March 2017 Dear WSD Staff, It is with a heavy heart that I want to let you know that I have accepted the position to be the next superintendent of the Poway Unified School District, beginning in April. This is a very difficult decision for me, as being the superintendent of the Westminster School District has been the highlight of my professional career but the decision was ultimately made in the best interest of my family. It has truly been an honor to serve as your superintendent and I would like to thank all of you for your tremendous efforts and support. Let us reflect for a few moments on some of the things we have accomplished together in the last three and a half years: we established the first Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion Academy in California, a Spanish Dual Language Immersion Academy, a STEAM Magnet School, a GATE Academy, and this fall we are launching Orange County’s first Computer Science Magnet School. WSD was one of only 13 districts (out of 1,000) throughout California to be named an Honor Roll District, a national program recognizing high-performing schools that improve the outcomes for students, and we were honored as a White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics “Bright Spot in Hispanic Education.” We were one of the first districts to implement a 1:1 Chromebook device initiative for students K-8 and last year we received the prestigious Golden Bell Award for our amazing i4 Blended Learning Initiative. I am incredibly proud of the work that we have achieved together and I am confident that the programs we have in place will continue to thrive and grow. I am excited to take on the new challenges that are ahead of me, yet at the same time, very sad to be leaving WSD. I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to lead such a great District and to work alongside such remarkable people. If you ever need anything please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me at Poway. I wish you all the very best that life has for each of you. How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. Thank you for being a special part of my life and the joy that brought me to work each day!

All in the service of children,

Marian

Finley Elementary, Computer Science Magnet School – This fall, Finley Elementary will become Orange County’s First Computer Science Magnet School. The District has partnered with Code To The Future, the nation’s leading Computer Science immersion consultant groups. At this new Magnet School, all students, transitional kindergarten through fifth grade, will have an opportunity to develop computer programming and coding skills as part of their daily curriculum. When students are provided with computer science skills, they develop critical thinking, creativity, and confidence in an engaging and motivating way while also developing the tools and mindset to

become a contributing leader in a global society. A small but growing number of schools around the country are using computer science, coding language and even games like Minecraft to help students learn everything from math to language skills. In January, the White House recognized Code to the Future, as the leader in computer science education. WSD is poised to become a leader in Orange County and will be nationally recognized as a computer science lighthouse district!

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Westminster School District

Superintendent’s Scoop Dr. Marian Kim Phelps

Kindness Campaign Smashes Goal – I am proud to announce that we exceeded our goal of 1 million acts of kindness as part of our year-long Kindness Campaign. One year ago, WSD partnered with Mayor Ta and the City of Westminster in holding a Kindness Campaign designed to promote a caring, considerate and welcoming environment throughout Westminster. As of Valentine’s Day, our teachers, administrators, classified staff and students

committed 1,502,738 acts of kindness! At our February Board Meeting, Mayor Ta honored our schools and staff for this amazing accomplishment. It was an honor to participate in such a worthwhile campaign. Our students and staff found that kindness really is contagious and I am confident that we will continue our practice of performing acts of kindness each day.

Stacey Gym Groundbreaking - A great Groundbreaking Ceremony was held at Stacey Middle School for the new $15 million Gymnasium & Multi-Use Facility that is projected to be completed early next year. The Stacey Symphonic Band, led by Jordan Woodruff, performed and Stacey ASB President Maddy Snowden spoke. Many distinguished guests attended including our Board of Trustees, Senator Janet Nguyen, Huntington Beach Council Member Patrick Brenden and Westminster Mayor Tri Ta. In addition to a full sized gymnasium, the new building will include a dedicated music classroom and a stage for performances and presentations. The facility will be able to accommodate 1,500 people.

Sequoia Academy Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – We had a wonderful Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to officially establish Sequoia Academy as a GATE (Gifted & Talented Education) Magnet Elementary School. Sequoia Academy features an academically rigorous program that focuses on STEA³M (science, technology, engineering, academics, arts, AVID and mathematics). The program, which is offered to all TK-6th grade students, provides an integrated approach to core curriculum including STEA³M Academy rotations with robotics and computer science, music, art, history, and visual and performing arts. Scholars will master AVID and GATE

strategies while developing higher level thinking skills in a demanding academic program. Classified School Employees of the Year – I would like to salute our outstanding staff members that have been recognized as 2017 Classified School Employees of the Year. Our honorees were nominated by their peers based on their excellent work performance, school community involvement, leadership and commitment. Elda Carey (Johnson) – Para-Educator & Instructional Assistance Ingrid Luna (District Office – Maintenance, Operations & Transportation Nancy McKernan (Johnson) – Office & Technical Support Van Tran (Johnson) – Support Services & Security Karen Vargas (Stacey) – Child Nutrition Services

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Elda Carey, Ingrid Luna, Nancy McKernan & Van Tran. (Karen Vargas not pictured)

Administrators of the Year – Congratulations to WSD’s Administrators of the Year. These administrators go above and beyond the call of duty in performing their jobs and they demonstrate a dedication and commitment to children that is second-to-none. I am also very proud to announce that the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) named Dr. Cyndi Paik as the Orange County Central Office Administrator of the Year!

Dr. Cyndi Paik, Central Office Administrator of the Year Dr. Dena Kiouses, Site Administrator of the Year

WSD Teacher of the Year – Elaine Mizuo Congratulations to Elaine Mizuo, a kindergarten teacher at Sequoia Elementary School, for being named the WSD Teacher of the Year. Elaine is an amazing teacher that finds ways to engage each and every one of her students. Whenever I am in her classroom, students are highly engaged in rigorous learning opportunities. The student work her children are able to demonstrate and produce is truly astounding and commendable. While she is known among her colleagues for her expertise in GATE and education technology, she is known among her students and parents for making learning fun. We wish Elaine the best of luck as she will represent WSD in the Orange County Teacher of the Year competition next month. School Site Teachers of the Year – Congratulations to these passionate, hardworking heroes of our District. They go above and beyond for our students every day and are role models for their colleagues! Anderson Elementary Ann Bui Clegg Elementary Napoleon Dinh DeMille Elementary Lisa Williams Eastwood Elementary Elizabeth Williams Ross Finley Elementary Melanie Rafkin Fryberger Elementary Elisabeth Clarke Hayden Elementary David Hubbard Johnson Middle Phil Hunter Meairs Elementary Leslie Johnson Schmitt Elementary Cheyenne Garvey Schroeder Elementary Donna Hilts Sequoia Academy Elaine Mizuo Stacey Middle Jordan Woodruff Warner Middle Sheila Peck Webber Elementary Kateline Vu Willmore Elementary Greg Van den Ordel

Dr. Dena Kiouses & Dr. Cyndi Paik

James Jimenez, Michelle Watson, Elaine Mizuo, Dr. Marian Kim Phelps, Kim Bui