Superintendent’s 
Monthly Update
Poway Unified 
School District
March/April  2005

Donald A. Phillips, Ed.D.
Superintendent

 

TOPICS:


Dear Parents and Community Members,

Following are excerpts from my comments at the March 14, 2005, Board of Education meeting:

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-BALANCED EDUCATION
As many of you know, the wrestling team at Poway High School has earned a State Championship under the leadership of Coach Wayne Branstetter. This is an amazing feat, and it is the third state title earned by this Poway team.

However, what’s important about this achievement goes well beyond winning a wrestling match. It is always sweet to have your efforts pay off by winning a title, but the life lessons that are learned through sports are what these wrestlers will keep for a lifetime. We talk a lot about the importance of literacy, reading, writing, and mathematics, and we understand these are fundamental skills for success; but we also understand that exposure to the humanities, the arts, theater, and sports are essential components of being an educated individual. The value of working as a team toward a common goal helps to develop young men in terms of character. They learn perseverance. They learn about hard work. They learn about effort. They learn about practice. These are life skills that students need to be successful.

The acknowledgement of the Poway High School wrestling team is much greater than the fact that they won a state championship, although that is a wonderful accomplishment. The skills these youngsters have learned under the guidance and leadership of Coach Branstetter will be with them for a lifetime. They will remember the experience, and they will carry it with them in everything they do. That is one of the reasons we continue to support extra-curricular and co-curricular programs in our schools – to give students opportunities to have enriched experiences while they are with us in Poway Unified.

THE BUDGET PICTURE FOR POWAY UNIFIED
Over the past several months, I have met with groups of employees, parents, and community members to talk about the impact of the state budget reductions on Poway Unified. The budget situation for California school districts is the worst that I can remember in over 30 years in education. It has clearly been the “perfect storm,” in that multiple negative forces came together at one time to impact us financially.

Making Over $17 Million in Reductions
California clearly has one of the most diverse student populations in the country. We have arguably the highest academic standards. We have the highest cost of living. And, we have some of the lowest funding. I want to share the kinds of cuts we have made over the past three years in order to make ends meet. These came in three waves, totaling over $17 million in reductions over the three-year period.

Program Reductions to Date
During the first wave of reductions, which happened three years ago at mid-year due to the unprecedented mid-year cuts from the state, we cut an area superintendent, a director, and an assistant director (these were mostly all at the district level). We cut math, writing, reading, and technology TOSAs. We cut office assistants, the reading recovery consultant, the assistant director of maintenance, clerical assistants, groundskeepers, painters, a warehouse supervisor, a publications supervisor, a switchboard receptionist, and we reduced overtime.
Moving to the second wave of reductions, which happened last year, we cut assistant principals, office and clerical staff, health technicians, computer resource assistants, library media assistants, reading specialists, instructional aides, science lab assistants, volunteer coordinators, fifth grade band instructors, math assistants, middle school intramurals, noon duty supervisors, custodial staff, attendance support, release periods, and site teachers on special assignment.

The third wave of reductions required cuts that directly impacted classrooms. Fortunately, we were able to hold on to our K-3 class size reduction program, but we increased class ratios at the middle and high schools. We also increased the staffing ratio at the middle school level by one and at the high school level by two. We now have many classes over 40 at the high school level. We worked very hard to keep reductions away from the classroom, but ultimately the budget cuts were too deep.

Incidentally, Poway has one of the lowest administrative overheads in the state, and California by and large runs lower overhead than the rest of the country. The challenge is that we are trying to provide a first class education without the required funding.

Making Hard Choices
We have made the hard choices as a school district over the last three years, and it has been difficult. We have had to make reductions in personnel and programs while trying to keep cuts as far away as possible from our K-12 classrooms. Over the last three years, our teachers and staff have received salary increases of 0%, 0%, and 0.6%, and we know the cost of living has risen significantly higher during this period. We are now in a position, if in fact the budget picture improves, to start to add back programs and address remaining competitive in regard to compensation.

Staff/Community Going the Extra Mile
It is important to note that it was very difficult for our staff to stop doing “the extras” they see as important for children. Therefore, from a parent perspective, you may or may not have seen much in the way of change in your child’s classroom. Our support staff, our teaching staff, and our administrators have worked tirelessly to continue to provide a first-rate educational experience.

