State approves funding for CUSD
Students at the Cupertino Union School District can expect more upgraded classrooms. The state recently approved the district's application for $28.4 million in facility renovation and modernization funding under Senate Bill 50. Required district matching funds bring the total to $35.6 million.
The funds will be used for the renovation of Eaton and Portal schools, possible construction of a fifth middle school and other projects identified at all schools, including Montclaire School, which serves children in south Los Altos.
Cupertino began the renovation of its schools in 1980, using district funds from the sale of closed school sites. The district's Facility Modernization Program included the renovation of classrooms and administrative offices, site improvements, and the construction of Guided Learning centers at its elementary schools. Voter approval of a $71 million bond measure for school facility renovations in June 1995 allowed for the expansion of the district's modernization program.
School officials said the new funds will complete district renovations.
Castro students surpass
1 million page challenge
Students at Mariano Castro Elementary School in Mountain View are probably feeling well-read these days. They recently surpassed the Parent-Teacher Association's One Million Page Reading Challenge by reading a total of 1,182,248 pages between Oct. 1 and April 30.
The PTA set a goal of one million pages and asked each student to read or listen to at least 10 pages a night, including weekends and holidays.
Organizers said students read a variety of books, including some printed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hebrew, Korean and Japanese.
The purpose of the challenge was to encourage children to read for pleasure, said program coordinator Elizabeth Osborn.
Students were honored May 21 at the school.
Blach music groups
sweep competitions
Musicians in Blach Middle School's music program have created a legacy for upcoming students, winning top honors in several musical competitions over the past year.
Blach's seventh-grade orchestra, which has 15 students, recently won first place at a music festival hosted by Music in the Parks May 7 in Valencia. The school's seventh-grade band, which has 70 members, secured a second-place trophy in its division. Both groups were judged on tone quality, blend, balance, intonation, rhythm, technique and control of ranges, and style and tempo.
The school's eighth-grade orchestra won first place at the Anaheim Heritage Festival at Fullerton College May 15, securing both the gold awards trophy and the adjudicators award. The band placed second in its division.
Both eighth-grade groups won the California Music Education Association Command Performance Plaque earlier this year.
Music teacher Vivian McNulty, who pioneered the program in the late 1980s, said she puts in about 200 hours of preparation time during the school year for each major trip. About 45 percent of the student body participates in the music program.
IN BRIEF: The Homestead High School Future Business Leaders of America team captured the coveted 1999 FBLA California State Championship last month in Sacramento.