New Haven E-News

"E-NEWS"

News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted to The Courier on May 28, 2008)

Barnard-White Marks 35th Anniversary Today
Alumni, past and current staff members, parents and other members of the Barnard-White community are invited to take part today in an event commemorating the 35th anniversary of the school. Dance troupes and the choir and symphonic/concert band will perform, and choir and band alumni also are invited to participate. The event will be from 4 to 6 p.m., in the school courtyard.

“Be the Change” Week at Logan
James Logan High School students are raising money for victims of the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Myanmar and also will conduct a bone-marrow drive during “Be the Change” Week, starting today.

Juniors Suzanne Wu and Jane Tian, members of teacher Sarah Du’s C4 (Chinese Connections to Community and Culture) Club, came up with the idea for the fund-raising drive to aid victims of the earthquake, which quickly was expanded to include victims of the cyclone in Myanmar. Donations will be collected isn second-period classes today through Friday. Another junior student, Supada Sritanyaratana, took the lead in organizing the bone-marrow drive, after a friend was diagnosed with leukemia. The drive, to be held Thursday, also will be held on behalf of another Logan student, a senior, who is battling the same disease. Donors, who must be 18 or older, will register with the National Marrow Donor Program and submit to a simple cotton swab of the mouth.

Tommie Lindsey Among “All Star Teacher” Finalists
Logan teacher and forensics coach Tommie Lindsey, whose championship speech and debate teams have brought national attention to the school, is one of five finalists for the 2008 All-Star Teacher Award sponsored by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Online voting is under way at www.comcastsportnet.com to help select the winner, who will receive $10,000 for his or her school.

Video vignettes featuring Mr. Lindsey and the other finalists will be shown on San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s telecasts June 1 through July 11. Voting continues through July 15, and the inner will be announced July 20, during a Giants’ pre-game show from AT&T Park.

SERA Awards
Fifty-eight members of the New Haven have received SERA Awards (Special Education Recognition Awards) from the Mission Valley SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area). Honorees include special education and general education teachers as well as paraprofessionals, specialists, administrators, parents and others. Courtesy of Andrea Lemos, we’ll share the names over the next three weeks, starting today with RSP (resource specialist program) and SDC (special day class) teachers.

Danielle Cruz and Donna Smith-Harrison of Alvarado Elementary, Grace Taylor and Pei Ketron of Searles, Pat Puckett of Alvarado Middle, Jennifer Vijeh and Sarah Wiford of Barnard-White, Michelle Doniger, Hannah Watson, Sean McIntosh and Katy Martinelli of Chavez, Kristina Baeta, who works at both Kitayama and Chavez, Jeff McNesby of Logan, Cindy Zimmerman, Rory Allie, Monique Abatte and Cameron Raphael of the Cabello Student Support Center and Kristen Symula of New Haven Community Day.

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower EVERY student to be a productive, responsible and successful global citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted to The Courier on May 27, 2008)

AMS “Showcase of Talent” Tonight at Logan
Tonight’s the night for “A Showcase of Talent,” Alvarado Middle School’s 2008 musical extravaganza. The event starts at 7 p.m. at Guy Emanuele Pavilion on the James Logan High School campus. It will feature AMS’s bands, colorguards, choirs and dance groups. Tickets are $5 (admission is free for children 5 and under).

Young Author/Digital Media Faire is Thursday
Academy Award winner Dean Pitchford will be the featured speaker Thursday evening (May 22) at the annual New Haven Young Author and Digital Media Faire at Logan. The event features the work of students throughout the District.

Mr. Pitchford, a songwriter and screenwriter who also has won a Golden Globe Award and whose records have sold more than 70 million copies, last year wrote his first novel, "The Big One-Oh.” He will speak in the Logan Student Union at 6 p.m., and the Faire will run from 6:30 to 8.

Barnard-White to Mark 35th Anniversary
Alumni, past and current staff members, parents and other members of the Barnard-White community are invited to take part in an event commemorating the 35th anniversary of the school next Tuesday (May 27). Dance troupes and the choir and symphonic/concert band will perform, and choir and band alumni also are invited to participate. The event will be from 4 to 6 p.m., in the school courtyard.

Logan Grad Returns from Africa
Logan graduate Candice Nguyen, who has spent most of the past year traveling in China and Africa as part of her studies at New York University, is producing a documentary, “The Lost Boys of Liberia,” about the boy soldiers of the West Africa nation. Back from her travels -- which she has chronicled since last fall in a weekly column in The Argus -- she will show her documentary Thursday, June 5, starting at 3:45 p.m., in the Little Theater, teacher Stephanie Papas reports. As a senior at Logan, Candice served as the student representative to the Board of Education and also helped organize the Unity Faire and a voter registration project, among many other activities.

Emanuele Students Receive Gift from Pen Pals in Iraq
Students in Sheilah Stettler’s fourth-grade class at Emanuele Elementary, who have been sending cards and letters to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq, received a special package last week from their pen pals - an American flag that had been flown over the soldiers’ compound. Ms. Stettler reports that the package also included “a touching certificate dedicated (to) and recognizing the staff and students of Emanuele,” and “each student received a memento from our pen pals -- a small American Flag.” Ms. Stettler said her pen pal “wanted the children to know that the flags they received represented their pen pals/friends and what America is all about.”

Logan Students Shine on Stage
Logan seniors Vivian Dihn and David Collins were named Outstanding Vocalists by adjudicators from American Musical Theatre of San Jose (AMTSJ) for their performances in the spring musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Logan theatre arts director Paul Vega also reports that David was one of only five male actors from the area selected to perform in AMTSJ’s High School Honors ceremony at the Center for Performing Arts in downtown San Jose.

Logan Artist’s Work on Display in Washington
Last month, E-News reported that Logan student Alex Cho had been selected to represent the school in the annual District 13 Congressional Art Competition. The update is even better: Alex’s entry, an opaque watercolor, was selected as the winning entry. It will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for a year, teacher Kate Lipman reports. Alex’s prize included three airline tickets that allowed him and his family to attend the national reception and view his work in Washington.

Names ’n’ Notes
The reservation deadline is Wednesday (May 21) for the retirement party for Barnard-White Principal and veteran New Haven educator Karen Saucedo. The party will be Wednesday, May 28, at Chef’s Experience China Bistro, 22436 Foothill Blvd., Hayward., starting at 6 p.m. Dinner and gift contribution is $35 per person or $65 per couple, and checks can be sent to Cheri Benafield at Alvarado Elementary. Cheri also is accepting gift contributions from folks unable to attend. … Three former Logan standouts won individual titles over the weekend in college conference track and field championships across the country, Coach Lee Webb reports. Kevin Craddock, a student at UCLA, won the Pacific-10 Conference championship in the 110-meter hurdles; Nkosinza Balumbu of Arkansas won the Southeastern Conference championship in the triple jump; and Decontee Kaye of San Diego State won the Mountain West Conference championship in the women’s triple jump. … With the closure of Barnard-White necessitating new boundaries for Alvarado and Cesar Chavez middle schools, some parents may be uncertain which school their child will attend in 2008-09. To check, go to the District website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us), look under “Spotlights” and click on “School Boundary Changes.” That will take you to the “School Boundaries” page, where you can click on "Boundary Lookup" and enter your address (using the pull-down menus to select your street and street-type) to find your school.

News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted to The Courier on May 6, 2008)

California Day of the Teacher is May 14
Today is National Day of Teacher, part of National Teacher Appreciation Week. New Haven traditionally celebrates California Day of the Teacher, which this year falls on Wednesday, May 14. The District also will celebrate Classified Employees Week from May 19 to 23.

President Charmaine Kawaguchi of the New Haven Teachers Association is inviting members of the New Haven community - students, parents, teachers, classified employees, administrators and others - to commemorate California Day of the Teacher by taking part in a rally to protest Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to the state education budget. The rally, which also will include members of the education communities in Newark, Hayward, Castro Valley and San Lorenzo, will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the Five Flags area (on the corner of Mission Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard) in Hayward. State Senator Ellen Corbett is scheduled to address the rally at 4 p.m.

Last Chance for Tickets to Big Band Night
There’s still time - but not much - to buy tickets for the second annual Big Band Night, a gala evening of dinner and dancing Saturday (May 10) to help James Logan High School’s band and color guard raise money to travel to China this summer to perform during the Olympic Games.

The semi-formal event, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Marriott Silicon Valley in Fremont, will include dinner, ballroom dance lessons, and dancing to the music of the Chabot College Jazz Orchestra. The deadline to purchase tickets, priced at $75 per person, has been extended until tomorrow (Wednesday). Call Lisa Mananquil (377-1366) or Sheila Holland (828-2907).

Middle Schoolers Gather for Ballet Folklorico Celebration
Another of the activities designed to bring together students from Alvarado, Barnard-White and Cesar Chavez middle schools is scheduled Friday, May 16, when AMS hosts a Celebration of Ballet Folklorico, starting at 1:30 p.m. The event will feature the Ballet Folkloric de BWMS, Ballet Folkloric de CCMS, "Grupo Latino" Ballet Folkloric de AMS, Ballet Folklorico de James Logan High and AMS’s Color Me Badd.

Student leaders, staff members and involved parents at all three middle schools are coming together in various efforts to ease the transition as the District moves from three middle schools this year to two in 2008-09. With Barnard-White closing at the end of the school year, due to declining enrollment throughout the District, most students who would have attended Barnard-White will go to Chavez and some students who would have gone to Chavez will attend Alvarado. In addition, Chavez will use the Barnard-White campus in 2008-09, while Chavez is undergoing modernization.

Boundary Look-up Tool on District Website
With the closure of Barnard-White necessitating new boundaries for Alvarado and Chavez, some parents may be uncertain which school their child will attend in 2008-09. To check, go to the District website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us), look under “Spotlights” and click on “School Boundary Changes.” That will take you to the “School Boundaries” page, where you can click on "Boundary Lookup" and enter your address (using the pull-down menus to select your street and street-type) to find your school.

Olympic Softball Player to Visit Logan
James Logan High School graduate Vicky Galindo, a member of the women’s softball team that will represent the United States this summer at the Olympic Games in Beijing, will be in town Wednesday, May 14, for a “Good Luck Send-Off” from Coach Teri Johnson and the Logan softball community. Vicky will sign autographs in The Spot from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Special Olympians Find Gold
Fourteen athletes representing the Union City Lightning track and field team, mostly current and former New Haven students, won a total of 30 gold, six silver and six bronze medals Saturday at the Northern California Special Olympics regional meet at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton. The students “were a proud sight to see,” James Logan High track and field coach Lee Webb said. “They were helping each other as well as the other teams in all events.” The highlight, Coach Webb said, was Zach Grow and Cesar Cunningham in the wheelchair races. “The whole stadium got up a cheered these two students while they progressed to the finish line,” he said. Zach’s mother is Marlis Grow, a paraprofessional at Eastin Elementary.

