As the school year draws to a close, I want to thank each member of the Encinal community. Your support, generosity, and commitment to excellence have inspired me each day over these last five years. Encinal Means Excellence because of the countless partnerships between families, our tireless PTO and MPAEF volunteers, and our devoted staff. 

SCHOOL SURVEY UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who completed our school survey this year! We received 451 responses that provided qualitative and quantitative information about our school. Please click here for a report summarizing the data and our findings. This information is highly valued and will be used by the Encinal School Site Council, principal Sharon Burns, and the Encinal School staff to inform goal setting for 2012-2013.

STAFF NEWS

New Hires

Blythe Bulkin, 3rd grade, will remain part of our fantastic third grade team this fall. Blythe has been teaching at Encinal since the fall of 2011 when she joined our staff as a long term substitute in Room 15. Quickly, Blythe demonstrated that she is able to build a strong classroom community where students shine! Blythe received her teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur and completed her student teaching in a fourth grade class Hillsborough. In addition, Blythe has thirteen years of experience teaching children as a swim instructor at the PJCC. We are so pleased that she is returning to Encinal this fall!

Tomas Ybarrola will join our faculty as a 4th grade Spanish immersion teacher this fall. Tomas has been teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District for nineteen years, most recently in fourth grade. Tomas comes to us with superb references and a reputation as both an exceptional classroom teacher as well as an outstanding teacher leader with expertise in coaching colleagues to use strategies for accelerating language development. Tomas received his BA in Spanish from San Diego State University and completed graduate work at the University of San Diego as well as the University of Granada, Spain.

Transitions, Congratulations and Well Wishes

Esme Collier will move to fourth grade Spanish immersion this fall as our pioneer group of immersion students reaches the upper grade building. Esme's strong instructional methods, high standards and ability to integrate multisensory teaching techniques will continue to be assets as our students stretch towards deeper content learning and language development in the upper grades.

Alicia Flynn is relocating to the city of Seattle. She led her fifth grade students in many learning adventures this year and participated in a professional study group to examine best practices in the area of writing. We thank Alicia for her contributions to Encinal School and wish her the best in the new adventures ahead!

Brenda Keith joins the Encinal special education teaching team this fall. Brenda has worked for the District as a Resource Specialist at Hillview Middle School for the past six years. Ms. Keith will provide intensive instruction for students in the areas of reading/language arts and math. During May, Ms. Keith visited Encinal several times, and she has been actively involved in planning meetings with the special education team at Encinal. She is looking forward to working with the children, parents and staff at Encinal School.

Jeanne McCann, 2nd grade, is returning from leave the week of June 4 - June 8 to join her colleagues in planning and professional development as we prepare for 2012-2013. Jeanne is eager to return to Room 1 and is full of new ideas for an exciting school year!

Moolani Napolitani, 2nd grade, will rejoin our third grade team this fall. Moolani's high standards, strong organizational skills and commitment to excellence will be a perfect match on our exceptional third grade team. Moolani taught third grade at Encinal prior to joining the second grade team in 2010. With a change in cohort size, it is wonderful to welcome her back to third grade.

Amanda Ow, 2nd grade, will be transitioning out of Room 1 as Mrs. McCann returns. Amanda served as a long term substitute for three staff members this year! Her work as a classroom teacher in Mrs. Walton's room as well as in Room 1 brought smiles and excitement for learning to many students. Also, Ms. Ow served as a substitute for Kat Wright, our attendance secretary, earlier this year. Amanda's attention to detail and welcoming smile ensured that the needs of students, staff and parents were addressed with efficiency and kindness. Thank you, Amanda!

Robin Reding, Reading Specialist, is joining the District team as a K-8 Language Arts Learning Leader. Robin will provide support to teachers as we launch a new initiative in improving writing instruction across the District. Her depth of professional knowledge, relentless commitment to students and warm smile will continue to be valued as we begin this important work.

Heidi Yamada is taking a one year leave to live, work and travel with her family in Japan. We will miss Heidi's positive energy and contagious enthusiasm for new ideas to spark learning. We look forward to her return to MPCSD in 2013-2014!

Thank you once again.

Sincerely,

Allison Liner, Principal

I would like to thank Allison Liner for being our amazing principal for the last 5 years! Through her leadership, Encinal has been transformed from a 3rd-5 grade school to a Kinder-5th grade school with a wonderful new campus and enriching new programs. Allison created Professional Learning Communities for the staff to exchange ideas, learn from one another, set goals, and grow as a school.  She also brought wonderful new programs such as Kinder-1st grade Motor PE, 2nd-3rd grade Encinal Express Post Office, 4th-5th grade Advisory, Cultural Arts Day for the whole school, the Mentor program, and much more.  Her optimistic and thoughtful approach to every situation has helped our students and staff reach new levels of excellence.  We will miss her as our principal but feel so fortunate that she will be the district's Chief Learning Officer next year.  Thank you for all the nice messages sent in by parents, staff, and students to go in her Appreciation Book.  She loved it!  

I would like to thank the amazing community at Encinal of both parents and staff for all your incredible support of our school this year. Because of your support of countless hours of time and generous donations, our students and families have benefited from numerous PTO programs.  These programs have helped build academic success and enriching experiences for our students as well as a strong sense of school community.

I am thrilled to welcome our incoming PTO President, Katie Ferrick, and the new PTO Executive Board, and Committee Chairs into their leadership roles for next year.   There is a great team in place that is already planning for next year.  We are still looking for a few good women and men to serve in some key positions.   Please consider joining the team and helping to run the important programs and services of the PTO that support Encinal School.  Click here to see open roles and find a good fit for your time and talents.  I know you will find it a very rewarding experience.  Thank you!