ESD Superintendent Update
Some thoughts for the starting school year
Hello Families,
This is a busy time of year for families and schools! As we move through the next few weeks, our students will be taking the mid-year i-Ready diagnostic assessment to measure their progress at the halfway point of the year. Six-week progress reports will be available during the first week of January, and the second half of the school year will officially start when we return from Winter Break on January 8.
During the holiday season, we want to share our appreciation for the partnership we form with families on behalf of our students. Our families are generous with their time and commitment to our schools and staff. We enjoy your participation in family nights, education events, and student performances. Thank you for helping make our District a great place to educate children.
Please add these upcoming districtwide events to your calendar:
Friday, December 22 - January 5
Winter Break
Monday, January 8
Students return to school after Winter Break (minimum day all sites)
Monday, January 15
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
No matter what your holiday plans are, we wish you happiness, peace, and health. Best wishes from the staff at the Etiwanda School District.
Charlayne Sprague
Superintendent
Golden Elementary School recently had the honor of hosting National PTA President Yvonne Johnson during her tour of California. This visit wasn't just routine; Golden Elementary stood out as a remarkable example of community and family involvement, having achieved an extraordinary milestone of more than 100% participation in PTA membership.
Her visit included a sit-down with the dedicated team responsible for this unprecedented success to gain insights into the strategies and efforts that led to such high levels of engagement. She commended their ability to foster a sense of belonging and collaboration among families, teachers, and students. Ms. Johnson was impressed by the collective efforts that have made Golden Elementary a hub for family engagement within the community. She noted the school's approach as a model worth emulating, highlighting the importance of building strong community-school relationships.
We're thrilled to share news about the ongoing construction within our school district boundaries. This development is a sign of our community's growth and promise. Following our recent community meetings at C.P. Lightfoot Elementary and East Heritage Elementary, we've updated our proposed changes to school enrollment boundaries for new families moving into the Etiwanda School District community. This ensures a balanced enrollment distribution and maintains our commitment to providing an excellent education for every student.
Please note that the school attendance changes will not affect current students or their connected siblings. The implementation of the 2024-25 attendance boundary changes is through "connected attrition." New enrolling siblings may attend the same school as their siblings as long as a sibling is currently enrolled at the school site. Once there are no siblings at the school, newly enrolled students will have to attend the new school of attendance.
Do you know a young adult who's about to toss their cap in the air this winter, clutching a shiny new bachelor's degree, and unsure what to do next? Instead of working for a local retailer and gaining work experience, have them consider serving as substitute teacher in the Etiwanda School District! They might just stumble upon a career so rewarding they'll wonder why they didn't think of it sooner!
Substitute teachers earn $175 a day, and can take advantage of the flexible scheduling, free weekends and holidays, and make a difference in a child's day.
The Etiwanda School District is conducting a comprehensive materials pilot for instructional materials on foundational reading skills from October 12 to March 7. This curriculum is designed to develop essential reading skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, recognition of high-frequency words, and reading fluency. The foundational reading skills materials will be integrated into the Kindergarten through 2nd grade literacy curriculum. Additionally, they will be utilized in a targeted manner for students in Grades 3-8 who require intensive reading support, particularly during small group instruction or universal access time.
The pilot is powered by a dedicated team of twenty-four teachers. These educators will not only implement and teach using these materials but also play a crucial role in evaluating and assessing the effectiveness of the three distinct programs under consideration.
Heggerty: Bridge to Reading (Grades K-2)
University of Florida Institute- UFLI Foundations (Grades K- 8)
Really Great Reading: Countdown (K), Blast (Gr 1), and HD Word (Gr 2-8)
Pilot materials are available for review and feedback by families in each school's front office and the district office lobby, ensuring broad community engagement and transparency in the selection process.
Please join our LCAP Thought Exchange activity from November 27 to December 8! It’s a quick, meaningful way to share your feedback and influence our school’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and other decisions.
- Easy Participation: Takes only a few minutes of your time.
- Voice Your Ideas: Share your thoughts, rate other ideas, and impact our district’s direction.
- Direct Impact: Your insights are crucial for our district's planning and growth.
Look out for the participation link in your email on November 27th or visit our website between November 27 and December 8.