Names ’n’ Notes
Logan graduate Sharon Johal has succeeded in her efforts to start a Hopeconnections Club, patterned after the Logan organization, on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. The club was approved last week, Logan Hopeconnections advisor Linda Rodrigues reports, and members already have begun outreach efforts in Berkeley shelters. … Alvarado Middle School’s concert band earned unanimous “superior” ratings at the CMEA Festival in Palo Alto, director Nelson Agregado reports. The concert band also earned an “excellent” rating in sight reading. The symphonic band also earned unanimous “superior” ratings from the judging panel, including the highest score from one judge for any of the 20 bands at the two-day festival. Members of the symphonic band also demonstrated their music literacy skills with a “superior” rating for sight reading. The Cougar Bands celebrated their performance with a visit to Great America. … Barnard-White alumni who would like a piece of school history can purchase old team uniforms by contacting BWMS teacher Christina Schatmeier (cschatmeier@nhusd.k12.ca.us). Items are $10 each.

News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted to The Courier on May 6, 2008)

Academy Award Winner to Speak at Young Authors Faire
Songwriter, screenwriter and first-time author Dean Pitchford, who has won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe and whose records have sold more than 70 million copies, will be the featured speaker Thursday, May 22, at the New Haven Unified School District’s annual Young Authors and Digital Media Faire at James Logan High School.

Writer or co-writer of hit songs such as “Don't Call It Love," "You Should Hear How She Talks About You, "Don't Fight It," "After All" and "All the Man That I Need,” as well as songs for the musical “Fame” and the movie and musical "Footloose, Mr. Pitchford last year wrote his first novel, "The Big One-Oh.” He will speak in the Logan Student Union, starting at 6 p.m. The Faire, featuring student writing and digital media projects from throughout the District, follows at 6:30.

New Haven Community Forum
The final in a three-week series of New Haven Community Forum meetings held in conjunction with Open House nights, to give parents an opportunity to learn more about the changes coming to the District’s middle schools in 2008-09, will be held Thursday (May 1) at Cesar Chavez Middle School, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Declining enrollment, a phenomenon going on throughout Alameda County, is forcing the closure of Barnard-White Middle School at the end of the 2007-08 school year, necessitating boundary changes throughout the District. Starting in 2008-09, most students who would have attended Barnard-White will go to Cesar Chavez, and some students who would have attended Chavez will attend Alvarado. In addition, Chavez will move to the Barnard-White campus for 2008-09, so modernization of the Chavez campus can be completed in a single year.

Parents with questions about the changes, or who are uncertain about which middle school their children will attend, are invited to drop by the Forum at their convenience. A boundary map will be on display, a handout with answers to frequently asked questions will be available, and District administrators will be on hand. Similar forums were held earlier this month at Open House nights at both Alvarado and Barnard-White.

‘Sleeping Beauty’ Closes Thursday
The final performance of the joint production of “Sleeping Beauty” by drama students from Barnard-White and Cesar Chavez middle schools will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnard-White. Tickets are $5.

Under the direction of teachers Denise McGinnis and Doris Gallagher, 15 BWMS and 15 CCMS students are working together to present the musical as one of the activities designed to bring together students from the two schools before Barnard-White closes at the end of the school year. The students, who did two performances at CCMS and another at Kitayama Elementary last week, also are performing Thursday morning at Emanuele Elementary.

Searles, Emanuele Welcome Visiting Readers
Dozens of volunteers took part last week in Searles Elementary School’s annual "Readers Lead, Leaders Read” celebration, teacher Lili Martinez reports. The project teaches students the importance of reading by bringing people from the community into classrooms to talk about themselves and their jobs, how reading is important to their job, and how they enjoy reading for pleasure. The volunteers also read aloud to the class.

A similar project is planned next month at Emanuele Elementary. If you would enjoy talking with and reading to students during the week of May 27, contact Zaby Bongiovanni (471-2461, ext. 329 or zbongiovanni@nhusd.k12.ca.us).

Health Center Celebration May 7
Students from James Logan and Conley-Caraballo high schools, along with students from Tennyson High in Hayward, will perform Wednesday, May 7, at the seventh annual “Oooh Weee Awards” sponsored by the Logan and Tennyson health centers. The event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Little Theater at Logan. More information is available from Logan Health site supervisor Juan Taizan (471-2520, ext. 5011).

Logan Choir Stars at Disney World; Eastin Sings for Warriors
The James Logan High School Show Choir finished in second place among 75 choirs and received a “superior” ranking at “Festival Disney” earlier this month in Orlando, Fla. “They rehearsed over 100 hours for this competition,” Director Erin McShane reported. “I am so proud of their commitment and dedication to their craft.”

Meanwhile, Director Ivan De Souza reports that Eastin Elementary’s Anthem Choir received an enthusiastic reception from more than 19,000 spectators when the group sang the national anthem at the Golden State Warriors game April 12. The crowd included more than 130 Eastin friends and family members. It marked the second year in a row that the choir has sung at a Warriors game. The opportunity was arranged by Eastin parent Sharlene Mansfield.

Names ’n’ Notes
Alvarado Middle School student Emily Lin is the grand prize winner in the Alameda County Water District’s poster and slogan contest, teacher Lisa DeSa reports. Emily, whose poster will appear on the cover of the District’s 2008-09 water conservation calendar, will be honored at the June 5 meeting of the board of directors, and Ms. DeSa’s class will receive $100 for a class project, field trip or other event. … For planning purposes, E-News readers are reminded that the District traditionally celebrates California Day of the Teacher, which this year falls on Wednesday, May 14. (National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-10 and National Day of Teacher is May 6). The District also will celebrate Classified Employees Week from May 19 to 23.

News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted to the Courier on 4/16/2008)

Community Forum to Address Middle School Changes
To give parents an opportunity to ask questions and receive information about the changes coming to the District’s middle schools in 2008-09 , the next New Haven Community Forum will be integrated into the annual Open House evenings at each middle school. The Forum will come to Barnard-White Middle School on Thursday, April 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; to Alvarado Middle School on Thursday, April 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; and to Cesar Chavez Middle School on Thursday, May 1, also from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Declining enrollment, a phenomenon going on throughout Alameda County, is forcing the closure of Barnard-White at the end of the 2007-08 school year, necessitating boundary changes throughout the District. Starting in 2008-09, most students who would have attended Barnard-White will go to Cesar Chavez, and some students who would have attended Chavez will attend Alvarado. In addition, Chavez will move to the Barnard-White campus for 2008-09, so modernization of the Chavez campus can be completed in a single year.

Meanwhile, as part of the activities designed to bring together students from the two schools, Barnard-White and Cesar Chavez will present a joint production of Disney’s "Sleeping Beauty." Under the direction of teachers Denise McGinnis and Doris Gallagher, 15 BWMS and 15 CCMS students have been rehearsing since January in preparation for opening night, Thursday, April 24 at CCMS, starting at 7 p.m. Performances also are scheduled Friday, April 25, at CCMS and Thursday, May 1 at BWMS, also at 7 p.m. Tickets, priced at $5, are on sale at both schools.

New Courses at Adult School

Trying to take pictures for the first time with a digital camera? Want to learn how to shop on eBay? Looking for a good deal on a cruise? There are all kinds of fascinating classes among spring offerings at the New Haven Adult School. The lineup also includes classes in karate, CPR, first-aid, salsa-aerobics, yoga, tai-chi, henna, cake-decorating and other subjects.

For more information, check out the website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us/adult).

Healthy Kids Celebration Saturday
Students, parents and other members of the New Haven community are invited to participate Saturday in YMCA Healthy Kids Day celebration at Central Park in Fremont. Games and entertainment are planned, and vendors will be on hand offering resources to help live a healthy lifestyle. The event, being held in collaboration with the Mission Valley Regional Occupational Program, Kidango and the Early Childhood Studies Department at Ohlone College, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lake Elizabeth Performance Pavilion. The park entrance is off Paseo Padre Parkway, just south of Stevenson Boulevard.

HEART to Sponsor Team in Relay for Life
A kickoff meeting is scheduled Monday for folks interested in joining a team representing the District’s HEART (Health Education and Resource Team) program - or starting their own team -- for the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life, Aug. 9-10 at James Logan High School. The kickoff meeting will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at Bronco Billy’s Pizza, 3940 Smith St. in Alvarado. For more information, e-mail Lorrene Ritchie (lorrene_ritchie@sbcglobal.net).

Job & Career Faire Scheduled
New Haven Unified will join the Fremont and Newark school districts in hosting the seventh annual Spring Job and Career Faire for Teens on Wednesday, April 16, at the Newark/Fremont Hilton Hotel, 39900 Balentine Drive, Newark, from 2 to 7 p.m. The Faire, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, Minuteman Press, Union Bank and the Hilton, provides students opportunities to find part-time jobs and explore local service learning options and a variety of career pathways and vocational training programs.

The Faire is also an opportunity for employers to fill their staffing needs and to create partnerships with their local educational community. If you know a company that would like to participate in or help sponsor this annual event, please contact Sandi Soliday (226-6634) or Timothy Reilly (494-5792).

Actor/Stuntman Speaks to Students at CCHS
Patrick Shining Elk, an actor and stuntman who has been featured in such films as “The Last Samurai” and “The Scorpion King,” made a big impression when he spoke last week to students at Conley-Caraballo High School, Principal Mireya Casarez said. “Students were moved by Patrick's story,” teacher Martha Utley reported. “Many of them felt a connection with his hardships and poor choices he made in his life, but most importantly that he has been able to overcome these hardships and achieve success doing what he loves to do.”

Coach Riley Retires
Mike Riley, a critical part of Logan High’s soccer success for the past 23 years, is stepping down, Athletic Director Tom Rosenthal reports. He served as a varsity assistant, junior varsity head coach and frosh-soph mentor under four varsity head coaches, helping Logan win eight Mission Valley Athletic League championships and qualify 16 times for the North Coast Section playoffs. During his tenure, 56 Logan players went on to play in college.

Names ’n’ Notes
An essay that Logan freshman Kevin (Minh) Nguyen wrote for his Asian-American Studies class took third place in the Asian Pacific American Fund's "Growing Up Asian in America" contest, teacher Tina Bobadilla-Mastel reports. Kevin will receive $1,000 and be honored at an awards celebration at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. … Logan senior Jami Hardy , one of the top 800-meter runners in the country for the past four years, has accepted a full athletic scholarship to Howard University, Logan Coach Lee Webb reports. … Alvarado Middle won the eighth-grade boys division for the second year in a row at the Harvest Park Wrestling Championships over the weekend, and Cesar Chavez Middle won the sixth- and seventh-grade boys division. More than 500 wrestlers from 26 schools took part in the competition. Congratulations to Coaches Sandor Verstrepen and Robert Flores of Alvarado and Jeff Macalology, Artemio Flores and Darin Woon of Chavez. All five are Logan graduates. … Joey Bragg, a sixth-grader at Chavez, helped the California Cougars of San Mateo win the state ice hockey championship in the Pee Wee B Division. He is the son of Ken and Melanie Brown, teachers at Emanuele Elementary and Alvarado Middle, respectively. … Eastin Elementary School’s Anthem Group will perform the National Anthem before the Golden State Warriors’ game Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. … Conley-Caraballo made $422.88 for its Associated Student Body program and extra-curricular activities during the school’s March fundraiser at Chevy's, secretary Denise Warren reports.

