From the Superintendent

Dear Parents and Community Members,

Happy New Year!

As we begin a new year it is the perfect time to reflect back, and more importantly, to plan ahead. For the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, 2010 was truly a good year, despite the obstacles and challenges that come along every year, some planned and some unexpected. As we think about this past year we can collectively take pride in our ability to maintain and even strengthen student achievement, while significantly expanding technology in our classrooms, managing the growth of more than 1,000 new students, and continuing the process of much-needed facility improvements. Despite the budget crisis, we also managed to keep most of our teachers employed in the district, maintain smaller class sizes than most other school districts, and preserve most student enrichment programs.  

Looking ahead to 2011, the district will continue to refine what it means for all of our schools to be focused on academic rigor, meaningful relationship and character development, and the essential skills needed for the 21^st Century. It will be a year in which we must formulate a plan for the continued enrollment growth in Dougherty Valley, initiate solar energy at many of our schools, explore a potential dual language immersion program, and work with our high schools to expand the use of technology in their classrooms. I’m quite certain that we will also struggle and worry about financial challenges based on speculation that public education will face a significant reduction in funding (again) in the upcoming year.

No matter what, I am confident that our students will be served well. We are a district that has excellent teachers with a wonderful support staff, working in a community that values quality education. It is this combination that above all else, assures a good year ahead.

Thank you for reading and for your support of our schools. Have a great 2011.

Sincerely,

Steven Enoch

PARENT FEEDBACK ZONE...

Thank you for your valuable input regarding the 2011-12 instructional calendar. More than 3,400 completed surveys were returned! The Board of Education will make a decision on the calendar at its January 11th meeting.

View results of the December 2010 parent survey related to “Homework”
http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?ID=L24P6FP5GMQZ

January 2011 Parent Survey

We would like to hear your thoughts regarding district and school communication with parents. Please click on the following link to access this very brief survey (results made available in February)…

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BPA55K3HU/

 The survey is open through Friday, January 14th.

Denise Jennison joins 5-member Board of Education

The Board of Education recently welcomed Denise Jennison as its newest member. Jennison, who won election to the Board in November along with incumbents Rachel Hurd and Ken Mintz, replaces Bill Clarkson who, after 12 years on the Board, did not run for re-election. For a full bio of Denise, click here.

(Photo: Jennison alongside Ken Mintz are sworn in as board members during the December 7 Board meeting)

Workday founder makes major gift to Monte Vista High School

(Photo: Dave Duffield presents check to Board President Paul Gardner during the December 7 Board meeting)

The founder of Pleasanton-based software firms, Workday and PeopleSoft, has provided the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and Monte Vista High School with a gift to expand library services, provide digital learning tools, and potentially build a brand new, state-of-the art library and career center facility.

Local residents Dave and Cheryl Duffield have committed several hundred thousand dollars to update the furnishings and technology in the existing library, and to provide initial funding for staffing to assist/supervise students and integrate the technology in classrooms. The technology includes laptops and iPads for students, as well as video conferencing capabilities in the library/career center. Students would also have expanded access to the existing space during lunch and after school.

“Thanks to the Duffields’ generosity, our students will have access to technology and learning resources  that will serve the Monte Vista Community for years to come,” said Steve Enoch, Superintendent of Schools for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

In addition, the Duffields and the school district are in discussions regarding building a new, state-of-the-art library facility and student union-type space on the 45-year old Danville campus. The new facility would replace the existing library building and adjacent quad area and become a hub for learning and formal and informal collaboration on campus.  The current library building has existed since the school opened in 1965, and, unlike other areas of the campus, has never been upgraded.

As currently envisioned, the new facility would be a multi-story structure incorporating an expanded library and career center with student union-type space, upstairs classrooms, and meeting spaces.  The facility would be located in the vicinity of the existing library building near the eastern end of the campus.  The school district anticipates that it will solicit architectural design services shortly and that the facility’s final design, cost and funding will be approved by the school district and Mr. Duffield next year.  The preliminary cost estimate for the new facility is $8,000,000.

