Archives: September 2014

Anza’s Diversity is One of Our Greatest Strengths

At Anza, we aim to build a strong community. That means embracing the unique multiculturalism of the school, and ensuring that families feel welcome and invited regardless of where they have perviously called home. We made this video to show our parents that, to us, Anza’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths. We are proud of our students AND their families, and together we will foster happier and healthier young learners.

Cynthia Knight, Principal

Welcome to Anza! from Seal Media on Vimeo.

Naranca Opens House In Grand Fashion

Naranca Elementary School had the most successful Open House in our recent history. We had a majority of families attend this event to learn about new programs, watch their children perform, as well as enjoy a meal together. The Naranca Community Outreach Team was established this year and worked diligently over the past two weeks communicating with parents the value of the event. Our goals were to increase parent involvement and parent and teacher relationships, there by ensuring student success. It was inspirational to see our families and teachers come together as one.

Parents take out cell phones to capture a moment of their children on stage!

Teachers talking Blended Learning, Common Core, and 20% Time!

Johnson Jaguars Building Partners

Over the past several weeks, a couple of staff members at Johnson have ​been preparing to host a “partnership building” session with parents. Today the session was an absolute smashing success! 98 parents attended, and were offered the opportunity to participate in an English, Spanish or Arabic session. Parents heard from school staff, and each other, about how they can set high expectations, establish routines, create healthy study habits, and communicate with the school. It was a quick one hour curriculum, which is now fully available to share with other schools! We couldn’t be prouder of our parents, staff and students! Go Jaguars!!​

Cougar Pride @ Back to School Night

Cajon Valley Middle School had an excellent turn-out our back to school night event on September 10, 2014. With support from the district office and numerous hours of staff, student, & parent participation, The school community enjoyed a great event. With pizza, raffle prizes, entertainment, informational and community tables, music, and fun, everyone had a great time. Thank you to all who attended and contributed in making the event so successful.

Cougar Pride!
Gregory Calvert, Principal
Cajon Valley Middle School

A Lesson in Service

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Over the summer, administrators were given the opportunity to learn about the importance of customer service in several top companies. It was a fun and engaging experience, but the lesson was real. It made me examine my own customer service on campus. What does my customer need? What have I been providing my staff? What have they been providing to students and families? I realized I needed to take care of them before they could pay it forward. Something like the model, I take care of you, so you can take care of them. Sometimes it’s the big things, making sure classrooms are ready and internet working. Sometimes it’s the little things like repairing staff lounges and restrooms to reflect a professional work environment. One take away from this is we pay it forward as a team. No one supports in isolation. The push for customer service is gaining momentum. Many colleagues shared similar experiences at our meeting last week. At our recent Curriculum Night, a parent stopped me on his way home to tell me that these teachers were some of the nicest and most helpful people he had ever met. He wanted me to know how much he appreciated our staff. In addition, I’ve seen staff members complimenting students and sharing the positive experiences that are taking place on campus. I look forward to seeing the growing effects of service to others.

Karen Minshew, Principal
Greenfield Middle School

Follow Hillsdale Middle School on Twitter @HillsdaleCVUSD

Images from the first couple weeks back at Hillsdale Middle School including a picture of Principal Marietta Minjares taking a selfie of what “not” to wear at school! Click here to see a video of first day back with staff! http://animoto.com/play/OOdObo8BngxswQJl0nFMpA

Mission Accomplished: Coordinated Early Intervening Services Plan Goals Achieved

This past June, because the Cajon Valley Union School District (CVUSD) has proportionately provided special education services to its students for the last three consecutive academic years, while also meeting the performance objectives of its Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) plan, it was informed by the California Department of Education that it will be allowed to conclude CEIS plan implementation on September 30, 2014. From January 2013 through September 2014, the CEIS plan will have provided the following notable benefits to the CVUSD community:
Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
• Three PBS professional development modules developed
• Forty-six professional development in-services presented
• Two hundred six hours of professional development provided
• Approximate number of certificated, classified, and administrative staff in-service attendees: 700+
• District PBS website created
• Ten Behavior Support Teachers identified
o Contributed to the development and presentation of each PBS module
o Assisted in the presentation of 144 hours of staff development
o Peer coached/consulted with 33 certificated teachers
o Conducted 70 peer coach/consultation sessions
o Assisted with the creation and development of the district PBS website

Culturally Responsive School Environments (CRSE)
• Eighteen professional development in-services presented in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League’s A Classroom of Difference®
• One hundred eight hours of professional development provided
• Approximate number of certificated, classified, and administrative staff in-service attendees: 450+
• Community Outreach Pilot Program initiated at four schools (Anza, Johnson, Naranca, and CVMS)

IDEA Policies and Procedures (IDEAPP)
• The CVUSD Student Success Team (SST) Manual revised and updated
• Two versions (Elementary School & Middle School) of IDEAPP professional development trainings provided for school site trainers (a principal, a classroom teacher, and if available, a school counselor)
• Percentage of school site trainings completed by June 2014: 100%
• Approximate number of certificated school site staff trained: 800+

Although all CEIS resources must be expended by September 30th, some foundational PBS components will continue as a result of funds allocated through the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). Among those foundational PBS components will be the following: 1) Maintenance and enhancement of the CVUSD Positive Behavior Support website (please see https://sites.google.com/a/cvusd.co/positive-behavior-support/ ); 2) Behavior Support Teacher consultation services will remain a resource for classroom teachers through January 30, 2015 (please see the PBS website for details); and 3) release time for teachers to attend PBS professional development in-services (Modules 1-3) will be provided (go to Go Sign Me Up for section dates and times).
Lastly, the staff responsible for implementing the CEIS plan would like to express their gratitude to the certificated, classified, and administrative personnel of the CVUSD. You were repeatedly asked to actively engage, share, question, and reflect on the behavioral and cultural aspects of your classroom experiences, and your willingness to thoughtfully and passionately do so were only surpassed by your heartfelt expressions of concern and compassion for your students and colleagues. As noted by Rita Pearson in PBS Module 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFnMTHhKdkw), “Teaching and learning should bring joy. How powerful would our world be if we had kids who were not afraid to take risks, who were not afraid to think, and who had a champion? Every child deserves a champion!”

To the champions of the CVUSD, “Thank you!”

Brian McCarthy, Psy.D.
Lead School Psychologist/SD-CEIS Asst.