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful global citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

"E-NEWS" News from the New Haven Unified School District Posted to The Courier April 3, 2008

Logan Choirs Take Top Honors in Anaheim
James Logan High School’s advanced concert choir, chamber choir and jazz singers all took first place in their divisions at the Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim during spring break. In addition, Logan students Vivian Dinh and Cindy Tantilert were awarded maestro awards for outstanding solo performances. “The kids really impressed everyone at the festival with their exceptional behavior,” teacher/director Erin McShane reported. “I was told quite a few times that they are the most well behaved group of students they have ever seen.”

Coach Goulding Wins No. 300
Just before spring break, John Goulding earned his 300th victory as Logan High’s varsity baseball coach when the Colts opened the Mission Valley Athletic League season with a 15-8 victory over Washington. In 16 seasons at Logan, Coach Goulding has compiled a record of 301-116 and won 10 MVAL round-robin championships as well three MVAL playoff titles. His 2001 team won the North Coast Section championship. The Colts resume their season Wednesday, with a 3:45 p.m. game against visiting Kennedy.

Play About Diversity, Respect
Seventh- through 12th-grade students and parents, teachers, classified employees and administrators are invited to a performance of OutSpoken, a play about diversity and respect, to be presented at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church, 35660 Cedar Blvd., Newark. The play examines reasons that teens can feel ostracized in school, at home and in their community, including race, religion, sexual orientation, body type and socio-economic background. It is being presented by the East Bay chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Information: (510) 226-6816.

Scholarship Luncheon Scheduled April 25
State Senator Ellen Corbett and Assemblyman Alberto Torrico will be the guest speakers at the New Haven Schools Foundation Scholarship Luncheon on Friday, April 25, starting at 11:30 a.m., at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Logan and Conley-Caraballo High School seniors will receive 70 scholarships, funded by 60 sponsors, worth more than $60,000. Tickets are $75, a portion of which is tax-deductible. To order tickets, contact Foundation Executive Director Barbara Aro-Valle by telephone (471-4714 or 471-3850) or e-mail (b.aro-valle@hotmail.com).

Names ’n’ Notes
The annual Powder Puff football game between teams of girls representing Logan’s junior and senior classes is scheduled Friday night, starting at 7:30, at Judson Taylor Stadium. … Logan graduate Vicky Galindo has been named to the U.S. Olympic softball team that will compete at the Beijing Games in August. The former University of California star was a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. team at the Pan American Games last year. … Inspired by Logan graduate Candace Nguyen, who is working with students in Africa as part of her studies at New York University and writing a column about her experiences for The Argus newspaper, the Humanitarian Assistance Club at the high school is raising money to help. Send checks to the attention of teacher/advisor Stephanie Papas at: Humanitarian Assistance Club, James Logan High School, 1800 H St., Union City, 94587.

"E-NEWS"
News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted to The Courier on March 19,2008)

Pioneer Students Compete in County Spelling Bee
Cherra Alagon, a fifth-grade student at Pioneer Elementary School, finished among the top spellers Saturday at the Alameda County Spelling Bee. Competing for the second year in a row, she made it to the fifth round, while another Pioneer student, fourth-grader Mary Wu, reached the third round. More than 40 fourth- through sixth-graders took part in the annual competition, hosted by the Alameda County Office of Education at California State University, East Bay, in Hayward.

Schools Foundation Revives Scholarship Luncheon
Renewing a District tradition, the New Haven Schools Foundation will sponsor a luncheon this year to celebrate the awarding of college scholarship money to District students. State Senator Ellen Corbett and Assemblyman Alberto Torrico will be the guest speakers at the New Haven Schools Foundation Scholarship Luncheon on Friday, April 25, starting at 11:30 a.m., at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

For the fourth year in a row, the Foundation will distribute a record amount of scholarship money to James Logan High School and Conley-Caraballo High School seniors. The Foundation will award 70 scholarships, funded by 60 sponsors, worth more than $60,000. The Foundation received more than 1,200 applications for the various scholarships.

Tickets for the luncheon are $75, a portion of which is tax-deductible. To order tickets, contact Executive Director Barbara Aro-Valle by telephone (471-4714 or 471-3850) or e-mail (b.aro-valle@hotmail.com).

Fund-Raiser Thursday for Conley-Caraballo
Conley-Caraballo High School is trying to build its Associated Student Body program and extra-curricular activities, and the rest of the New Haven family can help. Eat any time Thursday (March 20) at the Chevy’s restaurant in the Union Landing Shopping Center, and 25 percent of the check will be donated to CCHS. You’ll need a flier for CCHS to get the donation, and you can get one by e-mailing Assistant Principal John Rodriguez (jrodriguez@nhusd.k12.ca.us).

Names ’n’ Notes
Competing on his home turf at the University of Arkansas, junior Nkosinza Balumbu, a two-time state champion while he was a student at James Logan High School, won the triple jump Saturday night at the NCAA Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships. Jumping just hours before his 21st birthday, the four-time All-America selection leaped 54-feet, 2 1/4 inches to outdistance the field by 10 inches, Logan Coach Lee Webb reports. … Stefanie Barnes pitched a four-hit shutout and struck out seven Saturday to lead Logan's softball team to a 1-0 victory over Reed (Nevada) High School in the championship game of the Reed Easter Classic outside Reno. ... Three Logan students are among four members of Boy Scout Troop 110’s Screaming Eagles Patrol who have achieved Eagle Scout status, parent Rita Haskin reports. Juniors Joseph Mestre and Shane Yorks built fences and installed gates at Garin Regional Park, and senior Ben Sims built and installed planter boxes and benches at the New Haven Adult School. … The junior class in marketing and management at Logan took part in a Virtual Enterprises competition in Virginia Beach, Virginia, earning a fourth-place prize for professionalism, teacher Steven Henderson reports. The students also visited Washington D.C., attending a constituents breakfast hosted by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, touring the Capitol and watching the Senate in action, and visiting most of the major museums and monuments. … Kindergarten students and their brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents and a few aunts and uncles enjoyed "Give a Mouse a Cookie Night" last week at Pioneer Elementary. Students enjoyed 13 reading, writing and math stations, singing and dancing the "Macaroona", eating donated cookies from Home Town Buffet and reading the famous book, Principal Joanne Stanley reports. Every child received a copy of the book to take home.

"E-NEWS" News from the New Haven Unified School District(March 11 issue, posted to The Courier 3/19/08)

Eastin Students Join Fight Against World Hunger
Students in Jennifer Freeman’s fourth-grade class at Eastin Elementary School are raising money to donate to the World Food Programme, a United Nations program to feed starving children at schools around the world. The class effort started after students read a story about a Ugandan girl whose lifelong wish was to go to school but whose family lived in severe poverty and hunger. The story led to “a great class discussion about how some children in the world are far less fortunate than we are,” Ms. Freeman said. “We talked about how children in many countries around the world go to school hungry.”

The students decided to raise money for the World Food Programme by setting up a class piggy bank to collect spare change, offering to do extra chores at home to earn money to donate and collecting aluminum cans to recyle. Students are graphing their progress and using the data for statistics projects in math. Folks who want to help can e-mail Ms. Freeman (jfreeman@nhusd.k12.ca.us).

Barnard-White, Cesar Chavez Students Work Together on Play
Drama students at Barnard-White and Cesar Chavez middle schools have begun rehearsing for a combined production of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

Under the direction of teachers Denise McGinnis and Doris Gallagher, 15 BWMS and 15 CCMS students are rehearsing songs and dances for the enchanting musical. Backstage, costumes are being made, sets are being painted and props are being created.

Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. April 24 and 25 at CCMS and May 1 at BWMS. Tickets, priced at $5, will go on sale at both schools on April 1. In addition, there will be 10 a.m. performances at Kitayama Elementary on April 25 and Emanuele Elementary on May 1.

The combined musical is among the initial activities designed to bring together students from the two schools before BWMS closes at the end of the school year and most students who would have attended BWMS begin attending CCMS. In 2008-09, CCMS will use the BWMS campus, while CCMS is undergoing modernization.

Names ’n’ Notes
Maria Luisa Coria, who served the District for more than 30 years as a paraprofessional, passed away Feb. 26 after a year-long battle with cancer. “She was a quiet, humble person who loved to tease, would speak up for injustice and work tirelessly for others,” said Kitayama Elementary teacher Cherie Barnecut, one of more than 350 people who attended a remembrance service. “Her work with the Spanish-speaking community in Union City was well known. She led committees, volunteered 20-plus hours with her church community each week, and helped numerous people over the years to reach services they would need.” … CCMS teacher Trish Riley, whose selection as a 2008 BestBuy Teach Award was part of the E-News last week, isn’t the only winner with a New Haven connection. Logan graduate Erik Fogel, son of New Haven teachers Brian and Pamela Fogel also won a $10,000 award. He teaches at the Bronx School of Law, Justice and Government in New York.

"E-NEWS"
News from the New Haven Unified School District

CCMS Teacher Receives $10,000 Grant
Cesar Chavez Middle School teacher Trish Riley has been named winner of a $10,000 BestBuy Teach Award. Ms. Riley, one of only 50 winners nationwide, was recognized for creative use of interactive technology in her "Crocodile Hunter Wannabes" iMovie project.

“Students used what they learned about the characteristics and needs of living things to create a Crocodile Hunter episode.” Ms. Riley explained. “In the process, students learned how to use available technology equipment and advanced software. They worked in small groups to collaboratively import and edit clips, add text, credits, sound and animation. The results were hysterical, and the students didn't realize how much they were learning because it was incredibly fun.”

With part of the Best Buy funds, Ms. Riley purchased six projectors, a 24-inch iMac with a superdrive, two digital cameras and an all-in-one, “and we still have $5,000 to spend and big decisions to make about how we will spend it,” she said. The equipment also will be used to support an after-school technology club in which students will learn how to create short films, documentaries and music videos.

Ms. Riley’s award gives CCMS and the District a chance to compete for one of eight $100,000 awards that will be announced in May.

Hero of Rwandan Genocide to Visit Logan
The only American who didn’t leave Rwanda during the 1994 genocide will speak to students next week at James Logan High School.

Seventh-Day Adventist minister Carl Wilkens, former head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International, will speak at two assemblies on Monday (March 10), starting at 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. He also will speak at a workshop being hosted by Logan for local teachers and administrators, “After Mass Violence and Genocide: Projects in Repair and Reconciliation,” on Tuesday (March 11), from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Rwandan genocide occurred over the course of about 100 days, from early April to mid July in 1994, during which an estimated 800,000 members of the country’s Tutsi minority and thousands of moderate members of the Hutu majority were systematically murdered by extremist Hutu militias. After the killings began, Pastor Wilkens chose to stay in the country when more than 250 other Americans, including his wife and children, were evacuated. His efforts to bring food, water and medicines to several groups of orphans around the capital city of Kigali were featured in a PBS Frontline documentary: “Ghosts of Rwanda” and in a National Public Radio documentary “The Few Who Stayed: Defying Genocide.”

