Dennis Featherston

Amy Alzina Superintendent | What Works Best?: Cold Spring School District LCAP Survey Provides Insight on School Communication

This content was shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent.

The Cold Spring School District is committed to creating learning environments that focus on the “whole child” and count on the parent’s engagement to advance objectives. In the development of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), the district highlighted efforts to create bridges of communication across the school community.

The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a tool for local educational agencies to set goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet those goals to improve student outcomes. Cold Spring School District received a total grant award of $11,215 in Supplemental Grant funding from the State of California as part of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

Cold Spring’s LCAP describes how teachers, staff, students, advisory committee, parents, and the community were involved in the development and update of the plan. As part of the LCAP policy, parents took an Annual Parent LCAP Survey to discuss the ongoing communication and opportunities for school involvement. Results stated 100% of the 114 parents, employees, and community members surveyed during the 2020-2021 school year Strongly Agreed/Agreed that information shared through the program ParentSquare keeps them informed.

“Our district regularly reaches out to parents through ParentSquare, an application that provides direct information and school updates to parents and guardians,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “Tools such as ParentSquare have been critical in sharing messages without delay, even more so within the pandemic-affected academic year. Cold Spring has seen increased parent involvement, which has been efficient in supporting our students’ well-rounded education.”

“Our communication strategies have contributed greatly toward the effectiveness of our LCAP goals,” says Yuri Calderon, Chief Business Officer, Cold Spring School District. “We thank our parents, teachers, community members, and stakeholders for being engaged and active with Cold Spring’s decision-making.”

Stakeholder collaboration includes LCAP Advisory Committee/School Site Council, teachers and Staff, SELPA Consultation, Board Meeting Updates, Principal Coffee/Community Meetings, LCAP Community Survey, and Student Council. A team effort is for the benefit of the students.

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Original post here: Amy Alzina Superintendent | What Works Best?: Cold Spring School District LCAP Survey Provides Insight on School Communication
Amy Alzina Superintendent | What Works Best?: Cold Spring School District LCAP Survey Provides Insight on School Communication syndicated from https://amyalzina.com/
Published first here: https://dennisfeatherston.blogspot.com/2021/06/amy-alzina-superintendent-what-works.html

Amy Alzina Superintendent | Unique Extracurricular Activities Offered at Cold Spring School District Nurture Creativity and Innovative Thinking

This article is shared by Amy Alzina, Superintendent.

Santa Barbara, Calif. – The availability of extracurricular activities during the COVID-19 pandemic supported Cold Spring’s mission of nurturing creativity and innovative thinking. To promote students’ development, the district maintained a variety of activities and clubs throughout the year. During a regular school day, students have the opportunity to participate in activities such as Writer Recess, the Cold Spring Virtual Talent Show, CARE 4 Paws, the Pet Food and Supply Drive, and more.

“Students can choose which extracurricular activity interests them the most,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “Our wonderful programs encourage students to explore their interests at a young age. Pursuing these academic and extracurricular interests will support their critical thinking skills as they grow.”

Adapting to the virtual demands of the pandemic-affected academic year, Cold Spring School District students have written blog posts about their extracurricular activities. The series of blog posts showcase the students’ efforts to seek further understanding of classroom concepts with support from local organizations, offering new perspectives that support student learning. The unique extracurricular activities incorporate STEAM, art, physical education, technology, music, and reading to provide students with a greater interest in critical fields.

“As a district, we are proud to offer our students a variety of extracurricular activities and experiences,” says Yuri Calderon, Chief Budget Officer, Cold Spring School District. “We are preparing our students for a life of innovation, curiosity, and critical thinking.”

“I love this school with all of my heart. It is my second home. I don’t think I could ever go to a different elementary school, and I will miss this school a lot when I eventually have to leave it,” says Georgia MacPhail, fourth grade student at Cold Spring, about her experience participating in the virtual talent show held by the district.

The variety of extracurricular activities available at Cold Spring School District provide students with a well-rounded education and prepare them for their next learning milestones. Read about Cold Spring students’ experience in extracurricular activities by visiting the CSS Blog: https://www.coldspringschooldistrict.org/

About Cold Spring School District: Cold Spring School is a TK-6 public school that serves approximately 180 students in a small classroom setting. Cold Spring was designated a California Distinguished School in 1986, recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in 1992, recognized as a Gold Ribbon School 2016, and received an Exemplary Arts in Education Award in 2020. The students of Cold Spring have consistently performed in the top 5 to 10% of all elementary schools in the state of California. We believe the high achievement level of our students to be linked with several factors including a professional teaching staff, nurturing home environments, and excellent student motivation and effort.

For more information: https://coldspringschool.net/

The post Amy Alzina Superintendent | Unique Extracurricular Activities Offered at Cold Spring School District Nurture Creativity and Innovative Thinking first appeared on Amy Alzina Superintendent.

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Published first here: https://dennisfeatherston.blogspot.com/2021/06/amy-alzina-superintendent-unique.html

Amy Alzina Superintendent | Cold Spring School District Thanks Parents for a Year of Collaboration

This article is shared by Amy Alzina, Superintendent.

