May 1, 2007

School Scene

Branham recognized as 2007 Distinguished School

Branham High School is recognized as one of 171 California middle and high schools selected as a 2007 Distinguished School.

The school, which was closed during most of the 1990s due to declining enrollment, has worked hard to achieve this honor, said Principal Tom Utic. The school has put “together a dedicated team of hard workers and built the faculty from scratch, we decided on the direction we wanted to go, spent some time training on instructional strategies and lots of time collaborating to develop a measure of student progress,” in order for the program to be successful.
Utic joined the school as a vice principal in 1999 and became principal three years ago.

He noted the high school has focused on developing a rigorous and relevant curriculum, implementing systematic methods of assessment and providing teachers with resources to improve and vary their instructional strategies.

Students also are learning not just subjects, but how to best learn these subjects. For example, Branham students are being trained to take notes using Cornell University training. This method teaches students what is important and the difference between taking too many and too few notes.

The schools selected represent about 7 percent of California’s nearly 2,400 middle and high schools. Branham and the other schools selected underwent an intensive evaluation process conducted by the California Department of Education. A team from Branham wrote an in-depth report describing the curriculum, instructional program, support mechanisms for students, and school climate. This report was reviewed by a team of educators who came to Branham for a site validation visit on March 14, when they met with students, faculty and staff, and parents to get a clear picture of Branham and the progress that has been made over the past several years.

"These middle and high schools have shown they are able to meet the challenge of providing their students with the kind of rigorous education that is essential to their future success in the classroom and the workplace,” stated State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell in his press release.

Branham’s Academic Performance Index last year jumped 42 points to 785 from the previous year, surpassing the three point goal set by the state and nearly the goal of 800 points.

“I would like to thank the students, parents, faculty and staff for their contributions to the school. Achieving status as a California Distinguished School is one important benchmark in Branham’s ongoing efforts to provide the highest quality education for all its students. In the upcoming years we anticipate more good things to come,” said Utic.

Willow Glen Elementary holds ‘Prep-a-ration’ rally

Willow Glen track team members discuss persistence, endurance and patience with Willow Glen Elementary School ‘s second through fifth graders in preparation for the California Standards Tests.

Willow Glen Elementary School held a “prep” rally on April 19 in preparation for the California Standards tests that were taken the following week. This is the fourth year the school has rallied prior to the test to get its students ready for the tests.

Previous rally visitors include S.J. Sharkey, but this year’s guests were marathon running parents and Willow Glen High track team members who talked about persistence, endurance and patience.

“The big hit of the rally was Willow Glen High’s track team, especially one member who wanted to become a state champion,” said Principal Dayle D’Anna. “He talked about how he injured his knee and has to rest before going back to training. How badly he wanted that championship and how he kept the goal out there so that he could finally achieve it.”

One of the four parents speaking to the children discussed getting ready for a second marathon and one talked about trying to get into the Boston Marathon, she said. “It’s just like any sports endeavor, you need strategies, that can make taking the tests a little bit easier.”

Hacienda Environmental Science Magnet receives OSH School Gardens Grant

Hacienda Environmental Science Magnet School in San Jose has been selected as one of 86 schools statewide to participate in the Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) School Gardens Program, a statewide campaign to create or enhance school gardens. This initiative, introduced last year in commemoration of OSH’s 75th Anniversary, supports California schools by creating hands-on learning experiences.

Schools were selected from nearly 300 applicants throughout California. Each OSH store will partner with a selected local school and donate up to $1,000 in supplies, plants, tools and other materials, as well as gardening expertise, to help create and maintain the gardens. Schools also will receive curriculum packets, prepared by the California Department of Education, to facilitate successful program implementation in the classroom and in the garden.

OSH selected Hacienda based on the strength of its garden curriculum, school wide commitment to develop and use the gardens, plans to sustain the gardens as valuable educational tools and the broad involvement of students and staff in the programs. These selection criteria were established by OSH in partnership with the California Department of Education.

“When we reviewed grant applications, we put a strong emphasis on identifying schools with a plan to create a rich curriculum around the garden, both during its initial development, and in the years to come,” said OSH President and CEO Rob Lynch. “Every school we selected for the program demonstrated a commitment to establish a successful and sustainable school garden.”

Other schools in Santa Clara County that have been selected to participate in the OSH School Gardens Program include Bagby Elementary School in San Jose.

About Orchard Supply Hardware
Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH), headquartered in San Jose, is a leading chain of home improvement and garden retail stores with 85 locations throughout California. OSH has a rich heritage, starting as a farmers’ cooperative in 1931. For more than 75 years, it has been committed to offering its customers legendary service, selection and convenience. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.osh.com.

Most everyone is a wee bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!

On March 16, the students of St. Christopher School were entertained by the dancers of the Greene Academy of Irish Dance. After-wards the school’s resident "Lucky Lepre-chauns," Monsignor James Walsh (who is originally from Kil-kenny, Ireland) and Sister Kieran O'Connor were celebrated by the students with gifts, cards and blessings.

River Glen School receives Academic Achievement Award

River Glen K-8 Spanish-English Dual Immersion School received a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award at the 23rd annual awards ceremony in Orange County last month.

The awards are given to Title 1 schools that exceed Adequate Yearly Progress for two or more consecutive years or significantly close the achievement gap among numerically significant subgroups. The criteria also requires Title 1 schools to double their Academic Performance Index growth target for two consecutive years and to have met a designated median API growth score in English language arts and mathematics.

Criteria for eligibility is that the poverty index at the school equal at least 40 percent of all students enrolled, not just those tested; the school must have two years of assessment data for 2004-05 and 2005-06 in the state accountability system for growth results to be calculated for the API; The school must have made the AYP for 2004-05 and 2005-06 as defined under No Child Left Behind and calculated by the CDE in accordance with the states NCLB Accountability Workbook; it must demonstrate the achievement level of twice the school wide API growth target and twice the API growth target for the socio-economically disadvantaged subgroup for the 2004-05 and 2005-06; it must have attained or surpassed a 758 API median score for elementary schools and a 722 score for middle schools.