EYE ON EDUCATION A Publication of the Paramount Unified School District
15110 CALIFORNIA AVE., PARAMOUNT, CA 90723 • TEL: 562-602-6000 • FAX: 562-634-6029
Superintendent’s Message: As you know our entire educational system is facing the worst fiscal and economic crisis in the history of California. In November the State declared a nearly $42 billion budget deficit. As a result Paramount Unified School District has been forced to make mid-year cuts in 2008-09 and is currently facing a $4 million budget deficit for the 2009-10 school year. The 2008-09 mid-year cuts were accomplished through reduction in expenses relating to the District office and categorical reductions. In order to prepare for this budget crisis, the Board instructed me to collect suggestions, ideas, and feedback from our District Budget Committee which consisted of representatives from CSEA, TAP, administration, parents, and students. The Paramount Unified School District Board of Education has reacted to this fiscal crisis with tremendous prudence and balance while still keeping in mind their priority of “minimizing staff reductions”. The following is a description of the actions taken by the Paramount Unified School District Board of Education at the March 10th Board meeting to respond to the State budget reductions. In 2009-10, Paramount Unified School District ... • will utilize categorical funding flexibility to restore permanent certificated staff affected by the March 15th employment notices. • will modify K-3 class size reduction (CSR) to a 22:1 ratio thereby saving 66 permanent teaching positions. • will cut Curriculum Coaches and TOSAs by approximately 1/3rd. • will decrease substitute teacher pay by $25.00 per day. • will utilize any savings due to any
operational reductions such as Vernon Security. • will utilize American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Federal Stimulus Funds) when available. In addition there is a need to continue labor negotiations perhaps not at the same level the District first thought was necessary, in order for the District to face and be prepared for significant future budget reductions as forecasted by the State. This can only be done in a shared and collaborative manner which will include the Superintendent and all Paramount Unified School District employees. Paramount Unified School District has faced difficult budget reductions in the past. I am confident that by working together, communicating, and harvesting our best thinking we will be able to weather the challenges facing us. David J. Verdugo, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools
Yessenia Orozco Award Winning Teacher
APRIL 2009
Paramount Unified School District Welcomes Middle Schools in 2009-10
The Paramount Unified School District will convert three schools to middle schools in September, 2009. Alondra, Paramount Park and Zamboni Schools, which currently enroll students in kindergarten through eighth grade, will enroll students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades next year. Students who attend grades K-4 at these schools this year will attend neighboring schools next year to complete their elementary years. Hollydale will continue to be a K-8 school, and Jackson will continue with grades 4-8. With the addition of three middle schools, the District will be able to focus on the academic needs of middle school students in order to better prepare them for high school. In addition to offering challenging instruction in English Language Arts, mathematics, history, and science, students will be able to participate in elective classes that includes Art, Spanish, Computer Technol-
ogy, Instrumental and Choral Music. Sixth grade students will experience a variety of these different elective classes for shorter periods of time in order to introduce them to these subjects. Seventh and eighth grade students will have the opportunity to learn more about their elective choices through classes that last for a semester or year. By learning about the arts, foreign language and technology, students gain a richer education and are exposed to skills they can apply in high school and beyond. The Paramount Unified School District is committed to making changes that provide the best possible academic preparation and education for families and students. The District’s website (www.paramount.k12. ca.us) includes information about school reconfiguration for parents and staff. Dr. Deborah Stark, Director Curriculum & Instruction
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES April 28, 2009 The Board of Education and Superintendent David Verdugo recognized Yessenia Orozco, the winner of the CATE (California Beginning Teachers of English) Virginia Reid Scholarship Award. The award honors excellent beginning elementary teachers responsible for teaching English and the language arts.
