Park Side Elementary

7450 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 829-7400

Roy Camarillo, Principal

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER! 
 
The first day of school for 2008-2009 is
Tuesday, August 26.  For a complete schedulte, click here
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Kindergarten Registration

Park Side is now registering Kindergarteners for the 2008-09 school year. As of April 30th, fifty five enrollment packets have been picked up from the school office and twenty four have been returned. This is very encouraging as we assign our teachers for the fall. Parents are encouraged to register their child as soon as possible. Early registration will help us plan effectively, have sufficient staff, and create a smooth introduction for students entering kindergarten. The school office can assist with Kindergarten registration daily between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Park Side requires that the following items be turned in to the Main Office as soon as possible to complete your child’s registration:

  • a.) Physician’s Report for Kindergarten Physical. If your child has not had this exam, please schedule immediately and let the Main Office know the date of the exam.
  • b.) Up-to-date immunization record. Please bring your record to the Main Office as soon as possible and we will make a copy of our records.
  • c.) The student’s birth certificate. We will make a copy in the office for our records.
  • d.) Language Survey Form (part of the registration packet). It’s important that all parents complete this survey.
  • e.) Proof of residency within Park Side School boundaries. This can be a bill or statement that shows a current date, your name and address.

If you are applying for an Inter-district Transfer to Park Side, please start the paperwork process with the district of your residence as soon as possible. Please inform the Park Side school office that you have initiated this request.

If you do not have a child who is eligible for kindergarten, please tell your neighbors or friends who might have a student who will be starting kindergarten next school year. Please call Park Side School or Principal Roy Camarillo at (707) 829-7400 if you have any questions.

Principal's Message - 6/4/08

As we draw to the close of the 2007-2008 school year, I want to thank our school community, our School Site Council, and our SEF and PTSA board members for all of their hard work and efforts to support our school. The teachers formed Action Committees to bring a collaborative approach to our school problems. Much progress was made and much is ongoing, but it’s a process. It has been a fast and productive year, and I would like to highlight just a few of our accomplishments for you:

  • We successfully integrated grades 4 and 5 back into our Park Side community.
  • We updated our Single Plan for Student Achievement and Site Emergency Plan thanks to the efforts of our Teacher Committees and Site Council.
  • Toward the process of applying to become an International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) school, we sent three more teachers to IBO training, and all grade levels made great headway in developing the grade-level Units of Inquiry that will serve as the basis for our curriculum.
  • On the playground, four basketball posts were added, three swing bars, and incremental progress was made in laying down the stenciled games of the Peaceful Playgrounds.
  • Laptop computers and printers were recently purchased for teacher use in the classrooms next year, and plans for a computer lab are in progress.
  • This year, we hired a part-time Spanish instructor for all students in grades 1 through 5, and purchased a comprehensive Spanish Language curriculum.
  • This year we increased our general enrollment to approximately 310 students, and increased our Academic Performance Index (API) from 798 to 810.
  • This year we established an after-school Homework Club for our second language learners, providing academic intervention for our most needy students, preparing them for greater success in the classroom.

It is with great pride that I share these accomplishments with you and encourage each of you to get involved in our school next year in any way that you can. Because of our strong relationships and high level of commitment, Park Side Elementary School continues a long tradition of excellence in Sebastopol. Thank you for sharing this year with us, and have a relaxing and safe summer. If you have any questions about our school or programs, please call the school office at 829-7400.

Roy Camarillo, Principal

Let’s Go I.B.O.!

Let’s Go I.B.O.! Our “feasibility and implementation” year is finishing up with many accomplishments. We have a dedicated staff who have written and implemented “How We Express Ourselves”, and are completing writing the second Unit, “Sharing the Planet.” A front hallway display shows these two units, and how each grade level builds on the previous grade levels’ work. The display case shows how we use the Toolbox and the Learner Profile together to produce great students. Our Spanish program has given us a start in learning what is a second language for many of us (Park Side has a fair amount of bilingual speakers), and we look forward to learning more next year. Our last family meeting had some great results: parents who are joining SEF, new ideas for creating more international days, learning more about the IBO program, and developing our school garden. Funding sources are being explored, and the first part of our Application will be submitted soon. This summer, the IBO Coordinator will be attending a regional workshop in San Francisco. Our Web site has an excellent informational video about Park Side and the IBO. None of this could have happened without the energy and determination of our staff, the support and encouragement of our administration and families, and the financial backing of our families and SEF. Thank you all!

