Back to School: Portola Valley School District Back to School: Portola Valley School District (September 01, 2004)

Construction's over; on to curriculum challenges

By Marjorie Mader
Almanac Staff Writer

Portola Valley's schools look better than ever as students return to Ormondale and Corte Madera this week.

All campus building and landscaping projects have been completed at both schools.

Final tune-ups, including touch-up painting, thorough cleaning of classrooms, and power-washing exteriors of all buildings and walkways, kept the district's maintenance crew busy during the summer. Even the much-discussed canopy over the kindergarten eating area at Ormondale -- the final component of the district's modernization and expansion project -- is now in place.

For the first time since 1998 when fourth and fifth grades moved from Ormondale to Corte Madera, there's no grading, temporary portables and construction disruption on the campuses.

A major change this fall is the appointment of an experienced school administrator, Joel Willen, as principal of Corte Madera School. He was principal of a large -- and ethnically and economically diverse -- middle school in Houston for the past seven years. He and his wife, Ruth Willen, also a school principal, said they wanted to return to California where they have spent most of their careers. He said he wanted to be back in a smaller school where he "will know all the kids by name."

Principal Willen is expected to bring stability to Corte Madera after a series of principal changes and different leadership models that go back about 16 years. He's a "hands on" administrator who said he enjoys being in the classroom, and wants to get to know students, parents and people in the community.

Superintendent Anne Campbell starts her second year in the district. She and the teachers are focusing this year on curriculum and tailoring instruction to student learning styles. "We're challenging students academically as much as we can to move them along as far as possible," she said.

Math will be a major focus across the grade levels. Fifth-grade teacher Denise Falzon, on an additional part-time special assignment, is working with fourth- and fifth-grade teachers to implement the "Every Day Math" program. Teachers Rupal Sutaria, Virginia Downing, Norma Remke, Laurie Bernstein and Ms. Falzon are developing a curriculum for a special math class for kids needing extra help, and are looking at the math program for the upper grades.

This year both schools will move ahead on the "Character Education Roadmap," developed by a team of teachers, parents and administrators, that will focus on "Building a Learning Community" with emphasis on the values of civic responsibility and respect. Character-education leaders are Shane Cucksey, Linda Vlasic, Anna Henderson and Kate Hennessy, and counselor Christina Vilar. The district has budgeted $30,000 for teacher stipends and to fund other character-education activities. The district's service-learning program will continue, involving students in service projects at all grade levels.

Following is information on the district's two schools, where classes started Monday, August 30.

Portola Valley School District , Corte Madera School, 4575 Alpine Road, Portola Valley. Superintendent: Anne Campbell. Call 851-1777. www.pvsd.net.

Ormondale School
200 Shawnee Pass
Portola Valley
Phone: 851-1777
Eva Gal, principal

Grades: K-3

Enrollment: 314

Small classes. With enrollment almost the same as last year, class size will be very close to 20 students from kindergarten through third grade.

New teacher. Annie McKee is the only new teacher at Ormondale this year and will teach first grade. She completed her master's degree and teaching credential at Mills College with a special emphasis on early childhood education. She's worked with children in classrooms and on the ski slopes. All classroom teachers have returned except Kristin Bouman, first-grade teacher, who moved to Lake Tahoe. Jennifer Bloom, first-grade teacher, returns as Jennifer Bloom-Smith after being married this summer. Nancy Matthews comes back from leave to assist teachers in first grade.

Focus. Ormondale's continuing challenge and goal, said Principal Eva Gal, is to successfully differentiate instruction in language arts and math to meet students' individual needs and learning styles in the classroom. Teachers are working to integrate reading and language arts as they implement state and district standards.

Science. Classroom teachers again this year will be teaching science to their students. Working with them will be science consultant Courtney Tidmarsh, who helped teachers make the transition last year from having a science specialist to classroom-based science.

Art in Action. Based on the successful use of the Art in Action program in kindergarten last year, teachers in first through third grade will be trained in this program and start using it. Developed by art teacher Judith Sleeth in Menlo Park, Art in Action offers a sequential curriculum that combines art history and art appreciation with visual expression in drawing, painting, sculpture and design. The program includes training and ready-to-use materials for teachers.

