The Vine June 17, 2016 From the desk of Superintendent Chris Williams

This is the last issue of The Vine for the school year. We will resume in August. Congratulations on another

successful school year. I hope that everyone enjoys their much-needed time off. If you have not yet done so, we would love to get your feedback on the repair and upgrade needs of our schools.

Please visit our website and take the community survey which is open to all teachers, parents, staff, and community members. Click here to access the survey on the website: Community Feedback Form

“TEAMWORK:

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

– Henry Ford

@pasoschools @pasoschools Paso Robles Schools @PasoSuper

Graduations Congratulations to all of our graduates! There are several links included below about the various graduation ceremonies in our district. Pictured here are 3 generations of Bearcats – grandson received his diploma on Friday night, exactly 50 years to the day that his grandfather received his. Click here to read more: Paso Robles Daily News

Tribune - PRHS Graduation Video Tribune - PRHS Graduation Tribune - Liberty & Independence Graduation Paso Robles Daily News – PRHS Graduation

Graduation Walks The highlight of last week had to be the new tradition started by PRHS – Graduation Walks. The students visited their elementary schools dressed in their graduation caps and gowns. They took pictures with

their former teachers and paraded through the campuses. The elementary students had signs and cheered for the graduates. It was a very emotional event for parents, students, and teachers. Such a great new tradition here in our district.

Future Freshmen Lewis Middle School, Flamson Middle School, and Paso Robles Independent Study Center (PRISC) all held their 8th grade promotion ceremonies last week. Welcome to our future freshmen!

PRISC Promotion Ceremony On Tuesday, June 7th, the home school program held its annual promotion ceremony. Graduating eighth graders, two of whom have been enrolled in the district home school program since kindergarten, presented their culminating essays entitled “Reflections and Dreams”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house! Here are a couple of excerpts from their speeches: “Homeschooling has had a huge impact on my life. It has taught me to be responsible and have more appreciation for what I have. If it wasn’t for homeschooling, I wouldn’t be aware of the time I have with my siblings and my parents, it has taught me to cherish the time I spend with them at home.” “My personal experience, homeschool is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The skills I gained have not only helped me as a student, but as a member of society. In my opinion but homeschool is beneficial to any child, kid, or even teenagers, like myself.”

5th Grade Promotion Congratulations to all of our 5th graders who will be moving on to middle school in August. Pictured here are students form Pat Butler Elementary and Kermit King Elementary.

Georgia Brown Authors First grade students at Georgia Brown Elementary have come published authors! Thanks to four grants from Paso Robles Education Alliance (PREA) and the support of Georgia Brown teachers, PTA, parent volunteers, and Lulu Jr. Publishing, the students have published hard-bound books. Earlier in the year, students went through the entire writing process. An Author’s Tea was held last week to celebrate their hard work and thank everyone who helped.

Support Services The employees of the PRJUSD Support Services Facility recently held their annual end-of-the-year taco feed. The food was delicious and the company was even better! Thank you to all of the employees who work tirelessly throughout the year to provide for our students and staff.

One Cool Earth Corner One Cool Earth is still looking for summer volunteers! With 8 school garden sites, we have tons of opportunities for people to get involved. If you and your family have green thumbs, jump on board. We’ll be hosting a couple of workdays at the sites, so be sure to follow us on Facebook at One Cool Earth in order to check important events! Thank you to all the volunteers and students who helped out this past school year as well, we couldn’t do it without all of you! Please contact our AmeriCorps Member, Audrey Moorhead, at audrey@onecoolearth.org for opportunities and information. https://www.facebook.com/OneCoolEarth

Lewis Middle School Rewards for PBIS Congratulations to the Lewis Middle School students who earned a Subway lunch for showing their SPOTS (success, positive attitude, ownership, teamwork, safety-minded).

Education Technology

Students in Diane Harris’s class finished their state projects using ASUS tablets and Google slides.

At Virginia Peterson Elementary, students in Jill Goldbach’s 3rd grade classroom explored using spheres (small robotic balls). They also learned about coding using the Tickle App on their mini ipads.

STEAM Several 5th grade classrooms used the last few days of school to engage in another engineering design challenge. Audra Carr’s 5th graders at Kermit King designed their own arcade games out of cardboard. At Pat Butler, Stephenie Walker’s class engineered a vermicomposting design.

