Dear DPMHS Community,

It has been a busy summer and new students continue to enroll at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School. The main office is now open and student leaders are already planning for the New Student Orientation that will take place on Wednesday, August 8th.

The Los Angeles Unified School District has gone through a major reorganization this summer to better focus on teaching and learning. Local Districts 1 and 2 are now Educational Service Center North (ESC North) which is located in the former Local District 1 Office next door to DPMHS.

Along with the reorganization have come many changes in personnel, including myself. This summer I was selected to be an Instructional Director for High Schools. Although this is a promotion and an honor, it is difficult to leave the small but mighty high school that we have built over the last three and a half years.

As the principal of a new high school, I never dreamed that we would accomplish so much in such a short time. I am proud of our caring, hardworking staff and the wonderful faculty that stops at nothing to help students work to their highest ability. I am amazed at the kindness, the respect, and the pride that our students show for each other, for the adults in their lives, and for our school. I am grateful for the parents and community members who have participated on committees and councils, made donations, and volunteered many hours to support our school in such drastic economic times.

I have always told our students how important it is that they remember our school mission and to leave Daniel Pearl prepared to be strong communicators who influence the world positively at home, in their communities, and in the world.

It is time now for me to leave and to share the lessons that have made Daniel Pearl Magnet High School so successful with other schools. I am pleased to pass on the great responsibility of the role of principal to Ms. Deb Smith, former principal of Independence High School. We have had a close relationship with Ms. Smith and her high school since DPMHS opened, and she is the ideal person to carry on the values, beliefs, and mission of our school.

I thank all of you for supporting our school and for giving me the opportunity to be principal of Daniel Pearl Magnet High School. It is an honor that I will always cherish.

My best to you,

Janet Kiddoo

Dear DPMHS Community,

I hope that all of you are enjoying the summer and finding time to spend with your families and friends. Unfortunately, the poor economy continues to affect us and budgets cuts have resulted in school offices being closed this summer. Our school office will reopen on July 23rd, and we will continue to accept enrollment applications by mail.

Our student enrollment goal is to reach capacity, which is about 410. This would also allow us to hire one more teacher, making it possible to offer more electives and maintain our current teacher-student ratios. We are fortunate to still have lower classroom enrollments than most schools allowing for greater instructional support and intensive teaching.

In other news, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School has done it again! I am proud to announce that our student newspaper, the Pearl Post, was recently honored by the Los Angeles Press Club as “Best High School Newspaper in Southern California.” Congratulations to Ms. Adriana Chavira, Journalism teacher, and to our student journalists and photographers for receiving this prestigious award!

Don’t forget that all LAUSD schools will be starting back to school on August 14th. An orientation for students who are new to Daniel Pearl will take place on August 8th. More information will be sent out later this month by Ms. Laverne Potter, our Magnet Coordinator.

Enjoy the rest of the summer. Remember to take time to read a good book, visit with family and friends, and appreciate our California sunshine!

My best to you,

Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Dear DPMHS Community,

This semester has been especially meaningful beginning with a series of activities held to recognize the 10^th anniversary of the death of Daniel Pearl. On February 21 we held a news conference in which a panel of journalists discussed “Journalists in Harm’s Way” and took questions from our students about the dangers that journalists face worldwide in areas of conflict.

The hour-long panel discussion was moderated by Rob Eshman, Publisher and Editor-in Chief of Tribe Media Corporation, publisher of The Jewish Journal. Panel members included:

• Jonathan Friedland — Chief of Communications Officer at Netflix and former colleague of Daniel Pearl’s while serving as Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal in Los Angeles and later in Mexico.
• Doug Smith — Los Angeles Times reporter for local and regional affairs for 41 years who made five trips to Iraq and currently manages data analysis for news stories.
• Alexandra Zavis — Los Angeles Times reporter who has reported from areas of conflict in Africa, Afghanistan, and most recently has returned from Syria.
• Rick Loomis — Los Angeles Times photojournalist whose foreign assignments have included Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Israel.

Our school newspaper, The Pearl Post, featured a special section dedicated to Daniel Pearl and we created a Facebook page dedicated to “Pearls of Peace” where visitors can add a “pearl” representing an action that they will take to build positive relationships at home, school, or in their communities. The goal is to create a digital chain of pearls worldwide that represents the millions of people who are committed to living together peacefully.

Our school also honors Danny Pearl’s memory by the academic success of our graduating students. This is the time of year when seniors receive letters from colleges and universities. I am proud that our students are once again being offered spaces at all of the University of California and California State University schools as well as private colleges. I invite you to walk down the main hallway of our school to see all of the pennants posted over each archway that show all of the colleges and universities at which our seniors have been accepted. It’s quite impressive!

Although our seniors are winding down their high school years, the underclassmen are staying the course. Students in grades 9-11 will soon be taking the CST (California Standards Test) and Advanced Placement exams. After that final exams will be right around the corner with school ending on Monday, May 29^th.

I’d like to end by thanking everyone who contributed to our recent fundraising events. In one week we raised almost $9,000 through our first annual silent auction at Open House and by meeting an anonymous donor’s challenge grant. These funds will help provide digital equipment, books, field trips and other resources for our students.

As always, please feel free to email me at janet.kiddoo@ lausd.net or call our main office at 818-654-3775 anytime.

My best to you,

Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Dear DPMHS Community,

February is “Love Your School Month” at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School. Show your support by donating to our PTSA Fund Drive. We are raising money to build our school library and to renovate our multipurpose room. Our goal is to buy new stage curtains and install a permanent sound system and light board for assemblies, presentations and student productions.

February is also “Bring a Friend to School” month. We are increasing our student enrollment which will allow us to hire more teachers and provide additional elective classes, such as drawing and painting, film-making, broadcasting, and others. Help us to reach our enrollment capacity by encouraging your friends, relatives and neighbors to visit our school and take a campus tour. Let them know that we have a low teacher-student ratio, high graduation rate, a high acceptance rate at prestigious universities and a friendly student body and caring staff. Tell them to check us out at pearlmagnet.org and GreatSchools.org.

During February we will be sponsoring student events every day to build school spirit and provide time for students to enjoy a variety of games, activities and programs before testing begins. Students will be able to sing, dance, read poetry and perform in “The Grove,” the assembly area on our front lawn. They’ll be able to attend a Valentine’s Day dance, play athletic games and even participate in a giant chess tournament made up of students as the chess pieces! Student artists will be able to work together in teams to draw sidewalk murals and students can participate as teams in the “Brainiac Competition” in which they answer questions based on what they have learned in their various courses this year.

Helping students academically is a priority at Daniel Pearl and we have recently implemented a new program called Academic Recovery. Students who are behind in their classes or who have lost instructional time due to absences or excessive tardies are assigned to Academic Recovery during the school day, so that they are able to catch up. Students can request help from peer tutors or from faculty members. Contact Ms. Weiner, School Counselor, or Laverne Potter, Magnet Coordinator, for more information regarding our student academic support system.

What is the latest news on student lockers? We have been told that over 450 new steel lockers will be installed during March. Keep your fingers crossed!

What’s coming up next? Testing, testing, testing! Students will be taking the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam), CST (California Standards Test), AP (Advanced Placement) Exams, as well as District Periodic Exams.

As always, please feel free to email me at janet.kiddoo@lausd.net or call our main office at 818-654-3775 if you have any questions about school events.

Janet Kiddoo
Principal