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A publication of Desert Sands Unified School District
May 23, 2016
Staff Announcements
From Superintendent Gary Rutherford, Ed.D.
Academy. A former AP at Indio High School and a
long-time leader in the Indio community, Esther
quickly accepted the opportunity to return to work
with Mr. Lawson at IHS.
Please join me in congratulating the following
members of the administrative team as they report to
new assignments, effective July 1, 2016:
Assistant Principal, La Quinta Middle School
Lizzie Hartman
Principal, Jefferson Middle School
Margo McCormick
Elizabeth “Lizzy” del Campo Hartman is preparing to
relocate with her family from Ohio to Palm Desert.
Mrs. del Campo Hartman currently serves as an
assistant principal of curriculum/instruction at a high
performing middle school in Cincinnati. Not only does
she possess a strong background in project-based
learning and data-driven instruction—Lizzy is a
former high school science teacher and has been a
leader in STEM/STEAM education. Those talents will
be put to good use at LQMS.
Margo McCormick is the
definition of a “homegrown
leader,” having grown up and
attended schools in the Coachella
Valley before starting her career in
DSUSD in 1999. In the years
since, she has served with
distinction as an elementary
teacher, BTSA/PAR facilitator,
TRAC coach/project facilitator,
middle school summer principal, and assistant
principal at Indio High School. Margo has deep roots
in the Indio community and is excited about the
opportunities that await her at TJMS.
In other staff news:
Last week, Dr. Barry
Stockhamer announced his
intention to retire as principal
of Johnson Elementary School
at the end of the school year.
Dr. Stockhamer has been a
tireless advocate for the
children at LBJ, using the
simple message of “Pride.
Excellence. We Care.” to
show students the way to
success in college and career.
I know you join me in wishing Barry well as he opens
an exciting new chapter of his life.
Assistant Principal, Indio High School
Esther Lopez
Mrs. McCormick’s
departure from Indio
HS left a gap that
would be difficult to
fill. Who else
possesses a deep
knowledge of the
Rajah history and
culture? Enter
Esther Lopez. Mrs.
Lopez had requested Board member Gary Tomak with
an assistant principal Esther Lopez at a recent TREK to
assignment and was Jefferson Middle School.
set to assist Dan
Borgen in the new La Quinta Middle School STEM
The process now begins to recruit an exceptional
candidate to lead the Longhorns as they continue their
noble work. If you know of an exceptional candidate,
please direct him/her to www.edjoin.org to submit an
application.
1
Dates To Note
Take a moment and check out a May 7 story in the LA
Times! Titled How Southern California became the
backdrop to an opera about a ‘hysterical’ woman, the
story includes the adventure of the Shadow Hills High
School band’s participation in the television series.
May: Multiple training sessions available for eSchool
4.0. See flyer or call the technology department for
information.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la
-et-cam-vireo-online-opera-lisa-bielawa-20160506snap-story.html
May 23: Carrillo Ranch Elementary School presents
Spring Visual and Performing Arts Program at 6:00 pm
in the MPR.
June 5: John Glenn Middle School Promotion
Celebration at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Doors
open at 4:00 pm. Ceremony begins at 5:30 pm.
May 24: Benjamin Franklin Elementary School 5th
Grade IB Exhibition from 6:00-7:30. See flyer.
May 25: Elementary School Battle of the Books, 5:00
pm, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School.
June 7: John Adams Elementary School, Legacy in
Learning Celebration, 5:00-7:00 pm. See flyer.
May 25: Palm Desert Charter Middle School Spring
Choir Concert at 6:30 pm at Palm Desert High School.
June 10: Last day of school
May 26: Palm Desert Charter Middle School Spring
Band Concert at 7:00 pm in the multipurpose room.
High School Graduations:
June 1: Amistad, 7:00 pm, Fantasy Springs Special
Event Center
May 25: Panther Night Out at Swirlyz Frozen Yogurt,
11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Benefits Palm Desert Charter
Middle School. See flyer.
June 1: La Quinta, 7:00 pm, Blackhawk Stadium
June 2: Indio, 7:00 pm, Ed White Stadium
May 25: John F. Kennedy Elementary School fundraiser,
Carl’s Jr., 81-770 Highway 111, Indio, 4:00 - 8:00 pm.
June 3: Shadow Hills, 7:00 pm, Knight Stadium
June 4: Palm Desert, 7:45 am, Aztec Stadium
May 26: Amelia Earhart 4th graders present 3rd Annual
Book Film Festival. Begins at 10:00 am in the
multipurpose room. See flyer.
June 8: Summit, 4:00 pm; Horizon, 7:00 pm, Palm
Desert High School gym
May 26: Sands of Time from 5:30-8:30 at District
Education Center North to recognize all certificated and
classified retirees, services pin recognition, and
employees of the year.
The last edition of the
2015-2016 Beacon will be
published on June 6.
Please send any notices to
mary.perry@desertsands.us
by noon, Wednesday, June 1.
May 30: Memorial Day Holiday. Schools and offices
closed.
May 31: World No Tobacco Day
May 31/June 1: Carrillo Ranch Elementary School 3rd
graders present Summer Camp, The Musical at 1:00 pm
in the MPR.
June 2: Red Carpet Awards Ceremony at Carrillo Ranch
Elementary School at 6:00 pm in the MPR.
June 3: Desert Association of California School
Administrators (DACSA) honors regional administrators
of the year at the Hilton Palm Springs.
2
May 6: The Desert Sun wrote a story on the CSUSB
environmental expo noting that students from DSUSD
were participants.
May 6: A story in The Desert Sun on the opening of the
Palm Desert Habit Burger Grill noted that their first
fundraiser was in support of Palm Desert High School.
May 6: A special feature in The Desert Sun included a
story on artist Christopher Chichocki, a Palm Desert
High School graduate.
May 6: The Desert Sun listed scholarship winners of the
Women’s Club of Indio including IHS students Silvia
Meza-Rendon, Elizabeth Barrajas Alon, and Lupe Torres.
May 4: The Desert Sun included an article on the eight
DSUSD Gold Ribbon Schools. Article page 16.
May 3: KMIR featured a story on the La Quinta High
School Key Club’s fashion show to benefit UNICEF.
May: Business-to-Business, a publication of the Palm
Desert Area Chamber of Commerce featured an article on
the AP Capstone Program premiering at Palm Desert
High School.
May: The Gem, a publication of the La Quinta Chamber
of Commerce, featured a story on the International
Baccalaureate Programme.
