Tag Archives: McKinley Elementary School

Alleged Testing Irregularity at McKinley Elementary School

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On April 16, 2013 a student reported to Mrs. Bobbie Kavanaugh, principal at McKinley Elementary School, that a teacher had improperly assisted students with questions on the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) examination. The California Department of Education (CDE) requires that all test examiners sign the STAR Test Security Affidavit that includes the following direction, “I will not review any test questions, passages, or other test items independently or with pupils or any other person before, during, or following testing.”

Providing students with assistance on the test is defined as a testing irregularity. If the testing irregularity is confirmed by the CDE, then it could have negative consequences for the class, school, and district. The class may have its scores invalidated, the school may not get a score for the Academic Performance Index (API), and the district may have its API score reduced.

Immediately following the allegation, an investigation was conducted and the findings forwarded to the CDE. The investigation was conducted by Sharon Cuseo, Director of Instruction and Accountability; and Dr. Tom Kissinger, Director of Elementary Education and Categorical Programs. The classroom teacher was placed on administrative leave pending all results and outcomes of the investigation. On April 18, 2013, the Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) was contacted by the CDE with the initial determination. The CDE confirmed that it was likely that a testing irregularity occurred. The first consequence is that the scores for the students in the classroom will be invalidated. According to the CDE, the next step is to determine if the school’s API will be withheld. In order to make this determination, the details of the alleged infraction will be reviewed by a team at the state level and the results provided to the District Superintendent in writing in approximately six weeks.

McKinley Elementary School Hosts UCLA vs. USC Football “Rivalry Day”

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First through third graders at McKinley Elementary School showed their colors on Monday morning as classes split up to represent their favorite Los Angeles area university.  The children divided into teams, one side UCLA, the other USC, and then it was off to the races as each group ran a series of relays with enthusiasm easily matching their elder upperclassmen’s university rivalry.

Photo By John Savageau

“They love it” commented Jenny Harris, PTA Representative in Charge of College Rivalry Day.  That was very apparent given the squeals of laughter and joy coming from all the competitors.  Whether the children knew the difference between UCLA and USC was not important – they were having a lot of fun.

Photo By John Savageau

Harris believes that if children are exposed to college as a part of their future in elementary school, then they will likely see college as a genuine vision for the future.  “If you get kids excited about college in elementary school then it will become a reality for their entire lives” continued Harris.

November is College Month at McKinley.  Activities planned to get children thinking about their academic future include wearing college T-Shirts, hanging college pennants in the hallway from schools located throughout the country, and taking a field trip to UCLA.

Photo By John Savageau

But today was the relay competition.  Originally planned for last Friday, prior to the crosstown classic pitting UCLA against USC football teams at the Rose Bowl, rain postponed the matchup until Monday morning.

Photo By John Savageau

The children did not mind the delay a bit.  In a demonstration of teamwork, determination, blue versus red, all competitors gave it their best.  “Some kids are excited about academics, some about sports” noted Harris.  Each child, in addition to having a great time, learned valuable life lessons in both competition, as well as working together to achieve goals.

Photo By John Savageau

Photo By John Savageau

It is unclear whether the UCLA side or USC side of each class won their competition, and in fact was not important.  The record book will simply state “classes had a lot of fun, learned a few lessons, mission complete.”

McKinley Students See Their Words Become a Book as Grand Prize Winners

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By Juanita Adame
BurbankNBeyond 

 

The McKinley Elementary School auditorium was filled with cheers and applause on Thursday afternoon as students of Mrs. Angie D’Mello’s class were awarded the Grand Prize for the Scholastic Book Fair’s “Kids are Authors” contest.

The assembled group of published authors, during a book signing in the schools library. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The seven third grade authors: John Alajijian, Sara Coen, Julia Guglielmo, Marion Hunter, Henry Keeney, Noel Pennington, and Russell Uvas, began the project nearly one year ago.

“It feels great to see our book and just to imagine that we won,” said John Alajijian. “I learned through this project that it can actually be fun writing with other people.”

D’Mello said Shari Wendt, who was the Parent Project Coordinator, wanted to volunteer the classroom after she heard about the contest.

“I told her, how about I give you a group of kids who work well together, and are really motivated” she said.