Board of Education meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. in the Boardroom at the District Office, 15110 California Avenue, Paramount, and are open to the public
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Pennies for Patients
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HS Senior Campus Principal, Dr. Buckner took a cream pie in the face for a $20 donation to Pennies for Patients and so did volunteers math teacher Ms. R. Lopez ($5), social studies teacher Mr. Martinez ($5), language arts teachers Mr. Rodriguez ($5), and Mr. Wolf ($5). Coach Chinn, who was a spectator at the event, also joined in by crowd request. One emphatic student from the crowd yelled out that he would donate $20 to throw three pies at Coach Chinn. That was only the start; Coach Chinn took nine pies in the face taking in $50 for Pennies for Patients. Even Leadership advisor Ms. Reynoso was encouraged to join in by her Leadership team who collected $55 to throw a pie in her face. It was all in good fun for this worthy cause to help raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The pie-in-the-face fundraiser was only one of the many activities Leadership held to raise money for Pennies for Patients. Period Class donations were the main fundraiser; boxes were placed in each classroom for students to donate their pennies, nickels, dimes, etc. Surpassing all other classes in donations taking first place and winning a pizza party was drama teacher Ms. Aldave whose students raised a donation of over $800. Science teacher Mr.
Eye On Education
Teeples’ students came in second place with a donation of over $600. Taking third place was language arts teacher Mr. Durante whose students collected $118. Total school amount collected was $3500 to be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Other events Leadership sponsored to raise money were a Starbucks coffee sale the morning of a late start and lunchtime rally with a soda chugging contest and a gummy bear count contest. Drama also hosted the after school event “Sing Karaoke for Pennies”. Pennies for Patients is a twoweek campaign in which students of all ages are encouraged to donate spare change to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Paramount High School Senior Campus is only one school among thousands of schools nationwide who raise funds to help cure leukemia and other blood-related cancers through the Pennies for Patients program. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, there are currently more than 785,000 Americans who are living with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma; and among children, leukemia remains the leading cause of death from cancer. The money raised is to help provide programs and services for individuals and their families in research, patient services, education, and advocacy.
PHS Spring Sports Look to Repeat ‘08 Success The Spring 2008 season for Paramount High athletics was one to remember: league titles from three levels of the Track and Field program (including both Varsity squads), a second straight championship for Pirates baseball and trip to the CIF quarterfinals, the first-ever league title for Pirate boys’ swimming, and another playoff appearance for boys’ tennis. Spring ‘09 promises to be a challenge as these programs, along with Lady Pirate softball and boys’ volleyball, try to get into post-season competition in May. Veteran coach Chris Barboza is more than ready to inaugurate the new, all-weather track at Pirate Stadium with more league championships. As usual, Coach Barboza is fielding a large squad, including CIF-Masters meet triple-jumper Patrick Hunter. The Pirates opened the new track and field facilities against Lakewood and Mayfair on March 4 and hosted the inaugural Paramount Relays on March 7. The latter in-
vitational has long been a dream of Coach Barboza, who now possesses a facility to match the perennial success of her program. Also opening in March was the Pirates baseball field just south of the Stadium. Coach Cameron Chinn inaugurated the new “Ballpark at Paramount” with an alumni game on February 16 (over 30 former Pirates showed up). The first real game was played against Riverside King on March 6 as part of the Foothill Tournament. Coach Chinn, whose last two teams have captured San Gabriel Valley League titles, has many holes to fill due to graduation, and finding a solid second starting pitcher to complement senior standout right-hander Eddie Magallon will be a priority. In fact, a prime candidate might be Magallon’s younger brother Ozzie, a junior with a live fastball; pre-league play will be a proving ground for that second starter and stabilizing a young infield for the highly-ranked Pirates.
Eye On Education is a monthly Publication of the Paramount Unified School District Board of Education Sonya Cuellar, President Alicia Linden-Anderson, VP/Clerk Linda Garcia, Member Vivian Hansen, Member Tony Peña, Member District Superintendent David J. Verdugo, Ed.D.
