Students Experience the Power and Pleasure of Literacy
Campbell Union School District is committed to educating each student to his or her highest potential, and literacy is an essential part of that mission. Last month brought many examples of how our students are learning about the power of words: the power to bring joy, to advance innovative ideas, to tell about historical events, and to open doors to opportunity.
Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress
and the means through which every man, woman and child
can realize his or her full potential.”
― Kofi Annan, seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations
Dictionary Day
On Feb. 28th, our 3rd graders were given a basic tool and a lesson in word power, thanks to volunteers from the Assistance League of Los Gatos-Saratoga. The volunteers presented each student with a personal dictionary to use at school and at home and a mini lesson on discovering new words expanding their vocabulary. Pictured above is district Superintendent Shelly Viramontez as she helps a student find the word "plethora."
Spelling Competitions
Some students become so passionate about words and vocabulary that they choose to compete in Spelling Bees, where knowing word origins and definitions helps them succeed.
In February, Rolling Hills Middle School student Rohit Duggaraju (pictured here) represented the district at the Regional Bee, held in Pleasanton, and finished 6th out of 71 participants.
S-u-p-e-r-b!
8th Grade Exhibitions
Demonstrating their ability to present research findings and propose solutions, our eighth graders at Monroe and Rolling Hills Middle schools completed the 8th Grade Exhibitions last week.
As a benchmark requirement, the students research topics ranging from major historic events to weighty social issues, then prepare and present their findings to a panel of volunteer judges from the community. They sigh with relief when they've finished, knowing they are now more prepared for the rigors of high school.
Read Across America
Celebrating the joys of reading and the way stories can affect our thoughts and feelings is part of an annual event called Read Across America.
On or near the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss, our teachers, parents, local dignitaries and other community members come to classrooms—like the Lynhaven class pictured above—to read their favorite books to the children and talk about how reading made a difference in their lives.