May 20, 2016 Graduations Slated Grad Rates Up for Fourth Year in a Row For 5,500 Students Graduation rates in the Long Beach Unified Renaissance and Wilson high schools. Avalon School District increased for the fourth year in K-12 School’s 87.9 percent rate and Cabrillo The Long Beach Unified School District a row, again surpassing state and county rates. High School’s 87.4 percent rate surpass state will award diplomas to about 5,500 students at Students of color in Long Beach schools also and county averages, while Jordan High 12 ceremonies from June 7 to 17. outperformed their peers countywide and School’s 77.8 percent rate was less than a per- The estimated number of graduates at each statewide, according to 2014-15 data released centage point below the county average and 4.5 school are: 1,011 at Poly High School and Poly this week by the California Department of percentage points below the state average. PAAL; 893 at Lakewood High School; 875 at Education. Six of the school district’s high The school district’s African American and Wilson Classical High School; 824 at Millikan schools reported graduation rates above 90 per- Latino students outperformed their peers at the High School; 770 at Jordan High School and cent. county and state levels. The African American Jordan Plus; 525 at Cabrillo High School; 175 LBUSD’s overall graduation rate is 84 per- graduation rate in LBUSD is 82.5 percent, far at Educational Partnership High School; 163 at cent, up 3 percent over last year and surpassing surpassing both California’s rate of 70.8 per- California Academy of Mathematics and both Los Angeles County’s rate of 78.7 percent cent and Los Angeles County’s rate of 69.9 Science; 110 at Reid Continuation High and California’s rate of 82.3 percent. percent for the same racial/ethnic subgroup. School; 110 at Renaissance High School for The six high schools now posting gradua- LBUSD’s Latino students graduated at a rate of the Arts; 48 at Avalon High School; and 31 at tion rates above 90 percent include the 81.4 percent compared to the state’s 78.5 per- Beach High School. California Academy of Mathematics and cent and the county’s 76.1 percent for the same (Continued on next page) Science, along with Lakewood, Millikan, Poly, population. Latinos, African Americans and whites rep- resent the three largest groups of graduates in Rosey Grier to Address Inspiring Students LBUSD. At several LBUSD high schools, Latinos now outperform their white counter- Pro football legend, actor, singer, author and Kennedy. He helped apprehend Sirhan Sirhan parts in terms of graduation rates. Latinos, minister Rosey Grier has been confirmed as the and took the gun out of his hand. who are by far the largest ethnic subgroup in featured speaker at the Grier has two grandchildren who attend the school district, surpassed white students at Long Beach Unified Hughes Middle School in Long Beach. Avalon, Cabrillo, Lakewood and Millikan high School District’s annual Learn more about Grier at roseygrier.com. schools. At Wilson, the graduation rate for Most Inspiring Students The cost for the dinner event is $100 per white and Latino students was exactly the same Awards on June 2. person. All proceeds support the Foundation at 91.6 percent. The event, scheduled and its work with students. To reserve a seat, View the full results at the California for 6 p.m. at the Long send an email to [email protected] or call Department of Education’s DataQuest website: Beach Hilton, is spon- 997-8323. http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest. sored by the nonprofit Long Beach Education Foundation. The Harlem Top Honors for Poly At Reno Jazz Festival Renaissance-themed evening, complete with Poly High School’s top jazz combo group Poly’s rock star drummer (or is it jazz star?) student performances, Grier recently won Outstanding Combo for the entire is Robert Mantz. The remainder of the win- will honor one student Reno Jazz Festival, while the group’s drummer ning combo consists of Kofi Devall, guitar; from each school for working hard and perse- was named Outstanding High School Drummer Edward Lu, piano; Jordan Peacock, bass; Will vering, often despite difficult odds. for the whole event. Stevens, tenor saxophone; and Luke Van Lant, Frank Mottek, news anchor for KNX 1070 “These are huge achievements!” said Chris alto saxophone. Radio, will share Master of Ceremonies duties Stevens, music instructor at the six-time “This could be compared to winning State with Long Beach Education Foundation Grammy Signature School. “Not only did our CIF,” Stevens said, “but I suppose it’s more President Mike Murray. combo place first in their division, but they like WASC (accreditation) – a benchmark of “Rosey Grier has an amazing life story and were chosen as the best combo at the entire comparison with other schools and programs, continues to devote himself to worthy causes,” festival, and they played in the evening awards including top arts-dedicated schools. We took Murray said. “We look forward to a memo- concert – for thousands – who gave them a six groups all together, and