December 7, 2007 Superintendent Paul Pastorek Receives RSD Status Report at Public Meeting in New Orleans Louisiana Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek received a status report on key issues within the Recovery School District at a meeting in New Orleans on Monday, December 3, 2007. Pastorek was joined by Deputy State Superintendent Ollie Tyler and BESE members Louella Givens and Penny Dastugue. The meeting was held at the University of New Orleans in Kirschman Hall. RSD Superintendent Paul Vallas and his staff addressed challenges and upcoming initiatives. Some of the core issues addressed included the budget, instruction, quality insurance and school management. Vallas also discussed initiatives such as the distribution of laptop computers to all RSD high school students and the district s first round of benchmark key issues concerning the district s progress this year as well as continued testing. I was given a detailed presentation about where the district stands in terms of improving instruction, in assessment and monitoring student progress and bringing about the other changes we need to create a superior learning environment, said State Education Superintendent Paul G. Pastorek. Our parents needed this kind of forum not only to be well-informed about what is happening in the district, but also to be heard. This was a step in the right direction, said BESE Member Louella Givens. Parents have often told me that it s very difficult for them to take time off from work and travel to Baton Rouge to attend the monthly BESE meetings, said Givens. Because our people can t always get to us, we need to make ourselves available to the people, and that s why this meeting was so important. Pastorek said, Superintendent Vallas has brought a sense of urgency to improving the schools under his watch, and there has been a lot of progress. It is now time to meet the remaining challenges head-on and raise our schools to the next level of excellence. Pastorek said he hopes to schedule a similar forum in February. Click here for the RSD Status Report Schaumburg Elementary Will Get KaBOOM! Playground It s the early Christmas gift that will keep on giving for many years to come. On Saturday, December 15, volunteers will work shoulder-to-shoulder to build the students of Schaumburg Elementary a new KaBOOM! playground. Many thanks to the RSD Office of School Management and the DJR Foundation for sponsoring the event. Principal Josette Ripoll is encouraging everyone who can be part of the build. This is something the students will enjoy for many, many years, said Ms. Ripoll. It s going to be great, so please come join us if you can. The build is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. New Registration Site Registration for schools in the Recovery School District continues at a new location. Parents may register their children weekdays at the RSD Welcome School located at 2239 Poydras Street. Registration hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. RSD schools are open to all New Orleans students, citywide, and none has admission criteria. The number to call for questions about school placement is 1-877-343-4773. Questions about busing routes can be handled at 504-262-0060, ext. 116. Here s what you should bring to registration: Proof of address (a utility or phone bill will do), child s Social Security card, birth certificate, immunization record, most recent report card, and Individualized Education
Program (IEP), if applicable. All students will undergo an evaluation and assessment at The Welcome School and will then be placed in the learning environment that best suits their needs. In addition, staff members can also provide referrals to local social agencies for any families in need of assistance. Anyone with questions or in need of more information should call (504) 373-6200, ext. 20050. Students Receive Tickets to T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam initiative, to give more than 5,000 students the best seats in the house for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. The event is part of T-Mobile Huddle Up, T-Mobile s community outreach program connecting kids from high-need, urban communities to positive people, places and programs. The students were selected based on their school performance, attendance and behavior. Those students who were not selected this time around were encouraged to read, be productive citizens, stay in school, behave in school meaning no suspensions or expulsions and