The mission of the Carlsbad Unified School District, a global community of learners, is to guarantee that our students flourish in life as enthusiastic, confident learners through a world-class educational system characterized by vigorous personalized curriculum, dedicated teaching and total community involvement.
SMART
To accomplish this mission, we use the SMART goals paradigm (goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely) to promote strong academics. Each school and teacher adapts instruction to the learning needs of students. All follow the school board's dictum that every student makes significant yearly progress toward achieving appropriate and meaningful academic and essential life skills standards. From K-12, every student is taught through a standards-aligned curriculum.
How does this curriculum translate into everyday work? At Aviara Oaks Elementary, first-graders use small shapes to create geometrical shapes; for instance combining a yellow hexagon and two green triangles to create a parallelogram. Learning is reinforced with a game in which they identify three-dimensional shapes, vertices and planes.
The kids are engaged and enlightened, reports Principal Kimberly Huesing.
"Our teachers and support staff follow site goals for student academic success," Huesing says. "We maintain a tight focus on student achievement."
SAFE
We are cognizant of the trust parents place in our schools to keep their children safe. We honor that trust in many ways. To protect students from outside intruders, this summer we used Prop P funds to shore up fencing at several sites.
A recent lockdown exemplifies our emergency planning and response protocols. When, due to an electronic glitch, a parent relayed what was later determined to be an unfounded alert warning of a possible armed intruder on a middle school campus, we immediately directed all 14 sites to lock down. Once all campuses were searched and deemed safe, we lifted the lockdown.
We regularly practice comprehensive emergency drills. Children know to follow instructions calmly and quickly. Last spring, one elementary school responded to a fire alarm by filing out to the playground in an orderly fashion. After the cause was discovered, the principal told everyone, "It's OK. Just a piece of burnt toast!" Amid laughter and relief, students and staff returned to classrooms as the principal thanked them for their composure.
SECURE
The District has partnered with We Tip (www.wetip.com) to promote safety, security and compliance with the law on campuses. We Tip supplements the Students Speaking Out (SSO) program, which was implemented by the district last year at secondary sites.
We Tip offers anonymous telephone tip lines that students, families, staff and the public can easily access to report incidents of bullying, drugs, vandalism and weapons on campus, without fear of retribution. Information on workplace issues such as fraud and embezzlement also can be reported confidentially.
Calavera Hills Middle students believe anonymous reporting is beneficial. Casey Kamholz says, "If you see something wrong like drugs or violence, you can call or text. It's easy." Jaid Holman adds, "No one knows it's you so you don't have to worry about people and their friends finding out and being mean to you." Lucy Zheng concludes, "It gives everyone a safe environment. We can go to school and not be afraid. Just learn."
Lucy is absolutely right. To make sure our students have the opportunity to succeed in school, career and life, we must first provide a safe and secure learning environment. Now that's SMART!
SMART
To accomplish this mission, we use the SMART goals paradigm (goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely) to promote strong academics. Each school and teacher adapts instruction to the learning needs of students. All follow the school board's dictum that every student makes significant yearly progress toward achieving appropriate and meaningful academic and essential life skills standards. From K-12, every student is taught through a standards-aligned curriculum.
How does this curriculum translate into everyday work? At Aviara Oaks Elementary, first-graders use small shapes to create geometrical shapes; for instance combining a yellow hexagon and two green triangles to create a parallelogram. Learning is reinforced with a game in which they identify three-dimensional shapes, vertices and planes.
The kids are engaged and enlightened, reports Principal Kimberly Huesing.
"Our teachers and support staff follow site goals for student academic success," Huesing says. "We maintain a tight focus on student achievement."
SAFE
We are cognizant of the trust parents place in our schools to keep their children safe. We honor that trust in many ways. To protect students from outside intruders, this summer we used Prop P funds to shore up fencing at several sites.
A recent lockdown exemplifies our emergency planning and response protocols. When, due to an electronic glitch, a parent relayed what was later determined to be an unfounded alert warning of a possible armed intruder on a middle school campus, we immediately directed all 14 sites to lock down. Once all campuses were searched and deemed safe, we lifted the lockdown.
We regularly practice comprehensive emergency drills. Children know to follow instructions calmly and quickly. Last spring, one elementary school responded to a fire alarm by filing out to the playground in an orderly fashion. After the cause was discovered, the principal told everyone, "It's OK. Just a piece of burnt toast!" Amid laughter and relief, students and staff returned to classrooms as the principal thanked them for their composure.
SECURE
The District has partnered with We Tip (www.wetip.com) to promote safety, security and compliance with the law on campuses. We Tip supplements the Students Speaking Out (SSO) program, which was implemented by the district last year at secondary sites.
We Tip offers anonymous telephone tip lines that students, families, staff and the public can easily access to report incidents of bullying, drugs, vandalism and weapons on campus, without fear of retribution. Information on workplace issues such as fraud and embezzlement also can be reported confidentially.
Calavera Hills Middle students believe anonymous reporting is beneficial. Casey Kamholz says, "If you see something wrong like drugs or violence, you can call or text. It's easy." Jaid Holman adds, "No one knows it's you so you don't have to worry about people and their friends finding out and being mean to you." Lucy Zheng concludes, "It gives everyone a safe environment. We can go to school and not be afraid. Just learn."
Lucy is absolutely right. To make sure our students have the opportunity to succeed in school, career and life, we must first provide a safe and secure learning environment. Now that's SMART!