May: Throughout the month The Desert Sun featured
photos from all high school proms.
In The News
May 20: The Neighbors section of The Desert Sun
included a story written by Charles King, DSUSD
manager of computer network services, on tablet-based
Head Start education.
May 19: A story in The Desert Sun regarding the Clinton
Foundation’s annual health summit will not longer be
held in the valley included mention of this year’s La
Quinta High School’s Day of Action.
May 19: California Graduation Rates Reach Record
High was the title of a story in The Desert Sun placing
DSUSD average graduation at 89.4%.
May 17: The Desert Sun listed the recipients of the
Coachella Valley Alumnae Panhellenic scholarship
winners including Indio High School’s Monica Pelayo
and Thea Reyes; La Quinta High School’s Ellery
Bohrmann and Madeline Davis; Palm Desert High
School’s Michelle Mehta and Jasmine Hassan; and
Shadow Hills High School’s Kailee Rose WinGrove.
May 17: An article in The Desert Sun included mention
of Steven Hall, Palm Desert High School graduate, who
leads the band Drum Hall.
May 17: KMIR TV encouraged their viewers to attend
the finals for Red Hot Ballroom Dancing being held at
Shadow Hills High School.
May 16: An article in The Desert Sun noted the inclusion
of two Palm Desert High School violinists in the
Coachella Valley Symphony's final 2016 performance.
May 16: Local newspaper and television covered the
story on Janet Seto Day in honor of longtime La Quinta
Middle School principal
May 16: The Desert Sun included DSUSD comments on
the president’s statement on transgender facilities.
May 16: The Desert Sun included an article on the recent
Ophelia Project luncheon and scholarship presentation.
May 13: An article in The Desert Sun featured a story on
artist Gustavo Rimada, a La Quinta High School grad.
May 11: All local media covered a story on the murder
of Maria Mendoza, an Amistad High School student.
April 28: Dylan Huber, a La Quinta High School
student, was interviewed by KESQ TV on losing a cell
phone at Coachella.
April 27: Both The Desert Sun and The Press Enterprise
reported on the All-County Academic Team and the
Riverside County Student Academic Awards.
April 24: The society section of The Desert Sun included
coverage of the annual Tools for Tomorrow fundraising
and recognition luncheon, mentioning the La Quinta
High School color guard and Julieta Ramos, of Harry S.
Truman Elementary School as the recipient of the Daryl
Timmons Bryant art Spirit Award.
April 24: A story in The Desert Sun included a list of
scholarship winners from the Desert Art Center including
Katarina Hahn of Palm Desert High School.
April 24: Bobby Orellano, a La Quinta High School
graduate, was quoted in The Desert Sun in a story on how
to find your friends at Coachella Fest.
April 23: The Desert Sun gave DSUSD all-day
kindergarten a “thumbs up” in their weekly editorial.
April 23: KESQ TV sent out a shout out regarding the
Palm Desert High School Classic and Custom Cart Show.
May 9: KESQ TV reported on the success of La Quinta
High School’s first annual Spring Social fundraiser.
May 7: A story in The Desert Sun on the new Blaze
Pizza noted that their first fundraiser was in support of
Palm Desert High School.
May 7: An article in The Desert Sun on a recent
veterans’ expo noted that awards were presented to Cadet
Phillip Ross of La Quinta High School and to Cadet
Joshua Mann of Shadow Hills High School. It further
noted that service at the event was provided by both
schools’ cadets and the Indio High School Interact Club.
 Many of the above stories were picked up by Paper Clips
 Local media also provided extensive coverage to our sports
teams and athletes.
3
The story on Pegasus aired
on May 18. The coffee
cart was included!
A Cup of Coffee, Painting, and
Riding a Horse
Ryan Seymour is a
teacher at John Glenn
Middle School. His day is
filled with very special
students and he
continually seeks ways to
make his students’ lives
even more fulfilling The
author of this article first
became aware of Ryan’s
work when contacted by
Robin Montgomery, CEO
of Pegasus Riding
Academy. This amazing facility and program was
created to introduce special needs students to the
gentleness of horses. The students interact with the
animals and take riding lessons.
Congratulations to Ryan
Seymour for being
selected to receive a 2016
Riverside County Special
Education Local Plan
Area Award (SELPA). He
was recognized for his
work above and beyond to
positively impact the lives
of his students.
Robin called and asked if Ryan and his students could
be a part of a story that KMIR television was going to be
doing on Pegasus. Ryan agree, Principal Majid Salehi
agreed, and Assistant Superintendent of Student
Services Laura Fisher agreed.
We all
congregated in
Ryan’s class
and awaited the
arrival of
KMIR. While
there we
watched as
Kurt Campbell,
a member of
the Pegasus
board, worked
with the
students on
painting the
portrait of a horse. The artwork was so beautiful that the
pieces were featured in the John Glenn Middle School
annual art show (see photo).
KMIR was here to interview Ryan about the program
but our Mr. Seymour used his best marketing skills to
also introduce reporter Janet Zappala to the
entrepreneurs in his class. His students have created a
coffee cart. They make the coffee and deliver the
beverages and pastries to the teachers at the school site.
One teacher noted that, at first, when the program began,
the students made their deliveries without looking at her.
Soon they smiled and, now, they hold conversations.
The growth in the students is directly attributable to
their pride in providing this schoolwide service.
4
It’s All In The Numbers
Middle School Math Field Day was another huge
success as students from across the district met at John
Glenn Middle School to prove that math really is all fun
and games. (Thanks to photographer Gary Tomak.)
