Dear Parents and Community Members,

On behalf of the Board of Education and Poway staff, I want to thank you for your ongoing involvement and support.  We know how important parent participation is in the education of your children.  We are very fortunate to live in a community that places a very high priority on supporting our young people and a first-rate educational program.

At the June 25 Board meeting, four very special parent volunteers were publicly recognized.  Becky Burr from Sundance Elementary, Evi Haux from Monterey Ridge Elementary School,  Debbie Lambert from Twin Peaks Middle School, and Rex Kennemer from Abraxas High School were given Poway Unified crystal apples for hundreds of hours of service to their schools.  As part of the same Board action, we recognized the following volunteers for their service:

Last year, over 304,000 volunteer hours were given to our schools to support our students and the education mission of the school district.  This level of involvement makes Poway unique and a leader in building strong bonds between home and school.

Shifting gears, we are actively preparing for the opening of the 2007-2008 school year.  Very ambitious summer construction, modernization, and renovation efforts are underway.  Staff is busy purchasing materials, cleaning schools, and registering students.  We are seeking the very best teacher candidates for classroom openings and hiring needed school support staff.  We recognize how important each and every year is in your child’s education and we are committed to continue to make Poway Unified an even better school district each and every year.

Preparations are also underway for the first annual PUSD College Fair to be held on Tuesday evening, October 23, 2007, at Mt. Carmel High School. Representatives from more than 275 universities and colleges have been invited to Poway Unified. Read more about the Fair at http://www.powayusd.com/news/college/collegefair.asp.

I encourage you to enjoy these summer months with your children, extended family, and friends.  We hope everybody returns to school energized, rested, and ready to learn.

Thank you for your active involvement and support.

Warm regards,

Don Phillips
Superintendent

STUDENT RECOGNITION

These are examples of the fine accomplishments occurring at our schools every day.

• Carolina Calvin, Oak Valley Middle School seventh grader, was selected as an AVID Padres Scholar. The AVID Padres Scholar program is a scholarship program funded by the San Diego Padres players and owners, and jointly administered by the San Diego County Office of Education AVID Program and the San Diego Padres Baseball Club.

• Kevin Leu, Rancho Bernardo High School senior, was named to the Third Team in the USA Today All-USA High School Academic Team program. Kevin played solo on the flute that the San Diego Symphony at age 14. He performs as a guest artist with Center Artes, a program which reintegrates arts into the K-12 curriculum, and he is varsity academic league captain.

• Taylor Yi, Westview high School senior, received honorable mention in the USA Today All-USA High School Academic Team program.

• Emily Bolender, Midland Elementary School fifth grader, and Lyla Birenbaum, Sundance Elementary School fifth grader, were selected as recipients of the Outdoor Education Scholarship Contest awards funded by the William E. Van Arsdale Trust. The countywide writing competition is open to all fifth grade students. Winners receive full scholarship to the San Diego County Office of Education Outdoor School program.

• Amanda Nuñez, senior from Rancho Bernardo High School, has earned the title of “Best Teen Chef 2007.” She was one of 23 high school seniors from across the United States to compete in Texas in April for the eighth annual cooking competition, hosted by The Arts Institutes. Amanda earned her entry into the national competition in March by taking first place in a San Diego Teen Chef Competition. As the winner, Amanda was awarded a $40,000 scholarship to be used at The Art Institute of her choice.

• The San Diego Union Tribune has announced the 2007 Union Tribune High School Journalism Award Winners. Most Valuable Staffer Awards were given to:

Emiley Darling, grade 12, Mt. Carmel High School, Mt. Carmel Sunun

Staci Gold, grade 12, Poway High School, The Iliad

Matt Stevens, grade 12, Westview High School, The Nexus

• Fifth grade students participated in a “Design The Future” art contest sponsored by Greiner Buick Pontiac, GMC. More than 60 entries were displayed in the GMC showroom. The winning entries are: Brian Crotty, Garden Road Elementary School, $500 Savings Bond; Daniel Cole, Park Village Elementary School, $250 Savings Bond; Sophia Ding, Sunset Hills Elementary School, $150 Savings Bond; and Cameron Woodard, Creekside Elementary School, $50 Savings Bond. The school with the winning entry, Garden Road Elementary School, will receive a check for $1,000.

