Notre Dame offers PHS senior
a FULL RIDE Scholarship
For senior Raul Gutierrez, education at Paramount High has been as rigorous as it has been gratifying. Recently, Raul was the recipient of a four-year scholarship to the prestigious University of Notre Dame, in Indiana.
This scholarship was awarded to Raul by the QuestBridge Organization, which is a non-profit program that links intelligent, motivated low income students with educational and scholarship opportunities at some of the nation’s best colleges. Only twelve applicants from the United States received the scholarship in addition to acceptance from Norte Dame. Raul started the application process in September and submitted it in October. It was a time-consuming process that challenged his time management skills. He was informed about the QuestBridge scholarship program through a letter that he received in the mail from the organization. During the month of November, while he was eagerly awaiting notification from the organization, he also applied to four UC’s and four Cal-States. On November 30, while other students submitted their applications, Raul received an
email from the organization stating that he was a finalist. The levels of excitement had reached its peak, but they were about to erupt when a couple of days later he received a phone call from a representative at Notre Dame. The representative said that he had received acceptance to the university and that he would not have to worry about the money. In addition, through QuestBridge he applied to Stanford, Yale, and Princeton; but he will receive notification from them later.
Raul plans on majoring in electrical engineering with emphasis on computer hardware. Raul doesn’t intend on limiting himself to only one major. Despite the fact that electrical engineering is an intense major, he would like to minor in mathematics. Even though he has received acceptance to Notre Dame and has a guaranteed admission at one of the UC’s, his first choice is the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena which is highly known for being the university with high-quality engineering, math, and science programs. Furthermore, he hopes of one day being a part of technology’s exponential growing
rate. But before doing so he must attain a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and hopes to one day work for the Intel Corporation.
According to Raul being recognized by Questbridge is the ultimate reward for his painstaking efforts and Paramount High school and his community. He attributes his hard work to his dream of going somewhere in life while still fulfilling his responsibility to his family. As the only male in his household he states, “I have to
Did you say Shopping Spree!
Several students from various Paramount Unified School District schools were blessed by the generous spirit of the Rotary Club of Paramount this holiday season. Students and family members met with Paramount Rotarians bright and early at the JC Penney department store located at Lakewood Center Mall to embark on a shopping spree sponsored by the Rotary Club of Paramount. JC Penney’s opened early for the children and the adults who accompanied them. Students were allowed to fill several shopping bags full of much-needed clothing and toys. Harry Wirtz was one of the lucky schools chosen to send four lucky students to the Lakewood Mall store for a shopping spree. Jeremiah Herron, a third grader at Wirtz School, was recently interviewed about his experience, by Ms. Hartel, a teacher at Wirtz School.
Q: Who came with you to J.C. Penney’s on your special day?
A: Jeovannie, my little brother, and my Aunt Tina. We had a lot of fun.
Q: What fun did you have?
A: Getting new shoes. I have them on. They’re Sketchers.
Q: Wow! They’re fancy; black, silver, and gold. What else did you get?
A: I got boots for church, a blue and white shirt with backto-back stripes, Lakers pajamas, some new white shirts, and two pairs of pants. I helped my Aunt Tina carry all the stuff.
Q: Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
A: The lady in the office [Julie Rutledge]; she is a nice
lady. Paramount Rotary and J.C. Penney’s, the big, big store, for all the toys and clothes.
Q: Thank you.
A: You’re welcome.
*A special thanks to the Rotary Club of Paramount who made this memorable experience possible.*
Stacy Hartel
3 rd Grade Teacher Wirtz School
really weigh in my options because I have a huge responsibility to stay at home to take care of my family”. He is currently in the top 1% ranking at Paramount High School and has exhausted out what the school has to offer, in regard to its AP and honors classes. Raul thanks his teachers, family, counselors, and all who helped him achieve this success and he states, “I was always told that if I worked hard, good things would happen. I’m glad that people didn’t lie to me”. Raul has found this particular quote of being a source of inspiration, “According to aerodynamic laws, the bumblebee cannot fly. Its body weight is not the right proportion to its wingspan. Ignoring these laws, the bee flies anyway.” (M. Sainte-Lague). He strongly believes that no one can deny a person from following his/her dreams; and despite the stereotypes, challenges, and surroundings, a person will succeed because it has what the bumblebee has, “Ganas” (The will).
Felipe Hernandez 12th Grade Student PHS
Jeremiah, younger brother Jeovannie and their aunt Tina during their shopping spree.
Raul Gutierrez recipient of a full ride fouryear scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.
National Junior Honor Society
On November 15, 2007, Howard Tanner School inducted its first members into the National Junior Honor Society.
