Principal’s Message for February 2012

February 1, 2012 at 4:28 am

Dear DPMHS Community,

This month our school is commemorating the 10th anniversary of Daniel Pearl’s murder. He was kidnapped 10 years ago in Karachi, Pakistan, and on February 21, 2002 the world learned of his murder. Daniel, who was the Asian Bureau Chief for The Wall Street Journal, was investigating a story linked to Al Qaeda.

The staff and students of Daniel Pearl Magnet High School believe it’s important to honor Daniel’s memory, particularly his legacy as a journalist of courage, integrity and honesty. At the same time, we seek to honor the many investigative journalists around the world who have been tortured or murdered in the pursuit of the truth.

We have planned a series of activities that will conclude on February 21 when a panel of reporters, photojournalists and broadcasters will take questions from our students on the topic, “Journalists in Harm’s Way.” The panelists and students will also discuss the meaning and implications of the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, which was signed into law in May 2010 by President Barack Obama.

The next issue of the school newspaper, The Pearl Post, will feature a special section dedicated to Daniel Pearl. Known to friends and family as Danny, he grew up in Encino and attended Portola Middle School and then Birmingham High School, the school in which our magnet was originally started.

Our students feel a personal connection to him because Danny’s parents, Judea and Ruth Pearl (who live in the community and know our students) have shared stories about him. His mother often speaks of his great sense of humor, and his father has described Danny as “a gentle soul.”

We are creating a special Facebook page - “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. Our goal is to create a digital chain of these pearls worldwide that represents the millions of people who are committed to living together peacefully.

Please visit our website regularly this month because we will also be posting videos in which students discuss their hopes, dreams and view of the world. Hopefully, as the chain of pearls grows, they will see how many people there are who, like Daniel Pearl, are models of peace.

My best to you,
Janet Kiddoo
Principal

janet.kiddoo@lausd.net
(818) 654-3775

Principal’s Message for December 2011

December 1, 2011 at 6:20 pm

Dear DPMHS Community,

We have a lot to celebrate at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School despite the drastic budget cuts and reduction in staff positions. Just look at what we’ve accomplished so far:

  • Our API score rose 26 points from 777 to 803 — a truly incredible achievement for any high school. Those of us who promised to dye our hair turquoise if the students scored above 800 found ourselves having a special “beauty treatment” during our API celebration! (See the photos taken by the Daily News here)
  • Our 2011 High School Exit Exam scores (CAHSEE) were the third highest in LAUSD.
  • DPMHS was cited in the Daily News for having such a large number of our students enrolled in classes that fulfill A-G requirements for graduation.
  • Our first high school book fair was sponsored in October by our wonderful new Teacher Librarian, Tammie Celi. The school library is in full use and visited by students daily thanks to Ms. Celi’s efforts to create a warm and welcoming reading space on campus.
  • Daniel Pearl Music Day was covered by the news media on October 28, 2011 (click here for photos of this event). Over 100 of our talented students, under the direction of our incredible music teacher Ms. Jackie Gorski, sang, danced, and recited student-composed poetry with Daniel’s parents, Ruth and Judea Pearl in attendance. In addition students played the piano, violin and guitars in honor of Daniel’s memory.
  • Students in Leadership and the Senior Class have sponsored Octoberfest, Spirit Week, and Fiesta Fridays under the mentorship of Ms. Leslie Hicks, Senior Class Adviser and Leadership teacher.
  • Our School Site Council is strong and active thanks to the students, parents, teachers and community members who now hold positions. The SSC has already been working on school policies, the bell schedule, the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and will soon lead the critical work on preparing DPMHS for accreditation next year through the WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) process.
  • Senior students are being assisted in writing college essays and practicing for interviews by PrimeTime volunteers, a group of retired community partners (sponsored by the Sherry Lansing Foundation). It has been so successful that we are asking the mentors to work with students in other grade levels as well.
  • ALL students are being supported academically. Students who are behind in their classes or need additional academic support are assigned to Academic Recovery. Those who have lost instructional time due to absences or excessive tardies are assigned to Instructional Make-Up Time.
  • Free tutoring is available before and after school as well as during nutrition and lunch. Contact Mr. Stephen Owens, Resource Teacher and Intervention Specialist, or Ms. Martina Torres, School Counselor, for more information regarding our student academic support system.