• Black Mountain Middle School sixth grade student Eddie (Dong Hyun) Kim won first place (with a perfect score) at the San Diego Math Competition, which was sponsored by the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association on April 21, 2007. He will go on to the national competition.

• Ruthie Arbeiter, junior, Poway High School, won the 2007 California LegiSchool Project Essay Contest for her essay titled, “Teens and Junk Food: Should Schools Have Limits?” Ruthie and the nine other state winners participated in a day-long Student Legislative Summit in Sacramento on April 19. She also participated in a student-run press conference at the State Capitol with members of the legislature and policymakers.

• Cassie Hwangng, a sixth grader at Meadowbrook Middle School, has taken first place this year in the City of San Diego Water Department’s Water Conservation Poster Contest. The theme for this year’s contest was “Water Reigns.” Cassie painted a watercolor poster and was recognized on May 1 at the San Diego City Administration Building. Her poster will be displayed in the lobby of City Hall and also will become part of an annual calendar.

• Daniel Rodriguez and John Patterson, seniors from Poway High School, received Gold Medals for their team effort in Mechatronics at the California State Skills USA competition. They are eligible to go on to Nationals, which is held yearly in Kansas City during the month of July. Poway High School senior Tyler Lanz received a Silver Medal in Diesel Technology and Poway High School junior Chris Pesqueira received a Bronze Medal in Commercial Baking.

• Gosuke Katoh, Bernardo Heights Middle School sixth grader, participated in a national letter writing contest for fourth through sixth grade students, expressing their feelings about racism. His letter was selected as one of 25 winners from the 15,000 letters submitted. Ruby Bridges, who in 1960 was the six-year-old who integrated the New Orleans Public Schools, selected the winners.

• Gwendolyn Chang, Bernardo Heights Middle School eighth grader, received a scholarship to participate in the six-week University of California, San Diego COSMOS Program, The Physics of Waves and Stars.

• Ellie Stewart, fifth-grader at Painted Rock Elementary School, won first-place and $150 for depicting the Yorktown battle scene in a poster contest sponsored by the Sons of the American Revolution’s local chapter. Her art will advance to the national competition.

• Darah Gerou, Poway High School senior, has succeeded beyond her expectations in her senior project to help the San Diego Chapter of Basset Hound Rescue. Darah asked for donations from local businesses, maintained a booth at the Poway Street Fair, and created a website. She had collected donations totaling $3200, then after an article came out in the San Diego Union Tribune, Darah received a call of an additional $10,000 donation. Darah is an example of the connection the Poway High Senior Projects make with the community.

• The following students have been selected to participate in the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Southern Border Section Middle School County Honor Band. The concert was held on Saturday, May 5, at Point Loma Nazarene University.

Bernardo Heights Middle School

Nicole White, grade 8, flute

Tess Whitwam, grade 8, flute

Emily Lazernik, grade 7, tenor saxophone

Hajime Goto, grade 7, French horn

Nicholas Murray, grade 7, trombone

Peter Jahl, grade 7, tuba

Black Mountain Middle Schoolol

Katie Woodruff, grade 8, bass clarinet

Timothy Watling, grade 7, trombone

Aaron Woolleyey, grade 7, trumpet

Meadowbrook Middle School

Ali Kaufman, grade 8, flute

Payal Chinnappa, grade 8, clarinet

Stephanie Lopezez, grade 8, clarinet

Katie Murphy, grade 8, bass clarinet

Lovelle Cardoso, grade 8, contra bass clarinet

Murphy Walsh, grade 8, alto sax

Matt Wildey, grade 8, bassoon

Blake Kragten, grade 8, trumpet (first chair)

Marissa Papet, grade 8, trombone

Brad McAuliffe, grade 8, euphonium (first chair)

Mesa Verde Middle School

Amy Moller, grade 7, flute

Steven Groot, grade 7, flute

Don Tousley, grade 7, percussion

Matt Greci, grade 7, percussion

Keith Skogland, grade 7, alto sax

Rachel Trumbore, grade 7, trombone

Justin Cordua, grade 7, trombone

Callie Mao, grade 6, clarinet

Matthew Sorensen, grade 6, trumpet

Oak Valley Middle School

Brenda Tang, grade 7, clarinet

Margaret Lee, grade 6, clarinet

Kelsey Bright, grade 7, bass clarinet

Twin Peaks Middle School

Aimee Trujillo, grade 8, tenor sax

Zach Gelwix, grade 8, percussion

Jeremy Hilliard, grade 8, percussion

• David Kaufman, Poway High School eleventh grader, was chosen to be an Easter Seals ambassador. He participated in the 3K fundraiser, “Walk with Me,” on June 16 at Knott’s Soak City in Chula Vista.