DSUSD Winners included:
HEX
1st place, Alison Jenson, 7th, PD Charter
2nd place, Danica Frey, 7th, PD Charter
1st place, Cole Patterson, 8th, PD Charter
5 in a Row
2nd place, Bryce Jankowski, 6th, PD Charter
2nd place, Drew Anderson, 7th, John Glenn
24 Game
2nd place, Kevin Lopez, 7th, PD Charter
1st place, Areesha Kazi, 8th grade, PD Charter
3D Tic Tac Toe
1st place, Andre Melchor, 7th, Glenn
2nd place, Neeru Abassi, 7th grade, PD Charter
1st place, Dylan Crump, PD Charter
2nd place, Theresa Huynh, PD Charter
Capture
1st place, Britney Baez, 7th grade, PD Charter
2nd place, Kanishk Gupta, PDCharter
Leap Frog
2nd place, Bryce Jankowski & Henry Nation, 6th, PD
Charter
1st place, Nate Dias & Duke Swajian, 7th, PD Charter
Calculator Challenge
2nd place, Natalie Vasquez, 6th, Glenn
3rd place, Kali Smith, 6th, PD Charter
1st place, Alison Jenson, 7th, PD Charter
2nd place, Aiden Boyle, 7th grade, PD Charter
3rd place, Enzo Landres, 7th, Glenn
1st place, Kanishk Gupta, 8th, PD Charter
2nd place, Brian Paoletta, 8th, Glenn
Event Construction Derby
1st place, Bella Mazet & Jordan Ozur, 6th, PD Charter
3rd place, Neelee Knickerbocker & Daizy Zavala, 6th,
Glenn
2nd place, Keisha Ancheta, 7th, Desert Ridge
3rd place, Drew Anderson & Issac Munoz, 7th, Glenn
3rd place, Aesia Garban & Theresa Huynh, 8th, PD
Charter
Mental Gymnastics
1st place, James Fong, 6th, Glenn
2nd place, Paul-Simon Minchev, 6th, PD Charter
3rd place, Ethan Peng, 6th, Paige
3rd place, Neeru Abassi, 7th, PD Charter
3rd place, Spencer Farris, 8th grade, Glenn
School Trophies
2nd place
6th grade, PD Charter
7th grade, Glenn
1st Place
7th grade, PD Charter
8th grade, PD Charter
Team Investigation
1st place, Brody Toth & Ben Fitchpatrick, 6th grade, PD
Charter
1st place, Jennifer DeLeon & Britney Baez, 7th, PD
Charter
1st place, Natalie Wright & Jackie Calderon, 8th, Glenn
5
Final TREC
May saw community members participating in the final
TREC (trustees reaching every community) of this
school year. Participants visited two of the district’s
preschools, Gerald Ford Elementary School, and
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School. As has become
customary, Superintendent Gary Rutherford, Ed.D.
asked for thoughts following the tours.
“Not surprised by what I saw today but have to say that
it was just awesome.” Jane Yoshimura, reprographics
specialist
“Everything we saw today shows how we set the
foundation for lifelong education.” Marcy Herrera, La
Quinta High School, activities director and DSUSD
parent
“Seeing the early education programs showcases how
far along we are especially in helping our youngest
students with English as a second language.
Congratulations to Shine and her team.” Spencer
Baker, business owner and DSUSD parent
“It all starts in preschool with rigorous learning through
play.” Ifthika (Shine) Nissar, principal DSUSD early
childhood education program
“I am very impressed with the English language learning
process as well as the pacing between the classes in both
schools.” Kenneth Young, Riverside County
Superintendent of Education
“I enjoyed seeing the maturity of our students at all
levels.” Marlene Aceves, DSUSD accounting specialist
6
Front and Center: IB
In another successful pre-board meeting
presentation on the work of DSUSD
students, Amelia Earhart Elementary
School, Benjamin Franklin Elementary
School, John Glenn Middle School, and La
Quinta High School reintroduced the
trustees to the world of IB (International
Baccalaureate) Programme.
The presentation began with the viewing of
a video on IB education including all age
and grade level participations. The audience
then watched an example of the type of group
discussions that take place in an IB classroom. Seven
students from John Glenn Middle School took part in
what is often termed a “Socratic Seminar” and discussed
“Why IB?” “How has it impacted my life”? Currently
the only middle school in the desert to offer the IB MYP
(Middle Years Program), Glenn students spoke of their
“internationally-minded learning experiences”.
The crowd then moved to the back of the board room
where students in the PYP (Primary Years Program)
from Benjamin Franklin and Amelia Earhart elementary
schools displayed their 5th grade projects. One of the
projects is receiving quite a bit of attention from the City
of La Quinta. A key component to the project is the
ACTION cycle - Choose, Reflect, Act. Lilli and
Madeleine Koch have taken on recycling in a big way.
They created a training program and went from
classroom to classroom, instructing the entire school.
In the first day of implementation they reduced
Franklin's actual trash from 8 trash cans to 1. The
representative from Burrtec was amazed and the sisters
recently presented their project to the La Quinta City
Council in the hopes of persuading them to support their
plan to have the City of La Quinta partner with Burrtec
in their compost recycling program.
The evening’s program ended with three La Quinta High
School students explaining components of the IB
Programme required for what is known as the “full
diploma”, extended essay, TOK (theory of knowledge
module), and community service component.
Students
presented the
board of
education and
the cabinet
with IB teeshirts then led
the gathering
in The Pledge
of Allegiance.
7
Art Exhibitions
John Glenn Middle School
La Quinta High School
8
Nurses receiving
recognition:
Suzanne Dick
11 years
Kathy Kochel
10 years
9
instructional practices; establishing system-wide mission
of college and career readiness for all students; investing
in human capital; maintaining data and assessment
systems to monitor school and student performance; and
deploying resources and guidance to support schools’
efforts to prepare all students for college and career.
California Honor Roll
And the awards keep arriving! Gary Rutherford, Ed.D.
received a letter from the folks at the Campaign for
Business and Education Excellence. Congratulations to
all students and their amazing teachers and
administrative staffs. Excerpt below.
From all of us at ERP and CBEE, I send you heartfelt
congratulations and thank you for a job well done. We
are proud to tell your story and promote your success in
serving students well.
Dear Superintendent Rutherford:
The American education system has a secret. Despite a
national focus on a failing education system, many of
our schools are doing well and successfully preparing
students for college and career. After an extensive
analysis of student data for every public school in
California, the following schools in your school district
were clear leaders in getting students to grade level and
beyond:











Sincerely,
James S. Lanich, PhD
President & CEO
Educational Results Partnership
Campaign for Business and Education Excellence
EdResults.org
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Amelia Earhart Elementary School of Intl Studies
Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
Harry S. Truman Elementary School
James Earl Carter Elementary School
James Monroe Elementary
John Glenn Middle School of Intl Studies
La Quinta High School
Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Palm Desert High School
The California Honor Roll program is made possible with support
from numerous businesses and organizations including State Farm,
AAA, Macy’s, Wells Fargo, Enterprise Rent A Car and several
private foundations.
Youth Representing Youth
According to Google, Youth Court is a program in
which youth sentence peers for minor delinquent and
status offenses and other problems. According to the
National Youth Database, at least 49 states and the
District of Columbia have such court programs. In the
valley-wide program, a sitting judge is the presiding
official but the attorneys and the jury are fellow students
of the accused. In 93% of the cases, the student has
already pled guilty and the trial is for sentencing.
