April 22, 2005 Teacher Raise OK’d Hill, Hughes, Wilson Earn Highest State Honor Despite Lean Times Three schools in the Long Beach Unified atmosphere. School District won the California The California Distinguished School Despite lean times for school districts Distinguished School Award this week. Hill Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, statewide, the Board of Education approved a Classical Middle School, Hughes Middle May 20 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. cost-of-living salary increase for teachers this School and Wilson Classical High School To earn the award, schools compete in rig- week, retroactive to July 1, 2004. The actual earned the state’s top honor for public schools. orous selection and screening conducted by the percentage raise for individuals will vary. Both Hughes and Wilson have earned the California Department of Education. Winning The Long Beach Unified School District honor before. Hill is a first-time winner. schools are qualified to apply for the National agreed to restructure parts of the salary sched- "We’re so proud of our school, our stu- Blue Ribbon Award. ule for certain classifications of teachers, dents, our parents and staff," said Peter Davis, Winners must demonstrate high academic depending upon years of experience and col- principal at Hill. "Four years ago Hill was expectations for all students, achievement lev- lege education levels. threatened with being taken over by the state if els at and above state standards, strong leader- Most teachers received a 2.56 percent raise, it didn’t improve student achievement. Now ship, competent and caring teachers focused on but some, with higher degrees and more educa- it’s a California Distinguished School. That’s standards, and outstanding curriculum. tion, get a 1.11 percent raise and, starting this an amazing turnaround in a short period of California Distinguished Schools also must month, move to a higher schedule. time." show exemplary family involvement and Lump sum checks to pay the retroactive Davis credited the school’s achievement partnerships with the business community, amount earned will be issued by June 10. gains to a school-wide focus on writing, the comprehensive guidance and counseling If you have questions about your salary implementation of Baldrige problem-solving services, ample support for students who have adjustments, contact your payroll clerk. strategies that are used by some of the nation’s a wide range of needs, and a safe learning For more information, visit most successful businesses, and the use of a environment that promotes citizenship, caring, www.lbusd.k12.ca.us and click on Employee Safe and Civil Schools model that has mini- fairness, respect, responsibility and trust- Relations in the alphabetical index. mized tardies and created a calm, business-like worthiness. Newcomb’s Tracy Gold Medalist, Coach Salute Inspiring Students Wins National Grant U.S. Women’s Volleyball Gold Medalist plishments as a coach. Misty May and three-time national volleyball Also honored with Superintendent’s Fay Tracy, teacher at Newcomb Academy, Coach of the Year Brian Gimmillaro honored Community Service Awards at the event were has been awarded the MetLife Foundation 96 exemplary students this week at the annual Verizon, a long-time supporter of local schools, Ambassador in Education Award. Most Inspiring Student Awards. and Mike Murray, who is this year’s President The award honors middle school, junior The students and their success stories of the Education Foundation. Both Verizon high, and high school educators who are mak- inspired more than 500 guests who attended and Murray were honored for creating out- ing an impact beyond the awards dinner, sponsored by the Long standing business partnerships that support stu- their schools for the bet- Beach Education Foundation at the Long dent achievement. Murray emceed the event terment of the entire Beach Hilton Hotel. Students were honored as with Frank Mottek, news anchor with KNX community. It is a pro- role models for contributing to their schools News Radio and KTLA TV Channel 5. ject of National Civic and communities. Some have made significant League and sponsored academic gains and personal improvement. by MetLife Foundation. "You are amazing," May, the 2004 Gold Nominate Year’s Best Tracy received a Medalist, told the students. "You inspire me $5,000 grant that the with all of your hard work and all the obstacles Classified Employee K-8 school will use for you’ve had to overcome. I know you won’t let further community- anything stand in your way." May overcame Employees may submit nominations for the building activities. an abdominal injury to win the gold in Athens. Long Beach Unified School District’s In addition to coach- "When the odds are against me, that’s what Classified Employee of the Year Award until ing volleyball and track Tracy inspires me the most," May said. "When peo- Friday, April 29. Now is the time to spotlight at Newcomb, Tracy has become a one-person ple tell me I can’t do something, that’s what outstanding classified co-workers—the unsung community service resource at the school. She inspires me. There’s that 1 percent chance, heroes