American International School (AIS) Hong Kong

The 2011-12 School Year is Underway!

2011-10-02T03:31:00.000-07:00

October 2, 2011

Dear AIS Families,

We are well underway and almost one month of school has passed. Many exciting Professional and Social Development (PSD) opportunities are taking place during Block #1 of Wednesday afternoon. To name a few:

Dance in Your Pants
American Football
Bowling
Games
Jump Rope
Chinese Callgraphy
Paper Airplanes
Board Games
Choir

Our first "Understanding by Design" units have been completed in English Language Arts and we are quite excited about the depth of understanding our students are receiving as a result of this researched-based approach to teaching and learning. Plans are taking place for our upcoming "Cultural Fair" which will be held on November 25th. We hope to see all of our families attend this evening event that is guaranteed to be fun for EVERYONE. Following "Cultural Fair" our Elementary "Winter Celebration" is scheduled for the evening of December 9th in the school hall.

Grade Five House Captains have been selected after a very close election. Congratulations to Giovanni, Jaime and Amber. Currently all of our G1J-5 students are working very hard to earn "House Points" by demonstrating behaviors that reflect the character traits of our character education program, "Second Steps." As a reminder the trait for October is "Assertiveness."

Mark the date for October 13th as AIS will host its first "Volunteer Parent Program." If you plan to attend please complete and submit the RSVP form to the school's main office. This form is available on the school website. We hope to see as many parents as possible attend this event.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Thank you parents for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Beckie Bouchard,
AIS ES Principal

AIS Elementary School Production

2010-12-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

Dear AIS Families,

On the heels of Cultural Fair, Grade Level Assemblies, Parent/Teacher Conferences, World Vision events and fundraising activities, the Elementary School is pleased to announce it annual production entitled, "One Ocean, One World" on December 10, 2010. It may well be the first ever original work at AIS from start to finish.

The setting for this unique musical production takes place in "the ocean" whereby the creatures come alive and reenact various important messages for all human beings. Watch carefully and listen!

The lyrics for each of the songs were written by Grade 1 Jr. teacher, Mr. John Urquhart with help from Mr. Orlando Salazar. The music was composed and arranged by HOD VPA, Mr. Edwin Edpalina and each grade level's classroom teacher choreographed his/her own excerpt that is seen on stage. Grade 5 teacher, Miss Sarah Sullivan prepared the backdrops and parents supported in the costume readiness for their children. Grade 5 teacher, Mr. Troy Decoff was the overseer of stage preparation and timing and final kudos are extended to Mr. Hilton Chan for sound and Miss Christensen for her support with the stage lighting.

Enjoy this performance and have a wonder Winter Holiday Season AIS! See you in 2011!

Upcoming Events!

2010-11-21T21:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents and Students of AIS,

What a great time everyone had at the cultural fair this last weekend. Under the tutelage of Mr. Edpalina, our student performances were absolutely incredible. Many thanks to you the parents for your support in attendance of one of the year's biggest events.

A few little reminders about upcoming events appear as follows:
1) Grade 3 Assembly (Mr. Ng and Miss Christensen's class)
2) November 30, from 11:30 - 1:15 as part of the Annual World Vision program, the AIS High School "Human Rights Club" will be help facilitate greater learning on the part of our grades 3-5 students regarding healthcare.
3) December 4 - "World Vision" bake sale to be arranged by Grade 5. Proceeds go toward "World Vision."
4) December 10 - Elementary School Program
4) Winter Break takes place beginning December 18th to return on January 2, 2011.

Next Week is Cultural Fair!

2010-11-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

November 12, 2010

Dear Parents and Students of AIS Elementary School,

This has been a busy but fun-filled week as we are preparing for the upcoming Cultural Fair and Elementary School Production. A few reminders follow:

1) Mr. Fox will be sending home important information regarding school uniforms. Please read through this thoroughly and if you have questions do not hesitate to contact the main office. These requirements will be strongly reinforced by all staff here at AIS. Our uniforms represent the pride in self and school we want our students to have.

2) Our Grade 5 students were provided with a hands-on Science demonstration on November 11th. They explored the simililarities between a pig and human's respiratory system discussing the function of its section as it was dissected.

