Schools: The Southwest Voice

Maintaing school spirit

As school begins, excitement fills the air. Although for very different reasons, teachers, parents, and students are fired up to be back in the natural groove of things. This excitement and energy lasts through Thanksgiving and Christmas. With the new year comes the challenge of finding the energy to continue at the same rapid pace set at the beginning of the year. The key to success is to model the enthusiasm you want your child to have in school.

The last half of the year is difficult because everyone involved is drained. Teachers are trying to maintain their schedules and a high level of enthusiasm in the classroom. Parents begin to trust their children are getting the job done and tend to check less on their weekly or monthly progress. Students have either settled into their work habits, or have begun to relax about keeping up on their work because the new has worn off the school year.

While adults recognize the difficulties of this time of year, students are still learning how to stay motivated and focused. By talking with your children and pointing out that some days will be harder than others, the need to stay motivated must be something they hold onto in the classroom. Encourage them by stressing that everyone feels drained but that part of growing up is maintaining an interest in school from August to May. After all, the more interest you take in your child’s education, the more interest your child will have in his/her education.

Community Library Project connects kids to reading

Three years ago, I became concerned that the community in southeast Bakersfield did not have a branch library within walking distance to the Virginia Avenue Elementary School (in the Fairfax School District) where I work. Our school library is not accessible after school hours, nor on weekends — although our school libraries at Shirley Lane and Fairfax Middle School are both open late one night a week.

As a public school teacher, I was a little tired of hearing about how poorly our students have done on standardized tests. As I educated myself further about reading, I learned just how essential access to print material is in terms of reading success. I believed that access to print could be improved, but it would take a community effort to bring about change.

With these thoughts in mind, I approached Fairfax School District Board members with a request to begin the Community Library Project, with assistance from students who had been chosen to participate as volunteer librarians. The local Unitarian church was willing to house library books and provide a location for this new community initiative.

The Board approved the proposal.

So, every Thursday evening, from 4 to 8 p.m., the Community Library Project, a community solution to a quality-of-life issue, has been running. The librarians have changed a little, as interest waxes and wanes and as students get older. These librarians are absolutely integral to the library’s operations. They work hard to make their own community a better place. After three years, the library is an established part of the community. School field trips from Virginia Avenue Elementary can walk down the street (about three blocks) and enjoy the benefits of a public library. This is especially important for kindergarten students.

I am tremendously proud of all the students who have served as librarians for the Community Library Project. The motto of the Community Library is “Helping Families Help Themselves,” and they have done and are continuing to do just that. By working hard together, these students have helped to solve a serious community problem.

Music Works Magic at School

Watching more than 1000 kids march at Stockdale High School’s Band Spectacular kept me enthralled, laughing, and entertained nearly all day recently. Watching my junior high students carry themselves with pride using their music skills to perform filled my heart with joy. Later, watching area high schools compete left me with one thought: incredible.

I required all three of my own children to participate in band or choir right from the beginning of high school so they would have a safe-haven in a foreign, huge, sometimes overwhelming place. (Two of them were NOT pleased with their parents’ decision!) Without a doubt, their memories of their experiences on the field and on stage are the highlights of high school for them.

All three made countless friends, grew their appreciation for the arts, and all three found a caring instructor who found the best in them. The added benefit is that a music education is so powerfully beneficial to a child. UCLA’s Dr. James Catterall writes, “A ten-year study indicates that students who study music achieve higher test scores, regardless of socioeconomic background.”

According to The Arts Education Partnership, “In a 1999 Columbia University study, students in the arts are found to be more cooperative with teachers and peers, more self-confident, and better able to express their ideas.” Additional studies show a music education improves math and reading abilities as well as provides discipline, focus, and an ability to better plan, sequence, and coordinate actions in children’s daily lives. What’s not to love about that?

Whether it’s kindergarten music time, choir or band pull-out programs in the intermediate years, or band or choir in high school, all children benefit from experience in the arts. There is nothing like the joy of music.

— Peggy Dewane-Pope is an eighth grade teacher at Stonecreek Junior High School in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District. Learn more about the benefits of music at childrensmusicworkshop.com.

Erm, We Exist Too

Everywhere I look on the Southwest Voice, I don't see anything about Old River Elementary School in the Panama Buena Vista Union School District.

Come on, people! We exist too!

I am an Original Wrangler at Old River, and this is my last year. It is my hope that we will one day be acknowledged on the Voice.

As I see it, all schools are now created equal.

Thank you.

Warren Jr. High Band Celebrates Veterans Day

The Warren Junior High School Band was fortunate once again to participate in Bakersfield's Veterans Day Parade. This year they were accompanied by both the Warren Colorguard and Warren Cheerleaders as they marched while impressively performing "God Bless America."

Bandleader Bradford Pickett was instrumental (pun intended) in orchestrating a fantastic performance. The students put a lot of effort into this event, resulting in a performance they can be proud of. Everyone enjoyed themselves and certainly enjoyed hearing the news later that they had received the honor of Most Patriotic Junior High Band in the parade! In the spirit of the event, it was heartwarming to be able to give something back to the veterans of our community.