Finally, I can’t thank our parent volunteers enough for helping in the office, in directing traffic after dismissal and for donations of money and supplies to our school. The economic picture is still serious, but with the help of families and community members, our small high school will continue to represent the best in public education.

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.

My best to you,

Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Principal’s Message for July 2011

July 16, 2011 at 6:22 pm

Dear DPMHS Community,

A new school year is fast approaching! It’s hard to believe, but the first day of classes will be Monday, August 15 at 8:10 a.m., with school dismissal at 3:16 p.m. We will start the 2011-2012 school year with many new faces. Thanks to our new school site, we are able to accommodate more students and will be welcoming a large freshman class as well as new upper classmen.

New Student Orientation and Open Campus Day will take place on Monday, August 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Students and their parents will have an opportunity to meet some of our Daniel Pearl students and staff. Campus tours will be conducted and students will receive information regarding classes, high school requirements and school policies. School spirit wear and PE uniforms will be on sale. In addition, clubs and student organizations will be selling refreshments and providing information about student activities, sports teams and extracurricular activities.

An important reminder regarding Tdap Immunizations — ALL grade 7-12 students are required to have the whooping cough vaccination (Tdap) before starting the school year. If your child has not had this yet, please call your doctor or contact us for information about free immunization clinics.

We’re looking forward to an exciting new year at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School!

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

Principal’s Message for May 2011

May 8, 2011 at 6:23 pm

Dear DPMHS Community,

Graduation is almost here! The Class of 2011 will be the first graduating class from our new school site, so their graduation ceremony will be all the more special. Seniors will walk across the stage on our school front lawn at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6, 2011.

College acceptance letters have arrived and our hard-working seniors have been accepted at a variety of public and private colleges:
· American Jewish University
· Azusa Pacific
· Boston College
· Calvin College
· Case Western Reserve
· College of the Canyons
· Corban University
· College of the Canyons
· Community Colleges – Los Angeles Mission, Pierce, Santa Monica
· Cuesta College
· CSU Channel Islands, CSU Humboldt, CSU Los Angeles, CSU Northridge, CSU San Diego, CSU San Jose, CSU Sonoma, CSU San Francisco
· Evergreen College
· Lewis & Clark
· Loyola Marymount
· Northern Arizona University
· Mount St. Mary’s
· UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC San Diego
· University of LaVerne
· University of the Pacific
· University of Redlands
· University of Southern California (USC)
· University of Washington
· University of Wisconsin

California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) Results
Not only are we proud of our seniors, but we are proud of our 10th grade students who took the CAHSEE in March. Their 94% pass rate in Math and English/Language Arts made our school one of the top three in the school district!

Yes, student lockers really did arrive! We now have new school lockers for every student. The lockers are turquoise with black combination locks, so no one has to worry about losing keys.

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 our school community.

Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Principal’s Message for January 2011

January 5, 2011 at 6:25 pm

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that second semester is already here. The first semester of being on the Early Start School Calendar went well and I am pleased at how calm and “settled” campus life has been despite our having moved to a new school site just five months ago.

We have much to celebrate, and a few highlights from first semester include:

  • We celebrated our first Daniel Pearl World Music Day, “Harmony for Humanity,” with honored guests Dr. Judea and Mrs. Ruth Pearl, the parents of Daniel Pearl. This was accompanied by outstanding performances and readings by students which were captured by ABC Evening News and the Daily News, as well as (of course) our own DPMHS journalists, photographers and video students.
  • Our wonderful new choir is up and singing thanks to Ms. Jackie Gorski, our new choir and guitar teacher. Our students have been performing in various venues including: the Daniel Pearl World Music Day, the PTSA membership meeting, a local retirement home and for Local District 1 staff at their holiday luncheon.
  • We have hired a new English teacher, Ms. Lisa Cheby, who will also be setting up our new library. Our teacher/student ratio will be even lower with the addition of Ms. Cheby, a very experienced teacher.
  • The Leadership Class sponsored our first Oktoberfest with food, games, activities, and an after school dance. Several hundred people attended this fun event.
  • Leadership Class also supported our first Welcome Back Winter Dance, “Winter Wonderland,” in which alumni returned to campus to share highlights of their first semester out of high school and to dance the night away with current students. Despite the pouring rain, we had great attendance and the first Winter Royal Court was selected: Queen Briana Tapia, King Chris Mitchell, Princess Silva Ayrapetyan, and Prince Ben Vongtongdee.
  • Back to School Night was a great success due to all of the parents and students who attended. School staff members enjoyed meeting their students’ families. The refreshments provided by student clubs, organizations and the PTSA were a hit with everyone.

