Parent to Parent

Bradley School Site Council Newsletter

March 2009

By: Stephen Harrington

District Budget Crisis

The State of CA is facing a severe budget crisis that will seriously impact every district, school and student.  Our District must trim $17 million dollars from its projected budget for 2009-2010. Please visit www.pvusd.net and read under Budget Crisis.  The School Board will be voting on March 4th and 5th on the budget.

Homework Policy

On February 3, 2009 the School Site Council adopted a new homework policy that includes time guidelines for homework.  This new policy is consistent with other North Zone schools and is as follows:

Homework helps build responsibility, self-discipline, and life-long learning habits.  Time spent on homework directly influences students’ ability to meet teachers’ academic goals as well as the California state academic standards. Home work should be an extension of classroom learning so that each student may reach that goal.

Individual teachers expect students and parents to view homework as a routine and important part of students’ daily lives.  Although it is the student’s responsibility to do most homework assignments independently, teachers expect all students to use parents and other family members as contributing resources. 

Most children should be able to finish their homework within a reasonable time period.  If your child is experiencing difficulties in completing his/her homework, please request a conference with your child's teacher.  

Parents should provide a time and space for the child to complete homework assignments.  A special place in the house, away from most distractions, and a consistent homework time have  proven to be the most beneficial for academic success.  Parents should show interest in their child’s work by checking over assignments daily, reinforcing the child’s efforts.  Children are expected to complete their assignments on time and put their best effort into the work.

The suggested amounts of time for students who are working at grade level include:

Grade                                                                                                                                   Amount of Time

1rst                             average 15 minutes                                                                                                    

2nd/3rd                        average 30 minutes                                                                                                    

4th                               average 45 minutes                                                                                                    

5th and 6th              average 60 minutes                                                                                                    

Students are also expected to read each night for an additional 15-30 minutes to develop and improve their reading.  Parents of K-1 students are encouraged to read to their child for a comparable amount of time.

Students who do not complete numerous homework assignments are likely to fall behind in their studies, thereby affecting their learning and their grades.

Library Support

A mailing will soon be sent out to the Corralitos community appealing for donations to keep the school library open next year in the face of new budget cuts.  Donations to support this effort are all tax deductable.

School Plan Update

The Site Council is beginning a review of the School Plan.  As part of this review the Site Council is reviewing three different surveys, including the recent Bradley Elementary survey.

Site Council Membership

Parent Representatives:  Stephen Harrington (President), Karen Garcia-Graham, Doug Evers and Bart Meltzer (Vice President), Lisa Fraley (Secretary)

Staff Representatives:  Heidi Barnes, Patricia Dunn, Jamie Marks, Marci Ernst, Principal:  Kathy Arola