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Principal's message
Welcome to our Arroyo Vista Elementary School’s web site. It is a tremendous honor to be named the principal of Arroyo Vista. I am grateful to Interim Superintendent Dr. John Fitzpatrick, the members of the Board of Education, the interviewing team and many others for trusting me with the responsibilities of leading such an exemplary school. Under the leadership of the Arroyo Vista Staff, this school community has set out on a journey of excellence, establishing high expectations, standards, and an effective way of working together for the betterment of all children. It is my goal to continue that journey towards assisting students both academically and socially.Arroyo Vista Elementary School is located in the City of South Pasadena, a community of approximately 24,000 people. The school serves approximately 605 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The student population reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of Southern California. Our students reflect a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds. The school was honored as a California Distinguished School in 2004 and was named a NCLB National Blue Ribbon School in 2005. The South Pasadena Unified School District consists of Arroyo Vista Elementary School, Marengo Elementary School, Monterey Hills Elementary School, South Pasadena Middle School and South Pasadena High School. The 2009-2010 school year begins with much anticipation and excitement. At Arroyo Vista we provide students opportunities to develop their potential intellectually, socially and emotionally. We believe that our school exists to provide an effective educational program and to offer all students opportunities to develop their capabilities to the maximum of their potential so that they may act constructively as contributing citizens in our changing society. Arroyo Vista has a strong academic foundation, a parent community that is interested and is actively involved, and a faculty professionally skilled and personally committed to meeting the needs of students and a student body motivated to perform well. In the spirit of cooperation, parents and staff pledge to join in partnership to become concerned and caring citizens of today working for a better tomorrow. The parents of Arroyo Vista students are very involved and interested in the education of their children. Arroyo Visa has an active PTA, which meets monthly. The purpose of our PTA is: To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community and place of worship To raise the standards of home life To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education Parents actively volunteer in the classrooms, in the library and help with a variety of projects throughout the year. The School Site Council (SSC), composed of parents and staff representatives, plans, monitors, and evaluates the School Improvement Program. Council members are elected/selected for a term of two years. The Council approves the School Improvement budget and is responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation and evaluation of the program. To effectively achieve the Arroyo Vista School goals, School Improvement funds are expended in a school-based program where the services of GATE, EL and Special Education are coordinated. The State of California has implemented a standards-based system that requires that each child meet rigorous academic standards. Curriculum-content, teaching strategies, and instructional materials and resources, including technology, “drives” what instruction teachers teach. Additionally, it is important to ensure that teachers develop sound strategies to actively engage students in learning. The achievement of standards is based, in large measure, on how teachers organize and implement the curriculum. Curriculum design is a circular process: grade – level academic standards are identified, curriculum is designed to enable students to achieve the standards, instructional materials are aligned to the standards; student achievement – the success of the curriculum – is assessed, curriculum is revised, additional curriculum is designed based on the results of the assessment, the resulting achievement is assessed, more curriculum is designed, and so on in a continuous cycle. Accordingly, standards, assessment, and curriculum organization must be in close alignment. All stakeholders at Arroyo Vista work together to ensure the success of all students. There are strong collaborative efforts between the staff, families and the community. Arroyo Vista depends on our families to see that children come to school every day ready to learn; families and the community depend on Arroyo Vista to take the primary role in ensuring that students achieve high educational standards and provide a safe and healthy school environment; families and schools depend on community partners to provide opportunities and accessible supports and services to meet students’ basic needs and to foster their growth and development. Our overriding philosophy is that educational success, physical health, emotional support, and family and community strength is inseparable. |
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Arroyo Vista Elementary School 335 El Centro Street South Pasadena CA, 91030 Tel: (626) 441-5840 • Fax: (626) 441-5845 |
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