two others also rable and inspiring evening.” standing ovation at the end of their perfor- earned placement in their divisions, always an Grier earned numerous honors while play- mance.” honor. Everyone played extremely well.” ing professional football for the New York Giants (1955-1962) and the Los Angeles Rams (1963-1967). He was part of the Rams’ domi- MESA AWARDS – nant “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line and Hudson K-8 has since excelled in many other fields. School’s Math, Television viewers have seen him on numerous Engineering, hit shows such as “The Smothers Brothers” and Science Achieve- “Quincy.” Feature film credits include ment team displays “Roots,” ‘Skyjacked,” “In Cold Blood” and awards earned in a “Carter’s Army.” He is a best selling author prosthetic arm con- whose titles include “Shooting Star,” “All test. Several American Heroes,” “Winning,” “Rosey, An schools earned Autobiography: The Gentle Giant” and MESA honors. “Needlepoint For Men.” Story on next Grier was at the Ambassador Hotel the night page. Sirhan Sirhan assassinated Senator Robert F. Employee of Year • Grad Ceremonies Open Enrollment for Event on May 26 (Continued from first page) Benefits Ends May 31 This schedule includes the names of offi- The annual Classified Employee of the Year cials who will present diplomas: Open Enrollment continues through May 31 Celebration Luncheon is set for 11 a.m. to for employees who wish to change their benefit 2 p.m. Thursday, May 26 at the Teacher Tuesday, June 7 plan choices. These benefits choices will be Resource Center. Award finalists and the top • CAMS, 6 p.m., StubHub Tennis Stadium effective July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. If you award winner will be recognized at the event. (Carson), Board of Education President Felton don’t need to make changes, you don’t have to The Employee of the Year will be announced Williams do anything, and your current benefits will roll at noon. Tuesday, June 14 over for the new plan year. If you want to Parking is available on site. Lunch will • Cabrillo, 6 p.m., Veterans Stadium, Board make changes, go to benefitenroll.com or call include pizza and salad, along with games, of Education President Felton Williams the Employee Service Center at (866) 844- prizes and entertainment. Wednesday, June 15 9744, Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to The event is made possible by donations • Jordan/Jordan Plus, 2 p.m., Veterans 5 p.m. Information also was mailed to employ- from private sponsors, organizations and school Stadium, Board of Education Member Megan ees’ homes. district managers and administrators. Kerr If you’re currently contributing to a Flexible Finalists for this year’s award are Nick • Reid, 2 p.m., Cabrillo Big Gym, Spending Account, your FSA will continue Altenhofen, carpenter at Maintenance; Cathy Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser until Dec. 31, 2016. You’ll have a separate Anderson, instructional aide special at • Avalon, 4 p.m., Casino Theater, Board of opportunity to enroll in an FSA for 2017 later Emerson; Julie Baldridge, intermediate office Education Vice President Jon Meyer and this year. assistant at Poly; Vanessa Hill, instructional Assistant Superintendent Jay Camerino aide special at Tucker; Ninski Menchavez, cus- • Poly/PAAL, 7 p.m., Veterans Stadium, todian at Tincher; and Fernando Nieves, custo- Board of Education President Felton Williams Students Collect dian at MacArthur. Thursday, June 16 The remainder of this year’s nominees are • Lakewood, 2 p.m., Veterans Stadium, Chona Babbidge, instructional aide special at Board of Education Member Diana Craighead MESA Awards McBride; Daniel Barragan, plant supervisor at • Renaissance, 3 p.m., Long Beach City McBride; Sofia Castro, Nutrition Services College Auditorium, Board of Education Students from local schools have earned worker; Dawn Couch, high school office super- Member John McGinnis local, regional and state honors in recent Math, visor at Lakewood; Dolores Garcia, intermedi- • Wilson, 5 p.m., Stephens Field (Wilson Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) ate office assistant at Tucker; Leonila Halili, Football Stadium), Board of Education Vice competitions. intermediate office assistant at Facilities; Mary President Jon Meyer and Superintendent Among the winners were Hudson K-8 Hill, intermediate account clerk at Nutrition Christopher J. Steinhauser School’s students, who earned a first place Services; Cathy Moran, senior office assistant • Millikan, 7 p.m., Veterans Stadium, Board award at the Los Angeles Metro regional com- at Avalon; Richard Phelps, custodial supervisor of Education Member Diana Craighead petition in the prosthetic arm category, advanc- at Kettering; Christine Ragusa, instructional Friday, June 17 ing to state competition last weekend at UC aide at Lakewood; Alicia Ramirez, Nutrition • EPHS, 1 p.m, Lakewood High School Irvine, where the students placed third for Services worker at Renaissance; Tanya Auditorium, Board of Education Member device performance and third overall.