The Southwest Voice Pumpkin Carving Contest

This Halloween, we asked Southwest Voice readers to submit photos of their creatively carved pumpkins. Possibly deterred by tough economic times, or the fact that pumpkin patches were practically non-existent this year, we did not receive many submissions. However, we did receive a few snapshots of kids in their creative costumes and a spectacular “super pumpkin” created from lights - our winner. We’d like to share those submissions with all of you and encourage you to be on the lookout for the next big contest!

Why fists fly

My high school-age daughter could hardly tolerate it when a fistfight broke out on the field during her soccer game. She couldn’t believe how rough the game played out, and complained, “We’re supposed to be out here for fun!”

Why do children bring up their fists? Chances are it has to do with socioeconomic upbringing. Reading “Framework for Understanding Poverty” by Ruby K. Payne Ph.D. helps clarify why people of different classes do the things they do. It’s especially helpful to teachers because most of us are from middle-class households, yet many of us teach children in the low socioeconomic strata.

Those in a lower socioeconomic groups tend to settle conflict with fists rather than words. Payne also describes the differences between generational and situational poverty as well as the traits that go with them. She notes that poverty occurs in all races and in all countries.

There are four reasons one leaves poverty, including that it’s too painful to stay, having a vision or goal, influence from a key relationship, or having a special talent or skill. The two things that help one move out of poverty are education and relationships. To be the best teachers we can be, we must understand our students. In society, a better understanding of cultures, classes, and faiths will make us better neighbors, friends, and citizens.

— Peggy Dewane-Pope is an eighth-grade teacher at Stonecreek Junior High School in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

South High Halloween Band

Vacations during the school year: A challenge for students

Taking a break, being outdoors, enjoying nature, sitting by a warm campfire late at night … wait a minute, what is wrong with this picture? For students who miss a week of school or more in the middle of the year, it is a huge problem. Vacations are something we all live for and greatly enjoy, but during the school year the break can do more harm than good for some students.

Moving at a faster pace than ever, junior high and high school students work on seven different subjects daily. We do our best as teachers to keep them on track by teaching them how to use an assignment book, how to be organized, and how to turn their work in on time. For the most part, students are able to stay on top of their studies. Vacations in the middle of the school year are a challenge for many students. Even if they get their work in advance, they don’t understand what to do because they missed the lecture in class that drives the assignments. Consequently, they come back with nothing to turn in and not only have to try to make up a week’s worth of work in seven classes, but also have to worry about staying up on what they are doing in class on a daily basis. For most students, even the strong ones, the results are disastrous — especially for students who miss more than a week of school on vacation.

School is a nine-month block of growth, and students learn so many skills. It is difficult to expect success when they are not given the opportunity to be present during that crucial period of time. We all know life happens and sometimes school is missed for very serious reasons. The point is this: vacations can be built around a school year. The good news is there is a way to take vacations during the school year. For many districts, school calendars are posted on the district Web site for parent access. Do your kids a favor: schedule vacations during holidays. As a result, everyone will get to enjoy their vacation thoroughly without students falling behind in school.

— Amy Luther is a teacher at Warren Junior High School in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

St. John’s Lutheran is awarded a fabulous first!

It’s nice to be the first at something — just ask Neil Armstrong, Geraldine Ferraro or Barack Obama. Or, you can ask St. John’s Lutheran School.

On Oct. 15, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings named Bakersfield’s St. John’s Lutheran School as a 2008 No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon School, the first private school in Bakersfield to receive this distinction.

What does Blue Ribbon School mean, exactly? Blue Ribbon is a program that honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

“It’s a long application process, and we have to meet certain criteria,” said Patrice Appold, the Lower School Instructional Pod Leader. “Only 50 private schools are selected per year in the United States.”

Some criteria private schools must meet include offering a foreign language, and providing five consecutive years of standardized test scores in the 90th percentile.

St. John’s met all the requirements. “We teach Spanish in kindergarten through eighth-grade classes,” said Appold.

That’s high achieving — and exactly the type of achievement it takes to be considered a Blue Ribbon School.

“These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve,” said Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. “Now our challenge is to help other schools follow their lead.”

Following their lead won’t be easy. Appold says that St. John’s parents and teachers provide a united front inside the classroom and out.

“We have a very strong parent-teacher-administration relationship that we develop from the beginning, when our teachers do home visits prior to the first day,” said Appold. This relationship, she added, forms a “trickle down” effect, positively affecting the education of each student.

And it must be working because enrollment is up. In the last three years, enrollment has increased by 80 students. On a prior campus of 223 students, 80 more makes a big difference.

Superintendent Stephen Dinger couldn’t be more pleased.

“Receiving this award is an acknowledgement of how richly God has blessed our school,” he said. “Those blessings come in the form of students striving to do their best, families who realize the importance of providing a solid educational foundation on which all future learning is based, and teachers who are dedicated to encouraging children and bringing out their gifts.”

