San Jose Schools Has a Rewarding Summer

San Jose Schools Win Awards and Honors Thisthe success of the California Board of Education and
Summerthe school district , like San Jose Schools. The
This summer several San Jose Schools won someCalifornia School Recognition Program honors
kind of award or honor for their continuedCalifornia's best and inspiring schools with the
achievements in education. Three schools in the SanCalifornia Distinguished School Award. Participation in
Jose Schools system have won awards forthe program is completely voluntary and decided by
successfully competing in the California Student Mediathe school district. However, the award is very
and Multimedia Festival. River Glenn Middle School andrespect and many schools in the state strive to
Almaden Elementary entered a multimedia technologyattain it. About 5% of the schools in California receive
and science project into the competition. This projectthe California Distinguished School Award. Usually
entitled ?Environmental Concerns in the Community?participation in the program includes about 40 school
won the Multi-Grades & Schools Collaboration fordistricts from across the state. San Jose Schools has
Grades 4-8 category. In this project three San Joseparticipated for many years and plans to continue in
Schools interacted with each other electronically tothe future.
collaborate on a scientific investigation of the impactCalifornia's Model Schools Project
of precautionary measures designed to protect areaRecently, two San Jose Schools have been selected
wetlands. The students participating in the projectto participate in the California Model Schools Project.
came from a fourth grade class at AlmadenThe exhaustive application process narrowed the
Elementary, a fifth grade class at Zanker Elementaryselection down to eight schools in Santa Clara County
and a class from River Glenn. The two mainof which two are members of the San Jose Schools
coordinating teachers Mary Howland, Specialsystem. The two schools selected to participate in
Education Teacher of River Glen Middle School, andthe California Model Schools Project were Gardner
Beth Fensterwald, TSG of Almaden Elementary wereAcademy and Willow Glen Middle School. These two
also honored.schools will work closely with and be supported by
Two San Jose Elementary Schools received 2006other schools across Santa Clara County. They will
California Distinguished Schools honors this year.also collaborate with the Successful Practices
Willow Glen Elementary and Terrell Elementary wereNetwork at the International Center for Leadership in
called by State Superintendent of Public InstructionEducation. The main goals of the California Model
Jack O'Connell to announce their selection as 2006Schools Project is to increase state testing scores,
California Distinguished Schools. This honor is given toimprove the quality of the schools instructional and
schools that have shown themselves to improveleadership practices, and raise community involvement
over the school year. The California Schoolin the schools.
Recognition Program is designed to aid and publize