Chamber honors A.L. Van Houten as Temple City's Citizen of Year ...

PAGE 16 • TEMPLE CITY LIFE • JULY 2009
Photos by Jerry Jambazian
e-mail to: info@templecitychamber.org
School News
TCHS Students Win AP Statistics Contest
The Southern California Chapter of the American
Statistical Association recently announced two Temple
City High School teams among their top 10 Poster
Project winners.
Congratulations to Yvonne Tat, Carmen Tan, Derek
Lau and Jason Fujioka for their study on “Does Birth
Month Affect Test Scores?” and to Jenny Fang, Brandon
Wong, Amy Zhang, and Johnny Zhou for their
M&M’s project.
“The poster contest is a great culminating activity,
allowing students to synthesize their year-long statistical
learning while collecting data on specific topics of
interest,” said advisor Gary Ledger.
Superintendent Chelsea Kang-Smith and Board President
Bob Ridley present Carolina Li with certificate of recognition.
The TCUSD Board of Education recognized the accomplishments
of two talented artists at their regular
meeting on May 27.
Demi In, a second grader at Emperor Elementary
School was recognized for her artwork being selected
as the second grade winner from over 450 entries in the
Los Angeles County School Board’s Art Exhibition.
Demi’s artwork will be permanently displayed at the
Los Angeles County Office of Education.
The TCUSD Board of Education
recognized the accomplishments of
two talented artists at their regular
meeting on June 24.
Thalia Loi, a second grader at
Emperor Elementary School was
recognized for her artwork being
selected as the first place winner
from kindergarten through second
grade entries in the
Water is Life art contest sponsored
by the Upper San Gabriel Valley
Municipal Water District.
The TCUSD Board also recognized
Isabel Tian, a 2009 graduate
from Temple City High School. Her
artwork received a third place award
Thirty nine TCHS students participated in this
project. Intriguing studies included The NBA, Where
Amazing Happens; Facebook versus GPA; Are Girls
Really More Culinary-Arts Inclined Than Boys?; Sight
vs. Hearing Reflexes; and Does Advanced Placement
Environmental Science Help?
Judging was based on statistical knowledge presented
in both writing (as a poster) and verbally (in interviews).
Each team was interviewed by three separate
judges.The contest was held on May 30 at the City of
Hope Cancer Center in Duarte.
For more information about Temple City High
School, phone 626-548-5042.
Superintendent Chelsea Kang-Smith and Board President
Bob Ridley recognizes Demi In for her award-winning
artwork.
TCUSD celebrates student artists Carolina Li, Demi In
TCUSD fetes artists Thalia Loi, Isabel Tian
from all Water is Life high school
entries. Isabel was unable to attend
the meeting because she left yesterday
to attend an out-of-State college.
Thalia and Isabel’s artwork will
now be entered into the annual art
contest sponsored by the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern
California.
Both students are gifted artists
who have a natural ability to express
their ideas in an exceptionally creative
way.
All eligible art entries were displayed
during the Upper District’s
Board Meeting on May 18.
Carolina Li, a fifth grade student at Cloverly Elementary
School was recognized for receiving an Honorable
Mention Award for her artwork entered in the United
Nations Programme’s 18th Annual International
Children’s Painting Competition.
Both students are gifted artists who have a natural
ability to express their ideas in an exceptionally creative
way.
Emperor Elementary School second
grader Thalia Loi proudly displays
art award.
www.templecitychamber.org
TCUSD announces all
schools excel in
Academic Performances
On May 21, the State released the 2008 Base Academic
Performance Index (API) test scores for all California
schools. The scores for Temple City Unified
School District show that all traditional schools in the
District continue to rank as high performing.
Oak Avenue Intermediate School took the top honor
in the District with an API score of 888. The California
Department of Education ranked Oak with a top score
of 10 for both the statewide ranking of all middle
schools and similar middle schools in California.
“Oak Avenue is proud of the scores they have attained
through the overall involvement of students, teachers,
parents, and staff,” commented Principal Lawton Gray.
“These scores are great; however, they are only one
method of evaluating student success at Oak. One way
we are improving student achievement is with our Promoting
Success program where students receive additional
support from counselors and teachers.”
Emperor and Longden Elementary Schools both
scored 887 and Cloverly Elementary scored 878. Also a
high-performing school, La Rosa Elementary scored
830.
Temple City High School scored 822; only about 17%
of high schools in California scored 800 or above.
The State Board of Education sets the State-wide API
target at 800 out of a possible 1,000. State guidelines
require that schools achieve an API rating of 800 or
above to receive a high-performing rating. These API
ratings are a result of the State’s compilation of test data
from the California High School Exit Exam and the State
Standardized Testing and Reporting Program.
Superintendent Chelsea Kang-Smith said, “There is
no question that these wonderful results are a tribute
to dedicated staff and their collective support of all of
our students. TCUSD’s team of certificated, classified,
and administrative staff build the foundation for student
success.”
La Rosa offers full-day Kindergarten
When the 2009-2010 school year opens on Sept. 3,
La Rosa Elementary School will offer a full-day kindergarten
program.
Kindergarten students that live in La Rosa’s attendance
area will benefit from extending their school day
from 3-1/2 hours to 6 hours. Intra- or Inter-District
permits will be approved on a space-available basis.
“Full-day kindergarten contributes to school readiness,
leads to higher academic achievement, improves
student attendance, supports literacy and language development,
and benefits children socially and emotionally,”
said Principal Tiffany Haeberlein.
More than 90% of La Rosa teachers and parents support
this program. Two-thirds of U.S. students attend
full-day kindergarten programs. Statistics show that
43% of California kindergartners and 74% of Los Angeles
County kindergartners attend full-day programs.
TCUSD’s Board of Education unanimously approved
La Rosa’s full-day kindergarten program at their
May 13, 2009 meeting.
For more information about enrollment, phone 626-
548-5024.
Rock Star performs at La Rosa
“Not so Hannah Montana” (aka Principal Tiffany
Haeberlein) rocked the La
Rosa Elementary School campus
on June 10.
As a school, Ms.
Haeberlein challenged the La
Rosa Rascals to read 250,000
pages outside of school hours.
If they reached their goal, Ms.
Haeberlein promised a “rock”
concert.
Students successfully completed
this challenge. The
Rascals read an amazing
371,000 pages from February
25 through April 13.
For more information
about La Rosa Elementary
School, phone 626-548-5076.
Principal Tiffany
Haeberlein as Not-so-
Hannah Montana.