— St. John’s Fall Festival fundraiser will be held Nov. 1 at the Kern County Fairgrounds. Admission is $35 per person, and there will be live and silent auctions, wine tasting and great food. Casual attire is suggested. For more information, call the school at 664-8090.

AVID students set goal to aid Relay For Life

It is an amazing sight to see people lined up in front of a junior high at 5 a.m. The AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) rummage sale, not school, drew hundreds of people September 27, 2008. Weeks before it, our AVID students worked to get the rummage sale set up. A week before the sale a trailer full of items arrived to be sorted. Our donations consisted of clothes, toys, electronics, books, and more. Some people stopped by our school just to drop off a check to help us. How generous!

Throughout the day lots of people walked in and out of the full multi-purpose room and rarely did we have a moment with no one there. We even had staff members that are not involved with AVID come to support us. Our whole reason for doing this was, and still is, to help with The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. It is a program to help raise funds to research a cure for cancer. Our school wide goal is to raise a minimum of $10,000 to put towards our Relay for Life team.

Our school’s fund raisers take place every month until the Relay in April. Our school is holding monthly coin drives which involve every kind of American coin, and rummage sales that have, so far, raised about $1600. Relay for Life is a good cause and we are grateful to anyone who helps us meet our goal. We will hold another sale mid-spring and welcome donations and shoppers! Better yet, feel free to drop a check by like some of our other customers!

— Kenneth Dollar is an eighth grade student in the AVID program at Stonecreek Junior High School in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

Did you graduate from BHS in the 80's?

BHS homecoming is Nov. 7. The theme is “Now’s the time in 2009.” The junior class is looking for alumnae from the 1980’s because they need cheer and athletic uniforms, letterman jackets, etc. Anyone have any of these items can contact Marianne Keathley at ptsa_bhs@yahoo.com or 831-8321.

Southwest's St. John Lutheran named Blue Ribbon School

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings named Bakersfield’s St. John’s Lutheran School as a 2008 No Child Left Behind -- Blue Ribbon School. “These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve," Spellings said. "Now our challenge is to help other schools follow their lead by continuing to measure progress through No Child Left Behind, and by using the knowledge we've gained to replicate effective strategies and help every student improve."

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. St. John’s was selected because its test scores placed it in the top ten percent of schools in the nation.

“Receiving this award is an acknowledgement of how richly God has blessed our school.” said Mr. Stephen Dinger, St. John’s Superintendent. “Those blessings come in the form of students striving to do their best; families who realize the importance of providing a solid educational foundation on which all future learning is based; and teachers who are dedicated to encouraging children and bringing out their gifts. It is an award that the school receives but is more accurately given to all those who make it possible for quality education to happen: hard working students, committed parents and dedicated, competent teachers.”

The USDE Blue Ribbon program -- started in 1982 and currently part of President George W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" initiative -- has honored more than 5,800 of America’s most successful schools. This year 320 schools nationwide were named as Blue Ribbon Schools, thirty-two of which are in California. Stockdale Elementary School was the last Bakersfield school to receive the award in 2000. St. John’s is the first private school in Bakersfield to receive this designation.

The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on October 20-21 where each school will receive a plaque and a flag signifying its status.

St. John’s is located at 4500 Buena Vista Road, just south of Stockdale High School. It was founded 47 years ago. Its current enrollment is 500 children from infant through Eighth Grade. www.sjlschool.org

Keep it positive!

I think it is safe to say that most people believe they learn from their mistakes. I know I have learned more than a few lessons from mistakes. I think it is also safe to say that positive feedback feels pretty empowering. According to a recent article in The Journal of Neuroscience, areas of the brains of adults and children strongly respond — specifically in the basal ganglia, just outside the cerebral cortex — when we get positive remarks like, “Great job!” or, “You got it!”

As it turns out, not everyone learns from their mistakes. Developmental psychologist Dr. Eveline Crone and her colleagues from the Leiden Brain and Cognition Lab suggest that children under 12 are not processing negative input to the degree they process positive input. So when parents or teachers tell youngsters about the deficiencies in a project or paper the brain does not respond. Comments like, “Got that wrong” or, “You’re not doing this right” essentially falls on deaf ears. Tell them what they did right, however, and the brain lights up!

According to a ScienceDaily.com article on the study, the brain control centers of children 12 and 13 years old (as well as adult brain control centers) are more strongly activated by negative feedback and much less by positive feedback.

What that means to me as a junior high English teacher is that I will continue to closely edit my students’ papers and continue to require them to rewrite with corrections while also giving them plenty of daily comments on what they do right in class. It also means my colleagues teaching younger grades, and loads of parents, are doing a great job focusing on the positive with their little ones.

— Peggy Dewane-Pope is an eighth grade teacher at Stonecreek Junior High School in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

Teacher of the Month

Miss Torbert is a first grade teacher at Buena Vista Elementary School. She is a caring, loving, and dedicated educator that fosters great rapport with her 5 and 6 year olds. On a daily basis, she welcomes every child with a bright smile, a gentle handshake, and an enthusiasm to learn. We feel very lucky to have had her as our son Dorian’s first grade teacher.