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Volume I, Issue 6
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February 2016
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Greetings!
Our commitment to providing students with a world-class education in a safe and engaging learning environment is grounded in the Cypress School District's Facilities Master Plan. The February issue of our
e-newsletter highlights enhancements to our school campuses as well as efforts to realize our vision and promote 21st century learning for all students. These endeavors are made possible through the effective leadership of our Board of Trustees and the ongoing support of parents and our local community. Working together,
everything is possible!
We encourage you to take a few minutes to learn a little more about our goals and accomplishments in the area of school facilities. I think you will be very impressed!
Sincerely,
Anne Silavs
Superintendent
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Cutting Edge Instruction is Supported by
State-of-the-Art Facilities
In December, the Board of Trustees approved the construction of dedicated classroom space to support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and arts programming in our schools. As a result, all six of our campuses will be equipped with new state-of-the-art facilities to support cutting edge instruction. Preparations are well underway in the planning and design of these new learning spaces, and groundbreaking is expected to begin in March. Built with input from teachers, parents, and administrators, our facilities will be the model for other elementary school districts in Orange County. It is important for our community to note that we are not adding classroom space to house more students on each campus. Rather, these facilities will enable the District to provide innovative programs and robust educational experiences for the students we
currently serve. When students return to school in the fall, they will engage in hands-on STEM-based instructional modules that include engineering, computer coding, and environmental science. Furthermore, students across the District will also benefit from weekly music instruction as part of our budding arts academy. We are confiden
t that these n
ew classroom spaces
will guarantee that children of the Cypress School District are prepare
d
for the jobs of
the future, giving our kids the competitive edge in college and career.
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New Modular Classrooms Support Smaller
Class Sizes in our Schools
The state's new Local Control Funding Formula calls for reduced class size ratios in kindergarten through third grade. School districts have until 2021 to meet the goal of 24:1 in each primary level classroom. Of course, in the Cypress School District we are well ahead of the curve. To accelerate our progress in meeting this important goal, the District added up to four modular classrooms on each school campus during the 2014-2015 school year. Again, the purpose of these classrooms is not to accommodate more students, but rather to regroup the students we currently serve. To date, we have successfully reduced the student/teacher ratios in all transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade classrooms across the district. We have even gotten a jump-start on second and third grade classrooms at two of our schools. At this pace, the Cypress School District will be at 24:1 in all primary classrooms by the 2017-2018 school year, which is four years ahead of the state deadline!
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School Security is a Top Priority
Students & staff are safe in our schools
As a result of modernization made possible by Measure M, school facilities in the Cypress School District have had a variety of upgrades to ensure campus safety. Enhancements such as cameras, f
encing, locking gates, and classroom window shades all provide an added layer of security to protect the well-being of both students and staff. While these physical features contribute to the overall safety of our schools, we also partner with local law enforcement and the Orange County Fire Authority to ensure effective response practices to emergency
situations on campus. Each of our schools has a comprehensive School Safety Plan to keep our students safe. In addition to regularly scheduled fire and earthquake drills, our schools also practice lockdown procedures in the event of police activity in the neighborhood. Recently, both the Cypress and La Palma Police Departments conducted a simulated lockdown at each of our schools and checked every classroom to monitor implementation of proper procedures. Following each simulation, police officials met with school and District administrators to discuss the drill and provide feedback.
Click here
to learn more about school safety in the Cypress School District.
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Congratulations to Morris Elementary!
A Green Ribbon School
The Green Ribbon Schools program honors schools, districts, and institutes of higher education for excellence in resource efficiency and environmental education.
California schools and districts are eligible to seek Green Ribbon recognition from the California Department of Education (CDE) through an application process. Reviews are based on demonstrated progress toward reaching the goals of reduced environmental impact and effective environmental education which incorporates STEM, civic skills, and green career pathways. On February 26, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson honored Morris Elementary with the California Green Ribbon Award!
Teachers and staff at Morris promote environmental education through a variety of school programs such as recycling, gardening, and composting. Furthermore, facility features including centrally controlled heating and cooling, motion sensor lighting, and automatic toilets were also contributing factors in the school
'
s award. These energy efficiency upgrades were all made possible by funds from Measure M.
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Green Ribbon Schools are recognized in three levels: gold, silver, and bronze. Morris was
awarded the Green Ribbon at the silver level and was the only school in Orange County to receive this noteworthy recognition. We are extremely proud of Principal Lori Hernandez and her staff for all they do to promote environmental education and energy conservation efforts at Morris!
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Useful Links
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CYPRESS SCHOOL DISTRICT
WEBSITE
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ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD
FOR STUDENT ACTIVITY FLYERS
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