3) Literacy Updates - Mr. Adams continues to work with students and is beginning to get into the classrooms to help provide teachers with professional development support. See photo above. He also has his own weblink now available and will be posting "tips" and "strategies" for you to use at home. Remember, educating students is a shared responsibility between home and school. Below is a direct link for you to use.

http://www.ais.edu.hk/contentPage.aspx?pageId=82725&sectionId=840

4) Parents, if your children ride bus "1" or "1A" please remind them to line up and wait for their bus when they are dismissed. The area does not lend itself to play at this time of day and we want to help insure all students and adults who are in the area are safe. Thank you for your support in this matter.

5) White boards were recently purchased for elementary students. These are to be used in the classroom only for instructional purpose and can greatly assist the teacher in determining if a student grasps a concept when taught.

Enjoy the fall weather and have a wonderful weekend.

Ms. Bouchard

Week At A Glance!

2010-11-04T22:09:00.000-07:00

Dear AIS Families,

Please find the following updates and reminders below:

ECE 1&2 and Grade 1 Jr. Halloween Parade
Due to the threat of a typhoon our ECE 1, 2 and Grade 1 Jr.s students were unable to participate in our annual Halloween parade that was held on Friday, October 22nd prior to Fall Break. However, on Friday November 5th, a major celebration commenced for our primary students. In spite of the rain, over 75 students from five classrooms participated by dressing up and holding their own parade. Our young princesses, pirates and knights were all superbly dressed for this event and a good time was had by one and all. Many thanks to the numerous primary parents who showed up for the event and for helping to make this a memorable occasion for our young AISHK children. Your support and the food were duly noted and appreciated.

Fall Parent Conferences and Parent Support
It was reaffirming to see so many parents in attendance of our parent evening conferences on Wednesday and Thursday evening this past week. It was truly a pleasure meeting each of you who stopped by my office and offered your personal support. If you are wondering how you might get further involved in parent programs please feel free to contact our PTA President, Mrs. Becky Lau for additional information.

Dismissal Procedures and Green Passing Area
Due to the high activity that occurs between students, adults, and buses at dismissal times near the elementary section for safety reasons we ask for your assistance and help to enforce the following rules:

*No running on the green passing area.
*No ball activity permitted afterschool
*No running at dismissal time until after the buses have left.

As a reminder, in December we will officially be switching to our Fall Uniforms and the new AISHK blazers will be available. Check them out!

EARCOS in Sabah, Malaysia

2010-11-02T02:47:00.000-07:00

Hello AIS Family Members:

I am currently attending a leadership conference in Malaysia and would love to share just one of my new learnings with you.

Sunday's dynamic speaker Dr. Yong Zhao challenges us to think deeply about education. Did you know that from the time a child completes 8th grade he/she has approximately 2 million minutes to be involved in learning experiences that will profoundly shape the child's future?

Other ideas Dr. Zhao raised for us to think about was what education should look like in the age of globalization? He inspires us to generate local solutions for local challenges, consider our students as global entrepreneurs and to make learning real without too much emphasis on test scores! What matters are the 3 T's:
1) Technology
2) Talent
3) Tolerance

The following questions were posed for consideration:
What else can our school offer?
What talents can we produce that others cannot?
What dreams do our children have?
What do our children want to become vs. what we want them to become?

As you can see with most effective speakers, Dr. Zhao leaves us with a great deal to ponder and his message was most appropriate for the EARCOS theme this year, "A Place Called School in 2030."

Hope to see you all at Parent Conferences this week.

Ms. Bouchard :)

Literacy Matters!!!!

2010-10-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

Dear AIS Families,

As we prepare for the upcoming Fall Break I thought I would share with you some information you may/may not be aware of regarding a brand new position this year for the Elementary School. It is with great pride that for the first time in the history of AIS Elementary School, we can now say we have our very own Literacy Coach. Indeed it is a valuable role: one that currently supports our students who are struggling with reading but will evolve into one that is in direct support of teachers who are in front of our students daily. A Literacy Coach is a “collaborative consultant.”