From Socratic Seminar to Centennial! The Lewis 7th & 8th grade AVID students, accompanied by teachers Mrs. Bektic and Mr. Grace, were honored to be the first guests since the reopening. The classes went to celebrate this year’s academic successes plus the 100% acceptance of 8th grade AVID to the 9th grade class at the high school.

Youth Ride Free – Summer Transportation Information Click the link below to learn more about the program: https://rideshare.org/program/youthridefree/

Paso Challenge 5 Paso Challenge 5 is a school attendance program aimed at decreasing chronic absences and increasing student academic achievement. The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District is committed to assisting all of our students on their path to success. Kids cannot learn if they are not at school! “Strive for 5 Win a Prize” will reward students with movie passes, gift cards, and other fun items. Every student who has 5 or fewer excused absences throughout the school year will be eligible to win a prize. Chronic absence is defined as a student missing more than 10 percent of the school year. That works out to be just two days a month. Chronic absence is not just skipping school — it's more likely a mix of truancy entangled with illnesses and family problems. Chronic absence is a big problem in the U.S.; it's estimated that more than 5 million students a year are chronically absent. Research shows that such students are way more likely to fall behind and, eventually, drop out. In other words, you can't teach kids when they don't show up for school. How can you be a part of the Paso Challenge 5? Parents: Make sure your student attends school every day that they are physically able to attend. Please plan vacations when school is not in session (school calendar is available on the district web site). If you own or operate a business, help us by placing a poster up in your business, donating items for student rewards, or help spread the word that Paso Robles now has a Challenge 5 Program so our students can achieve their goals. If you would like to support this program by displaying a poster or making a donation for rewards, please contact the Student Services Department at (805) 769-1000 or e-mail Director of Student Services, Paul Press, ppress@pasoschools.org.

PRHS Science News The physics and honors physics students participated in a walking on water activity. This was a fun day where the students showed their knowledge of Academies Principle of why objects float and Newton’s Laws of Motion. They also used their engineering skills to design and build their shoes. The day was enjoyed by all especially Mr. Fairbank the instructor who laughed so hard.

The science department on June 8th had their third annual Senior Science Night to celebrate the students who had taken five or more science classes at the high school and received an A or B in each of those classes. Teachers distributed green cords that the

students wore during graduation. A competition was also held to discover the top senior science student from Paso Robles High School. This year the award winner was Morgan Moretti. On June 6th the physics and advanced placement chemistry student held a hands on science Exploratorium at the high school for 4th and 5th grade students. The day was eventful with explosive demonstrations, and hands on activities to discover properties of sound, light, electricity and magnetism, Newton’s laws and fluids.

SkillsUSA Students to Compete at National Conference Best of luck to our PRHS SkillsUSA students who will be competing in Louisville, Kentucky from June 20th – 24th. These students won gold medals at the state level: Mason Brown - Telecommunications Cabling, Destini McAllen-Alcaraz - Commercial Baking, Cassidy Moses - Early Childhood Education (second year at Nationals), Alim BenBrahim - Electrical Construction Wiring, Serae Collins - Mobile Electronics Installation, Aca McDonald - Marine Service Tech. (second year at Nationals), Mason Steiner - Plumbing (second year at Nationals), Nick Cummings - Welding Sculpture. You can watch the opening ceremony and awards ceremony on the live feed by clicking here: SkillsUSA Live Feed Best of luck to all of our SkillsUSA competitors and teachers!

Liberty High School Field Trip Students from Liberty High School traveled to the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve near San Simeon, where they participated in a three-plus mile, docent-led hike through the coastal hills to the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean shoreline. Along the way, they learned about native and non-native plant species, plant communities growing in the coastal mountain range encompassed by the Preserve, as well as the Native American history of the area as it relates to natural resources and their use. Along the coastal bluffs, students were able to identify, make observations, and have discussions regarding marine plants and mammals including harbor seals, kelp, algae, and even a gopher snake. Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch provided the docents and a lunch at the end of the hike! Thank you to Deb Lauridsen for sharing!