In making the gift, Mr. Duffield noted, "As parents of high school students at Monte Vista, and community members who firmly believe in our public school system, Cheryl and I are pleased to support Monte Vista High School and the SRVUSD in their quest to provide our students with a true 21st Century learning experience."

Purchase of temporary buildings means permanent savings for district

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District has begun the process of eliminating its lease obligation associated with temporary classroom buildings, which will result in significant long-term savings to the district.

The district is taking advantage of a decision by the State of California to phase out the “State Relocatable Classroom Program,” by purchasing many of these buildings from the State, which would allow the District to begin reducing its number of leased relocatable buildings.  The SRVUSD Board of Education, at its December 14^th meeting, authorized staff to purchase and install up to 17 additional State Interim Housing buildings (the board already authorized the purchase of 18 buildings in October) and to begin replacing leased relocatables with purchased ones.

“The buildings we purchase will at the very least meet our minimum standards, and our plan is to restore them to good-as-new condition,” said Gary Black, SRVUSD Assistant Superintendent for Business Services. “This decision will save us a lot of money in the long run.” 

Each classroom building costs between $4,000 and $12,000 depending on the age of the buildings. The going rate for a new “base model” relocatable classroom building is $60,000. The district currently uses its Developer Fee account to fund the leases. As commercial and housing developments continue to slow down in the district, future revenue from this fund is projected to reduce significantly.

The anticipated cost to purchase and install these 17 buildings is approximately $1.1 million. Purchasing the buildings rather than leasing will eliminate up to $375,000 in annual lease obligations. The district plans to use the same Developer Fee account to fund the purchase of the buildings.Installation and restoration of the buildings begin immediately and will continue for the next eight months.

New gym at San Ramon Valley HS nearly ready for prime time!

The long-awaited new gymnasium at San Ramon Valley High School is scheduled to open in January. The building is approximately 20,000 square feet.  It includes a main gymnasium, locker and team rooms, Physical Education office, sports medicine classroom and restroom and shower facilities for the pool.  It also includes ancillary items such as storage for gym and PE equipment, gym lobby with concession and ticket booths, trophy cases and restrooms, improved exterior areas (hardscape and landscape) and office and storage space accessible from the pool.

 Four week SPEAKER SERIES to appeal to high school students and parents

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District is conducting its first-ever speaker series aimed at high school students and parents. The purpose is to provide opportunities for students and parents to connect with our local community and learn from (and be inspired by) leaders who are making a difference. The district is working on lining up four presentations in February and March that will feature prominent speakers. The central theme for the series is "The Skills and Ethics Needed for Success in the 21st Century." The presentations will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Save the following dates:

• Wednesday, February 9 – Dougherty Valley High School
• Wednesday, February 16 – California High School
• Wednesday, February 23 – Monte Vista High School
• Wednesday, March 2 – San Ramon Valley High School

More information to follow in the coming weeks!

Student Recognition Project now accepting applications

Attention high school students... Here is your chance to be recognized by your local community for something in which you are interested in or passionate about! The Student Recognition Project is in full swing again after a terrific year where more than 150 high school students in the San Ramon Valley were recognized for their work in 26 different extra-curricular categories. The ONLINE application process is easy!

Applications and criteria forms for this year’s project are available NOW! All students in district high schools are encouraged to participate (at no cost) in the program by submitting a project in any of the following categories:

·         Acting

·         Applied Design

·         Architecture

·         Community Service

·         Computer Aided Design/Drafting

·         Creative Writing

·         Culinary Arts

·         Dance

·         Digital Arts

·         Early Childhood Development

·         Entrepreneur

·         Fashion Design

·         Financial Planning

·         Journalism

·         Instrumental Music

·         Instrumental Music – Piano only (*new category)

·         Vocal Music

·         Film Photography

·         Digital Photography

·         Poetry and Prose

·         Robotics

·         Science

·         Video Production

·         Visual Arts (Black/White)

·         Visual Arts (Color)

·         Web Design

To apply for the Project, view the promotional video and for other information, go to:

http://www.srvusd.net/srp   The application deadline is February 11^th.