Spending Tax Dollars Wisely
Everybody agrees that funding alone is not the answer, but dollars spent wisely can make a real difference in the education we offer our students. Providing adequate funding for our schools is a good investment in our youth and future.


Sincerely,

Don Phillips
Superintendent

STUDENT, SCHOOL AND DISTRICT RECOGNITIONS
It is especially noteworthy to share with you many of the accomplishments of PUSD students, staff, schools, and departments. The list is lengthy and far-reaching, indicating the wide range of activities in which PUSD students and staff excel.
These are examples of the fine accomplishments occurring at our schools every day.

STUDENT RECOGNITIONS
The following 21 Poway Unified School District high school seniors are National Merit Scholarship finalists. These students are judged on college entrance exam scores, academic records, evidence of leadership, essays, and recommendations. Nearly one million entrants from more than 20,000 high schools in the United States entered the 2004-2005 National Merit Program by taking the 2003 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in their junior year, which served as an initial screening of program entrants.
Mt. Carmel High School
Janet Hwu
Tanya Pham
Torey Raphael
Michael Zhuang

Poway High School
Kathryn Frank
Melissa Lokensgard
Elizabeth Tuan

Westview High School
Douglas Brown
 Rancho Bernardo High School
Thomas Alford
Doreen Grosvirt-Dramen
Sue Guan
Jose Ho-Guanipa
Mary Huang
Dorothy Koh
Kandice Kovac
Sally Liu
Tim Palmer
Rebecca Rodgers
Celine Vuong
Lauren Waidelich
Billy Zhang

  • Anurag Kashyap, Meadowbrook Middle School eighth grader, won the San Diego County Spelling Bee for the second year in a row. It was the third year that he made it to the final spell-off. He came to PUSD in fifth grade and attended Valley Elementary School. He will be representing San Diego County in Washington D.C. at the National Spelling Bee in June.
  •  Hayato Ishibashi, Bernardo Heights Middle School eighth grade student, placed second in the 2005 International Violin Competition. He received a $3,000 scholarship and will be featured as a soloist at the California Center and in Portugal later this year. He competed against student musicians from Russia, Korea, and the USA. Hayato was the youngest entry and the youngest winner. He was required to perform four major violin works by memory for a total performing time of 3 hours. Hayato has also placed first in the American String Teachers Association San Diego Branch Solo Competition held in early March. Ulli Reiner is the Bernardo Heights Middle School Orchestra instructor.
  • Sally Liu, senior at Rancho Bernardo High School, is one of 24 winners of the prestigious 2004-2005 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement for students who score the highest marks on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program science and math courses. She received a $3000 scholarship.
  • Jessica Grudzien, fourth grader at Turtleback Elementary, won second place in the San Diego County Bar Association Law Week poster contest. Collette Pearson, fifth grader at Midland Elementary School, won third prize. The posters were judged for content and compositions as well as artistic ability. Their posters will be on display in the San Diego County Hall of Justice Courthouse during the last two weeks of April and at the Law Day Luncheon on May 6.
  • Chris Narvaes, senior at Westview High School, was chosen to participate in the “Best Teen Chef” contest at the Art Institute in San Diego on March 12.
  • Jason Dodson, Westview High School senior, has been selected to receive a scholarship of $500 from the California State PTA Scholarship and Grants Committee.
  • The Cali Wave team from Poway High School is one of 20 teams remaining after the Chrysler Build Your Dream Vehicle semi-finals. The contest requires students to present a package including financial, marketing, safety, ergonomics, environmental, and design considerations in the production of a vehicle. The team members are ninth grader Brent Hamilton, eleventh grader Chris Dehaan, and ninth grader Asher Karns. Their advisor is Ken Faverty.
  • Fourteen Poway High School students earned Gold Medals at the 2005 Region 6 VICA Skills USA Competition (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America), which allows them to continue on to the California State Skills USA Championships to be held April 14-17 in Riverside, California. Their instructor is Ken Faverty. Students receiving gold medals are:
Intro Auto A Mike Akins, grade 10
Austin Kelly, grade 10
Brandon Pennington, grade 9
Daniel Rodriguez, grade 10
Tony Schwarzman, grade 10
Intro Auto B Blake Casel, grade 12
Chris DeBolt, grade 11
Nick Elkus, grade 11
Kennith Evans, grade 12
Kathryn Heyden, grade 12
John Paruleski, grade 11
Tanya Rodrigues, grade 12
Mechantronics Jaran Drew, grade 11
Pre-school Teaching Aide Kristie Kipp, grade 12

  • The Westview High School Newspaper, Nexus, and the Westview High School Yearbook staff won the Grand Sweepstakes of the San Diego County Journalism Education Association County Write Off competition in March.

