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
FEBRUARY 2009
Leona Jackson’s Football Team Has Character! Leona Jackson School’s flag football team completed yet another successful season of play. No, the team did not go undefeated. Yes, we allowed many touchdowns scored against us. And yes, we made many mistakes throughout the season. So why were we successful? Because the team played with great character! The team quickly bonded after surviving their first few grueling practices. Every activity was completed with military precision, from the warm up stretches, to exercises, and the running of laps. Practice drills were performed with speed and efficiency. Scrimmages were the highlight of practice, where the players got a chance to prove themselves and compete for the coveted starting positions. The players knew the importance of maintaining passing academic and behavioral grades that allowed them to practice and play every week. The players showed dedication, perseverance, and diligence by showing up for practice, motivated and willing to learn.
Much initiative was taken in players taking it upon themselves to lead the warm ups, come up with suggestions for drills, and creating a defensive and offensive huddle chant to be screamed before each play. The games were always exciting with students, parents, teachers, and administrators
cheering them on as they fought hard to carry out each play. The players immersed themselves in the thrill of the sport. They were eager learners and participants in all aspects of the game. They consistently maintained a positive attitude, whether winning or losing. Learning to win with dignity and learning
to lose with self-respect were the most important emotional lessons learned. The coaches made a conscious effort to allow equal amounts of playing time with a concentration on learning to play as a team. So in the end, even though we didn’t win every game, more importantly, we were winners
as a team that embodied great character. A team that shined in the areas of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship...all because Character Counts! Matthew Moore 6-8 Teacher and Football Coach
Building Character, One Person at a Time The school motto at Buena Vista High School is not merely a set of words; rather, it is a philosophy that guides many aspects of studying and working at this dynamic site. When one visits the campus and speaks with students and staff, it is evident that Buena Vista provides a positive atmosphere for learning and building students’ confidence in their own strengths. Christian Taylor, a 12th grader, likes that “the school is small and you get more attention.” Having a smaller campus means that the students get to know each other and the staff in a more personal manner than they might experience at a large
campus. School Secretary, Angela Aceves, also enjoys the close-knit environment. She says, “As a staff member, I enjoy working where I have the opportunity to speak to the students on a more personal level to assist them with their needs. We understand that we are all here for one reason—to serve our students.” John Macias, a 10th grader, wants to go to college and become an architect and perhaps play football there. He says, “I am sure that the staff here will help me and support me with that.” With a wide variety of core and elective courses offered at Buena Vista, students are
prepared for life after high school. The addition of ROP classes in Health Careers and Information Systems is another way that the curriculum supports the career goals of the students. The students at Buena Vista High School all have one common goal—to earn credits toward graduation. Yet with this goal in mind, students are always encouraged to make positive choices in their daily interactions with each other on campus. The teachers model actions and words for their students to follow. For student Coretha Jordan this has led to a deeper “respect for my teachers’ rules, space, and
guidance.” Sophomore Dimere Pleasant adds that “the teachers here are nice. They care about you and they want to succeed in life.” For classmate Ayana Pruitt, the teachers are definitely the key to students’ success. Ayana shares, “the teachers believe in us and they have faith in us.” Ayana was not success-
ful in Algebra in her previous attempt, but now is earning a 3 in the course, which she attributes to her teacher’s patience and instruction. It is this spirit of cooperation and collaboration that makes Buena Vista High School a great place for learning! Jean Law Assistant Principal
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES February 10 & February 24, 2009 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