This will be on top of the $800 per-student reduction we have experienced over the last few years.
I have no doubt that the Democrats in Sacramento will blame the Republicans and the Republicans will blame the Democrats, with the truth, I suspect, being that both parties have contributed to this situation. What we do know is that this will have a very real, negative impact on our school district as well as on every schooldistrict in the state. Even if an election is held in November and some form of taxes are approved by the voters, we will have no choice in the meantime but to prepare for the worst in order to protect the financial solvency of the district.
I know that money, in and of itself, is not the only factor in the success or failure of schools, but at some point the real loss of revenue will impact quality as we cannot continue to provide at the same level as when we had $30,000,000 more to work with. Also at some point, we as a state and as a nation must decide how important public education is for future economic and political competitiveness in the global environment that our children will inherit. Throughout the history of our nation, even in very difficult economic times, leaders have been supported by the people in keeping funding of education as the highest priority, understanding that sacrificing for children was the responsibility of adults as they passed the torch of leadership and opportunity to younger generations. I continue to be hopeful that this same willingness to sacrifice exists today, although right now I find myself concerned that some of this commitment has been lost.
I acknowledge that as we move into the month of April this should be a time to be optimistic as the warming sun and the light rains bring us hopeful signs of a new season. To that end, I continue to be confident that despite the troubling financial picture, our teachers and support staff will, as they always do, serve the students to the best of their ability, providing the foundation that prepares students to pursue viable options when they eventually leave us as graduating seniors.
Thank you for reading. Enjoy Spring Break next week.
Sincerely,
Steven Enoch
Superintendent of Schools
Registration open for SRVUSD Summer Enrichment Program
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District is now accepting registrations for its annual Summer Enrichment classes. Courses are designed for students entering kindergarten through high school to enjoy an academic enrichment and/or a recreational experience. Our enrichment programs have no homework, no exams or grades but offer an enjoyable academic enrichment and enhance learning skills.
Although some of our enrichment classes will have some academic basis, they will not be structured to provide remediation of any academic area. Therefore, students with "F" grades will not be recommended for Enrichment Summer School as a means of remediation.
For more information and to register, visit: http://srvusd.net/district/summer_programs
Early-bird registration is March 28th through April 29th.
District seeks members for new Facilities Advisory Committee
The Board of Education is seeking members for a Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC). Through this committee, the community as a whole is able to participate in the process of reviewing school facilities and of planning for the future. A key priority for the committee will be to provide advice to the Board, the Superintendent, and senior district management on current and future issues affecting SRVUSD facilities and their impact on student education.
Charge to the Committee
1. Review current and future SRVUSD facilities plans, including master plans, and provide recommendations to the Board and district management on the priority of implementation
2. Review and make recommendations related to district standards for its facilities that reflect facility modifications in order to better align with the needs of 21st Century teachers and learners
3. Work with the facilities and business staff on the development of a comprehensive list of facilities priorities that would require additional revenue sources
4. Review and recommend solutions for the proper protection of the community’s investment in facilities with particular focus on the deferred maintenance program; recommend strategies for continued maintenance support including the consideration of funding options in order to meet the deferred maintenance needs of the district
Committee Type, Appointments, and Terms
The FAC is a Board Committee. Members are appointed by the Board of Education.
Member terms shall normally be three (3) years in length. Initial membership shall have terms of two (2) years and three (3) years determined by random drawing.
FAC Composition
The FAC will consist of up to nine (9) board appointed members. The membership will reflect the SRVUSD community. Priority will be given to community members who have expertise in construction, business, information technology, financing, prior experience on the FOAC, and district operations.
Meetings
The FAC shall meet a minimum of four (4) times each year.
Applications are available ont the SRVUSD website at www.srvusd.net/fac, or at the School District Office, 699 Old Orchard Drive in Danville.
Deadline to submit applications is April 22, 2011
For more information, please contact Ginny Haddad at 925-552-2933 or ghaddad@srvusd.net
Donna Kenyon is SRVUSD's Teacher of the Year!
Fifth grade teacher at John Baldwin Elementary School will represent San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County competition
Donna Kenyon has been selected as the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s 2011 Teacher of the Year. Kenyon, who since 2000, has taught 4th and 5th grade at John Baldwin Elementary School in Danville, will represent San Ramon Valley in the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Program. She was recognized by the SRVUSD Board of Education at its meeting on Tuesday, March 22nd.
“Donna will be a great representative of this school district and this profession,” said Superintendent Steven Enoch. “She clearly represents the best in innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship that is often required in the teaching profession.”
“Donna is a highly respected individual in this district,” said Darlene Hale, Principal of John Baldwin Elementary School. “Each day she displays courage and invention, and she passionately believes that all students can and will achieve."
Kenyon has been teaching for nearly 30 years, and also trains and mentors other teachers in the district in the San Ramon Valley Reading and Writing Project methods. Prior to coming to San Ramon Valley she taught Special Education in Calgary, Canada.