    The Westview yearbook students are Herumi Baylon (grade 10), Jeremy Gabriel (grade 11), Jennie Lee (grade 12), and Andrew Schmedake (grade 9). They won first place in yearbook layout and design, first place in yearbook copy writing, first place in the yearbook sweepstakes, and contributed to the Grand Sweepstakes win along with the Nexus. Their advisor is Chris Fousek.

    The Nexus newspaper students are Vanessa Do (grade 11), Corrine DeRosa (grade 11), Allison Finn (grade 9), Malia Javier (grade 11), Stacey King (grade 11), Hannah Salim (grade 12), Marla Schevker (grade 11), Matt Stevens (grade 10), Tahiya Sultan (grade 9), Christian Torres (grade 12), Alex Van Horne (grade 12), Kimmianne Webster (grade 11), and Lai Xu (grade 11). The advisor for the Nexus is Jeff Wenger.

  • Poway High School students Andrew Bundy (grade 10), Chris Chandler (grade 10), Trevor Dotzler (grade 11), Erick Escobar (grade 11), Kyle Knight (grade 10), Chase Langford (grade 12), Alex Mazza (grade 10), and John-Paul Patterson (grade 10) placed eighth overall out of 35 teams, and Poway High School Team One members Nate Gutschow (grade 9), Brad Hutton (grade 9), Brent Roberts (grade 9), Matt Roberts (grade 9), and Brad Winans (grade 12) placed 13th overall in the 2005 Botball Robotics Competition. This is a robot competition where middle and high school student teams build an autonomous robot performing various tasks using motors, analog and digital sensors, and an interactive C programming language. Students also compete using scientific documentation, web site construction, engineering design and 3D modeling, developing leadership skills by working in teams, and engineering fabrication and construction. Their instructor is Rodger Dohm.

  • Noah Resto, Bernardo Heights seventh grader, has had one of his poems accepted for publication in the Border Voices Poetry Anthology. His poem is one of 154 selected from more than 1000 entries.

  • Mt. Carmel High School students Danielle Conrad (grade 11), Dan Martin (grade 12), Laura Nothdurft (grade 12), Mihail Pentov (grade 10), Torey Raphael (grade 12), and Elise Xavier (grade 11) were selected to participate in the National Honor Band and Orchestra in Indianapolis. Their instructor is Warren Torns.

  • The following students were chosen and participated in the Southern California Vocal Association’s Honor Choir and the All-State Honor Choir in Pasadena March 17-19. These students, who were chosen by audition from over 1900 students, represented the most talented choral singers in the state.

Mt. Carmel High School
Grace Abergas, sophomore
Janie Byrnes-Tolley, senior
Bryan Gill, freshman
Bryan Hicks, senior
Eric Weaver, senior		 Poway High School
Adam Cobb, senior
Karen Friedenberg, senior
Abby Frisch, sophomore
Rebekah Helms, junior
Karen Hoey, junior		 Westview High School
Alicia Archambault, sophomore
Mandy Gill, junior
Amanda Kramer, senior
Anthony Lagar, junior
Renee Ulloa-McDonald, senior
Paul Yoon, junior

  • Mt. Carmel High School students Joleine Bigcas (grade 12), Dan Findley (grade 12), Dan Martin (grade 12), Lauren Moses (grade 11), Mihail Pentov (grade 10) were selected and participated in the All-State Honor Band. Their instructor is Warren Torns.

  • Andrew Buckner, Mt. Carmel High School sophomore, won third place in the Apprentice Division and second place in the Majors Division in the Drum Major competition in Claremont on February 5.

  • The following students were selected to the All Southern Honor Band/Orchestra. These students were chosen from over 750 musicians from throughout Southern California and traveled to Cal State Long Beach for clinics and rehearsals on February 4-5 in preparation for their standing-room-only concert at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach on February 6.

