Message from Our Superintendent
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During our Learning Walks, as I mentioned in last week’s message, we observe the teaching and learning “signature practices” of our faculty, but we also assess the progress being made toward creating 21st Century learning environments within our schools as outlined in our Competitive Advantage Plan. Having the proper physical spaces and technology infrastructure in place is pivotal to creating the climate, safety, and learning conditions required to deliver our instructional programs with fidelity.
Our DHS Culinary Complex is the perfect example of a physical space that we constructed to support student learning. Within this Culinary Complex that is outfitted with the highest quality equipment, our Falcons can learn all of the world’s culinary cuisines while also sharpening their business and hospitality skills. A shining example was at last year’s Taste of Duarte when our students were able to stand shoulder to shoulder with local restaurants and showcase the gourmet ice cream they had created. This is one example, but Chef Prince, Amy Bustos and our Falcons in the Academy of Culinary Arts and Entrepreneurship have so much more in store. Be sure to check-out their Pop-Up event this Friday to see for yourself.
We are still in the midst of transforming our K-8 Academies from elementary models, and while great progress has been made here too, we still have work to do to nurture both the instructional programs and physical spaces needed to support the thematic learning each of these school communities have embraced.
Last year, I actively listened to our stakeholders and this feedback, combined with the actions in our strategic plan, and the vision guided by our Board, drives our initiatives moving forward. From what I heard you say, Career Technical Education options, comprehensive Middle School programming, and increased offerings of STEAM and STEM that will best position our scholars to compete in our globalized 21st century, are priorities for our district. But in case you didn't have the opportunity to contribute to these conversations, or have had new ideas since last we spoke, I will be circulating within our district and community to continue to solicit your input. I hope to see you at our schools’ upcoming Coffee with the Principal events, PTA gatherings, and Soup with the Superintendent at our High Schools as well as at the Route 66 Parade next Saturday. Please stop by our booth and visit with me.
I also want to make our community aware that at the Board Meeting held on Thursday, Sept 19, our trustees voted to fill the vacant seat due to the resignation of President Edwards by provisional appointment. The appointed Board Member will fill the seat until the next regularly scheduled election in November of 2020. The District is currently accepting applications and will be engaging with prospective board candidates by conducting an orientation with the interested candidates in early October. I again wish to thank Doug Edwards for his service and we will honor his legacy by continuing to rise as a destination district in the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.
Best,
Gordon
Gordon Amerson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Duarte Unified School District
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Thank you to the members of our community who attended the Farewell Reception on September 19, to honor Reverend Douglas Edwards for his service to our district and wish him well on his next adventure.
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DUSD Accepting Applications for Board Vacancy
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Due to the resignation of Douglas Edwards, Board President, the Duarte Unified School District will have a vacancy on its Board of Education, effective September 20, 2019. The Governing Board announced the process to fill the vacancy by a provisional appointment. This appointee will hold office until the next regular election in 2020. The school district is requesting all those interested in serving on the school board to submit an application that can be downloaded
here
. Hard-copy versions are also available at the District Office, 1620 Huntington Drive, Duarte, CA, 91010.
To be eligible to apply for appointment to the Governing Board, an individual must be at least 18 years old, be a resident of the Duarte Unified School District, be a registered voter in the State of California, and not be disqualified from holding civil office by the constitution or any law of the State of California. An employee of the Duarte Unified School District may not be sworn into office as an elected or appointed member of the Governing Board, unless he or she resigns as an employee. If the employee does not resign, the employment will automatically terminate upon being sworn into office.
Applications must be returned to the Superintendent’s Office or emailed to
[email protected]
by the filing deadline of Thursday, October 3, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. For additional information, contact Mrs. Ruiz at 626-599-5037.
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District Meetings & Events this Week
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Parent University Workshops
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Attend the Parent University Workshop on Wednesday, September 25. The location is Duarte High School. D'Veal Family & Youth Services will be presenting this session on mental health. All parents in attendance will receive free dinner and chance to win raffle prizes. Childcare will be provided.
Register to attend and learn more here.
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Board Meeting & Farewell Reception for President Edwards
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A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will take place Thursday, September 19, at 7:00 p.m. in the Duarte Community Center. Once posted, find the agenda
here
.
All are invited to a Farewell Reception for Board President Edwards prior to the meeting from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
View event flyer here.
