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Castro Valley Unified School District
Superintendent's Newsletter
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The Superintendent's Newsletter is one of several newsletters that I publish to keep our parents, staff, and the community informed about the Castro Valley Unified School District. As I enter my sixth as superintendent, I am honored and pleased to continue serving you as superintendent. I look forward to visiting classrooms throughout the year because I have the opportunity to see the future through engaged students and dedicated teachers and support staff. The joy and excitement in the eyes of students always reminds me why I became an educator. I also look forward to meeting and working with our parents and community members who generously support our students and staff. If you see me at a school or in the community, please stop and introduce yourself, ask me a question or share your thoughts about the district. I truly enjoy hearing from you. You can also email me at jnegri@cv.k12.ca.us.
Every school year offers new opportunities to promote student learning and achievement. Castro Valley Unified School District continues to be a highly successful district because as a staff and community we embrace and take advantage of these new opportunities to become even better.
If you wish to subscribe to other newsletters ( Board Meeting Agenda, Board Meeting Highlights and Budget Update), you may do so on the district website (lower right) as well as read the archived newsletters. Check both the district and school websites regularly for news and information.
Sincerely,
Jim Negri
Jim Negri, Superintendent
Student Success, Nothing Less!
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Welcome to the 2014-2015 School Year
On behalf of the Board of Education and our outstanding teachers, support staff, and administrators, I welcome you to the 2014-2015 school year.
The Castro Valley Unified School District has a long tradition of academic excellence and a strong commitment to the success of every student. As a district, we are committed to working in collaboration with our parents and community to make our Vision a reality for every student.
We will ensure a safe, culturally responsive, and rigorous learning environment where all students
are engaged and supported
to achieve and succeed in a global society.
We continuously strive to provide every student with a rigorous, well-rounded education to ensure that every student graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in whatever endeavor he or she chooses. We provide this high quality education in an environment that is both physically and emotionally safe. We will tolerate nothing less. As educators, we recognize the wonderful diversity in our schools and strive to honor that diversity through our teaching and programs. We are committed to Student Success, Nothing Less!
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Welcome Our New Employees
This year, the district welcomes 64 new teachers and 12 classified employees. We are pleased that they have chosen to join our outstanding district.
Administrative changes include following additions or changes:
- Leslie Rothwell - Interim Principal at Castro Valley High School;
- Jesse Hansen - Assistant Principal at Castro Valley High School;
- Nikki Pitcher - Assistant Principal at Castro Valley High School;
- Matthew Steinecke - Principal at Canyon Middle School (formerly Assistant Principal at Castro Valley High School);
- April Wong, Assistant Principal at Canyon Middle School (formerly a teacher at Canyon Middle School);
- Jason Whiteman - Assistant Principal at Canyon Middle School (formerly Assistant Principal at Castro Valley High School);
- Dustin Gacherieu - Principal at Jensen Ranch Elementary School (formerly Assistant Principal at Castro Valley Adult & Career Education);
- Sharon Travers - Adult Education Coordinator at Castro Valley Adult & Career Education (formerly teacher at Castro Valley Adult & Career Education); and
- Rinda Bartley - Director of Student Services.
Last spring, the district hired
- Mary Boyle, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, and
- Brenda Lightfoot-Handy, Director of Child Nutrition.
I know that you will warmly welcome them to Castro Valley.
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Support Our Students, Staff & Schools
Castro Valley is passionate and committed to ensuring that every student receives a well-rounded, high quality education. We are blessed with a strong partnership between the schools, the parents, and the community which is essential for the success of any district. This translates into an enhanced and enriched learning experience for students. Our PTAs, parent clubs, booster organizations, foundations and community organizations provide outstanding financial and volunteer support.
I strongly encourage you to be actively involved in your student's education and these organizations. Your support and participation is greatly appreciated and our students directly benefit.
Each of these foundations supports our students and staff in multiple and different ways. I encourage you to learn more about each foundation, get involved and donate. I am positive that you will find one of the foundations has a place for you and your talents. Check their websites to learn more about the foundation and how you can help.
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Coming in October - Parent University
"What can I do to help my child succeed in school?"
This question is one that educators hear quite often. The fact that parents are asking this question demonstrates that the parents are involved in their child's education, which is a great starting point. Parents are their child's first educators and then critical partners with schools to ensure the child's success - academically, socially and emotionally.