Following completion of the sentence, usually
community service hours, letters of apology, and stints
on the jury for future proceedings, 63% of offenses are
dismissed and,
in most cases,
expunged from
the student’s
record.
These schools have been named an Honor Roll school
for the 2015 California Honor Roll presented by
Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and the
Campaign for Business and Education Excellence
(CBEE). Honor Roll schools will receive recognition in
the press as a leader in student achievement and be
provided with a free banner to display on campus. They
will also be featured on our website where educators and
policy makers seek out high performing schools so that
they can replicate success.
The 2015 Honor Roll recognizes public elementary,
middle, and high schools that demonstrate consistently
high levels of student academic achievement,
improvement in achievement over time, and reduction in
achievement gaps. For high schools, Honor Roll
recognition includes high college readiness in students.
This year, the California Honor Roll recognized 1,714
higher performing, higher poverty schools that are
distinguished for their academic achievement and for
closing achievement gaps.
At a recent
Youth Court
proceeding,
Craig
Christensen,
Desert Ridge
Academy dean of students, was recognized for the role
he has played in redirecting the lives of so many
DSUSD students. Photo: Officer Joel Osmond, Ben Guitron
Through national research, we have identified a
common set of success factors in higher performing
Honor Roll schools and school districts. These
include clear, specific learning objectives aligned to
college and career readiness, along with evidence-based
(City of Indio administrative officer), Craig Christensen, and Indio
Police Department Commander Johnny Romero in the courtroom as
plaques and letters of commendation from the city and the police
chief were presented.
10
There are seventeen students in the program and each
has come to discover that learning is accessible to them
through the use of electronic tablet technology,
managed, and provided by the school district.
Tech Advice
by Chuck King, Manager, Computer Network Services (The
following article appeared in the May 20, 2016 edition of Neighbors,
a publication of The Desert Sun.)
The Desert Sands
Unified School
District (DSUSD),
Early Childhood
Education Program
(ECE) is designed to
ensure that all
children acquire skills
necessary to succeed
in their lifelong
learning process. The
state supported Head
A preschool student using a tablet to
Start Program at
practice writing the letters of the
Herbert Hoover
alphabet.
Elementary School in
Indio is just one of the ten ECE locations throughout our
desert communities served by the district. Mrs. Olga
Perez is one of the teachers who has been piloting a
tablet-based program, to prepare students for their
upcoming kindergarten experience.
Mrs. Perez says, “It motivates me as I see the difference
I am making on their development on a daily basis. For
example, the love for literacy, play, routine,
socialization, independence, self-esteem, rules, respect
for others, teamwork, and specially the passion for
learning. As a preschool teacher I know how important
it is to build a strong foundation for their academic life.”
DSUSD is making a difference in the lives of its
youngest students through the use of tablettechnology. Having teachers like Mrs. Perez facilitating
projects of this nature, makes it all that more useful and
rewarding to the students. The students experience an
interactive way to learn the skills they need to succeed
in their upcoming kindergarten classes. As one district
administrator said, after taking a tour of the Hoover
classroom, “The pilot program with the tablets is
amazing!”
Mrs. Perez said, “The tablets help children with
exposure to a variety of concepts such as letter
recognition, fine motor skills, pre-reading skills,
rhyming words, matching games, sequencing, number
recognition, memory games, and incorporating
technology to their daily activities.”
The use of the tablets in the classroom provide an
opportunity for these youngest of DSUSD students to
experience interactive adventures in language, basic
math, science, art, and a host of other educational topics,
in a friendly and engaging manner. These programs are
designed to perfectly match the age and interests of
these new students, and give them just the right step-up
to prepare them for a lifetime of learning experiences.
Some of the software and applications used on the
tablets are:
 Brainpop: short movies about science, English,
math, health, arts and music, with quizzes about the
content


Soccer Math: Presents addition and subtraction
problems in the context of a soccer field, scoring
goals when the correct answer is provided
Mrs. Olga Perez teaching her preschool class from a large
format display (LFD) .
Run Marco: Teaches the basics of computer
programming in ways that are meaningful to the
very young learner, using graphics and animations,
and promptings for sequences
Scholarships Available
Brandman University is offering scholarships to Desert
Sands Unified School District employees. For more
information, contact the university.
11
Models of Excellence
All three of the district's applications
were winners in the annual Models of
Academic Excellence awards program.
The programs will be recognized with the formal presentation of a plaque during a luncheon celebration at the
Education Summit and Models of Academic Excellence and Innovation Luncheon, October 19, at the Palm Springs
Convention Center. In addition, these topics will be the foundation of three breakout sessions at the summit.
Titles of the winning submissions:
 Expanded Learning Programs
 Professional Development
 Ensuring Equity and Success in Secondary Mathematics
Submitted by Mick Wilhite, director of after school and supplemental
programs, Expanded Learning Programs, focused on the district’s ASES
(After School Education and Safety) programs. The application for the
awards noted that the program has been in existence for nine years and
impacts 2,100 students each year. The narrative submitted included this
excerpt from the project description:
Expanded learning programs regularly incorporate digital literacy into Art work from one of the ASES programs was
the daily program. Each site has been equipped with chrome books (our
recently featured in the district office hallways.
