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 2010
Panthers...On the Road to Success Last year marked a new adventure for Paramount Unified School District. Our students and staff took pride in becoming Paramount Park Middle School. Our school pride was accompanied by the realization that we had the power to create a safe and civil learning environment in which students can develop their creativity and flourish into responsible young adults. This realization fueled our dedication to making our vision a reality. The staff and members of the student Safe and Civil committee recognized the importance of establishing simple guidelines for students to achieve success in middle school. Under the direction of the administration, the students surveyed the student population and asked the question: What traits, skills, and attitudes are important for students to have in order to be successful in school, as well as in life? An over-
whelming percent of students identified the following as needed for success: Respect, Responsibility, Education, Dedication, Time-Management, and a Positive Attitude. Based on the input of the students, the Panther Guidelines for Success were created. The first day of school was a continuation of our journey. Each student was greeted warmly at the front gate as they glanced at the visual reminder of the road to success at Paramount Park Middle School. Each grade level participated in an expectations assembly where the guidelines were reviewed. The students were excited to see that the poster was created based on their recommendations. It has become a powerful tool in guiding students down the road to success! Topekia Jones Principal Paramount Park Middle School
PHS Student Spends Summer at UCLA
During summer break before this current school year, Xavier Brooks got a taste of college life by living in a dorm room at UCLA for six weeks. Xavier was one of 10 students in the region chosen to attend the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute program at UCLA. Mr. Francois, assistant principal at Paramount High School, and Mr. Kirkwood of the College Bound program, recommended him for the program. In order to be considered for acceptance,
Xavier was asked to submit two essays related to the field of medicine. As part of his preparation for the institute, Xavier made the trip to UCLA several times a month after his day at Paramount High. There, he received instruction and training in laboratory procedures, as well as attending lectures given by various researchers in the medical field. At the end of last school year, Xavier and nine other students attended a ceremony where they received certificates and their own lab coats showing that their preparation for the summer institute was complete. The first week of summer break, Xavier and the other nine students in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute moved into their dorm rooms. There were also students representing similar programs from across the country, as well as second year UCLA students doing research on their own projects. Once set-
tled in, Xavier and his small group began work on their chosen topic, cytokines and inflammation. A typical day began with a buffet breakfast, followed by either lab work in their small groups, or the opportunity to follow and observe doctors doing their own research. Xavier shared that the resident doctors were “very open and willing to answer their questions.” Lunch was followed by afternoons in the lab working on group projects. After dinner, most nights consisted of group meetings and time to study. But not all nights were spent working. Thursday
nights were free nights, and some of the group activities included going to the movies, a trip to Venice beach, and a B-B-Q at a resident researcher’s home. Looking back at the six weeks spent on campus, Xavier says “being at UCLA has exposed us to some of the responsibilities of life. You can see a drastic change in our maturity since we first unpacked our bags.” And looking ahead, Xavier will again make the trek to UCLA several days a month during this school year, as well as
UCLA on Page E-2
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES October 13, 2010 – October 27, 2010 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