Student Spotlight Beckett Andersen, 15 and a sophomore at Paso Robles High School, was

named an Academic All-American for USA Gymnastics this spring. Beckett has been competing in gymnastics since he was 6 years old and is currently competing at Level 10. He is at the gym training 18 hours per week and also finds time to maintain a 4.6 GPA. Beck has been coached for his entire gymnastics career by Dana Desrosiers of San Luis Obispo. Beck has also been greatly influenced by two gymnasts he trains with, Caleb Rabbon and Avis Anderson, who are also Academic All-Americans and exceptional people as well exceptional athletes. Beck also pole vaults for the PRHS Track Team and was JV League Pole Vaulting Champion.

FitnessGram Tests at Lewis Here are some pictures of the Lewis Middle School physical education fitness winners with their shirts. White is passing all FitnessGram tests.

Blue is passing all fitness tests with above average scores. Red are for the awesome testers who scored excellent in all fitness tests. Thank you to Kristen Ring for sharing!

Congratulations to our Retirees! A luncheon was held to celebrate the retirement of nearly 50 retirees. They have a combined 1,154 years of service among them. Such a great accomplishment and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors! Margo Abatti Steve Arnette Ginger Aschenbrenger Katherine Atkins John Beaman Bernard Bonham Raelene Bowles Kathleen Boyd Karin Bruck Theresa Chavez Kelly Clark Sandra Clarke Marlene Dierks Heather Dunn Carol Eorio Cecilia Hanks

Diane Hanlon Judy Honerkamp Joseph Iffert Sue Jasper Robin Kosin Hanne Luth Beth McGill Holly O’Hagan Paula Peargin William Peck Debi Perry Amalia Plemons Anne Quinn Marilyn Richie Larry Sarver Stanley Scott

Ron Shannon Linda Shutt Patricia Soto Kimberly Springer Jeanie Stemple Arlene Suval Mari Jayne Taylor Shelley Taylor Sheila Thompson-Williams Toni Wiebe Kathleen Wilson Michele Wright Sheila Wynne AnnVenn Charles Wright Christie Youngdale

Retiring Class of 2016

Retiring Class of 2016

Leadership Institute The District Management Team (DMT) was busy these last two days gearing up for the next school year. The focus for the year will be Growing Excellence. Staff learned about growth mindset, Student Achievement Summits, SWOT analysis, and writing SMART goals. In addition, they heard inspirational presentations from fellow staff members as well as recent graduate Jamison Murray who talked about his experience in Paso Schools (Georgia Brown, Flamson, and PRHS). The DMT looks forward to sharing their information with staff in August. It’s going to be a great year!

Pictured to the right is VAPA Coordinator, Brent Moser, leading the Cabinet in an exercise about teamwork and trust.

Employee News Congratulations to Erin Haley on her new position in the district. She was recognized last night at the Board of Trustees meeting. And welcome also to the new additions to our district. Erin Haley – Lewis Middle School Principal

Erin Haley is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a major in Law and Society and a minor in Spanish. She pursued her teaching credential at Fresno State and master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Erin began her teaching career in King City before joining the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District in 2008. She has worked at all three levels including elementary, middle, and high school as a teacher, TOSA, Assistant Principal, Deputy Principal, and now the Principal of Lewis Middle School. She was Teacher of the Year at Bauer Speck in 2011 and brings a background in both EL and intervention program development which bridge the gap of our struggling

subgroups. Conversely, she has overseen the AP/honors and AVID programs at PRHS which extend opportunities and enhance the high school experience for our students to challenge themselves in their trajectory to college.

She is passionate about positive school culture founded upon the strengths of our teachers/staff and the importance of connecting all students to some facet of their school programming, clubs, and athletics. As an Assistant Principal at Flamson Middle School, she began the PAWS program before joining the Bearcats at Paso Robles High School. Her focus on data-driven instruction and organizational systems which support the whole child have led her to pursue the principal position at Lewis Middle School. Erin is a resident of Paso Robles and has two sons who also attend school in Paso Robles. She says that while PRHS will always hold a special place in her heart, it is a privilege and honor to be a part of this team which prepares our future Bearcats for success.