district adopted classroom one-to-one devices) specifically purchased for
afterschool students to use to complete research projects, access interactive eBooks, and the Accelerated Reading
Program. One middle school site uses this technology to video and broadcast student written and produced public
service announcements as part of 21st Century learning. The educational services department also supports expanded
learning by providing a menu of high interest, interactive programs and activities to increase student participation,
learning and ensuring daily attendance. Principals collaborate with students, parents and staff to decide which of these
programs/activities will accommodate the specific needs and interests of all participants, and provide opportunities
for youth voice and leadership including but not limited to:
Animal Samaritans
Robotics (STEM)
Coast 2 Coast Soccer
Nutrition Advisory Class (NAC)
Intramural Sports
Wells Fargo (money management)
Choir/Band
Nature Watch (STEM)
Cheerleading
Gardening
First Tee Golf
Boys and Girls Club Youth Development
Tools for Tomorrow
eBook Explorer
National Youth Tennis and Learning
Meet the Masters
Ballroom Dance
Christopher’s Clubhouse
Math Field Day
Courtney Fox , DSUSD professional development, was responsible for the submission on the district’s professional
development program. Her application clearly detailed opportunities for staff to expand their training. She wrote:
While maintaining a clear vision, the educational services division provides more than 100 professional development
trainings per year, for over 1,500 teachers in grades K-12 on topics ranging from core content to instructional
strategies. What makes DSUSD unique is not just the number of trainings, but the depth and breadth of the content
delivered to all stakeholders. Educational Services facilitates trainings, collaborates with outside contractors,
including RCOE, as well as district teacher-leaders to bring the best to Desert Sands. Our district focus provided
direction when creating learning opportunities for students in ELA/ELD, mathematics, science, social science, and
literacy in all disciplines. District benchmarks in math and ELA, in grades 3-11, provide common formative
assessments that inform our professional development needs, and allow teachers to make adjustments to instruction
throughout the year). While the emphasis for professional development is on curriculum and instruction, the district
focus supports training in a number of areas, including: leadership, technology integration, AVID strategies, growth
mindset, lesson design, and formative and summative assessments, including analysis of data. Educational services
works closely to ensure vertical articulation with a common message, making connections to learning in all grades
and/or disciplines. (continued on page 13)
12
Models of Excellence, continued from page 12
Point of Light
Ensuring Equity and Success in Secondary
Mathematics was written by Krystal Galindo, project
facilitator, secondary mathematics. Her narrative:
Congratulations to Palm Desert
High School junior Matthew
Foong. A finalist in the Prudential
Spirit of
Community Awards, Matthew
received a letter from President
Barack Obama thanking him for his
spirit of community service.
Desert Sands recognized that in order to effectively
support students in mastering skills and concepts, we
had to change our mindset and objective for providing
math support when needed. We began by building a
summer bridge program, modeled after postsecondary
institutions for incoming freshmen, to address
deficiencies and prepare students for the next level of
math. Sadly, remediating skills and content was done at
the end of the year in summer school, and interventions
throughout the year were almost nonexistent. Moreover,
data indicated that students who repeated a summer
school math course often did not master the skills and
concepts needed to prepare them for the next level of
math. In addition, access to summer school was limited
to upperclassmen and typically only for credit recovery,
a-g validation, or to meet graduation requirements.
While some students may have experienced some
success, the gaps in their understanding of mathematics
were significant, and not ready for upper-level high
school or college mathematics.
CSUSB Palm Desert Welcomes DSUSD
STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)
students from Palm Desert and La Quinta high schools
recently visited our local university. The technicallyminded young ladies are touring various campuses as
they plan for college acceptance. Photo below was sent
in by PDHS participants and includes the following
students from their school: Alexa Arellano, Chris
Barnes, Amanda Both, Cheyanne Dougherty, Kolby
Emison, Sophie Gengler, Jaden Hall, Danielle Hjerpe,
Jenna Jensen, Lily Kim, Ellen McGihon, Kristal
Navarro, Ana Olea Delgado, Jamie Overgaag, Karen
Perez Duran, Sophie Reinhart, Nia Serrano, Leah
Urrutia, and Jessica Vogt.
In response, Desert Sands took several steps to address
this concern. First, in the summer of 2014, all students
who did not pass math during the school year, regardless
of grade-level, were allowed to remediate the course;
and in an effort to improve summer school instruction, a
one-day specialized training was provided. In 2015,
Educational Services wrote and implemented two new
summer school courses: Intro to Math I and Calculus
Prep. Intro to Math I is a six-week summer school
course for incoming freshmen who struggled to pass 8th
grade math. This course is written to reinforce the most
essential standards from middle school mathematics, all
of which are prerequisites for success in Math I, and
foundational for Math II and Math III. Initial data from
these courses is encouraging. For those students who
took the Intro to Math course in the summer, 63% of
them were not passing Math 8 as 8th graders and are
now successful in Math I as freshmen; compared to just
39% of their peers who did not take the summer course
(see Figure 3). The second course, Calculus Prep, is a
three-week course for students preparing to enter AP
Calculus. The increased rigor of Math III standards,
coupled with the Calculus Prep course offering, allow
students to successfully move directly from Math III to
Calculus. Students who took Calculus Prep are
outperforming their peers (see Figure 4). Classroom
teachers also report that students who attended either of
the courses mentioned above are better prepared with
increased confidence.
Alcala Wins Award
Congratulations to Giovanni Alcala, a Palm Desert High
School student, for being named a “Student of the Year”
by the Riverside County Office of Education. The award
is presented by the Transition Partnership Program
(TPP) as students enter the workforce. More than 350
students from participating school districts join the
program each year, taking part in
a two-semester course that
includes decision-making skills,
interest assessment, career
exploration, and job preparation.
Support continues after high
school and may include job
placement assistance and
vocational training or financial
assistance to purchase jobrequired tools or uniforms.
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Sing, Sing a Song
Congratulations to Palm Desert Charter Middle School 6th Grade Choir and Concert Choir for performances at the
Disneyland Choir Festival. Both received “superior” ratings, the highest available. The 6th Grade Choir received 1st
place in their category of Treble Choirs and the Concert Choir was awarded 3rd place in the Mixed Choir category.
Best of Luck
Congratulations to the outgoing officers of the Indio High School Future Farmers of America. They were celebrated at
the 39th Annual Indio FFA Chapter Banquet.
14
Emerging Health Professionals Center Showcase
Health academies from throughout the valley sent their students to a
recent career showcase at UCR, Palm Desert Campus. Special thanks to
event speaker Teresa Adams-Ridila, P.P.S., M.F.T., counselor at James
Monroe Elementary. In addition to serving as photographer for The
Beacon, Teresa spoke about her education and career choice. As both a
private counselor and school counselor, she incorporates classic play
therapy strategies and techniques. Ronaldo Paiz, a Palm Desert High
School Health Careers Pathway coordinator, is with
Teresa in these photos.
CSUSB-Palm Desert held its 2016 Environmental and
Sustainability Expo this year. The theme was
renewable energy and the students were treated to
a keynote speech given by the event's sponsor,
Vincent Battaglia, owner of Renova Solar. Haley
Clawson gave an inspiring speech on the many
fields of geoscience. Students from the
environmental clubs of all three districts—
DSUSD, PSUSD, and CVUSD—spent the day attending lectures by Coachella
Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), the REAL Academy from Desert Hot
Springs High that specializes in alternative energy solutions, and the Living Desert.
The event was attended by Serina Ruiz, Indio High School, Stephanie Mann, La Quinta Middle School, Kimberley
Petersen, Palm Desert Charter Middle School, and Alex Londos, Desert Ridge Academy.
