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Left to right are Glen City Principal Alice Pacheco, Superintendent Alfonso Gamino, (wielding the ribbon-cutting scissors )second-grader Alvin Morales, Board President Chris Wilson, board members Kelsey Stewart, Michelle Kolbeck, Diana Ponce-Gomez , and Christina Urias. |
Glen City School’s Literacy Center opens universe of learning
February 10, 2016
By Marianne Ratcliff
Santa Paula News
Ten-year-old Glen City Elementary School fifth-grader Daniel Hernandez has one word for his alma mater’s brand-new Literacy Center: “Awesome.”
Daniel, his 6-year-old brother, Joseph Hernandez, and his mom, Glen City PTA President Kassandra Hernandez, were among the first to step into Santa Paula Unified School District’s transformed library at the Literacy Center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony last week. Fifth-grader Anthony Valdovinos led the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off the festivities.
Two combined classrooms at the school’s entrance hold writable LED (light-emitting diode) display boards, computers, laptops, iPads, rolling bookshelves, wiggling stools, an alphabet carpet, bright yellow accents, reading nooks and loads of books.
“We’re trying to replicate this at all of the schools,” said SPUSD Superintendent Alfonso Gamino. The Literacy Center and two modernized classrooms cost $350,000 and the technology learning tools in all of them about $150,000, said Letitia Austin, SPUSD public information officer. Gamino welcomed students, school staff, community members, school district trustees and representatives of state politicians to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception at the school. He thanked all for helping launch Glen City School students into the 21st century of learning and “for making education and literacy a top priority.” He thanked the assembled trustees for their “vision and direction in making the Literacy Center a reality.”
Michael McDonald of Santa Paula, representing state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Angelica Cisneros of Oxnard, representing Assemblyman Das Williams, heralded the occasion with proclamations. Wielding the ribbon-cutting scissors were second-grader Alvin Morales, Superintendent Gamino, Principal Alice Pacheco, Board President Chris Wilson, board members Kelsey Stewart, Christina Urias, Michelle Kolbeck and Diana Ponce-Gomez. Among school officials welcoming visitors were Christine Schieferle, assistant superintendent of Educational Services; Donna Rose, assistant superintendent of Business Services; and Frida Friend, executive director of special education and Student Support Services.
Board President Chris Wilson made it a point to tell students to “bring your parents” to the Literacy Center. “Share this facility with them.”
Principal Pacheco said the Literacy Center will serve approximately 620 students a week, helping to make them “college and career ready.”
Decorative stencils on bright-yellow soffits display inspirational quotes, such as “Wish it. Dream it. Do it.” That is exactly what school officials did in creating a Literacy Center and classrooms with a wow factor, including the display boards loaded with educational software that allow students to touch the screens to explore the solar system, draw pictures with their fingertips and play music on a computer keyboard.
Accenting bookshelves are pictures, toys, dolls and games. Puzzle-shaped tables hold Legos and books. The many elements are the culmination of a committee whose goal was to “open libraries after school, improve our libraries and design a great space,” said Rose.
The school district trains teachers in using the technology and designing lesson plans, with the help of Christian Baker, director of technology, and Adam Gratt, technology and professional services coordinator, Rose said.
In addition to the Literacy Center, the school district has modernized one fourth-grade and one fifth-grade classroom with new technology, including giant touch-screen display boards.
“Pretty good,” Joseph Hernandez said, before reaching for Saturn’s rings.