To be eligible for membership consideration, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 In addition; candidates must meet high standards of leadership, service, citizenship, and character. Members from grades 7 and 8 were evaluated and selected by the Faculty Council of the chapter.
After the rigorous selection process, NJHS members and their families participated in our induction ceremony. The evening was highlighted by a keynote address from our Superintendent Dr. David Verdugo.
Each inductee was personally introduced to the audience by a member of the Faculty Council. Introductions included a brief highlight of the student’s interests, academic accomplishments, college plans and career goals. After reciting the NJHS pledge, students were presented with a certificate and Dr. Verdugo awarded them
with their membership pin. Our NJHS students recognize that their accomplishments did not come without the love and support of their parents. After being inducted, NJHS students presented their parents with flowers as a small token of their appreciation.
In order to maintain and encourage high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, citizenship, and character, our NJHS members will be working with their Advisor on a service project for the year.
Howard Tanner School is very proud to announce the members of the first National Junior Honor Society at Paramount Unified School District:
Kevin Avila
Jesus Castro
Marianna Castro
Leslie Flores
Travis McLaughlin
Miriam Vega
Valanitta Richard Principal Tanner School
Roosevelt School Read Night
The Roosevelt Staff and PTA hosted the Third Annual Holiday Read Night on Thursday, December 6, 2007. As in previous years many of the families from the community and school staff participated. The teachers and staff read holiday stories to the students and their families. Ms. Dutton and the staff read great stories like Snowy Day, Stinky Face, Too Many Tamales, Polar Express, Frosty the Snowman, and Como el Grinch Robo la Navidad. The children were encouraged to dress in their warmest, coziest pajamas. The children visited different classrooms and listened to the joyful stories of the season. The families were also treated to fun holiday arts and crafts, where children and parents worked together to create holiday decorations.
As an early holiday present, the PTA donated books to all the children in attendance. Soon after,
a special guest arrived to the event. All the way from the North Pole, Mrs. Clark arrived with Santa Claus and two helpers. The children were excited about Santa’s visit and were able to take pictures with him. There was a long line for the pictures, but the children waited happily and eagerly. The PTA also donated two tall holiday trees which where raffled off. The proud winners were the Reyes Family and the Gonzalez Family. The evening was enjoyed by all in attendance, and the school community would like to give a big thank you to our school site literacy coach, Mrs. Tryon and fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Black for organizing the event.
Enroll in Paramount Preschool Programs!
Our goal is to provide children quality early childhood education and care to help them be better prepared for kindergarten and beyond. We strive to create a positive learning environment that supports and enhances growth in the following developmental areas:
• Language, such as listening, following directions, communicating, reading readiness, writing, alphabet knowledge, vocabulary, and phonemic/phonological awareness.
• Intellectual, such as matching, sorting, classifying, patterning, counting, colors, shapes, assembling a puzzle, and building a lifelong interest in learning.
• Social-Emotional, such as feelings, self-awareness, self-control, interaction with adults and children, cooperation, and sharing.
• Motor, both gross motor skills (ex: running, balancing, and bouncing, catching, and kicking a ball) and fine motor skills (ex: manipulating small objects and holding a pencil or crayon).
Our preschool also utilizes Open Court and Growing with Mathematics curricula, which are developmentally appropriate for preschool-age children.
To enroll in our programs, you must live within the Paramount Unified School District boundaries. For more information please call 562602-6900 to make an enrollment appointment.
Kim Cole Director
Hector Lujan Teacher Roosevelt School
National Junior Honor Society members Kevin Avila, Jesus Castro, Mariana Castro, Leslie Flores, Travis McLaughlin and Miriam Vega
Student has Perfect Attendance for Three Years: Another Success Story from PAEC
Anyone interested in the programs offered at Paramount Adult Education Center (PAEC) could learn a lot from student Wendy Rosario Lopez. Since her arrival in the United States three years ago from Sinaloa, Mexico, Wendy has taken and excelled in many classes here. From beginning level through advanced ESL, Wendy has progressed through every ESL class offered at PAEC.
Wendy’s current school day begins at 8 A.M. with Listening and Speaking class. From 9 to 12:30 she attends Adult Basic Education where she sharpens her reading and math skills to prepare her for GED Test Preparation or High School Diploma class. At 12:30 you’ll find her in the computer lab till 2:30 where she’s working on Microsoft Office 2003 as part of the Career Path Office Clerk program. It’s been a long day, but Wendy is still energized enough to take a CBET class off-site from 5:30 to 8 P.M.