Yes, student lockers really are coming! Over 450 new steel lockers are being constructed and will be installed during February. The lockers will be set against the entire south side of the main hall.

New murals on the walls in our Main Hall have contributed to school spirit and the energetic atmosphere of our school. We invite you to visit and see the continual improvements taking place on our new campus.

What’s in store for second semester? 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.

We will continue to provide safe, fun and social activities for our students as a balance to the rigorous academic program that our school provides. Free academic tutoring is offered by our caring, dedicated faculty. And Ms. Deborah Weiner, School Counselor and Ms. Linda Zimring, College Counselor, provide ongoing support to students and their families.

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 our school community.

Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Principal’s Message for October 2010

October 20, 2010 at 6:27 pm

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We’re in the news! A wonderful article about our school written by Jonathon Dobrer was published in the Daily News. In it he describes Dr. and Mrs. Pearl’s visit to our school. This inspirational piece can be found at http://blogs.dailynews.com/friendlyfire/2010/09/daniel-pearl-magnet-high-schoo.html.

What does it take to make a great school? The support of every individual! You can help make ours a great school by becoming a member of the Daniel Pearl Magnet High School PTSA (Parent, Teacher, Student Association).

Our first PTSA meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 20, in the MPR from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. PTSA is a strong advocate for schools at the state and national levels and offers many services to families, educators and students. Support our school by attending this meeting and becoming a member for only $6 per person. (Plus, you’ll get a sneak preview of our new school choir under the direction of our choir director, Jacqueline Gorski!).

On Friday, October 22, we will hold our first Daniel Pearl World Music Day, Harmony for Humanity, an event that is sponsored each year by the Daniel Pearl Foundation. The program will include songs performed by the DPMHS choir as well as poetry and readings by students. There has been such a high interest in this program that we are looking at another date to schedule a performance just for families and community members. We will keep you informed.

On Friday, October 29, the senior class will be sponsoring an Oktoberfest from 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. The students are working hard on a wonderful and festive event for our school.

Parent Conference Night will be scheduled in late October or early November. We are trying to schedule a date and time that is convenient for parents/guardians and coincides with the 10 week report cards which will be printed during the last week of October. Detailed information is forthcoming.

Yes, student lockers ARE coming! Over 450new steel lockers are being constructed and will be installed during the winter break. The lockers will be set against the entire south side of the main hall.

Back to School Night was a great successdue to all of the parents and students who attended. Thank you for showing your support. School staff members enjoyed meeting their students’ families and the refreshments provided by student clubs, organizations and the PTSA were a hit with everyone!

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 matters.

Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Principal’s Message for August 2010

August 25, 2010 at 6:29 pm

Dear Parent/Guardian,

School has started and what an exciting year it will be! We have doubled in campus space and have eight courtyards and a large front lawn lined with trees. Our student leadership class and student council members have already sponsored student activities, such as, Fiesta Friday, and we will soon be having sign-ups for campus clubs and organizations.

Due to the early start calendar and changes to the magnet transportation routes, we still have some space left to enroll new students. If you have friends or relatives still looking for a safe, caring, small high school, encourage them to come in and register immediately. Ms. Jet Manalastas, Senior Office Technician is available to answer questions and process new students. Her phone number is 818-654-3720.

Our new school calendar provides special benefits to our students. Students will finish their fall semester final exams before winter vacation and during the second semester they will have three extra weeks of instruction before the critical testing period begins in late spring.

