Sherman Oaks News

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program. Next week, October 23rd-31st, school sites will be participating in various activities that will support our students in making better choices such as being drug free. The school district and the Governing board recognize the importance of providing information to our students about healthy lifestyles. More information about Red Ribbon Week is online. For specific activities at your child's school, please ask the principal or your child' teacher.

A Message from the Superintendent

We’ve heard a lot lately about being prepared for emergencies like earthquakes, floods, and wild fires. With Halloween coming, families also are mindful of choosing safe costumes for their children. These are important safety measures that we support whole heartedly.

When it comes to supporting wellness for the WHOLE child, Campbell Union School District goes beyond the expected. Please watch this short video from Superintendent Shelly Viramontez to find out more.

On our Youtube channel at https://youtu.be/koKeL8BZrJI.

Work continues toward closing achievement gaps.

Last week, the California Department of Education (CDE) released results from the fourth year of the student assessment system known as CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) which show that Campbell Union School District (CUSD) students continue to make gains in English-Language Arts (ELA) and Math.
Each year, CUSD students in grades three to eight, participate in the annual CAASPP testing to measure each one’s ability write clearly, think critically, and solve problems. It is one of several ways teachers measure student progress toward meeting academic standards. Classwork, teacher-generated exams, and district-level assessments offer them more frequent, qualitative information.

Student-level Reports Were Mailed in Summer
In summer, the district mailed individual student reports to parents and guardians. October 15-19, CUSD schools will hold parent-teacher conferences at which parents may discuss their child’s results and education goals.

School/District Reports Show Trends
“As a district, we monitor closely the progress of all of our students, and we continue to work towards our mission of educating all students to their highest potential,” said District Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. “The CAASPP results show us district- and school-wide views of where we are making gains and where we need to intensify our efforts. Like many California schools, we have a persistent achievement gap for our second language and Special Education students.”
The district did see improvement this year for Special Education students, who made 4% growth in ELA and 3% growth in math. That number exceeds the growth of all students, who made growth of 1% in both ELA and Math — a growth level consistent with the state-wide trend.

A Common Goal for Educators and Families
“We are committed to preparing students for the 21st century workforce, and our new Profile of a Graduate initiative provides a cohesive focus for that commitment,” Viramontez said. The Profile of a Graduate calls for students to be self-directed, collaborative, innovative, empathetic, and critical thinkers.
“We invite parents and guardians—the child's first teachers—to partner with us. There are many ways they may take an active role in their child’s education,” she said. “Reinforcing school learning at home, monitoring your child’s progress, and developing a strong relationship with your child’s school increases a student’s chances for academic success.”

District hosts 16th annual Rising Young Author recognition

On October 3rd, more than 120 people gathered to celebrate 14 talented student authors at Campbell Union School District’s 16th Annual Rising Young Authors awards, at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore - Stevens Creek store. The students spoke to the audience about their books and autographed copies for their fans.

See event videos about each of the authors on our Youtube channel: Campbellusd.

Their publications cover a wide range of topics and genres. To Be Her, a poem by Nicole Washington, offers a glimpse into the reflections of an adolescent girl. Mr. Linden’s Library, by Noelle Trinidad takes the reader on a mystical, mysterious adventure. Works by other Rising Young Authors include reports about animals, a persuasive essay about risk and rescue, and fictional stories where talking animals win battles and heroes and heroines save the day.

The Rising Young Authors are a select group of students in grades 3 through 7 whose short stories, essays, research papers and poems were among the hundreds entered in the District’s annual Writing Faire last May. Judges review the entries for technical excellence, focus, structure, use of creative expression, vocabulary, word combinations, and originality in ideas and/or presentation of ideas and choose two students from each school for the Accomplished Writer award. Those students may then be eligible for the Rising Young Author recognition.

The recognition program features video vignettes of each student author and a book-signing event immediately following the presentation of awards. The Rising Young Author award includes one professionally printed copy of his or her work for the school library and a personal copy to keep, a gift certificate from the Assistance League of Los Gatos-Saratoga, a personal writer’s journal from Barnes & Noble, and a chance to win a Nook e-reader from School Innovations & Achievement.

The Rising Young Authors of 2018
(Click the author's name to see the book online)