First, a congratulatory shout-out to our students, teachers, and support staff for the fabulous STAR results, the State tests that measure student progress! We are finally able to share this fantastic news! Pacifica School District continues
o make progress, with an 857 Academic Performance Index (API), a 13 point increase from last year.
Additionally all schools made gains, with Sunset Ridge meeting all significant areas to therefore be frozen at Program Improvement (PI) year 2. We now have all schools and overall District APIs well over 800 with 800 noted as proficient.
We cannot make these accomplishments alone and thank the families, community organizations, and community at large for the support provided to the schools and District! Please go to the CDE Accountability Progress Reporting web page for more in-depth information regarding the district or individual schools.
October is a month we focus on Health and Wellness. The Pacifica School District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution October 2012 RESPECT! 24/7 Month in San Mateo County that reflects our support for the SMCOE anti- bullying and civility campaign. We will participate in activities that support personal growth throughout the entire month and year, with the intent of these activities impacting citizenship development.
All of our seventh and eighth grade students will have the opportunity to view the Bully Project, a documentary film that focuses on the current issues of bullying. Teachers are provided professional development with curriculum that supports student discussion. We are also in the process of training our second, fourth and sixth grade teachers on the CommonSense Media curriculum that focuses on digital literacy and citizenship. And last but not least we will participate in Red Ribbon Week, October 22-26, celebrating our commitment to healthy living.
Many of our programs are underway: After-School Robotics and High Tech Earth Awareness (the City of Pacifica program sponsored by San Mateo County); Academic Achievement Centers (formerly Homework Centers; supported through SMCOE); PEF 21st Century Learning Experiences (all grade levels will be experiencing activities throughout the year); PSV Parent Nights, 7:00 p.m., IBL (all families are invited, the first ones 10/16 Leaping into Literacy, Grades 6-8; 10/17 Mastering Math, Grades K-5). We are truly working to provide the needed opportunities for our students to develop the 21st Century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and civility.
Tuesday, October 9 was the first day of the early voting period: Proposition 30 and Proposition 38 are both on the November 6, 2012 ballot. Both measures provide needed funding for public education. Should both Propositions pass, the one with the most votes will prevail.
Official ballot information is provided to all voters in the "Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet" which began going out to voters by mail in late September, and voters should receive them before mid-October. Ballot
information is also available online now at the official website: www.shapethefuture.org. All voting materials and official information are available in English, Spanish or Chinese, at the voter's request.
It is not too late to register to vote! One has until Monday, October 22, 2012 to register!
Please vote!
Wendy Tukloff is the superintendent of the Pacifica School District. Once a month she sends a letter to Pacifica Patch so parents and education supporters can stay up on what's new at Pacifica's schools.
Follow Pacifica Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter | Blog for us
