OLIVEVISTAMIDDLE SCHOOL
Panda Pride Press
14600 Tyler Street, Sylmar, CA 91342 (818) 367-1071
September 2003, Volume XI / Jean Whitaker, Principal

Our Vision: Every student will achieve academic excellence by engaging in challenging and meaningful learning in a safe environment that promotes creativity, respect, self-esteem and personal growth.

WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

“Hi! My name is Perla Zepeda. I’m a member of Grupo Folklorico Olive Vista. I like Folklorico. It is one of OliveVistaMiddle School’s many activities for students. Folklorico is a group of students who dance to Mexican music. Being in Folklorico is great! We go to fun fieldtrips and perform before many other schools. I think Folklorico is a great experience. It has helped me to socialize with other students all over the state of California.”

OLIVE VISTA’S AWARD-WINNING LIBRARY MEDIA ENTER OFFERS STUDENTS EXPANDED SERVICES FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

Expansion of the LibraryMediaCenter is underway! The new Olive Vista Middle School Library Complex will include a reading room, a community and staff development room, and outside reading areas. The LibraryMediaCenter offers programs for students and teachers in the following areas: Reading Counts Program, Leveled Reading, Professional Materials,Video Collection, Homework Kits, Computers in the Library, and After-school Tutoring Program. Mrs. Elly Saletta, Librarian and Media Resource Teacher, reports that last year during one semester students checked out over 10,000 books. To increase services to students and teachers for the new school year, over 25,000 new books were purchased for the Olive Vista Library.

THE GEAR-UP PROGRAM BEGINS 5TH SUCCESSFUL YEAR
SERVING THE NEEDS OF OV STUDENTS

The GEAR-UP Program at Olive Vista MS provides support to students and parents together with information about a college education. GEAR-UP involves a three-fold partnership: College Making It Happen, The Parent Institute, and the Northeast Valley Urban Village Initiative.

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS CONTINUE FOR THE 2003-4 SCHOOLYEAR

Olive Vista MS provides additional support for learning through the following programs: Summer School Intersession, English Language and Intensive Literacy Program, Emergency Immigrant Education Program, Extended School Special Education, Extended Learning Program, and English Language Acquisition Program.

OLIVEVISTAPARENTCENTER ANNOUNCES THEIR NEWSCHOOL
YEAR PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS

Chili Nakamura, Parent Center Director, says: “When parents are involved in their children’s education at home, children do better in school. We have an active ParentCenter. Our two Community Representatives are here to assist you during the school day. We are located next to the cafeteria. Our hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Services available to parents are: Parent Educational Classes, Assistance with School-related Concerns, Translation Services. The ParentCenter is also a place where parents can volunteer to come to school and give their time to help in their child’s education.”

INTRODUCING OLIVE VISTA’S NEW TEACHERS

The OV Family is proud to introduce the following new teachers: Gheorghe Ceara, Shirley Connolly, Marine Davtyan, Anne Fuller-Nevarez, Carmen Hall, Florence Hargreaves, Jill Longman, James Mason, Marilyn McGloin, Glenn Noreen, Victoria Rojas, and Irene Shin.

THE SECOND ANNUAL PARENT ACADEMY ISSCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 22, 2003

OliveVistaMiddle School’s ParentAcademy is a seminar for parents. It is designed to help parents and their child take the first step along the pathway to their future goals. The ParentAcademy is hosted by Mrs. Chili Nakamura, Parent Center Director, and Mrs. Jean Whitaker, Principal. The Parent Academy Seminar will provide presentations from college counselors, the local business community, and members of the Olive Vista Middle School Family. Entertainment will be provided. From 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Woodcraft Rangers will provide activities for children. To attend the ParentAcademy, call Mr. Armen Petrossian, Parent Education Coordinator at 818-367-1071. The ParentAcademy is free! Come to the ParentAcademy and see the exciting presentations showing parents how to prepare their children for high school and college.

SCHOOL CALENDAR
Sep. 10 / Title I Parent Meeting Orientation CEAC, SSC, and ELAC Councils, 8:00 a.m. at the ParentCenter
Sep. 15 / LocalSchool Leadership Council Nomination
Sep. 17 / CEAC, SSC, ELAC Parent Election 8:00 a.m. at the ParentCenter
Sep. 18 / LSLC Election 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 6 / School Closed
Oct. 16 / Back to School Night
Nov. 11 / Veterans’ Day
Nov. 26-28 / Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec. 22 – Jan 9, 2004 / Winter Recess
OLIVE VISTA’S DRILL AND DANCE TEAMS BEGIN THE 2003-2004 SCHOOL YEAR

Last year, OliveVistaMiddle School’s Drill and Dance Teams enjoyed a very successful year with many victories. The new team captains, Michele Luperico and Martha Benitez predict another blockbuster year for OV’s Drill and Dance Teams.

OLIVE VISTA BEGINS TECHNOLOGY PROJECT

As the school year begins, OliveVistaMiddle School is in the midst of a Safety and Technology Project. In the end the project will provide both staff and students greater access to technological tools to enhance the instructional program. Per Los Angeles Unified policy, all students are required to take part in a training program related to Internet etiquette prior to their usage of the Internet from any district computer system on campus. Therefore, by the time you read these, your student will have taken part in the training program at Olive Vista through their physical education class. In addition you should have received a one page flyer outlining the training program along with a Parent Permission slip. Hopefully you reviewed this flyer with your child and returned the completed Parent Permission slip to Mrs. Saletta, Librarian, for processing. Should you have any questions, please contact Mr. Benavidez, Technology Coordinator, at (818) 367-1071 ext. 379. Lastly, continue to check the OliveVistaMiddle School web site for information pertaining to future events and success stories of Olive Vista students at

PANDA PRIDE ORGANIZER

Every student has received an organizer. The organizer is a way teachers, students and parents communicate with each other. Parents need to sign the organizer on a regular basis. If a student loses the organizer he/she can buy another one for $4.00 at the student store.