Welcome to the District! Duane Wolgamott – Chief Business Officer

Duane Wolgamott is coming to the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District from the King City area where he has been a Chief Business Official for the last three years. He was instrumental in turning around a school district that was struggling financially and under State of California control. That district has now have passed all state fiscal criteria and local control is returning to that district July 1. Duane received his Chief Business Official certification training right here in Paso Robles through the USC

Rossier School of Education satellite program in 2006. Duane has 26 years of experience in local school districts as a Director of Facilities, Transportation, Technology, Transportation, Food Service and most recently, Chief Business Official. Duane lives in Lockwood near Lake San Antonio with his wife of 33 years, Brenda. They have one daughter who graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in wine and viticulture in 2014. Marin is the winemaker for the family’s winery operation, Marin’s Vineyard. Michele Tesauro, Ph.D – Georgia Brown Elementary Principal

Dr. Michele Tesauro comes to the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District with experience as a bilingual teacher and administrator in elementary schools with Bilingual Education and GATE programs. Her work experience spans California, New York and Massachusetts. She holds a doctorate degree from Claremont Graduate University in Urban Educational Leadership and a Masters from Boston University.

Dr. Tesauro was recognized by the California State Legislature for leading a collaborative work in an elementary school in San Bernardino USD that resulted in over 50 points gained in all sub-groups to exit Program Improvement status. She attributes success for students as a focused, dynamic determination on the part of a dedicated school team using the best practices, and resources with a heart to reach all kids!

Laura Becker - Director of Fiscal Services Ms. Becker was born and raised in Chicago, IL, and transplanted to the Sacramento Valley in 1993. She and her family moved to the Central Coast 11 years later and Ms. Becker has vowed that she has found her home. Landing a job at Cuesta College, Ms. Becker decided it was time to continue her educational journey earning an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Cuesta College and a Bachelor of Science: Business Administration in Accounting with a minor in Management from Columbia University. Ms. Becker’s 9 years of service to Cuesta College include: Accounting Technician

II – Accounts Receivable, Budget Accountant, Lead Accountant/Analyst, and most recently, Interim Supervising Accountant. Ms. Becker is the proud mother of two children, Krista (20) and Devin (18), both of whom currently attend Cuesta College. She is also the proud grandmother of Paisley (19 mos). Ms. Becker’s love for and dedication to education is evident in everything she does on and off the job. Ms. Becker has been accepted into the Masters of Professional Accountancy Graduate Program at Colorado State University-Global Campus and anticipates completing the program by the end of 2018. When she’s not studying for classes, Ms. Becker enjoys reading, puzzles, hiking, movies, barbecuing with friends and playing with her granddaughter.

Anusheh Agha – School Psychologist Anusheh graduated from Laguna Hills High School in Orange County knowing that she wanted to study Psychology. As she learned about human development and volunteered at her university's daycare facility, she realized that working with children was what made her happiest. She completed both her bachelor's degrees in 3 years and took a year off to volunteer and gain some experience in the workforce. Graduating from Chapman with Masters and Educational Specialist Degrees in Educational Psychology, she was encouraged to sign on with the district for the coming

school year. However, Anusheh had always planned on going to Pakistan to volunteer in schools to help raise awareness for special education. She told her supervisors that she’ll stay in touch, but at this time, had to follow her dream. After volunteering for 7 months, Anusheh decided to move to Providence where her brothers lived so she accepted employment at a charter school in Boston. After working there for 2 years, Anusheh moved to California to be close to her family. With her supervisor retiring and her family moving to San Luis Obispo, Anusheh thought this was the perfect opportunity to walk through newly opened doors.

Anusheh values her family and friends above all else and looks forward to spending time with them. Going to Disneyland once a week had become one of her traditions with 2 of her best friends from grad school. If there’s anything Anusheh loves more than being a School Psychologist, it has to be Disneyland. It's only fitting then that she approaches work with the same philosophy as Walt Disney, "It's sort of fun to do the impossible." Anusheh loves to laugh and being a self-proclaimed "hopeless idealist," she is always looking for the golden lining, not just the silver. After all, just anyone could see the silver lining, but Anusheh likes to go for the impossible! Alisha Lewis – TOSA Online Teacher

Alisha has been working at the secondary level for the past 15 years. She has taught at both middle school and high school, traditional and alternative school sites. She has a great passion for working with students and their families and is looking forward to expanding online learning opportunities for students in Paso Robles. She is a graduate of California State University, Fresno and holds a BA in social science, single subject credential and Master's degree in Educational Leadership. Most recently, Alisha has been instrumental in the development and

growth of the online school in Visalia, CA. Alisha and her family are excited to now call Paso Robles home and are ready to take advantage of all that Paso has to offer!