You may question why having a Literacy Coach important? Research states, “There is growing evidence that coaching leads to changes in teachers’ instructional practice and then to increased literacy achievement for children.” (Paglinco, Bach, Hovde, Rosenblum, Saunders, & Supovitz, 2003). Teaching a child to learn to read is a complex process and needs to be reinforced daily at home and at school. In Grades Grade 1 Jr. through Grades 3 students acquire reading skills in both reading fluency and comprehension that are needed to become confident readers. From Grade 3 on, this skill is applied not only in Language Arts but extends into other subject areas. As adults, we already know the strategies needed when we encounter a word we don’t know the meaning of or how to sound a word out but for many of our students they are in the process of learning these strategies. It is absolutely essential that a child be taught and understands how to use these strategies in order to become good readers.
Here at AIS we are very fortunate to have the expertise of Mr. Adams as our Literacy Coach to work alongside our students and teachers in direct support of literacy. Additionally, Mr. Adams possesses a wealth of information and suggestions that he is eager to share with you, our parents.
In closing, I invite you to visit Mr. Adam’s weblink where you can become acquainted with him, learn about our school’s literacy efforts and upcoming events. Furthermore I invite you to stop by and introduce yourself to Mr. Adams. The relationship between home and school is that of a true partnership. Thank you AIS parents for being active partners in the education of our children. They are our future!

Ms. Bouchard,
Elementary Principal, American International School Hong Kong

American International School Hong Kong Elementary School Office Staff

2010-09-23T03:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

As with any school office, ours is an extremely busy place and often the first impression a parent has is that of the interaction with the school office staff. We take pride in treating parents, students and teachers as our customers. This site will be updated to include a few more friendly faces that you might encounter if you were to visit our elementary office. Meet Rhoda, Jo and new to the office, Man!

Parent Involvement is a Powerful Tool!

2010-09-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I have the opportunity to join alongside American International School of Hong Kong's PTA for a social luncheon. As I reflect on the role and benefits of being involved as a parent, the following comes to mind. There are indeed benefits for parental involvement (this includes Dad's too) and major benefits to the student, parent and the school. Did you know that students with families who have above average involvement are 30% more successful in school than those with below average involvement? This is evidenced in your students' grades, test scores, attendance, better social skills, positive attitudes, homework completion and graduation and yes even post graduate education?
When parents comes to school regularly it reinforces the view in the child's mind that school and home are connected and that school is an integral part of the whole family's life. A frequent concern by parents is "I would like to get involved but I don't have enough time." All it takes is an hour or two.
Our schools should be welcome places for parents to be. Teaching students is a tremendous responsibility that cannot and should not happen without involvement from the child's primary educators, the parents! Ask today how you can get involved. I am sure as a parent you will reap the benefits too.

American International School (ES) Hong Kong Selects its House Captains!

2010-09-08T23:54:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our Grade 5 Elementary House Captains!

This was a tough competition and each of the students delivered outstanding speeches. To confirm, the winners are as follows:

Red Phoenix: Steve & Gwyneth

White Tigers: Sean & Christina
Blue Dragons: Muiz & Koma

We look forward to their individual and combined leadership at Elementary School this year.

American International School of Hong Kong - Assembly #2 (September 6, 2010)

2010-09-05T19:39:00.000-07:00

Our weekly assembly today kicked off with the American International School Hong Kong school song led by Mr. Edpalina. Following the song, several short announcements were made by Ms. Bouchard regarding the recycling efforts in the cafeteria and our upcoming PSD classes. Finally, twelve Grade 5 students delivered speeches to their peers with the hope of earning votes for House Captain selections taking place later today. Students spoke about why they believed they were the best candidate and his/her vision for the school while students, parents and teachers listened attentively.

New Post

2010-06-15T16:36:00.001-07:00

Effective August 1, 2010 I can be contacted at my new post in Hong Kong. I anxiously await the opportunity to join this fine private school. The greatest gift one individual can give is that of knowledge and I welcome the opportunity to work alongside and learn together with my staff and students.
In addition to the school's website I will be updating important events, upcoming information and some of my learning on this site. Stay tuned.

Farewell to All

2010-05-13T12:46:00.001-07:00

Dear Olive View and West Street Students and Parents,

As the school year comes to a close I wish to thank both schools and the greater Corning Community for a terrific three years. Indeed, I have learned a lot!! Please join me in welcoming your two new Principals for the 10-11 school year. Mr. Dave Sweringen will officially be Principal at Olive View Elementary and Ms. Megan Neely will officially be Principal at West Street Elementary. I know they will each do a GREAT job and continue to move the schools forward.

Thursday May 20th is Open House at Olive View and West Street Schools

At OV beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the gym, those in attendance will be pleasantly rewarded with a superb student performance, the opportunity to visit our Writing Gallery in the cafeteria not to mention classroom visitations from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
At WS there is a BBQ planned. For two dollars you can buy a hot dog, potatoe salad, fruit and a water bottle. WS students will also be showing off their writing in the cafeteria.
Do plan to come and help us celebrate this past year's accomplishments, our current successes and wish for a fantastic future.