What is Wendy’s motivation to study so tirelessly? “I like to learn,”
she says. Wendy’s goal is to become a Computer Repair and Assembly Technician. In fact, she attends a technical school on Saturdays to obtain a certificate as a computer technician.
Not only has Wendy proceeded from beginning English to computer courses, she has also never missed a day of school. Since November 2004, Wendy has had perfect attendance!
Wendy exemplifies how dedication, hard work, and persistence can lead to a successful school experience. She set a goal to learn as much as she can here at PAEC, and she is proof that anyone who wants to learn, can.
PAEC has something to offer all adults in Paramount and surrounding cities. Classes are offered in the morning, afternoon and evening. For those unable to attend classes here on campus, there is Distance Learning Program. An online Notary Public course allows students to study at their convenience. Free babysitting is provided for children 2 years and older while their parents learn English through our Community Based English Tutoring classes (CBET). CBET is offered at several of the District campuses. Computer classes offer a wide range of courses for a modest fee. Also available on campus are classes in Parenting and Citizenship.
Wendy is taking advantage of what PAEC has to offer to help her reach her goal. How can we help you reach your goals?
Linda Robertson Teacher Adult Education Center
Los Cerritos Hosts Parent Workshop
Success comes with a strong partnership. Los Cerritos recently held their first parent workshop on “How to Help your Children with Homework. Child-care, refreshments and raffle prizes were provided. Many of our parents enjoyed the ice-breaker activity where they had a chance to get to know one another. The counseling staff discussed the importance of homework, home/school connection and supervision of homework time. They participated in activities that will help their children get organized, stay on task and complete
Superintendent’s Message:
Dear Parents and Community,
Our community is fortunate to have a dedicated and talented Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. The Bond Committee oversees the Measure AA Bond program for modernization and expansion of our School Facilities Master Plan. By statute, the committee reports directly to the Board of Education and is responsible for ensuring Proposition Measure AA funds are properly utilized. The committee was formed during the 2007-08 school year and will hold its’ first meeting during the month of February. These Committee members have given freely of their time and expertise to help ensure that we stretch every dollar to maximize our Measure AA dollars.
Currently we are in need of three additional Bond Oversight Committee members. If you
The end
are interested and believe you may meet the criteria to become a member, please contact Mr. Michael Bishop, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at (562) 602-6025. We would be happy to describe the criteria and positions that are currently available.
Thank you for your continued support to the students of Paramount Unified School District.
David
J. Verdugo, Ed.D. Superintendent
of a year and a Great
New Beginning
Alondra School was in full swing for the holidays. Teachers, students, parents, and administrators, were filled with the holiday spirit as we celebrated the impending Holiday Season. During the evening of December 13th, 2007 Alondra School held an event centered around a family Read Night where teachers & administrators shared their favorite holiday stories. In addition, the night consisted of a visit from Santa, student dramatizations, and a winter performance by the Alondra Dolphin’s Dance Team.
The evening was highlighted with a fantastic performance from the Alondra Dolphin’s Dance Team, which consisted of dancers from 1st through 3rd grades. Their performance included a wonderful rendition of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” choreographed by one of our very own eight graders, Princessa Anderson. Not to be out done, the 4th through 8th grade Dance Team members performed a memorable routine entitled “Jingle Bells (A Hip-Hop Carol)”, choreographed by Mr. Brainard and Ms. Shivers.
their homework. All parents were given the opportunity to work on a homework box, chart or schedule. “This activity will help me get my child organized for homework time” said one parent. Parents were sent off with their own homework assignment, to create a homework area and schedule. Parents were excited and enthusiastic about the workshop and are looking forward to future workshops.
Elizabeth Salcido Principal Los Cerritos School
Alondra’s parental involvement committee organized this magical Holiday Read Night where students and their families engaged in creating festive holiday crafts to help ring in the season. Our PTSA was in full force this evening selling delicious snacks and pictures with Santa to raise funds as well as give away gifts to families.
Mr. Lopez, one of Alondra’s 6-8 English Teachers, dedicated himself to helping his first period class write and perform a fantastic holiday script about the history and foundation of the holiday and why it is celebrated around the world.
The fun didn’t stop there; other performances included our own versions of “The Little Drummer Boy” and a cool “Santa Rap”. Our Holiday Read Night would not have been complete without favorites like “Jingle Bells”, “I’m Getting Nuttin’ for Christmas” and Feliz Navidad”.
As you can see Alondra School closed out the year 2007 with a cool evening dedicated to spreading holiday cheer filled with warm aspirations for the year to come.
Mr. Brainard Teacher Alondra School
Students Earn Elective Credit through JROTC
This year Paramount High School welcomed the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) to their campus.
