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
NOVEMBER 2010
Paramount High Salutes Its AP Scholars Eight students at Paramount High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement Exams taken in May of the 2009/2010 school year. At Paramount High, thirteen AP Exams are offered, each providing willing and academically prepared students the opportunity to take rigorous college-level classes while still in high school. Last school year, only 18 percent of the more than 1.8 million students taking AP Exams worldwide performed at the high level needed to earn an AP Scholar Award. Enrique Gutierrez-Mendoza earned the prestigious AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams taken the previous school year. Enrique scored a 3 or higher on six exams last year, including AP Biology, AP English Language
and Composition, AP European History, AP Spanish Language, AP United States History, and AP Environmental Science. Luis Chavez received the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four of these exams. Six Paramount students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Erika Alvarez, Sergio Garcia, Vanessa Gomez, Paloma Ibarra, Jasmine Martinez, and Ismael Mireles. The AP program provides students to stand out in the college admissions process. Each AP Exam is developed by a committee of university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading universities. Research shows that AP students who score a 3 or higher
Pictured from left to right in the front row are Vanessa Gomez, Erika Alvarez, Jasmine Martinez, and Paloma Ibarra. From left to right in the back row are Ismael Mireles, Enrique Gutierrez-Mendoza, Luis Chavez, and Sergio Garcia.
on AP Exams (based on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being highest) typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher graduation
rates than students who do not participate in the AP program. Congratulations are due to Paramount’s AP Scholars, who have already taken this signifi-
cant step towards success at the university level. Greg Francois Assistant Principal, PHS
Lincoln Lions Love Learning! Lincoln Lions Roar! We met our goal! Our school wide API of 828 reflects an increase of 37 pts! I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the Paramount community. My name is Pamela Williams, and I am honored to have been selected as the new principal of Lincoln Elementary School. My strong background in literacy, GATE education, interven-
tion support programs, special education, technology, and staff development will be used to support our Lincoln students toward continued success. Lincoln is a wonderful K5 neighborhood school that continues to serve multiple generations of families within
our Paramount community. In turn, our parents and families, as active members of our PTA and school community, support our students through many fundraising and educational events during the school year. At Lincoln, we are incredibly proud of our students as
they continue to excel on state standardized tests. It is our team spirit that contributes to our very high levels of success! Lincoln’s teachers, school staff, students, parents, families, and community members, ALL help makes Lincoln such a supportive place to work and learn! In the spirit of a Professional Learning Community, each Monday, our entire school comes together on the black top to begin the instructional day. Led by our 5th grade Student Council officers, we recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing a patriotic song, and listen to brief school announcements. Our
small school mascot, Leo the Lincoln Lion, is presented to a class each week for demonstrating respectfulness, outstanding student achievement, and good sportsmanship. Even though it is early in the school year, Mrs. Figueira’s kindergarten students earned the privilege of posing with our Lincoln mascot. It’s always a great day to be a Lincoln Lion! I look forward to a wonderful year at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School! Pamela Williams Principal Lincoln School
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES November 17, 2010 Leo the Lincoln Lion pictured with Mrs. Figueira & her Kinder students.
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