One final reminder that the last day of school is June 4th. Many of our classrooms will be taking end of year field trips between now and that time.

Thank you one and all,

Beckie Bouchard, Ed.D.

New Horizons ~

2010-04-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

Dear OV and WS Students, Parents and Staff,

It has been a distinct privilege to serve the Corning community during the past three years and I truly appreciate the welcome support that has been provided to me by the CUESD schools as well as the Corning Exchange Club. You will be missed.

With that said, I have been appointed as an Elementary Principal at the American International School of Hong Kong beginning August 1, 2010. The school is located in downton Kowloon, Hong Kong and additional information about it can be found on the link below.
http://www.ais.edu.hk/

Please join me in welcoming our two new Principals to Olive View (David Sweringen) and West Street Elementary School (Megan Neely) for the 10-11 school year. I look forward to hearing about the "continuous growth" that these two schools will make under their leadership/guidance.

Respectfully,
Beckie Bouchard, Ed.D.

Olive View Elementary School Springs Into Action!

2010-02-25T13:15:00.001-08:00

Dear Students, Parents, Teachers, et.al,

Thank you for visiting my blog site. Spring time is an incredibly busy time of year for us all. As the weather begins to change and the days grow longer it seems as though opportunities for multiple activities increase. Below is a list of upcoming events that will be taking place at our school. Ask your child, his/her teacher or school office for additional details.

2.26 - Spring Pictures (Non-Uniform Choice Dress Day)
3.2 - Read Across America (Dr. Suess Day)
3.4 - "All STAR Student Luncheon" in Red Bluff (Congratulations to 5th grader Beatrice Levica)
3.4 - "Sierra Avenue Elementary" teachers and principal do a site visit
3.10 - District wide "Kindergarten Round Up" to be held in the OV gymnasium
3.23 - OV SERRF Highlights Show
4.13 - CST Spirit Week (Each day has a different theme)
Monday = School Spirit Kickoff (School Colors)
Tuesday = Backwards Day
Wednesday = Mixed Up Day
Thursday = Crazy Hair Day
Friday = P.J. Day
5.5 - 2nd Trimester Awards Ceremony
5.11 - School Site Council Meets
5.14 - CEEF Carnival at OV (Stay tuned for details)
5.20 - Open House (Orientation and student program begins in the gym at 5:30 p.m., classroom visitations from 6-7 p.m.)
5.31 - "Think College Now"
Congratulations are also due to 5th grader Autumn Anker who is the winner of our school AR T-Shirt Design contest.

Many thanks to the support staff, parents and teachers who are working together to help provide the best education possible for our students.

Have a GREAT SPRING :)

New Year Updates for Olive View and West Street Schools

2010-01-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome Back Everyone!

It doesn't seem possible that it is 2010 already. We will continue rewarding and recognizing regular attendance and behavior at both school sites. Below are a few reminders about upcoming events for the month of January:

1.8.10 - West Street holds its "Character Counts" assembly with special recognition for students displaying last month's trait of "Respect." As a reminder, the trait we will focus on this month is "Responsibility."

1.11.10 - Both sites will conduct as part of our safety drill practice a "Silent Evacuation" drill.

1.14.10 - School Site Council meetings take place at both school sites beginning at 2:30 p.m.

1.21.10 - Olive View Grade 5 students attend the "Peking Acrobats" fieldtrip.

Parents, please continue to maintain ongoing and active communication with your child's teacher and refer to the newsletters that are sent home each month as well as the calendar for important dates and events.

Thank you!

Beckie Bouchard

Attendance Matters

2009-12-13T18:48:00.001-08:00

Recently both Olive View and West Street Elementary Schools have begun to increase opportunities for students who attend regularly to receive rewards and be recognized. Research shows that students who attend school regularly achieve higher rates of learning and we know regular attendance of school is transferrable into work habits as adults.
Congratulations to Mrs. Aguilar's 2nd Grade Class who had the highest attendance last week at Olive View School (99%).
Here's wishing all CUESD students and parents a wonderful and warm Christmas Holiday Season. School resumes on January 4, 2010. See you then!

Post Thanksgiving Events and Updates!

2009-11-30T06:46:00.000-08:00

Welcome back everyone after a nice long Thanksgiving break. We hope that you enjoyed eating as much turkey as you wanted and spent quality time with family and friends.