More Schools Receive Awards from Alliance For A Healthier Generation
Principals at Lyndon B. Johnson and Dr. Carreon elementary schools have been notified
that they have received awards from the Alliance For A Healthier Generation. They join
several other schools in the district who received their notification earlier this month.
Gold Award
Theodore Roosevelt
Silver Award
Lyndon B. Johnson
Bronze Awards
Dr. Carreon Academy
Amelia Earhart
John F. Kennedy
Robotics Remain a Growing Interest
(Thanks to Sheri Gundlach for the following information.)
John Glenn Middle School’s two Botball (robotics) teams recently competed against 26 other middle school and high
school teams in the Southern California Los Angeles Regional tournament. They placed 3rd and 4th in Seeding
Rounds, 4th place in Double Elimination, 2nd place all around, 1st place documentation, Judges Choice Award for
Outstanding Sub System, and Judges Choice Award for Overall Design.
The Coachella Valley Botball team, made up of kids from La Quinta High School, is also one of my teams. They call
themselves NANQG (not a normal quiet group….they got their initials from the letters of their last names.) La Quinta
High School also has their own robotic team, separate from NAMQG.
NANQG placed 1st overall in the competition as well as 1st place in Seeding and 2nd place in Double Elimination!
All three teams will be
participating in the fiveday Global Conference
and Robotic Tournament
in Florida, July 6
through the 11.
15
Celebrating Educators
Gold Ribbon Schools Recognized
A special recognition luncheon was recently held to
honor some of the county’s outstanding educators and
support staff. Each of the county’s 23 school districts
nominated representatives in each of seven categories as
well as for the ultimate honor of Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to our nominees:
The Celebrating Educators Luncheon in Riverside was
followed by a dinner in Anaheim recognizing the 2016
California Gold Ribbon Schools. State Superintendent
of Public Instruction Tom Thorlakson personally
congratulated the school representatives and distributed
the awards.
Classified Employee of the Year
 Martha Long, nutrition services specialist,
John Kennedy Elementary School







Confidential Employee of the Year
 Maria Lomeli,
credential analyst,
personnel services
Site Support
Employee of the Year
 Tracey Bye, data
assessment specialist
School Counselor of
the Year
 Xochitl Velaquez,
student assistance
program

Amelia Earhart Elementary School
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
Gerald Ford Elementary School
James Earl Carter Elementary School
Martin Van Buren Elementary School
George Washington Charter Elementary School
Ronald Reagan Elementary School (also recognized
for their exemplary physical education and nutrition
program)
James Madison Elementary School, 2016 Civic
Learning Awards Schools Program
Assistant Superintendent of Personnel
Services Tony Signoret presents Tracey
Bye with her plaque at a December
ceremony.
Principal of the Year
 Dan Borgen, Desert Ridge
Academy
Classified Administrator of
the Year
 Mary Perry, public
information officer
Proud Principals Allan Lehman, George Washington Charter
Elementary School; Jeff Hisgen, James Carter Elementary School;
Brad Fisher, Amelia Earhart Elementary School; Scott Davis,
Gerald Ford Elementary School, David Karlquist, James Madison
Elementary School; Kelly May-Vollmar, Benjamin Franklin
Elementary School; Melissa Pizano-Grunnet, Martin Van Buren
Elementary School; Mark Baldwin, Ronald Reagan Elementary
School
Teacher of the Year (and
California Teacher of the Year)
 Michelle Cherland, Carrillo
Ranch Elementary School
Michelle Cherland accepts
her award from Kenneth Young,
Riverside County
superintendent of schools.
Attending the Gold Ribbon festivities were:
Top Row: Kelly Francois (Madison), Sandy Jones (Madison)
Third Row: Mary Perry (PIO) Ruben Saldivar (Washington),
Pam Cleland (Washington), Angela Kuperstein (Washington),
Scott Davis (Ford), Diane Tijerina (Madison), Brad Fisher
(Earhart), Kirsten Wright (Earhart), Lynda Cordova (Carter),
Christina Winchester (Franklin), Abbie Persall (Franklin)
Second Row (seated): Matt Monica (board), Laura Fisher
(assistant superintendent), Wendy Jonathan (board), Mike Duran
(board), Gary Rutherford (superintendent)
First Row (kneeling): Melissa Pizano-Grunnet (Van Buren),
David Karlquist (Madison), Mark Baldwin (Reagan), Allan
Lehmann (Washington), Jeff Hisgen (Carter), Kelly May-Vollmar
(Franklin)
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LQHS Seasons of Love
Ahoy, Mateys
The music began...Five
thousand six hundred minutes,
how do you measure a year?
Using the theme song from the
musical (play and movie) Rent,
the 2015-2016 school year was
captured on video highlighting
academics, sports, and student
life. As student board member
Nadia Fuentes thanked the
trustees for their support, she introduced the video that
would showcase her school. The photo above is of her
enthusiastic administrative team.
A pirate theme helped create an atmosphere of fun at the
annual district health fair. But the information and
testing was serious business as staff members from all
sites stopped by. Chief Pirate (and director of risk
management) Barbara Sasser even had the opportunity
to promote the district’s healthy living philosophy
during an interview with KMIR television.
Dance The Night Away
Congratulations to our after
school program, Red Hot
Ballroom, for being
recognized at the Indio City
Council meeting. Mayor
Glenn Miller and Mayor Pro
Tem Elaine Homes presented
the group with a
commendation.
Civics Lesson
James Madison Elementary School, a 2016 Civic
Learning Awards Schools for the State of California,
was recognized at the Indio City Council meeting and
presented a plaque in honor of their hard work. Joining
Mayor Glenn Miller and Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Holmes
were Sandy Jones, Principal David Karlquist, and
members of the school’s ASB.
Thanks to all
of the DSUSD
guest teachers
for their
assistance in
providing our
students with
an excellent
education. The
annual
reception in
their honor was
held in early
May at the
district offices.
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Another Proud Mama
Congratulations to La Quinta
High School and their first
annual Spring Social.
The event raised over
$12,600 for the nine
on-campus groups
participating in the fundraiser.
A recent edition of The
Beacon featured a story on
alumnae Allyson Jeffredo,
daughter of Connie
Jeffredo, who recently
published a short book of
poetry, Songs After
Memory Fractures. Turns
out that the cover design
was by another alumnae,
Yehsiming Jue, daughter of
John Glenn Middle School
art teacher Yolanda Jue.
Yehsiming recently
completed her masters
degree at Claremont Graduate University.