• Several PUSD middle school students were chosen to participate in the San Diego Science Alliance’s (SDSA) Better Education for Women in Science and Engineering (BE WiSE) program. They were selected to attend one of three BE WiSE overnight seminars at either CRES (Conservation and Research of Endangered Species), Quail Botanical Gardens, or the Chula Vista Nature Center. The girls will continue in the BE WiSE program until they graduate from high school.

Bernardo Heights Middle School

Hannah Bochsler, grade 8

Gwendolyn Changng, grade 8

Rachel Garstang, grade 7

Amanda Hager, grade 7

Natalie Keehan, grade 8

Helen Li, grade 7

Allison Proehl, grade 8

Black Mountain Middle School

Lindsay Lamb, grade 8

Mesa Verde Middle School

Kavana Gowda, grade 7

• Seven PUSD mothers were recognized as San Diego County Best Moms. Time Warner Cable - San Diego sponsored the 50 Best Moms essay contest for San Diego County students in grades 4 through 12. Essays were judged according to school level: elementary, middle, and high school. The student who wrote the best essay in each category won a Sony VAIO laptop computer and their teacher won a $250 gift card for the school. The following seven PUSD students won and were treated to a special celebration with their families on May 12:

Best Mom: Imelda Guba
Student: Jason Guba, grade 5, Los Peñasquitos Elementary School

Best Mom: Debbie Collins
Student: Wendy Collins, grade 6, Black Mountain Middle School

Best Mom: Micheline Costes
Student: Sophia Costes, grade 6, Bernardo Heights Middle School

Best Mom: Terri Horan
Student: Sean Horan, grade 7, Mesa Verde Middle School

Best Mom: Linda McConnaughay
Student: Brendan McConnaughay, grade 6, Bernardo Middle School

Best Mom: Mehri Kaghazchi
Student: Keamia Kaghazchi, grade 12, Westview High School

Best Mom: Shelley Stapley
Student: Alison Stapley, grade 12, Westview High School

STAFF RECOGNITION

• Diann Edens, Poway High School Student Store Technician, received the 2007 Hall of Fame award from the California Association of Directors of Activities (CADA). The award recognizes Diann’s dedication to her students, school, and the CADA organization.

• Dave Thompson, Adobe Bluffs Elementary School Resource Specialist, was appointed to the Committee on Special Education for the California Federation of Teachers. The committee meets four times a year in Oakland.

• Dennis McClanahan, Mt. Carmel High School athletic director, earned the title of certified master athletic administrator from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) after completing a rigorous program of leadership courses, a project related to the school, and professional contributions. There are only 11 athletic directors with this certification in the state of California.

• Four Poway Unified teachers received Crystal Apples from the Peñasquitos Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on May 8, 2007. These teachers were chosen for their dedication to teaching and the positive impact the teacher’s example made on the lives of students.

  • Josh Cottrell, Westview High School, English

  • Scott Currie, Mt. Carmel High School, English

  • Jodee Janda, Mt. Carmel High School, Science

  • Doreen McCarty, Westview High School, Music

• Four Poway Unified teachers received Crystal Apples from the Poway Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on May 10, 2007. These teachers were chosen for their dedication to teaching and the positive impact the teacher’s example made on the lives of students.

  • Alicia Graeff, Poway High School, English

  • Rita Rowan, Rancho Bernardo High School, English

  • Tom Swanson, Rancho Bernardo High School, Social Science

  • David White, Poway High School, Social Science

• Deer Canyon Elementary School fifth grade teachers Kelly Holden, Anne Koshenina, Sandra Okugawa, and Julie Schnereger and fourth grade teachers Christina Horne, Rosemary Richards, and Julie Stevenson have been awarded a K-12 Hewlett Packard Technology for Teaching Grant for a project titled, “Earth, Wind, and Water.” The total value of the grant award is more than $31,000.00.