Mt. Carmel High School
Elisianne Coulombe, freshman
Jacques Coulombe, sophomore
Dan Martin, senior		 Rancho Bernardo High School
Will Hunter, senior
Andy Sullivan, sophomore
Keita Ishibashi, sophomore
Todd Jobin, senior
Ashley Kees, senior
Zach Marty, senior
Renee Nall, senior

  • Students from Poway Unified School District participated in the San Diego All-County Middle School Honor Band sponsored by the California Music Educators Association at a concert on March 11 at the Joan B. Kroc. Performing Arts Center in La Mesa.

Bernardo Heights Middle School

Chris Burgess (tenor sax), grade 7
Yuto Ezure (alto sax), grade 7
Aki Horie (alto sax), grade 8
Taylor Kees (alto sax), grade 8
Lacey Marshall-Lund (flute), grade 8
Brian O'Donnell (French horn), grade 8

Mesa Verde Middle School

Brice Burton (percussion), grade 6
Kevin Crowley (alto sax), grade 8
Cecilia D’Angelo (flute), grade 7
Alexandra Deary (flute), grade 8
Rebekah Duncan (bass clarinet), grade 8
Jason Findley (tuba), grade 8
Kristy Foss (flute), grade 8
Monica Garde (clarinet), grade 8
Kaelyn Gima (trombone), grade 6
Aaron Gragg (tuba), grade 7
Peter Grzechnik (tenor sax), grade 8
Rachael Hachadorian (clarinet), grade 7
Tim Haigh (French horn), grade 8
Kiersten Iwai (clarinet), grade 7
Katie Knepper (clarinet), grade 7
Casey Lee (clarinet), grade 7
Rachel Miller (flute), grade 8
Anthony Lucisano (trumpet), grade 8
Christian Nguyen (alto sax), grade 7
Matthew Olson (trumpet), grade 7
Kyle Plutchak (trumpet), grade 7
Joanna Rew (bass clarinet), grade 7
Alex Robbins (percussion), grade 7
Peter Rubis (trombone), grade 7
Heather Sandison (flute), grade 8
Achint Sanghi (trombone), grade 8
Eileen Shi (clarinet), grade 7
Erica Skoglund (flute), grade 8
Mark Suennen (French horn), grade 8
Alyssa Wheelock (clarinet), grade 7
Weston White (percussion), grade 7
Jacob Wilson (alto sax), grade 8
Lara Xavier (oboe), grade 7

Black Mountain Middle School

Denise Doan (French horn), grade 7
Kenny Morris (trumpet), grade 7
Sarita Pulver (French horn), grade 7
Kayle Woolley (clarinet), grade 7

Meadowbrook Middle School

Tim Evans (tuba), grade 7
Rocio Guerrero (clarinet), grade 8
Taylor Kizzee (oboe), grade 8
Derek Nisleit (trombone), grade 8
Joey Pospichal (percussion), grade 8
Nicole Reyes (bassoon), grade 7
Jared Servantez (clarinet), grade 7
Sarah Skidmore (bassoon), grade 8

 

  • Selected to the 2005 All-State Honor Band from a field of over 850 applicants are Rancho Bernardo High School students Will Hunter (grade 12; percussion), Todd Jobin (grade 12; trombone), Ashley Kees (grade 12; clarinet), Zach Marty (grade 12; tuba), and Kevin Leu (grade 10; flute). Accompanied by Band Director Tom Cole, the musicians traveled to Fresno February 18-20 for music clinics, rehearsals, and a final concert held in conjunction with the California Band Directors annual convention. Sophomore Andy Sullivan (string bass) performed with the All State Honor Orchestra in Pasadena on March 17-19.

  • Black Mountain Middle School seventh grader Kenny Morris participated in All-State Junior High Honor Band and All-Southern California Junior High Honor Band.

  • Members of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association’s All-Southern California Honor Band include Mesa Verde Middle School eighth graders David Carté, Frank Criger, and Keri Downs. Jay Posteraro is the band director at Mesa Verde Middle School.

  • The following students were UCSD essay contest winners for essays in celebration of Black History Month 2005: Ashley Daum, an eighth grader at Meadowbrook Middle School, won first place; James Willis, a ninth grader at Westview High School, won first place; Philip Willis III, a senior at Westview High School, won second place; and Benjamin Wade, a third grader at Creekside Elementary School, won second place.

  • Bryan Dieffenbach, Poway High School senior, was an All-Academic Team Captain. Members of the teams maintained a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade-point average while playing a California Interscholastic Federation-approved varsity sport. Bryan is also a member of the State Champion Poway High School Wrestling Team.

