Earlier this month, we had a wonderful event at Mark Twain Middle School that we called Kaleidoscope (see video here). It was an extraordinary celebration of the arts and language programs that we have in the Venice Family of Schools.

Some students are becoming fully bilingual in Spanish at Grandview Elementary and Mark Twain Middle School (and this next year at Venice High School). Other students are becoming fully bilingual in Mandarin at Broadway Elementary. We have two amazing World Languages Magnets, one at Mark Twain Middle School and one at Venice High School where students are learning Mandarin, Korean, French, Japanese and Spanish. Venice is truly becoming the hub of language learning.

These are the programs that parents are choosing and building along with committed teachers and principals. But in order to ensure that these programs are on sure footing, the District needs to invest, making sure they have adequate staffing and supports. That is why I authored the resolution to Prepare Students for a Multilingual Global Economy, that I am pleased to announce was unanimously passed by my colleagues on the Board. The resolution calls on the Superintendent to work with a committee of experts, district staff and parents from dual language programs to define the investments that are needed to grow dual language programs in LAUSD schools.

This resolution builds on the work that we did a year ago, when the Board unanimously approved the Expanding Enrollment Resolution which charged the Superintendent with developing a strategy for investing in the programs that parents are choosing, such as magnets, International Baccalaureate, and dual language. I am glad to report that this resolution is starting to bear fruit in our District. This year the Board approved two new magnet schools that will open next year, a Science and Technology (STEMM) magnet at Venice High School and another one at Orville Wright Middle School. And at Bancroft Middle School in Hollywood, a school community is working collaboratively developing an International Baccalaureate program.


Today we are having another event, that we expect to be amazing. At Marina del Rey Middle School parents and community of the Venice Family of Schools are showcasing the arts and environmental education programs that are growing in our schools and that our parents are choosing in an event we are calling: ONE, see flyer here. Over the last few years, parents and teachers have been starting new sustainable school yards (usually known as school gardens), places where students are able to learn more not just about gardening, but about science, math and even social studies. They learn more about nutrition as well, when they have the opportunity to grow and taste new foods.

You might remember that last December I authored and got unanimous approval of the Food and Nutrition Resolution that brought attention to the need for students to have adequate time to eat, and included support for school gardens. It was a comprehensive resolution that is becoming a national model. But there is still work to do. Which is why in March, I am bringing a Resolution to Expand Sustainable School Yards to the School Board to make sure the Superintendent develops a strategy to ensure that these sustainable school yards are integrated as instructional resources for our schools. I am hoping again, for unanimous approval from the Board.


Both of these events are also showcasing our arts programs, which have acted as tremendous draws for parents into our schools. I have been very proud of our Mark Twain Bell Ringers, but it's time to shine the light on another group of amazing performers: the Marina del Rey Performing Arts Magnet students. At the ONE event today, parents and community will be able to watch an open dress rehearsal of their Memories of the Movement performance, which tells the stories of the civil rights movement as we celebrate Black History Month. The event will also showcase other performances and visual arts from many of the schools in Venice.

I am proud to be supporting and celebrating these programs not just at the school level or at the family of schools level, I am proud to be able to turn them into policy so that all parents who are choosing our schools all over the District can benefit. When parents, teachers, principals and the leaders in our District work together, we can make change. Transformation, to be lasting demands a collaborative approach.