who deserve recognition for supporting advises the scholastic honor society on cam- and if you work hard enough, you’re going to good schools. pus, California Junior Scholarship Federation turn it around and the odds will be in your Nomination forms are available at (CJSF). favor." www.lbusd.k12.ca.us. Visit the Personnel Many CJSF students take part in the tutor- Her former coach, Gimmillaro, told stu- Commission entry in the alphabetical index. ing program she organized, Scholarship Kids dents that they possessed the same tenacious Completed nomination forms may be faxed to Are Tutoring Elementary Students (SKATES). qualities as May. 983-1588 or sent through district mail to the Tracy also organized the SOS program, where "When things are most difficult, she has the Personnel Commission, Attention: Employee students volunteer to help teachers and other ability to make her teammates around her com- Recognition Committee, or they may be school staff members. fortable with the challenge," he said. dropped off in person at 999 Atlantic Avenue, The MetLife Foundation started the award Gimmillaro is the nationally honored Third Floor. because secondary school educators face con- California State University Long Beach coach Finalists and the top winner will be siderable challenges in achieving a sense of of some of the world’s best women’s volleyball announced at the Classified Employee community within their schools and extending players. He is the only coach in the nation to Barbecue at the Teacher Resource Center on that relationship to those who live and work in have won national championships three times Friday, May 20. The award winner also will the surrounding area. at the club, high school and NCAA Division I be recognized at a Board of Education meeting The award was established in 1976 to college levels, yet he considers his work as a this spring. strengthen communities and education. teacher even more important than his accom- For more information, call 435-5708. CalSPRA Awards Camp Fire Pals Grant’s Starry Night The California School Public Relations Earn Highest Honor U.S. Grant recently hosted its 2nd Annual Association recently gave an Award of Starry Family Astronomy Night where the stu- Excellence to the Long Beach Unified School Seven selfless seniors from four high dents, their families and the staff enjoyed an District’s New Teacher Recruitment Marketing schools have made headlines for their 13 years educational evening under the stars. Campaign, which used tabletop displays, ban- of service. From their kindergarten days at Students were first introduced to space ners, signs and DVDs. An Award of Merit Twain Elementary School, these students have crafts, making replicas of comets, constella- went to the district’s “Every 15 Minutes” pro- grown up together in their Camp Fire Club. tions and nebulas. Then students enjoyed a gram on the dangers of drinking and driving. They’ve learned about their community, earned short slide show presentation of what they were A commentary article in the Long Beach hundreds of merit patches and spent thousands about to witness through the 20 telescopes pro- Press-Telegram by former Board of Education of hours serving others. vided by the Santa Ana College Planetarium. President Bobbie Smith also won a CalSPRA Since sixth grade they have collected gifts Students viewed the moon, Saturn, Jupiter and Award of Excellence for writing. Smith, a for- and presented a heartwarming holiday Angel Orion's Belt through the telescopes. Many stu- mer librarian, was president of the LBUSD Tea for pediatric AIDS patients at Memorial dents exclaimed, "I can see the craters on the board when she submitted the article, "All and St. Mary medical centers. Each of the moon!" and, “Look at the rings around Saturn!” Children Deserve a Good Education." seven scholars recently earned Camp Fire’s The May 16, 2004 article addressed the 50th highest honor—the equivalent of Eagle Scout— anniversary of the landmark Brown vs the known as the WoHeLo Medallion. The Job Board Board of Education ruling, describing Smith's Lakewood’s Chelsea Montgomery earned own experiences growing up in segregated the Congressional Award Gold Medal, is a tal- • Emerson Parkside Academy Charter Mississippi, and detailing the Long Beach ented vocalist, pianist and flautist, sings in the Unified School District's efforts to provide out- School is accepting applications for a full time school choir, inline skated the Long Beach media specialist for the 2005-06 school year. standing opportunities for all students. Marathon and has a 3.5 GPA. Smith’s article also will be published in the Please email or call Cindy Young, principal for Millikan’s Sarah Deister is a four-year mem- more information at [email protected] upcoming book, African American Librarians ber of Millikan’s swim team, is a summer camp of the Far West: Pioneers and Trailblazers. or 420-2631. leader, earned the Girl Scout Gold Award and is • Applications are now being accepted at the a candidate for the Congressional Award Gold Personnel Commission, 999 Atlantic Ave., third Medal. Katlin Greiving is a member of the floor, for computer support specialist assistant Top Health Educator