Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner.  The Palos Verdes Unified School District has posted the calendar for this years summer programs, which are sponsored by the Peninsula Education Foundation.

Registration for elementary students for summer school will begin on March 29, 2012. The classes will be held this year at Lunada Bay, Dapplegray, Cornerstone and Montemalaga.

Registration for intermediate students who will be participating in a Summer Pep program, will begin on April 9, 2012.  This years morning classes will be offered at Miraleste and Ridgecrest intermediate schools.

Summer high school for students in grades nine through twelve, will be offered at Peninsula High School.  Online registration will be activated according to the grade specified.  On March 20th, PVPUSD Seniors (Grade 12 in Sept. 2012) will be able to start registration at 6:30 a.m.  On March 21st, PVPUSD Juniors (Grade 11 in Sept 2012) will be activated at 6:30 a.m.  On March 22nd, PVPUSD Sophomores (grade 10 in September 2012) will be activated at 6:30 a.m. On March 23rd, PVPUSD Freshman (Grade 9 in September 2012) will be activated  at 6:30 a.m.  Open registration for all students including out of district will open on March 24th.

For more information on classes offered, hours and costs, go to www.pvpss.com.

Photo above is of Malaga Cove School

It is time again for owners of  Palos Verdes homes (and/or tenants) who will have children entering Kindergarten in the Fall of 2012 to be planning for Kindergarten Roundup (Registration).   This is an important event if you have Kindergarten age children because some Palos Verdes elementary schools are impacted.  California Law (SB 1381) relating to the age requirement for Kindergarten enrollment was changed.  The new law requires a child be five years old on or before November 1st.  The cutoff date under the old law was December 2nd.  All interested parents are encouraged to attend one of the scheduled Kindergarten Orientation meetings and learn more about this change, the application process and the application deadline. The meetings will be held on:

.  Monday, February 6th (7:00 p.m.) – Vista Grande Elementary School, 7032 Purpleridge Drive,   Rancho Palos Verdes, (310) 377-6066.

.  Tuesday, February 7th (7:00 p.m.) – Dapplegray Elementary School, 3022 Palos Verdes Drive North, Rolling Hills Estates, (310) 541-3706.

Photo courtesy of PVPUSD

Did you start the New Year promising to be more organized and de-clutter this year?  Well here is the perfect opportunity to get rid of all those old electronic devices you don’t use and start de-cluttering your home or office.  Palos Verdes homes owners have the opportunity to recycle their old TV’s, computers, phones and other electrical devices and help the Palos Verdes public schools at the same time.  Waste Management is offering this one time opportunity to unload your E-waste items and 100% of the proceeds will be given to the Peninsula Education Foundation.  This is a win-win for everyone.

Volunteers will be on hand at 3 drive through locations to help you recycle your E-waste items.  On Friday, January 20, 2012, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., and on Saturday, January 21, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00p.m., you can drop off at Palos Verdes High School located at 600 Cloyden Road, Palos Verdes Estates, or Palos Verdes Peninsula High School located at 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates.  Miraleste Intermediate School will be accepting donations on Saturday only at 29323 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rancho Palos Verdes from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

They will accept old VCR’s, fax machines, TV’s, computers & monitors, printers, print cartridges, cell phones, video games, iPods, MP3 players, DVD players, gps devices, PDA’s, laptops DVD’s & players, scanners, digital cameras, copiers and power supplies.  For more information contact (310) 378-2278.

Photo courtesy of  Peninsula Education Foundation

Attention parents of eighth grade students!  Palos Verdes High School and Peninsula High School will be hosting their annual Eighth Grade Open Houses at their respective schools for children of Palos Verdes homes owners (and tenants).  Current eight graders must select their high school of choice by Friday, February 17, 2012.  Students who do not return their enrollment forms by 4:30 p.m on February 17, will be enrolled into a high school by the district based on available space at either school.

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School will be welcoming prospective students and their parents on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at 5:30 p.m.  This is a chance to learn about the different academic, extracurricular and the athletic programs at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School.  You will also be able to meet students, teachers and other parents and ask your specific questions.  Palos Verdes Peninsula High School is located at 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates 90274.  For more information call (310) 377-4888.

Palos Verdes High School will host it’s annual Eighth Grade Open House on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.  Students can learn about clubs and activities in Senior Park followed by an information session for student athletes in the Multi Purpose Room.  There will be a general session for students and parents in the gym, and then there will be a “Walk Around Campus” to find out about specific programs being offered.  Palos Verdes High School is located at 600 Cloyden Road, Palos Verdes Estates 90274.  For more information call (310)-378-8471.

Many Palos Verdes homes owners were surprised to receive an email from the Palos Verdes Unified School District that a new California law is going into effect for kindergarten aged children.  The new law states that for the 2012-2013 school year, a child must be five years of age before November 1st.  Prior to this change the cutoff date was December 2nd, which has been in effect for several years.

Students that were born between November 1st and December 1st will still be eligible to attend the District’s Transitional Kindergarten Program (commonly known as DK)  or the preschool program located at Valmonte Elementary (VELA) and Miraleste Elementary (MELA).  More information will be available after the first of the year for both these changes and the   registration dates for beginning students.

In January, Palos Verdes eighth grade students will be starting their high school selection process for the 2012-2013 school year.  Parents will be receiving a letter after the holidays with details on this process.  Parent information nights are scheduled on: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. at  Palos Verdes High School.

