Archive: 2006 Community Meetings

February 2006 | March 2006 | April 2006 | May 2006 | June 2006 | July 2006
August 2006 | September 2006 | October 2006 | November 2006

[Archive of 2005 Meeting Summaries ]

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November Community Meeting

Orville Wright Middle School (80th and Emerson) Westchester Council PTA and Westchester/Playa Education Foundation are shining a SPOTLIGHT ON WESTCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS! Parents considering the next step in their children's schooling -- Enjoyed refreshments and learned why public school has made a comeback in Westchester! They met staff and other parents from our family of schools. Learned about: Groundbreaking partnership with Loyola Marymount University -rising test scores - world class academic standards - reduced class size - exciting magnet programs (would you believe flight school?) - upgraded facilities - art and music - Wonder of Reading Libraries and much more!

October Community Meeting

Featured Dr Shane Martin, Dean of Education at LMU. Dr Martin presented the details of the partnership between LMU, WPEF and our family of 7 schools. WPEF is listening - we asked you to join us in dreaming BIG - well dreams are coming true!

September Community Meeting

Featured Dr Shane Martin, Dean of Education at LMU. Topic: LMU, LAUSD, WPEF and the partnership for our family of schools. Dr Martin spoke of a grand plan in its early stages that will be a national model of school, community, university, and school district collaboration. LMU will embrace our 7 neighborhood public schools supported by WPEF, and help with teacher aides, fundraising, special education, science and math education, data analysis, student teaching, mentoring, and professional development of our teachers to name a few initiatives! LMU will work with us as a community to determine how best they can serve us in this high priority partnership. There will be an agreement signed with LAUSD, so it will not matter who is in charge, this agreement will look to be independent of school governance issues currently in the news. The ultimate goal is student achievement for every child. In addition, an executive director will be hired to oversee this project (logistics still to be determined) including a community advisory board to help channel the input. Look for a big press announcement in the next couple of weeks.

August Community Meeting

WPEF, PTA, Booster and community members gathered to discuss the results of the teacher surveys previously passed out in June and to work through logistics in assembling and delivering of supplies. Assembly will take place Wednesday, August 30 and delivery is scheduled for the first pupil free day, Friday, September 1. In addition, WPEF has secured a generous donation from Vons for each school to use for back to school lunches for the teachers and staff at each school.

July Community Meeting

PTA Booster Summit. The idea is to open up the lines of communication between all of the support groups and make more cohesive efforts to give our schools all the support we can to help them reach their full potentials. All of the PTA’s and Booster Clubs were invited. Also, we invited the local Rotaries, Chamber of Commerce, Playa Vista, and everyone else who has been a school supporter in the past. Download the flier...

June 2006 Community Meeting

What can be done about our high school? At the May meeting, parents and community members asked "What are we trying to fix?" as Choices were presented regarding Westchester High School. In June, the high school answered. A presentation by Assistant Principal, Eric Davidson, showed test scores, from 2000 - 2005 in Math and English and offered explanations on when numbers were low and when they increased. In addition, WPEF provided a handout, previously reviewed by key WHS administrators, outlining choices for change and what we need to change about WHS.

WHS teachers and administration together with WPEF have been working tirelessly on applying for 2 different grants to provide funds to Westchester High School. Dr. Susan Way-Smith, WPEF board member, provided an update on progress on the grant applications and what the potentials is for WHS. The presentations are available for review. Questions, please contact a member of WPEF or WHS.

Smaller Learning Community Presentation (PDF)

Choices for Change Handout

Download the flier...

May 2006 Community Meeting

Over 100 community members, parents, teachers and administrators met to listen to the experts discuss Choices for Change for Westchester High School. WPEF hosted three experts in the field of education:

• Ana Fernandez spoke regarding Charter Schools and offered WPEF $10,000 to explore what going charter truly means. No strings attached but an opportunity to determine what is involved and if this is the right fit for our community. Parents from a neighborhood charter school also spoke on the pros and cons of creating a charter school.

• Dr David Marsh discussed the creation of a SPAN school, where schools are created to educate students of grades 6-12 comparing traditional schools with schools in other countries.

• Greg Vallone presented the results of the partnership between James Monroe High School and California State University, Northridge - sharing the numbers and the success in the creation of small learning communities.
  
  For more information the presentations are available for your viewing. Join WPEF at the June 1st Community Meeting as we discuss Choices for Change - Conclusion!
  
  Links to Presentations:
  Charter Schools - Ana Fernandez
  Span Schools - Dr David Marsh Ph.D
  Small Learning Communities - Greg Vallone

April 2006 Community Meeting

Sponsors, attendees and volunteers met to recap the Expo success.
In addition, WPEF provided an overview of upcoming events and how everyone could get involved and concluded with a discussion on the upcoming May meeting to feature speakers on charter schools, span schools and smaller learning communities. The May meeting is focused on informing the community the options available for the middle and high schools. Hope to see you all there - it is bound to be a very informative!

March 2006 Community Meeting

Where should my child go to school in Westchester and Play del Rey? A report on facts and opinions by Westchester/Playa del Rey Education Foundation (WPEF) and Parents Achieving Results Together (P.A.R.T.).
Download the report...