A few upcoming reminders:
* OV is planning to host an afterschool intramural basketball program beginning soon. Stay tuned for details and look for those permission slips.
* OV Kindergarten Christmas program will be held on December 16th at 12:30 in the OV gym. They will also be visiting our local seniors center and singing Christmas carols to them.
* Grade 5 Physical Fitness testing will soon be underway throughout CUESD.
* December 18th is a district wide minimum day with a 12:40 p.m. dismisal time.

Special parent commendations are made to the following individuals for their active support and participation in the Olive View "Family Math" evening program:
1) Crystal Linnet-Watson
2) Fawn Brunelle
3) Mandy Rico
4) Leticia Rodriguez
5) Molly Thomas
6) Cheryl McCormick
7) Cora Brush
8) Diane Hoag
9) Carolina Guzman

How Does West Street Recognize Students? Let Me Count the Ways!

West Street Students receive recognition for regular attendance, citizenship (Caught Bee'ing Good) and uniform participation.
Beginning next Friday, 12.04.09 students in individual classrooms will be recognized for attending a full week without tardies or absences. Every Friday one student from each classroom will have their name announced and come to the office to select a prize. When the popcorn machine arrives parent volunteers will be needed to assist us in recognizing all students who have perfect attendance for the week. Each trimester students receive awards for perfect attendance and student achievement.
Students demonstrating behaviors that are consistent with the pillars of our Character Counts program have opportunities to get "Caught Bee'ing Good" and receive a prize. Each month students participate in a school wide assembly that helps them understand the importance of the pillar in a fun and exciting way.
One West Street classroom with the greatest uniform participation rate to be awarded a pizza party beginning January, 2010.

Taking Time to Remember Our Veterans!

2009-11-11T11:48:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to all those who have served in the armed forces. You have helped to keep our nation safe and free. Happy Veterans' Day ~

Olive View and West Street Healthy Fundraising Event!

2009-10-01T09:18:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, October 8 both schools will host the annual "Walk-A-Thon" fundraising event. This healthy fundraiser includes awards for all participants and an opportunity to win a free bicycle, helmet and lock for one lucky student from each school. Sponsorship through local contacts (family and friends) is encouraged. Snacks and water will be available. Check with your child's school for a schedule of when your child will be walking. If you are able to join us please remember to sign in at the front office.

Thank you,
Ms. Bouchard

The Story Behind the Numbers

2009-09-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

Behind numbers/success there is always a story. The story of our school, Olive View Elementary isn’t one about the adults who place their schedules or individual needs in front of students. Instead, “student achievement” remains central to the school’s discussion, planning efforts and resource allocation. The district’s recent decision to hold early out Mondays as a time for our teachers to meet is most exciting because it provides the opportunity for staff to engage in rich and meaningful planning that is focused on providing students with what they need in order to be successful. Olive View School and its teachers clearly own their results and for the time being those results are positive, yet we know there is little room for complacency and that as professional educators we must be lifelong learners. We are continuously learning about best practices and how to support the needs of our struggling demographics.

Olive View Elementary School holds both HOPE and PROMISE!
Hope….that our demographic groups who aren’t achieving at levels commensurate of their demographic peer groups have the opportunity to do so.
Hope….. that after our students leave us for the day that they return to homes that are safe and supportive of education and our students’ emotional, academic and social needs.
Hope…..that our parents who remain dedicated to being proactive partners in the education of our children continue their efforts and get others involved whose own experiences in school might not have been positive. Everyone can lend a helping hand regardless of educational attainment or comfort levels. Public education cannot and should not attempt to do this job without the support of our parents.
Hope….that CUESD can remain solvent throughout these fiscally challenging times and maintain the programs that are currently in place (music and arts) because we know they are integral to a balanced curriculum and the overall well-being of children.
Finally, we hold hope, wild hope (if you will) …. that our state will develop and adopt a fair accountability system that focuses on growth. A system that will support our students’ ability to think critically, be motivated toward learning, and relate to the real world with a focus on their future….a future our students will ultimately face (not one of our past) and finally a system that is easily understood by students, parents and teachers.
Our PROMISE to you is this….. our staff is willing to do whatever it takes in order to support your child’s success in so long as we have you as partners in this process. We promise to provide your child with the supports he/she needs as well as a rigorous and challenging curriculum. We promise to provide opportunities to learn and access the grade level standards that they are supposed to learn but we need your support. The job of educating a child is too important to do without you parent, as you are your child’s primary educator.
In closing, I applaud the students who make learning everyday a priority, the OV faculty members who understand what students need and know how to provide it, but a final call goes out to our parents who can and do help make the difference in your child’s life. You entrust us with your most precious resource each and everyday….your children. Let’s work together to make your child’s elementary learning the best positive and productive experience it can be.