Good things are happening in Paramount Schools
Eye On Education Editor-Nancy Smith Paramount Unified School District 15110 California Ave., Paramount, CA (562) 602-6000 • Fax (562) 634-6029
Coach Curtis Mu has raised Pirate boys’ tennis expectations to expect a CIF playoff berth each season. A sound work-ethic and help from new JV coach (and former Lady Pirate player) Rosa Castaneda will make the 2009 season no different - at least as far as expectations are concerned. Returning players Robert Breidenthal, Luis Urrutia, and Ivan Rodriguez promise to give the Pirates a shot at dethroning defending league champion Gahr, which would be the first for the Pirate boys since 2005. Pre-league matches against Mayfair, Western, and Bellflower will prep the squad to compete at the highest level in 2009. No PHS athletic program has shown more growth the past several years than Pirate swimming, and the 2009 squad might be Coach Roberto Guerrero’s largest ever. Buoyed by that first-ever league title for the boys last year, Guerrero and his swimmers will be eager to prove that 2008 was no fluke. The Lady Pirate JV squad also captured a championship last spring and will be motivated to duplicate the boys’ success. As usual, Downey and Warren will be major obstacles for the Pirates, but a loaded pre-league dual meet and invitational schedule should prepare our swimmers for the tough SGVL competition. In 2008, Coach Jimena Vargas brought the Pirate boys’ volleyball program achingly close to its first CIF playoff appearance in years. With returning lettermen Lance Meneses, Lawrence Meneses, and Devonte
Elliott in the lineup, Coach Vargas’s high-intensity style will push the Pirates to break through the playoff ceiling. League rivals Gahr, Downey, and Warren loom as the Pirates fashion a non-league schedule designed to toughen them: Cathedral, El Rancho, Pacifica, Cerritos, and Valley Christian will push the Pirates to be ready for anything when they open league play at home against Downey on March 31. Spring 2008 was the first Lady Pirate softball season since 1997 that the name “Barton” was not involved: long-time head coach Bill Barton stepped away after a memorable decade that put the program on the southern California softball map. Succeeded by veteran coach John Guggiana, the Lady Pirates just missed the playoffs last season and will be trying to break through against the league’s three playoff reps last year: Gahr, Warren, and Downey. Last year’s Pirate squad was very young, and the experience gained will be put to the test early this season as the program takes on local powers Lakewood, Poly and Santa Fe in addition to competing in the tough Downey and Savanna tournaments. Coach Guggiana’s steady, experienced leadership gives the Lady Pirates a great chance to break into the playoffs in 2009. Good luck to all Pirate spring sports teams! Mark Kemp Athletic Director
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Eye On Education
Paramount High School Is Your Child Ready for Preschool? students participate in Rotary Roundtable Discussions Paramount Unified School District is committed to the early education of young children. The preschool programs are offered through the Early Childhood Education Department throughout the District. The young students are taught pre-kindergarten readiness skills which are aligned with the kindergarten curriculum. There are now 21 preschool classes on 9 different school campuses throughout the District. The preschools are located at Gaines, Mokler, Collins, Wirtz, Keppel, Los Cerritos, Alondra, Hollydale and Zamboni. Parents in the classroom are active partners in their child’s preschool experience. Guided by the teacher, parents work with their children in the areas of literacy, math, science, art and social skills. Parents are provided with helpful ideas to enhance their child’s learning at home and in the classroom, making them become effective learners. Parents
have a great time learning and working together working with their young students and assisting the classroom teacher. Registration for the 20092010 school year began in March for all Preschool programs. The District offers no cost and low cost half-day programs for 3 and 4 year-old children. These programs have both morning or afternoon sessions. In addition, there is a full-day program for children ages 3 to 5 years of age from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. This specific program is for working parents or for parents who are in college or are receiving job training. For more information, please contact the Early Childhood Education Office at (562) 6026900 or visit the office at 7340 E. Jackson Street.
Nancy Kelley-Kuhn Program Director Early Childhood Education
UFC to Provide College Readiness Program
Imagine a sea of teenagers passionately engaged in conversations on the latest current events—this was the scene at the annual Rotary Roundtable Discussions. This year’s student participation surpassed past years with over 75 tenth through twelfth grade students filling the PHS gym. Students were arranged with fifteen per table with each group rotating to another table every 15 minutes. Sponsoring this event was the Paramount Rotary and Paramount Petroleum who also provide the monetary prizes. Representatives from each company also moderate each table. One adult representative monitored the discussion while the other took notes on each student’s participation. Students’ were rated on how
often they spoke during the table discussion, how assertive they were in voicing their opinion, and on how well they expressed themselves. Students participating were from various clubs and organizations on campus and ranged from tenth through twelfth grade. Some of the topics discussed included students’ opinion on the Nadya Suleman the octuplet mother, steroid use in professional baseball, whether community service should be mandatory, where the state should cut funding, etc. Winners from the event were the following students: Most Inspirational--Nataly Barragan, 12th; Distinguished Leader--Gabriela Pedroza, 10th; and Best Creative Idea—Ximena Banuelos, 11th.
