In what was either an abundance of confidence, or a severe lack of judgment, Germain St. Elementary School Principal Sonya Ugarte promised last year’s student body that she’d “take a pie-to-the-face” if the school’s API (Academic Performance Index) score increased by just 12%. Instead, students boosted the school’s score to 13% — perhaps expecting a cherry on top. True to her word, Principal Ugarte not only took a pie-to-the-face this morning, but — decked-out in protective attire — she invited all families to witness, and even let one lucky child do the dirty work.

According to the California Department of Education, “The API Report is required by the state’s PublicSchools Accountability Act (PSAA) of 1999. This report shows how much a school is improving from year to year based on its API. A school’s API is anumber that ranges from 200 to 1000 and is calculated from the results for each school’s students on statewide tests. The state has set 800 as the API target for all schools to meet.”

Thanks to this year’s API score of 850, Germain St. Students and their teachers have earned the school a state-wide letter grade of “A”, surpassing state performance targets. According to our school’s report, every demographic and socioeconomic group scored above performance targets, so every Germain St. family should be very proud. However, our school’s greatest API increases have been achieved from the previous year’s lowest scoring students — a whopping 4-times higher than their growth target! It’s really quite an achievement, and it proves that every child can excel with the right support and motivation.

Covered in cream pie, Mrs. Ugarte promised students that she would top this year’s event for a 20% API increase. It seems a face-full of dairy will make even the most optimistic principal a little more conservative.

Also announced this morning: “Open Mondays!” Beginning in October families are encouraged to join students and faculty on campus for Monday morning assembly and coffee at the NEW conveniently located school-yard-adjacent Parent Center. This is a weekly opportunity to learn about upcoming events, student and family activities, witness student-lead presentations, and get to know other Germain St. families. We look forward to seeing you there!

For those who missed it, check out the YouTube video, and the rest of the photos below. (All graciously shot and submitted by Germain St. parents.)

 

Photo Credit: Rena Durham. Rena is a professional photographer, and proud mother of a Germain St. Elementary Student. You can see more of her work at RenaDPhotography.com.

We are searching for a photographer who can come to volunteer at our Valentine’s Dance on February 11. If you are interested or know someone who is please let the PTA know. We would like to have portraits taken and available for sale.

PTA Fund Raising News: There will be a spring Festival planning meeting on Friday January 21 at 8:15 am. We NEED parents to come and sign up to help this event or else we cannot move forward. This years festival is planned to be on Saturday April 30th.

5th Grade News: The 5th grade class is running for money. A Jog-A-Thon to raise money for added field trips and culmination. It takes a village to help kids grow and become productive adults. It also takes money. Help sponsor a 5th grader run laps on the field. They are getting exercise and raising money. The Jog-A-Thon will be on Friday January 21 during the school day.

Yearbook News: Pre-orders will begin soon for the yearbook. The pre-order will have Happy Ads. Buy a Happy Ad for your special student for only $3. The pre-sale cost for a yearbook will be $18. After February 19th it will be $21.
Keep taking photos of your student and activities. Send us your photos from the assemblies, field trips, or class parties. Upload info was in previous emails.

Other upcoming dates to remember…

Jan 18 – PTA Association Meeting at 7:00 pm
Jan 21 – Spring Festival Planning Meeting @ 8:15 am in the Parent Center room 30

Want to ADD this calendar to yours? Just click the “+ Google Calendar” button above.

If you would like to volunteer at this event please contact Dawn (PTA President) germainPTA@yahoo.com.

We need….
- Help with set-up at 5:30 pm
- Help from 6:30 – 7:30
- Help from 7:30 – 8:30
- Help with clean up.

Thank you and have a safe and happy Halloween!!!

This Saturday & Sunday, October 23 & 24
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Devonshire Police Station: 10250 Etiwanda Ave., Northridge
(By Northridge Park)

There will also be a raffle, an appetizer pot luck (bring your tastiest creations).
Don’t forget to bring your Box Tops too!
YMCA will be there to watch children. Parents please walk kids to the YMCA room to sign them in.

When: Tuesday Oct. 10-20-09  @ 7 pm

Where: Auditorium

Why: Because you care about the students

Come and listen, share, learn, laugh, vote and eat too!!

See you tomorrow night!

I would like to “THANK “ the Germain St. PTA Executive Board for all of the hard work, outstanding team efforts and kindness that each of you potrayed during this very large event. Your devotion was beyond anything I could have wished for. You made the evening a success.
In addition, many “Thank Yous” go out to the large number of volunteers that assisted in making the evening effortless. We could not have done this without your support.

The evening began with a “Scavenger Hunt”. The hunt involved all the parents and children of Germain. The object “Get to Know Your School”, and I believe many of you did. You are now familiar with where the “Snack Shack”, “Reunion Gate” and the “Parent Center are located. Congratulations, to everyone who figured out the 10 word sentence.
Spaghetti Dinner was Great! The chefs we brought in from Italy really knew thier way around a kitchen. Even though they only had a three burner stove. Everyone had a wonderful time spinning thier spaghetti on thier fork, and taking time to eat with friends and family.
Our Association Meeting kicked off the start of an amazing year to come.  If this is any indication of the Parent Support we are going to experience this year, I am “excited”.

Thank you in advance to everyone who took the time to drop a check in the “Direct Donation” Box. You support will help continue the efforts of the PTA, when it comes to sponsoring family and student enrichment.
I look forward to our success for the new year and I would like to remind you that our “Magic of Membership” is now in full swing. Don’t hesitate to join the PTA and get your childs class to a minimum of 100%. Help your child’s class when an Ice Cream party, sponsored by the PTA.

In closing I would like to give a very special “THANK YOU” to two outstanding Germain Family Members…First to Mrs. Ugarte, who not only allows me to follow-through with all of my crazy ideas, but always supports the efforts of the PTA,  second I would like to give a very special “THANK YOU” to Dorothy. If it wasn’t for Dorothy volunteering her time we would not be able to have these great events. Thank You, Dorothy you are amazing.

I look forward to seeing everyone on October 2, 2009 for our evening “Magic of Membership” Show. Tickets are limited so order your tickets today. Adult Tickets are $5.00, and a child’s ticket is $3.00.
Thank you again, and remember one small act of kindness, can change a child’s life “FOREVER”

Respectfully,
Dawn Smith
PTA President