Volume 2016-2017, Number 2

“Excellence in Education”

Winter 2017

www.etiwanda.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE

Mondi M. Taylor President

Brynna Cadman President Pro Tempore

Robert Garcia County Representative

Dayna Karsch Member

David W. Long Clerk

ADMINISTRATION Shawn Judson, Ed.D. Superintendent

Douglas M. Claflin Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

Terry Embleton Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services

Charlayne Sprague Assistant Superintendent of Instruction/Pupil Services

PRINCIPALS Kelly Bray Perdew Elementary

Sandra Fleming Etiwanda Colony Elementary

Justin Kooyman Etiwanda Intermediate

Ben Lautenslager West Heritage Elementary

Josh Lautenslager Windrows Elementary

Alicia Lyon Day Creek Intermediate

Rosann Marlen Carleton P. Lightfoot Elementary

Benjamin Nakamura Summit Intermediate

Carol Pilgren, Ed.D. Cecilia L. Solorio Elementary

Laura Rowland Heritage Intermediate

Joe Shaw Grapeland Elementary

Greetings to our Etiwanda School District Community, 2017 is off to a great start in Etiwanda, with our school staff and students about to enter the final trimester of the school year. The rainy return to school after winter recess did not dampen any spirits, as our schools continue to provide outstanding programs for our students and families. We are looking forward to the many spring activities at our schools, including Open House, concerts and student performances. The future is looking bright for our school facilities thanks to the passage of Measure I on the November 2016 ballot. Our district is very grateful to the Etiwanda community for the overwhelming support for the measure. Funds from Measure I will be used to enhance student safety and school classrooms and facilities at every school in the district. Our facilities team is already in the planning process for projects for the first release of bond funds this spring. You can review the preliminary list of projects by site on page 6 of this newsletter. Great facilities need great people, and I am happy to announce the appointment of new principals for the 2017-18 school year. Alicia Lyon has been named as principal for Falcon Ridge Elementary School, the district’s new school scheduled to open to students in August. Ms. Lyon is currently serving as principal at Day Creek Intermediate, with prior experience as an elementary and middle school assistant principal and teacher. The Board of Trustees appointed David Apodaca as the new principal at Day Creek Intermediate. Mr. Apodaca has served as assistant principal at Day Creek for five years. I am confident that Ms. Lyon and Mr. Apodaca will continue to provide leadership that promotes student achievement, parent involvement and a positive school climate. As we have been visiting school sites throughout the school year, I have been so impressed by the outstanding work of our educators and support staff to create welcoming, inspiring and safe learning environments for our students. This dedication, combined with the wonderful support we receive from parents and family members, are the keys to the success of our students. Our collaboration helps us to bring the district motto of “Excellence in Education” to life. Warmly,

Dino Tavolazzi Caryn Elementary

Jeannie Tavolazzi Terra Vista Elementary

Damita Walton East Heritage Elementary

Lisa Wildes John L. Golden Elementary

Eugene Yarrobino David W. Long Elementary

Shawn Judson, Ed.D. Superintendent

State Testing System: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) www.smaterbalanced.org This spring, students in grades 3-8 will be participating in the online Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, which are part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System. This test, aligned with the instruction that takes place in the classroom every day, measures how well your child has mastered the skills and content in mathematics and English language arts at his or her grade level. It also assesses critical thinking, analytical writing and problem solving skills, which are needed for success in college and a 21 st century career. The Smarter Balanced Assessment has different kinds of questions, including traditional multiple-choice questions as well as ones that require students to explain their answers, show their work, and compose essays or tackle projects. Sample test items and practice tests can be found at www.smarterbalanced.org under the link for assessments. Student score reports will be sent home when they are received by the district in the summer. The report shows how students are doing in three different domains of each subject area and indicate where they need help. Depending on the student’s needs, school administrators and teachers will use this information along with student report cards and teacher’s observations of your child’s performance in the classroom, to form a complete picture of your child’s achievement and needs. Information on the specific dates and times your child will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment in the spring will be shared by your child’s school site. Parents may annually submit a written request to excuse their child from participating in any or all parts of any test provided pursuant to Education Code section 60640. If you have any questions regarding your child’s participation, please contact your child’s school site administrator. Visit the Smarter Balanced Assessment website for more information on the development of test items, practice tests, and score report information.

California Pilots a New State Science Test A new science test aligned with the new California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – California Science Test or CAST – will be piloted in grades 5 and 8 and high school throughout California this spring. The CAST pilot test is computer-based and consists of 10-15 test items and one performance task. Practice tests that allow teachers, parents and students to go online and try out a small number of sample tasks, in preparation for the statewide pilot test this spring, are available at: http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training. Students in grade five and eight with an individualized education program that identifies them for alternate assessment, will participate in the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science for the science pilot test. Scores from the pilot test will not be generated for districts, schools or students, however, student participation data will be collected and reported for accountability. Visit the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress website for more information on the development of test items, practice tests and score report information at: www.caaspp.org.