Palos Verdes homes owners have a wonderful opportunity to support our schools this weekend by registering for The Pier To Pier Friendship Walk which will be held this Sunday, October 30, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. (check-in is at 8:00 a.m.).  This 3.4 mile walk begins at Manhattan Beach Pier.  If you sign up either as walker or “virtual walker” and designate Palos Verdes Education Foundation as your charity of choice, the entire $25 fee will go directly to our schools.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent wrote on the district site: “The primary source of income for most public school districts in California, including the PVPUSD, is from the State.  It currently represents around 77% of all District funding.  However, State support has declined since 2007-08 and has proven to be very unreliable.  For example, because the State often defers payments to school districts, PVPUSD can no longer assume that funding owed us arrives on time, or even in the same budget year.  In addition to State funding, the District also receives approximately 7% of its funding from the federal government for specific (categorical) programs.
The most stable and reliable funding source in recent years (over 15%) has been local revenue from the Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF), PTAs, Booster Clubs, and the parcel tax.  This income has allowed PVPUSD to continue providing programs and services for students needed for their future success in college and/or the workplace.”

Walker Williams, Superintendent, goes on to write, “The 3rd Annual Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk is taking place this Sunday, October 30th.   Please take the time to register your entire family to join in the fun and support PEF and our schools. Last year our schools received a check for $44,000 from Skechers, and this year if we meet our goal of 2000 walkers, we are likely to earn around $75,000. For every walker that registers and designates PEF as the charity of choice, PEF receives the entire $25 registration fee.  It’s easy to register online at www.skechersfriendshipwalk.com and click on the register to walk button.”

This is a win-win.  Our Palos Verdes schools will receive some additional funding and you and your family can enjoy a beautiful morning at the beach!

Photo courtesy of Skechers Friendship Walk

School will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, August 30, 2011, for all schools in the Palos Verdes Unified School District.  It will be a minimum day.

The 2011-2012 school calendar was finally posted last week on the district’s website.  Palos Verdes homes owners (including my household) were anxiously waiting for the vacation/holiday schedule.  Please click here to view schedule.

2011 STAR testing results for Palos Verdes schools were released recently and the Palos Verdes Unified Schools showed increases in scores for the California Standards Test (which is a component of the STAR testing).  Please click here to view test results for Palos Verdes schools. Our great schools are one of the reasons that Palos Verdes real estate continues to be sought after by local, national and international families.

Photo of Malaga Cove School, the first school built on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, courtesy of Arvin Design

Palos Verdes homes owners should be proud of the recent accolade for our schools.  Recently, The Washington Post released the list of best high schools in the nation and both Palos Verdes High Schools ranked in the  top 15%.  Below is an excerpt from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District press release:

“The Washington Post has recently identified the best high schools in the nation using the “challenge index.”  The challenge index is a formula consisting of the results of advanced placement (college level) courses and tests divided by the number of graduating seniors.  Both comprehensive high schools in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District were competing against all public comprehensive, magnet, and charter schools in the nation.

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School ranked #193 in the nation and Palos Verdes High School is #308.  Among California high schools that made the list, Peninsula High is #18 and Palos Verdes High is #33.

District success is not accidental. Both Palos Verdes and Peninsula High schools receive high rankings in the Washington Post rating system because of their open door policy to college level courses.  Students at both high schools are encouraged to stretch themselves and enroll in high level courses.  In 2011, about 3400 Advanced Placement tests were taken in the PVPUSD.  Palos Verdes High School had a passage rate of 77% and Peninsula High School had a passage rate of 81%.”

Congratulations to our schools, our teachers, our students, and our parents who support them.  To read the entire Washington Post article, click here.

Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District

Palos Verdes homes owners whose children are students in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, will be returning to school on Tuesday, August 30.

In order to head back to classes however, students from seventh through twelfth grades, must get a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) shot.  These vaccinations protect children and teens from three different diseases.  Throughout the United States whopping cough has been on the rise and has become more widespread in California in the last couple of years.  Now the schools are requiring that students bring in proof they received the shot prior to starting this next school year.

The state recently granted school districts a 30-day extension after school starts to verify the vaccination process. Not only is this required for public schools, but also the private ones located on the Peninsula.  If your student has not had their vaccinations, they should visit their health-care provider before starting classes.

For more information contact the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District at (310) 378-9966, or visit the district offices at 375 Via Almar, Palos Verdes Estates 90274.

Photo of PVPUSD District Offices courtesy of  PVPUSD

After many years of planning and fundraising, the $1,400,000 library at Montemalaga Elementary School finally had its opening celebration and dedication on January 9th.  This is quite an accomplishment in a time when many schools are struggling.  This project actually had its roots back in 2000 when the new principal, Patricia Stewart,  arrived at the school and realized that the library and computer lab were not large enough to meet the needs of the growing student population.  At that time, both the computer lab and library were moved from their small classrooms into a small portable building brought to the campus by the school district.  It quickly became apparent that the portable was not adequate to serve as a library and computer lab, and in 2002 the process to build a new library began.  The result is the beautiful new library that you see today!

Every piece of the library, construction, landscaping, furnishings and books were privately funded.  The major donor was the Centofante family and the library is dedicated to the former school volunteer, Mary J. Centofante.  Mary’s five children said that their mother had volunteered in the library for six years, reading  to the students while her own children had attended the school.  Montemalaga Elementry School parents and community members also contributed to this library.

The school will be holding an Author’s Fair/Multicultural Festival on May 20. The students will be publishing books that will be on display in the library and that will become part of it’s permanent collection.

The Montemalaga Elementary Libraryis located at 1121 Via Nogales, Palos Verdes Estates 90274.

Photo courtesy of Peninsula News