There will be NO SCHOOL from Wednesday, September 2-Friday, September 10. This time is made up of national holidays, furlough days, unassigned days as well as professional development days for teachers. Also, there will be no buses, so students on sports teams will need to arrange their own transportation for any events during this time.

SCHOOL PHOTOS are scheduled for Monday, September 13,the day that students return, so please mark your calendars! These photos are used for school identification cards, class pictures in the yearbook and for admittance to school activities. All students will be required to carry ID cards at all times.

I am proud of the following students: Neli Salis-Garcia, grade 12, was selected to be one of 50 students to participate in a conference of the Chicano Relation Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP) recently at UCLA. This is a great honor and Neli will be writing about the many scholars, leaders and politicians and discussions in our student newspaper, The Pearl Post. Also, Izabella Ferayan,2010 graduate, who was asked to speak to the Board of Education at its July meeting. Izabella was also one of six students interviewed on the Patt Morrison radio show on Friday, August 27 to discuss the differences between schools in LAUSD.

Our first fund-raising event at McDonald’s Restaurant, 6830 Balboa Blvd. Van Nuys, was a big success. I would like to thank Mrs. Marla Kindelspire, PTSA secretary, and Mrs. Leslie Hicks and her leadership class for sponsoring this event. Thank you also to the Daniel Pearl staff who cleaned tables and served food to the families and students who came for dinner and enjoyed the fun.

In the coming year, we will bestrengthening our communication system to families and community members by sending out weekly messages via phone and email. Please make sure that your contact information is up-to-date and that we have an email address to ensure that you receive all school information in a timely manner.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our main office at 818-654-3775 or email me at janet.kiddoo@lausd.net.

We’re off to a great start!

Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Principal’s Message for July 2010

July 20, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Dear Parent/Guardian,
What a busy summer it has been! Our school is in the process of moving to its new location at 6649 Balboa Blvd., formerly the site of West Valley School. This moves us from the west side of the Birmingham campus on Victory Blvd. to the north side on Balboa Blvd. Our new phone number is 818-654-3775.
This relocation brings us even closer to the Charter athletic fields, so Daniel Pearl students will continue to have access to all sports teams this year. For information regarding sports teams,please call Rick Prizant, Birmingham Charter Athletic Director at 818-758-5259 or the Charter main office at 818-758-5200.
Our new school site will double our current space and includes a small gymnasium/multipurpose room with a stage, a cafeteria, six courtyards and plenty of accessible parking for staff and visitors. The grounds are lovely and will give us a real sense of place.
We are also changing to a new early start calendar, so the 2010-2011 school year will start on Monday, August 16! This calendar provides special benefits to our students. During the first semester students will finish their final exams before winter vacation and during the second semester they will have three extra weeks of instruction before the critical testing period begins in late spring. The school year will end on Tuesday, June 7, 2011.
We have tentatively scheduled Wednesday, August 11, as a campus orientation day for students and their families to visit our school and take a tour of the new site. More details will come later!
Summer is the time for Senior Photos and informational brochures from White’s Studios are being mailed out to all seniors. Appointments can now be made by calling 818-752-7780 (N. Hollywood) or 818-727-2600 (Northridge).
In the coming year, we are going to strengthen our communication system to families and community members by sending out weekly messages via phone and email. Please make sure that your contact information is up-to-date and that we have an email address, if possible, to ensure that you receive all school information in a timely manner.
Finally, I have a special message for the parents of students new to Daniel Pearl Magnet High School. As a parent myself, I know that choosing a high school for your child is a big decision. With over 30 years of experience, I can assure you that our school offers a high quality academic program in a personal and nurturing atmosphere. Our staff is caring, hard-working and dedicated to ensuring that every student achieves her or his personal best. Our students are respectful and kind to one another. As a small high school, we take pride in knowing and supporting each member of our school.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our main office at 818-654-3775 or email me at janet.kiddoo@lausd.net
Enjoy the rest of the summer and we’ll see you in August!
Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Principal’s Message for May 2010

May 22, 2010 at 6:32 pm

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Exciting news! We are excited that DPMHS may potentially move to a new location for the 2010-2011 academic year! If the move occurs, don’t worry about this affecting your student’s commute as we would only be moving from the west side of the Birmingham campus to the north side on Balboa Blvd. This move, if approved, would bring us closer to the Birmingham Charter athletic fields, so participation on sports teams will continue.