“My journey has been both challenging and rewarding,” said Kenyon. “I know my students will have their own challenging paths ahead, and it is my privilege to work with them daily and help them recognize the talents they will pursue to make their own difference in the world.”
Kenyon received a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Masters degree in Education from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, where she also played volleyball and led the school to a national championship. She obtained a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, East Bay.
Each year all of the public school districts in the county select Teachers of the Year. An expert committee, with representatives from education and the community, then chooses one of these candidates to represent Contra Costa County in the State Teacher of the Year Program. Last year, John Korzick, Engineering and Robotics Teacher at California High School in San Ramon, was one of three finalists for Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year.
SRVUSD named to College Board's AP Achievement List
SRVUSD is one of two school districts in the East Bay to have been named to the College Board's AP Achievement List for opening advanced placement classes to a broader range of students and for maintaining or improving the percentage of students that earned scores of 3 or higher.
San Ramon Valley and Pleasanton Unified were among 388 recognized nationally by the College Board.
The advanced placement program allows high school students to take college-level courses and then have the opportunity to earn college credits or advanced placement with scores of 3 or higher.
Districts on the AP achievement list were selected based on expanding opportunities for students and improving performance. The College Board looked at AP data from 2008 to 2010 and recognized districts that increased access and participation from 4 to 11 percent depending on the size of the district, improved or maintained the percentage scoring 3 or higher, and for increasing the percentage of exams taken by African-American, Latino and American Indian students.
District's "Transitional Kindergarten" program accepting reservations
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District will be piloting two classes of “Transitional Kindergarten” in the 2011-2012 school year. This program is intended for students who will turn five years of age between November 1 and December 2, 2011. Transitional Kindergarten is a program that supports academic and social readiness in young children prior to entering regular kindergarten. If your child is age eligible for this program and you are interested in the Junior Kindergarten program, contact Educational Services at 925-552-2914 or visit the SRVUSD website for more information coming soon.
San Ramon Valley students excel at annual Tri Valley Science and Engineering Fair
(photo by Jackie McBride, LLNL) The Tri Valley Science and Engineering Fair marked its 15th anniversary with a 30 percent increase in participants over last year. This year 413 future scientists discussed their projects with seasoned scientists and engineers and competed for cash and other prizes at the Robert Livermore Community Center. Students from 22 schools in Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Sunol displayed 262 projects in such categories as chemistry, computer science, engineering, physical science and medicine and health.
One of the sweepstakes winners in the senior division category was Christina Ren, a ninth grade student from Monte Vista High School, who won for her project, "Ways to Enhance Cell Regeneration."
Winning in the junior division were: Daniel Cox, an eighth grade student from Pine Valley Middle School, who won for his project, "Aspect Ratio and Its Effect on Sail Efficiency," and Maisam Jafri, Tarun Komidi Reddy and Derek Ziao, eighth grade students from Windemere Ranch Middle School, who won in the team category for their project, "Individual Water Purification System."
In addition, more than 120 special awards in the form of scholarships, cash prizes and other non-monetary recognition were distributed from scientific, professional, industrial, education and government organizations.
Senior division sweepstakes winners at the fair will go on to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, May 8-13, in Los Angeles. Junior division winners are eligible to compete at the California state science fair. For more information about the TVSEF, go: https://tvsef.llnl.gov/
Reminder - Whooping Cough booster shot now required!
A new California law (AB 354) now requires students to be vaccinated against whooping cough.
For the 2011-12 school year only, all students entering 7th through 12th grades will need proof of an adolescent whooping cough booster shot (Tdap) before starting school.
Thereafter, in future school years, only students entering 7th grade will need proof of an adolescent whooping cough booster shot (Tdap) before starting school. By law, students who do not have proof of receiving a Tdap booster shot will not be able to start school until proof is provided to the school. (The tetanus-diphtheria booster shot, Td, will not meet the requirement.)
For more information, contact your school.
Student Recognition Project Breakfast to air on CCTV in April
The SRVUSD Student Recognition Project culminated on March 25th with a gala breakfast where nearly 100 students were honored for their projects within 26 different categories. The Awards Breakfast was taped by Contra Costa Television (CCTV) and will air on Wednesday, April 20 at 8:00 PM and Thursday, April 21 at 4:00 PM. CCTV is Comcast Channel 27, Astound Channel 32 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99. For additional air dates, visit www.contracostatv.org.
Be A "Friend of the Foundation!"
The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation has launched its’ first ever membership drive, called Friends of the Foundation. From April 1st to June 15th we will be funding Classrooms of the Future at schools in the SRVUSD. Be our friend and support this amazingly powerful initiative. Members get a variety of freebies, discounts and perks from the community for joining. To become a member, visit www.srvef.org. We’re counting on your support! For more information or questions, send an email to info@srvef.org.