  • Arianne Afsar, eighth grader at Mesa Verde Middle School, was named Miss Outstanding Teen and will compete for the state title in Fresno in June.

  • Joe Barresi, seventh grader at Twin Peaks Middle School, competed in the State Geography Bee on April 1. Only 100 students of 2000 students statewide competed at this level.

  • The 48th Annual San Diego County Washington-Lincoln Laurels for Leaders Luncheon honoring leadership of high school student body presidents was held on February 22, 2005. The following Poway Unified students were recognized: Rhea Tejidor, Mt. Carmel High School; Michelle Spooner, Poway High School; Deserae Dunn, Rancho Bernardo High School; and Jessica Aguilar, Westview High School. Each student received a $500 scholarship for a total of $2,000.

  • Robert Mitchell Thomas, a senior at Rancho Bernardo High School, and Phillip Willis III, a senior at Westview High School, received Achiever Awards college scholarships and laptop computers from the San Diego chapter of The Links, Inc., an international, historically African-American women’s group who began The Achiever Program in San Diego two years ago for male high school seniors who have distinguished themselves in academics, sports, the arts, or community service and are recommended for the program.

  • The College Bound San Diego Black History Quiz Bowl was held on Friday, February 11. More than 80 students participated in this event, with 12 finalists earning cash prizes totaling almost $2,000. Participants were expected to know historical events and details concerning Black History.

    Winners of the Quiz Bowl are:

    High School Division:
    First Place: Erica Duncan, Grade 9, Mt. Carmel High School
    Second Place: James Willis, Grade 9, Westview High School
    Third Place: Jason Dodson, Grade 12, Westview High School
    Finalist: Ashley Grisham, Grade 9, Rancho Bernardo High School
    Finalist: Phillip Willis III, Grade 12, Westview High School

    Middle School Division:
    First Place: Vince Ifill, Grade 8, Mesa Verde Middle School
    Second Place: Melanie Baker, Grade 8, Mesa Verde Middle School
    Third Place: Kamron Whitlock, Grade 7, Black Mountain Middle School
    Finalist: Alanah Grisham, Grade 5, Shoal Creek Elementary School
    Finalist: Raven Hunter, Grade 8, Black Mountain Middle School
    Finalist: Daishon Pratt, Grade 8, Black Mountain Middle School

    STAFF RECOGNITION

    The Poway Unified School District is proud to announce that Keith Koelzer, Rancho Bernardo High School; Blanca Labunog, Valley Elementary School; and Kenneth Matson, Mt. Carmel High School, have been chosen as Poway Unified School District Teachers of the Year for 2005-2006. 

    The following teachers are the Teachers of the Year for each school site:

