Summerdale

Principal: Criss Rojas

Enrollment: 507

• School Counselor
• Class Size Reduction in Kindergarten through Grade 3
• Structured Physical Education
• Instrumental Music in Grades 3, 4, and 5.
• Program Tutorial Reading Program
• Reciprocal Teaching
• After School GATE Program
• Primary Language Assistant Tutors
• Categorical Reading Assistance for 4th and 5th Grade Students

Summerdale — Where Our Students Are The Stars!
Summerdale School has a tradition of excellence. Our school offers many quality programs that contribute to the success of our students.

Curriculum
A variety of innovative approaches to teaching and learning are evident in classrooms throughout Summerdale: literacy based strategies, team teaching, instructional level reading groups, and hands-on experiences. Direct instruction by teachers, cooperative groups and technology is used daily in our school to deliver curriculum. Our classrooms, kindergarten through grade 3, have been reduced to 20 students per teacher, thus providing students more individual attention in daily instruction. A specialized physical education/health program increases each student’s health and physical fitness. A variety of multiple measures are used throughout the year to assess our students’ needs and drive our instructional strategies. Computers are in every classroom and are all on-line.

Our Staff
Our staff is highly skilled and professional. There are no finer teachers and support personnel anywhere! The staff reflects the rich diversity of our community who speak, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The Summerdale staff participates in ongoing leadership and professional development activities. Because of this involvement in leadership, Summerdale worked with the California Department of Education on their Staff Development Design and a video. With reading and language arts as the main curricular focus, the staff is involved in monthly trainings and educational discussions to further their skills and knowledge. They consistently attend workshops, setting high standards for themselves and resulting in improved student achievement and test scores.

Environment
Staff and students work continuously to build a community that promotes caring, effort, responsibility, teamwork, motivation, initiative, confidence, perseverance, problem solving, and common sense. Programs that assist us in developing this community include Student Council, Safety Patrol, Recycling Captains, and Big Buddies. STAR student awards are given to STudents Accepting Responsibility and weekly grade level winners are announced by the principal.

Support Programs
Summerdale offers specialized programs for many of our students. Students who qualify for the Gifted and Talented Education program (GATE) are offered after school classes to enrich and reinforce their knowledge. The Morning Reading Book Club offers students a safe place to read and finish homework before school. Four days a week, students recommended by teachers attend our morning Homework Center. The Primary Intervention Program gives students a special time to work individually with trained personnel on skills that will improve social growth and self-esteem. After school tutoring is offered by many teachers for students in need of extra assistance. Monthly Partners In Print workshops, sponsored by our PTA, give parents and children the opportunity to learn reading strategies that encourage students to be more successful readers. Our programs provide students the opportunities for enrichment and success in academic and social areas.

Parent Involvement
We value our parents at Summerdale. The teaching staff uses volunteer parents and community members to work in classrooms, tutor individual students, assist in the production of teaching materials, construct costumes and props for school productions, and chaperone field trips. Our annual Harvest Festival is a tradition that symbolizes the teamwork between staff, students and community members. Our Parent and Teachers Association commits hours to fundraising and service to our students. The School Site Council oversees the development of the school budget and School Improvement Plan. Our English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) meets together to advise and discuss the needs of our diverse community.

Other School Features:

• Student Recognition Programs
• STAR (Students Accepting Responsibility)
• Fifth Grade Science Camp
• Honor Roll for 4th and 5th grade students
• Annual Harvest Festival Bi-Annual Science Fair
• Math-Science Night
• Young Authors’ Faire
• Student Council
• Student Spirit Days
• Parent Volunteers through PTA and School
• Site Council
• Morning Book Club
• Homework Center
• San Jose Parks and Recreation After School Program
• Read At Home (RAH)
• Interactive School Web Site