Santa Barbara, Calif. – This year provided Cold Spring School District with an opportunity to enhance communication opportunities with families of the school district. The partnership between Cold Spring and the community was essential to optimizing student success during the pandemic.

For the last year, Cold Spring School District continued to host Superintendent/Principal’s Coffee weekly with Superintendent Amy Alzina, as well as various Community Meetings, located at the school’s Gazebo. The meetings encourage open communication between the school district, parents, and community members.

“Superintendent/Principal’s Coffee was a great way for our community members to contribute to the collaborative efforts required to make the past year effective for students’ learning,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “I thank our parents and community members for being responsive and willing to communicate with us as we worked through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our meetings at the Gazebo helped our district construct efficient plans for the school year and beyond.

With the increasing enrollment rate and continuous opportunities for in-person learning, Cold Spring School District has benefitted from providing new and ongoing resources for communicating with the district.

“Cold Spring School District is committed to maintaining strong relationships with parents and community members,” says Yuri Calderon, Chief Budget Officer, Cold Spring School District. “The COVID-19 pandemic prioritized communication between parents, community members, and our district regarding our students’ education experience and safety. Naturally, we welcome every opportunity to have important conversations with our Cold Spring community.”

Learn more about engagement opportunities at Cold Spring School District by visiting https://coldspringschool.net/.

For more information: https://coldspringschool.net/

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Original post here: Amy Alzina Superintendent | Cold Spring School District Thanks Parents for a Year of Collaboration
Amy Alzina Superintendent | Cold Spring School District Thanks Parents for a Year of Collaboration syndicated from https://amyalzina.com/
Published first here: https://dennisfeatherston.blogspot.com/2021/06/amy-alzina-superintendent-cold-spring.html

Amy Alzina, Superintendent | Advancing English and Math Skills, Cold Spring School District Celebrates STAR Assessment Results

This article is shared by Amy Alzina, Superintendent.

The end of the academic year brings a celebration of summer break, fun activities, and even anticipation of back-to-school festivities. It is also a time to reflect on students’ educational achievements by tracking progress and reviewing the recorded state standardized testing results.

At Cold Spring School District, students are excelling across English and Math at a high rate. End-of-year Renaissance Learning STAR Reading and STAR Math Assessment results indicated 93% of students met or exceeded the English Language Arts (ELA) standards and 87% of the students met or exceeded the Math standards during the 2020-2021 school year.

“The academic accomplishments of our students are linked to the superior leadership and dedication of our teachers and staff,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “They start every school day with a mission to help students grow in their knowledge, and each day they succeed.”

The community behind Cold Spring School District has also supported students in their daily learning, ensuring they are adequately prepared and understand classroom standards.

“We are proud of our Cold Spring students, who come prepared to school each day eager to learn” says Yuri Calderon, Chief Business Officer, Cold Spring School District. “Our students are unique in their expectations of excellence and their interest in building their community through extracurricular activities.”

Another major factor contributing to Cold Spring’s high scores on the STAR assessments is the 5-day a week in-person learning model that began on September 22^nd, 2020. Cold Spring had a zero COVID-19 transmission rate from in-person instruction. Students safely returned to a daily routine in classrooms to continue their learning.

“We thank our students, parents, teachers, and administration for trusting our district to conduct school safely. Our students’ test scores show how beneficial in-person instruction is to Cold Spring School District.”

Cold Spring School District is proud of its “whole-child approach” to elementary education that prepares children for success throughout their educational careers and supports active participation in the community. Congratulations everyone!

The post Amy Alzina, Superintendent | Advancing English and Math Skills, Cold Spring School District Celebrates STAR Assessment Results first appeared on Amy Alzina Superintendent.

Original post here: Amy Alzina, Superintendent | Advancing English and Math Skills, Cold Spring School District Celebrates STAR Assessment Results
Amy Alzina, Superintendent | Advancing English and Math Skills, Cold Spring School District Celebrates STAR Assessment Results syndicated from https://amyalzina.com/
Published first here: https://dennisfeatherston.blogspot.com/2021/06/amy-alzina-superintendent-advancing.html

Amy Alzina Superintendent | Cold Spring School District Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Month

This press release is shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent:

Santa Barbara, Calif., (DATE) – Cold Spring School District honors the month of May as Teacher Appreciation Month. Recognized as a California Distinguished School and recipient of the Exemplary Arts in Education Award, Cold Spring School District attributes student achievement to the dedicated educators and staff members who go above and beyond to ensure all students receive a well-rounded and high-quality education.

“We recognize the hard work of the wonderful teachers and staff members of Cold Spring School District and their partnerships with students and families,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “We thank our educators and staff members for being committed to academic excellence and leading our students through their academic achievements.”

The recognition of teachers comes at an important time as the school year ends and Cold Spring School District reflects on another great year of student accomplishments. We applaud the relentless efforts of our teachers and staff who have been working in person to provide quality learning environments.

