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This is our first issue of the 2015-2016 school year. Our next issue will be published around December 1, 2015.

District Digest - Volume 5, Issue 1

September 1, 2015

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are honored to welcome parents, teachers, district staff, and nearly 7,000 students back to our Sunnyvale School District for the 2015-16 school year. For parents and guardians whose students are entering our schools for the first time, a special welcome and a heartfelt thank you for the trust that you have placed in us.

We have spent the summer eagerly preparing for your student’s return and we look forward to sharing new learning experiences with each of you.

To truly take advantage of all learning experiences, every day counts when it comes to attendance. Attendance is essential to school success. Missing just 2-3 days a month may delay a third-grader’s mastery of reading, or contribute to sixth-graders falling behind in their new middle school courses.

We pride ourselves on employing the best and the brightest teachers and staff to deliver daily, high-quality instruction to your children. Having every student every day in school is an important step to provide them with the skills and knowledge that they will need to thrive academically.

Student safety to and from school is also a top priority as we welcome back our Preschool–8th graders. When taking your children to school, please be aware of your speed when traveling in school zones and make sure to yield to crossing guards. Talk with your kids about getting to and from school safely so that they maintain that mindset throughout the school year.

The start of a new year is an exciting time for us all. This year, the district proudly welcomes new faces, new programs and newly improved facilities.

San Miguel Elementary officially launched its Juntos Spanish Dual-Immersion program this month with two kindergarten classes. Renovations at Lakewood Elementary are being completed and renovations at Bishop Elementary are currently being designed.

Our continuous improvement efforts are critical to our students and staff members, ensuring that the high quality of all our schools is maintained. On behalf of our District, please accept my thanks for your support of our schools and our students and, on a personal level, for the opportunity to lead and work with you as your superintendent.

Yours truly,

Benjamin H. Picard, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools


Below is the 17th issue of The District Digest, an online newsletter produced by the Sunnyvale School District. Articles are published online at http://sesd-district-digest.org/; in general, stories from the past three months are collected for each emailed "digest".

In the 2015-2016 school year, we will publish the District Digest in September, December, March and June (on the first school day on or after the first of the month); article submissions are welcome, please submit at least 10 days before each publishing date (info@sesd-district-digest.org).

Your comments and feedback are especially welcome!

In this Issue
  • Sunnyvale-Iizuka Student Friendship Blossoms through Cultural Exchange Program
  • Students enjoy hands-on learning through Stanford Summer Explorations
  • Healthy partnerships focused on healthy outcomes
  • Disability Awareness Day celebrated in Sunnyvale
  • 2015 Community Award Winners
  • Teachers Awarded IISME Summer Fellowships
  • Delay in Smarter Balanced Assessment Results
RECENT ARTICLES

Sunnyvale-Iizuka Student Friendship Blossoms through Cultural Exchange Program

Sunnyvale Middle School has been an active participant in a cultural exchange program through Sunnyvale Sister City Association. Six students from Sunnyvale Middle School went to Iizuka, Japan, June 18-24, along with one student from Fremont High School and one from Homestead High School. This was the second exchange trip Sunnyvale Middle School students made to Japan. Sunnyvale students visited Iizuka schools with their host families’ children and sat in the same classes with them. [Read more]

Students enjoy hands-on learning through Stanford Summer Explorations

More than 700 students attended the Stanford Summer Explorations program, which ran from June 29 – July 24 at Bishop Elementary School for incoming 1st-5th graders and at Columbia Middle School (CMS) for incoming 6th-8th graders. Summer Explorations is a free, four week program, where students spend each day working on their reading and writing, math and critical-thinking skills. [Read more]

Healthy partnerships focused on healthy outcomes

The Sunnyvale School District has participated in JUST RUN since 2013. JUST RUN is a free, website-based program designed by fitness and running experts Michael Dove and Susan Love. The national/world fitness program is designed to assist all schools and other youth organizations in the promotion of fitness and healthy lifestyle choices while combating childhood obesity and its related illnesses. [Read more]

Disability Awareness Day celebrated in Sunnyvale

Many organizations come together every year to celebrate Disability Awareness Day to empower children, families, and educators.  On October 16, the Sunnyvale School District celebrated its 1st Annual Disability Awareness Day held on the Vargas Elementary School campus. This was a great opportunity to promote awareness and appreciation of people with differing abilities not only in our school community but the community as a whole. [Read more]

2015 Community Award Winners

Congratulations to Vargas Elementary Principal Annette Grasty and Cherry Chase’s Green Committee for being recognized as 2015 Sunnyvale Community Award Winners! The city has recognized Annette as the Outstanding Educator of the Year and Cherry Chase’s Green Committee for Outstanding Environmental Achievement. [Read more]

 

Teachers Awarded IISME Summer Fellowships

Two Sunnyvale School District teachers were students again this summer, gaining experience in the practical applications of the subjects they teach. Kathleen Keating from Cherry Chase Elementary School and Joe Gabent from Fairwood Elementary School served as interns with local companies for eight weeks through IISME Summer Fellowships. [Read more]

Delay in Smarter Balanced Assessment Results

The Smarter Balanced Assessment results, which were anticipated in August, have been delayed to September 9. Educators, parents, and the broader community have been alerted that the results will be different than scores in the past, as this will be the first year of the test and new concepts of understanding are being evaluated. With this in mind, the California Department of Education is taking extra steps to ensure that the data is properly compiled and posted. [Read more]

 

 


 
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