August 18, 2005

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Schoolyard shuffle

Administrative faces change at district schools

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

When students head back to school next week, many will find new—yet familiar—faces in the front office.

Incoming Castillero sixth-graders attended orientation on Tuesday and Thursday, where they met their new teachers, purchased uniforms and received class schedules.

Much of the changing of the guard started when Pioneer High School Principal Barbara Lepiane decided to accept the district position as director of human resources. That left a void the board decided could only be filled by a principal with good high school experience, making Castillero’s Sandy Engel the odds-on favorite.

Her departure however, left a void that took board members to Graystone, where Susan Walker had just finished her fourth year at the helm. Prior to that, she served as Castillero’s assistant principal, making her the odds-on favorite for the transfer.

It was the perfect opportunity for Karen Haverling to trade up, leaving her assistant principal position at Bret Harte Middle School and take the top position at Williams Elementary, a good move, according to Walker, for an educator with elementary school blood in her veins.

Tammy Campbell, one of many moms and dads representing hundreds of new Castillero students, shops for the required uniform separates that her son Colby will need starting Wednesday. Castillero maintains one of the strictest uniform policies in the district.

During its April 21 meeting, the board approved six appointments that placed former Reed Elementary Principal Shyril McGuiness in the top spot at Los Alamitos and transferred outgoing Lisa Gonzales to an assistant principal position at Allen at Steinbeck. Gonzales has since been reassigned to Bachrodt Elementary School, the northernmost school in the district.

Bret Harte Middle School Principal Don McCloskey will have the benefit of two assistant principals, with Norma Murakami as vice president of activities and discipline and Melani Hiles as vice president of instruction. Tim Covello joins the Castillero team as vice principal of discipline.

“He’s new to administration,” says Walker. “When the AP (assistant principal) of discipline took ill during the last two months at Willow Glen Middle School, he stepped up and really enjoyed it. He understands what it takes. He’s got to be the enforcer. He’s also in charge of activities and will oversee all the sports. “

Although new to the position, Walker’s is not a new face, but looks to continue the school’s improvement across the board.

Although new to the role as principal, Susan Walker returns to Castillero after four years at Williams Elementary—part of a shift in district administration roles that started when Pioneer High School Principal Barbara Lepiane decided to take a position with the district.

“We always hear about the performing arts, but we do very well if you look at the desegregated data. It’s still an area we need to focus our attention, and continue our work with Project Cornerstone and the anti-bullying.”

Walker maintains that the overall focus goes further than just expecting respect, it’s more about building relationships, he says, while adding more target goals as standardized curriculums creep into the middle schools from the elementary level.

Former Steinbeck Middle School teacher Karen Brown is one of 17 new members of the Castillero faculty, five who come from one she says welcomed her with open arms.

“The Castillero staff invited us to meetings before the year was over with and they even offered to help us pack,” she said. “They got us into our rooms almost immediately and helped us unpack. They’ve been so very welcoming and I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re really happy to be here.”

Everyone so far seems to be settling in quite nicely, But in what many consider the calm before the storm will surely play out next week as kids head back to school after a summer break that flew by at lightening speed.

Almaden students receive top academic honors

Two Almaden students received top academic honors at St. Frances Cabrini’s eighth-grade graduation ceremony.

Kayla Barekat	Erik Anderson

Valedictorian Kayla Barekat won the St. Thomas Aquinas Award and spoke at the evening graduation ceremony.
Erik Anderson, the salutatorian, received the Father Raymond Kelley Award and gave a speech during the morning awards ceremony.

Barekat, who has been a member of the South Valley YMCA swim team for six years and taken dance lessons for the past 10 years, also received First Honors, the Principal’s Award, the President’s Award for Educational Achievement and the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.

Anderson is an avid drummer, plays club volleyball and is a Boy Scout. He also received First Honors, the Principal’s Award, the President’s Award for Educational Achievement, the Presidential Physical Fitness Award and the president’s Student Service award for contributing more than 100 service hours in a year.

Both received an award and a scholarship to their high schools. Barekat will attend Presentation High School and Anderson will go to Bellarmine College Prepatory.