attend school regularly, stressed Thomas- Criddle. The program rewards middle school students who have no suspensions or expulsions, good attendance and who have read a minimum of two 100-page books. They were the first, but hundreds of other Recovery School District middle school students will have an opportunity to participate. The deadline is January 15, 2008. Hornets players David West and Hilton Armstrong along with Gil McGregor with lucky Schaumburg students During an assembly at Schaumburg, 45 lucky students, grades 6-8, were the first to receive tickets to the T- Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, a competition between the NBA s hottest first-year and second-year players. The event, which will take place on February 15, 2008, in the New Orleans Arena, is one of many activities scheduled in conjunction with the 57th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in the New Orleans Arena on February 17, 2008. The students were so excited to put on their pink NBA t-shirts, said Monya Thomas-Criddle, RSD Positive Behavior Support Coordinator. And they were in awe when the Hornets players walked into the cafetorium, said Thomas-Criddle. T-Mobile is partnering with the NBA and NBA Cares, the league s social responsibility This one-of-a-kind experience will include tickets to the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, authentic NBA/ T-Mobile gear, transportation to and from the game, dinner and snacks and unique in-area elements such as contests and videos geared specifically toward the T-Mobile Huddle Up All Stars. Schools have received information about the challenge and will be charting students progress towards the goals. Meetings Scheduled to Discuss Master Plan for Public Schools in New Orleans The focus of the citywide planning meeting will be to examine national and international facility trends and discuss the current and future educational needs of Orleans Parish that will facilitate the implementation of the Facilities Master Plan being developed. The meeting will address such topics as maximizing public and community input, school size, class size, grade configuration, possible community use, flexible school concepts, alternative uses for schools, impact of popu- Page 2
lation, and 21st Century Schools. In order for this to be effective, all facets of the community are encouraged to actively participate in this planning process. Meeting Dates for January Travelocity Gives Day of Service to Murray Henderson Elementary 1/10 Fischer Elementary 6-8 p.m. Area 5 1/12 McMain High School 10-noon Area 1 1/15 Esperanza Charter 6-8 p.m. Area 2 1/17 Schaumburg Elementary 6-8 p.m. Area 4 1/19 McDonough 35 10- noon Area 3 MLK Charter School Receives Donation from Toyota North America I was just overwhelmed by the donation because it was totally unexpected but very much needed, said Doris Hicks, Principal of Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School for Technology and Science. Just last week, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America donated 57 computers to the school. General Manager David Benedict and Human Resources Specialist Shenell Snyder as well as Toyota of New Orleans not only delivered the computers but assisted in getting them set up in the classrooms. Mrs. Hicks said they first read about the school in People magazine and decided to reach out and help in any way they could. The computers are the same as those used by Toyota to design cars. I was so excited about it, and as I said to the kids, it really is wonderful when people across the country are thinking of us and wanting to assist us, said Mrs. Hicks. She says Toyota has also committed to helping the school in the future. Travelocity Volunteers Travelocity sponsored a Day of Service at Murray Henderson on Wednesday, November 28. More than 200 volunteers were on hand to complete a number of projects, including installing a double basketball court, installing a volleyball sand pit, building and planting gardens, constructing benches and reading lofts, painting classrooms, the walkway, office and outdoor trim and doors, varnishing the brick walls indoors and cleaning up the area around the school grounds. This was work our school really needed, and it couldn t have come at a better time, said Principal Beverly Johnson Jelks. Travelocity and the volunteers were just terrific! They gave all of us a Christmas in November that we won t soon forget, said Mrs. Johnson Jelks. As volunteers worked, students at Henderson enjoyed three field trips sponsored by Travelocity. Students were taken to the Audubon Zoo, Entergy Imax and the Louisiana Children s Museum. Box lunches were provided for the students, teachers and chaperones. The effort was coordinated by the volunteer group, Hands On New Orleans. Page 3