Talamantes Receives RIMS AVID
Scholarship
On May 2, Indio High School senior Maria Talamantes
became the first Desert Sands Unified School District
AVID student to receive a $1,000 RIMS AVID
scholarship. RIMS stands for the counties served;
Riverside, Inyo,
Mono, and San
Bernardino and
is the largest
regional AVID
program in the
nation. RIMS
AVID has been
in existence over
20 years and
currently serves
over 50,000
students in 360
schools with a college acceptance rate of 96%. Maria
was selected out of the 5,763 AVID seniors in RIMS
this year. Maria plans to attend UC Merced in the fall.
Maria is featured above with her parents and Indio High
School AVID Coordinator Paul Schlosser.
The book deals with how memory fades no matter how
much we don’t want it to and how we inevitably have to
come to terms with diminishing nature of memories as
time passes on.
Golden Voice and Summer Camp
The creators and promoters of Stagecoach (and
Coachella) held a summer camp in 2015. During the
camp session, the Originals was created. The band wrote
a number of songs and performed them at the recent
Stagecoach Festival. Members of the band include:
 Kayla Castillo, 9th grader, Shadow Hills High School
 Israel Piedo, 8th grader, Desert Ridge Academy
 Faith Casillas, 9th grader, Shadow Hills High School
 Nick William, 8th grader, John Glenn Middle School
A Shot of Thanks
A big thank you to all of our
school nurses as they recently
celebrated a day set aside just
for them. At right is Shannon
Rudisill, Amelia Earhart
Elementary School.
Enjoy this newsletter?
Share it!
Subscribe at: dsusd.us
News and photos always welcome!
Send to mary.perry@desertsands.us
The Beacon is published weekly by Desert Sands Unified School
District. Contents are the property of the district and reprinting or
reuse of the material is available by emailing the public
information officer mary.perry@desertsands.us.
Publisher: Gary Rutherford, Ed.D.
Editor: Mary Perry
Copy Editors: Adriana Romero and
Blanche Ramirez
Photo Editor: Roger Isabell
Kindly submit all informational flyers
as jpgs (not pdfs).
18
Desert Ridge Academy…Enough Said!
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A Message of Appreciation
From Gary Rutherford, Ed.D.
The following message was sent to all Desert Sands Unified School District staff members in recognition of the
national and state days of recognition in April and May including California’s Day of the Teacher, Classified School
Employee Week, Administrative Professionals Day, School Bus Drivers Day, School Principals Day, Teacher
Appreciation Day, National Substitute Appreciation Week, National School Nurse Day, and School Nutrition
Employee Week.
Recently, President Barack Obama issued a statement to educators in honor of May 3rd’s National Teacher
Appreciation Day. He said, “an effective teacher is the most important in-school factor for student success”, and I
agree.
But let me go one step further and include every management, certificated, and classified employee whose singular
focus and goal revolves around the well-being and the education of our children.
Next week is California’s Day of the Teacher and it two weeks it will be Classified School Employee Week. From the
time students board a school bus to the time they head home at the end of the day, every aspect of their educational
experience is impacted by those people committed to their safety and education.
From the classroom to the playground, from the cafeteria to the office, students encounter adults who care about them,
and those adults are you…each and every one of you. I am proud to be in your company and humbled to work among
the very best of this nation’s educators and support staff. Desert Sands children are thriving. They are healthier and
happier and, yes, more knowledgeable and inquisitive because of everything you do.
Today on behalf of the Board of Education, I thank you for your commitment, your enthusiasm, and most important of
all for your belief that every child is entitled to experience a sense of belonging, worth, and competence. Take a
moment today to thank each other in the realization that we are in one of the best teams in the field of education.
In celebration of both very special weeks honor our management, certificated, and classified employees; we will take
time next week to recognize all of you with a special
delivery to your sites and your offices.
You deserve the recognition, you deserve my thanks,
and you deserve the appreciation of every member of
this community. Thank you.
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A Story to Tell
Four-Legged Visitors
Students from Desert Ridge
Academy recently visited the
Tolerance Education Center
in Rancho Mirage where
they met Maurice Polar, a
holocaust survivor who told
them his story.
Visitors from the Animal Samaritans recently stopped
by the ASES (After School Education & Safety
Program) program at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary
School. The guests were welcomed with open arms.
Maurice Polar was born in
Nancy, France in 1936 just
as World War II was slowly
beginning in Europe. He
related his recollections of
the life he lived as a small
Jewish child in continuous
hiding. Totally illiterate at
the age of ten, Polar became not only well educated but
a storyteller and author of several books.
Oh Boy Do I Have a Story to Tell You is a riveting
account of the Holocaust seen through the eyes of a
small, Jewish, French boy. It takes the reader on a seesaw ride of emotions, from laughter to tears, and from
peaceful scenes to hellish, graphic dramas. The action
changes into a suspense-filled, high-tension, dramatic
scene, and the reader will be rooting for the innocent
child enmeshed in a worldwide conflict.
Scholarships Awarded
The Tolerance Center offers a variety of programs for
our students on all issues of acceptance.
The following students recently received scholarships
from the California Retired Teachers Association,
Desert Roadrunner Division 43. From left to right,
Jacqueline Solis, Shadow Hills High School, Joel
Montalvo, La Quinta High School, Austin Norman, La
Quinta High School, and Brian Devlin, Palm Desert
High School.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
22
ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
25 pages of desert-themed coloring fun!
$6 per coloring book. Email
Patrice.Healy@desertsands.us to order yours.
23
ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
eSchool 4.0 Training Available
24
ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
25
ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE
AVAILABLE!
26
ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
California Fertilizer Foundation School Garden Grant Application Due Date Extended
The California Fertilizer Foundation is extending the due date for the School Garden Grant. The goal of
the grant program is to increase the understanding and awareness of agriculture in California’s youth through
school gardens. The grant application due date has been set as June 15, 2016. Teachers wishing to apply for a
school garden grant need to fill out and send in the application to Callie Borror. The application can be found on
the California Fertilizer Foundation Website at http://www.calfertilizer.org/Grant14.htm.
All forms need to be filled out and submitted electronically. Call 916-574-9744 for further assistance.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
29
ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
APRIL 6, 2016, TO JUNE 17, 2016
AT DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Desert Sands Unified School District elementary schools are accepting
kindergarten registrations for the 2016-2017 school year.
