Greetings from your principals! We are looking forward to returning to Otay Elementary for the 2008-2009 school year.  The only thing we are sure of is that we will have many more challenges to face, but if anybody can do it, WE CAN!
Our fundamental goal is to improve student achievement and our focus will continue to be full implementation of Houghton Mifflin.  In addition, we will be implementing Step-up to Writing using the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model.  Naturally, we will utilize the on-going data to affect our instructional practices to more prescriptively address and target our students’ academic areas of need, and provide the necessary scaffolding for academic growth.   We will also use the data gathered from IL, SM, AR, Local Measures, HM, and our CST’s to guide and direct our professional development to ensure that we have all the tools/skills needed to meet the challenge at hand.  Our goal is to provide teachers and staff with more opportunities to collaborate and plan together, with the intent of facilitating more optimal implementation, as well as to fine-tune our instructional strategies and techniques to best support learning.    
The most important thing that happens at Otay Elementary School is what happens in the classroom every day and you are key to the success of each and every one of our students.  The schools that have made great progress with regards to student achievement… Embrace the Challenge and Dare to Succeed.  We have done that and our scores reflect the work you and the families of the community have done. 
Our personal goal is to give as many teachers as possible, the opportunity for continual learning, with the intent of building capacity at the site, and supporting the individual professional growth (knowledge & skill) of our team members.   The by-product is renewed joy and excitement for learning, greater student success, and an opportunity for you to “pass it on” to all of us. 
As a result of our efforts, dedication towards positive change, and diligence, our CST scores continue to significantly improve.  Last year, our school was recognized for many academic achievements: Business Honor Roll 2007, Title I Achievement award 2008, California Association for Bilingual Education Seal of Excellence award 2008, and the California Distinguished School award 2008.  To celebrate our accomplishments, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited our school and highlighted the academic achievement of the students, the community and each of YOU.  We must continue to celebrate these outstanding academic achievements and raise the bar for our students because WE still have a lot of work to do!

We worked very hard last year.  We appreciated the effort you put forth and your diligence as we “walked through the mud”.  We will continue to work hard this year, continuing our journey forward.  We are looking forward to celebrating our start of the 2008-2009 school year with each of you and anticipate greater hope and opportunity for our entire learning community

Best Wishes to each of you and your families!
In the best interest of our students,

 

Francisco J. Velasco  Erin E. Dare