The Paramount Unified School District is pleased to announce a new affiliation with United Friends of the Children (UFC), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization celebrating thirty years of services to current and former foster youth. UFC is dedicated to supporting and improving foster youth children to become successful, and independent adults by focusing on key areas; education, career, and transitional housing. Paramount Unified Schools have received one of only six grants in the state and has partnered with UFC and focus on their “College Readiness” program to prepare PUSD foster youth students to become competitive applicants to four-
year colleges and universities. Students at the secondary level will receive individualized college counseling and tutoring services, attend workshops in topics ranging from financial aid and test preparation, and participate in enrichments activities including college tours. Students will receive services free of charge until they graduate from Paramount High School. For more information and to attend an information workshop, please call (213) 580-1844. Paramount Unified School District Student Services
Stretching Out The owners of Stretch Ur Dollar Discount Store have stretched their arms and doors wide open to the Paramount Adult Transition (PAT) program. Stretch Ur Dollar has partnered with the District Workability Program, a state sponsored work training program for students with mild to severe disabilities. The employer offers a setting for the students to train and develop marketable job skills; while in return, the District provides a job training coach and pays the student a temporary wage. Currently, there are 17 Adult Transition students, ranging in ages 18-22
working in businesses through out the City of Paramount and Lakewood. Three Adult Transition student’s with moderate to severe disabilities who recently started working at Stretch Ur Dollar Discount Store are helping the owner prepare for the Grand opening on March 13th and the ribbon cutting ceremony on March 23rd. The Adult Transition staff and students are very excited about being involved in this partnership and the opportunity to develop job skills that will give students the experience to apply for independent work outside of school.
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Eye On Education
Paramount High School students participate in Rotary Roundtable Discussions Imagine a sea of teenagers passionately engaged in conversations on the latest current events—this was the scene at the annual Rotary Roundtable Discussions. This year’s student participation surpassed past years with over 75 ninth through twelfth grade students filling the PHS gym. Students were arranged with fifteen per table with each group rotating to another table every 15 minutes. Joining the District in sponsoring this event were the Paramount Rotary and Paramount Petroleum who also provide the monetary prizes. Representatives from each company also moderate each table. One adult representative monitored the discussion while the other took notes on each student’s participation. Students were rated on how often
they spoke during the table discussion, how assertive they were in voicing their opinion, and on how well they expressed themselves. Students participating were from various clubs and organizations on District secondary campuses and ranged from ninth through twelfth grade. Some of the topics discussed included students’ opinions on the Nadya Suleman the octuplet mother, steroid use in professional baseball, whether community service should be mandatory, where the state should cut funding, etc. Winners from the event were the following students: Most Inspirational--Nataly Barragan, 12th ; Distinguished Leader--Gabriela Pedroza, 10th; and Best Creative Idea—Ximena Banuelos, 11th.
Happy 105th Birthday Dr. Seuss! February 27th marked Los Cerritos’ annual celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Students started their day with a delicious breakfast of green eggs and ham provided by nutrition services. Kindergarten through third grade classes enjoyed stories full of Dr. Seuss’ whimsical rhymes by sixth through eighth grade readers and members of the Paramount Rotary Club. Former Paramount Unified School District superintendent Jay Wilbur, along with fellow Rotarians, Paramount High School Principal, Greg Buckner, Teri Mouren-Laurens, Dean Mouren-Lau-
rens, Buddy Jackson, John Colville, and Sara Boogaard grabbed books and to help Los Cerritos celebrate the 105th birthday of Dr. Seuss. Third grade teacher, Stephanie Ribitzki was excited to have the Rotarians as guest readers. “It is always a pleasure to have members of the community donate their time to make read day a positive experience for our students”. Overall, it was a great day filled with books and activities that enhanced the students of Los Cerritos’ love for reading. Jill Hammond
Parent Workshops Jefferson School 8600 Jefferson St. Paramount, CA 90723 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The following workshops will be held at Jefferson School. They are open to the parents/guardians of all District students and are free of charge. Spanish translation will be provided. The Workshops are co-sponsored by Paramount Unified School District and Cerritos College. Free childcare is available for children over the age of 3, toilet trained, and pre-registered one week in advance. April 23: How the Brain Learns (Including text anxiety) May 7: Working with Destructive Pre-teens & Teens: Review of Parent Project May 21: Preparing for the Summer: Linking to Resources June 4: Healthy Dating Relationships (Avoiding Sexual Harassment) To pre-register for babysitting or to register for one or more workshop, please call: Mrs. Rosa Rendon at 562-808-2020.