Parents or guardians of children who will be 5 years old on or before
September 1, 2016, are to register their children for kindergarten at the
school their child will be attending. The new law SB 1381, Kindergarten
Readiness Act, established a 2-year kindergarten program known as
Transitional Kindergarten. Parents or guardians of children whose 5 the
birthday occurs on or between September and December 2, 2016, will
be allowed to register, for Transitional Kindergarten at the school site
the child will be attending.
Parents are to call the school their child will be attending for registration times. The following are the district’s elementary schools and phone numbers.
Carrillo Ranch 238-9700
Lincoln 862-4340
Earhart 200-3720
Monroe 772-4130
Franklin 238-9424
Truman 777-4240
Johnson 863-3680
Kennedy 775-3840
Dr. Carreon Academy 863-1544
Madison 775-3850
Ford 772-4120
Roosevelt 775-3860
Horizon 238-9720
Carter 862-4370
Jackson 775-3830
Eisenhower 775-3810
Reagan 772-0456
Hoover 775-3820
Van Buren 775-3870
For admission to kindergarten, children will have had their 5th birthday on or before September 1of that school
year. Transitional kindergarten children will have their 5th birthday between September and December 2 of that
school year.
The following documents are required for a completed registration:
1. Proof of residency—one of the following is required:  current utility bill (gas or electric) with physical address
(P.O. Box is not acceptable);  or, lease or rental agreement on letterhead, listing name of the parent/guardian;
 or, escrow papers listing the name of the parent/guardian; closing date must be within four weeks of the start
of the school term;  or, affidavit of residency from person with whom the guardian and student are residing
with, and a current utility bill (gas or electric) of that resident, and a copy of both parties’ driver licenses.
2. Proof of birth – one of the following is required: (NO PHOTOCOPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED)  birth certificate;  hospital certificate;  notarized affidavit;  immigration document;  baptismal record/church certificate;  physician's certificate;  other (adoption papers, court decree, passport)
3. Proof of guardianship, if student does not live with parents—one of the following is required:  legal guardianship—court ordered (foster care, etc.);  affidavit of parental responsibility (signature must be witnessed by
school district official) (definition: any person with whom the minor is residing, and with whom the
parent/guardian is in agreement, and who is willing to complete the form);  caregiver’s authorization affidavit
(signature must be witnessed by school district official) (definition: a "qualified relative" of the minor child and
with whom the minor child resides, and the parents are not accessible to give consent. (F.C. Div 11, Sect. 6550)
- “qualified relative,” means a spouse, parent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, half-brother, uncle, aunt,
niece, nephew, first cousin, or any person denoted by the prefix, “grand” or “great,” or the spouse of any of the
persons specified in this definition, even after the marriage has been terminated by death or dissolution.
(continued next page)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
APRIL 6, 2016, TO JUNE 17, 2016
AT DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (continued)
4. Proof of residency—one of the following is required:  current utility bill (gas or electric) with physical address
(P.O. Box is not acceptable);  or, lease or rental agreement on letterhead, listing name of the parent/guardian;
 or, escrow papers listing the name of the parent/guardian; closing date must be within four weeks of the start of
the school term;  or, affidavit of residency from person with whom the guardian and student are residing with,
and a current utility bill (gas or electric) of that resident, and a copy of both parties’ driver licenses.
5. Proof of birth – one of the following is required: (NO PHOTOCOPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED)  birth
certificate;  hospital certificate;  notarized affidavit;  immigration document;  baptismal record/church
certificate;  physician's certificate;  other (adoption papers, court decree, passport)
6. Proof of guardianship, if student does not live with parents—one of the following is required:  legal
guardianship—court ordered (foster care, etc.);  affidavit of parental responsibility (signature must be witnessed
by school district official) (definition: any person with whom the minor is residing, and with whom the
parent/guardian is in agreement, and who is willing to complete the form);  caregiver’s authorization affidavit
(signature must be witnessed by school district official) (definition: a "qualified relative" of the minor child and
with whom the minor child resides, and the parents are not accessible to give consent. (F.C. Div 11, Sect. 6550) “qualified relative,” means a spouse, parent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, half-brother, uncle, aunt,
niece, nephew, first cousin, or any person denoted by the prefix, “grand” or “great,” or the spouse of any of the
persons specified in this definition, even after the marriage has been terminated by death or dissolution.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN/TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN, GRADE 1
AND GRADE 7 STUDENTS:
 Physical examination: (form PM 171A) - completed within six months of the date child is entering
kindergarten/transitional kindergarten, or within 18 months of entering first grade. Note: if the child has a
preschool exam under Medi-Cal or CHDP, he/she may not be eligible for another exam for 1-2 years. Parents must
sign a wavier (form PM 171B).
 MMR: kindergarten/transitional kindergarten and above grade 7 students require two (2) doses given on or after
the first birthday.
 Hepatitis B: kindergarten/transitional kindergarten above require three doses.
 Polio – Four (4) doses at any age, but three (3) doses meet the requirement for ages 4-6 if at least one (1) was
given on or after the fourth birthday.
 DTP/DTaP – Five (5) doses, at any age, but four (4) doses meet requirements for ages 4-6, if at least one (1) was
given on or after the fourth birthday.
 Tdap or DTap or DTP - One dose is given on or after the 7th birthday for ALL students promoting to 7th grade
and all NEW students entering 7th -12th grade.
 Varicella/Chickenpox immunization – verification/vaccine prior to enrolling in school. One (1) dose of the
varicella vaccine is required for all children who have not had the
disease. If the child has already had chickenpox, a physician or medical
clinic must verify. Out of state students grades 1-12 one (1) dose for
children under 13 years; two (2) doses are needed if immunized on
or after 13th birthday, or physician/medical clinic verification of
having had the disease.
 Dental exam - oral health assessment completed by a licensed dental
professional for children entering public school for the first time at
kindergarten/transitional kindergarten or first (1st) grade. The exam
may be completed 12 months prior to school entry or by May 31st
of the school year during which the child is enrolled.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND EVENTS
ATTENTION
DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
STAFF MEMBERS
Picture this...it is a Sunday night,
11:30 pm, there is a loss of
electricity in the neighborhood of
your school site,. It will take 24
hours to be repaired. School is
called off for the next day. Students
and their families are notified via
SchoolMessenger. But, if disaster
strikes during non-school hours,
how can we reach you to provide
you with instructions or updates?
Please provide an email or phone
number for calling and/or texting.
This information will be kept
strictly confidential and only used
for this purpose.
????
To provide the information, contact
us at:
Adriana.Romero@desertsands.us.
34