State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces
2012 California Distinguished Schools
 
            SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that 387 exemplary California public elementary schools were named 2012 California Distinguished Schools for their innovative education programs that encourage students to learn and help close the achievement gap.
            “The schools we are recognizing today demonstrate the incredible commitment of California’s teachers, administrators, and school employees to provide a world-class education to every student, in spite of the financial hardships facing our state and our schools,” Torlakson said. “Their dedication is inspiring, and I applaud and admire their passion and persistence.”
            The list of schools may be found on the California Department of Education Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/.
            The 2012 California Distinguished Schools Program focuses on California’s students and their entitlement to an equitable and rigorous education. The program identifies and honors those schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap.
To be invited to apply for Distinguished School honors, schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Academic Performance Index requirements.
Once schools are deemed eligible, the CDE invites them to apply to be recognized as a California Distinguished School. The application process consists of a written application, which includes a comprehensive description of two of the school's signature practices, and a county-led site validation review process, which validates the implementation of those signature practices. 
Elementary and secondary schools (middle and high schools) are recognized in alternate years. This year focuses on elementary schools.
Schools earning the Distinguished School title agree to share their signature practices with other schools and serve as mentors to other educators who want to replicate their work. An updated searchable database of these Signature Practices will be available later this spring by the California Department of Education.
Schools selected for recognition will be honored as Distinguished Schools at award ceremonies where Torlakson will present each school with a 2012 Distinguished School plaque and flag. The event and awards are funded by donations from many of California’s most prominent corporations and statewide educational organizations.
 

Carolyn Clark Elementary School has received a grant from the City of San Jose to promote and encourage safe walking to school for our children.
The purpose of this program is to increase walking to school which will help ease traffic congestion, create a sense of community and foster a safer environment in the school zones. Over the next few weeks we will be working at the school and with the City of San Jose to develop a plan and implement this program at our school.

Our school is fortunate to have committed volunteers who have agreed to champion this wonderful program.  With the help of the Walk n' Roll San Jose! program, we will receive:

Traffic safety education
Assistance in developing a walking program for our children
Education and encouragement to inspire and motivate children to walk
Assessment of walking routes
Traffic safety evaluation
Education awareness on the benefits of physical fitness.
We would like to thank Kathy Gomez, Mr,Martes and Arthi Aiyappan for their support in starting this program.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer in this program, please contact either one of the Walk n' Roll Carolyn Clark Volunteers:

Patti Andrade:    grrlypower@yahoo.com
Karin Snycerski:  karin@atriox.com
Heena Patel:      hpatel_1999@yahoo.com
 

As we begin planning for 2012-2013 enrollments, the following dates are important to keep in mind:

Present – Thursday, May 10, 2012                                   

Renewal of Interdistrict Transfer Requests

If your child is currently attending an Evergreen School District school on an Interdistrict Transfer (i.e. you reside in another school district), you will need to begin the renewal process at your resident District Office. Interdistrict Transfers must be renewed yearly. If your child has not been approved for an Interdistrict Transfer, he/she will not be placed in a class. We will begin the review of renewals for the 2012-2013 school year during this time frame.

Monday, April 16 - Thursday, May 10, 2012                       

School Choice Transfer Requests

If you are a resident of the Evergreen School District but wish for your child to attend an Evergreen school other than your home school, you must complete a School Choice Transfer Request form.  “School Choice” placements are dependent on space availability and are offered on a lottery system. Forms will be available at your neighborhood school and at the Evergreen School District office at 3188 Quimby Road after March 1, 2012.  Completed requests will be accepted at the District Office during the request window: Monday, April 16 through Thursday, May 10, 2012. Requests received after May 10, 2012 will not be included in the lottery. These requests will be put on a waiting list and placed if possible.

Monday, April 16 – Thursday, May 10, 2012

New Interdistrict Transfer Request

If you live outside the Evergreen School District attendance area, are planning to have your child enrolled at one of our schools, and have not requested an Interdistrict Transfer from your resident school district, you must start the process of requesting an Interdistrict Transfer at your resident district office. Approved transfers from your resident district office should be received by the Evergreen School District office (3188 Quimby Rd. San Jose, CA 95148) within this window of time.

If your child turns 5 on or before November 1, 2012, it is time to register for Kindergarten.  Registration packets will be available in the school office beginning Monday, February 13 during the hours from 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM.   Parents and child must reside in the Clark School attendance area.  Proof of residency must be shown to the school personnel in order to receive a registration packet.
 

A new California law, the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010, has gone into effect and it changes the age for starting kindergarten. While changing the law may seem small, it can mean a big difference during those early years when children are rapidly growing and developing. In 2012, children will need to be 5 on or before November 1, 2012 to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten. The law phases in the new age requirement by moving the cutoff date up one month per year for three years, beginning in the fall of 2012.

To enroll in kindergarten, students must be 5 years old on or by:
November 1, 2012 for the 2012-2013 school year
October 1, 2013 for the 2013-2014 school year
September 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year

For the 2012-2013 school year, parents of students turning 5 between November 2 and December 2, 2012 will be able to register their children for a Transitional Kindergarten. This program will be the first year of a two-year kindergarten experience. After completing Transitional Kindergarten children will attend a traditional kindergarten in their home schools. The program is free and open to all children that are age-appropriate.

The Evergreen School District Transitional Kindergarten will be taught by credentialed teachers and is intended to give young learners a head start and provide them the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their needs. The curriculum will provide lessons and experiences that will build social, emotional, and leadership qualities for the “young 5s” and give them the academic skills needed to be successful when they enter kindergarten and for years beyond. It is a wonderful gift of time to mature and gain confidence.

The Transitional Kindergarten Parent Information Night has been cancelled due to the uncertainty of the program being offered. It may be rescheduled at a future date if funding is available.

The Intent to Register in Transitional Kindergarten form is available at all elementary school sites.
Please check the Evergreen School District website for periodic updates and information regarding Transitional Kindergarten at http://evergreen.ccsct.com/.

Parents of 6th graders - you will need to provide documentation that your child had a Tdap (whooping cough) booster shot given on or after 7 years old.  Our goal is to have ALL 6th grade students provide this documentation before the end of May.  If you haven’t done so already, check your child’s immunization record or call your physician to find out when they last had a Tdap vaccination. Once the shot is completed, bring in the immunization record to your child’s school they attend NOW so we can document that the requirement has been completed. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SUMMER TO COMPLETE THIS REQUIREMENT.
 

Here is a partial list of the items you can bid on only at Open House, Thursday, May 17, 5:30-7:15...

Fact:  A typical family consumes 182 gallons of soda, 29 gallons of juice, 104 gallons of milk and 26 gallons of bottled water a year.  That's a lot containers -- make sure they're recycled!

Tip:   We could limit the number of containers we use by using reusable containers.

Submitted by: Isaac Liu Room A105

Please check out the following website.  We are continuously collecting any empty drink pouches such as Capri Suns, Kool Aid, etc.  Just bring in your empty pouches (no straws please) and place them in the large blue container right outside the office.  The Go Green students count them out and for every 100 pouches sent in, our school receives $2.  So far we've collected over 700 pouches.  Remember, every pouch you save is every pouch not in a landfill, so please bring in your pouches for Terracycle and for Carolyn Clark.