    Russ Bird

    Mesa Verde Middle School

    Stephanie Borchmann

    Morning Creek Elementary School

    Peggy Boyd

    Adobe Bluffs Elementary School

    Jeanie Coppotelli

    Sundance Elementary School

    Cathy Glover

    Garden Road Elementary School

    Eileen Johnson

    Shoal Creek Elementary School

    Brandy King

    Turtleback Elementary School

    Tiffani Kline

    Los Peñasquitos Elementary School

    Judy Lester

    Deer Canyon Elementary School

    Diana Loiewski

    New Directions

    Ginny Lorenz

    Black Mountain Middle School

    Robert Lutticken

    Abraxas High School

    Erin Marciel

    Sunset Hills Elementary School

    Meera Navarro

    Bernardo Heights Middle School

    Linda Nishiguchi

    Chaparral Elementary School

    Keith Opstad

    Westview High School

    Scott Parker

    Poway High School

    Charmilyn Quinn

    Tierra Bonita Elementary School

    Linda Rasmussen

    Highland Ranch Elementary School

    Lynn Ruth

    Midland Elementary School

    Rebecca Sangalang

    Pomerado Elementary School

    Carol Shuffelton

    Creekside Elementary School

    Janice Teixeira

    Meadowbrook Middle School

    Jeannine Ugalde

    Twin Peaks Middle School

    Kimberly Wise

    Westwood Elementary School

  • Rebecca Wardlow, principal of Creekside Elementary School, has been chosen as one of nine finalists for the “Prize Principal” award from Point Loma Nazarene University. Rebecca was nominated by her staff and chosen as a finalist under the criteria of collaborative, organizational, instructional, influential, visionary, and moral ethical leadership.
  •  JJ Barlow, Twin Peaks Middle School art teacher, has received the Outstanding Service Award from the California Association of Directors of Activities. She was selected by her peers at the state conference February 25-27 in San Diego. JJ exemplifies the leadership so important to improving the quality of student activities in our schools and increasing the level of commitment of our students.
  •  Greg Franzen, Director of Human Resources, has been selected by ACSA (Association of California School Administrators) as the ACSA Personnel Administrator of the Year. Greg will be honored at the annual “Honoring Our Own” event on April 28, 2005.
  •  Kim Scattareggia, kindergarten teacher at Sundance Elementary School, and Nancy Hanssen, program specialist at Pomerado Elementary School, wrote a book, Make a List, which is about the Writer’s Workshop program and vocabulary support for grades K-1. The book is published by the Teaching Resource Center.
  •  Maureen Todd, Rancho Bernardo High School business teacher, was honored with the Soroptimist International of Rancho Bernardo Education Award at the Soroptimists annual Gold and Silver Ball on March 5. Maureen developed Mt. Carmel’s first marketing and business management programs in 1986 and has developed the DECA programs, first at Mt. Carmel, and later at Rancho Bernardo High School where she teaches marketing and business management classes.
  •  Doug Mann, Executive Director of Facilities, was a presenter at the Coalition for Adequate School Housing Conference in Sacramento, February 28-March 3. The topic addressed was, “Lease-Lease Back 2005: A Whole New Ballgame.”
  •  Sharon Raffer, Director of Communications, has been selected as a presenter at the 52nd Annual National School Public Relations Association Seminar in Boston, Massachusetts, in July 2005. The topic to be addressed is, “What to Do When Bill O’Reilly Calls, or Tips for Managing a Crisis.”

DISTRICT RECOGNITION

  • Poway Unified School Board Vice President Penny Ranftle has been selected by the San Diego County School Boards Association (SDCSBA) as the School Board Member of the Year and will be honored at the ACSA (Association of California Administrators) Region 18/SDCSBA’s “Honoring Our Own” Awards Dinner on April 28.

  • The Poway High School Wrestling Team, which won the recent state championship in Bakersfield, was honored by the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum on March 24. Poway set a section record for most team points scored with 167. Senior Colton Nichols, the state champion at 215 points, donated his singlet from the meet to hang with other jerseys of prominent San Diego prep athletes. Nichols was ranked No. 1 in the state and in the top five nationally throughout the season. He finished the year with a 44-1 record.

  • Groups from Poway High School took the top three places in the North County Regional Airband Competition at University of San Diego on March 25. Guys Night Out, featuring twenty-one male students dancing to a variety of music, took first place. Second were the Frequent Flyers and third was Rescue Me. Rancho Bernardo High School’s The Magic Show placed fourth. King Arthur’s Court from Mt. Carmel High School placed fifth and their Nightshift placed ninth. On March 26, Poway High School’s Guys Night Out placed second in the San Diego County contest at the Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego. Poway High School’s Frequent Flyers placed fourth, Rescue Me took fifth, and Rancho Bernardo High School’s The Magic Show placed tenth.

  • Rancho Bernardo High School Tour de Force competition team placed first at the USA Regional Dance Competition.

  • The Mesa Verde Symphonic Band recently performed at the California Music Educators Association State Conference in Pasadena. They were one of two middle school bands selected to perform, and the youngest band to perform.

  • Poway Unified School District students continue to help others through events at schools and in the community. Several examples are listed below.

    Help For Tsunami Victims

    • Mt. Carmel High School raised $1800 for Tsunami relief.

    • Los Peñasquitos Elementary School collected $1200 to benefit Tsunami victims.

    • Pomerado Elementary School raised $880 for Tsunami relief by sponsoring a Read-a-thon.

    • Abraxas High School collected $165 for the Tsunami Relief Fund.

    • Park Village Elementary School raised $2600 for Tsunami relief.

    • Westview High School raised over $1300 for Tsunami relief, distributing half of it to the American Red Cross and half to UNICEF.

    • The GATE students at Sundance Elementary School raised $800 for UNICEF as part of their two-month Tsunami Relief Project.

    • Rolling Hills Elementary School gathered $179 in pennies as a fundraiser for the tsunami victims.

    • Canyon View Elementary School raised almost $4000 for Tsunami Relief, which was donated to the American Red Cross.