California Launches a New School Accountability System To provide a more complete picture of what contributes to a positive educational experience for our students and to help the public understand the performance of our schools, California will be releasing its new California School Dashboard this year. The State Board of Education recently approved the dashboard, an evaluation rubric for the state’s comprehensive school accountability and continuous improvement system that supports the overall objectives of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) – the state’s funding and accountability process adopted in 2013. The evaluation rubrics are designed to measure school and district performance in eight priority areas that define quality education: basic services; implementation of the new state standards; parental involvement; student achievement (including English learners’ progress); pupil engagement; school climate; access to broad course of study; and pupil outcomes. By displaying the range of results in an interactive, web-based dashboard that will be unveiled to the public in March, the evaluation rubric will serve as the primary method of measuring student achievement, school performance and progress toward more equitable outcomes for all students. The dashboard is to be fully operational by the 2017-18 school year. The new system replaces the former Academic Performance Index, which represented a “one-size-fits-all” approach to measuring school performance using a single, narrow metric. This is an exciting and important step for our district schools, and schools across California, as we continuously improve our instructional program in order to prepare our students for 21st century careers and college. The district looks forward to sharing our district/school dashboards with you this spring.

Board Member Update The November 2016 election welcomed a new member, Robert Garcia, to the Etiwanda School District Board of Trustees. Mr. Garcia brings twelve years of experience as a classroom teacher at the middle school and high school levels to his role as Board member. In addition, he currently serves as an Elementary Administrator in the Ontario-Montclair School District. Mr. Garcia was elected by his fellow Board members to the position of County Representative for the Board of Trustees. Mr. Garcia has begun his service as a Board member with great passion and enthusiasm for the students, families and employees of the district. In addition, Board Member Cecilia Solorio recently resigned her position on the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Solorio was first appointed to the Board in 1979, and completed nearly 38 years of service to the students and families of our community and the employees of our district. During her period of service on the Board, the district grew from 600 students and 2 schools, to over 14,000 students and 16 schools. In recognition of her service to the community, the Board named a school in her honor in 2000. Mrs. Solorio had a true passion for the students of our district. While serving on the Board, she insured the continuance of the district traditions of academic excellence, high quality teaching, strong parent involvement, and welcoming school atmospheres. She was always so proud of the achievements of our students, as well as the fine work of our teachers and support staff. The district is very grateful for her contributions of leadership, kindness, and service for nearly four decades. The Board of Trustees conducted a provisional appointment process to fill Mrs. Solorio’s vacant position. On February 22, 2017, Ms. Dayna Karsch was selected from a group of 27, well-qualified community members. Ms. Karsch is a fifteen year resident of the Etiwanda community. She is an active and involved parent, currently serving as President of the Terra Vista Elementary Parent Teacher’s Association (PTA), as well as a member of the School Site Council, where her two children attend school. Ms. Karsch earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and is currently employed as an engineer/manager for a manufacturing company. She is a passionate and energetic advocate for public education and the achievement of all students.

8th Annual Driving for Excellence Golf Tournament The Etiwanda Excellence in Education Foundation, better known as E3, is calling out to the entire community to get involved in the 8th Annual Driving for Excellence Golf Tournament on Thursday, June 1, 2017. You too, can swing into action and be a part of the tourney at Sierra Lakes Golf Course in Fontana. Jeff Sipos, E3 Director and tournament organizer, is excited about the program this year. With much enthusiasm Jeff said, “last year the tournament welcomed 134 golfers. This year we are looking to max out with 144 players enjoying an amazing day of golf, great food and friendly competition.” Jeff also said, “all of the proceeds from the tournament go back to the students and the schools of the Etiwanda School District.” This year’s event will begin with a scramble format start at 8:00 a.m. with teams of up to four and will feature many interesting opportunities for golfers. There will be prizes for the winning teams, closest to the pin prizes, opportunities for hole-in-one prizes, a chance to win in a putting contest, and raffle prize drawings. The cost to play is $150 per individual or $500 per foursome. The tournament will be limited to 144 players. In addition to players, event sponsors and donors are also needed to make the event a success. Look for our flyer and registration for early bird pricing! Sign up early and get a reduced rate. For more information regarding the tournament as a player, sponsor or donor, contact Jeff at: [email protected]