Thank you,
Beckie Bouchard, Ed.D.

Olive View School Sets Historical High in District and West Street Makes Huge Growth!

2009-09-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

NEWSFLASH AND UPDATES:

* Olive View School is pleased to announce its recently released API of 808. Congratulations to the students and staff!

* West Street Elementary School's API grew by 52 points making the most growth in the district. Keep up the great job West Street.

* Uniforms will be available for sale at the OV gym on Saturday only from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

* A school wide healthy fundraiser "Walk-A-Thon" will be held Thursday, October 8th at both Olive View and West Street Elementary Schools. Look for details coming home soon. We need parents to assist us. Please contact your school office for additional information. All student participants will have the opportunity to win a bicycle.

Great News Awaits OV School!

2009-09-10T17:52:00.000-07:00

Greetings All,

Today, I received some promising news that once "unembargoed" will be cause for a BIG celebration at Olive View School so stay tuned - September 15 is the day.
In other news, don't forget that September 19 and 20 OV will host the District Uniform sale in our beautiful gymnasium. Today was the first School Site Council meeting of the year.
Tomorrow, September 11 OV hosts 9 Elementary Principals and Tehama County Office administrative personnel for a walk-through of our site. We will visit classrooms and share "best practices" taking place in our classrooms each and everday!
Anyone interested in helping out for the October walk-a-thon please notify the front office.
Parents, please remember to check your calendars for events and other information throughout the year.

Respectfully,

Ms. Bouchard

Welcome Back!!

2009-08-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

What a super start to the year at both West Street and Olive View Elementary Schools!

Our students look so sharp in their new uniforms and have every reason to be proud.

Congratulations to West Street School for making a huge 22 point gain in their Academic Performance Index (API) last year and to Olive View School for having the highest (API) 791 in our district. Both schools deserve a big round of applause. As we celebrate these gains in student achievement we should not become complacent in how we "do business" each and every day. As evidenced by our results we still have work to do with our low socio-economic and English Language Learner student groups. Each school kicked off the year by reviewing last year's goals followed by setting clear, measurable targets for grade levels, individual teachers and students for the 09.10 school year.

Parents, it is important that you know our teachers will be "giving it their all" this year and we are asking you to do the same! The job of educating your child(ren) is too important to do without your help. Ask your child's teacher how you can help support learning at home.

In closing, I look forward to an exciting year that lies ahead and know together our Corning community can and will do "whatever it takes" to insure ALL students learn at HIGH LEVELS.

Respectfully,

Beckie Bouchard, Ed.D.

Uniforms Update

2009-08-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder that on Saturday, August 16th Corning Union Elementary School District will be selling uniforms at the West Street Cafeteria. If you have not already purchased yours this will be a perfect opportunity without having to drive!!!!

School is Just Around the Corner

2009-08-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back Everyone,

Just a quick last summer reminder that the first day of school is August 20th. This weekend make sure and stop by the CUESD booth at the Corning Youth Fair. A special gift to all Olive View parents this year includes a calendar with beautiful pictures of our students, staff and school grounds. Also listed in the calendar will be important events and information for you to easily refer to throughout the year. It will be sent home along with your child on the first day of school. Please hang this calendar proudly and enjoy!

See you soon,
Ms. Bouchard :)

Uniforms Update

2009-07-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

We have received numerous phonecalls regarding school uniforms for the upcoming 2009.10 school year. Non-denim, black or navy blue pants are permitted for either gender, skorts/skirts for girls at the elementary and middle school but no Dickies! Polo shirts should be worn on top and either white or school colors.

Other good news is that both Olive View and West Street Elementary School students made progress on their CSTs from 07.08 - 08.09. More details to follow.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer and don't forget the first day of school is August 20. Every Monday this year will be a Minimum Day so be sure to check the schedule.

See everyone soon!

Ms. Bouchard

Is This Really the Last Week of School????

2009-06-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

It doesn't seem possible that it is the last week of school. A final thank you to the professionals that I have had the opportunity to work with this past year. Many of us continue our learning throughout the summer.