His appearance is being arranged by Logan teacher Stephanie Papas through the Bay Area office of Facing History and Ourselves, an organization designed to “engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice and anti-Semitism to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry.”

Teachers and administrators interested in attending the Tuesday workshop, which will outline and describe projects in repair and reconciliation not only in Rwanda but also in areas such as South Africa and Northern Ireland, must register by e-mail (Karen_weinstein@facing.org) or telephone (510-786-2500 ext. 221). There is no charge for the workshop.

District Wins Another Design Award
The District has won a state award for the design of the building that will house the new media center, a classroom for severely disabled students and the administration offices at Alvarado Middle School.

The annual Leroy F. Greene Design Awards were presented last week in Sacramento, recognizing exceptional architectural and program implementation in the design of public school facilities. Executive Director of Operations Enrique Palacios received the award on behalf of the District, which was a winner for the second consecutive year. The District was recognized last year for the design of the Performing Arts Center to be built at James Logan High School. AEDIS Architecture & Planning designed both projects.

Ground-breaking is scheduled this spring on the Performing Arts Center and this summer on the AMS building. Both projects are being built with funds from a $120 million facilities bond passed by New Haven voters in 2003.

Cabello ESL Parents Plan Play for Mid-Year Kinders
Parents of English-language learners in the Community Based English Tutoring (CBET) class at the Cabello Student Support Center will present a play Thursday for Cabello’s two mid-year kindergarten classes.

The CBET class, one of three English as a Second Language classes at Cabello, focuses on improving English skills of the parents and developing their abilities as home tutors for their children. The two other ESL classes at Cabello help beginning English learners and assist students with intermediate English skills to progress toward fluency. All three classes are provided free of charge, courtesy of the New Haven Adult School, to anyone 18 or older. They meet from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, and students can enroll any time through the end of May by seeing teacher Lori Cheeves in Room 15.

For further information about Adult School ESL classes, call Laura Zaro at 510-489-2185, ext. 203.

Crossing Guard Honored
A familiar face for many years to Barnard-White Middle School students and staff, Margaret Apodaca, has been selected Crossing Guard of the Year for 2007-08. Mrs. Apodaca has worked the Whipple Road intersection for more than 20 years, since retiring from Xerox. The mother of five children, she has 10 grandchildren.

The award is from All City Management Services, which contracts with the District to provide crossing guards as part of an agreement with Union City.

Names ’n’ Notes
Jade Peralta and Lulu Zhong, two of six Alvarado Middle School students named to the California All-State Honor Band, were selected to perform as featured soloists in the honor band’s concert in Fresno, and Lulu was awarded a $700 summer music camp scholarship, teacher Nelson Agregado reports. AMS students Patrick Fang, Brinny Simpson, Ciarra Fulgar and Niko Martinez also were selected to the honor band. … The Logan High boys varsity basketball team earned a North Coast Section scholarship banner for having one of the top three grade-point averages among NCS Division I schools. Coach Chris Fortenberry’s team compiled a 3.28 GPA, second only to Monte Vista (3.31) and ahead of such rivals as De La Salle, San Ramon, Foothill and Amador. … Cesar Chavez Middle School student Angela Valdivia is in Washington D.C. this week for the Junior National Young Leaders Conference. Angela, who was nominated by Searles Elementary teacher Vince Rosato, is visiting historic sites in Washington, Virginia and Philadelphia and participating in workshops and discussion groups with students from across the country … The “Pennies for Patients” campaign at Emanuele Elementary raised $2,281.71 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, teacher and organizer Sheilah Stettler reports.

"E-NEWS"
News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted March 1, 2008)

Logan Gets $60,000 Grant
Every James Logan High School freshman will be able to take two field trips to local watersheds next year after science teacher Lisa Childers won a $60,000 California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ms. Childers’ “Freshmen in Natural Settings” (FINS) project will enable students to visit Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in the fall and either Coyote Hills Regional Park or the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge next spring.

The grant is the latest in a series of successful proposals written by Logan teacher Sue Hinojoza.

Rangers will work with students to give them hands-on, inquiry-based science investigation and analysis experiences, Ms. Childers said. The grant also provides for equipment used to test water quality and examine samples from the various aquatic environments, she added. Students will take the trips with their “freshman families,” as part of Logan’s effort to provide the kind of small learning communities called for in the New Haven Strategic Plan.

New Haven Community Forum Meets Tonight
An interactive experience in student testing will be part of the New Haven Community Forum from 6 to 7:30 tonight at the Educational Services Center. The Forum will be held in conjunction with the first meeting of the new GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) Parents Group, but all parents and community members are invited to attend.

Parents and other guests will be invited to take a sample of a new test being given to all New Haven second- through ninth-graders this year. The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests are taken on a computer, and the difficulty of each question is based on how well the student answered the previous questions. Students who do well continue to be challenged; at the same time, students who have trouble aren’t frustrated. That means students stay engaged, so their scores provide a more accurate measure of their growth and give teachers feedback that helps guide instruction.

Fitness Center Helps Emanuele Students Get Ready for Test
Fourth- and fifth-grade students at Emanuele Elementary School are using treadmills, elliptical machines and exercise bicycles to prepare for the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, in a new “fitness center” set up by teacher Greg Bodmer for two periods each day in the physical education room. Mr. Bodmer purchased three treadmills, three elliptical machines, and three exercise bikes for the room, where he also sets up eight other stations, enabling students to do a circuit-training type program for three minutes per station.

Art Work on Display at Logan
Artist Michael Anthony will display his work and talk with students at Logan High on Friday as the school culminates its celebration of African-American History Month. The display, which also will include literature on African-American inventors and inventions, will be in either the Student Union foyer or the Pavilion foyer, depending on the weather. Mr. Anthony also will meet with teacher Tommie Lindsey’s freshman life skills class.

Hopeconnections Helping in Africa
Students in the Hopeconnections Club at Logan have voted to partner with Global Partners for Development to provide four water hand pumps for an East African village. “The hand pumps will provide clean, accessible drinking water for thousands of villagers,” Logan teacher and Hopeconnections advisor Linda Rodrigues said. The students also will provide supplies for the community to build a classroom for the children in the village.

“In rural East Africa, parents are aware that education is a way out of poverty, and they want good quality education for their children,” Ms. Rodrigues said. “The Hopeconnections Club will be providing the materials to build one school room to help these children fulfill their dream of an education.”

Opportunity for First-Time Home Buyers
Many New Haven employees may be eligible for a first-time home buyer program being offered by Union City. The Redevelopment Agency is making available eight new single-family homes for first-time buyers who either live or work in Union City. The four-bedroom, two-bath, two-story homes, located on Larkspur Court and Torrey Pines Lane, near Emanuele Elementary, are priced at $363,000. Applicants must meet income criteria (for example, maximum household income for a family of three is $90,500), and homes are subject to resale restrictions. Applications are available through March 5 at the Economic and Community Development counter at City Hall, 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road. The application deadline is March 12, after which eligible buyers will be selected through a lottery process. More information is available by calling the lottery consultant Suzanne Sullivan at (800) 604-0601.

Names 'n' Notes
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has granted New Haven Adult School initial accreditation, through June 30, 2011. Congratulations to Principal Nancy George and the entire Adult School family. … The District and the New Haven Teachers Association have entered into negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. The first session was held last Wednesday and the second session is today.

"E-NEWS"
News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted February 20, 2008

Budget Cuts
Carrying the New Haven community’s concerns about the governor’s proposal to decimate the state education budget, Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi and New Haven Teachers Association President Charmaine Kawaguchi will meet this week with State Sen. Ellen Corbett. Dr. Jaurequi and Ms. Kawaguchi plan to seek the senator’s help in opposing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s call for funding reductions that would mean $7 million less revenue for the District next year. Though the governor signed legislation over the weekend that keeps the District from having to make at least $377,542 in reductions this year, he still proposes cuts that would be devastating in New Haven and throughout the state in 2008-09.

Also, Assemblyman Alberto Torrico will hold a town hall meeting about the budget Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont. Torrico – who, like Corbett, represents Union City and South Hayward in Sacramento – and Executive Director Jean Ross of the California Budget Project will talk about what the governor’s proposal means to education, as well as to health care and the state’s future, and they will propose alternative solutions to the problem. Seating is limited, and those interested should reserve a seat by calling 440-9030.

AMS Teachers Win `Science in Action’ Award

Alvarado Middle School science teachers Vicki Baker, Dawn Estrella and Jennifer Nemecek will receive $4,225 as winners in the National Semiconductor Science in Action Awards program. This program was developed to provide funding and recognition to teachers with ideas for integrating inquiry-based science into the classroom.

The AMS teachers’ winning project, “Power to Change,” helps sixth-grade students appreciate how electricity is made and often wasted, giving them power to make changes in their own lives. The grant money will be used for materials to create small generators that use water from the faucet to create electricity; for small "Kill-o-watts," electrical meters that students can check out and take home to experiment with ways to decrease their home energy use; and for materials that enable students to go on a virtual field trip to California ecosystems, so they can study natural resources that can be used for generating electricity.

“We are very excited to be able to teach our science standards in a creative and very engaging way,” Ms. Baker reported, “to involve families in this unit and to help turn our students into future informed citizens who understand that they can make small changes in their own lives that will benefit future generations.”

CCMS Teacher Receives Second Grant for Literacy Project
Cesar Chavez Middle School teacher Teri Gruenwald has received $800 from the East Bay Community Foundation for her project “Using Technology to Build Literacy Skills for Struggling and Reluctant Readers.” Ms. Gruenwald, who received a $500 mini-grant for the project from the New Haven Schools Foundation last year, uses the money to purchase “listening stations,” including a CD/cassette player and earphones, and audio books.

Searles Families Gather for Eclipse
Searles Elementary School will host a Family Lunar Eclipse Evening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, to give families a chance to look through telescopes and participate in several other activities, teacher Vince Rosato said. The event is part of Project ASTRO, a national program to improve the teaching of astronomy and physical science by linking local educators with professional and amateur astronomers. Jenn King Chen is Searles’ Project ASTRO astronomer partner.

Union City Parent Project
Registration is under way for the spring session of the Union City Parent Project, a program designed to help the parents of strong-willed or out-of-control young people. The 13-week session addresses academic problems, truancy, runaways, substance abuse, violence and gang involvement. It also may be helpful to parents who are not yet dealing with such issues but are concerned that their children don’t follow rules or seem to be headed in the wrong direction.

Meetings are Thursdays, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., starting March 6 and continuing through May 29. Cost is determined on a sliding scale, and no one is turned away because of financial issues. Childcare is available for a small fee, through Union City Leisure Services.

