A West Contra Costa Unified School District e-update for staff
September 21, 2001

Schools respond to September 11 attacks

In classrooms throughout the district, teachers guided discussions with their students about the horrific events in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

As part of helping them acknowledge and cope with these tragedies, many teachers engaged their students in activities to support the victims and their families. Here is a miniscule sampling of some of the activities you've told us are taking place in your schools in response to the tragic events on September 11:

Lake Elementary School

At Lake Elementary School we are planning on planting six trees--one for every 1000 victims and hold a ceremony when they do it--should have the date next week. This will be part of their ongoing tree planting and garden project.

-Harlan Kerr

Tara Hills Elementary School

Tara Hills Elementary School has several classes sending cards and letters to the New York Fire Department.
-Dean Karahalios

Ellerhorst Elementary School

Girl Scout Troop 415, based at Ellerhorst School, will sell hand-crafted lavender products at the Pinole Fall Festival this Saturday at Fernandez Park. The Troop's 11 troop members harvested the lavender themselves off of land in Glen Ellen. Troop 415 will donate all proceeds to the New York City relief efforts.

-Janet Jackson, troop leader, Girl Scout Troop 415

De Anza High School

De Anza is having a blood drive on 5 October. We are also talking about presenting an idea to all the high schools through the All-City Council for a district response.
-David Moss

Kids' caring "blew his socks off"

Students of Paul Yonemura's music classes at Portola Middle School have decided to donate all proceeds from their upcoming Earlybird Concert to a relief fund for victims of the September 11 attacks.

"It was the students themselves who volunteered to do this, and it blows my socks off," Mr. Yonemura said. "Their message was, 'let's do some good and help some folks out who need the money more than we do.' I think some times our kids don't get enough credit for how well they think, and how much they care."

The concert takes place on October 24 at 7:00 p.m. and will be held in the gym. Suggested donation is $3 for adults, and $1 for students. Mr. Yonemura expects performances by the Advanced and Inter-mediate bands, the Orchestra, and the new Jazz Band.

Olinda Elementary School

My students and I went to the Native Plan Area on the yard and observed a moment of silence. You would have been amazed to see the emotions I observed from these young (10-year-old) children. After the moment of silence, they chanted "Pride, Patience, Perseverance!" This group is America's future.

Farnaz Heydari, fifth grade teacher

Adams Middle School

At Adams, teacher Pat Burke is organizing a Red Cross "spare change" drive. We have already collected over $200 in just two days!
-Bonnie Glover

Kensington Elementary School

Fifth grade teacher Jayne Nichols, on behalf of Kensington School, is organizing a fund drive with checks going to "September 11," the fund organized by the United Way. Susan McReynolds' third grade class, has a "spare change" jar in her classroom for victims of September 11.
-Judy Kantor

Dover Elementary School

Here's what we're doing at Dover School. We always have Penny Drives where money is donated to various emergencies or tragedies. For our current Penny Drive, the money will be donated to the Red Cross.

And during Back-to-School Night, we made a huge butcher paper (approximately 50 feet long) card where parents, teachers, and students of Dover School sent their well wishes, condolences, etc.

The huge card was "FedX'd" to Washington, DC, and my husband who was working at the Pentagon delivered it to them. The people at the Pentagon were very touched by this show of support from concerned people so far away.
-Linda Cohen

Learning Village events: pass it on.

Richmond High School football coach Dylan Shelley is looking for people who can donate time as a fundraiser for Richmond High School by volunteering as a food vendor at Oakland Raider football games. For more information, contact Coach Shelley at 237-8770 or 663-7315.
The Grand Opening of the new Century 16 Cinemas in Richmond on Thursday, September 27 is a benefit for Coronado Elementary School. A preview of a yet-to-be-named PG-13 film and party begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25; all proceeds go to Coronado School. Call: (510) 233-7800 for ticket purchase information.
Lake School is getting ready to till the earth for the planting of 25 trees on September 29. The project is funded by a state urban forest grant.
Applications for The Ed. Fund mini-grants, school-wide grants, and the special education grant are now available at schools. You may also apply online at www.wccusd.k12.ca.us/edfund. Applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, October 1, 2001. For more information, call Mary Ann Gallagher at 233-1464.
Sharon Sanger, program specialist at Cameron School, will receive the Community Service Award for Excellence in Education on October 5 from the Contra Costa Association of Retarded Citizens. The awards ceremony and dinner takes place at the Walnut Creek Marriott beginning at 6 p.m. Contact Cinda Rapp by Monday, September 24 at 233-1955.

Board approves new appointments

At the September 19 school board meeting, trustees approved the following appointments as recommended by Superintendent Gloria Johnston:

> Region I Superintendent: Dr. Cynthia LeBlanc

> Director, Fiscal Services, Restricted Funds: Bryan Richards

> Principal, Grant Elementary School: Jorge Lerma

Dr. LeBlanc hails from the Hayward Unified School District, where she served as deputy superintendent and interim superintendent. She has also served in the San Francisco, Novato, Newark, Oakland, Ravens-wood, and Berkeley school districts.

Mr. Richards has served as the district's internal auditor. Mr. Richards previously was the controller/ internal auditor for the American Samoan Power Authority and the controller for the Washington County (Virginia) Service Authority.

Jorge Lema arrives from the Oakland Unified School District where he served as a middle school assistant principal and an elementary principal. He has taught in Oakland and Berkeley schools, and supervised early childhood development centers at three schools, and expanded early childhood programs in Central and East Oakland.

Consultant to assist district with SASI operations

Ginny Baker, the NCS (SASI) regional servicing manager, will begin work in the district next week, working Thursdays and Fridays for the next two months. Ms. Baker will be working on the following tasks:

1. Assessment of the district's our current status; analyze and improve the current system.

2. Assess district enrollment, attendance and Master Schedule software.

3. Develop a training program for our personnel, and provide training at the October 12th Classified Training Day.

4. Develop recommendations to assist us in improving the management of our system.

5. Develop a process to add a system database for standardized test scores and CBED's.

6. Assess our elementary and secondary SASI enrollment process.

Ginny will be contacting a myriad of personnel, administrators, classified staff, in her analysis. Please assist us in this important project.
-Vince Kilmartin, assistant superintendent for business and operations

Do you have an item for our next Friday FYI that's related to one of our strategic priorities? E-mail it to: pehara@ wccusd.k12.ca.us. Of course, if you're on the district's GroupWise network, you can just send it to us that way.

Our strategic priorities are: 1) Student Achievement (attendance), 2) Safety (behavior), 3) Personnel Training and Professional Development, 4) Facilities, 5) Family and Community Partnerships, 6) Equity, and 7) Communication.
-Paul Ehara, managing editor