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Health & Fitness

Fall 2013 Newsletter Message

Dear SBUSD Parents, Guardians and Community Members,

The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time and this year is particularly special. On a personal and professional level it is extremely exciting to be the South Bay Union School District Superintendent. It is also one of the most exciting times to be in the field of education because of the implementation of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS). California recently adopted the new standards outlining what students will be expected to know and be able to do. The same standards have been adopted in 45 states, and this type of alignment in our nation is unprecedented.

As an educator for nearly three decades, I have seen a great deal of change, yet several themes have remained consistent. The foundation we create for children to thrive academically should include a love of learning so that students want to be life-long learners. For example, teachers have universally wanted for students to be highly skilled readers in the hopes that they would love reading and enjoy reading for the rest of their lives. Another consistent theme has been the desire to create school and classroom environments that stimulate curiosity and support critical thinking. We want our children to be curious about the world around them and to consider complex problems as interesting. We hope to support students to build academic stamina and persevere when confronted with information that is perplexing. Additionally, we have always wanted to prepare students for the ever-changing world they will face when they are college and career ready.

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The Common Core State Standards for language arts and mathematics are being embraced by teachers across the country. Enthusiasm for their implementation is also building because the Standards support teachers to foster a love of learning, stimulate curiosity, and delve into more complex and interesting problems. SBUSD teachers are optimistic as well and they are already aligning curriculum, instructional practices, and assessments to the new Standards. There are now fewer Standards for each grade-level, and teachers are relieved to spend more time with each standard, which allows students more opportunities to learn in a variety of ways and to gain true mastery of concepts secured in long-term memory. Fewer standards also give more breathing room for students to ask questions, be curious, and develop deeper understandings about the concepts that are presented. You may have already noticed more opportunities for students to read across genres, more reading about topics of interest (with a greater emphasis on non-fiction texts) and the opportunity to focus on deeper understanding and meaning.

Currently, our District is using state funding to train teachers, buy new materials, and purchase technology to support schools in the implementation of the CCSS. We are also aligning our local assessments and, when possible, participating in piloting new state assessments. In 2015 all students (grades 3-6) will be taking the new state assessments that replace the STAR test. It is also our goal to share information with our families and the broader community as we make this transition to integrate the Common Core into school programs and activities beyond the regular school day.

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This new work is exciting and challenging and we are pleased about the opportunities for children. Please know that our staff members are always accessible and available to answer questions and that your feedback is welcome.

Sincerely,

Katie McNamara, Ed.D.

District Superintendent

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