By Christopher J. SteinhauserSuperintendent of Schools

As students head off to a well-deservedThanksgiving week, I wanted to express mydeep appreciation for everyone’s concertedefforts to support teach-ing and learning. Yourhard work is making ahuge difference. We werepleased to celebrate 35 ofour schools this week foroutstanding academicgrowth in English andmath as we mark a fourthstraight year of studentachievement gains dis-trictwide. View relatedvideos and further detailsby finding this article atlbschools.net.Celebrations are always fun, but they also

serve a practical purpose here in the LongBeach Unified School District, sparking dia-logue about what techniques are making the

November 22, 2019

Recognizing Outstanding Growth in Schoolsbiggest impacts on closing achievement gaps.When we find a method that works well, westrive to replicate it more widely. Thisapproach has helped our students to achievegreater gains than other large school districts inCalifornia. Ultimately our students are outper-forming their counterparts statewide in terms ofgraduation rates and college-going rates.These results require a tremendous team

effort among our employees, parents, studentsand valued community partners under the guid-ing vision of our publicly elected Board ofEducation. As superintendent, I often have the privilege

of sharing your successes with educators inother school districts. Most recently our schooldistrict hosted educators from 12 states to dis-cuss equity for all students. Each time Iengage with educators from elsewhere, I amreminded just how special Long Beach is, and Idevelop renewed appreciation for our people.Thank you to everyone who makes us proud

to be LBUSD. Best wishes for a joyousThanksgiving holiday.

A regional collaborative of five school dis-tricts, including Long Beach, has partneredwith local colleges and workforce boards tolaunch a Career Pledge, committing to helpdevelop a qualified workforce for employers.The Pledge was launched during a ceremo-

ny last week at Dignity Health Sports Park inCarson, where representatives from education,industry and government jointly signed a largeCareer Pledge banner.The Pledge “is a groundbreaking commit-

ment to increase the economic vitality of theregion,” said Amy Smith, executive director ofeducational partnerships for the AdvancingLinked Learning Innovation Network (aLLin).The network and LBUSD are authors of thepledge, and they sponsored the event, whereagencies pledged to work together to increaseindustry-aligned educational opportunities forstudents.Other participating school districts include

LBUSD Partners with Agencies on Career EdABC, Centinella Valley, Lynwood andNorwalk-La Mirada, five postsecondary institu-tions (Cerritos College, Cal State Long Beach,Compton College, El Camino College andLong Beach City College), and three workforceboards (Pacific Gateway, South Bay andSoutheast Los Angeles County).

HONORING VETERANS – U.S. Navyveteran and Bixby Elementary Schoolparent Ben Corpuz, with daughterNicole, was among more than 20 veter-ans and active military service personnelhonored during a recent school-wideassembly. View more photos atlbschools.net. Story on next page.

Board ApprovesRaise for CSEAThe Long Beach Unified School District

Board of Education approved a contract agree-ment this week with the local chapter of theCalifornia School Employees Association.Included in the tentative agreement are thesame 2 percent ongoing salary increase andone-time “off schedule” 1 percent increase thatparallel a recent agreement with the TeachersAssociation of Long Beach. The increases areretroactive to July 1, 2018.CSEA members had voted to ratify the

agreement earlier this week. Retroactive checks for the 2 percent

increase and the one-time 1 percent increasewill be disbursed to qualifying employees asearly as December. The one-time increase is1 percent of the employee’s annual salary. Theongoing 2 percent increase also will be reflect-ed on paychecks as early as December.

Jordan PsychologistEarns State HonorMireya Cervantes has earned an

Outstanding School Psychologist Award fromthe California Association of SchoolPsychologists.Cervantes won the

Nadine M. LambertOutstanding SchoolPsychologist award forRegion V, or South andEast Los Angeles County,one of the largest regions.She accepted the awardduring a recent CASPconvention at the WestinHotel Long Beach.“It was an honor and

very special to me toreceive this award in thecity where I’ve worked since I was a schoolpsychologist intern,” said Cervantes, who hasserved for 19 years as a psychologist in theLong Beach Unified School District, includingthe past four years at Jordan High School.

Cervantes was instrumental in creating theJordan Wellness Center, a place on campus tosupport, guide and provide counseling servicesto students. Services also include parent edu-cation and access to community resources.“I’ve had the privilege and unique

opportunity at Jordan to provide direct social-emotional support for students,” Cervantessaid. “This recognition is one that I share withthe students, who truly define strength, andteach me lessons on a daily basis. I’m proud towork at Jordan, and I’m fortunate to work witha supportive school staff and community thatrecognizes the need for overall social emotion-al wellness and health.”

Cervantes

Steinhauser

New Staff AboardAt Long Beach CaLLThe nonprofit Long Beach CaLL (Career-

Linked Learning) has announced that MichelleThomassian will serve as the organization’snew administrator. Thomassian, who mostrecently had served as the career access man-ager for Highline Public Schools just outside ofSeattle, WA, will fill the Long Bach CaLLposition as part of her new role as

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SCHOOL BULLETINOfficial publication of the Long Beach

Unified School District issued bi-weeklyduring the school year from the Office ofthe Superintendent of Schools, 1515 HughesWay, Long Beach, California 90810.(562) 997-8000. www.lbschools.net

CHRISTOPHER J. STEINHAUSERSuperintendent of SchoolsBOARD OF EDUCATION

FELTON WILLIAMS, PresidentJUAN BENITEZ, Vice PresidentDIANA CRAIGHEAD, MemberJON MEYER, MemberMEGAN KERR, Member

Dates to RememberDecember1 Anniversary of Montgomery Bus Boycott1 World AIDS Day3 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00,

