|
INSIDE YOUR SCHOOLS E-NEWSLETTER March 2012
|
|
|
Visit us online: www.srvusd.net / Follow us on Facebook
|
|
|
Important Dates:
3/2 - End 2nd trimester 3/6 - Board of Education Mtng. 7PM 3/8 - Staff Development Day (no school) 3/9 - School Recess (no school) 3/12-16 - Conference Week (gr. K-5) 3/14-16 - Conference Week (gr. 6-8) 3/20- Board of Education Mtng. 7PM 3/30 - End of 3rd Quarter |
Inside this issue:
Message from the superintendent
District unveils goals for 1:1 digital device initiative Board eliminates June as a date for potential facilities bond measure Elementary Enrichment Summer School information Enrollment information for grades 1-5 T-dap booster shot requirement for all incoming 7th graders Over 300 participate in annual Parenting Conference Gale Ranch space balloon provides some "far out" images Students/staff take the Polar Plunge Test results available on district website Student Recognition Project Open House March 12th! News from SRVEF |
|
From the Superintendent
With rushing winds and gloomy skies The dark and stubborn Winter dies: Far-off, unseen, Spring faintly cries, Bidding her earliest child arise; March!
Bayard Taylor March 2, 2012 Good Evening and happy second day of March! “In like a lion and out like a lamb”----given how mild this winter has been, I guess yesterday’s rain qualified as a “lion”? At last week’s Technology Symposium the question of how “excellence” should be defined for a district such as ours was posed as one to ponder. This question is really not a new one as civilizations have debated forever about what it means to be an educated person and what the goals for an educational system should be. (Some of you may have taken a Philosophy of Education class.) In my opinion, part of our definition should rightfully be focused on a goal of preparing all students to have viable, productive options after high school. For most of our students, but not all, this means college. While traditional college is not for everyone, it still opens doors of opportunity and statistically increases lifetime earnings quite significantly, although I know that is not the only reason to pursue higher levels of education. My definition would also include attention to standards, with a goal of all students mastering these core skills. After all the rhetoric surrounding standards and required assessments calms down, I still find that most people agree that these skills are really quite important for students to know. This is certainly the time of year when attention to standards and the need to re-teach some becomes a higher priority. The challenge for a school district such as ours is, however, to see these elements, viable post-high school options and mastery of skills, as the foundation of the district but not our only objective. Our Framework for Excellencecertainly paints a picture which goes far beyond this foundation. The skills necessary to be successful in the 21st Century and the core interdisciplinary themes listed on this document raise the bar in terms of how we define “excellence” in a district such as ours. I recently had an opportunity to meet with the vice president of a new software division of a global company here in San Ramon. It was immediately evident that the “soft skills” he was seeking in his engineers and programmers aligned perfectly with the five “C”s, (collaboration, communication, curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity) found in our Framework. He also commented that our core interdisciplinary literacy themes of civic, global, environmental, health safety and wellness, and financial literacy were right on target in terms of the challenges our students need to be engaged in as they prepare for the world they are to inherit. While I may have my own ideas regarding what “excellence” might mean, what is more important is how our schools and communities define it. This would be an interesting conversation for parents and staff to engage in. I suspect there may be some slight differences from each school community, but I’m certain that the end result would be a picture of what it takes to truly prepare students to be productive, quality citizens now, and into the future. Thank you for supporting the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. I hope you have a good month of March, and as always, thank you for reading. Steven Enoch Superintendent of Schools
District unveils goals for one-to-one digital device initiative
SRVUSD recently hosted its first-ever Technology Symposium at Dougherty Valley High School. Approximately 300 employees, parent and community leaders learned more about how technology is changing teaching and learning in new and creative ways, and listened as the district unveiled a three phase initiative with the primary goal of expanding the use of individual learning devices by students and teachers.
Highlights of the three year initiative include:
The district is using a steering committee consisting of staff and parent representatives and community leaders to continue to help set direction and identify funding possibilities for the initiative.
Board eliminates June as a date for a potential facilities bond measure
Based on information collected at the recent community forums as well as a formal community poll, all designed to collect input from parents, staff members and community members in our school district related to a potential facilities bond election, the SRVUSD Board of Education voted to exclude June 2012 as a date to pursue a facilities bond.
The Board did not settle on a date for a future bond but left open the possibilities of a ballot measure in November, 2012 or June or November of 2014. The District will continue to explore ways to communicate the facilities needs of the district to the local community, and has formed a Superintendent's Advisory Committee to assist in the process.
Elementary Enrichment Summer School
SRVUSD Elementary Enrichment Summer School will be offered at the following schools: Country Club, Greenbrook and Hidden Hills Elementary Schools.
Fill your summer days with fun and exciting enrichment classes by enrolling in SRVUSD Summer Enrichment. All classes are taught by SRVUSD Credentialed Teachers.
Dates: June 25 – July 20, 2012 (no school July 4th)
Time: 8:15a.m. – 12:05p.m.
Register at: www.srvusd.net (click on the “Summer Programs” tab). Registration opens March 28, 2012. For a list of classes, visit: http://srvusd.ca.schoolloop.com/district/summer_programs
Some of the classes offered include: Jump into 2nd Grade, Get Ready/Get Set, First Grade Express, Growing Readers and Writers, Science Wizards, Math Links, Amazing Shapes, Think like a Scientist, Creative Chemistry, Children’s Theatre, Think it Through Math, Digi “Tales” and much more!!!!!