• Martha Parham, Director of Alternative Programs, co-presented at the College Board Conference, “A Dream Deferred: The Future of African American Education,” on May 3, 2007. Martha’s workshop was entitled, “Parents and Educators Working Together to Ensure the Dream is Not Deferred.”

• Robert Gravina, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), wrote an article for the Tech Leadership section of The School Administrator, February 2007, called, “Providing the Basics: A Computer that Works.” He was featured in an article about Poway Unified School District’s Total Information Management (TIM) program and data warehousing. The article titled, “Magnum B.I. - using powerful business intelligence tools, two districts are drilling down to the finer points of student data, where the most revealing insights lie,” profiled Poway’s program. He also had an article published in The School Administrator, May 2007, titled, “Everyone’s Going Wireless, So Why Aren’t We?” The article addresses issues involved in implementing a wireless solution.

• Marycay Densmore, seventh grade teacher from Mesa Verde Middle School, received a Time Warner Cable National Teacher Award. In addition to a $2,000 cash grant and a $3,000 technology grant for Mesa Verde Middle School, she was honored during an awards event June 5 in Washington, D.C. Ms. Densmore’s entry titled, “Bridging the Past to the Present,” utilized programming from the History Channel and the Military Channel to teach her students about the fall of the Roman Empire.

• Malinda Dixon, Westview High School science teacher, has been selected as a biotech teacher leader by San Diego County Office of Education. She attended the Biotechnology Institute’s National Teacher Leader Program focusing on effective teaching strategies, best practices, and instructional resources.

• Suzanne Roy, Stone Ranch Elementary School principal, was awarded a Classroom Excellence in Leadership in English/Language Arts Award at the Greater San Diego Council of Teachers of English Awards dinner at the University of San Diego on May 30.

DISTRICT RECOGNITION

• Adobe Bluffs Elementary School was chosen as the national winner of the Toshiba/NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) ExploraVision Award at the elementary school level. Second grade students Kian Faizi, David Mao, and Cameryn Cousar are being recognized for their ExploraVision Project entitled, “Polymer Activated Life Saving System (PALSS), the Next Generation of Fire Fighting.” They will be traveling to Washington D.C. June 6-10 to officially receive their awards and participate in special activities, accompanied by their coach, Adobe Bluffs second grade teacher Stacey Lamb. Each student will receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond. There were 4,700 participating teams across the United States and Canada from which one national winner at each school level was selected. Visit the award-winning project at http://dev.nsta.org/evwebs/2953/.

• Westview High School’s newspaper, The Nexus, was awarded Best of Show for high school newspapers in the 9-12-page newspaper category by the JEA/NSPA (Journalism Education Association/ National Scholastic Press Association) at the national high school journalism convention in Denver April 11-15.



Individual awards went to the following Westview High School students:

Bryanna Schwartz, grade 12, Superior in Feature Writing

Alexandria Nylen, grade 12, Superior in Editorial Writing

Shayla Loveve, grade 11, Superior in Literary Magazine Writing

Matt Stevens, grade 12, Excellent in News Writing

Jolene Xie, grade 10, Excellent in Editorial Cartooning

Michelle Marshall, grade 10, Honorable Mention in Copy Editing/Headline/Caption Writing

Hussein Alasady, grade 12, Honorable Mention in Newspaper Sports Photography

Jeff Wenger, English teacher at Westview High School, is The Nexus advisor.

• Creekside Elementary School fourth and fifth graders participated in the Online Math League. Fifth graders took first place in California and the nation, with a perfect score, and the fourth graders came in second in California and seventh in the nation.

• The Poway High School Future Farmers of America Specialty Animals Team placed second at the University of California, Davis Field Day this spring. Participants included Brooke Seibert, sophomore; David Everitt, senior; Jacob Tupper, junior; and Jarred Souza, senior. Mary Kerr, Poway High School Agriculture Instructor is the Future Farmers of America advisor.