Zamboni Students are Off to Medical School Approximately fifty 7th and 8th graders at Frank J. Zamboni School are currently participating in Kaiser Permanente’s Hippocrates Circle program. This unique program helps open doors for middle school students who have an interest in becoming a physician. The program first took root four years ago in San Diego when physician Ricardo Sistos, MD, and his colleagues began mentoring 30 students. Since 2000, 250 students have completed the program in San Diego and Zamboni is the first school in Paramount to partner with Kaiser Permanente’s Hippocrates Circle Program. Students were admitted to the program by Dr. Jorge Ramirez, Director of the Hippocrates Circle Program, after reviewing their grades and application which included an essay expressing their intent to enter the medical field. The first in a series of monthly activities began with a presentation by physicians to Zamboni School. Bilingual doctors from diverse backgrounds shared their personal stories about their childhood dreams, the struggles they overcame, and the steps they took to pursue a medical career and the personal satisfaction they have received by giving back to the community. The physicians also met with the student’s parents to emphasize the importance of their support and to suggest ways to
help teenagers face obstacles and succeed along the way. Physicians also participated in a question and answer session for both students and parents to help demystify a career as a physician. The second presentation provided families with information on college admissions and financial aid. Zamboni students are currently preparing to take a trip to the Keck School of Medicine at USC. At USC the students will talk to medical students about their duties and how they were able to maintain good grades, set goals and apply for medical school. In April, students will be touring the LAC+USC Medical Center to learn what a day in the life of a physician is like and visit the various departments including Radiology, Pathology and Surgery. In May, students, parents, physicians, teachers and school officials will gather for a graduation ceremony to celebrate completion of the Hippocrates Circle experience, and to reinforce the message that they have many people who believe in them and that their educational journey is an important achievement for them and for their families. Zamboni School is proud to support our future doctors and look forward to the contributions they will make to Paramount!! Caroline Lopez Counselor
What’s Going on at Gaines School? There was a grand turnout for Pajama Read Night here at Wesley Gaines School on Thursday evening, February 26th. T h e p r i n c i p a l , c o u n s e l o r, teachers, and xtaff all dressed in pajamas and slippers to enjoy an evening of reading fun. Each student attending the event received a free book to take home and share out loud with family members. PTA sold champurrado and churros. It was truly an enjoyable evening. This event served as a kickoff for Dr. Seuss’ Read Week Celebration (March 2 – 6). Activities have been planned each day during the week t o c o m m e m o r a t e D r. S e u s s ’ Birthday. Gaines School families have been busy collecting Box Tops. So far, $1,000 has been raised in this big concerted effort to clip and save. Special thanks to Paramount Elk’s Club; Friends of the Library; Lady Elks, and Paramount Petroleum for providing dictionaries to all 100
of our 3rd graders. The students were thrilled to receive their individual books. Best of all, they have been using the books regularly to assist them with their daily writing assignments. First graders will be going on a special field trip to the Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College to watch the performance of “If You Give a Pig a Pancake and Other Story Books.” Ms. Armenta, one of our first grade teachers applied and won an $800 grant from Ta rg e t t o m a k e t h i s t h e a t e r experience possible for the entire grade level. Last year, Ms. Armenta wrote a grant to the Riordan Foundation and was presented with a $900 collection of books. T h e s t a ff h e r e a t G a i n e s School feels so supported and validated by all of the community efforts and support. Thank you parents and community organizations! Linda Stevens, Principal