News
News
Short Avenue Elementary
From Our CoSA
A message from our Community of Schools Administrator
Greetings Venice Community!
February marks Black History Month, a time when our schools celebrate the impact of African-American heritage and culture on our nation. The inspirational words of Dr. King, "The time is right to do what is right." resonates deeply with the Strategic Plan Pillar 1c: Eliminating Opportunity Gaps as schools place a high degree of intentionality with the planning and delivery of high-leverage intervention and instructional programs to accelerate learning outcomes for every student. Here's a look at our multi-tiered acceleration supports that come in various forms and frequency:
- Tier 1 is universal acceleration support available to all K-12 students. At the elementary level, we offer Paper Co. For Secondary schools, there's Tutor.com. Both of these programs operate 24/7 and provide on-demand, unlimited 1-1 tutoring free of charge to every LAUSD student.
- Tier 2 tutoring is locally designed intervention, delivered by a certificated staff at the school and determined in response to the school's data.
- High Dosage Virtual Tutoring is designed to meet the needs of students in need of Tier 3 support by providing high-dose skill-based ELA and Math tutoring that occurs outside of the instructional day for intensive support.
We invite parents to speak to your child's teacher for assistance with connecting with any of these tutoring services to enhance your child's learning trajectory.
In partnership,
Karina Salazar,
Venice Community of Schools Administrator
Venice Community of Schools
Beethoven Elementary School
Braddock Elementary School
Broadway Elementary School
Coeur D'Alene Elementary School
CTC West
Grand View Elementary School
James McBride Special Education Center
Marina del Rey Early Education Center
Marina del Rey Middle School
Mark Twain Middle School
Mar Vista Elementary School
Phoenix High School
Playa del Rey Elementary School
Short Avenue Elementary School
Stoner Avenue Elementary School
Walgrove Elementary School
Westminster Early Education Center
Westminster Elementary School
Westside Global Awareness Magnet
Venice High School
Venice Skills Center
In This Issue
- 100th Day of School Celebrations
- Senior Stories: ~ Class of 2023
- Spectrum News Student Spotlight
- School Spotlight: Phoenix Continuation High School
- Free Tutoring! Paper Co & Tutor.com
- February Attendance Spirit Days
- Upcoming Events
- Community Bulletin Board and Resources
100TH DAY OF SCHOOL ~ FEBRUARY 6, 2023 Westminster ES
Senior Stories: Vanessa Uzan, 12th Grader Venice High School
Story and Photo by: Ellie Zamir, Venice High School, 12th Grade Journalism Student
Vannessa Uzan is a senior at Venice High School. She is the first to graduate from LAUSD’s Dual Language Mandarin Immersion program. She’s been learning Mandarin for 12 years now.
Ellie Zamir, the Co-Managing Editor of The Oarsman—Venice High School’s student media publication—talked to Vanessa about her experience in the program.
How does it feel to be the first 12-year Mandarin World Language Program graduate from Venice High School? Are you proud?
“Yes, I'm proud, it's an honor. I feel like I definitely am paving a pathway for the kids in the generation below me. And hopefully, they'll be able to receive the same kind of education I did.”
Besides learning the Mandarin language, do you feel like you've learned more about culture or different perspectives?
“Yes, definitely. And I also feel like I've also been exposed to a different kind of teaching technique as well, because in Chinese culture, they have, I would say, more strict teaching techniques. And it's definitely different from how American teachers teach here. So I am definitely getting more exposure to different kinds of teaching, learning, and culture.”
Have you ever thought about leaving the program? Why didn’t you? Has it ever been hard?
“It became difficult especially in high school because I've been in this program since I was in elementary school and I've stuck with the same people pretty much my whole life. When we were about to start ninth grade, everyone went to different high schools. Only around five kids ended up continuing to Venice. However, those kids did not continue the program. So it was just me by myself. I had the decision to drop out as they did, or just continue the program. But I knew that if I didn't continue the program, the kids below me probably would have also stopped too because I was the first year, but it was a sacrifice I made. And I feel like it was definitely worth it.”
Why did you or your family decide to join the program in the first place?
“My mom is Taiwanese—however, she never thought about putting me into school to really enhance my Chinese learning abilities. It's actually my dad, who told my mom that we need to since we had family in Taiwan. And the only way I can actually speak to them is to actually understand the language. So when he found out that Broadway Elementary School had this Mandarin immersion program, they helped me enroll there. And then I continued to Mark Twain Middle School, and then finally came to Venice High School.”