• Westview High School’s school newspaper, The Nexus, was named as the Best High School newspaper 2007 by the editorial staff of the San Diego Union Tribune. In comments written by the Union Tribune editors, they said The Nexus was named because of its reflection of the student body. “Reading it you get to know the people and the environment. … This paper is not afraid to touch on provocative news stories like ‘Migrant Camps protested,’ or the rising cost of college tuition. Most high school newspapers play it soft for fear of offending readers, but The Nexus was direct and confronted real issues. The energy of the staff and the school seemed to jump off the pages in these stories.” One of the Union Tribune editorial staff members even commented, “It’s a place I’d send my own kids to,” based on the feelings from the articles in the newspaper. Jeff Wenger, English teacher at Westview High School, is The Nexus advisor.

• The Rancho Bernardo High School "Live the Advocacy" Speech and Debate team qualified 11 members at the San Diego-Imperial Valley League state qualifications held at Mt. Helix High School over the weekends of March 2-3, March 10, and March 16-17. This entitled the qualifying team of Tara Norris, Rebecca Harrington, Chris Kyle, Cameron Baghai, Dennis Liu, Alex Chang, Karan Singh, Kavita Umdekar, Nikita Koraddi, Jon Dyer, and Ashley Grisham to compete at the California State Speech and Debate Tournament, held at Fullerton High School over the weekend of April 19-22.

• Rancho Bernardo High School junior Ashley Grisham won second place in Oratorical Interpretation and sophomore Nikita Koraddi placed in the final round of Congress at the California State Speech and Debate Tournament.

Rancho Bernardo English teacher Jane Wakeham-Lopez is the RB High Speech and Debate team advisor and Jeff Blankman is co-advisor.

• Creekside Elementary School third, fourth, and fifth graders participated in the NewsBowl 2007 Competition. Creekside had three teams rank first in the state of California for their grade level, and three teams who ranked second for their grade level.

• Newsweek Magazine named four PUSD high schools in America’s Top Public High Schools list of the top 1,200 U.S. schools in May 2007. The list is determined using a scale called the Challenge Index, which uses each school’s rate of participation in college level tests (such as AP tests) divided by the number of graduating seniors. Here is how our schools ranked in May 2007:

  Mt. Carmel High School              453

  Rancho Bernardo High School   485

  Poway High School                    612
  Westview High School               240  (June 2007)

  Newsweek representatives have indicated that Westview High School was inadvertently left out of the list and will be added to the online listing this summer.

• The following winners were recognized for their outstanding video productions at the 2007 Innovation Video in Education (iVIE) Award ceremony on May 22 at the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego.

  K-5 Grand Recognition Award
  “The Rainforest News”
  Turtleback Elementary School
  Teacher: Barbara Busalacchi
  Students: Ms. B's First Grade 2006/Turtleback News Editors

Special Achievement Nomination for Special Effects
“At My Chamber Door”
Rancho Bernardo High School
Teacher: Ross Kallen
Students: Remington Cox, grade 12; Keita Ishibashi, grade 12; Karina Korol, grade 12; Chase Sanders, grade 12; and Gregory Skiano, grade 11

Special Achievement Nomination for 3D Animation
“The Night”
Poway High School
Teacher: Rodger Dohm
Students: Travis Crowe, grade 12; Harry Lewin, grade 12; Ryan Mourey, grade 12; and Sean Ohmen, grade 12

6-12 Visual and Performing Arts
“The Janitor”
Rancho Bernardo High School
Teacher: Ross Kallen
Student: Jason Skiano, grade 12

9-12 Broadcast Journalism
“Cheating”
Rancho Bernardo High School
Teacher: Ross Kallen
Students: Erin Piddington, grade 12; Jason Skiano, grade 12; and Matthew Soave, grade 12

9-12 Documentary
“Rattlers”
Rancho Bernardo High School
Teacher: Ross Kallen
Students: Aaron Bercovitch, grade 12

• The Meadowbrook Middle School Math Team won first-place honors at the 38th annual regional Math Field Day held at Francis Parker School in San Diego in May. Thirty-six schools in San Diego County participated in the event. The Meadowbrook participants included Karen Chou, grade 6; Justin Fan, grade 8; Kelly Fan, grade 8; Helen Fang, grade 8; Daniel Guan, grade 6; Kevin Hsieh, grade 8; Bella Kim, grade 6; Benjamin Kim, grade 6; Amy Le, grade 8; Lauri Li, grade 8; Andrew Ng, grade 8; Michelle Niu, grade 6; Brian Schwedock, grade 6; Messiah Williams, grade 8; Olivia Wu, grade 7; and Janis Yue, grade 7. Meadowbrook math teachers Craig Lamb and Jim Nelson worked with the team.