Congratulations to RSD Student Athletes University on Tuesday, December 4. The teams toured the campus and attended the NSU vs Southern University at New Orleans basketball game. Everyone had a wonderful time, said Coach Joseph. Bauduit Elementary Majorette Champions Kudos to the girls and boys who recently participated in several athletic championship competitions. Saturday, December 1, was a very busy day as the Middle School Flag Football Championship got underway at Holy Cross and the district held a competition for cheerleading and dance teams at Clark High School. The girls flag football team from Schaumburg Elementary traveled to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for the National Flag Football Championship. Their trip was sponsored by the New Orleans Saints. The Performance Team Middle School Fall Championship was sponsored by Capitol One, and the Middle School Flag Football Championship was sponsored by the Recovery School District (RSD) Athletic Department. Emmett Smith, RSD Coordinator of Middle School Athletics, and Robin Jourdan, RSD Coordinator of Athletics and Special Events, were responsible for developing and promoting these events. LaVerne Price, RSD Coordinator of Health & Physical Education, accompanied the Schaumburg team to Disney World. Drew Elementary Flag Team Champions Habans Middle School Cheerleader Champions Habans Elementary came in first in the Cheerleader Division, Bauduit Elementary captured first place in the Dance Team and Majorette competition and Drew Elementary won first place in Flag Team competition. In other news, the girls and boys basketball teams at Henderson Elementary traveled to Northwestern State Bauduit Middle School Dance Team Champions Pictures continue on next page Page 4
Schaumburg Girls Flag Football Team Champions Coffee Talk Coffee Talk will be held this Saturday, December 8, at The Welcome School from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The school is located at 2239 Poydras Street. The Pyramid Group will facilitate and provide expert information on IDEA and 504 Accommodations. Coffee Talk is hosted by the Recovery School District Family-Community Advisory Council. All parents and concerned community members are encouraged to attend. Lunch will be served. December Lunch Menus (below) Page 5
New Orleans Recovery School District Breakfast Hot Menu December 2007 3 4 5 6 7 Biscuit Sausage Patty Grits Pancake Sausage Stick Biscuit Potatoes Sausage Link 10 11 12 13 14 Biscuit Grits Sausage Link French Toast Sticks Grits Sausage Patty Pancake Sausage Stick 17 18 19 20 21 Grits Biscuit Sausage Patty 24 25 26 27 28 31
New Orleans Recovery School District Elementary School December Lunch Menu 3 Bagged Lunches Turkey & Cheese Sandwich Baked Chips Fresh Fruit 4 Chicken Etouffe Peas & Carrots Pineapples 5 Sloppy Joe on Bun Mixed Vegetable Pears 6 Baked Chicken Yellow 7 Chicken & Sausage Pasta Jambalaya Peaches 10 11 12 13 14 Red Beans & Sausage Carrots Cornbread Pears BBQ Chicken Mashed Potatoes Fruit Cocktail BBQ Pork on Bun Vegetable Spaghetti & Meatsauce Peas Dinner Roll Applesauce Chicken & Sausage Gumbo 17 White Beans & Ham Peas Cornbread Pineapple 18 19 20 Christmas Lunch Honey Baked Ham Macaroni & Cheese Candied Yams Dinner Roll Holiday Cookie 21 24 25 26 27 28 31 Happy Holidays
New Orleans Recovery School District High School December Lunch Menu 3 Bagged Lunches Turkey & Cheese Sandwich Baked Chips Fresh Fruit 4 Chicken Etouffe Ham & Cheese Po-boy Chef Salad Peas & Carrots Pineapples 5 Sloppy Joe on Bun Chicken Patty on Bun Chef Salad Mixed Vegetable Pears 6 Baked Chicken Turkey & Cheese Po Boy Chef Salad Yellow 7 Chicken & Sausage Pasta Jambalaya Fish Patty on Bun Chef Salad Peaches 10 Red Beans & Sausage Hamburger on Bun Carrots Cornbread Pears 11 BBQ Chicken Ham & Cheese Po-Boy Mashed Potatoes Fruit Cocktail 12 BBQ Pork on Bun Chicken Patty on Bun Vegetable 13 Spaghetti & Meatsauce Turkey & Cheese Po-boy Peas Dinner Roll Applesauce 14 Chicken & Sausage Gumbo Fish Patty on Bun 17 White Beans & Ham Hamburger on Bun Popcorn Chicken Salad Peas Cornbread Pineapple 18 19 20 Christmas Lunch Honey Baked Ham Macaroni & Cheese Candied Yams Dinner Roll Holiday Cookie 21 24 25 26 27 28 31 Happy Holidays