Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 09/21/1998 All articles from this issue

Homestead gets lucky in state lottery

printer friendly version

By Linda Taaffe / Town Crier Staff Writer

Schools Roundup

omestead High School in Cupertino was a lucky draw in the state's Digital High School lottery this month. Homestead was among the 315 high schools chosen in the state's annual drawing to receive $136 million in education technology grants through the Digital High program.

The school will receive approximately $515,000 - $300 per student - to implement a campus technology program this year, said a spokeswoman from the Fremont Union High School District.

Homestead administrators will begin putting together a school technology plan next month, she said.

Launched in 1997 by the state legislature, the four-year program promises to expand technology to all California high schools by 2000 by making the student-to-computer ratio 4-1; implementing telecommunication access for students in every classroom and school library; making technology an integral resource for all students; and using technology to boost reading and math scores above the 50th percentile.

"It is critical that our students graduate from high school with the technology literacy skills and abilities that will enable them to successfully enter the job market," said state superintendent Delaine Eastin.

She said 90 percent of the jobs created from this moment on will require technological skills and knowledge.

Three Los Altos teachers honored

Katherine Bryant of Santa Rita School and Joanne Miyahara and Susan Roth of Los Altos High were honored Monday at the 29th annual Santa Clara County Teacher Recognition Day awards ceremony at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

They were among the 26 teachers chosen by their school districts as "Teacher of the Year" for outstanding commitment to their communities and students.

Los Altos High was the only school to have two honorees. Miyahara teaches English and coordinates the Advancement Via Individual Determination program that helps promising but disadvantaged students to prepare for college. She is credited with initiating the Individual Determination program at the high school.

Roth is a special education teacher with 26 years of experience. District employees who nominated Roth said she does "everything necessary to ensure that her students take and succeed in the courses they need."

Bryant, who retired this fall after teaching elementary grades in Los Altos for 32 years, is "an exemplary teacher who is well loved and admired by parents, students and staff, "staff said.

Started in 1970 by community leaders Frank and Pauline Lowe and coordinated by the County Office of Education, the program promotes awareness of the teaching profession.

Menlo School reopens hall

After being shut down for nearly a decade, Douglass Hall at Menlo School reopened its doors Sept. 17 with a schoolwide celebration.

The restoration of the 52-room hall and the addition of a state-of-the-art library and seven classrooms marked the completion of the first phase of the school's $18 million capital campaign. The campaign also includes the construction of a new middle school campus.

School officials approved the campaign in 1996 after damage from the Loma Prieta earthquake forced them to close the 1913 Italianate mansion in 1991.

School officials also broke ground for the new middle school at this month's celebration, marking the start of the second phase of the campaign.

Survey says Los Altos K-8 teachers content

A recent survey indicates that Los Altos School District teachers support updated facilities, the district's current academic standards and the level of parental involvement - all responses that differed significantly from other districts in Santa Clara County.

The California Teachers' Association administered a survey last spring to 140,000 teachers statewide. The survey included 50 questions about the quality of teaching, availability of supplies, student values and parental involvement.

Los Altos teachers differed significantly to responses from teachers in the rest of Santa Clara County in several areas. In Los Altos, 85 percent of the teachers said they greatly supported repairing school buildings, compared to the county average of 66 percent.

Only 26 percent of Los Altos teachers supported establishing fixed standards for students to advance to the next grade, compared to the county average of 41 percent,

Only 32 percent of Los Altos teachers supported encouraging increased parental involvement compared to 48 percent countywide.

Los Altos teachers were content with the before- and after-school care at elementary sites; the curriculum content; the diversity in the staff and student body; and the communication level with parents.

Their support of the class size reduction program was the highest in the county.

Of the Los Altos teachers surveyed, 74 percent said they felt strongly that the reduced K-3 class sizes would make a major difference in student performance.