• Los Peñasquitos and Valley Elementary Schools received academy award recognition and were honored at the Support Personnel Accountability Report Card (SPARC) Academy Awards Ceremony on May 11 at the University of San Diego. The SPARC report cards detail the instruments schools use to measure results and major student achievement and results.

• Ten PUSD elementary schools participated in the Greater San Diego Math Council Elementary Math Field Day on May 15, 2007, at the San Diego Jewish Academy. The following PUSD students were awarded first through fifth place:

Math Wizardry – Grade 4
2nd Jeremy Marcum, Stone Ranch Elementary School
4th Rashida Doctor, Morning Creek Elementary School

Digital Deal – Grade 4
5th Irene Choi, Morning Creek Elementary School

Sudoku – Grade 4
3rd Matthew Santos, Monterey Ridge Elementary School
4th Yashes Srinivasan, Highland Ranch Elementary School

Crafty Calculator – Grade 4
1st Jessica Cook, Valley Elementary School
2nd Eric Smith, Sunset Hills Elementary School

Mental Math – Grade 4
1st Sasha Fomenkov, Los Peñasquitos Elementary School
3rd Jenna Groesbeck, Adobe Bluffs Elementary School

Four Digits – Grade 5
3rd Duke Nguyen, Valley Elementary School
4th Nathan Ng, Shoal Creek Elementary School

Luck or Logic – Grade 5
1st Leeav Nagola, Westwood Elementary School
3rd Christina Cheng, Stone Ranch Elementary School
4th Ajay Nathan, Morning Creek Elementary School

Heads Up – Grade 5
1st Hannah Garriott, Monterey Ridge Elementary School
5th Seth Hamson, Valley Elementary School

Kakuro – Grade 5
1st Sally Oh, Highland Ranch Elementary School
3rd Jacob Song, Valley Elementary School

• The Rancho Bernardo High School Dance Team won the following awards:
  
  Through the USA Regional’s at San Pasqual High School on February 24, 2007, the Rancho Bernardo Dance Team qualified to participate at Nationals. At this competition they received second place in Lyrical and first place in two jazz routines. Jillian Jennings received the overall first place solo title for the competition. In the USA Nationals in Anaheim their soloist, Jillian Jennings, and two of their three routines made it to the finals, placing second and third in the nation. The dance team received best choreography award out of 360 routines. At Miss Dance USA, another national competition held in Irvine in May, the Rancho Bernardo Dance Team placed first in the lyrical division, first in the small jazz division, second in the medium jazz division, as well as winning numerous solo awards.
  
  The Rancho Bernardo High School Dance advisor is Karen Zinser, the competition coach and choreographer is Tiffani Francy and the team members are: Courtney Alexander, grade 12; Megan Arlantico, grade 10; Kristin Burbach, grade 11; Linsie Francy, grade 10; Stephanie Golden, grade 12; Jillian Jennings, grade 12; Megan Leahy, grade 12; Holly Lundeberg, grade 10; Victoria Mahdion, grade 12; McKenzie Ryan, grade 12; and Cassie Sopher-Setilli, grade 12.

• Palomar Council PTA/PTSAs received Ninth District regional recognition for 2006-2007. The awards include:

Ninth District Awards
Highest Percent of Members compared with Student Enrollment
17,965 members (32,343 student enrollment)

Ninth District Newsletter Awards Winners
Sunset Hills Elementary School - “Seagull Express”
Bernardo Heights Middle School - “Bobcat Bulletin”

Ninth District Newsletter Awards – Honorable Mention
Pomerado Elementary School - “Call of the Wildcat”
Stone Ranch Elementary School - “Blazer Bulletin”

Ninth District PTA Program Book/Directory Winners
Westview High School
Palomar Council

POWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR 2006-07

The Poway Unified School District is fortunate to have a significant number of community volunteers to assist in the education of our children. Our volunteers are inspirational models for all volunteers in the state. Without their generous contributions, we would not attain our present level of success.

