Superintendent's Friday Update
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From the Desk of Dr. Smith | |
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Thanksgiving Break
With our upcoming Thanksgiving break, it can be hard not to focus our attention on the feast that lies ahead with family or friends, but it’s important to remember the reason for the season: gratitude, acknowledgement,
recognition, appreciativeness, and thankfulness, just to name a few. So, what better time than now to share with all of you how very grateful I am to have discovered this wonderful community, and to have the great honor of serving Alta Loma School District's students, staff and families. To have been accepted by EVERYONE with open arms, care and support as your new superintendent, right from the very start, is a true testament to why this educational community is so exemplary. I recognize every day that our success is only possible because of everyone's dedication to our youth. There is no greater calling than ensuring our children are well equipped to lead productive and happy lives!
I am forever thankful to work alongside so many amazing educators, parents, community leaders, and most importantly, some of the most extraordinary students I have had the pleasure to meet. Seeing them in their classrooms, chatting with them, and watching them in so many different types of leadership roles makes my heart swell with pride. It warms my heart to know I get to play a small role in watching them grow academically, emotionally, and socially!
Furthermore, and most importantly, it assures me that the world is going to be in great hands as our youth become the adults who are responsible for the success of this world. Finally, this community's willingness to take on every challenge with a "can do" attitude is admirable. There are truly no words strong enough to capture the gratitude I feel towards all of you and the fact that I get to call myself your superintendent. I want to thank you for all that you do to make this educational community stronger and more successful day-to-day. My greatest wish for all of you during this holiday break is that you use this time to spend with your loved ones, to reflect on all of the blessings that surround you, and that you get some much-deserved rest and relaxation!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Accelerated Reader
This week I wanted to share a little information about Alta Loma School District's Accelerated Reader program. Accelerated Reader (AR) is a popular reading program used in schools. AR helps teachers track students’ independent practice and progress with reading. It’s not specifically designed for kids who learn and think differently, but teachers can use it to help guide struggling readers to books they can read successfully. The program doesn’t teach reading skills and strategies. It’s intended to encourage kids to read independently, at their own level and pace, but the program does cover K-12 reading levels, which allows students to accelerate their reading as well! The idea behind AR is that kids enjoy reading more when they can select their own books. (The program has more than 150,000 titles to choose from.) Furthermore, each book has online “reading practice” quizzes, which you may hear referred to as “AR tests.” Teachers use these quizzes to track each student’s progress and set appropriate goals for each. A classroom teacher can work with other school district educators to track progress and set goals in the AR program.
In addition to quizzes, AR uses a “point goals” system. Kids earn points for every book they read. The number of points is based on a book’s length and difficulty. For example, a 3-point book may be a short, somewhat easier choice. A 10-point book would be longer and more challenging. Teachers set specific goals for each student. They include a target number of points, goals for reading comprehension, and difficulty of material. The goals are based on the child’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and reading level. Kids are expected to reach their individual goals within the marking period or other set time. When teachers adjust a child’s ZPD, they create a new set of goals. These are used to motivate students during the next time period. Students can also earn points when they take the quiz for each book. They have to get a score of at least 80 to pass. But if they score higher than 60 percent, they get a fraction of the total points they could earn from it. If a student doesn’t pass several quizzes, the teacher may adjust goals or explore why the student is having trouble. The teacher can change the books a child may select at any step in the process. So, if you hear your children talking about their AR scores, or find information about AR on your child's report card (K-6), I hope you find this short informational piece about AR to be helpful!
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Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey
There is still time to take our LCAP Survey! The survey is organized around the eight state-wide priorities, and reflects the three overarching goals of the Alta Loma School District Local Control and Accountability Plan.
The Alta Loma School District benefits from and values the input from our educational partners. As we plan, prepare, and revise educational goals and expenditures outlined in the implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula, we wanted to let you know about this important upcoming request for input. Your assistance as thought partners in the shaping of District actions that will be detailed in our annual Local Control and Accountability Plan is critical.
We urge everyone to take the LCAP survey before November 23rd. One response per family is needed. Last year, we had 3,079 respondents, so our goal this year is to reach 4,000. If you indicate that you have more than one student in the Alta Loma School District, you'll be directed to take the survey with one student in mind. However, if you prefer to take the survey for each child in our schools, please feel free to do so. Thank you in advance for your support!
LCAP Survey
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Upcoming District Events
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Monday, November 21 - Friday, November 25 - Thanksgiving Holidays (No School)
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Monday, November 28 - Student's Return to School
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Wednesday, December 7 - State of the District, 5:30 pm at the District Support Center
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Wednesday, December 14 - Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:00 pm at the District Support Center
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Great Things Happening At Our Schools | |
It was wonderful to invite families into our newly remodeled Multipurpose Room for our first awards assemblies of the year. So many students reached their goals this trimester. We celebrated students for meeting their Accelerated Reading goal, knowing all their math facts, and for earning Honor Roll or Principal’s Honor Roll. The incredible teaching and support staff teamed with supportive adults at home provide a solid foundation upon which Husky Students can succeed. Huskies set and reach goals. We couldn’t be more proud! | |
Victoria Groves has started WatchDogs on our campus this year. This valuable program encourages dads, stepdads, grandpas, uncles, or any other family member, that is a positive role model, to come support students on campus. If there are any male role models interested in getting involved, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would love to have you join the team! | |
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Student Leadership on campus has been collecting items for families that will be in need over the holidays, and for our local animal shelter. Grade levels brought in food items to help local families enjoy a nice Thanksgiving dinner. We collected over 500 items to donate to families! Our students also collected over 25 blankets to be donated towards animals who need some extra snuggles during the holiday season. We are so thankful for the generosity of our caring community.
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Vineyard was honored by the presence of our veterans and active military who attended our Veterans Ceremony last week. We are eternally grateful for their service to our country and the sacrifice they have made to protect our freedoms. During the ceremony, our choir, symphonic band, and jazz band performed beautifully for our special guests under the direction of Mr. Evans. Thank you Alta Loma School District Board of Trustee Sandie Oerly and Superintendent Dr. Sherry Smith for joining us for this special celebration. | |
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In addition to our ceremony, our students and staff participated in Operation Community Cares to show support to our military serving away from home. We are grateful for our Vineyard community for contributing to this special outreach program in support of our military troops. Our ASB class, along with Activities Director Pam Roberts, spent endless hours collecting items and making this project a success. #GratefulForOurMilitary!
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On November 10th, we invited our Banyan community to join us in honoring our Veterans. It was a special day for all of us as we learned about those from our community who have served our Nation. It was our honor and privilege to meet them, to get to honor them, and to learn about their service. We thank them for their sacrifice.
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Banyan also had the Trimester 1 Awards Assemblies for grades 4th through 6th grade. It was great to be able to celebrate the hard work and amazing accomplishments of our high achieving students. Thank you to the parents who helped us celebrate these fine students and for your continued partnership.
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From Principal Jenny Rice:
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On Friday, November 10, Deer Canyon invited our families to join us for our annual Veterans Day assembly. It was an honor and a privilege to recognize all of our service men and women. We value their service and appreciate their sacrifice.
Deer Canyon also had our Trimester 1 Awards Assemblies for grades 1-6. It was wonderful to recognize all our Eagles' accomplishments and academic achievements. Thank you to our teachers and families for partnering with us in our students' education. We appreciate your continued support and dedication!
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