EYE ON EDUCATION A Publication of the Paramount Unified School District
JULY 2009
15110 CALIFORNIA AVE., PARAMOUNT, CA 90723 • TEL: 562-602-6000 • FAX: 562-634-6029
Adult Education Mother of Five Gives it Her All After years of living in the U.S. without being able to speak or understand English, Leticia Pisi looked at herself in her new school’s bathroom mirror. Tears of frustration on her cheeks, eyes red from crying. “Why couldn’t she understand what the ESL teacher had just asked her in the classroom? Why couldn’t she respond?” It was 2005, and Leticia was a brand new student at Paramount Adult School. Her many successes were still years away. Yet that was her moment to choose. And choose she did. To continue to reach her goal, no matter what. “I came from Mexico in 1989,” she recently recalled, “and I didn’t understand a word of English. Even when I started that level two ESL class, I could only understand maybe 20% of what the teacher was saying.” Fast forward from those tears in 2005 to 2009. Leticia easily chatted in English about her long educational journey. How she cared for both her ill parents the whole time—dialysis and chemotherapy for her mom, doctor visits for her dad. Not to mention raising five children. And cooking. And homework. And tests. “I’ll never forget the day I passed the reading test, to advance beyond ESL,” Leticia beamed. It
was her third attempt. Just that morning she had told her mother that she doubted she would make it this time either—but she would try anyway. “Good luck, m’hija,” her ailing mother had told her. “And God bless.” Afterwards, the teacher announced in class that only one student had scored high enough to be eligible for GED or high school coursework. In fact, that student had earned the highest score possible. “Let’s give a big hand,” the teacher had said, “to Leticia.” Leticia gasped. She couldn’t believe it. Her heart might have skipped a beat in that moment, but her determination to succeed didn’t. She immediately signed up for the GED preparation class. More studying, more sacrifices, more effort. The first time she took the battery of five tests—in English—she passed four. Than, last month, she passed the fifth and thereby earned her GED certificate. So, what has driven Leticia to continue, to keep trying, to succeed? “At first,” she stated, “all I wanted to do was learn English so that I could communicate accurately with my parents’ doctors.” And with her children’s teachers. But once she learned English, she realized more doors could open.
Chuckling, she recounted that she knew she was making progress when one daughter said to another, “Don’t say things in front of mom [in English] anymore. She understands everything now!” Then came GED, and now computer classes to improve her employment prospects. After that? Nursing classes slated to begin next January. What a great example she has
set for her children, two of whom have already graduated from Paramount High. Even her youngest, who was in kindergarten at the time, learned from her mother’s efforts. They used to go to the library together, where Leticia would read aloud and the little girl would help with pronunciation. Leticia’s example will again be shared on June 16 during the graduation ceremony for Para-
mount Adult School. She was chosen from this year’s 190 GED recipients to give a speech that night. As she prepares for that special occasion, Leticia finishes by saying, “It’s actually easy” to attain goals like she has “if you just give it your full effort.” Jerry King, Teacher on Special Assignment
Paramount West Celebrates Student Excellence
On Wednesday, June 4, 2009, over 250 students, parents and staff members from Paramount High School West Campus gathered at Paramount Parks School’s Multipurpose Room to partake in our eleventh annual Night of Recognition. The purpose of this gathering was to recognize some of our highest achieving, and hardest working students. The students in attendance were nominated for the various awards by their teachers. Each nomination was required to be accompanied by a submission of student work that demonstrated the academic achievement of the student. Each department examined and evaluated the student submissions and assessments to select each student. After much reflection and discussion, the recipient of each award was agreed upon. Each student was awarded a medallion and certificate which listed their accomplishment. Perfect Attendance Award: Cristian Andrade, Danielle Baker, Denise Calderon, Pilar Carrillo, Cristian Cerda, Quiana Cooley, Brenda Cuevas, Emmanuel Diaz, Margarita Fajardo, Lennyn Gutierrez, Steven Iniguez, Luiz Lemus, Tishma Patel, Karen Quintero,
Christina Rivera, Daniela Rivera, Paola Ruiz, Brittney Stokes, Melissa Torres, Sopheada Tun, Vanessa, Valerio, Counselors Award: Janet Salazar, Gabriela Cervantes, Jacqueline Martinez Sportsmanship of the Year: Krystal De Casas Emmanuel Diaz Athlete of the Year: Deon Moore Angela Covarrubias Maroon & White Awards: Leobardo Viramontes, Joseph Vanporrpal, Ana Romero, Kimberly Guevara Spanish Language Award: Raechel Bauto-Santos Karen Quintero Career Technical Education – Medical Roselly Cano Career Technical Education – Media Gabriela Fernandez Computer Applications Award: Markel Cooper
Visual & Performing Arts Awards: Art - Karen Quintero Band - Salvador Zuniga Choir - Daniela Yba Orchestra – Kelly Florimon Dance – Mahogany Flynn Theater – Melina Rios Journalism – Adriana Covarrubias Speech – Mariana Castro Student Government Award: Stephania Vargas Citizenship Awards: Jesus Villegas Tishma Patel
Pirate Awards: ELD – Rossana Yepez Language Arts – Virnesha Dowdell Language Arts Honor – Brian Reyes Integrated Science – Quiana Cooley Biology – Daniela Rivera Algebra – Nayran Delgado Geometry – Jessica Sepulveda World History – Jose Sandoval ELD – Nereida Vidal Language Arts – Xiomaira Jimenez Language Arts Honors – Sammy Mendez Integrated Science – Xitlaly Salcedo Biology – Paola Ruiz Geometry – Daniela Rivera
Algebra – Lisbeth Olivas Serrano Worls History – Erika Cervantes
Academic Achievement Award ELD – Jasmin Barron Language Arts – Evelyn Aldana Language Arts Honors – Emily Marquez Integrated Science – Luis Serratos Biology – Cristal Gonzalez Algebra – Adriana Covarrubias Geometry – Yvonne Vasquez World History – Antonio Estrada-Zaragoza ELD – Tatiana Ramos Language Arts – Katherine Armitage Language Arts Honors – Mariana Castro Integrated Science – Victor Loza Biology – Karen Quintero Algebra – Lonkena Baston
Geometry – Paola Ruiz World History – Janet Salazar ELD – Lizbeth Olivas Serrano Language Arts – Adriana Covarrubias Language Arts Honors – Adriana Sarabia Integrated Science – Ivan Gonzales Biology – Mariana Castro Algebra – Virnesha Dowdell Geometry – Mariana Castro World History – Mariana Castro Perfect “4” Awards: Mariana Castro, Vanessa Florez, Karen Quintero, Yvonne Vasquez, Adriana Covarrubias, Maria Jimenez, Daniela Rivera Principal’s Award Mariana Castro
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES July 7, 2009 - August 25, 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