Each school had the opportunity to nominate a candidate as its outstanding volunteer. Four volunteers were selected for District recognition. The criteria used for selection included looking a combination of several of the following for each honoree: making a significant difference to the school and student(s), leadership qualities, years of effective services, and broad-based implications.

Those being honored for their exceptional efforts during the 2006-2007 school year are representative of the entire group of outstanding people who give so much.

Becky Burr, Sundance Elementary School
Evi Haux, Monterey Ridge Elementary School
Debbie Lambert, Twin Peaks Middle School
Rex Kennemer, Abraxas High School

Becky Burr, Sundance Elementary School
Eight Years of Passion and Support

For the many parents, students, and staff who know Becky Burr, the name of this year’s outstanding volunteer immediately evokes an image of smiling enthusiasm and selfless giving. Meeting Becky for the first time, one cannot help but notice her warm smile and the undivided attention she bestows on whoever is in her company. She conveys these same qualities with students, appreciating each as a unique individual. This year she has coordinated Reading Olympics for two fifth-grade classes, giving book talks and tallying pages. The students of both classes eagerly look forward to Mrs. Burr’s visits and ask almost daily, “Is Mrs. Burr coming today?”

During the past eight years, Becky has served Sundance in many areas and capacities. She has been a wonderful room parent, and her efforts also extend far beyond the classroom. She can be seen volunteering at most school functions, always lending a helping hand. During holiday projects, Becky can be found cutting, gluing, designing, and hanging decorations, transforming the school library into a place of wonderment for the students. Working with Sundance’s Meet the Masters art instructor, Becky helps students as they create their projects. Her passion and effort help and motivate the students.

“Becky has truly been not only an outstanding volunteer, but a great friend to Sundance,” said Sal Embry, principal. “As Becky’s youngest child moves on to middle school, we will miss her warmth, her smile, and her deep commitment to the Sundance community.”
 

Evi Haux, Monterey Ridge Elementary School
Developing a Foundation of Incredible Programs

When Monterey Ridge Elementary School opened in August, staff and parents had great hopes for offering outstanding programs and events for students. The problem was, however, how that could be done in the midst of setting up a new school, a new PTA, and a new Foundation.

“The solution came in the form of a terrific dynamo-woman, Evi Haux,” said Monterey Ridge Principal Rebecca Wardlow. “With Evi’s involvement, anything is possible! She is an enthusiastic supporter of all children, and will do whatever it takes to support each child in our school so each child can have a successful school year.”

Evi is full of boundless energy and commitment to ensure that all students acquire enriching experiences and fond memories of school. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make certain that these programs are in place.

Before Monterey Ridge opened, Evi secured a grant to start the Running Club, organized the record keeping, and recruited volunteers to ensure it would happen. She organized Art Corp, and then supervised a Jog-a-Thon to ensure funds were in place to support the program. Evi also worked with the Regency Center on the opening of the new 4S Commons Shopping Center and coordinated the student art competition to design banners for the center. In appreciation for the school’s participation, Evi received a $1500 donation to further support art programs.

In addition to being a PTA board member, Evi has also taken a position as an officer on the Monterey Ridge Foundation, working diligently to have a successful start.

She is also a dedicated member of the School Site Council, providing insights and guidance into all areas of the school. .

“Evi’s impact on Monterey Ridge has been tremendous and has provided us with a foundation and tradition of incredible programs, events, and parental involvement that have benefited all the children and our entire school,” said Rebecca Wardlow, principal.

Debbie Lambert, Twin Peaks Middle School
Library Volunteer Extraordinaire

Deeply passionate about making Twin Peaks a place where reading happens, Debbie Lambert has donated more than 500 volunteer hours each year for the past six years. Debbie has demonstrated exceptional skills in coordinating and motivating groups of library volunteers.

Debbie is an effective and reliable leader who consistently demonstrates the ability and willingness to accomplish any task in a very precise and professional manner.

Through Debbie’s efforts, along with the help of other volunteers, Twin Peaks was the #1 fundraiser for the Scholastic Book Fair in all of California and was second highest in the southwestern states, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii. Because of Twin Peak’s success, Scholastic Books asked Debbie to speak with other schools about fundraising tips.

To further promote reading, Debbie organized and enlisted the help of volunteers to run the “Used Book Exchange” program which allows students to exchange their book for another book. She is deeply compassionate about making Twin Peaks a place where reading happens.