As parents, we would love a silver bullet answer to making parenting easier, but unfortunately there is not a single answer. Each child is unique and will generate a different answer to the question.
Parent University on October 11 at Castro Valley Adult and Career Education will provide practical and useful information to assist you in answering the question for your child. The keynote speaker, Linda Hutcherson, kicks off the day by helping parents understand the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which are designed to ensure that every student is "college and career ready." As parents, the more that you understand what and how the schools are teaching, the easier it will be to support your child and ask questions.
The remainder of the day consists of over 20 exciting workshops such as Parenting the Spirited Child; Self-Esteem; Drug and Alcohol Use in Teens to Helping Our Children Managing Stress; plus a Parent Resource Fair. "Which workshops should I attend?" will be your major question of the day. Hopefully, you will be able to attend with a spouse or friend so that you can gain information from multiple workshops.
Don't miss this great opportunity. See the Parent University flier. Registration information is available here. Babysitting is available. |
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Child Nutrition
As your student heads back to school, I encourage you to check out our new Child Nutrition webpage to learn about the exciting changes happening this year - menus, newsletters and other information. |
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Board of Education
The Board of Education welcomes input from the public. At board meetings, you can comment on items on the agenda at the time the board discusses the item. You may also comment on issues not on the agenda, but under the jurisdiction of the board during the Public Comment section of the board meeting.
You can contact the individual members of the board by voice-mail. To contact an individual board member by voice-mail, please call 510.537.3335 and enter the extension for the board member.
Charmaine Bantherext 1689
charmaine.banther@cv.k12.ca.us
John Barbieri, Vice President/Clerk ext 1685
john.barbieri@cv.k12.ca.us
Janice Friesen, President ext 1687
janice.friesen@cv.k12.ca.us
Gary Howardext 1684
gary.howard@cv.k12.ca.us
Jo A. S. Loss
ext 1693
jo.loss@cv.k12.ca.us |
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August 2014
Vol. 5 Issue 1
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Message from the Superintendent
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The first day of school is always full of excitement for students, staff and parents. As a student, the first day of school meant that I could no longer hang out all day in the park playing baseball with my friends. The bats and mitts came out only after school before homework and on weekends.
As a teacher, the first day of school meant that I had the opportunity to work with new students and, hopefully, make a difference in their lives. The greatest reward as a teacher is when a former students tells you that you made a difference. Sometimes it is 10, 20 or 30 years later. As a teacher there is no greater joy.
As an administrator, the first day of school means juggling all the balls at once to ensure that every student and staff member has what is needed to be successful. In recent years, the State of California has made the task difficult with the budget cuts, but starting this year, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The combination of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and Prop 30 funding will just about eliminate deficit funding this year. LCFF required the district to develop a Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) that outlines how the LCFF revenue will be spent to support English Learners (EL), Socio-economically Disadvantaged (SED) students and Foster Youth. You will be reading much more about the LCAP as the year progresses and there will be many opportunities for you to be involved. Watch for the creation of a LCAP newsletter.
This year, the district will be fully implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English-Language Arts and Mathematics as well as the national, assessments, Smarter Balance (SBAC), which are computer-based.
As always, I am thankful for your support and the trust you demonstrate in our staff and schools. You can contact me at jnegri@cv.k12.ca. or 510.537.3335 ext 1210. I look forward to seeing or hearing from you soon.
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Our Foundations
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The district is very fortunate to have outstanding parent and community support. Besides the PTA/Parent Clubs and Booster Clubs at schools, the following foundations support our students, staff, and schools.
Check their website for information on events, ways to become involved, and how to donate.
Thank you for supporting our foundations. You are making a difference for our students.
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Our Schools
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Each school maintains a website that contains a wealth of information. I encourage you to check out the website to learn about what our schools are doing.
Don't have a student in K-12? Check out Adult and Career Education for a wide range of interesting and valuable classes for adults. You are never too old to learn.
Pre-School
Elementary Schools
(K-5)
*Transitional Kindergarten
Middle
Schools
(6-8)
High
Schools
(9-12)
Life Long Learning
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Mission
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We will ensure a safe, culturally responsive, and rigorous learning environment where all students are engaged and supported to achieve and succeed in a global society.
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