Yakima Herald article about JCP Dual Language program

Click below to read the article:
Selah, Mabton schools count the benefits of dual language programs

Sept. 12th morning announcement video

Sept. 12 morning announcement video from Rob Darling on Vimeo.

Establishing our focus at John Campbell Primary

https://altoncosta.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/keeping-focus2.jpg

Education is one of those professions where you can get completely lost in all that there is to do, and by trying to do it all you end up accomplishing nothing.

Our primary goals for this year go back to the roots of what we know works and what we know we need to become experts at. This year's focus hasn't change much from last year, it's just a matter of getting better and better.

1. We need to work as a team. Teachers who work in isolation will never be able to provide their students with the expertise necessary to help meet the vast array of needs in that classroom. But their teams can. The biggest expert in the room is the room. When teachers see the team's students as "our" students, then we start to see tremendous student growth.

2. We need to teach the whole child. Content can only take hold after a students is prepared to learn. We will continue to focus on the social/emotional needs of students (and staff). We know we have students who come from very challenging home lives, from profound levels of poverty, and having experiences very traumatic life events. At JCP, we teach the student, not the class. We teach to their needs, not to the text.

3. We must remain grounded in what works. There is decades of research that shows what works for students: teachers working together, reading programs that focus on comprehension, scaffolded at each grade level. We will continue increasing the efficacy of our classroom teachers. We will monitor our achievement gaps, use the data to assess our effectiveness of our intervention programs, and change as needed. We have built in 90-minute reading/literacy blocks, push in reading support from our intervention programs during that time, and also create other times during the day to provide 2nd and 3rd rounds of intensive intervention for our struggling students. Even our specialists are pushing in to support reading blocks 4 days a week. We will strengthen our Spanish instruction in the Dual Language classrooms so those students can thrive as well. We need to provide students with timely, specific feedback that they can use to learn from their mistakes. Students need to know what success looks like so they can assess their own growth on their way to mastery.

4. We must set high goals and be willing to be held accountable. By the year 2018-19, we will have 90% of our students performing at or above grade level in math and reading. The remaining 10% will make at least 1.5 years' of growth each year, that way they will grow more than a year's growth each year, getting them caught up over the 3 years we have them. When we obtain this goal, we will be one of the highest performing schools in the state. We know this is a lofty goal, but if we don't raise the bar, who will? We have set grade-level goals for the next two years to help us make the necessary strides to meet this 3-year goal. We know it will take every person in the building to help us reach this goal and I truly believe we have all of the right people on the bus to do so.

This is the most excited I've even been about the start of a school year. We have created a mindset and a support system designed to challenge every student, as well as every staff member. We have created the type of village I am proud of, and proud to send my own children to.

Welcome back!

We are so excited for this school year and for all of the growth and learning that awaits.

Here are some important dates:

Aug. 19: Class rosters will be posted outside the district office by 4pm

Aug. 25: Back to School Night and PTO Ice Cream Social 5-6pm

Aug. 29: first day of school for 1st and 2nd grade. Kinder parents and students will have their individual meeting times with teachers during the 29th and 30th. 

Aug. 31: First day of Kinder for Kinder Group A. This is a full-day school day. 

Sept. 1: First day of kinder for Kinder Group B. This is a full-day school day as well.

Sept. 2-5: No school

Sept. 6th: All students back to school and ready to work. :)

Reminders: 

-The school day begins at 8:35am, and students are released at 3:05pm. Students are tardy after 8:35.

-Once the 8:35 bell rings, all perimeter gates are locked. Parents and students will need to use main office entrance and check in.

-We have very limited parking. There is no short-term solution. Please be prepared and be patient. :)

Note: CARS MAY BE TOWED if they are parked illegally. 

-There is no parking in the bus loading zone during the times posted on the signs. Cars may be towed during those times.

-Please complete your background checks so we can have you volunteer in classrooms and with PTO events. 

I can't wait to meet all of our new students and see all of those returning. Please stop by and introduce yourself if you don't see me out and about!

Blog post from City U about my doctorate work

City U blog post about me :)

If 100 people lived on the Earth... cool stats

If 100 people lived on earth 🌎
[brilliant video #mondaymotivation] pic.twitter.com/OAlbMLqR2j

— Zachary Lukasiewicz (@ZachOnLinkedIn) June 13, 2016

Have a great summer!

We are sure going to miss you all. Read, every day.



June 6th morning announcement, the last one! :( from Rob Darling on Vimeo.