Registration deadline is Feb. 28. For more information, contact the Union City Police Department Intervention Services Unit (471-1365).

Correction
As terrible as it is for education, the governor’s budget proposal isn’t quite as bad as last week’s E-News made it sound. The governor has called for a $360 million (not billion) reduction in K-12 funding this year. For comparison’s sake, The Terminator grossed $78 million, Terminator II $517 million and Terminator III $433 million.

"E-NEWS"
News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted 2/12/2008)

Superintendents to Speak Out Against Budget Cuts
Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi and her colleagues from throughout Alameda County will hold a press conference Wednesday in Oakland to speak out against Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal for massive reductions in the state education budget. In New Haven, the governor’s plan would mean a $7 million reduction in revenue in 2008-09, triggering employee layoffs, increased class sizes and cuts in classroom instruction and other critical service areas, “even more drastic than the cuts that resulted from Proposition 13,” Dr. Jaurequi said. If the governor gets his way, the District also might be forced to accelerate consideration of closing another elementary school.

In January, the governor declared a fiscal emergency in California and proposed cuts to the state budget that include a $360 billion reduction in K-12 funding this year - a move that will cost New Haven at least $377,542 this year and possibly as much as $755,084 by June 30 - and a devastating 10.5% reduction for 2008-09. Education experts say the governor’s proposal would mean “the most significant cuts in the history of California education.”

“The governor should be trying to find more money for education, not take money away,” said Charmaine Kawaguchi, President of the New Haven Teachers Association.

Jazz Concert Coming to Logan
Trombonist, composer, arranger, big band leader, recording artist and jazz educator Dave Eshelman will be the featured performer Monday, February 18, when James Logan High School’s jazz bands host a special concert in the Little Theater.

Director Emeritus of Jazz Studies at California State University, East Bay, Mr. Eshelman has led the CSU East Bay Jazz Ensemble on four European concert tours (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007) as well as a tour of Brazil (2001), and the band performed three times at the International Association of Jazz Education International Conference (1995, 1999, 2005). As a performer, he has been a featured soloist with the big bands of Ray Brown, Joe Henderson, Tito Puente and Gerald Wilson, and in 2002 he led an All-Star Big Band Tribute to West Coast Jazz in concerts at the Verona Jazz Festival in Italy and at the Vienne Jazz Festival in France.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Questions About Middle School Changes for 2008-09
(As part of the effort to keep all stakeholders informed about the middle school changes coming in 2008-09, E-News will regularly include answers to “Frequently Asked Questions”. This week: After Barnard-White closes this June, will my child attend Alvarado Middle or Cesar Chavez?)

Adjustments to middle school boundaries necessitated by the closure of Barnard-White mean that most students who would have attended Barnard-White will be assigned to Cesar Chavez next year and some students who would have attended Chavez will go to Alvarado Middle. Parents of students whose school assignments have changed were mailed letters in December notifying them of the change, but anyone who has questions can visit the District website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us). Under “Spotlights,” click on “School Closure/Boundary Changes” to find the “Boundary Lookup” tool, then enter your home address. Parents are reminded that Cesar Chavez will operate at the Barnard-White campus in 2008-09, while the Chavez campus is undergoing modernization.

Names 'n' Notes
Logan, which won the Mission Valley Athletic League boys soccer championship, will open the North Coast Section playoffs at home Wednesday against Washington, starting at 7 p.m. Coach Matt Sills’ side compiled a 9-1-2 record during the regular season and defeated Newark Memorial, 1-0, last Friday night in the finals of the MVAL playoffs. More than half of the Colts’ starting lineup was named to the all-MVAL team, as Jorge Hernandez, Ante Lovric, Arnoldo Mendoza, Benito Ramirez, Danny Zermeno and goalkeeper Juan De La Cruz all earned first-team honors. … Logan’s boys varsity basketball team had two players named to the all-MVAL first team, Howie Manzo and Isaiah Moore, Coach Chris Fortenberry reported.

"E-NEWS"
News from the New Haven Unified School District (Posted February 5. 2008)

County Honor Band
Sixteen students from New Haven middle schools were selected for the Alameda County Honor Band, which performed Saturday at Chabot College in Hayward. Band directors Nelson Agregado (Alvarado Middle), Dave Martell (Barnard-White) and Doris Gallagher (Cesar Chavez) reported that the following students were selected:

Alvarado Middle: Alex Abusaidi (trombone), Henry Chang (clarinet), Catherine Chen (flute), Calvin Choy (alto saxophone), Nicolas Jensen (flute), Jade Peralta (oboe), Isabel Trevino (clarinet) and Priscilla Wu (alto saxophone).

Barnard-White: Martin Arroy (trumpet), Monica Castillo (trumpet), Daniela Hermosillo (clarinet), Erika Lin (trombone), Joshua Shen (baritone saxophone), Lucia Song (clarinet), Sean Zhu (clarinet).

Cesar Chavez: Nicholas Jensen (flute).

“Olympians Week”
Some of the greatest track and field athletes in history are visiting New Haven schools starting today as “Olympians Week” gets under way, leading up to the annual Willie Davenport Olympian Track and Field Clinic on Saturday at James Logan High School.

Starting today in assemblies at Kitayama and Hillview Crest elementary schools, the Olympians will tell their stories and encourage students “to set and achieve high goals, as well as chose paths in life that will take them to success,” in the words of Logan track and field coach Lee Webb. The Olympians will visit Pioneer and Searles elementaries and Alvarado Middle on Wednesday, Barnard-White Middle and Cesar Chavez Middle on Thursday, and Emanuele and Alvarado elementaries and Logan on Friday.

At each site, Olympians will sign posters, all students will receive copies of Youth Runner magazine, and 20 students will be selected to attend the clinic for free.

On Saturday, more than 60 former Olympic athletes and coaches will take part in the clinic, which last year attracted more than 1,500 young athletes. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $25.

Following the clinic, the Olympians will attend a “meet-and-greet” session and sports auction at the Crowne Plaza Hotel from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is open to the public.

More information is available on the Logan track and field website (www.logantrackandfield.com).

Copper Thieves Hitting Schools
Folks who live near schools are asked to call the police immediately if they see suspicious activity on campus. Throughout the Bay Area, and well as elsewhere in California and across the nation, thieves are stealing copper wire from schools and other sites, making quick money by selling the copper to recyclers and others. Six New Haven schools have been hit this year, at a cost to the District of more than $100,000.

‘Pennies for Patients’
Students from Kitayama Elementary's Kids' Council decided to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by raising funds in the "Pennies for Patients" campaign, Principal Gary Suplick reported. The Kids' Council also decided to have a Valentine's Day slumber party, giving students the option of wearing pajamas to school.

E-NEWS"
News From the New Haven Unified School District (Updated Jan. 22. Posted to the Courier on Jan. 29)

Meetings Continue on Safety, Security
This month’s School Site Council discussions about student safety and school-site security continue Wednesday night at six of the District’s seven elementary schools: Searles , 5 p.m.; Emanuele, 5:30 p.m.; Kitayama, 5:30 p.m.; Eastin, 6:30 p.m.; Alvarado, 7 p.m.; and Hillview Crest, 7 p.m. Pioneer Elementary’s SSC meeting will be Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 6:30 p.m.

The safety and security discussions were added to January SSC agendas following the shooting death of a Logan student outside Barnard-White on the last day before winter recess. About 100 people attended the SSC meeting at Barnard-White last Thursday, on the same night that there were about 55 people at James Logan High School and eight at Conley-Caraballo High. The previous week, about 100 people attended the SSC meeting at Cesar Chavez Middle, and about 25 were in attendance at Alvarado Middle.

The City Council will hold a work session on youth violence, Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Ruggieri Senior Center, 33997 Alvarado-Niles Road. The meeting will include a presentation and recommendations from the Youth Violence Prevention Coalition that began meeting in the fall. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., following a 6:30 p.m. peace march starting in the Logan High parking lot.

Following the SSC meetings and the Youth Coalition’s presentation to the City Council, Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi will prepare a report for the next Board of Education meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Message of Caring
More than 200 people helped send a “message of caring” Friday to Logan and Barnard-White students. Parents, teachers, classified employees, administrators and community members greeted students as they left school with signs displaying messages such as “Think Peace," "We care about you! Please care about each other," “Silence the violence,” and "We have the power to stop the violence in our community."

“Thank you for taking part, supporting, and being present to our students and one another,” said Kitayama Elementary teacher Cheri Barnecut, who organized the event with the help of New Haven Teachers Association President Charmaine Kawaguchi. “The smiles from students, New Haven staff, community members, parents, and law enforcement permeated the afternoon, and hopefully will continue to heal our community.”

GATE Meeting
The first District Advisory Committee Meeting for the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program is scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Educational Services Center. All parents are invited to attend.

Names 'n' Notes
In addition to the five Logan High students noted in last week’s E-News,six Alvarado Middle students have been selected through audition to participate in the 2008 California All-State Honor Band. They are: Patrick Fang (clarinet), Ciarra Fulgar (trombone), Niko Martinez (tuba), Jade Peralta (oboe), Brinny Simpson (string bass) and Lulu Zhong (bassoon). Approximately 1,500 students from schools throughout the state auditioned, AMS band director Nelson Agregado reports, and only the best were selected to play at the California Band Directors Association annual convention in Fresno on February 21-24. … Last call for the retirement party for Alvarado Middle School secretary Ginger Grant and office assistant Barbara Breves. The party is Friday (Jan. 25) at 6 p.m., at the Royal Garden Seafood Restaurant, 35219 Newark Blvd. A, in Newark. RSVP now to AMS Principal Yvonne Hull (489-0700, ext. 2006, or yhull@nhusd.k12.ca.us). Dinner is $20. Make checks payable to AMS Social Fund; memo line: Retirement Party.

E-NEWS"
News From the New Haven Unified School District (Update January 17, 2008)

Meetings Continue on Safety, Security
The next of this month’s School Site Council meetings focusing on student safety and school-site security are scheduled Thursday (Jan. 17) at James Logan High School, starting at 6 p.m., and at Barnard-White Middle School and Conley-Caraballo High School, both starting at 6:30 p.m.

The safety and security discussions were added to this month’s SSC agendas following the shooting death of a Logan student outside Barnard-White on the last day before winter recess. About 100 people attended a meeting at Cesar Chavez Middle last Thursday, and about 25 were in attendance that same evening at Alvarado Middle.

This month’s SSC schedule for elementary schools:

Wednesday, Jan. 23: Searles Elementary, 5 p.m.; Emanuele Elementary, 5:30 p.m.; Kitayama Elementary, 5:30 p.m.; Eastin Elementary, 6:30 p.m.; Alvarado Elementary, 7 p.m.; Hillview Crest Elementary, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 30: Pioneer Elementary, 6:30 p.m.