“So she’d come once a week, give them little assignments and they’d talk about it, then discuss what ideas they had and then collaborate. It just worked out great,” she said.

Author and cover designer Russell Uvas receives kudos from Scholastic officials during the book signing event.(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

D’Mello also added that once the students came up with the story line, it was then about having the same ideas for illustrations to give the book some direction and rhythm.

Author, David Shannon told the kids at the awards ceremony that he really enjoyed their book and felt it was “very special and unique.”

“I’m never gonna see a dollar the same way again, I’m always going to wonder what its gone through,” he said.

“There is so much in it, you got history, geography, economics, and this new perspective there is even kind of a love story between the two”.

The book, which is titled, Two Dollars, One Wallet, follows a one dollar bill, and a gold Sacagawea coin living inside the pocket of a school custodian’s wallet.

“Part of it involved the perspective of the dollar and part of it is really familiar to me too,” said Shannon. “I think that is what makes a good story,”

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Shannon said he felt what also made the book such a success was because it was a familiar idea shown through a different perspective.

“Things you can identify with, things that you know really well, and then they are show to you in a new way, all in all, it was just a great story and congratulations to you kids!”

For more information on this book, visit scholastic.com/kidsareauthors.

 

 

 

 

 

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

No Horsing Around at ‘Rivalry Day’ at McKinley Elementary School

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USC mascot Traveler shows his gentle side at McKinley Elementary School. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

This past week McKinley Elementary School held their ‘Rivalry Day’ with the idea that even while attending elementary school you can start thinking about colleges.

Kids played relay games and even got to pet Traveler, the real USC Mascot.  Traveler who is owned by Burbank resident Joanne Asman and is ridden by Hector Aguilar, who is also a Burbank resident and former Burroughs High student.

USC made sure they were well represented (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The idea of rivalry day came about a couple of years ago during a parent teacher meeting when a teacher and a parent were brainstorming how to get elementary students to think about their future. The days not only involve the fun & games, but the kids also collect funds for a scholarship program for McKinley grads who after high school decide to go on to a college of their choice and can submit an application for use of the student funds collected.

USC -UCLA Rivalry lives right here at McKinley Elementary School. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

McKinley Students Join Search for the Great Pumpkin

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BurbankNBeyond Feature Story

Students in Carol Derry's second grade class take their turn in the Pumpkin Patch. (Photos By Ross A. Benson)

 

 By John Savageau
BurbankNBeyond

      Nestled in a in an improvised field of straw and hay bales, guarded by several scarecrows and diligent parents, hundreds of pumpkins awaited adoption by eager students on Friday morning at William McKinley Elementary School.
     In its 12th year, McKinley’s PTA Pumpkin Patch provides students and parent volunteers a break from the routine, giving children a taste of Halloween and American culture.
     “Many of our students have never had a chance to see a real pumpkin patch” remarked event organizer Stephane McCorkle.  At the Pumpkin Patch, all McKinley students had a chance to rummage through the straw, picking out their favorite fruit.  “Everybody gets a pumpkin” confirmed McCorkle, ensuring a great time for all the kids.
     As Mr. Danielson’s 4th year class approached, the ‘Patch was transformed into a sea of colors, laughter, giggling, teasing, and a scene of teachers and volunteers connecting with students.  Some explaining to critical children a bit of the history of pumpkins, taking patience describing the abstract of a farm to city kids, others helping youngsters pick out the perfect pumpkin for their prize.
     Shannon Douglas, a volunteer at the ‘Patch and mother of a McKinley student praised the efforts of the McKinley PTA and teachers.  “This is the greatest school we have been to” said Douglas, “This is the hardest working PTA I’ve ever seen, and I am very impressed with the level of participation and positive attitudes of everybody in the school system.”
     Volunteers started building the Pumpkin patch at 6 in the morning, all excited to bring this slice of happiness to McKinley students – although it was a bit difficult to determine who was having the best time, as parents and volunteers shared and traded laughter equally with the students. 
     As all the children showed off their trophies, teachers ensured no student, even those who were absent, lacked a pumpkin.  Then, as each student signed a large “Thank You” card for the PTA, volunteers prepared the ‘Patch for the next class of children cheerfully anticipating their time on the McKinley farm.