7 ROWLAND UNIFIED SCHOOLS RECEIVE STATE’S HIGHEST HONOR
AS GOLD RIBBON SCHOOLS
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – APRIL 14, 2016 – Rowland Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Julie Mitchell announced today that seven elementary schools were officially named by the California Department of Education as Gold Ribbon Schools, the state’s highest designation for outstanding educational programs and practices. The seven exemplary elementary schools from Rowland USD are: Hollingworth Elementary, Jellick Elementary, Shelyn Elementary, Stanley G. Oswalt Academy, Telesis Academy of Science & Math, Villacorta Elementary, and Ybarra Academy of the Arts and Technology.
“The Board of Education and I are extremely proud of our schools selected for the Gold Ribbon recognition, as these schools exemplify the innovative and student centered learning environments that are throughout the Rowland Unified School District,” said Mitchell. “Recognitions such as the Gold Ribbon are made possible through the hard work and dedication of all of our educators and staff, working in partnership with our parents and community. The Board of Education and I are elated to congratulate them for this outstanding achievement and recognition.”
"The Gold Ribbon validation visit affirms all the efforts of our school community to make Villacorta a school where every student feels valued, safe, and nurtured, and is inspired to achieve their dreams," said Villacorta Principal John Martinez. "I am so thankful and proud of our students, parents, teachers, and staff for their commitment to this vision."
The California Gold Ribbon Schools Award was created to honor schools in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program, which is on hiatus while California creates new assessment and accountability systems. Nearly 6,000 elementary schools were eligible to apply this year and 772 were selected.
Schools applied for the award based on a model program their school has adopted that includes standards-based activities, projects, strategies, and practices that can be replicated by other local educational agencies. Please visit the California Gold Ribbon Schools Program on the California Department of Education’s Web site.
Villacorta Elementary's Signature Practice: Be Viking
Villacorta’s Be Viking campaign is a character development approach that promotes respect and responsibility. Students and adults work daily to make decisions and act in ways that meet three Be Viking themes: Develop Character, Persevere in Learning, and Crusade for Yourself and Others. Teachers and staff developed Be Viking to address factors believed to be impeding high levels of student achievement - student absences, student engagement, self-confidence, underdeveloped social skills, stamina for tasks that are perceived as difficult, disruptive and defiant behavior, and bullying. Villacorta Principal: John Martinez (626) 964-2385 www.villacortaschool.org