Message of Caring / Youth Violence Prevention Presentation
Teachers, classified employees, administrators and community members are invited to join in a message of caring to Logan and Barnard-White students after school this Friday (Jan. 18). Staff members will greet students as they leave school for the three-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

“In the spirit of Dr. King, we could model for our students and community through our smiling presence, acknowledgment of former students we might see, and by holding signs that read, `We care about you!’ `Please care about each other,’ and `We have the power to stop violence in our community,’” said Kitayama Elementary teacher Cheri Barnecut, who is organizing the event with the help of New Haven Teachers Association President Charmaine Kawaguchi and NHTA reps.

Employees and community members will be at Barnard-White from 2:20 to 2:45 p.m. and at Logan from 3:10 to 3:45 p.m. Ms. Barnecut suggests that folks car-pool to the sites and park a distance away, walking up to the schools to minimize traffic problems. Signs will be available at the front of each school.

Students, parents, employees and other community members also are invited to attend a City Council work session on youth violence, Tuesday, Jan. 29, starting at 7 p.m. The Youth Violence Prevention Coalition will present recommendations to the Council. The meeting will be preceded by a 6:30 p.m. peace march.

Open House Thursday at Cabello
Parents, employees and other members of the New Haven community are invited to an Open House on Thursday (Jan. 17) at the Cabello Student Support Center. A new mid-year kindergarten program opens Jan. 28 at the site, which also hosts the new Community Day School as well as Kidango and special education pre-school programs, the Kids First after-school program, home schooling and adult school programs.

The Open House is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The center is at 4500 Cabello St., on the former Cabello Elementary School campus.

MLK Tournament This Weekend
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. forensics tournament gets under way Friday at Logan. Registration starts at 3 p.m. and the competition begins at 4. Competition resumes Saturday at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m., and the tournament concludes with an awards ceremony Sunday afternoon. Last year, the tournament drew about 2,000 students from 65 schools from seven states.

Five Logan Students Make State Honor Band
Music Director Ramiro Barrera reports that five Logan students have been accepted in the California All State Honor Band. Joe Aguas (tuba), Wesley Anderson (mallet percussion), Angela Ballard (flute), Jesse Chen (E-flat clarinet) and David Garges (clarinet) will travel to Fresno in February to rehearse and perform with other talented students from throughout the state.

Helping the Homeless
Members of the Logan Sikh Forum provide dinner to the homeless on an average of twice each month, and any New Haven students interested in assisting are invited to help cook and/or serve on the group’s next dates, Tuesday, Jan. 22, and Thursday, Jan. 31. Students can join volunteer cooks after school at the Fremont Gurdwara, 300 Gurdwara Road, Fremont, to help make, pack and load the food, and they can help serve starting at 5:30 p.m. at Sunrise Village, 588 Brown Road, Fremont. For more information, contact Logan teacher Harpaul Rana (hrana@nhusd.k12.ca.us).

New Haven Community Forum
The next meeting of the New Haven Community Forum, featuring a discussion of the new student testing program, Measures of Academic Progress, has been postponed until Tuesday, Feb. 26. The popular television show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader?” will serve as the backdrop for the meeting, tentatively scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Logan High. Parents of elementary, middle and high school students will be invited to take a fifth-grade sample of the new MAP tests being given to all New Haven second- through ninth-graders this year.

MAP tests are taken on a computer, and the difficulty of each question is based on how well the student answered the previous questions. Students who do well continue to be challenged; at the same time, students who have trouble aren’t frustrated. That means students stay engaged, so their scores provide a more accurate measure of their growth and give teachers feedback that helps guide instruction.

"E-NEWS"
News From the New Haven Unified School District (Updated January 9, 2007)

SSC Meetings to Focus on Safety, Security
Student safety and school-site security will be the primary topic of discussion at the January meetings of all School Site Councils, following the shooting death of a James Logan High School freshman outside Barnard-White Middle School on the last day before winter recess.

“While we address the immediate concerns stemming from this horrible event, we also want to consider long-term needs for safety and security,” Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi said. “We need input from parents and the community to help us make these decisions, and the School Site Councils provide a ready forum for those discussions.”

The meeting schedule:

Thursday, Jan. 10: Alvarado Middle , 6 p.m.; Cesar Chavez Middle (special meeting), 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 17: James Logan High, 6 p.m.; Barnard-White Middle, 6:30 p.m.; Conley-Caraballo High, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 30: Pioneer Elementary, 6:30 p.m.

Alvarado Elementary Teachers Win National Contest
Alvarado Elementary School teacher Keith Guernsey has won one of four document cameras given away in a contest sponsored by AverMedia Technologies of Milpitas. Applicants were required to submit “a creative video” showing why their class needed or could use a document camera in a creative way, along with a written explanation. Mr. Guernsey’s video, and the accompanying written explanation compiled by colleague Rachel Saucedo, won second place in the North American-wide competition. The video can be seen at http://www.aver.com/ppd/video/contest/contestresult.html

Open House at Cabello Student Support Center
Parents, employees and other members of the New Haven community are invited to an Open House at the Cabello Student Support Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17. Visitors are welcome to tour the new Cabello Parent Center and see how preparations are coming for the mid-year kindergarten program that opens Jan. 28. Folks can also get a look at the Kidango and special education pre-school programs, the Kids First after-school program, the new Community Day School, and the home schooling and adult school programs.

The Cabello Student Support Center is at 4500 Cabello St., on the former Cabello Elementary School campus.

New Classes Start at Adult School
Community education classes in subjects as wide-ranging as digital camera downloading, yoga, CPR and tap dancing are getting under way this week at the New Haven Adult School. See the winter schedule of classes at http://www.nhusd.k12.ca.us/adult/adult.html and register online, by telephone at (510) 489-2185, or in person on the campus at 600 G Street.

In other Adult School news, the Bay Section Costanoan Chapter of the California Council for Adult Education will honor three New Haven employees at its annual awards ceremony Thursday, Jan. 17, at the San Leandro Public Library. Michelle Riley and Maria Laza will receive Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Support Services awards, respectively, and District Director of Strategic Planning & Professional Development Lisa Metzinger will receive a Friend of Education award. New Haven Adult assistant principal Jessica Wilder is vice president of the Bay Area Costanoan chapter.

English Learner Advisory Committee
The District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meets at 6 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 10) at the Educational Services Center, 34200 Alvarado-Niles Road. All parents are invited to participate.

DELAC is responsible for reviewing elements of the District’s English Learner program, including the EL Master Plan, goals and objectives for the program, reclassification procedures, parent notifications, needs assessments and our annual language census. The group’s goals this year include increasing parent involvement, providing parent workshops that would include information on supporting students in Writing Workshop, and increasing student comfort with English.

Bond Oversight Committee
New Haven taxpayers who want to know more about how the District is spending their money might be interested in applying for a position on the Bond Oversight Committee. The committee meets monthly to review plans for the spending of money from Measure A, a $120 million facilities bond passed by New Haven voters in 2003.

To get an application, go to the District website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us/NHUSD_css/Bond/Oversight.html). The site also includes agendas and minutes of past meetings and the committee’s by-laws. More information is available by calling Chief Business Officer Carol Gregorich (471-1100, ext. 2206) or Executive Director of Operations Enrique Palacios (ext. 2204).

Names ‘n’ Notes
Searles Elementary teacher Vince Rosato, whose students have excelled at The Stock Market Game, reports that teachers still can sign up for the spring session of the program, based on real-life simulation of the stock market. A 15-week session begins Jan. 14, and a 10-week session starts Feb. 19. More information is available at www.stockmarketgame.org … Sita Balavenkatesan, a longtime New Haven classified employee, passed away just before the start of the winter recess, after a five-year battle with cancer. She worked at Cabello Elementary and district-wide as a bilingual aide, a lunch-time supervisor and in the resource center. … A retirement party for Alvarado Middle School secretary Ginger Grant and office assistant Barbara Breves is scheduled Friday, Jan. 25, starting at 6 p.m., at the Royal Garden Seafood Restaurant, 35219 Newark Blvd. A, in Newark. Both women have friends throughout the District, and everyone is invited. Dinner is $20 per person. RSVP before Jan. 18 to AMS Principal Yvonne Hull (489-0700, ext. 2006, or yhull@nhusd.k12.ca.us).

E-News is produced during the school year for parents, staff and community members in the New Haven Unified School District, part of the District’s effort to create effective internal and external communications as called for in the New Haven Strategic Plan. The Public Information Office is responsible for content. Submit items for consideration to rlaplante@nhusd.k12.ca.us Past editions are available on the District website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us).

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful global citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

"E-NEWS"
News From the New Haven Unified School District (Updated December 18, 2007)

Sports Teams Earn Scholastic Honors
James Logan High’s boys and girls cross country teams and girls volleyball team all earned North Coast Section Scholastic Championship awards for the fall season. Awards go to the three teams with the highest composite grade-point averages in each division in each varsity sport, from among 171 NCS schools, said Athletic Director Tom Rosenthal, who congratulated cross country coach Sam Cavallaro, volleyball coach Danielle Anderson and their athletes.

Last Day for Christmas Tree Fund-Raiser
Today is the last day to buy tickets for a chance to win a Christmas tree from the Logan track and field team. Ten trees, in various sizes from 6- to 9-feet tall, will be available in the drawing, to be held on the Logan track at 2:45 p.m. Tickets, priced at $1 apiece or six for $5, can be purchased by contacting Coach Lee Webb (lwebb@nhusd.k12.ca.us). Coach Webb says winners can even have their tree delivered if they live in the area.

Hopeconnections Winter Drive
The annual Winter Drive organized by Logan’s Hopeconnections Club culminates Saturday when volunteers deliver holiday gifts, canned food and food certificates to 78 underprivileged families in the New Haven community. If you would like to help with deliveries, meet at the Union City Library at 9 a.m.

Questions About Middle School Changes for 2008-09
(As part of the effort to keep all stakeholders informed about the middle school changes coming in 2008-09, E-News will regularly include answers to “Frequently Asked Questions”. This week: Why is Cesar Chavez Middle School moving to the Barnard-White Middle School campus next year?

The long-awaited modernization of Cesar Chavez Middle School will begin this summer, and with Barnard-White closing in June, moving CCMS to the BWMS campus on Whipple Road makes sense for several reasons. Most important, it will minimize the impact on learning, because students will not be attending class at a site where construction is taking place. The move -- first suggested by the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, which monitors use of funds from Measure A, a $120 million bond approved by New Haven voters in 2003 -- also assures that modernization will be completed in the shortest possible period of time, allowing CCMS to return to its Hop Ranch Road campus for 2009-10. Finally, it saves approximately $1 million in the cost of portable buildings that would have been needed to house CCMS students during construction.

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful 21st-century citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

"E-NEWS"
News From the New Haven Unified School District (updated December 11, 2007

Young Artists Contribute to Flight 93 Memorial
Artwork created by students from Eastin Elementary and James Logan High formally went on display Saturday at dedication ceremonies for Union City’s Flight 93 Memorial in Sugar Mill Landing Park.