As we bring the school year to a close a few final suggestions for summer:

1) Get a library card and visit the local library - Read daily!!!!!
2) Keep those Math skills sharp whever you visit the grocery store or travel. Write daily in a journal or to friends and family. (Yes e-mail counts)
3) The Parks and Recreation Departing is sponsoring a ton of activities for youth in the Corning area. Check out the sessions they have available at little or no cost.
4) The City Pool is a great way to stay in shape and keep cool.

Most of all wherever you find yourself this summer hope it is both safe and exciting. See you in the Fall.

May 18, 2009 - Another Great Day at Olive View Elementary!!!

2009-05-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon All,

Today was a superb day at Olive View School. We started off by hosting the District's Grade 5 Rotary sponsored "Pedometer Challenge" Kickoff. After a brief technical challenge, a dynamic group of high school aged students called "Nutrition Mission" got us rocking and ready to begin tracking our steps. Who will win this challenge, the students or the adults? No one knows for sure but make no mistake students had strapped on their pedometers by lunch time and we were comparing our number of steps. Many thanks to the SNAAC group (Aimee and her crew did a fantastic job), Superintendent Kelish and Board Member Laura Crane for their support and attendance.
Our Minimum Day wound up with staffs from Olive View and West Street working together (more formally known as "collaborating") in the OV gym. Grade level teams worked on writing for the first hour and the second hour was spent developing "norms." Norms are the first step in determining how we will work together in the future and usually they describe a behavior or condition. Examples of norms might be "be punctual to meetings" or "be respectful of one another's differences."
Congratulations to our Grade 5 students and to teachers at both school sites for a job well done today.

May Updates

2009-05-10T09:20:00.001-07:00

It really doesn't seem possible that we are nearing the end of the school year and summer is almost here. Now that the test window is behind us I would like to personally thank everyone for their hard work. Although we will have to wait until summer for results, unquestionably, our students took their California Standards Test (CSTs) "very seriously" this year.

Below are several updates for those of you who regularly check this website:

#1) Beginning 2009-10 Anthony Rypka (AKA A.J.) will be CUESD's "Reading First" coach. We are looking forward to his leadership and support of improving Language Arts instruction.

#2) A reminder that May 18 will be a "Minimum Day."
#3) May 22 is Olive View's "Open House" beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a music presentation in our wonderful gymnasium. Classrooms will be open from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

#4) If you have not done so already, please remember to submit any 2009-2010 teacher requests to our OV office. The deadline of May 15, 2009 is rapidly approaching.
#5) Spread the word ...... OV will be hosting yet another "Kindergarten Roundup" for Olive View School on Saturday, May 30 (9:00 - 11:30 a.m.) in the gymnasium.

Finally, to all Olive View Mothers and Grandmothers I would like to wish you a very "Happy Mother's Day."

Olive View School Celebrates CST Spirit Week!

2009-04-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

Each day this week is a special one for Olive View as students and staff get in "the spirit" for the upcoming CSTs.

Monday = Hat Day

Tuesday = Twins Day

Wednesday = Sports Day

Thursday = Backwards Day

Friday = Crazy Hair Day

Friday students attend the "CST Awards Assembly" in celebration of those who have progressed one level or more based on their Math and/or Language Arts scores during the past year.

GO EAGLES!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Olive View Uniform Survey Results Are In!

2009-04-08T07:38:00.001-07:00

It's official and based on results of the survey(s) that were administered to students, staff and parents....
Effective 2009-2010 students will be given a choice to wear either black or navy bottoms, white tops, mutli-colored jackets, and grey or school colored sweaters. Olive View School Site Council discussed ways to support costs of uniform for eligible families. Additional information to follow.

Olive View Events

2009-04-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

Today from 12:30 - 12:50 p.m. Olive View Elementary School was officially on "lockdown." Notice was received from Maywood Elementary School at 12:25 p.m. that they were officially "lockdowned." Congratulations to our students and staff for their state of preparedness. It took approximately 5 minutes to get our students into rooms and secure the building. This was no small feat given that some students were at lunch, on the playground and in other classrooms. All students and staff were accounted for immediately. The importance of practicing safety drills cannot be understated. Similar to academics, music or sports the more we practice the better off we will be. Awesome response Olive View School :)

As a reminder to our parents it is a good idea to have a safety plan in place for you/your family.

