PUSD EDUCATION NEWS A Publication of the Paramount Unified School District
15110 CALIFORNIA AVE., PARAMOUNT, CA 90723 • TEL: 562-602-6000 • FAX: 562-634-6029
FEBRUARY 2012
Alondra School Takes a STAND AGAINST BULLYING Alondra Middle School students participated in three onehour lesson workshops in the course of the 2010-2011 school year. The lessons targeted the ill effects of bullying, as well as the strategies required for standing up to the bully. What we found as a result of these efforts was less than encouraging, as the bullying incidents continued at much the same rate. Also noted, however, was that more of the incidents were being reported and that was encouraging. In further study of the data, we learned that our students knew how to recognize bullying, how to report it and also how to stand up against it, but then became paralyzed in their ability to actually do so. This is not a surprising discovery. Many adults have trouble with this kind of confrontation, so why would it be any less challenging for our young people? American schools harbor 2.1 million bullies, creating 2.7 million victims. These statistics are alarming. Our school’s Healthy Kids survey indicates students believe bullying on the Alondra School campus continues to be a major problem, unfortunate indeed. During the current school year Mrs. Barrios and Ms. Morrow presented three “bully” lessons to sixth-graders and two “bully” lessons to seventh and eighth graders. Our goal was to teach, encourage and empower
our students to STAND UP TO BULLYING! The lessons were designed to facilitate as much interactivity possible between all attending students. Our hope was that this strategy would assist them in feeling more confident, should they ever confront the problem, in their ability to STAND UP TO BULLYING! We put these lessons to the test, implementing an Alondra STAND UP TO BULLY DAY on November 22nd. The PTSA and many of our teachers arrived at 4:45 a.m. to create a sea of yellow as far as the eye could see. It was a spectacular vision. The school-front archway was covered in yellow balloons and the students were greeted by teachers and staff wearing yellow STAND UP shirts. The students were all dressed in yellow as well, as a symbol of peace. There were yellow ribbons everywhere, trees decorated with student-created hanging art, along with their posters adorning each wall on campus,
and trash cans were wrapped in yellow. The students also transformed the amphitheatre with an anti-bullying chalk-art mural, including very creative messages and images. Even Food Services joined the fun, serving lemon Danish for breakfast and a selection of yellow-colored entrees for lunch! Lunch time activities included “Face up, Give up and Stand up” and a phenomenal sixth-grade shuffle contest! This special day included morning and afternoon assemblies. Extraordinary students and special-guest speakers participated, each sharing their views on the power of STANDING UP to BULLYING. Following these assemblies, the teachers taught anti-bullying lessons in their classrooms as well. This event was a great success and much fun was had by all, with the added benefit of the bullying issue being brought to the forefront for at least one
Recognizing the Top Eagles We all apply reinforcement every day, most of the time without even realizing we are doing it. You may tell your child “good job” after he or she cleans their room; maybe you got a promotion at work after doing a great job on a project. All of these things increase the probability that the same response will be repeated. It is a known fact that reinforcing a positive behavior will help an individual achieve a desired action as well as recognize positive choices. During one of our teacherdirected Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings a question came up: “How can we immediately reward students and provide recognition for them in a schoolwide manner?” One idea was that a weekly recognition could be instituted and thus, the “Eagle of the Week” idea was born. At Buena Vista a Student-ofthe-Month program has existed for a number of years, but there was not a more frequent way for the school to recognize those students
Top row: Antonio Ruiz, Justin Perea, Anthony Acosta. Bottom row: Yadira Rochin, Miriam Aguilar, Bree Peters who contribute to a positive environment for the school. “Eagle of the Week” is an opportunity for teachers to discuss and recognize those students who academically strive in the classroom or do something outstanding on campus. These students then serve as positive role models for their peers, nurturing a school climate of respect, cooperation, participation and high achievement. Students get nominated by one teacher and the other teachers vote
to make them “Eagle of the Week” and receive a special certificate and award. These special students’ names are displayed on the school marquee for all to appreciate. Those students who have been selected are sometimes surprised, but always proud of their accomplishment. We congratulate these eagles for their dedication! Jose Mendez Counselor Buena Vista High School
day. We all know, however, that much more needs to be done. Wearing ribbons of any color for any “cause” is never enough to perpetuate long-term change. Undoubtedly there are a myriad of different opinions from many different people on how to successfully conquer this menacing behavior. Some would say it’s societal, some would say it’s a missing link in a person’s life, while others might think it’s merely a lack of
proper discipline, lest we “hurt” the bully’s feelings – a very prevalent sentiment in today’s society. Whether the problem can be attributed to one or all of the above, let’s hope that events such as this can make a small difference –if only in one heart at a time. Dolores Barrios and Debbie Morrow Counselors Alondra Middle School
Jackson Knights Celebrate Family Read Night To celebrate National Young Readers Week, parents and students from Leona Jackson School were invited to Family Read Night. Read Night took place on November 9, 2011. This night was filled with family fun and learning. Students were asked to come dressed as their favorite book character to present to families. Students also created book reports prior to showcasing their favorite character. Over sixty students came in costume ready to present. To start the night, students and parents interacted with the students in character and read book reports while filling out a scavenger hunt. Paramount Librarian Julie Chan came to donate books to families once they completed their scavenger hunt. To finish the night, parents and students were invited to attend a language arts class to listen to a read aloud. Teachers read different books and students and parents participated in different activities related to the book. Some teachers held open discussions about a moral lesson while others gave students and parents a writing assignment that was presented to the class. In addition to the family fun time, students made a bookmark that they could take home at the end of the evening. One parent commented that the night was different from past evening events; she liked spending the time learning with her daughter. Mrs. Perez, Leona Jackson’s Language Arts coach, said “The goal of the night was to encourage reading as a family and give strategies to make reading fun for everyone, and I think we did that”. This interactive parent night has set the tone for our upcoming parent education nights. The staff at Leona Jackson School has made a commitment to not only strengthen our academic program but also truly build a partnership with the parents and families of the different communities we serve every day. Ina Campos, Counselor Leona Jackson School
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES February 8, 2012 - February 22, 2012 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