The new location under consideration for DPMHS could double our current space and would include a small gymnasium/multipurpose room with a stage, a cafeteria, six courtyards and plenty of accessible parking for staff and visitors. The grounds are lovely and would give us a real sense of place.

We are already preparing for a potential move, so we are busier than ever as we wind down the 2009-2010 school year. Classroom furniture will have to be ordered for our potential new location and we could be packing up just as we are preparing for final exams, graduation and the closing out of student records.

The last month of school is packed full with many events. Please note these dates on your family calendar as there have been some changes:

Wednesday, May 26

· College Knowledge Night at 6:00 p.m. in room G44

  • for parents of students in Grades 9, 10, 11 presented by Ms. Zimring, College Counselor

Friday, May 28—NO SCHOOL (Furlough day for school personnel)

Monday, May 31—HOLIDAY

Tuesday, June 1—REVERSED DAY SCHEDULE (School starts at 10:00 a.m. )

  • Senior Awards Night cancelled

Wednesday, June 2

  • Senior Picnic

Thursday, June 3

  • New Student Orientation
  • PTSA Board Meeting

Friday, June 4—MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE (School dismissal – 12:35 p.m.)

Friday, June 11

  • Senior Prom (8 p.m. at the Sheraton Universal Hotel)

June 15-17—FINAL EXAMS

Friday, June 18—MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE (School dismissal – 12:35 p.m.)

  • Senior Awards Luncheon

Monday, June 21—LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/ MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE

  • Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal for ALL Seniors 8:00 a.m.-12:35 p.m.

Thursday, June 24—2010 GRADUATION in the Birmingham Quad 4:30 p.m.

  • Grad Nite Disneyland Buses leave campus at 8:00 p.m

If you have any questions regarding enrollment, our new school location, senior events or end of the year information, please call me at 818-758-4430 or email me at janet.kiddoo@lausd.net .

What a wonderful first year we have had. Things just keep getting better for Daniel Pearl Magnet High School!

Janet Kiddoo
Principal

Principal’s Message for January 2010

January 22, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Dear Parent/Guardian,
The new year is already off to an exciting start. On January 11, we were notified that our schoolwould be visited by an accreditation team on January 20! Most new schools have a year to prepare for such a visit, but to ensure that our seniors would be eligible for grants and scholarships, our accreditation was moved ahead. Although the final report will not be issued until mid-February, the initial review looks very good. Students, teachers and parents who were interviewed by the visiting team members represented our school well and were able to show how far we have come in less than five months.
Despite the severe budget cuts in education, our school is still able to offer a high quality education in a warm and personalized environment. Our class sizes continue to be very small and our teachers offer assistance to students who need additional help with their class work.
Finals for the first semester are just around the corner. Minimum days are scheduled for February 3-5 when students are scheduled to take their final exams. Monday, February 8 is a pupil-free day so there will be no school for students. Second semester will start on February 9.
We are happy to have received our charter to start a PTSA at our school. PTSA is the major fund-raising entity on campus and we urge all families to become members. Our membership drive has been extended and information is being sent home with students.
It will be a busy semester for our first class of graduating seniors. They are already active raising money for their prom, graduation ceremony, Grad Night, yearbooks and various senior activities. Please contact Mr. Martin Tate, Senior Class Sponsor, for information on all senior events.
The LAUSD is currently sending out the new School Report Card. Unfortunately, the information for our new school is either missing or incomplete! Please know that I will be sharing updated academic data at our various school councils and in future newsletters. Next year we should have accurate data available based on student performance in 2009-2010.
Our new school councils are now up and running. The School Site Council, Title I Advisory Council and the Local School Leadership Council meet monthly. We encourage parents to attend the meetings as these councils make critical decisions for our school.
Parental support is still the critical key in supporting our new high school. Please call our main office at 818-758-4430 to find out how you can be involved at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School.
My best to all of you in this new year!
Janet Kiddoo
Principal