March Madness Hits Corning Elementary Schools

2009-03-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

Olive View hosted Woodson Elementary School yesterday for the first of two intramural basketball events. What an exciting day for everyone as these two teams went head to head. Although we didn't win I am very proud of our players for putting forth their best "personal effort." Friday, OV travels to Woodson Elementary for our second game. Stay tuned.

Uniform Survey

2009-03-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

Olive View Students, Staff and Parents ~
The uniform surveys are out! Here's a chance to express your opinion. Thank you in advance for completing and returning these back to Olive View office by March 24, 2009.

Leadership Shortage

2009-03-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

The most recent DVD I viewed from Douglas Reeves entitled, "Raising Leaders: The Next Educational Imperative" has been inspirational for me to say the least. The Cliff Notes version is that we need to develop our leaders regardless of the level right now and we all play an important role in this process. In fact, faculty members have an exceptional influence on the leaders of tomorrow.
Dr. Reeves and other researchers predict that leadership will be in short supply in the next seven years. He cites research from Linda Darling Hammond who states that "within the next five years 60% of Principals will leave, retire or resign." If you think this is limited to education, think again! These findings transcend the medical, social and business worlds in the US and internationally. It will happen in many walks of life and across geographical boundaries.
Doug enourages us to consider "multiple studies" whether they are quantitative, case studies or narrative. He clearly communicates that leadership is NOT linear albeit it is a critical variable and "life" is a very multivariant. He encourages schools to deeply implement a "FEW" things because superficial efforts on the part of districts or schools really waste "time" and "money."
Our youth need to be nurtured and used as resources (e.g. service to others and they need creative activities). By involving them early on it will add to their assets which will help protect them from things in the future.

Recommended Reading: "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman

Curriculum and Instruction Symposium (Asilomar - 2009)

2009-03-10T13:36:00.001-07:00

February 19, 2009 provided CUESD administrators with a unique opportunity to listen to and learn from three famous individuals who have written numerous books and contributed much research toward improving education. Among them were Margaret Wheatley, Mike Schmoker, Pedro Noguera, Steve Covey, Tim Waters, Larry Bell and Douglas Reeves. Attached is a picture of our group and researcher, Douglas Reeves who spoke about "Change Leadership in Action."

News and Updates from OV!

2009-03-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

1) Congratulations to Sarah Grines for being selected as Olive View's 2008.09 "All Star" student. Sarah, along with her family will be recognized this Thursday, March 4 at the annual ACSA luncheon in Red Bluff, CA.

2) Parents......Olive View needs your representation! If you have an opinion about our upcoming district uniform policy this is a chance to have your voice heard. CUESD invites you to attend this very important meeting on March 10 in the West Street Cafeteria. The meeting begins at 2:30 p.m. and we hope to see you there.

3) Don't forget Kindergarten registration takes place March 5 at Olive View School. A big thanks to Kathy Ross for leading this effort :)

* Please remember to encourage your student to do his/her very best each and every day. We are very proud of ALL of our students.

Olive View Events

2009-02-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Michael Messmer on winning this year's Olive View Spelling Bee Contest. He will be representing the school at the upcoming County contest. Go Michael!!!!

Parents, ask your child's teacher what you can do to assist your child to prepare for the upcoming 2008-09 California Standardized Test (CST)? We want everyone to do their personal best. This means getting adequate sleep and good nutrition. Snacks will be provided during the test window.

Burrr - It's Cold Outside!

2009-02-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

Dear OV Parents,

Time to drag out the coats and sweaters!!! Please remember to dress your children warm especially now that our cold temperatures are about a high of 50 degrees.

My House in Mexico

2009-02-10T19:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of my home in La Paz, Mexico. This is a place that I enjoy traveling and staying. One of my favorite activities to do while there is to scuba dive with the sea lions at Los Islotes Island. The trip takes about 1.5 hours by boat but well worth the time. The sea lions are particularly curious creatures but never agressive. There is much to see and experience in this exciting city. A word of warning however don't travel in mid-summer unless of course you are very heat tolerant.

OV Principal Creates Blog!

2009-02-10T18:44:00.001-08:00

This is the beginning of many contributions from Olive View Principal, Beckie Bouchard. What will be shared through this blog will consist of resources for students, teachers and parents. I will check it minimally once each week in effort to respond to questions that are posed and also to read comments or suggestions from any of the aforementioned constituents.

What's new at Olive View?
1) Think College Now
2) Assemblies
3) Saturday Test Practices (Grades 3 and 5) taught by Assistant Principal, Mr. Sweringen and Principal, Ms. Bouchard.