2:00— “Celebrate,” Grades K-8, ed.tv 84 8:00, 10:15, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00— “The Wright

Brothers.” Grades 3-8, ed.tv 85 9:30, 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30—

“Hanukkah/Passover,” Grades K-4, ed.tv 86 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30— “December

Holidays,” Grades 1-5, ed.tv 87 Pearl Harbor Day10 Emily Dickinson’s Birthday10 Human Rights Day10 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00,

2:00— “Silversmith of Williamsburg,” Grade 5,ed.tv 8

11 8:00, 10:15, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00— “Christmas,” Grades K-4, ed.tv 8

13 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30— “What Liberty and Justice Mean,” Grades 3-4, ed.tv 8

15 Bill of Rights Day16 Anniversary of Boston Tea Party17 Anniversary of Wright Brothers’ Flight17 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00,

2:00— “Kwanzaa,” Grades K-4, ed.tv 818 8:00, 10:15, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00— “New Year’s

Day,” Grades K-5, ed.tv 819 9:30, 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30— “A

Christmas Carol,” Grades 4-9, ed.tv 820 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30— “Ebenezer,”

Grades 4-6, ed.tv 821 First Day of Winter22-30 Hanukkah23-Jan. 3 Winter Recess24 Christmas Eve — Holiday25 Christmas Day — Holiday25 Clara Barton’s Birthday26-Jan. 1 Kwanzaa31 New Year’s Eve

Free Flu VaccinationsThe City of Long Beach Department of

Health and Human Services will offer free fluvaccinations during a clinic scheduled for 2 to7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at the HealthDepartment offices, 2525 Grand Ave.No appointment is necessary for the free

clinic. Learn more at longbeach.gov/flu.

Harmony ProjectGala on Dec. 11The Long Beach Unified School District

continues to partner with the nonprofitHarmony Project, which provides instrumentalmusic education for children from lowerincome communities. The project’s fifth annu-al gala, a reception and fundraiser hosted bythe school district and the Long BeachEducation Foundation, is scheduled for 5:30 to7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 in the PacificRoom at The Long Beach Arena, 300 E. OceanBlvd., Long Beach. The evening will includemusical performances and special guests.RSVP at harmonyproject@lbschools.net or997-8448.

Names in the NewsWilson High School senior Kate Rael was

featured as a “School Standout” on Fox LA’sMorning Show this month. Kate has publisheda children’s book, “Why Dorothy Dwight FeelsQuite All Right and Hudson Hill Feels VeryIll.” The proceeds from the sales of this bookbenefit the Huntington’s Disease Society ofAmerica. Long Beach physician Christina Lee, who

as a young child survived Cambodia’s KillingFields and later attendedLong Beach UnifiedSchool District schools,recently addressed admin-istrators at a K-12 princi-pals’ meeting here. Dr.Lee shared her experi-ences as a way of inspir-ing leaders to considerhow the power of a storycan help to build empa-thy, understanding andcultural competency instaff and students. Theformer Tincher, Hill andPoly student also spoke last June at the com-mencement ceremony of the first graduatingclass of the Sato Academy of Mathematics andScience.Elementary music teacher Valerie Vinnard,

who was featured in the Nov. 8 School Bulletinas winner of a top award from the CaliforniaMusic Educators Association, also has beenrecognized on the pages of drum manufacturerRemo Inc.’s website.The Remo website describes Vinnard’s

successful “Classroom Drum Circle Project”and includes a related video produced by theschool district’s Office of Multimedia Services.Remo is the world’s largest manufacturer ofdrum heads, and the company’s websitefeatures tributes to internationally renownedmusicians. View the Vinnard feature by searching for

“Classroom Drum Circle Project” atRemo.com.

In MemoriamJan Tunnicliff

former nutrition services supervisorOctober 10, 2019Mary Cassaraformer teacherOctober 26, 2019Dorothy Choice

nutrition services worker, McKinleyNovember 5, 2019

A Salute to VeteransBixby Elementary School honored active

military service personnel and veterans duringa schoolwide event just before the recentVeterans Day holiday. More than 20 veteranswere honored, and student council officersraised a new American flag atop the school’sflagpole.Principal Sam Platis presented plaques of

appreciation to the veterans on the school’splayground as students cheered and wavedAmerican flags. Among the plaque recipients was Long

Beach Unified School District Board ofEducation President Felton Williams, whoserved in the U.S. Army during the 1960s.View photos at lbschools.net.

Lee

(Continued from first page)administrator, K-16 collaborations and externalprograms for the Long Beach Unified SchoolDistrict.Long Beach CaLL is a

partnership amongLBUSD, Long BeachCity College and CalState Long Beach. Thegoal of the program is tohelp young people devel-op personal and profes-sional skills that con-tribute to their success inthe workforce.“I am thrilled to begin

the 2019-20 school yeartogether and join theesteemed Long Beachcommunity,” Thomassiansaid. “This work cannotbe done alone, and I amboth fortunate and eagerto work alongside all ofyou to encourage studentsin Long Beach to be curi-ous, find their purpose,and relentlessly pursuetheir college and careergoals.”In other staffing devel-

opments at Long BeachCaLL, Kehau Fujikami,who served the organization as a consultant inrecent years, is now an official LBUSDemployee and was named Long Beach CaLL’sbusiness development and marketing specialist. Learn more at longbeachcall.org.

Thomassian

Fujikami

• Long Beach CaLL

‘STANDOUT STUDENT’ – Kate Rael, a senior at Wilson HighSchool, was recognized as a “StandoutStudent” on Fox LA’s Morning Show.She wrote and illustrated a book tobenefit the Huntington’s DiseaseSociety of America. View video atlbschools.net.