GoPortola! Presents….

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Wine and Cheese in a Fabulous Garden, a Portola Middle School Fundraiser
Please join us Saturday, June 1, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
wineChzPairings 

Enjoy perfectly matched wines and cheeses in a fabulous garden setting.  If you went to Portola, go to Portola, or are interested in learning more, please join us for this fun, community-building event.

Live salsa music by Little Spike…and maybe we’ll play a little Limbo!

Wine not your thing? Not to worry. We’ll be serving beers and British cheeses as well. 

$20 per person.  Pay at the door.   Email lesmac@sbcglobal.net to be put on the evite.  It would be a tragedy if we did not have a wine glass for you!!

100% of all proceeds benefit the Portola PTSA.

Your Go Portola! Hosts, Bobbie Dowling, Leslie Reckler, Susan Riggle, Alonn Ilan

Board Votes for New Programs and Feeder School Support for Portola

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Wednesday night’s Board meeting delivered on four items that add great potential for Portola:

Scholar-in-Residence: The Board voted to fund a full-time position that helps teachers use best practices in their programs and in their professional development efforts. Goals of the position include building District capacity to support new ways for students to learn, and developing research-based and locally-informed approaches to areas of need. San Francisco Unified School Distict has had success implementing a similar program. The position starts Fall 2013 at Portola Middle School, with a focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL)/Personalized Learning. Portola teachers widely support this.

Instrumental Music Program Partially Restored at Elementary Level: The Board voted to fund 2.5 Full-Time Equivalent positions to teach and coordinate instrumental music at the elementary schools that feed into Portola, as well as at the Miravista K-8 school in Richmond.

Supporters pointed out that learning to play an instrument is a singular experience that enhances coordination, sharpens concentration, creates a sense of achievement, provides a means for self-expression, has been shown to improve math ability, can boost team skills, and many more executive functions.

This program will broaden the base of musicians available for band programs in Portola Middle and El Cerrito High, and amplify the already strong band programs at those schools. It is part of a larger plan to cultivate music and performing arts as a differentiator for the El Cerrito High School Family, and provides a positive focal point for our very different populations.

Note: A large portion of Miravista students attend high school at El Cerrito High.

PE Waivers: The Board approved the staff recommendation to allow individual students to apply for PE Waivers at middle schools throughout the District. The student’s parents have to request it, and the student must pass a standardized PE test. Students who are granted PE waivers can take two electives instead of one. Staff is developing process details.

The new Portola building and the construction project: The Board ratified the selection of Arntz Builders of Novato as for the General Contractor for the new building on the Castro site. It also allocated an additional $12M for the overall Portola building budget, and named an experienced and well-regarded Construction Architect, Lee Pollard, from HY Architects. The project is end-to-end funded, and can proceed with all due speed. Look for trailers and crews at the Castro Site before Memorial Day.

In reflecting on these measures, Board member Todd Groves said, “I believe we will see a richer, deeper learning environment for all kids at Portola starting next year.”

We at GoPortola! agree. There is a lot of work ahead, but take a moment to let this good news sink in, and think about the power these new ‘tools’ have to transform Portola. It will take vision not only from the Board, but from all of us in the parent community and beyond to make the most of the coming months, and get these programs off to a good start.

Portola Contractor Chosen and State Awards $20.4 Million for Portola Project

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WCCUSD Board Clerk Charles Ramsey today said that Arntz Builders have been chosen as the general contractor for the Portola building project. Ramsey also said that the State is awarding WCCUSD $20.4 Million — nearly half of the $42.9 Million bid award — for seismic hardship and modernization.

The State will release the additional money for the Portola project this summer after it is approved by the State Allocation Board. $13.9 Million will come from the State Office of Public School Construction, which distributes funds approved by the State Allocation Board to deal with the high costs of constructing a public building to be safe during an earthquake. That same Board will award the Portola project an additional $6.4 Million under a program created during the recession for “shovel ready” projects. Both of these programs required the District to make detailed applications based on the Portola plans.

The District received six bids for the project on March 21st. After a week of review and a protest period, the District determined that Arntz was the lowest responsible bidder. The bids ranged from just under $43 Million to just under $45 Million. Arntz was the general contractor for Hercules Middle High School and Washington Elementary in the district. Optimistic timelines show a possible completion in time to open the doors to students in Fall 2015. This means that today’s current fourth graders could be the first 7th grade class to attend in the new building. The WCCUSD Board will ratify the bid award at the April 10th meeting.

Members of the Baord point to proactive steps they have taken to find these large construction grants as evidence that they have the taxpayers best interests in mind. The remodel of Fairmont Elementary School will follow the Portola construction, and when it is finished, the District will have completed major renovations on all schools in the Kensington and El Cerrito area.

WCCUSD Board Approves the Building Bid, PE Waivers, and Considers Proposals for Portola

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About 60 people attended a special meeting of the WCCUSD Board last night that focused on Portola Middle School. The meeting was extraordinarily constructive in substance and tone. Please review the information below, and let Dr. Harter and his staff, and every Board member, know we appreciate their tremendous effort and motivation on behalf of the Portola community. You can view Dr. Harter’s background presentation on the WCCUSD website.