    • Shoal Creek Elementary School Brownie Troop 8671 collected $942.61 for tsunami victims and Hewlett-Packard gift-matched the funds.

    • Twin Peaks Middle School raised more than $8000 for the Tsunami Relief. 

    • The Creekside Elementary School student council raised $957 and the Creekside Elementary School ESS collected $1535.50 to help survivors of the tsunami disaster. A group of fourth-grade girls, who are members of Students Against Violence Everywhere, or SAVE, raised most of it through their “Cents for Survivors” collection campaign. The funds were donated to UNICEF.

    Jump Rope For Heart

    • Adobe Bluffs Elementary School raised $12,101 in the Jump Rope for Heart event to support the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association is featuring Adobe Bluffs Elementary School as the School of the Week on their website.

    • Park Village Elementary School raised $9100 in the Jump Rope for Heart event to support the American Heart Association.

    • Pomerado Elementary School raised $1847 in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart event. Three of the students were able to raise over $200 each.

    Other Charitable Donations

    • Bernardo Heights Middle School collected $6670.83 in the Pasta for Pennies for the Leukemia Society. 

    • Adobe Bluffs Elementary School raised $3227.71 in the Pasta for Pennies for Leukemia Society fundraiser.

    • Mesa Verde Middle School raised over $3500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Mr. Glavis’ class won the Olive Garden Pasta Party for bringing in the most pennies, more than $800.

    • Mesa Verde Middle School raised almost $500 for the American Cancer Society during the annual Daffodil Days event.

    • Painted Rock Elementary School raised $700 for Habitat for Humanity.

    • More than 40 AVID Mesa Verde Middle School students and their families participated in Walk for a Cure to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

  • Mt. Carmel High School has been selected as a finalist for the California Distinguished School Award. The school will receive a site visit this spring. Initiated in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools Program honors elementary and secondary schools in alternate years. Schools chosen for a site visit must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and the Academic Performance Index (API) requirements.

  • The Poway High School Wrestling Team won the California State Championship, setting a record for the most points accumulated. This is the third state title (1986, 1999, and 2005) won by Poway High School wrestlers; all three wins under Poway Coach Wayne Branstetter. The members of the team include Colton Nichols (State Champion), Joey Boone (runner-up), Todd Schavrien (third place), Elwin Warsh (third place), Schuyler Palmer (fourth place), Bryan Dieffenbach (seventh place), George Flores, Matt Gutschow, Billy Lennon, Zach Petersen, Jaspal Singh, and Travis Wood. 

  • Westview High School has been named the 2005 California High School Physical Education Program of the Year. The members of the Westview Exercise and Nutritional Science (ENS) team include: Beau Champoux, Marina Henry, Kelly Kotanan, Steve McLaughlin, Tim Medlock, Paige Metz, Diane Pidgeon, and Kelly Warner. Westview will be receiving the award at the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Conference on March 19 in Monterey, California. 

  • Mesa Verde Middle School received an Outstanding Student Activities Program Award from the California Association of Directors of Activities/California Association of Student Leaders. The activities program is led by Elizabeth Kruth, Mesa Verde program coordinator, and ASB President, eighth grader Jacqueline Kim.

  • Mesa Verde Middle School was awarded a Leadership Site Award for outstanding work with students in the category of behavioral support, and identified as a Promising Practice Site. Representatives of the school’s administrative team accepted the award in San Francisco at the CalSTAT (California Services for Technical Assistance and Training) Statewide Leadership Institute and participated in conference discussions. In addition to the statewide acknowledgment, the school was awarded a $5,000 grant. The school’s administrative team includes Bob Harvell, school psychologist, Jeanne Smith, assistant principal, David Harris, counselor, Kerry Farrer, Teacher on Special Assignment, and Greg Mizel, principal.


CALENDAR

May 23 PUSD Board of Education Meeting, 7 pm
Morning Creek Elementary School
June 22 High School Graduations 
(Mt. Carmel, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Westview)
June 24   Abraxas High School Graduation
June 27   PUSD Board of Education Meeting, 7 pm
Morning Creek Elementary School

VISIT THE DISTRICT WEB SITE

For more information about the Poway Unified School District, please visit our Web site at http://www.powayusd.com

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
Please contact Sharon Raffer, Director of Communications,
at 858-679-2631 or  sraffer@powayusd.com

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