Superintendent's Spotlight
Celebrating Our District Teacher of the Year
In this month’s Superintendent’s Spotlight, I’m thrilled to celebrate Lorena Dickson for her remarkable dedication and years of service to her students. Lorena’s journey as an educator began with a childhood dream of transforming the classroom into a sanctuary of learning, acceptance, and enthusiasm. Join me in congratulating Lorena Dickson as our District Teacher of the Year! Lorena’s positive and nurturing classroom environment is the product of intentional efforts from day one. Through activities that foster community and encourage individuality, she has created a space where every student feels valued and heard. Her commitment to open communication and genuine interest in her students' lives, coupled with clear boundaries promoting kindness and respect, exemplifies the special atmosphere at Gilbert Elementary and the appreciation that the families have for their educators. Outside the classroom, Lorena enjoys exploring the world with her husband, spending time with family and friends, and volunteering. Whether traveling, engaging with her church community, or relaxing on a beach, she carries the spirit of adventure and service with her. We are so grateful to Lorena for her unwavering commitment to education and the exceptional influence she has on our district. Her ability to see and nurture the potential in every student is what makes Lorena an extraordinary teacher!
Sincerely,
Dr. Julienne Lee
Pictured, L to R: Chief Personnel Officer Russell Harrison; Gilbert Elementary School Principal Leslie Chavez; Superintendent Dr. Julienne Lee; Teacher of the Year Lorena Dickson; BPTA President Carol Bright, and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Yvette Cantu.
"All over the room today, in our work and in our play, all over the school today, kindness is the way," sing the sweet voices of kindergarten students at assemblies across the Buena Park School District in celebration of KinderKindness Week. During this special week, students focus on ways to spread kindness at school, at home, and in their communities, and the students all receive medals for their kind actions. As part of this social-emotional learning experience, students also create artwork about some of these acts of kindness, such as inviting a new friend to eat lunch or sharing toys with a younger sibling. Teachers display student artwork in classrooms and shared spaces at each elementary school to spread the message of kindness to the community. Swaying to the music and acting out hand motions with enthusiasm, the students sing out their lesson: "We need a reminder to be kinder, to pause before we speak. Will my words build up, show love, 'cause that is what we need -- kindness every day!" Photo Gallery
Pictured: Pendleton students pause in their preparations before the assembly begins during KinderKindness week.
Partnership Spotlight: National Speech and Debate Association Tournament
The Buena Park School District elementary speech teams from Corey, Emery, Gilbert, Pendleton, and Whitaker swept the awards at the recent National Speech and Debate Association tournament. A staggering 53 students representing all five BPSD teams earned 55 awards plus the Third Place Small School Sweepstakes for Corey and the First Place Large School Sweepstakes for Emery. At the heart of this tremendous success is the partnership between BPSD and Advantage Communications, where District Director Vanessa Young heads up the team of coaches who run the speech programs at all the school sites. The middle school programs bring debate into the mix, but for the elementary schools, speech is the perfect way to build confidence and communication skills. Through this program, students connect with one another, play games, write and perform speeches in a myriad of categories, and ultimately discover the power of sharing their voices and ideas with others.
Pictured: Students, teachers, and principals pose with Superintendent Dr. Julienne Lee at the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament.
Students across the Buena Park School District enjoy a hot, healthy breakfast thanks to the dedicated staff of the Nutrition Services Department. During the 30 minutes before school begins at every school site, students have access to a free and delicious meal to fuel their minds and start the day off on the right foot. The menu offers a wide variety of choices to cater to different tastes and preferences. From the classic appeal of cereal and yogurt to the warmth of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, the heartiness of breakfast burritos, and the comfort of pancakes and waffles, breakfasts across the Buena Park School District cover it all. Each breakfast option includes fresh fruit and a serving of milk. Thank you to the Nutrition Services team for the pride they take in giving students such a well-rounded and nutritious start to the day. Photo Gallery
Pictured: Three students at Gilbert Elementary School enjoy a hot meal and socialize before the morning bell rings.
Students at Buena Park School District's Comic Creators' Showcase display their hand-drawn comic books for attendees who have come to celebrate the conclusion of this After School Enrichment Program (ASES) rotation. On Thursdays, which are minimum days, BPSD offers a range of specialty classes for all students in grades 3, 4 and 5 through the ASES program, and many of these classes culminate in a District-wide event or showcase like this one. For the Comic Creators' rotation, under the guidance of Academic Program Supervisor Jabeen Shahul Hameed, students develop, write, and illustrate their own stories in the style of a graphic novel, combining academics and art in one creative endeavor. For this culminating event, students earn prizes for their efforts and showcase their books in a faire-style display at Buena Park Middle School, with some students even dressing-up to match the theme of their particular story. Photo Gallery
Pictured: Students show Superintendent Dr. Julienne Lee their comic books at the Buena Park School District Comic Creators' Showcase.
The Buena Park School District Spelling Bee is a District-wide event featuring fifty students in the fourth through eighth grades from all five elementary and two middle schools. Fourth and fifth graders compete in their own division, and they are well-versed in the culture and rules of the Spelling Bee, having already competed school-wide for a spot in the District competition. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students compete separately and have a bit more at stake as they attempt to earn a spot representing Buena Park at the County-wide Spelling Bee. More impressive than their spelling skills, though, is the positive energy and support that these competitors give one another, graciously congratulating the winners and touching base with teammates who don't advance. Once again, the empathy of students at BPSD wins the day and proves that academic prowess and kindness go hand-in-hand. Photo Gallery
Pictured: Student successfully spells a word at the Buena Park School District Spelling Bee.
Employee Spotlight: Neelam Kakar
Name: Neelam Kakar
Job Title: Director, Fiscal Services
What do you do for Buena Park School District: I oversee the financial operations and manage the budget for BPSD. My team helps the schools purchase supplies and makes sure they have what they need.
What do you like most about your job: Working with my team. They are a lot of fun, and I especially like having lunch and hanging out together.
What superpower do you wish you had: I wish I could manipulate time so I could control all past, present, and future events.
Who is your hero of fiction: Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series.
What is your favorite way to unwind: I like to cook new and colorful foods or watch my favorite Bollywood movies.
What is one thing about you that might surprise people: I love to dance, and I am hoping to learn a traditional Indian dance called kathak.