EL SEGUNDO HERALD March 1, 2018 Page 3
Anza Presentation, School Safety
Highlight Wiseburn Meeting
By Duane Plank
Last Thursday evening’s meeting of the Wiseburn
School Board, called to order by Board
President JoAnne Kaneda, was a dichotomy to
the assembled attendees. It featured discussion
of Wiseburn Unified School District programs,
as well as a necessary lock-down mentality
which has to be implemented to protect all
in the wake of recent events.
The Board heard a special presentation by
administrators and teachers at Anza Elementary,
which delineated some of the success
stories occurring on the campus located on
Hindry Avenue.
The Board also discussed, in the wake of
the massacre that took place two weeks ago in
Parkland, Fla., the need for all school districts
to continue to ramp up campus security and
deal with the hard questions about protecting
students, teachers, administrators and support
personnel during the school day. The District had
scheduled, prior to the carnage of innocents
at the Florida high school campus, an active
shooter exercise and “critique” of current security
measures that will take place on March 1.
Said Superintendent Tom Johnstone, regarding
the murder of innocent children and the
resultant protests by the under-20s: “It is sad
in a society that is really governed by adults,
that it takes the death of our kids to bring this
matter to a head. How long are we going to put
up with this? We are the joke of the world.”
Principal Alberto Paredes and four of his staff
at Anza Elementary made their presentation,
entitled “Off to Great Places.” Rather than
focusing on data and number-crunching, the
presenters celebrated the strides being made
at the elementary school: Implementing a supportive
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school culture with a positive behavior
support program, utilizing 3D printing, and
making progress with the Project Lead the
Way course offerings.
Paredes handed off the initial part of the
presentation to Jorge Paz, Anza counselor,
who talked of the school team currently in
place to implement the Positive Behavior
Support (PBS) program. Paz spoke of one of
the main problems in 2018 American schools
-- an epidemic, he said, of “social isolation”
that causes some students to feel that they are
being left out or left behind, thus causing them
to feel “lonely and invisible.” He noted that
this feeling of isolation causes some students to
“pull away” from society and stunt their social
development. This can result in students hurting
themselves, or others, similar to what occurred
in Parkland two weeks ago. Paredes spoke of
the PBS program goals, which include the
attempt to develop a culture of “inclusion and
connectedness” by creating positive incentives.
The second part of Anza’s presentation
featured third grade teachers Suzanne Guidi
and Jordan McKenna, who touted the school’s
“Genius Hour.” This program encourages
creativity in the classroom through Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) immersion. Funded by a Wiseburn
Ed Foundation grant, the tools used to facilitate
learning during Genius Hour include
propagating public speaking, revving up the
engineering process, and exposing the students
to the magic of 3D printing.
Next, the Board was treated to a “share-out”
from four students who participate in Anza’s program.
They purveyed some of their 3D printing
success stories and adroitly answered questions.
The final component of the Anza presentation
was made by fifth grade teacher Candyse Crow
and delineated the successes of the Project
Lead the Way program. She spoke of pairing
kindergartners with older students (fifth graders)
to delve into “peer collaborations-tutoring,”
citing studies that have found that “students
are more positive toward subject areas when
assisted by an older student.”
Action items included approval of the mandated
Single Plan for student achievement at
Anza, Burnett, Cabrillo and Dana campuses,
as well as an agreement with Board Docs to
provide an online agenda for services and support
that will make the agenda accessible to
Board members via their tablets or smartphones.
Next up was discussion about the ongoing
construction at Wiseburn High on the westside
of Douglas Street. The Phase II work, which
is expected to be completed in early September,
includes the pools, gym and sports field.
Vince Madsen, the District’s point man on the
Wiseburn High project, emailed after the meeting
that “we have finally finished the rough
earthwork under both of the pools and have
started working on concrete forming and the
pool circulation piping. The equipment building
which will house the pool equipment has
received the first of its deep footing concrete/
rebar, and is starting to take shape. We have
electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors
working in the larger section of the gym
building and will soon start working on the
ancillary rooms on the north and south side
of the gym. Punch list activity is still ongoing
for Phase 1, and we will continue to work on
final close-out and State certification of that
scope of work.”
In other District-related news, the Board
was scheduled last weekend to interview the
remaining candidates for the position of superintendent,
which opened up because of the
pending retirement of Johnstone, who reported,
“By the end of the weekend, we should know
who the next superintendent is.”
After the meeting, Johnstone noted that there
would probably be a bond finalization that
may occur at the next School Board session.
“We are going to do it,” he said. “We are not
going to ask a new superintendent to go out
for a bond. We have things to do, and if they
want to do them, we will do them -- and if
they don’t want to do them, we won’t…and
that’s just how it’s going to be.”
The next Wiseburn School Board meeting
is scheduled for March 8. •
Community Briefs
State of the City
Called the “Mayor’s Farewell” come
join the community to listen to Mayor Suzanne
Fuentes’ State of the City address on
March 20, 11:30 - 1:30. The event will be
held at the UCLA Health Training Center,
home of the LA Lakers located at 2275
E. Mariposa Ave., El Segundo. Lunch will
be served on the court of the LA Lakers
with a presentation on the future of El
Segundo from Mayor Fuentes. Tickets are
available at the El Segundo Chamber of
Commerce.
College and Career Day
The El Segundo High School is
doubling the fun with a combined College
and Career Day on March 2. Classroom
Guest Speaker starts at 10:30am, luncheon
at 12:15pm, then a College and Career Fair
starts at 12:45 pm.
Announcing the City of
El Segundo’s 2018 Star Party
The City of El Segundo Recreation & Parks
Department and the South Bay Astronomical
Society are proud to present the Star Party
on Friday, March 16th, 2018 from 8:00 –
10:30 pm. The event will be held in the
Hilltop Park Parking Lot, which is located
on Maryland Street, between Grand Avenue
and Pine Street, in El Segundo. Members of
the South Bay Astronomical Society will be
in attendance with telescopes to share a view
of the stars and educate new astronomers on
the wonders of the night sky. As a special
request at our event this year, please try and
bring red flashlight if possible. Red light will
help maintain your night vision and will
allow you to see images in the telescopes
easier. Please join us and enjoy an evening of
stargazing with friends, family, hot chocolate
provided by Blue Butterfly Coffee and cookies
provided by Double Tree Hotel.
If you would like more information or
directions, please call the City of El Segundo
Recreation and Parks Department at (310)
524-2700.
Announcing the City of El Segundo’s
Junk in Your Trunk Community Sale
The City of El Segundo Recreation &
Parks Department is proud to present the
Junk in Your Trunk Community Sale on
Saturday, March 24th, 2018 from 8:00
am – 11:00 am. Register at the George
E. Gordon Clubhouse building located at
300 E. Pine Ave by Monday, March 19th,
load up your trunk with as much as you
can fit, park your car, and sell, sell,
sell! This one-of-a-kind event brings
unique items that can be purchased all in
one place! Why spend your morning looking
elsewhere?! The event will be held at the
Joslyn Center Parking lot off of Eucalyptus
Drive and East Grand Avenue. Access the
See Community Briefs, page 16
Run a Shamrock Ad
in the El Segundo Herald.
Business and Community Members Share Some Luck!
Shamrock $25 (up to 20 words)
St. Patrick’s Day message to be
published in our March 15th issue.
Tim,
Wishing You
Good Luck,
Blessings, and Happiness
for Today and Every Day.
Love, Jackie
Share Your St.Patrick’s Day Spirit.
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