What are your career aspirations? Mandarin is something you’ve been learning for a long time. How do you plan on incorporating your knowledge of the language in your future?
“I feel like Mandarin has really helped me explore different career options. Right now, my plan is to go to the Naval Academy. And hopefully, when I do my service years, I can become something called an FTO, which is a foreign area officer. And this job consists of being stationed in a foreign country, and I work at the embassy. I get to interact with people using my biliterate skills. And I feel like it's definitely something that I'm really passionate about.”
What is the value of being bilingual? Or having a bilingual education? For example, in Spain, most students learn a foreign language like English in elementary school, just like you did. But here, it's more common that students only learn a language in high school if at all. Do you think learning another language should be encouraged by schools countrywide? What do you feel is the value of being bilingual and having a bilingual education?
“I definitely feel that schools should incorporate a second language into a student's education at a younger age. I know there's something called a critical point. And it's like after you reach that age, it's harder to learn a language. So if students can start learning a language earlier, I definitely feel like it'll benefit them. And also, like I said before, you get can get more exposure to different kinds of cultures. And when you get older, you have more options to explore more things.”
What is your favorite thing about knowing Mandarin?
“I can talk from personal experience. When someone looks at me I don't look completely Chinese. I do look mixed. So whenever I go to a place like Taiwan, for instance, and I start talking to the locals there, it’s just kind of exciting to see how they react. Some of them are very surprised. I think that's something that is really cool about knowing a second language. I am able to connect with my family through knowing Mandarin.”
Spectrum News Student Spotlight: Elijah Dubon 12th Grader Venice High School
Click on the photo below to see video.
CDE Distinguishes Phoenix HS as a Model Continuation High School!
California State Superintendent announces Phoenix HS as a 2023 Model Continuation High School!!
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced Phoenix High School as a 2023 Model Continuation High School (MCHS). This extraordinary achievement reflects the school's distinguished commitment to delivering high leverage educational options and support services focused on addressing student needs to elevate their strengths and assets, and set students on a trajectory for success. Phoenix High School's comprehensive support has proven to prepare students with the necessary skills to successfully complete high school, transition to higher education, and enter the workforce. Phoenix HS will hold the distinction as an MCHS for three years (April 2023 to March 2026). During which time, Phoenix HS will serve for the California Department of Education by being a resource for districts that are planning to establish new continuation high schools and for existing continuation schools that need support as they face unprecedented challenges while we recover from the pandemic. We congratulate Phoenix HS on this remarkable achievement!
Free Tutoring for all Elementary Students!
Get reliable learning support whenever your child needs it
Paper partners with LAUSD to deliver 24/7, unlimited, multilingual tutoring —at no cost to you.
February Attendance Spirit Week
Did you know that student attendance is a key predictor of high school graduation? Attendance matters for every student, every day.
Upcoming Events
LAUSD Reading Challenge: TK - 12th Grade
Ribbon-Cutting for the Venice High School Modernization Project
NOMINATE A TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2023
Calling all Seniors! Cash for College Webinar
Ayuda Financiera para Alumnos de 12 grado
STEM Scholarships for High School Seniors!
TK-12 Instructional Fellowship
Spring Acceleration Days: April 3 -4
2022-2023 Instructional Calendar
Community Bulletin Board
Venice Skills Center
Venice Skills Center and its branch locations have been serving the Venice community since 1968. VSC operates under the LAUSD Division of Career and Adult Education. As a public school, it offers tuition-free Career Technical Education, Academic and High School Programs, and English as a Second a Language classes for students who are eighteen years or older.
Free GoPass TAP Cards Available
Every school in Venice Community of Schools participates in the GoPass TAP Card program. TAP cards help students ride transit without the worry of paying fare allowing unlimited rides on Metro buses and trains and select municipal transit systems. GoPass TAP cards can be picked up from your child's school.
LAUSD is celebrating 30 years of Charitable Giving!
The LAUSD Sharing Brings Hope Consolidated Charitable Campaign is taking place from February 6, 2023, thru April 28, 2023. The Sharing Brings Hope Campaign consolidates all of the District's Fundraising efforts to a single annual occurrence. lt’s mission is to provide funding for programs that assist in meeting the health, social, environmental, and educational needs of the communities that LAUSD serves. Donations to this campaign can change lives and bring relief and hope to thousands of people, including our LAUSD students.
Venice Arts Presents: CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
A virtual speaker series with creative professionals. Free and open to youth ages 16-24. Mondays at 4pm via zoom.