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
JANUARY 2012
PHS GREEN CLUB- AN ACTIVE GROUP One could say Green Club is quite the “dynamic” club: actively involved in Paramount High’s recycling program, while providing members with opportunities to explore our natural world. The club’s most recent outings (all sponsored by Sierra Club) were a 3day Big Bear camping trip on (September 16-28), a Bolsa Chica beach cleanup(October 22), and a hike in Griffith Park (November 19). BIG BEAR- The mountain view as we drove up to Big Bear was breathtaking, with picturesque blue skies above. Huge trees surrounded us, and the misty air refreshed us as our Sierra Club sponsors assisted us as we built up our tents in a cool meadow area in Big Pine Flats. At night, the National Forest Service (NFS) connected us with an expert and a professional telescope for a stargazing
session; the stars and constellations looked lovely without the obscuring haze of harsh city lights. The campfire back at the site was the cherry on top of our awesome day. Within the next two days, we surely maintained our active pace! We cooked breakfast, worked on an erosion management project with a group of volunteers and the NFS, played campfire
games, ate s’mores, and enjoyed a great time by Big Bear Lake eating our hand-churned strawberry ice-cream! Leaving this place proved harder than we thought. BOLSA CHICA- Our beach cleanup at Bolsa Chica was a memorable trip as well. Once we stepped off the bus we noticed an ample group of there to help with the cleanup. The Bol-
sa Chica Stewards explained the restoration project, planting native plants that will help the wildlife in the area. Everyone picked up a pot as we made our way towards the designated area, and the cool, unsullied fresh air carried a therapeutic aroma of the eucalyptus trees. In an area where non-native plants were removed last March (partly by Green Club), everyone picked up shovels and dug holes to place the plants. Others filled jugs and came to water the native plants. As everyone was busy digging, planting, watering, and helping, we finished quickly. We couldn’t help but cheer about our achievement as we walked away from the preserved land and enjoyed our rest of the day at the beach. GRIFFITH PARK- Students enjoyed a moderately strenuous hike to the top of Mt. Lee in Griffith Park, America’s largest
municipal park with terrain and wilderness. Students started slowly and took pictures well below the famous Hollywood sign. However, we soon crossed over to see the other side of the mountain, with a new view of the San Fernando Valley. We watched two hawks and a raven swoop and dive, and soon we were on the top of the mountain, twenty feet from the actual Hollywood sign letters! They are huge—45 feet tall! Our downhill hike was nice and easy, and we were able to eat lunch near the Batcave from the original Batman TV show. Returning to school on Monday, we proudly commented on how sore we were from the exercise as we shared pictures of the hike. Mariana Castro and Diana Machado PHS Students
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Linda Garcia and Vivian Hansen Reelected Jingle All the Way!!!
Newly reelected Paramount Unified School District Board of Education members Linda Garcia and Vivian Hansen were given the Oath of Office by Superintendent David Verdugo at the December 7, 2011 meeting. The Trustees were reelected for an additional four year term and ran uncontested. Both Trustees have provided extraordinary service to the students, staff and community during their prior service as members of the Board of Education.
Mrs. Cheryl Figueira’s Kindergarten class from Lincoln School treated District Office staff with holiday cheer the morning of December 16. Students arrived with big smiles and ready to sing a variety of Holiday
songs that included We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Jingle Bells, and they sure Jingled all the way throughout the various departments at the District Office.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES January 11, 2012 - January 25, 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