Working with the theme, “My Vision of the Future,” the students decorated tiles that were installed last month around the base of the flagpole in the “Circle of Hope.” It is one of the major elements of the memorial to the victims of United Flight 93, one of four planes hijacked as part of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The centerpiece of the Memorial is a walkway through 40 “Remembrance Stones,” granite blocks each engraved with the name of one of the victims.

Sugar Mill Landing Park is at the corner of Alvarado-Niles Road and Dyer Street, behind the Union Landing Shopping Center.

CCMS Teacher Receives $1,000 Grant
Cesar Chavez Middle School teacher Joanne Zachariades has been awarded a $1,000 grant to help fund a “Canoes in Sloughs” project designed to provide students with an awareness of the importance of San Francisco Bay and the need for wetlands restoration. The highlight of the project will be a canoe trip to Bair Island, part of the South Bay wetlands near Redwood City, where students will work with naturalists on a restoration project.

The grant is from the Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation, a New York non-profit founded in memory of a middle school science teacher to support educators in developing environmental curricula that integrate field activities and classroom teaching and that incorporate basic ecological principles and problem solving.

Hopeconnections Winter Drive
The process of sorting and boxing food and gifts got under way over the weekend for the annual Winter Drive organized by Logan’s Hopeconnections Club. Advisor Linda Rodrigues reports that the Drive will help 78 underprivileged families this year by providing holiday gifts, canned food and food certificates.

Canned food this year came from drives held at Alvarado, Eastin, Emanuele, Hillview Crest, Pioneer and Searles elementary schools, Cesar Chavez Middle School and Conley-Caraballo and Logan high schools. Gifts for the children were purchased by employees at the District office as well as Mission Springs and Hope of Christ churches, Logan’s advanced-placement physics classes and other individuals. Baby baskets were donated by the Logan Sikh Forum, and handmade baby blankets by Shepherds Care Ministries. Food certificates were donated by Logan’s Classrooms Adopt A Family program and Logan staff members, clubs and athletic teams.

Among those helping Hopeconnections with logistics: Shepherds Care Ministries, Mission Springs Church, Bob Johnson and the Logan Sikh Forum.

Sorting and boxing will continue this weekend. To help, just show up between 10 a.m and 3 p.m. Saturday or between noon and 3 p.m. Sunday at 48989 Milmont Drive, Fremont. Delivery will take place on Saturday, Dec. 22. To help that day, meet at the Union City Library at 9 a.m.

Logan Student Rallies Support for Troops
James Logan High senior Angelica Maxfield is encouraging her fellow students and others in the New Haven Community to send holiday greetings to U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Free e-greetings can be sent through www.LetsSayThanks.com , which features e-cards drawn by school children from across the country.

“How amazing it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one,” Angelica says. “Wouldn't it be nice if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, I think our guys and gals over there would like to know we have not forgotten them.”

Christmas Trees Available
The Logan High track and field team is selling tickets for a chance to win a Christmas tree. Ten trees, in various sizes from 6- to 9-feet tall, will be available in the drawing, to be held on the Logan track at 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Tickets, priced at $1 apiece or six for $5, can be purchased by contacting Coach Lee Webb (lwebb@nhusd.k12.ca.us). Coach Webb says winners can even have their tree delivered if they live in the area.

“Two for One”
If your car’s giving you trouble, it’s probably causing your blood pressure probably to run high, too. Students at the Mission Valley Regional Occupational Program can help. This Saturday, automotive students will complete a basic check-up of your car (fluids, tire pressure and lights), and while you wait, medical assisting students will check your blood pressure. The check-ups are free, but students are requesting donations of non-perishable food for the needy. MVROP is at 39999 Blacow Road, Fremont. The event is from 8 a.m. to noon at the Technology Center, Building K.

Questions About Middle School Changes for 2008-09
As part of the effort to keep all stakeholders informed about the middle school changes coming in 2008-09, E-News will regularly include answers to “Frequently Asked Questions.” This week: Why are we closing Barnard-White?

Due to declining enrollment, the District is getting less funding from the state. At the same time, the District is committed to improving student achievement and is redirecting every dollar possible from operations to instruction. With that as the backdrop, the Board of Education in September 2006 approved the closure of Cabello Elementary last June and the closure of Barnard-White Middle in June 2008.

The closure of Barnard-White will necessitate the redistribution of student enrollment among the two other middle schools. In response to feedback from parents, staff and the community, the Board in November 2006 approved boundaries designed to impact as few families as possible. Most students who would have attended Barnard-White will go to Cesar Chavez Middle, and a few who would have attended Chavez will go to Alvarado Middle.

Oops!
We left out a digit in the telephone number in last week’s E-News item about the District’s urgent need for “Educational Representatives” for special education students whose parents no longer maintain educational rights. The correct number to volunteer is 489-4141, ext. 213, or e-mail Program Specialist Jennie Kordes at jkordes@nhusd.k12.ca.us … We added an extra “m” two weeks ago to the last name of the Logan senior who built planter boxes and benches at the New Haven Adult School as part of his work to earn his Eagle Scout badge. His name is Ben Sims.

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful 21st-century citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

"E-NEWS"
News From the New Haven Unified School District
Updated December 4, 2007

Adult School Wins Three Major Grants The New Haven Adult School, featured in The Argus last month after receiving a state grant for the Even Start Family Literacy Program, has won two more major grants.

The California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) has awarded New Haven Adult a three-year grant worth $225,000 to serve as CALPRO’s Bay Area Professional Development Center (BAPDC) "to support the continuous improvement of local adult education programs as they work to offer high quality and effective services to adult learners, and to address the emerging priorities for professional development." New Haven Adult Program Manager Karen Barroso is manager of the BAPDC, and teachers Lori Cheeves and Kristina Burnett are presenters.

New Haven Adult also received $104,577 from the state for Community-Based English Tutoring (CBET). The purpose of CBET is to provide English language instruction to parents and other adults who pledge to provide personal English language tutoring to English learners. “In other words,” Adult School Assistant Principal Jessica Wilder explained, “parents improve their English skills while learning how to help their children be successful in school.” Our primary CBET classes are at Hillview Crest Elementary School and the Cabello Student Support Center.

The Even Start grant announced last month is for $327,000 over three years, which will enable New Haven Adult to continue its work to promote literacy in homes of low-income families. The program enables parents of children enrolled in programs such as Kidango to take classes at the Adult School to learn English, earn a high school diploma or learn technical skills.

“Educational Representatives” Needed The District has an urgent need for “Educational Representatives” for special education students whose parents no longer maintain educational rights. An Educational Representative acts as a "student advocate," representing the student at Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and has access to the student's file and becomes familiar with the student’s specific needs.

Anyone interested in becoming an Educational Representative for a special education student can contact Program Specialist Jennie Kordes (489-414, ext. 213, or jkordes@nhusd.k12.ca.us). Educational Representatives can not be District employees or employees of a group home.

Searles Students on Stage Fourth-grade students from Room 15 at Searles Elementary School will perform the musical "California Missions and More!" on Tuesday and Thursday, Dec. 11 and 13, in the Benny Brown Memorial Cafeteria on the Searles campus, 33629 15th St. There will be two performances each day, at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, and teacher Vince Rosato says everyone in the New Haven community is invited to attend.

Take a ‘Tour’ of the Performing Arts Center A virtual tour of the new Performing Arts Center at James Logan High School is available at the District website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us). Construction of the $25 million center is expected to begin this spring, and the 599-seat theater, with rehearsal space and teaching stations for the performing arts, is expected to open during the 2009-10 school year.

In conjunction with the project, the New Haven Schools Foundation is selling tiles for a "seat wall" to be built outside the Center. The wall will be made up of 1,000 tiles, engraved with names and messages. Students, parents, community members and local businesses already have begun reserving their tiles. Cost is $120 for a two-line inscription and $150 for three lines, and the project is expected to sell out. To get an order form, call or e-mail Lori Valdes (471-1100, ext. 2004, or lvaldes@nhusd.k12.ca.us) with your name, address and telephone number.

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful 21st-century citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

"E-NEWS" News From the New Haven Unified School District

Updated November 27, 2007

Logan Band Wins - Again As usual, the James Logan High School Marching Band and Color Guard dominated the Western Band Association championships Nov. 17 and 18 at East Los Angeles College. Logan scored 97.80 points to finish comfortably ahead of second-place Upland (94.20) and third-place Mission Viejo (92.00) in the final standings. More evidence of Logan’s domination came in the caption awards, as Logan won in four of the five categories: General Effect, Music, Visual and Auxiliary.

Director of Bands Ramiro Barrera thanked his talented staff and supportive Band Boosters for their role in helping Logan to its ninth WBA championship.

Free Dictionaries for Third-Graders For the second year in a row, a group of local real estate professionals is providing free dictionaries for all third-grade students at each of the District’s elementary schools. The group, led by Sunil Sethi of Show & Sell Realty and Steven Fong of Century 21-Oliver Jackson, is delivering the dictionaries today.

New Haven Community Forum Meets Tonight “Middle School Changes for 2008-09” will be the topic tonight when the New Haven Community Forum meets at Cesar Chavez Middle School, starting at 6 p.m. The discussion will focus on the planning process for the closure of the Barnard-White campus on Whipple Road, the new boundaries that will determine whether students attend Alvarado or Cesar Chavez, the one-year relocation of Cesar Chavez to the Whipple Road campus, plans to address concerns about staffing changes and logistics, and possible future uses of the Whipple Road campus.

Pulitzer Prize Winner to Speak at Logan A Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and author will bring her perspective on the ongoing immigration debate to Logan on Wednesday. Sonia Nazario won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 2003 for her Los Angeles Times story about a 16-year-old boy's dangerous trip from Honduras to the U.S. in 2001 to be reunited with his mother. Too poor to feed her family, Enrique's mother had left her two children 11 years earlier to search for work in the U.S. In 2005, Nazario turned the story into a book, "Enrique's Journey," which several Logan classes currently are reading.

The assembly will be held in the Little Theater, starting at 9:45 a.m. Logan teacher Stephanie Papas arranged for Nazario's appearance through Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that seeks to engage "students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice and anti-Semitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry."

Hopeconnections Winter Drive Logan’s Hopeconnections Club is organizing its annual winter drive to help needy New Haven families. Schools throughout the district are holding canned food drives, and Logan clubs, teams, classes and staff are adopting families and raising money to provide a $100 food certificate for each family. AP physics classes and employees at the Educational Services Center are providing gifts for the children, along with Crosswinds, Mission Springs and Hope of Christ churches.

Volunteers will make their deliveries on Saturday, Dec. 22. Anyone wishing to donate can e-mail Logan teacher Linda Rodrigues (lrodrigues@nhusd.k12.ca.us).

Names ’n’ Notes New Haven parent Sharon Eva reports that the Car Show and Toy Drive held Nov. 18 at Cesar Chavez Middle School was “a huge success.” Organizers were “very happy with the turnout and especially the amount of toys that were donated,” she said. All donations and toy collections support the Union City Fire Department's city-wide Toy Drive. … As part of his work to earn his Eagle Scout badge, Logan senior Ben Simms built four planter boxes and two benches at the New Haven Adult School.