Debbie also coordinated the redecorating of Twin Peak’s library after modernization this past summer. She volunteered to coordinate student registration for Fall 2006. Debbie tackles all these tasks with enthusiasm and desire to help the students of Twin Peaks Middle School.

“Debbie is dedicated, committed, dependable, and highly respected. She is deeply compassionate about helping Twin Peaks become an even better place to learn,” said Lyn Antrim, principal. “Debbie is an exceptional leader and organizer, an invaluable resource, and a true example of PUSD’s core value – ‘Parents as Partners’.”

Rex Kennemer, Abraxas High School
Providing Phenomenal Support for Abraxas Kids

Rex Kennemer read an article about a grant Abraxas received from the Alliance HealthCare Foundation and he knew he belonged at Abraxas. The article stated Abraxas was in need of community support with regard to funds, volunteers, and donations. Rex came to Abraxas and signed up as a volunteer. For many students at Abraxas, Rex’s decision that day has made a world of difference.

Abraxas students look to Rex for a kind word and a pat on the back. Rex knows students sometimes make bad choices but he doesn’t lecture them. Instead he talks to them like they were his own family. Rex helps them find ways to make better choices.
Rex has connected Abraxas to the community in ways that directly help the students. Here are some examples:

The S.A.F.E. (Student Alliance for Education) Center breakfast club has been adopted by the local community churches study groups thanks to Rex. These members donate and deliver breakfast daily for any student who is hungry and have provided thanksgiving feasts. Rex also realized that many of the students are without doctor and dental visits. Now a community group assists students obtain medical visits.

The Mental Health Forum in December of 2006 included experts in the field who were available to answer questions and dispel the stigma of suicide. Plans are underway to prepare for the event again next year. On that same day one year earlier when he read the article about the grant for Abraxas, his son, Todd Kennemer, took his own life. Todd was a young man only 25 years old. During Suicide Awareness Week in May, Rex used his community connections once again and offered the students the Yellow Ribbon presentation. Rex used the Todd Kennemer Fund to provide the program.

Rex also arranged for four students to attend the Vista Hill Women’s Council on Mental Health. The guest speaker was Mariel Hemingway, and for one of the young women at Abraxas this was her first visit to downtown San Diego.

Rex also volunteers with the Abraxas fishing program, and in a Toastmasters class.

“Rex is the essence of volunteering. He goes the extra mile to make things happen when he sees the need. I know that he receives the respect of our staff and students even though he would rather the attention be focused on the programs and the positive things kids do,” said Rudy Casciato, principal of Abraxas High School.

Other school volunteers being honored by their sites are:
 

Ron Cole	Adobe Bluffs Elementary School
Laurie "Rainy" Reinbold	Canyon View Elementary School
Diana Swanepoel	Chaparral Elementary School
Thuc Tran	Creekside Elementary School
Keri Bohart	Deer Canyon Elementary Schoolol
Karen Minor	Garden Road Elementary School
Dr. Tom Quick	Highland Ranch Elementary School
Kim Case	Los Peñasquitos Elementary School
Wayne Lackey	Midland Elementary School
Barb Risher	Morning Creek Elementary School
Anita Atkinson	Painted Rock Elementary School
Traci Jackson	Park Village Elementary School
Lisa Othmer	Pomerado Elementary School
Pam and Rick Logemann	Rolling Hills Elementary School
Karen Haub	Shoal Creek Elementary School
Theresa Burke / Judy Simeroth	Stone Ranch Elementary School
Thekla Keegan	Sunset Hills Elementary Schoolol
Kathryn Brown	Tierra Bonita Elementary School
Diana Takamori	Turtleback Elementary School
Michelle Testa	Valley Elementary School
Isabel Hess	Westwood Elementary School
Leon Bloom	Bernardo Heights Middle School
Mary Belay	Black Mountain Middle School
Fiona Oberrick	Meadowbrook Middle School
Beth Byloff	Mesa Verde Middle Schoolol
Ginger Cunningham	Oak Valley Middle School
Ila Fischer	Mt. Carmel High School
Steve Winton	Poway High School
Tom Neillo	Rancho Bernardo High School
Colleen Salzetti	Westview High Schoolol