Millikan varsity swim and water polo teams. and computer support user representative. Poly’s Maria Dowell is president of the Ann Rector, teacher on special assignment Choral Club and sings in the top two choirs at in the Health/Physical Education Office, Poly. She performs in musical theater, has received the Health Education Teacher of the completed six AP courses and has a 4.1 GPA. Hughes Way Parking Year Award at the recent California Association She is a candidate for the Congressional Award of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Gold Medal. Stephanie Leyba volunteers at the Beginning May 1, the number of available Dance Annual Conference. Care Center at Poly as a peer counselor in the parking spaces located in the Raytheon Parking The statewide award recognizes individuals Yellow Ribbon teen suicide prevention pro- lot adjacent to the Administration Building at or organizations who have made significant gram. 1515 Hughes Way will be reduced to 36 avail- contributions to school health programs and the Wilson’s Cassandra Flanigan is active in able spaces. promotion of children’s health. drama and is a talented dancer. Ashlee Mattera Six years ago, the 72 spaces were leased to coordinated Make A Difference Day, collecting accommodate Administration Building employ- hundreds of household items for people leaving ees and district employees using the Admin- the homeless shelter to use in their new apart- istration Building for meetings. Today, with Friday Evening Jazz ments and homes. She’s a varsity tennis player decreased use of Administration Building facil- and volunteers at Memorial. She is a candidate ities for meetings, demand for parking has Millikan High School is hosting the tenth for the Congressional Award Gold Medal. declined as well. annual Jazz Showcase on Friday, April 29, in Administration Building employees have the Millikan auditorium from 3:10 to 9 p.m. been asked to use the adjacent parking struc- Jazz ensembles from Bancroft, DeMille, ture and leave the overflow Raytheon lot for Hughes, Rogers, and Stanford middle schools, Renaissance Poetry visitors and occasional employee use. and Millikan, Poly and Wilson high schools will perform. Long Beach Brethren, McAuliffe Renaissance High School for the Arts was Middle School and Mayfair High School will winner of the recent High School Poetry Slam also perform. The Assistance League of Long Contest, an annual event featured in the Long Dates to Remember Beach Poetry Festival. Beach provides the music educators who will May judge each performing group. The team earned $400 in Barnes and Noble Asian Pacific American Heritage Month gift certificates for its victory. Poly placed sec- National Physical Education and Sports Month Admission is free and donations to help sup- 1-7 Reading Is Fun Week port this special program are welcome. Contact ond and earned $300 in gift certificates, while 1-7 Teacher Appreciation Week Bonnie Annes at ext. 4142 for information. Cabrillo and Lakewood tied for third and 1 Law Day earned $200 in certificates for each school. 3 National Teacher Day 4 8:00, 10:15, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00; 5 - 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30—“Adventures in Poetry II,” Grades 3-6, ed.tv 8 SCHOOL BULLETIN 5 Cinco de Mayo Name in the News 5 Holocaust Remembrance Day Official publication of the Long Beach Uni- 6 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30—“Paper Sculpture,” Michael Diaz, eighth grader at Cubberley, fied School District issued bi-weekly during Refuse,” Grades 5-8, ed.tv 8 11 California Day of the Teacher qualified for the second time for the California the school year from the Office of the 11 National School Nurse Day State Geography Bee sponsored by National Superintendent of Schools, 1515 Hughes 11 8:00, 10:15, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00—“Florence Nightingale,” Grades 4-8, ed.tv 8 Geographic. He missed only one question in Way, Long Beach, California 90810. 12 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30—“The Paper the nine preliminary rounds, finishing in a tie (562) 997-8000. www.lbusd.k12.ca.us Crane,” Grades K-3, ed.tv 8 for 20th place overall in California. Michael 13 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30—“Southeast Asia: was the only LBUSD student to qualify for this CHRISTOPHER J. STEINHAUSER How Does Change Occur?” (Asian/Pacific Superintendent of Schools Cultures), Grades 6-12, ed.tv 8 prestigious event. 15-21 National Educational Bosses’ Week BOARD OF EDUCATION 16-20 Classified Employee Week 19 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30—“Total War” MARY STANTON, President (Memorial Day), Grades 9-12, ed.tv 8 SUJA LOWENTHAL, Vice President 20 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30—“High School Graduation—A Day You Will Never Forget,” Retirement Event JAMES CHOURA, Member Grades 6-8, ed.tv 8 JON MEYER, Member 21 Armed Forces Day Honoree Date Contact 25 8:00, 10:15, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00—“Memorial FELTON WILLIAMS, Member Day/Veterans’ Day,” Grades K-5, ed.tv 8 Carla Watson June 2 Becky Robbins 30 Memorial Day ext. 7964 CHARISSA GOGGIN, Student Member