Computers Needed

Are you replacing your old computer? Park Side is searching for highly functional computers that are internet-ready. In addition to donated computers that will help build our Computer Lab, we also need people to help install software, add memory and generally reconfigure computers. If you have upgraded to Windows VISTA and you have legal Windows XP discs that you can donate to the school, please contact us.  If you can help, please contact Ms. Debbie McAfee at 874-3246, or email at debbiemcafee@earthlink.net


Park Side Bell Schedule

Regular Schedule (Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri)

    • Kindergarten     8:30am - 1:10pm
    • 1st - 3rd            8:30am - 2:25pm
    • 4th - 5th            8:30am - 2:55pm
      • Lunch/Recess    12:15pm - 1:00pm

Shortened Day Schedule (EVERY Wednesday)

  • Kindergarten     8:30am - 1:10pm
  • 1st - 3rd           8:30am - 1:30pm
  • 4th - 5th           8:30am - 1:30pm
  • Lunch/Recess    12:15pm - 1:00pm
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Computers

Are you replacing your old computer? Park Side is searching for highly functional computers that are internet-ready. In addition to donated computers to help build our Computer Lab, we also need people to help install software, add memory and generally reconfigure computers.

If you can help, please contact Ms. Debbie McAfee at (707) 874-3246, or by email at debbiemcafee@earthlink.net.

Helpful Tips

Park Side, the Movie!

Check out our new video; produced in cooperation with the Analy High School media lab. Click the triangular play icon to watch. Click the speaker icon to adjust the volume.


(If you see a broken quicktime icon, please visit Apple's Quicktime page to upgrade you Quicktime player.)

Park Side and Pine Crest Reconfiguration

Park Side and Pine Crest schools are now both K-5 schools!   Park Side is also applying to become an International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).  Pine Crest is now a multi-graded classroom school.  Both campuses have put together philosophy statements for families to review. 
See below for Park Side's Philosophy Statement.  Go to pinecrest.sebastopolschools.org to learn about Pine Crest's new direction.  


Park Side Philosophy Statement

Click here for a WORD document of Park Side's Philosophy

Goal

For over 70 years, Park Side elementary has given Sebastopol's children a firm, wide-ranging academic foundation on which to build successful futures.  Nurturing and caring adults provide a safe and orderly learning environment.

2007-2008 Plans

  • Full day K-5 program
    Single-graded classrooms for K-5
  • 2006-07 student enrollement: 300

2007-2008 Featured Program Services

  • Before and after-schools care through the CASTLE program
    Spanish instruction - Kindergarten through Grade 5
  • Friendship Skill and Social Development through ToolBox and Rainbow House
  • Art and Music instruction

Candidate School - IBO - Primary Years Program (PYP)

  • Encourage a global perspective in all subjects
    Guided inquiry method instruction
  • Teaches critical thinking skills
  • Teaches socially responsible behavior
  • Spanish Language instruction to all grades
  • Teachers work in teams to develop units to study around six universal themes:
  1. 1) Who we are
  2. 2) Where we are in place and time
  3. 3) How we express ourselves
  4. 4) How the world works
  5. 5) How we organize ourselves
  6. 6) Sharing the planet
  • The Primary Years Program provides a curriculum framework which focuses on the development of the whole child.

Professional Teaching Staff

  • All teachers are Highly Qualified and fully certified
    All teachers receive IBO training in methodology and curriculum planning

To schedule a tour of the school, please call the school office at (707) 829-7400.


Reading at Home

When you child knows that their education is important to their parents, it will be important to them, as well. Reading is the foundation of a successful education. Parents are encouraged to read every day to their children (note: they can listen to the same books 50 times and still want to hear it again!). Start the year right by setting ground-rules with the children that limit their television watching, and emphasize reading for at least 20-30 minutes a day.

A California Distinguished School

  • A small, K-3 primary school environment
  • Caring and experienced teachers
  • Maximum class size of 20
  • Child-centered, age appropriate curriculum
  • High test scores
  • Expansive and safe playground
  • Parent participation is solicited and valued
  • State-of-the-art library
  • Hands-on activities; Life-lab gardening
  • Reading interventions
  • Supplemental English language classes for adults and children

Many Program Options

  • Open Alternative Classrooms (multi-graded K-2) since 1977
  • On-site, enrichment child-care at reasonable fees
  • Out-of-district families welcomed


SEF Pledge Program

Support the Sebastopol Educational Foundation (SEF) Pledge Program to raise money for our kids.  The state funds basic education, the Parcel Tax funds enrichment such as art, music and library.  Funds are still needed to support enrichment programs with supplies (e.g. for art and music), additional programs such as Spanish and sports, and also fund field trips and assemblies, and purchase classroom supplies.  Let's keep our teachers in the classroom, NOT raising money! Pick up a pledge form from one of the  three campuses or pledge now online with your credit card!

School District

Not sure of school District boundaries?  Contact the Business Services department, (707) 524-2641, to purchase district maps.  You can also take a look at the general district boundary map for Sonoma County.  For the name of the school district corresponding to a particular street address, contact the main receptionist, (707) 524-2600, at the Sonoma County Office of Education.