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Route 66 Parade and Picnic
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Duarte's annual
Route 66 Parade & Picni
c is Saturday, September 28, starting at 10:00 am. The Duarte High School Girls Championship Volleyball Team will be Grand Marshals, the DHS Band & Color Guard will march and all schools will participate. Also, visit the DUSD photo booth at Royal Oaks Park and pose with our mascots from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Find more information here.
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Academy of Culinary Arts Entrepreneurship Pop-Up
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The students in Duarte High School's Academy of Culinary Arts Entrepreneurship are hosting their first very first Pop-Up event. Don't miss the opportunity to taste for yourself the culinary delights cooked by Smacks! who are the students in Grades 11 and 12 who have been learning both the creative and business sides of the culinary field from instructors Chef Prince and Amy Bustos. This first Pop-Up will include student demonstrations of items they have made throughout their training. Guests will get to experience the process of making these great products as well as taste their creativity! The September event is a soft-open of the experience the students will be holding monthly. Join them at the Culinary Arts Complex located on the campus of Duarte High School this Thursday, September 26, from 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
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Mobile Pediatric Dental Clinic Hosted at DUSD
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Duarte Unified proudly hosted the 2019 Mobile Dental Clinic at Maxwell Academy on September 13 - 20 in partnership with the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, ChapCare and Foothill Unity Center. Over 100 children from the San Gabriel Valley in need of dental care were provided with free comprehensive treatments and preventative measures as well as dental self-care education for the children and their parents. Thank you to our partner organizations and to the many donors and volunteers that helped our children to smile!
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Bravo to Teacher of the Year Mary Jansen
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Congratulations to Mary Jansen, who was recognized by the Los Angeles County Office Of Education for her service at the Teacher of the Year Luncheon held on Friday, September 20. Ms. Jansen was selected by her peers as both the Duarte Unified and Valley View Academy Teacher of the Year for 2018-19. With over 20 years of experience teaching within DUSD, Mary is currently a Teaching and Learning Coach (TLC). Because of her leadership, Valley View has become a model PBIS school. Mary is the GATE instructor for grades 3-6 at Valley View. Years ago she saw a need for extended experiences for GATE students and stepped in to develop and teach the GATE classes weekly. She helps teachers by identifying and addressing the varying abilities and needs of each student. Mary models life-long learning; she has her Master’s in Education with an emphasis in reading instruction, and is currently completing her administration credential. The love Mary has for the Duarte schools and students shows daily in her work. We are grateful and thankful to have Mary on our team.
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Installation of New Student Board Members
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At the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education held on September 19, Ashley Lemus representing M.I.T. High School, and Serene Dowiri representing Duarte High School, took the oath of office to serve as Student Board Members for the 2019-20 school year.
State laws, AB 261 (Ch. 257) and SB 468 (Ch. 283), instituted by DUSD last school year, automatically grant preferential voting rights to student board members so they can formally express their opinion on any matter except those subject to closed session. Their preferential vote is cast before the official vote of the board, but does not affect the final numerical outcome of the board’s vote. Even though their vote does not carry legislative power, all district stakeholders will benefit by hearing the valuable opinions, ideas and experiences of Miss Lemus and Miss Dowiri at our Board Meetings as they will serve to ensure the voices of our student body are heard. They also help facilitate the reports presented by the student representatives from each of our schools to the Board Members at every Regular Meeting.
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Ayaz Merchant - Class of 2016 - Duarte High School
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As the best and the brightest graduate from Duarte Unified each year, we will be adding an Alumni Spotlight to our weekly newsletter to keep our community posted on what our graduates are up to now. This week we are catching up with Duarte High School Graduate from the Class of 2016, Ayaz Merchant.
Which schools within DUSD did you attend and what achievements that you accomplished while a student here are you most proud?
I was a student of several DUSD schools, beginning with Royal Oaks Elementary School, then onto Northview Intermediate School and finally graduating from Duarte High School. During my time at DHS, I was enrolled in their Early College/Dual Enrollment Program through Citrus College. I received several honors and accomplishments while at Duarte High. Some of the highlights were being selected as the 2015 Boys State Delegate, representing Duarte at our state’s capitol in Sacramento for a week, where I learned leadership skills and how policy making works at the State level. I was also part of City of Hope’s Summer Mentorship program where I got to gain an insight into research and Nursing, and also got to meet several oncological researchers and took part in a poster presentation on Breast Cancer. Through this effort I received several acknowledgements from the State, City, School District and High School. This experience along with volunteering at City of Hope, which I currently still do, fueled my passion for becoming a Nurse. I graduated with the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) honors as one of the top of my class, along with being one of five Outstanding Senior Montview Scholar Athletes from Duarte High School. I was also on the Principal’s Honor Roll from DHS and Dean’s List from Citrus College.