Character Education/Service Learning. Students and teachers will take part in this districtwide program that will focus on the core values of respect and responsibility this year. A Character Education Roadmap was developed last year by a team of teachers, parent and administrators and adopted by the school board.

Continuing. Ormondale will continue to build on its social/emotional learning program in first grade with follow-up and consultations in other grades as needed. Teacher Lynne Greene will work one day a week with students in small groups or individually in collaboration with Julie Minter, school psychologist. The program helps children become aware of the emotions behind conflicts, learn to manage their behavior, and communicate their feelings in positive and appropriate ways. It also extends to the playground with emphasis on conflict resolution, cooperation and collaboration.

A garden grows. A school garden is taking root at Ormondale. Raised planters have been installed. This new addition provides opportunities for service learning and science projects. The garden will be dedicated to Principal Eva Gal.

Traffic, safety, parking plan. There's a new traffic plan to ensure student safety and facilitate the drop-off and pickup process. Parents are urged to read about it, follow the directions and slow down when they drive children to and from school, especially at the Cervantes-Shawnee Pass intersection.

Back-to-School barbecue. The traditional Ormondale family barbecue will be held on Friday, September 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at school.

Back-to-school night. This year back-to-school night is on Thursday, September 9. Parents/guardians of second- and third-graders will meet in classrooms from 6 to 6:50 p.m.; all parents/guardians will come to the multi-use room for the all-school assembly at 7 p.m.; parents/guardians of kindergartners and first-graders will meet from 7:30 to 8:20 p.m. in their children's classrooms.

Child care. New Horizons School-Age Center, a private organization offering childcare for school children from ages 5 to 13, is located at Ormondale in the portable classroom, adjacent to the kindergarten playground. Ajmir Thompkins is the director. For information and fees, call 851-5671.

Corte Madera
4575 Alpine Road
Portola Valley
Phone: 851-l777

Joel Willen, principal

Grades: 4-8

Enrollment: 360

Class size. Classes will range from 18 to 24 students.

New principal: Joel Willen is settling in as the new principal, and he's delighted to be at Corte Madera. "It's what I hoped for," he said, when he and his wife, also a school principal, decided to return to California. He says he likes the smaller size of the school, the beautiful campus, dedicated staff and looks forward to getting to know the students and parents. Mr. Willen was principal of the larger Pershing Middle School in Houston, Texas, for the past seven years, but he's spent most of his 26 years in education as a middle-school principal, vice principal and teacher in grades 1-12, primarily in the Sierra Foothills. He says he's interested in helping Corte Madera become a more unified grade 4-8 school rather than two entities, a grade 4-5 and a 6-8 school.

Teachers: Corte Madera welcomes Dana Fox, who will be teaching fourth grade this year. She was a long-term substitute in the Palo Alto Unified School District and recently completed the credential program at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont.

School secretary. Angie Sye is the new secretary in the school office. She takes over from Rani Sengottaiyan, who decided to go back to school.

Focus. Principal Willen and teachers will focus on the district goals, character education, and math across all grade levels. The fourth and fifth grades will be implementing a new math program, called Every Day Math. Teachers will continue to work to make sure students learn the curriculum set forth in state standards.

Eight-period day. Corte Madera will keep the same schedule as last year with eight class periods each day. English will continue as a double period, and the electives will be scheduled throughout the day.

Watch for CMS-TV. Students will learn to produce a television show that will be aired over closed circuit TV. Teacher David Macomber and Marcy Barton, the district's technology specialist, are teaming up to teach the class. This venture at Corte Madera is the gift of the Portola Valley Schools Foundation.

Field rejuvenated. The school's playing field had an extensive overhaul this summer, including aeration, replenishment of sand channels, re-seeding and fertilizing. It's ready for PE classes, the soccer season and community use.

Eighth-grade parents meet. Parents will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 3, to discuss what will happen during the eighth-grade year, including a field trip.

Back-to-school barbecue. The date for this annual event is Friday, September 10, at 6 p.m.

Back-to-school night. Parents are invited to come back to school on Tuesday, September 14, to learn about school programs and meet their children's teachers. The evening begins at 7 p.m.

Meet the principal

Parents and community members are invited to meet Corte Madera's new principal, Joel Willen, at a PTA-hosted reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, September 12, in the Corte Madera courtyard.

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