“Our educators and staff members are the foundation of Cold Spring School District,” says Yuri Calderon, Chief Budget Officer, Cold Spring School District. “We have immense pride in our teachers and staff members, and we thank them for their dedication to the empowerment of our students.”

About Cold Spring School District: Cold Spring School is a TK-6 public school that serves approximately 180 students in a small classroom setting. Cold Spring was designated a California Distinguished School in 1986, recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in 1992, recognized as a Gold Ribbon School in 2016, and received an Exemplary Arts in Education Award in 2020. The students of Cold Spring have consistently performed in the top 5 to 10% of all elementary schools in the state of California. We believe the high achievement level of our students to be linked with several factors including a professional teaching staff, nurturing home environments, and excellent student motivation and effort.

For more information: https://coldspringschool.net/

The post Amy Alzina Superintendent | Cold Spring School District Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Month first appeared on Amy Alzina Superintendent.

Original post here: Amy Alzina Superintendent | Cold Spring School District Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Month
Amy Alzina Superintendent | Cold Spring School District Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Month syndicated from https://amyalzina.com/
Published first here: https://dennisfeatherston.blogspot.com/2021/05/amy-alzina-superintendent-cold-spring.html

Amy Alzina Superintendent | Creating a High Performing School and District

Amy Alzina Superintendent of the Cold Spring School District shared this article.

Amy Alzina serves as the Superintendent and Principal of the Cold Spring Elementary School District in Montecito, California. Dr. Amy Alzina stands out due to her leadership skills in public school education.

One of her main accomplishments is creating a collaborative student-centered team that works tirelessly to have every child achieve both academically and socially-emotionally.

Dr. Amy Alzina has dedicated her work to improving student learning outcomes, which embraces a whole-child approach to teaching and learning.

Dr. Amy Alzina is a graduate of Concordia University, where she earned an Educational Leadership Degree Ed.D. She also has a School Administration M.A. and Teaching M.A. degree from Pacific University. Amy Alzina also graduated from Westmont College with a B. A. (Bachelor of Arts) degree majoring in Liberal Studies and minoring in Kinesiology.

“Every Great Leader was first a Great Teacher.” .” A favorite line Dr. Amy Alzina likes to quote from John Wooden because it resonates with all educators.

There are four tenants Dr. Alzina believes must be prioritized in order to ensure student success:

A Relentless Focus on Student Learning

All across the nation, high-performing schools/districts have one common characteristic: prioritizing student learning above any other initiatives.

Schools should have a clear student-centered vision and mission to ensure every child has every chance to be successful each and every day! External noise and distractions should be filtered to propel student learning.

The Cold Spring School District often reviews measures put in place weeding out the ones with minimal returns.

Dr. Amy Alzina adds that “Schools and their leaders should work together to eliminate programs that don’t produce results and instead focus exclusively on improving student learning through research-based programs. Every practice put into action should be evaluated to measure its impact on student learning.

As witnessed in other high-performing schools/districts across the country, blended learning combined with technology, together with personalized learning, is the best way to improve education. The critical link between teachers and students serves as the strategic alignment of resources and leadership that champions these connections.

Amy Alzina, Superintendent and Principal of Cold Spring Elementary, adds that student performance data, focusing on high-quality instruction, and responding to students who need assistance are fundamental aspects that lead to high-performing schools/districts.

Leveraging Time & Resources

Superintendent Amy Alzina and other educators continued studying other high-performing schools/districts. They discovered that the one thing that remains constant is well-performing institutions properly leverage their time and resources.

Teachers and students work together to create a tailor-made curriculum that works best for their classes/lessons. During the planning stages, they prioritize their strengths and refine their focus. They consider their priorities and use them to create a working schedule.

To find success in their planning, teachers and students should answer these questions:

Can they create time for peer-to-peer engagement to practice and assess student learning?
Can they set up a time for students, who understand the curriculum, to engage their minds further?
Can they create ample time for reading and mastering critical math standards?
Can they create extra time to help struggling students?

Embracing A Balanced Assessment Approach

The Cold Spring School District ensures teachers adopt formative instructional practices and develop and utilize short-cycle/common assessments.

Maintaining a balanced assessment system remains the most efficient way to guarantee that curriculum and standards translate into student learning. Principals and Superintendents should frequently monitor student learning to assess whether educators are passing the right knowledge to their students.

Accountability Through Growth Measures

Having value-added information is a vital aspect for turning the Cold Spring School District into a high-performing school district. Superintendent Amy Alzina advises that having value-added information is a key component in ensuring students achieve great knowledge.

Besides championing critical thinking, teachers and leaders use the information to uncover any issues, as well as determining tangible solutions. They also use this information to expand their knowledge concerning student learning.

The post Amy Alzina Superintendent | Creating a High Performing School and District first appeared on Amy Alzina Superintendent.

Original post here: Amy Alzina Superintendent | Creating a High Performing School and District
Amy Alzina Superintendent | Creating a High Performing School and District syndicated from https://amyalzina.com/
Published first here: https://dennisfeatherston.blogspot.com/2021/05/amy-alzina-superintendent-creating-high.html

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?