JROTC is sponsored by the United States Armed Forces and is an elective class offered during the regular school day. It is a militarybased program in which any student may participate. Their objective is to instill values of citizenship, responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment while developing basic military skills.
The program is open to any high school student who is interested, and they can continue their JROTC training throughout high school. For students who are interested in joining any U.S. military force after high school, the JROTC program gives them the beneficial background knowledge that will help them decide if military work is right for them. Some students choose to stay in the program for their entire high school education.
JROTC consists of both physical and mental training, which is used in regional competitions where the units are tested on their military knowledge. The program also offers great insights to alternatives after high school. Through the class students are trained and
prepared for future obstacles that they may encounter in life. There is no obligation to join the military after completing JROTC; students can simply join the program for the experience itself without worrying about recruitment.
Directing the program on the
Eagles and Lions Working Together for
Buena Vista High School and Lakewood School are not just neighbors, they are partners. Starting in the fall, a small number of Juniors and Seniors from Buena Vista embarked upon an experience they will not forget. The high school students were offered the opportunity to volunteer as Teacher Aides at Lakewood School. The high school students are assigned to a specific teacher and classroom, and work with small reading groups, practice basic math facts, and even play with the younger students at recess.
Veteran
Several of the high schoolers jumped at the chance to experience a school work environment, including Abril Hernandez, a Junior. She explains, “It’s been good to see the second graders improve their spelling and be able to write better sentences. Plus, it’s just fun being there.”
Maxx Estrada, a Senior, realized that working in a school might just be a career calling for him. He says, “This is something I’ve never done before, and it gives me happiness and inspiration that I can work with kids in the future. It seems like a job you
Success
wouldn’t get tired of. It’s great getting to know each of the students as individuals.”
The staff and students of Lakewood School are equally enthusiastic about the partnership. Lynessa Vaughn, a second grade teacher, is thankful for the one-onone attention that her students receive from the high school volunteers. She explains, “I have seen many students’ attitudes change because they want to work with the aide. They are very motivated by the special attention. My struggling students are completing more assignments because the aide keeps a close watch on them. It’s great having an extra set of eyes and hands.”
Sheri Wilson, also a second grade teacher, notices that her students “are excited to work with the aides and look forward to it every day. I can see the excitement and effort in my students when the aides are around.”
The partnership between the Eagles of Buena Vista and the Lions of Lakewood School is one that is strong and truly embodies the spirit of collaboration and support for student success.
Jean Law Assistant Principal Buena Vista High School
Debbie Morrow Counselor Lakewood School
Pirate Softball Coach Bill Barton Steps Down
Citing personal and health reasons, long-time Paramount softball coach Bill Barton has stepped down as leader of a program he put on the southern California high school softball map during a decade-long tenure. Coach Barton compiled a record of 160-62, with eight winning seasons, the first two San Gabriel Valley League championships in the history of the school (2003, 2004),
and a trip to the CIF Finals in 2005 (the Lady Pirates were runners-up). Barton was named Los Angeles Times Southeast Coach of the Year after that 2005 season. His teams advanced to the CIF Quarterfinals five times in his ten years as head coach. Former Pirate head baseball coach John Guggiana will step into Coach Barton’s large shoes as head softball coach, and Paramount is
excited about welcoming Coach “G” back. Congratulations to Coach Barton on a great job over the past ten years and all Pirates wish him and his wonderful family all the best in the future.
PHS campus is General Guild, whose door is always open to anyone interested in learning more about JROTC.
Parents Involvement Beyond the School Site
Parent involvement takes on many forms in the Paramount Unified School District. It is not limited to helping your child with their homework or volunteering to help in their classroom. Parent involvement can also mean being involved at the District Office by participating in one of the many parent advisory committees. Committees include the District Advisory Committee (DAC) which is comprised of School Site Council representatives from each of our schools, the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) which is consists of parents of students identified as English Learners from each school, the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Committee which includes parents of GATE students from each school, and our Migrant Parent Advisory Committee. Parents on each of the committees are involved in the decision-making process at their respective schools including providing input into the development of the Single Plan for Student Achievement and other sitespecific decisions. At the District level, parents are provided information for their particular area of interest as well as the effects of decisions for education at the State and Federal level. Parents on the various District level committees have the responsibility of sharing the information they learn with those at their school sites. Committees generally meet from four to six times per academic year. Increasing parent and community involvement and collaboration is one of the priorities of the Board of Trustees for Paramount Unified School District.
Randy Gray, Ed.D. Director Educational Services
Daniel Varela 12th Grade Student PHS
Mark Kemp Athletic Director PHS