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The Grapevine
LVJUSD Superintendent's Newsletter - March 2024
Please watch the following video message from Superintendent Chris Van Schaack where he discusses areas of growth from this school year, and speaks to the impacts that California's budget deficit will have on our district in the coming year.
Highlights From Trimester Two
Please enjoy a recap of some of the activities, events, and student
achievements from our second trimester!
Marylin Avenue STEAM Academy and Livermore High Students Join Together for Hands-On Science
Welcoming the Classes of 2037 and 2038 (Wow!) at the TK/Kindergarten Enrollment Fair!
Last week’s TK/Kindergarten Enrollment Fair was filled with enthusiasm and excitement as families geared up to enroll their students for the 2024-25 school year. The event gave families an opportunity to submit required enrollment documents, meet their school’s principal and staff, and explore the services and resources available from our district and community organizations. Thank you to our dedicated staff and community collaborators who helped to make this event a great success, and a special thank you to LARPD for generously hosting this two-day event in the Cresta Blanca Ballroom at the Robert Livermore Community Center.
New student enrollment is an ongoing process; parents and guardians can enroll new students at any time, starting with the completion of an online enrollment form on our website. Required documents can then be taken to your school of residence for processing. Please visit our new student enrollment webpage for details!
Students Share Their Passion for Science at the 24th Annual Science Odyssey
The 2024 Science Odyssey Showcase proved to be another exciting evening as nearly 250 students displayed their projects to the community on February 8, 2024 at Junction Avenue TK-8 School. Now in its 24th year, Science Odyssey empowers students in grades 1 to 12 to show their enthusiasm for science through the research, design, and presentation of science, engineering, computer science, behavioral science, and mathematical and data analysis projects.
To highlight the importance of environmental awareness and sustainability, students in grades K to 12 also had the opportunity to model original, wearable fashion designs at the ever-popular Trashion Show. All designs were created from 100% recycled, repurposed, and reused items. The choices of materials and thoughtful designs resulted in truly creative works of art!
Thank you to our community partners who provided more than sixteen hands-on, interactive science-focused exhibits at Science Odyssey, including a planetarium show hosted by TOPS Science. Many organizations also provided sponsorships, judges for project evaluations, and presented special awards for a number of student projects. See below for a list of our sponsors and exhibitors who made this year's Science Odyssey a great success!
Congratulations to all of our 2024 Science Odyssey participants and award winners!
Spellbinding Showdowns: Top Spellers Compete in District Spelling Bees
Elementary and middle schools sent their top spellers to compete in the district spelling bee competitions held on February 21 for grades 4 to 6, and March 6 for grades 7 and 8. Both competitions were fierce as students competed round after round until only two spellers remained.
After eight rounds of competition, Sean Bumanlag, 5th grade student from Sunset Elementary School, achieved the title of spelling bee champion in the 2024 LVJUSD District Spelling Bee for grades 4 to 6. A medal was also awarded to second place speller, Shaunak Bhattacharjee, 6th grader from Joe Michell TK-8 School.
Competing through seven rounds, Jax Blaschak, 7th grade student from Joe Michell TK-8 School, emerged as the spelling bee champion in the 7th/8th grade competition. Henry Rosenbrock, 7th grader from Mendenhall Middle School, finished in second place.
Congratulations to all of our individual school spelling champions who qualified to compete in this year’s district spelling bees, and an added cheer for our overall 2024 spelling bee champions!
Left to Right: Chris Connor, Director of Elementary Education;
Henry Rosenbrock; Emily Prusso, Board President; Jax Blaschak; Jason Krolikowski, Director of Secondary Education
Making History: 19 Student History Day Projects Advance to the State Competition
Nineteen Mendenhall Middle School student projects created by a total of 32 students were selected as Champion award winners in the 2024 Alameda County National History Day (NHD) Competition held on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Mendenhall Middle School. Projects were based on this year’s NHD theme, Turning Points in History, and will advance to the State competition which will be held April 19-21 at California State University, Sacramento. Best of luck to all of our National History Day champions!
