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
OCTOBER 2009
A Safe and Los Cerritos is on a Civil School is Teaching Odyssey the Foundation for Success!
On August 20, 2009, Frank J. Zamboni Middle School spent the day focused on creating a “Safe and Civil School.” Teachers and support staff attended an all-day training on the tenets of the Safe and Civil Schools program. It is a comprehensive program that allows schools to develop a base for a safe, nurturing and respectful environment on campus. Zamboni Middle School formed a comprehensive team to lead the charge of being safe and civil while striving for academic excellence. The team has been proudly named “The Foundation Committee.” It consists of administrators, teachers and support staff who will collaborate with all stakeholders to establish an effective school-wide and classroom management plan. The committee will help prevent misbehavior while also molding our
students into proud scholars who are respectful, responsible, motivated and highly engaged in college preparatory work. Our team is excited about this program because it encompasses the need for data-driven decision making that will involve the entire team in improving to support student success. During the summer, the Foundation Committee met for several days to create a training module for teachers and staff on the effective implementation of the Safe and Civil Schools Program. The training started off with an icebreaker we called “Are You Cooler than a Middle Schooler?” Without a doubt we learned that Zamboni teachers are just as “cool” as our middle school students. After the icebreaker, the Zamboni team reviewed our strengths and areas of growth, and began the
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES October 14, 2009 - October 28, 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
Los Cerritos Elementary started the 2009-2010 school year ready to soar to new heights and begin their “Teaching Odyssey”. The staff gathered together for their first day meeting energized and ready to make their mark. They were greeted with a meeting decorated and designed for their Odyssey. The quote “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon!” was displayed throughout the room. There was an excitement in the air. The staff had a new feel with the new kindergarten through fifth grade configuration. There were many familiar faces and a few new. The first day of school would also bring many new families to the Los Cerritos campus for the first time. This added another level of excitement to the school year. This school year, Los Cerritos students will be taken on a “Teaching Odyssey.” Students will be given opportunities to explore, experience, and excel, ensuring success for all. Educational success is a collaboration of parents, teachers, administrators, and students. Candice Navarro, a new third grade teacher, said it best. She stated, “Our odys-
process of aligning and clarifying our School Vision to align with the District’s Mission and Vision. The Foundation Committee also covered topics such as positive incentive programs, procedures to correct irresponsible behavior and effective supervision in the common areas. Zamboni Middle School teachers and staff ended the day by completing the process of the Foundation’s Improvement Cycle. We created and adopted our first school-wide policy. The day was spent working as seasoned members of a championship team, though many had just met that same day. This positive energy carried over into the first day of school as students were greeted to a warm and nurturing environment. Teachers introduced the students to the expectations, policies and procedures. We continue to implement the foundations improvement cycle and move forward with redefining what is a Safe and Civil School at Frank J. Zamboni Middle School. Caroline Lopez & Wendy Settles
sey has put me right on track to reach the goals at the end of the year”. That is exactly what the “Teaching Odyssey” is intended to do, help teachers and students reach their goals.
We want all partners, teachers, students and parents, to join us on our “Teaching Odyssey” and to know that they are instrumental in the Los Cerritos students’ success at school.