Enrollment for Grades 1-5
Starting March 1, 2012, enrollment will be accepted for families new to the district for the 2012-13 school year. Once you complete these forms, please print and take them (along with proof of residency) to Educational Services, Building C at the district office located at 699 Old Orchard Drive in Danville. Families with additional questions may call Educational Services at 925-552-5071.
T-dap booster shot reminder for all incoming 7th graders
REMINDER - For the 2012-2013 school year, and all future school years, all students entering, advancing or transferring into 7th grade will need proof of an adolescent whooping cough booster immunization (called “Tdap”) for school in the fall. This requirement applies to all public and private schools. The new requirement was signed into law in 2010.
The Tdap requirement affects all incoming 7th grade students in California, so it’s important to avoid the back-to-school rush and to get our children vaccinated now. Tell other parents with children in the 6th grade about the requirement and encourage them to schedule the shot early, before summer.

Remember, in addition to the Tdap booster, there are several important vaccines recommended for preteens and teens including the meningococcal vaccine, a second chickenpox shot (if they never had chickenpox disease), and the HPV vaccine series. Everyone older than six months old is recommended to receive a seasonal flu vaccine.

Information on the new Tdap requirement, including information on where to get free or low cost vaccines, forms, and FAQs are available at www.ShotsForSchool.org.
Over 300 participate in annual parenting conference
The Parent and Community Concerns committee is working on an on-line survey to be sent home in the next few weeks. If you would like to stay in touch with the committee, please email srvparented@gmail.com.
"Gryphon 4" provides images from space
The balloon literally leapt into the sky upon launch with an ascent rate close to a thousand feet per minute recording Gale Ranch, the Dougherty Valley, and finally the edge of space before bursting to the east of Hollister, California. The balloon came down to earth a few miles to the east of Paicines, California, more than eighty-five miles from the launch site where it was discovered by a cowboy on his cattle ranch.
The video clearly records the launch of the model gliders by which the team hoped to track wind patterns in the upper atmosphere. The gliders have not yet been recovered, but Mr. Heckenlively’s team is busily working on how the gilders might be more effectively tracked when they launch Gryphon 5! Congratulations to Mr. Heckenlively and his team of science students!
Students/staff take the "polar plunge"
DID YOU KNOW???
District and school results from all the major assessments including STAR, API, SAT and Advanced Placement can be found on the district website at:
2011-12 Student Recognition Project OPEN HOUSE - Community is invited!
All community members are welcome and encouraged to attend the annual Student Recognition Project Open House and Project Display. The event is an opportunity to view and acknowledge hundreds of projects created by high school students in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
Monday, March 12, 2012, 4:00-7:00 PM
Bishop Ranch 15, 12677 Alcosta Blvd., Suite 120
Students who participate in the Project compete in any of 25 categories that showcase their skills both within and outside the curriculum. Project judging is done by professional business people with extensive expertise in the various categories. Student winners are announced at the Open House, and honored at a gala breakfast on March 30th. The program is coordinated by the San Ramon Valley Business and Education Roundtable and sponsored, in part, by Chevron. The purpose of the program is to create collaboration among students, educators and the business community in the San Ramon Valley, to promote educational excellence and to prepare students for the business world of the 21st century.
Categories include: Acting, Applied Design, Architecture, Computer Aided Drafting, Community Service, Creative Writing, Culinary Arts, Dance, Digital Art, Early Childhood Education, Entrepreneur, Fashion Design, Instrumental Music, Journalism, Photography-Digital, Photography-Film, Poetry, Robotics, Science, Video Production, Visual Arts, Vocal Music, Web Design
No cost to attend. Refreshments will be provided. Space for the event is being donated by Sunset Development Company. For more information, visit www.srvusd.net/srp
News from SRVEF!
SRVEF's 3rd annual Read-A-Thon: "Read with SRVEF!
Read with SRVEF ended on March 2nd. We hope everyone enjoyed the program this year! Don't forget to turn in your reading log and pledges to school by March 7th. If you are entering your reading minutes and collecting your pledges online, please remember to submit everything online by March 7th. The awards ceremony honoring the top students and schools/librarians/teachers will be held in April. More details and the results will be posted on the SRVEF website, www.srvef.org/read.
Dine with SRVEF - March 12th! Not sure what to have for dinner? Too tired to cook? Dine with SRVEF (dine-in or take-out) at any of the restaurants listed below on Monday, March 12th. All the restaurants donate 20% of the sales to the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation. The proceeds will benefit the Classrooms of the Future initiative for SRVUSD schools. Visit www.srvef.org for more details and to download the flyer.
Participating restaurants include: In San Ramon...Chili's, Daphne's Greek Cafe, Extreme Pizza. In Danville... Panda Express, Danville Grille, Amici's Pizza.
Celebrate with SRVEF on APRIL 24TH, 2012
2012 Primo's Run for Education Student Logo Contest Winner
Congratulations to 5th grade student, Lily from Tassajara Hills Elementary School for winning the 2012 Primo's Run for Education Student Art Log contest! Thank you to all the students who submitted an entry for the contest. Look for the new Primo's Run logo in upcoming communications.
|
|
|
San Ramon Valley Unified School District / 699 Old Orchard Drive / Danville, CA 94526 / 925-552-5500
www.srvusd.net / Follow us on Facebook
|
|
