School to Community Connection
March 16, 2005

150 Terrific Things About Healdsburg Schools

In light of the troubling news of the financial problems of HUSD, it is good to take a moment and think about the many good things that deserve to be saved in this district. With the help of site administrators and PTO leadership, the Communications Committee has compiled a list of not five, not ten, but 150 good things about the Healdsburg Schools. Thank you, Nancy Carlson, for assembling this list. A few of the items are listed below, but the full list is available on the district website (www.husd.com).  Keep in mind that this was just a quick study - there are many, many dynamic, stimulating, and entertaining activities going on in our classrooms that are not listed here because they haven’t been submitted yet. We invite the community, our staff and faculty to continually add to the list. If you have an idea, send it to communication@husd.com.
  
We also invite the community to speak with our teachers, administrators, and our students to get a sense of the good that is going on every day in our school district ... that is worth celebrating and keeping.
 
• California Distinguished Schools
• Fine Arts partnership with Burbank Center and the Kennedy Center for the Arts
• New High School athletic fields with all-weather track
• California League of Middle School Region 1 nominees for Teacher of the Year:

o 2001: Patti Reeves o 2002: Barbara Pinney – Regional Winner! o 2003: Pat Aldridge o 2004: Donna Thomas

• California League of High Schools Region 1 Nominees for Educators of the Year:

o 2001: Mark Giampaoli o 2002: Brenda McEvoy o 2003: Sally Baker o 2004: Rob Lee

• K-3 and 9th grade math reduced class size program
• Community Media Center
• K-6 Spanish Bilingual Immersion and English programs
• Full-day kindergarten
• Supervised after school care
• State-of-the-art libraries with grade-level appropriate programs
• More $ in scholarships awarded than in any other high school in northern California
2004 scholarship awards: $515,000.
• Field trips and on-site music, sports, science, and drama assemblies
• Inter-district transfers welcome
• McCord Career Center
• District and school websites
• Experienced, award-winning teachers, staff, and administrators
• Robotics Lego Project
• Vocational and agricultural sciences programs
• Socialization skills training
• Safe, clean, and supervised campuses
• Band instruction and concerts: Grades 5-12, chorus and jazz band
• 86% of seniors immediately attend college or vocational/technical schools
• Before and after school tutorials
• AVID: Advancement Via Individual Determination college prep
• Ongoing professional and staff development
• Reduced class size program for ninth grade English and math
• National Merit Scholars and academic honors
• Independent Study and Home School: K-12
• Sixth grade Mexico exchange
• Enthusiastic parent volunteer program
• Hot breakfast and lunch programs
• Competitive league sports at junior high and high school
• Drama and fine arts program at high school
• 21st Century after-school enrichment grant
• Migrant Education Lighthouse Schools K-6 and 9-12 pilot program
• Student and staff community service
• Fully networked campuses with high-speed Internet access
• High school student representative on Board of Trustees
• Junior High/elementary school buddies
• Honors and Advanced Placement classes
• My Body is Healthy health program
• Outstanding support from residents and businesses of Healdsburg
• Science Fair: K-12
• Weekly email and printed parent newsletters and updates
• Active foundation in support of education at Healdsburg Schools
• Delaine Eastin Art Gallery