EYE ON EDUCATION A Publication of the Paramount Unified School District
AUGUST 2010
15110 CALIFORNIA AVE., PARAMOUNT, CA 90723 • TEL: 562-602-6000 • FAX: 562-634-6029
Paramount High School FHA Members Win Gold in Chicago! Bonnie Casillas and Jose Ramirez, Paramount High School students, won a national competition and received gold medals at the annual Future Homemakers of America (FHA) conference in Chicago, Illinois on July 8, 2010. After winning competitions at regional and statewide FHA meetings, Bonnie and Jose were invited to compete at the national conference in Chicago, Illinois. These students’ victory came in the community service project category for Paramount FHA club members’ volunteer work at the Paramount Convalescent Hospital. At least once a week, the Paramount High FHA students visited the Convalescent Hospital. The students would visit, talk, and share stories with the residents, and on occasions, the students would bring freshly baked cookies to their new friends. The students and seniors would look forward to decorating the halls and dining commons for the holidays. Bonnie and Jose
presented the “Chapter Service Manual” which highlights the FHA club’s community service project with the Paramount Convalescent Hospital. This manual documents the hard work of the FHA students and their efforts to help our older citizens. The FHA club has been helping our community since 1984, and since the club’s inception, Ms. Tanimoto and Ms. Lash have led this important campus club. Jose reports that Ms. Lash and Ms. Tanimoto donated a lot of time outside of normal school hours to prepare the team. With the guidance of Ms. Tanimoto, the students worked on their project to ensure that their manual and presentations met each of the requirements outlined in the rubric for the national competition. Ms. Tanimoto said, “I am so proud of these students and I was not surprised that Jose and Bonnie won the gold!” She further explains how the Paramount High School FHA worked hard last school year
Bonnie Casillas and Jose Ramirez proudly displaying their gold medals.
and followed through on all of their plans and commitments. The FHA Paramount students joined over 2,500 students from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
at the national conference, where they competed in one of 25 categories. Paramount student’s Bonnie Casillas and Jose Ramirez won the only gold medal for California.
Bonnie states that “hard work pays off” as she described her experiences in earning her gold medal. Both students described
See FHA on Page E-2
The 2010 National Champions of the Young Black Scholars history competition are students of Paramount Unified School District!
Pictured from left to right are students Tijera Easley, Tieranie Hawkins and Sasha Mangram.
On June 18th, three young ladies by the name of Tijera Easley, Tieranie Hawkins and Sasha Mangram proved that dreams do come true! These young ladies will tell you that the road to success does not come easy, but if you work hard and stay committed, anything is possible. After studying for almost an entire school year, Tijera,
Tieranie and Sasha were named the 2010 Young Black Scholar Champions at a college level history competition! The road to success started at the beginning of the year as the girls sat on stage at Loyola Marymount University and competed for an opportunity to represent Los Angeles at the finals. After winning the prelimi-
nary competition, the administration and staff of Zamboni Middle School geared up to take Florida by storm. Ms. Settles, counselor of Zamboni Middle School, took the lead as academic coach for the girls and developed a pacing guide and study calendar to get the girls ready for the championship. It was obvious to everyone on campus that these girls were serious and determined to win it all. It was not uncommon to walk into the office and see the girls with books scattered all over the conference room and thinking maps posted on all the walls. Teachers randomly popped into “study headquarters” to quiz the girls and help them decipher the complex college material. The entire staff got involved on a District day when the teachers reviewed a chapter from one of the college textbooks and placed the girls on stage as they each shouted out questions and reviewed their answers. It is an
understatement to say that the entire staff of Zamboni played an intrical part in developing these young scholars. On June 15, 2010, well prepared and with a few butterflies in their stomachs, three scholars of Paramount Unified School District boarded the flight for Florida. Over the next couple of days they would make history. In round one of the competition they battled ferociously with the team from Madison and won by the skin of their teeth for a final score of 14 to 13. After reflecting with their coach during a break,
the team returned to round two with a vengeance. They defeated Nebraska with ease and confidence. On the evening of June 18, 2010, the young ladies from Frank J. Zamboni Middle School, stepped in the ballroom at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida to compete for the title and honor of National Champions. It was evident that these scholars from Zamboni were well prepared and well coached. They swept the team from Charlotte with a score of
CHAMPIONS on Page E-2
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES August 25, 2010 – September 15, 2010 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