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful 21st-century citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

"E-NEWS" News From the New Haven Unified School District

Updated November 12, 2007

Logan Wins MVAL Football Showdown
In what most observers agreed was the biggest Mission Valley Athletic League football game in several years, James Logan High School defeated Newark Memorial High, 21-14, Friday night at Judson Taylor Stadium. Coach George Zuber's Colts completed an undefeated regular season, the school's first since 1996, and won the MVAL title for the eighth time in the past nine years by defeating Newark, which, like Logan, entered the game with a 9-0 record.

Logan, the No. 2-ranked team in the East Bay, begins the North Coast Section playoffs this Friday, against visiting Foothill of Pleasanton. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.

Courier Named Top Educational Blog
James Logan High School’s electronic newspaper, The Courier, was voted Best Educational Blog in the 2007 Weblog Awards, which bills itself as the world’s largest blog competition. In a field of 10 finalists, The Courier received 1,371 votes (47.4 percent). “IvyGate,” known as “The Ivy League blog,” finished a distant second with 690 votes (23.9 percent). Congratulations to teacher Patrick Hannigan, student editors Anne Chen and Christina La and the rest of the Courier staff.

Performing Arts Center Featured on Web Site
The design for the new Performing Arts Center to be constructed at James Logan High, is featured this month on the website of California's Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH). To see it, click on the following: http://cashnet.org/meetings/2007_Annual_Conference/Project%20Profiles/November/AwardWinnerProfileNovember.htm (If you can’t get it with a simple left-click, try right-clicking it and selecting from the pull-down menu, or copy the address and paste it into your browser).

The design, done for the District by by AEDIS Architecture & Planning, was one of the winners in CASH’s 2007 Leroy F. Greene Design Award competition.

Lions Ask District Community to “Recycle for Sight”
The Union City Lions are asking members of the New Haven community to look through dresser drawers and closets for used eyeglasses and donate them to the Lions Eyeglasses for Sight Program. The Lions collect used prescription eyeglasses and prescription and non-prescription sunglasses as part of a unique recycling program. The glasses are cleaned and prepared for distribution in developing countries where eye care is unaffordable and inaccessible, said Union City Lions President and former Board of Education member Linda Fernandes, whose club helped distribute glasses earlier this year in Mexico.

To donate used glasses, place them in specially marked Lyons Recycle for Sight collection boxes, located at all New Haven schools as well as at the Educational Services Center and the Corporation Yard. There also are boxes at the Union City Library, the Ruggieri Senior Center, the city’s senior housing complexes and at several local eye doctors’ offices.

The Lions also are accepting used hearing aids for recycling in a program similar to the eyeglass-recycling program. Used hearing aids may be placed in the eyeglasses receptacles and will be collected at the same time as the eyeglasses.

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful 21st-century citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

Updated November 5, 2007

Courier Up for Weblog Award James Logan High School’s electronic newspaper, The Courier, is a finalist in the 2007 Weblog Awards, which bills itself as the world’s largest blog competition. The Courier is one of 10 finalists for Best Educational Blog, and online voting is under way to help select the winner.

“This is a pretty big deal in the world of the internet, which is a pretty big deal itself,” Logan teacher and Courier advisor Patrick Hannigan said. “I can't be trusted to be neutral, of course, but I think we've got a real shot at the big prize.”

You can cast your vote for The Courier at the Weblog polling site (http://2007.weblogawards.org/polls/best-education-blog-1.php ). Polls close Thursday, and winners will be announced at the BlogWorld & New Media Expo, which takes place Thursday and Friday in Las Vegas.

Conley-Caraballo Makes Athletic Debut Conley-Caraballo High School made a successful interscholastic sports debut this fall, as the coed volleyball team finished in second place in a league that also included Village High of Pleasanton, Valley High of Dublin and Redwood High of Castro Valley. Under Coach Eric Barron, the team of five boys and four girls won two of three games during the regular season, then finished second in the league tournament last Thursday in Dublin, defeating Valley in the first round before losing a close, three-game match to Village in the finals. The highlight of the Warriors’ season was the home match against Redwood. “Our gym was jam-packed with all staff members and quite a large turnout of students,” Coach Barron said. “Our crowd actually had the wave going.”

New Haven Community Forum About 20 local business and civic leaders joined Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi last Tuesday at the first of two Business/Community meetings that are being incorporated this year into the New Haven Community Forum, a Strategic Planning initiative launched last year to give parents and the community access to information and an opportunity to contribute ideas.

Parents, employees and other community members are invited to the next meeting of the New Haven Community Forum, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Cesar Chavez Middle School.

English Learner Advisory Committee Increasing parent involvement is one of the goals agreed to by a team of 21 parents, teachers and administrators at the first 2007-08 meeting of the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC). The committee also set as goals providing parent workshops that would include information on supporting students in Writing Workshop, and increasing student comfort with English.

Next meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 at the Educational Services Center, 34200 Alvarado-Niles Road. All parents are invited to participate.

Bond Oversight Committee New Haven taxpayers who want to know more about how the District is spending their money might be interested in applying for a position on the Bond Oversight Committee. The committee meets monthly to review plans for the spending of money from Measure A, a $120 million facilities bond passed by New Haven voters in 2003.

Get an application on the District website (http://www.nhusd.k12.ca.us/NHUSD_css/Bond/Oversight.html), where you also can see agendas and minutes of past meetings and the committee’s by-laws. More information is available by calling Chief Business Officer Carol Gregorich (471-1100, ext. 2206) or Executive Director of Operations Enrique Palacios (ext. 2204).

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful 21st-century citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

"E-NEWS" News From the New Haven Unified School District Updated October 31, 2007

Alvarado Teacher, Students Featured on Channel 2 Teacher Kim Pratt and her fifth-grade class at Alvarado Elementary School are featured in a report on science in the classroom that aired last Friday on KTVU (Channel 2). Reporter Bob MacKenzie showed viewers how Ms. Pratt’s enthusiasm fosters enthusiasm in students. To see it, click (or copyand paste into your browser) this link: http://mfile.akamai.com/12948/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2007/1027/14435999.200k.asx or go to www.ktvu.com and click on the Video on Demand section. The video also can be seen on the District's website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us).

Pumpkin Patch Dash James Logan High School track and field coach Lee Webb is encouraging runners of all ages to participate this Saturday (Nov. 3) in the annual Pumpkin Patch Dash at Cesar Chavez Middle School. Youth events include a 40-meter race for kindergarten through second-grade students, separate 400-meter races for third-grade through fifth-grade and sixth-grade through eighth-grade students, an 800-meter race for sixth- through eighth-graders, and a 1,600-meter race for high school students. There also will be 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer runs for both men and women, to be held on the flat Alameda Creek Trail. The event starts at 8 a.m. Registration information is at http://online.activecommunities.com/UCLSOnline. If you have questions, call 675-5482 or 675-5805.

Conversation and Coffee ESL students of all ages can practice their English and learn about American culture starting this Sunday (Nov. 4) when the Union City Library introduces a monthly “Conversation and Coffee” hour designed to connect readers and learners to each other and to the library community. The meeting will be from 3 to 4 p.m., and the program will continue on the first Sunday of each month through March 22. The library is at 34007 Alvarado-Niles Road, across the street from Logan High. Further details are available by calling the library's information desk: 745-1464.

Bronc Riders Barnard-White Middle School teacher Dave Martell reports that the Barnard-White Bike Club, now in its fourth year, has grown to include more than 30 cyclists who go on rides about once a week through different neighborhoods in Union City. Later this year, the group will explore some of the many recreational trails and parks in the East Bay. The club, open to all BWMS students, emphasizes safe routes and safe riding practices, and members also learn how to do minor bike repairs, such as fixing flat tires. For more information, call Mr. Martell at 471-5363, ext. 3018.

Names ‘n’ Notes The Logan girls soccer team is holding a fund-raiser Friday (Nov. 2) at Mexico Lindo restaurant, 33306 Alvarado-Niles Road. Customers who present a Logan girls soccer flier will have a percentage of their bill donated to the team. The offer is good all day, on both dine-in and take-out orders. To get a flier, contact District Network Support Technician Antonio Villasenor by phone (471-1100, ext. 2398) or e-mail (avillasenor@nhusd.k12.ca.us). … Logan graduate Gianze Perez, a student at San Francisco State University, has produced a documentary based on her experiences during a 3½-week trip to Thailand, a story that was reported over the weekend by the San Francisco Examiner. Gianze, the daughter of Logan teacher Evelyn Perez, worked with the Thai Society for the Conservation of Wild Animals and fellow SFSU students to produce “The Path Home: The Reintroduction of Asian Black Bears.” The video, which debuted earlier this month, will be screened for a second time at the university on Nov. 16, and it also is being submitted to several U.S. film festivals.

The mission of the New Haven Unified School District, a partnership of students, families, staff and our richly diverse community, is to develop and empower every student to be a productive, responsible and successful 21st-century citizen by creating an exemplary, inclusive educational system characterized by a safe, caring learning environment and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that ensures academic proficiency.

Updated Tuesday, October 22, 2007.
“Run for the Youth”

The second annual “Run for the Youth,” to raise money for James Logan High School track and field, cross-country and other athletic programs and for the Special Olympics and the Mission Valley Track and Field Club, will be tomorrow (Tuesday) from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. on track at Judson Taylor Stadium. All participants will run 10 laps, Coach Lee Webb says. Sponsors who donate $25 will receive a team calendar, those who donate $50 also will get a ticket to all track and field events in 2008, and those who donate $100 also will receive a t-shirt. You can donate by credit card on the Logan track and field website (www.logantrackandfield.com ).

Meanwhile, planning is well under way for the annual Willie Davenport Track and Field Clinic, featuring more than a dozen former Olympic athletes. Clinic supporter Ron Mickle, who organizes the Evening of Champions Dinner in conjunction with the clinic, is trying to raise $25,000 for a “tuition-free zone” for young athletes who might otherwise not be able to attend the clinic. Details are available in a new video narrated by Channel 2 sportscaster Joe Fonzi. It’s on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmnfYGItN6g).

Final Flea Market is Saturday

The final Union City Flea Market of the year will be held this Saturday (Oct. 27), in the parking lot at James Logan High School. Selling spaces start at $30, and proceeds go to the New Haven Schools Foundation, which raises money for scholarships, classroom mini-grants and other programs. Advance registration for sellers closes Thursday. To get a seller’s application, call 471-1100, ext. 2004.

More Grant Money for Logan

Logan teacher and grant writer extraordinaire Sue Hinojoza has won a $7,000 grant to write a chemistry tech course curriculum with Ohlone College. Ms. Hinojoza has won numerous grants in the past few years, including $290,000 from the California Department of Education to establish Logan’s Genetic Engineering and Molecular Sciences Academy, where she is the coordinator.

Searles Students Go to City Hall

About two dozen Searles Elementary students were “sworn into office” last week during a field trip to City Hall. City Manager Larry Cheeves and Assistant Ci