Honoring a Livermore Legend
Livermore High’s wrestling room will officially be named the Bob Bronzan Wrestling Room in honor of Livermore High School’s former teacher, wrestling coach, longtime LVJUSD administrator, and dedicated director, photographer, and videographer for the Livermore Granada Boosters organization, Mr. Bob Bronzan. Bob’s immeasurable impact on students, especially student athletes, over the past 60 years made him a salient recommendation for this honor.
At the February 6, 2024 Board of Education meeting, Helen Gladden, retired Livermore High principal and member of the LHS Wrestling Room Naming Committee shared, “Whether in teaching, coaching, mentoring, or documenting, Bob is the exemplar of giving to one’s community. He has touched so many lives and is well deserving of having an LHS facility named in his honor.”
Board members voted unanimously in support of the naming committee’s recommendation and LHS staff and students look forward to the installment of a plaque in Bob’s honor.
Photo (above): Bob Bronzan pictured with retired Livermore High principal, Helen Gladden
Preparing Students to be Testing Titans: Conquering State Assessments!
State testing plays a crucial role in ensuring that our schools are meeting educational standards and providing quality education to all students. These assessments help us evaluate student progress, identify areas for improvement, and tailor instruction to meet individual needs. By participating in state testing, your student contributes to this ongoing process of improvement and accountability.
This spring, students will engage in various state testing assessments such as the:
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for English Language Arts and Math for grades 3 through 8 and 11;
California Science Test (CAST) for grades 5, 8, and 11; and
English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) for our TK to 12 emerging bilingual students.
Descriptions of these assessments, along with other assessment tools used throughout the year can be found on our student assessments webpage.
State testing provides valuable data that informs educational policy decisions and allocations of resources at the local, state, and national levels. The results help us identify trends in student achievement, and develop targeted interventions to support students who need it. Your student's participation in state testing directly impacts these decisions and helps shape the future of education.
We understand that testing can sometimes be stressful for students, and as parents, your support is crucial in helping alleviate their anxieties. Additionally, because test results do not directly impact students’ grades or college admissions, some of our older students may not see the value in demonstrating their true understanding of learned concepts. So, what can you do as parents and guardians to support students during testing?
Encourage your student to do their best!
Provide a supportive environment to address any test anxiety or content review that can positively impact your student’s confidence and preparation.
Prioritize ample sleep and healthy eating to support your student’s ability to concentrate and focus.
School sites will inform parents and students of specific dates for any testing students will engage in. If you have questions about any of the assessments for your student, please reach out to your principal or classroom teachers.
Livermore Learns
We are excited to announce two upcoming Livermore Learns webinars! Please see below for more information on these NEW topics and visit our Livermore Learns webpage to view our recently added recordings, available in both English and Spanish.
Upcoming webinars:
- Tuesday, March 26: Strategies for Academic Success in Students with ADHD - Learn practical strategies for supporting the work habits, study skills, and overall school success of students with ADHD. Resources available in the school district will also be shared.
- Tuesday, April 23: Eating Disorders in Youth: Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment - Learn about the symptoms of various eating disorders, how to lower the risk in children and youth of developing an eating disorder, and the treatments available for this serious condition that affects both physical and mental health.
Recently Added Recordings:
Dates to Remember!
March 8: NO SCHOOL- Trimester Break
April 1-5: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
April 9: Festival of Orchestras Concert sponsored by LVEF
April 17: Festival of Bands Concert sponsored by LVEF
April 25: LVEF presents the Harlem Wizards at Granada High
April 26: LVEF presents the Harlem Wizards at Livermore High
May 27: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
June 6: Last day of school
Our 2023-24 District calendar is available on our website: 2023-24 District calendar
The 2024-25 District calendar is now available: 2024-25 District calendar
To be notified of upcoming events, be sure to download the Livermore Schools app from the App Store or from Google Play. Follow your schools, and see all of the calendar dates through the app.
For site-specific information on events and celebrations, please visit school websites.
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
Website: www.livermoreschools.org
Facebook: facebook.com/livermoreschools
Instagram: @LivermoreSchools
Email: communityengagement@lvjusd.org
Location: 685 East Jack London Boulevard, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925-606-3200
The Grapevine has been recognized by the California School Public Relations Association as an award-winning newsletter.