What were the highlights of your high school experience?
Probably the most challenging and rewarding experience at Duarte High School was the Early College Program. I received college credit which I was able to transfer to UCLA, and entered as a Sophomore in standing, which helped me avoid taking a lot of the General Education (GE) courses. Additionally, I enjoyed the leadership positions that I held in extracurricular clubs (Interact and Key Club).
What have you been doing since graduating from high school?
I was very blessed and honored to be accepted into UCLA’s School of Nursing. This elite and prestigious program accepts only 40 freshman students world-wide each year. I am currently in my 4th year and will be graduating in June 2020 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing/Registered Nurse (B.S.N./R.N.). The last 2 years of the program are focused on hands on training in Clinical setting rotations at hospitals such as UCLA Ronald Reagan, UCLA Santa Monica, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Cedars Sinai, and Torrance Memorial to name a few. I am hoping to possibly continue my education with a Masters in Nursing (MSN).
How do you believe the education you received at DUSD helped prepare you to be successful in college, career and life?
College is nothing like high school, with the additional responsibilities of living away from home, managing financial aid, balancing classes, work load, working/volunteering, class projects/papers and extra-curriculars. I feel the best thing I gained from DUSD was the Early College Program. When I was at Duarte High, this was a 2 year program, and now it is a 4 year program, allowing students that complete this to graduate high school with a Associate Degree and most of this is fully transferable to CSU/UC. This program greatly improves a student’s chances of getting into a CSU/UC university. I was also very blessed to have had great high school counselors like Mr. Norm Anderson and Ms. Renee Houlemard, who were both very influential in my life during high school. They provided invaluable guidance to me and I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I am right now, without their support and advice.
What advice would you give to students in school at DUSD now?
Colleges like to see students who are more of an all-rounder. So participate in extra-curriculars, do sports, prepare for the SAT well in advance, and like I said before, do Early College if you can. This shows colleges that you can handle college level courses while In high school.
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September is Attendance Awareness Month
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While September is Attendance Awareness Month, our district’s pledge is to create a culture of showing up every day of every month. We know that achievement and student success are inextricably linked to attendance. The leadership and staff at Duarte Unified are dedicated to ongoing communication, support and encouragement around the importance of attendance.
The most important thing we can do for our children to be successful in life is to get them to school, on time, every day. Here’s why:
• In the elementary years, children who miss school are more likely to struggle academically and
in later years, to dropout entirely
• In the secondary years, attendance is the No. 1 predictor of dropout and graduation rates
• Attendance is a top indicator of being on track for graduation and for college and career
readiness
• Nearly 67% of course failures were attributed to absenteeism
Every year, thanks to our innovative partnerships, we are seeing continuous attendance improvements. With you and your family on our team, we are recovering valuable learning time for our students. Thank you for your dedication all year long—together we are making a difference!
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Duarte Choir Fall Concert: October 2, 2019
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High School Complex Think Together Information
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Join Our DUSD/CSArts-SGV Preview Days
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Download it Today for FREE
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Stay up to date with everything that is taking place at every school across our district by downloading the DUSD APP. Check your child's grades, attendance, lunch balances, sports scores, notices from teachers, calendar of events and more all in one place! Download our free app from the Apple App and Google Play Stores.
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School Flyers Available Via Email
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Save Paper & Stay Informed
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DUSD uses Peachjar to send home school-approved flyers digitally, saving our schools time and money while eliminating paper waste. This means that now our parents can opt to receive flyers via email.
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Duarte Unified is where academics, art, and community come together to create a one-of-a-kind experience for students and their families. Signature programs and progressive initiatives for students in PK-12th grade can only be found here. Sign up for a tour and learn why students from 86 cities throughout Southern California choose to attend our district. Read about each of our schools
here
and schedule your visit today!
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Submit Your Newsletter Ideas
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Have an idea, information or a suggestion for a story for our newsletter?
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