Preparing Learners for Ultimate Success (PLUS) Before & After School Child Care - Summer Camp 2017 Our PLUS Before and After Child Care program continues to be a great success and benefit to our families and over 1,900 students in the Etiwanda School District. The PLUS program is available at all sites however, Space is limited. Our Summer Camp will begin Tuesday, May 30, 2017, and will be held at Etiwanda Colony Elementary School for students attending the first – third grades and at Summit Intermediate for students attending the fourth – eighth grades. Summer Camp will be available to students who are currently enrolled in the Etiwanda School District and will be attending 1st – 8th grades during the 2017-2018 school year. We have nine fun-filled weeks planned with weekly thematic units promising to keep your child entertained. Our goal is to provide art enrichment in a fun, safe and nurturing environment. Also included in the weekly tuition price are lessons such as dance, fitness, music, and science. Fun field trips to cosmic bowling, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, 66ers Baseball game, Safari Park, and more! A Summer Camp registration fee of $75.00 per student is required (maximum of $125 per family). Two weekly tuition contracts are available; a 5-day week (M-F) and a 4-day week (M-TH). Summer Camp hours are 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. You may enroll for one week or all nine weeks. Your child care site and the District Office will have a Summer Camp contract available in April 2017. Early registration is recommended. WILL BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL! Weekly fees include field trip admission and lessons. For additional information and weekly tuition fees, please contact child care staff at (909) 803-3988. http://www.etiwanda.k12.ca.us/district/

2017-2018 CALENDAR

schoolcalendar1718.htm First Day of School: August 7, 2017 Last day of School: May 24, 2018

Facilities Thank you to the community for supporting Measure I. Passage for this General Obligation Bond is a significant increase of funding into our already busy facilities program. The district has identified an initial set of projects that we are designing for our existing facilities funding and the first bond money that will be available this Spring. The projects range from building repairs to new buildings and will affect every school site. The following is our proposed projects for the first 7 years of the program. ALL SITES        

Painting of all schools (6 year rotation – 3 per year) Carpeting of all schools (8 year rotation – 2 per year) One-to-one computing - replacement Electronic lock retrofit Safety equipment (panic buttons /cameras) (all sites) Roof repairs, safety lighting upgrades, HVAC repairs, restroom renovation, etc. (all sites) Play structure replacement (elementary & kinder) Heating ventilation and air conditioning variable volume & temperature (HVAC VVT) system removal / replacement (multiple sites)

DAY CREEK INTERMEDIATE  

Field reconfiguration New classroom building

SUMMIT INTERMEDIATE 

Redo of M and S wings

ETIWANDA INTERMEDIATE    

New two story classroom building Office / library remodel Traffic reconfiguration Field modernization

GRAPELAND ELEMENTARY



Class size reduction (CSR) conversion

TERRA VISTA ELEMENTARY   

Class size reduction (CSR) conversion Child care classrooms Classroom conversion for RSP

WEST HERITAGE ELEMENTARY 

Library / workroom & staff area

WINDROWS ELEMENTARY  

Library / office Traffic reconfiguration

FALCON RIDGE ELEMENTARY 

Completion of school

DISTRICT OFFICE 

Clerical office space

TRANSPORTATION DEPT.  

Compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling station Bus replacement

C.P. LIGHTFOOT ELEMENTARY  

Library Class size reduction (CSR) conversion

CARYN ELEMENTARY  

Restroom building Library / office

SOLORIO ELEMENTARY  

Class size reduction (CSR) conversion Additional classroom

D.W. LONG ELEMENTARY  

Class size reduction (CSR) conversion Child care classrooms

EAST HERITAGE ELEMENTARY   

Library Class size reduction (CSR) conversion Relocatable lift / set and relocate

GOLDEN ELEMENTARY     

Office control doors (prototype) Child care access door & ramp New classroom building Class size reduction (CSR) conversion Parking

The West End SELPA offers many parent trainings scheduled throughout the school year. Below are examples of some of the training opportunities that are open to the families of students with special needs. Navigating Difficult Conversations: The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) sponsored a training for parents on ways to approach difficult conversations in a positive, collaborative manner. Working together with the IEP team was a highlight of this workshop. This training was offered earlier this year, but is expected to be offered again. Dates to be determined. Life After High School: This workshop discusses the transition from high school to career and/or college. This training was offered earlier this year, but is expected to be offered again. Dates to be determined. weselpa.sbcss.k12.ca.us

Falcon Ridge Elementary The District’s newest school is nearing completion. Even with 20 days of weather delays in November and December and more added in January, the contractors are still working toward a delivery of the school on April 1, 2017. This will allow the district and the school’s new principal, Alicia Lyon, time over the summer to prepare the school for teachers and for students beginning on August 7, 2017. It is expected that the school will open with approximately 360 students and at least 2 classes per grade level. The following are pictures from December 2016.