Summer Wishes
As usual, the last day of school was an exciting end to an exciting year. The 6th grade BBQ, the many special field events and classroom events, and the 6th grade clap out were a great success. Fun was had by all.
I want to thank the parents and students at Melinda Heights for making it a wonderful year. I hope all of you have a restful and rewarding summer. Have fun. Read a lot. Relax.
We will see you in September.
Grades K-3 for the 2008-2009 School Year
As you may know, Class Size Reduction (CSR) Option 1 (commonly called 20:1) has been reinstated in grades one and two for next year. This is great news for students, parents, and teachers. Because of this, seventeen of the twenty-two certificated positions that were cut are now reinstated. Thus, kindergarten, first, and second grades will be much as they have been the last several years.
In third grade, the School Board has chosen to go to an Option 2 CSR model. This is what we have in kindergarten now. That means that the third grade classes will increase in size to a maximum of 32. It also means that for approximately half the day an additional Option 2 third grade teacher will join our full time teachers to reduce the class size ratio to 20:1 during that time. Thus, for language arts and math instruction there will be three qualified teachers for about 60 third graders. For the balance of the day, two teachers will teach their own group of 30 students.
Many of the decisions as to how this will work will be determined at the District level. This will include decisions about the Option 2 Teacher job description, responsibilities and instructional minutes, as well as overseeing the necessary changes in facilities, equipment, and materials. Though the administration has been working on determining models and procedures for the Option 2 process, it is still a work in progress.
At Melinda Heights, we have also been working with the Option 2 model to see how best to implement it here. We have considered several possible models. There are many factors that we have looked at, including facilities use and availability, staffing, teaming, transitions for students, etc. To further complicate this process, we have to deal with the usual changes in student population, projections, and staffing that always occur between now and the opening of school. As always, nothing is written in stone. Because this is a new approach for us, I was very careful to staff third grade with experienced, effective teachers, who would work well in teams. I am very confident that we have six dedicated teachers who will make this not only work, but work well.
Currently we have nine small third grade rooms in each of three suites of portables. Our current plan is to move the walls (and SmartBoards) in each suite so that we have two large rooms to accommodate the approximately 30 students in each class. Adjacent to our third grade rooms we currently have the MPR2/Sportz Center. This will be moved to other areas of the campus (if possible) so that walls can be installed to create three small rooms for the Option 2 teachers. Think of it this way: For the core instruction of math and language arts, we will have three small classes in three rooms each with its own teacher. For the balance of their instruction (social studies, health, science, etc.), students will be in two large rooms, in groups of 30, each with its own teacher. The third grade teachers, Mrs. Lucas, and I are still working on details for this plan, some of which will be determined by the District-level decisions mentioned above.
As these plans develop, I will update parents on this website.
Assistant Principal Position
Along with the many reinstatements of teachers and staff, the position of Assistant Principal at Melinda Heights has been reinstated. However, you may have heard that our Mrs. Julie Lucas has taken a new position as a principal in Orange Unified School District for next year. Congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. Lucas! We will be sorry to let her go.
At this writing, I do not know if we will hire a new assistant principal, or have one transferred to us from another school. Either way, we will have an assistant principal next year. No one is happier about that than I am!
Summer Reading
To participate in our Summer Reading Program, students must read one or more books during the summer, complete the attached Participation Form, and return this form to school in September. Students who participate in this program will receive a prize and a Summer Reading certificate of participation.
All information about the Summer Reading Program is available through the district webpage, www.svusd.k12.ca.us/reading. On our District web page, we have compiled lists of recommended summer reading titles from our teachers and librarians as well as from other well-know sources. These lists are also available at our local libraries and book stores. To participate in our program, students may read books from these lists, from teacher created lists, or books of their own choice. Also, in this mailing, we have included information regarding lexiles, or reading levels, which will help match students to appropriate reading materials.
We ask that parents participate actively in our Summer Reading Program by helping students select appropriate titles and by verifying through their signature that student(s) have read the book(s) recorded on the Participation Form.
A Few Upcoming Events
8/18/08 - Office opens for 2008-2009 school year
9/4/08 - First day of classes for students
9/18/08 - Kindergarten Back-to-School-Night
9/25/08 - 1st-6th Back-to-School-Night