About 20 people answered the Board’s request for public comment about what Portola’s needs are, what would define excellence in a middle school, and what steps were needed. (20130327_meeting_notes.)

The most recurring suggestion was to lower class sizes. Other common points were the ability to take more than one elective, continued diligence on safety and a positive school culture, professional development for teachers to deepen the capacity to provide differentiated learning, continuation of the Spanish Immersion program feeding from Washington Elementary through to ECHS, and building on the strength of the music program. Other suggestions were to develop a 10-year plan, with published goals and annual evaluations, allow and encourage community events such as the recent ‘Boot Classic’, and to develop an entrepreneurial volunteer capacity at the District level.

Principal Matthew Burnham presented two proposals for strengthening academics after giving a state-of-the-school report. Board member Todd Groves also made two proposals for Portola –a Scholar In Residence program and an Arts focus for the school. (See 20130327_meeting_notes for details.)

The Board voted to consider these proposals as action items on the meeting agenda for April 10, 2013.

During the meeting, the Board also took action on the following:

  1. The Board unanimously approved the resolution to accept the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for the Portola Middle School immediately at the conclusion of the bid protest period, which ends no later than Monday, April 1.
  2. The Board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the District Athletic Director to begin offering a PE Waiver at Portola to students who meet (at least two) of the following strict conditions:
  • The Student Passes 5 out of 6 of the standardized ‘Healthy Fitness Zone’ tests for the age group.
  • The Student is enrolled in a regularly scheduled physical activity program, such as an extracurricular sport.
  • The Student demonstrates exceptional talent or ability in a physical activity that far exceeds the standard for their peers.

No details were given about the application or testing process.

The new Portola building project has ended its public bid process, and after the District makes the award next week, the parties will negotiate with the trade unions for jurisdiction to particular crafts, secure bonding and insurance information, and provide a schedule.

GoPortola! will provide more details of the PE Waiver processes as they develop.

WCCUSD Special Board Meeting Focused on Portola

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Wednesday, March 27, 7pm Lavonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave., Richmond 94805

What is your vision for academics and programs at Portola Middle School? The WCCUSD Board is inviting parents in the Portola catchment to define what success means for our kids at Portola. The Board has taken notice of the spirit and purpose from the community around getting the Portola building construction moving, and they want to tap into this energy to help Portola continue on an upward path to reach its full potential.

Whether your child attended Portola in the past, is currently attending, will attend, or will never attend, please consider this an opportunity to state your expectations and brainstorm with other parents about what qualities define excellence in a middle school, given our unique community, and what steps the Board, faculty, and community members need to take to get there.  Please spread the word. We want the Board to hear from everyone – including those who have recently chosen not to send their kids Portola. Our community will be strengthened by the discussion and actions we take in support of this school.

If you cannot make the meeting but have ideas to share, please post them as comments here, write to the Board, or send an email to goportola@gmail.com.

Letter to Parents of Sixth-Graders

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Dear Sixth Grade Parents -

Within the next couple of weeks, the 6th graders will be sitting down with Portola counselors to discuss class selection. This may take place at Portola or at the elementary school, depending on which feeder school your student is in.

Your student will be given a handbook detailing the core and elective courses offered in 2013/14, as well as two copies of a form. This form, called “7th Grade Choice Sheet” is used to elect advanced vs. regular designations for core courses as well as to list a top choice for an elective and two alternates. The student may turn in one form at the meeting, but one copy of the form will be sent home so that you and your student can discuss the choices. A copy of the form, signed by both of you, must be turned into the school. If there are differences between the version your student turned in and the form that the two of you fill out together, you can indicate this on the form.

Students will receive a letter with orientation information in the mail in mid summer. The orientation will be either in the first or second week of August. Every student who intends to enroll in the school must attend the orientation, where they will get their tentative schedule, school ID#s, text books, as well as sign up for after school program and reduced lunch program.

Some points of interest:

  • The electives offered in 2013/14 include: Band (Intermediate or Advanced), Spanish (1, 2, or 3), Computers, Leadership, Drama, and Gateway to Technology.
  • Every student can pick one elective. Students almost always receive their first choice, but there is room on the form to indicate second and third choices.
  • There are two jazz bands — jazz band and jazz ensemble — that meet before school. Students have to audition to participate in either bands. Participation does not preclude selection of a non-band elective.
  • If you are unsure of which designation your student should be in, please contact your current teacher for input.
  • This year, the school plans to use multiple methods including the MDTP Algebra Readiness test results and previous two years of CST’s to determine if a student can skip pre-algebra in seventh grade. The MDTP test can be arranged by the respective elementary schools by the end of the school year.  In addition, Portola may offer it over the summer. Stay tuned for more information.
  • An afterschool French class will be available at Portola this coming year. Class and tuition information will be available at: http://www.efba.us/French-classes-Kensington-North-Berkeley-East-Bay-ca.html or email PortolaMiddleSchool@efba.us for more information.
  • The (free) afterschool program includes homework time, sports (swimming, soccer, basketball), cooking, and art. Signing up for the program does not commit your student to attending full time.
  • If you have questions about Portola, please post them as comments below, or send us an email at goportola@gmail.com and we’ll track down the answer.

Matthew Burnham       and       Go Portola!
Portola Principal