For more information, please contact one of the following school administrators:

• Jennifer Tilton, California High School
• Lucy Dagget, Del Amigo High School
• Bridget Vorhees, Dougherty Valley High School
• Joy Brahmst, Monte Vista High School
• John Walker, San Ramon Valley High School
• Matt Hermann, Venture School

The Student Recognition Project is sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Business and Education Roundtable. It is a competition that recognizes and rewards students for projects completed outside the normal classroom curriculum. Projects are judged by local community members who are experts in these categories. Winning projects receive a gift card, recognition by local legislators, and an invitation to be recognized at the annual awards breakfast in the Spring.

Calling all elementary student artists - StreetSmarts Storybook Poster Contest under way!

The 7th Annual Street Smarts Storybook Poster Contest presented by Sunset Development Company is here!  Elementary school children from throughout the San Ramon Valley are encouraged to draw illustrations for Street Smarts’ fourth traffic safety storybook, “The Great Zoo Escape” by local author Dana Mentink.  In the story, animals escape from the zoo and students are given a mission: bring the animals to the school safely.  Along the way, students learn about pedestrian safety, bicycle safety and the benefits of walking or bicycling to school.

The winning illustrations will be featured in the final ten-page storybook and distributed to thousands of children in the San Ramon Valley at schools, libraries, and  community centers.  The ten winners will each receive a bike safety kit, art kit and $40 Target Gift Card.  The winning artwork and final storybook will be unveiled at the Storybook Poster Contest Awards Ceremony on March 10, 2011 at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center in San Ramon.

Students in grades K-5 of all artistic abilities are encouraged to participate.  The contest ends February 7, 2011.  Entry forms and contest information can be picked up at your elementary school's front office, the Danville Community Center, Oak Hill Park Community Center, Danville Library, San Ramon Library and Dougherty Station Library.  For more information about the contest, please visit www.street-smarts.com or contact Nat Rojanasathira, Street Smarts Program Coordinator at 925-314-3382.

ADAS donates $9,000 for art supplies

The Alamo Danville Artists’ Society (ADAS) recently  gave  $9000 in grants to 27 of our elementary and middle schools. The grants will help pay for supplies and art projects, and averaged $330 per school. Since 1995, ADAS has given over $100,000 in grants to SRVUSD schools for the arts. SRVUSD appreciates the ongoing support of ADAS related to arts education.

2nd Annual Read-A-Thon: "Read with SRVEF is coming soon!

Read with SRVEF will kick-off February 1^st and run through March 2^nd.    Getting a child to read is such a wonderful and heartwarming thing to see.  This event will encourage children to read while raising money for our underfunded schools.  We’ve got great prizes and incentives for elementary, middle and high school students.  With your support and participation, we will make this a success for everyone!

Check it out at www.srvef.org/read.  For more information or questions, email  us at info@srvef.org

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A Night at the Ballpark with SRVEF

It’s the Oakland A’s vs Detroit Tigers on April 15^th, Friday @7pm

SRVEF Special Discounted Ticket Price:  $20 per Plaza Level ticket (reg. $26).

Get to the game early to get your FREE A’s Fleece Blanket!

Enjoy the Oakland A’s (vs. Tigers) game with the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation. Bring your families and friends.

First 300 tickets purchased get entered into a drawing to win a VIP Box Suite which accommodates 18 people!!!!

Click hereto purchase your tickets now.  We have a special section reserved just for us so you can sit with friends and family! Take advantage of this special price and raise $$$ for our schools! .  Tickets sales end  3/14^th. 

Questions:  Contact us at info@srvef.org

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Primo's Run - the search for our new 2011 logo continues!

We have extended the deadline for our logo contest to January 31^st. Our logo must include our famous SRVEF tree so get out your pastels and design something awesome! Themes that have worked in the past are children running, crowds of runners, the date of the run (October 9^th, 2011), a path, start and finish lines, you name it! Art must be scanned and delivered via email no later than January 31^st, 2011. Cash prize for the winning artist and their school will be announced on February 15^th. Email entries to info@srvef.org