The Principal's Corner

 

 

 

Principal's Corner:

 

 Mrs. Kim Linz Principal at Pacific Elementary School                                  

Dear Pacific Parents/Guardians,
 
Pacific Elementary School is one of five elementary schools serving the students of Manhattan Beach. Pacific is an extraordinary school with a long tradition of academic excellence and high achievement by all students. The classrooms and campus are evidence of the strongly child-centered program that attends to the academic, social, personal, and physical needs of every child. Pacific students understand that their success is measured through their character achievements, as well as their academic success. The Pacific staff takes pride in its partnership with parents and the community to provide an exemplary standards-based curriculum and innovative programs. The school has a strong commitment to the success of all students in the Panther family. Pacific School serves 648 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. 
 
Pacific’s strengths are best reflected in the attitude, behavior, and performance of students, teachers, and parents. Students see themselves as thinkers, problem-solvers, and decision-makers. Staff and parents are apprised of student progress and best practices through meetings, workshops, and conferences. The parent support at Pacific is outstanding. On any given day, it is not unusual to find over thirty volunteers on campus at any one time. Parents volunteer thousands of hours per year, and they are a visible and driving force behind Pacific School. Volunteers help in the classroom, in science and computer labs and in the library, on the playground and on field trips, and during school-wide community events. They also sponsor and lead important programs that supplement our daily curriculum such as Growing Great, Young at Art, Grades of Green, and our PawPrints student publication.
 
Pacific Elementary School was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2010 due in part to the school community commitment toward educational excellence for all students. The School Site Council at Pacific, with input from our stakeholders, developed the Single Plan for Student Achievement. This plan fulfills our school wide goal to provide an environment that emphasizes rigorous leaning opportunities and high expectations for academic and personal student achievement. This plan also defines specific areas in which teachers, specialists and parents could provide additional support for all students below grade level expectations in English-Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Science, and Science.
 
Dedicated teachers demonstrate concern for each child’s progress. To maximize their effectiveness, teachers engage in programs such as peer coaching, team teaching, and grade-level planning. The Pacific staff strives to meet the unique learning needs of all students through differentiated instruction, such as pacing groups or grade rotations. Our differentiated instruction program is affectionately referred to as “Surf Time.” Decisions regarding intervention are made based on a variety of data including state, district, and local assessments, classroom observations, and team discussions. Each student’s unique learning profile is respected and nurtured at Pacific.   
 
Pacific teachers incorporate two unique programs in their day to day curriculum: “KSR-HELPR” and “Safe School Ambassadors.” The goal of Pacific School’s KSR-HELPR program is to teach students self-respect, self-discipline, respect for others, and positive social interactions. We believe that exceptional character is critical for life success. The Safe School Ambassadors program assists students in the development of problem-solving skills that enable them to reflect on decision making, self-advocacy, personal resiliency, and leadership. The KSR-HELPR and Safe School Ambassadors programs are evident on a daily basis through literature, classroom discussions, and modeling by adults on campus. We hold high expectations for all, ensuring social and emotional security for everyone.  
 
With standards-based instruction as a foundation and a spirit of excellence as a driving force, we anticipate that the 2011-2012 school year will be filled with learning and academic, emotional, and social success. 

 
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Kim Linz
Principal
Pacific Elementary School